Twitter’s New Photo Features

Posted: March 27, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Twitter has just introduced a couple of new features…gigaom.com says you can now tag up to 10 people in photos, and include up to 4 pictures in a single tweet. User names appear above the pictures, and don’t count towards the 140 characters.

This feature creep at Twitter may be a way of playing catch up…according to thenextweb.com, Instagram has passed up Twitter in US users. The Financial Times says Facebook owned Instagram has 35 million users and Twitter 30.8 million. Twitter still has 40 million more worldwide, though.

Techcrunch.com reports that Apple has patented a Surface like touch keyboard smart cover, but with a twist…multitouch gesture support turns the whole thing into a giant trackpad, instead of just a small dedicated portion.

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Smartphone Messaging With No Internet

Posted: March 21, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Bgr.com reports that there’s a new iPhone app that will keep you messaging on a limited basis even with no internet via wifi or cellular. It’s called FireChat, and it uses the Multipeer Connectivity Framework in iOS 7. The range is limited, but it will be handy during earthquakes and other emergencies.

Samsung has announced prices and availability for the Gear 2 smartwatch and the Gear Fit. The Gear 2 will be $299, and the Gear fit 100 less at $199. You can preorder today at bestbuy.com according to mashable.com. They’ll be on sale next month.

Blackberry may be taking another hit…gigaom.com says the White House is reportedly testing LG and Samsung smartphones. Blackberry has been furnishing administrations phones for the last 10 years, but that may be about to end.

How Much Do Two Companies Dominate Smartphones?

Posted: March 19, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

If you’ve wished for more variety in the smartphone market, good luck…it’s tough for manufacturers to compete. Bgr.com reports that for the last 6 years, Apple and Samsung have accounted for 88% of all mobile phone profits!

Best Buy and 7-Eleven are making waves in mobile payments. Gigaom.com says they are shutting down near field communications used by Isis and Google. Both are part of a group of big retailers called Merchant Customer Exchange, that uses bar code readers like Starbuck’s.

Samsung is rumored to be working on a Gear 2 smartwatch with a sim card, according to techcrunch.com. It would initially be exclusive in their native Korea. With this Gear 2 you could make calls without being tethered to a smartphone. It’s been a long time coming, but if Dick Tracy were around, he’d finally be getting something even better than his 2-way wrist radio or TV!

How Much Do Two Companies Dominate Smartphones?

Posted: March 19, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

If you’ve wished for more variety in the smartphone market, good luck…it’s tough for manufacturers to compete. Bgr.com reports that for the last 6 years, Apple and Samsung have accounted for 88% of all mobile phone profits!

Best Buy and 7-Eleven are making waves in mobile payments. Gigaom.com says they are shutting down near field communications used by Isis and Google. Both are part of a group of big retailers called Merchant Customer Exchange, that uses bar code readers like Starbuck’s.

Samsung is rumored to be working on a Gear 2 smartwatch with a sim card, according to techcrunch.com. It would initially be exclusive in their native Korea. With this Gear 2 you could make calls without being tethered to a smartphone. It’s been a long time coming, but if Dick Tracy were around, he’d finally be getting something even better than his 2-way wrist radio or TV!

iOS 7.1 Is Out…So Are Leaks About iOS 8!

Posted: March 11, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Apple just released the upgrade to iOS, version 7.1 yesterday, but techcrunch.com reports details already leaking about iOS 8. One of the biggest changes is a huge improvement to the shaky Maps app…including better data, augmented reality, and transit information.

Sprint and T-Mobile have continued to offer unlimited data plans for mobile, to siphon off Verizon and AT&T customers, but it looks like even they will be discontinuing them. Bgr.com reports that even with the plans, the carriers are throttling data hogs, so they’re unlimited in name only.

If you’re standing outside a theatre in line wondering which movie to see…there’s an app for that. Gigaom.com reports Google Glass Preview will show you the trailers when you look at the movie posters.

Phone Case To Track Vitals

Posted: March 6, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Before Apple rolls out an iWatch, you may be able to check your vitals with an iPhone case. Wello claims it will track your blood pressure, ECG, heart rate, and more with ‘clinical accuracy.’ It’s $199 and will be out in the fall, pending FDA approval. Thenextweb.com says an Android version is also in the works.

Getty Images, the giant stock photo service, has just made images available for free. Theverge.com reports the watermarks are gone…they just request you credit them with a footer and link to the licensing page. Major blog host WordPress has already announced embed support.

Gigaom.com says Motorola has updated its Touchless Control Software. Now, you can ask your Moto X ‘What’s Up?’ or ‘Read my notifications,’ and the app will read them out to you.

Twitter- Password Reset Their Error, Not Hacking

Posted: March 4, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

A substantial number of users have received an email from Twitter, saying their account has been compromised, and password reset. Thenextweb.com reports that Twitter has admitted that no hacking happened…it was a system error on Twitter’s part.

Dish has cut a deal with Disney, and will get to stream ABC and ESPN programming over the web. According to Gigaom.com, there’s something of a downside…you won’t be able to skip the commercials!

In a move to boost their underwhelming Paper app, cnet.com says Facebook has updated Paper to allow users to share an article by email, text message, or Facebook message…even with people that aren’t your Facebook friends.

iOS for the (Expensive) Car

Posted: March 3, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Apple’s in-car version of iOS, CarPlay, was officially launched today for Ferrari, Mercedes, & Volvo. Volvo showed a mock up of a dashboard with what looks like a full sized iPad in the middle, and minimal buttons. Thenextweb.com reports that you can use Siri to help you access contacts, make calls, and read you messages and let you dictate responses.

It’s not quite ‘sharks with fricken’ laser beams’ like Dr Evil of Austin Powers fame lusted for, but theverge.com says scientists at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute have mastered controlling a fly’s behavior with lasers. It sounds crazy, but they hope to use a similar technique to try to map the decision making processes of human brains.

Zynga had promised last year they would be reinventing the company. According to recode.net, they are starting to test new mobile versions of three of their biggest games: a new Words with Friends app, a freshened Zynga Poker, and a phone and tablet adaption of Farmville called Farmville 2: Country Escape. They will soft launch in the next few weeks.