Microsoft Thanks ‘MacBook’ Disappointment for Great Sales; Honda Teases Electric Car with AI; Gates & Others Start Alt Energy Venture Fund
Posted: December 12, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: AI, Apple, Bill Gates, Electric vehicle, Emotion engine, Energy technologies, Honda, Jack Ma, Jeff Bezos, John Doerr, Macbook Pro, Microsoft, Microsoft Ventures, NeuV, Richard Branson, Surface Book, Surface Studio, Zero greenhouse gas emissions Leave a comment
November was a banner month for Microsoft Surface consumer sales. According to techcrunch,com, they credit ‘Macbook disappointment’ for the bump. Apple, on the other hand, says they got more orders for the new Pro with limited ports than any previous Macbook Pro. Of course, Microsoft rolled out a freshened Surface book and the new, high line Surface Studio, which has gotten a lot of buzz.
Honda has dropped a picture of it’s experimental electric vehicle called the NeuV. The verge.com says they will show it at CES January 5th, and are saying it will come equipped with artificial intelligence of some kind built into what Honda calls an ‘emotion engine.’ The engine is a set of technologies that will “enable machines to artificially generate their own emotions.” So, does this mean sometimes your car will act like Grumpy Cat, and other times like an excited puppy? Stay tuned.
Bill Gates, Jack Ma, and other tech giants have formed a billion dollar tech venture fund to back cutting edge energy technologies, with the goal of searching for breakthroughs that they hope will reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to almost zero. Others involved are John Doerr, Jeff Bezos, and Richard Branson. Geekwire.com says Gates will be Chairman of the billion dollar Microsoft Ventures fund.
HBO NOW Premieres on Google Daydream; Microsoft Turning Phones into Real PCs
Posted: December 8, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: AR, Arm chips, Daydream View, Google, HBO, Microsoft, Mobile, Netflix, VR, Windows 10 Leave a commentIf you are lucky and well healed enough to have a Google Daydream View headset, you know there hasn’t exactly been a flood of material for the VR platform. Well brace yourself…techcrunch.com says HBO’s standalone subscription app HBO NOW is available for the Daydream platform. Google also announced that Netflix will be available soon as well. Keep in mind that the 2D shows will still not be in 3D, but HBO has movies in its library with 3D versions, and Netflix will be able to offer its 3D content up, too.
Microsoft is bringing a full version of Windows 10 to mobile, including desktop app support for ARM chips. According to theverge.com, Redmond demoed running Win 10 on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip today, including HD video playback, Adobe Photoshop, and Microsoft Office. Microsoft put out Continuum for phones last year which emulates a PC, but you can’t run Chrome or Photoshop on it. It’s been tried unsuccessfully before, but maybe this will be the one that actually gives you a full blown PC in your pocket. Stay tuned.
Galaxy S8 Goes Stereo; iPhone 7s Will See Red; Fitbit Buys and Kills Pebble
Posted: December 7, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Fitbit, Galaxy S8, Glass case, Harman, HTC, iPhone, Kickstarter, Pebble, Red, Samsung, Stereo speakers, Wireless charging Leave a commentSamsung has had some of it’s best successes borrowing things from Apple, so one would think they’d poach the dual cameras of the iPhone 7 Plus for the Galaxy S8. Well, according to bgr.com, the feature they are thinking about grabbing and highlighting is actually stereo speakers. This rumor comes from Fone Arena, and Samsung will not only pick up on iPhone’s stereo speakers, but look to HTC for the marketing. HTC has featured a stereo setup they called BoomSound, and Samsung will be cooking up a flashy name for theirs. Sadly, it won’t be Harman. Although they bought the upscale audio company, they won’t be able to integrate Harman luxury tech into the Galaxy series until 2018.
Apple iPhones are going to see red next year….and we’re not talking about Product (Red.) 9to5mac.com reports they will actually have a red chassis color to add to Black, Jet Black, Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold. 9to5mac.com picked up the rumor from Macotakara, which correctly touted the demise of the headphone jack. They do differ with KGI Securities, though on the upcoming iPhones. The Japanese site says there will be a high line iPhone 8 with wireless charging and the glass case, but the other two models will be named iPhone 7s and 7s Plus, and will keep metal cases without wireless charging, but will get upgraded internals.
Fitbit has officially bought Pebble. Thenextweb.com says, they also took about 40% of the employees…virtually all from the software side, and they are killing off the smartwatches and Pebble OS. They will be doing more to develop apps for Fitbit products, and haven’t decided if they will even use the Pebble brand. People who contributed to Kickstarter for upcoming Pebble products will get refunds.
Amazon Go Goes Into Beta-Shop & Just Walk Out; Google Trusted Contacts Launches
Posted: December 5, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Amazon Go, Android, Checkerless shopping, Google, Just walk out, Ping, Tracking, Trusted Contacts Leave a commentAmazon is launching a checker free ‘just walk out’ store in Seattle. Techcrunch.com reports that initially, it will be just for Amazon employees. The Go app gets you into the 1800 square foot store, and from there, sensors, computer vision, and ‘deep learning’ track what you take off the shelves and keep in a virtual cart. When the shopper walks out, their Amazon account is charged, and they get a receipt. As presently configured, the store is more like an old-school automat than a full blown grocery store, or even convenience store. It does offer ready to eat meals in addition to shelved items…they are prepared by humans in store, by the way, not robots! The store will open to all Amazon customers early next year.
Google has a new Trusted Contacts app for Android. The app allows you to keep tabs on family and close friends. According to thenextweb.com, a ‘trusted contact’ can ping you, and if they don’t hear back in 5 minutes, the app sends your location to them. For kids walking hime from school, it can be set to follow as they travel, with a banner popping up when they get home they can touch, and the tracking stops. It’s not integrated with Google Maps yet, but you can see that coming. Big Brother is watching…or Big Sis, Mom, or Dad.
Will iPhone 8 Bring a ‘Supercycle’ of Upgrades; Amazon Prime Offers HBO & Cinemax for Additional $$
Posted: December 1, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Apple, Cinemax, Cord-cutters, HBO, iPhone, iPhone 6, iPhone 8, Netflix, Prime Video, Supercycle Leave a commentThe second half of 2017 may bring what’s being called a ‘supercycle’ of iPhone upgrades. Businessinsider.com reports that KGI Securities has been polling Apple suppliers, and Apple may be gearing up to ship between 90 and 110 million iPhone 8 models the second half of next year. It’s possible that they may even blow past the 113 million iPhone 6’s they sold the back half of 2014. Besides KGI, 3 other analysts believe 2017 could be a banner year as the anniversary iPhone bows.
Just a day after Netflix plays catchup by offering downloads for viewing later, which Amazon has already had, Amazon Prime Video introduces HBO for an additional $15 a month and Cinemax for $10 a month. Venturebeat.com notes that cord cutters could be induced to buy in….but for 30 days, Prime members can try them for free!
Samsung Galaxy S8 Will Have Killer Selfie Cam; iPhone 8’s Third, Higher-Line Model Gets OLED; Netflix Allows Some Downloading of Shows
Posted: November 30, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Autofocus, Download, Galaxy S8, iOS, iPhone 8, Netflix, Offline viewing, OLED screen, Samsung, Selfie cam, Wireless charging Leave a commentThe Samsung Galaxy S8 will have autofocus on the selfie cam. According to bgr.com, Samsung has figured out a way to add autofocus to the front camera without increasing the size of the camera module or the thickness of the phone. The Galaxy S8 will use an “encoder” method that has coils at the side, rather than a Voice Coil Motor that’s used in rear cameras for autofocus.
KGI Securities now says only a new, top line model iPhone 8 will get the OLED with better picture and lower power consumption. Businessinsider.com says updates to the current iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will get glass cases and wireless charging, though.
At long last, Netflix is allowing limited downloading of shows to be watched later offline. Theverge.com reports that it’s Netflix originals like Stranger Things, The Crown, Narcos, Orange is the New Black, and the like, but also a number of random other shows like Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Paddington and Minions and Kung Fu Panda 3. It works on iOS and Android, with two quality versions: Standard and Higher. Netflix hasn’t said how much higher, but notes it will take longer to download. Finally, viewing for that plane flight or commuting over subway systems!
Apple-10 Prototypes for iPhone 8; Google Should Sell 3 Million Pixel Phones; Premium Amazon Alexa Coming; Cyber Monday Sets Record
Posted: November 29, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Alexa, Amazon, Apple, Best selling electronics, Best selling toys, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Echo, Google, India, iPhone 8, OLED, Pixel Phone, Prototypes, Touch screen, Wireless charging Leave a commentThere’s lots of buzz about what next year’s iPhone 8 will be like. Some may be true…but Apple is testing more than 10 prototypes of the anniversary handset right now, according to businessinsider.com. A curved screen is a consistent rumor, as is an OLED display with darker blacks and less power hogging. Of course, there’s the glass back and possible wireless charging. Apple was supposed to get OLED screens this year, but dropped them due to supply problems, so stay tuned.
Preorders for Google’s Pixel phone have blown the doors off what was expected. 9to5google.com reports that, based on preorders and Verizon activations, they should sell 3 million phones by the end of this year. The Pixel is already 10% of the premium market in India…benefitting from Samsung’s collapse over the fiery Note 7. Apple has also benefitted there, grabbing 66% of the premium phone market!
Amazon apparently has a premium Echo speaker with Alexa in the works with a large touch screen and higher grade speakers. Bloomberg.com says it may be out first quarter of 2017. The speaker and screen with be angled and on top, so a person standing can use it when it’s sitting on a counter or table. The present Echo sells for $180 when not discounted, so expect the higher line one to be over $200.
Cyber Monday was the biggest online shopping day, ever. According to zdnet.com, analysts say US online spending topped $3.39 billion, and that’s a 10.2% increase over last year. It’s also slightly more than Black Friday, which notched $3.34 billion. Interestingly, mobile revenue was a little lower than Black Friday, but it was still up 48% over last year’s Cyber Monday. The five best-selling toys in terms of quantity sold on Cyber Monday were Lego, Shopkins, Nerf, Barbie, and Little Live Pets. The five best-selling electronic products were Sony PlayStation 4, Microsoft Xbox, Samsung 4K TVs, Apple iPads, and Amazon Fire tablets.
iPad Pro Coming Sans Home Button & Bezel; Samsung Doing the Splits; Record Black Friday for Mobile
Posted: November 28, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Bezel free, Billion dollar mobile, Black Friday, iPad Pro, Lewis Black, Samsung, Samsung Electronics Leave a commentIn a rumor that might telegraph features on next year’s iPhone 8, macrumors.com reports that a story from Japanese site Mac Otakara says Apple is planning a thicker, bezel-free iPad Pro with no home button. The tablet will have a 10.9 inch screen, but with the same footprint as the current 9.7 inch model. As for the thickness, it really will only be as thick as the original iPad Air. Expect it to drop around March.
On the heels of a proposal by an activist hedge fund manager, the board of Samsung Electronics will meet Tuesday to consider splitting itself in two, according to reuters.com. Samsung has a complicated corporate structure, and has a number of businesses. This might give a smartphone division more ability to become a greater player than ever in the mobile tech world.
It was a record Black Friday in one new way. Recode.net says it was the first billion dollar mobile shopping day ever, with shoppers dropping 1.2 billion on phones and tablets to pick up Black Friday bargains. Overall, it’s estimated that total online sales Black Friday hit 3.34 billion. It sounds like people are taking Lewis Black’s exhortation to …’buy more…um…stuff.’
Apple Corners Smartphone Profits; Super Battery Concept Charges in Seconds & Lasts Days
Posted: November 23, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Batteries, Capacitor, Fast charging, HTC, Huawei, LG, Lithium-Ion, Mobile market share, Samsung Leave a commentThey may not have the biggest market share, but according to a Strategy Analytics report picked up by 9to5mac.com, Apple took in 91% of mobile industry profits in the third quarter of 2016. Huawei had the best showing of any Android maker with 2.4%. Samsung, of course, helped Apple by taking a big loss with the recall of their fiery Galaxy Note 7 models. LG and HTC also reported losses.
Thenextweb.com reports that a new battery concept from scientists at University of Central Florida may be able to charge in seconds and last 20 times longer than a conventional lithium ion cell….possibly lasting over a week! It’s essentially a super capacitor. The battery doesn’t degrade like present ones, either…holding the same charge after 30,000 recharges. Keep your fingers crossed, if this pans out, it will be a game changer for smart devices, electric vehicles, and anything else running on batteries.
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