Next Version of Google Glass- Bigger Prism, Better Battery Life
Posted: July 9, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, El Capitan, Enterprise Edition, Google, Google Glass, iOS 9, OS X, Two Factor identification Leave a commentIt’s been off the radar for a while, but Google has been quietly toiling on the next iteration of Google Glass. The soon to be released Enterprise Edition will be the successor to the original Explorer Edition, according to 9to5google.com. It sports a bigger prism and a faster Atom processor. The bigger prism allows the user to just look up, rather than up and to the right. Reports have it spotted with a Google made external battery pack, too. Yes, if you wear it out in public or try to get into a bar, you’re still a Glasshole!
The latest beta of Apple’s iOS 9 changes up how it confirms that you’re the rightful owner of your iOS device or Mac. Cnet.com reports that the two factor identification baked into IOS 9 and OS X El Capitan will add an extra layer of security, even if someone steals your password. The system uses both a password and a 6 digit code when you sign into a new device using your Apple ID. The code will pop up on any Apple computer or Mobile device you are already signed in to.
Google’s Self-Driving Cars Invade Texas
Posted: July 8, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Austin, Google, HowLoud, iPhone 6S, Kickstarter, Mountain View, Self Driving Cars, Texas, Urban Noise Leave a commentFolks in the San Francisco Bay Area city of Mountain View have gotten used to seeing Google branded Lexus and Toyota Prius models tooling around town. Now, Google has picked Austin, Texas for it’s second test-bed city. According to cnet.com, a Google Lexus has been spotted Northeast of Downtown Austin…as in the Bay Area, with a driver aboard, just in case. A second car is slated to start driving the area this week. As with the Bay Area self-driving rigs, the speed is capped at 25 mph.
Apple is apparently preparing for even more record sales of iPhones. The Wall St Journal says they are asking suppliers to make between 85 and 90 million new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus models by the end of 2015. This compares with 70 to 80 million units they ordered of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus they ordered last year.
A Kickstarter is launching called HowLoud, to map cities all around the country based on urban noise. Gizmodo.com reports that HowLoud…created by a CalTech mathematician…has already mapped Los Angeles and Orange County. It ranks locations specifically enough to be down to a particular side and floor of a building. Real estate company Redfin bought the WalkScore app last year that maps walkability of neighborhoods, so the noise level score of HowLoud may soon become a selling point for homes, too!
Facebook Testing ‘Floating Videos’
Posted: July 7, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Broader spectrum, Cheaper, Facebook, Floating video, Newsfeed, Solar cells, US Army, Video Leave a commentFacebook is testing a new feature, so you may see a new button on the lower right of the control bar at the bottom of videos. Thenextweb.com reports that it allows videos to float, and move to the lower left corner, allowing you to continue to scroll through your newsfeed while watching the video. You can drag the video window anywhere, and it can be shared at any point. It automatically goes away if you click to another Facebook page.
There continue to be advances in solar cell tech, and now the army…yes, the US Army…has built smaller, cheaper, tougher solar cells. According to engadget.com, instead of single crystal silicon, the army has super thin sandwiches of sliver and gold between semiconductor layers. Normally infrared and ultraviolet solar rays heat, warp, and crack all-silicon panels. With the gold an silver layers, they can use a fuller spectrum of solar wavelengths to generate power without that damage. The new panels also generate the same amount of energy regardless of the angle of sunlight…they don’t have to be on expensive, motorized tracking stands. The panels are still in the testing stage, but could be a major breakthrough in solar technology.
Amazon Cloud Drive Now Mobile
Posted: July 6, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Android, Cloud Drive, Department of Defense, Dropbox, Google Drive, Hypersonic jet, iOS, Mach 5, US Air Force Leave a commentAmazon is now live with dedicated apps on both Android and iOS for Cloud Drive. According to techcrunch.com, the Amazon answer to Dropbox, Google Drive, and the rest just got the iOS app over the weekend. The Android app was out in June. Amazon has done this a bit under the radar, with no formal announcements. The mobile versions complement the desktop versions already available, and are aimed at productivity…where previously Amazon had focused more on saving your pictures and music. Amazon’s Unlimited Everything plan lets you store everything in its cloud for just $60 per year. Its Unlimited Photos service is even cheaper at $11.99 per year. Services like Google Drive and Dropbox are much pricier when you start getting up into the terabytes of storage space. Plus, Dropbox individual accounts are capped at 1 TB.
Over all of recorded history-for better or worse- a lot of tech innovation has come from military wants or needs. Here’s a project that could produced amazing results eventually for civilian use if it comes to fruition. The Department of Defense is working to develop a hypersonic jet that could fly anywhere in the world in 4 hours. Military.com says it would fly at Mach 5. The Concorde only flew slightly above Mach 2! Air Force Chief Scientist Mika Endsley hopes a joint project between the Air Force and DoD will have the blazing fast plane airborne before 2023!
NSA Resumes (or Never Quit) Bulk Data Collection-FISA Court Approves
Posted: June 30, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Apple Pay, Bulk data collection, Buy It, FISA Court, iOS, NSA, Pinterest Leave a commentThanks to the approval of the secret FISA Court, the NSA has restarted bulk data collection. The secret court invalidated the Second Circuit Court of Appeal decision from May, saying it was illegal. According to engadget.com, the FISA Court said the ‘Second Circuit Court rulings are not binding,’ The secret court ruled that the 180 day period Congress carved out in the USA Freedom Act, which was just signed by the president June 2nd allows for the continuation…at least for another 6 months.
The long awaited ‘buy’ buttons have rolled out on Pinterest. Cnet.com reports that buyable pins are now available on iPhone and iPad apps. Now, shoppers can buy items directly from Pinterest by clicking the blue ‘Buy It’ button, and using Apple Pay or a credit card. They expect to launch soon on Android.
Increased Storage in Next-Gen iPhones
Posted: June 29, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: A9, Apple, Bing, deCarta, Google, iPhone 6S, Mapping, Memory, Microsoft, Samsung, Uber Leave a commentApple is apparently talking about returning to Samsung for memory in the next iteration of iPhones. 9to5mac.com says they aren’t looking to go over 128 gigs, but will drop the 16 gig model, making 32 gigabytes the entry level memory in the iPhone 6S models. It was already reported that Samsung is supplying the A9 processors. The killer feature that we know of as the phones have entered early production is Force Touch, ported from the Apple Watch.
Microsoft has sold some Bing maps assets to Uber, and along with them, around 100 data collection engineers that worked on Bing. Geekwire.com reports that Uber was already bulking up in the mapping department, having bought mapping software company deCarta in March. Uber has been relying on Google Maps in their app up to now.
Netflix On Track To Be Bigger Than The Combined Broadcast Networks
Posted: June 26, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: ABC, Apple, Applecare, Battery life, Broadcast networks, CBS, FOX, NBC, Netflix, streaming Leave a commentNetflix is on a roll, and heading towards eclipsing ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox. Bgr.com reports that in the first 3 months of 2015, they added 4.9 million new subscribers, bringing the total to 62.3 million. According to a research report from FBR Capital Markets, the 10 billion hours of content streamed over Netflix right now would be like having a Nielsen 24 hour rating of 2.6…that puts Netflix on the level with ABC and NBC right now. If their growth rate continues, by next year, Netflix will pass up all the broadcast networks combined!
Apple has updated the terms of its AppleCare+ Protection Plan for iPhone, iPad, iPod and Apple Watch to cover batteries that retain less than 80% of their original capacity within the extended warranty period. Macrumors.com says before now it only covered batteries that held less than 50% of their original capacity. The change applies to AppleCare+ purchased for iPhone, iPad, iPod and all Apple Watch models on April 9th, 2015 or later.
Cheap Way to Produce Hydrogen Continuously Discovered at Stanford
Posted: June 25, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Electrolysis, Fossil fuels, Hydrogen, OED, Oxford English Dictionary, Stanford Leave a commentHydrogen has been touted for years as a replacement for fossil fuels. It’s been no secret that the most common element in the universe is all around, as it helps make up water. For years, it’s been extracted from water by electrolysis. Now, geek.com says scientists at Stanford have come up with a cheaper, more efficient electrolysis process that can run 24/7. Instead of an anode and cathode and a pH barrier, the new process uses two nickel-iron oxide catalysts that can be right next to each other. The system is 82% efficient, much higher than traditional water electrolysis. If that holds up when they scale it up to mass production size, it may revolutionize making hydrogen at volumes useable by vehicles and heating and cooling plants.
It’s often fun to see what words get added to the venerable Oxford English Dictionary. Arstechnica.com reports that…amongst the 500 new words and phrases added to the latest quarterly update, you can now check the meaning of sexting, photobombing, vaping, crowdfunding, and gems like meh and twerk. Fans of actual good singing will be annoyed to find autotune in the OED now, and netbook now has an entry as well.
Office for Android Now Available on Phones & Roost Battery Opens Orders
Posted: June 24, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, iOS, Kickstarter, Microsoft, Office for Android, Roost Smart Battery, Smartphones, Smoke Alarm, Tablets, wi-fi Leave a commentAfter being dropped for Android tablets in January, theverge.com says Microsoft has released Office for Android smartphones. It’s just about identical to the iOS version…not as robust as the tablet app, but great for quick drafts and edits on your smartphone. It has full Dropbox and OneDrive support for file storage.
Last fall, we covered a Kickstarter for the Roost Smart Battery. Thenextweb.com reports they’ve gone live to the public for preorders. The Roost battery turns your existing smoke alarm into a smart connected one. A 9 volt battery pack is $34.99, and a twin pack is $64.99. You can order through Amazon or GetRoost. They ship in September. The Roost batteries connect over WiFi to your home network, and they have Android and iOS apps for monitoring when you’re away.
iCracked Expands Phone Repair and Warranty Coverage
Posted: June 23, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Facebook, Facial recognition, iCracked, Phone repair, Phone warranty Leave a commentPhone repair service iCracked is looking to expand. Techcrunch.com says they have launched iCracked Advantage, a kind of warranty program for the 40 million people they claim will break phones this year. For 7 bucks a month, you get their same-day, on-demand repair service by a local iTech. Each time you break your phone, it’s a flat $25…including cracked screens, water damage, bad batteries, and home button replacement. A family plan covers 5 devices for $25 a month. According to iCracked’s CEO, 70% of phone owners have no insurance. They plan to have a trade in service up and running by early next year, too. iCracked is in 13 countries right now.
From the more than a little bit creepy department, Facebook has an experimental algorithm they’re working with in their artificial intelligence lab that can recognize people even when it can’t see their faces. According to New Scientist, it picks up other cues like hair cut and style, clothes, face shape, body shape, and more to identify people with 83% accuracy.
clarkreid 
Recent Comments