Privacy Based App Store Coming
Posted: December 10, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, apps, Blackphone, Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Netflix, original series, Privacy, PrivatOS, Spaces Leave a commentThe ultra-secure Blackphone is getting its own privacy-focused app marketplace. Bgr.com says it’s called Spaces, and will roll out with a major system update to the PrivatOS early next year.
People who love their Netflix and especially binge watching series will be cheered about this…the verge.com reports that over the next 5 years, the streaming content provider plans to have 20 original series running!
Amazon’s Fire TV and Fire TV Stick can now run web apps. Techcrunch.com says as an incentive to lure app developers, Amazon is allowing them to make money from their apps on Amazon.
StoreDot- Working On Way to Charge Smartphones in Seconds
Posted: December 9, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Battery, Charge in seconds, HTC One M-9, iPhone 6 Plus, StoreDot, trolls, Trustev Leave a commentFrom the ‘I want it now’ department….forward.com says an Israeli co. has developed tech that can charge a mobile phone in seconds and electric car in minutes. StoreDot’s battery uses ‘nano-dots.’ No word on when it may be out.
Leaked pictures indicate that next year’s HTC One M-9 may be 5.2 inches, just a little over the size of the M-8. Bgr.com cautions that earlier information points to it being 5.5 inches, the size of the iPhone 6 Plus.
Thenextweb.com reports that a company called Trustev has developed tech they say can ban trolls for good. They say they use a digital fingerprint, so even IP addresses or using vpn, trolls can be barred.
Samsung Gear VR Virtual Reality Headset
Posted: December 8, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Encore Mini, Galaxy Gear VR, Microsoft, Netflix, Note 4, Samsung, Toshiba, Tweet, Virtual Reality Leave a commentBecause actual reality is never enough, Samsung’s Gear VR virtual reality headset is now on sale for $199. The verge.com says you can pick it up through Samsung’s US sites or AT&T. It fits around the Galaxy Note 4, making it a mobile VR display.
Microsoft is ringing in the 12 days of holiday deals with a $79 Toshiba tablet. According to CNET.com, that’s $20 off for the Encore Mini Windows 8.1 tablet…cheap enough for gifting to a youngster.
As if you weren’t addicted enough to Netflix, and binge watching, bgr.com reports that they have new features in the works. Upcoming series have a Tweet Me a Reminder button…the first one is ‘Marco Polo,’ which premieres December 12th.
More On ‘Project Zero’- the Upcoming Samsung Galaxy S6
Posted: December 5, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Foxconn, Galaxy S6, Microsoft, Robots, Samsung, Windows 10 Leave a commentA big leak has outed the Samsung Galaxy S6 specifications. 9to5google.com says it will have a metal body, ditching the cheap plastic, and a 20 mp main camera. It’s expected to roll out in March.
Apple supplier Foxconn is finding their new robots aren’t precise enough to build iPhones. Macrumors.com reports that an upgrade to the so-called ‘Foxbots’ may take years. The present ones were scaled from machines that build cars.
Microsoft is still planning to launch Windows 10 by late summer or early fall, according to Microsoft COO Kevin Turner. ZDnet.com says they will show the first preview of the system in January.
White Label Products From Amazon For Prime Customers
Posted: December 4, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Elements, iPhone 6, Phablet, Prime, Private Label, Wickr Leave a commentAmazon has rolled out Elements-private label household products for Prime members today. Geekwire.com says the first two products are diapers and wipes. The company is promising a very granular level of ingredient information.
9to5mac.com has picked up a report from Kantar data that shows the iPhone 6 Plus captured 41% of all US phablet sales third quarter. The iPhone 6 was the best selling iOS device.
Thenextweb.com reports that Wickr, the ultra secure, self-destructing messaging app, is now available on OS X, Windows, and Linux. Like on mobile, there’s multi-layer encryption, and no storage on servers.
New Bluetooth Standard Helps Privacy & the Internet of Things
Posted: December 3, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Bluetooth 4.2, Gmail, Google Drive, Limited Edition, Microsoft Office, Playstation 4, Privacy Leave a commentThe new Bluetooth 4.2 specification is out. Engadget.com says It even further reduces power use, bulks up on privacy, and for the growing internet of things…can connect with your router directly to the internet without needing wifi. Look for it to show up on devices in 2015.
Venturebeat.com reports that Google Drive now lets you edit Microsoft Office document attachments right from Gmail. Click an icon, and you can convert them to Google’s formats.
Sony has announced a gray Limited Edition, 20th Anniversary Playstation 4. Geek.com says it is on sale today in Japan, with US preorders starting the 6th. 12,300 will be made, and it’s $499.
Apple Patents Way For iPhones to Minimize Drop Damage
Posted: December 2, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Apple TV, Blockly, Chromecast, dropping, Google, iPhone, Made With Code, National Park Service, patent, Roku, streaming Leave a commentApple has patented a system that makes your phone turn in mid-drop, almost like a cat, to minimize damage from dropping. Techcrunch.com says it an older vibration motor than the iPhone 6 and 6+, so a variation may make it into future phones.
The first three quarters of this year, 10 percent of households with broadband bought at least one streaming player, according to cnet.com. Roku still leads the pack with 29% of streaming, with Google’s Chromecast at 20%, and Apple TV at 17%.
Google is partnering with the National Park Service to let kids program and animate the Christmas trees at the White House’s President’s park. Engadget.com says the Made with Code Holiday Lights Project is in the simple Blockly language.
Amazon Tablets & E-Readers On Fire
Posted: December 1, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Apple, Chromebook, e-books, e-reader, Fire, Google, iPad, libraries, tablet 3 CommentsGeekwire.com says Amazon Fire tablet sales tripled and e-reader sales almost quadrupled on Black Friday. Amazon was the #3 tablet seller last holiday season, but then fell off to 5th. No word on the hapless Fire phone’s sales.
Speaking of e-readers, gizmodo.com reports that 95% of US public libraries now carry e-books. This is according to a survey by Library journal, and it’s an increase from 89% that checked out e-books last year. Most carry a little over 20,000 e-titles.
Apple’s tablet sales have slowed up to now, and 9to5google.com says Google sold more Chromebooks to US schools third quarter than Apple sold them iPads. Chromebook’s $199 price is given as the primary reason.
Samsung Working On Premium iPhone Competitor
Posted: November 28, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Blu-Ray, Galaxy A7, nano-coating, Samsung, Solar Panels, Stanford Leave a commentSamsung may announce one of it’s most promising phones soon. Bgr.com says it’s the Galaxy A7. It has a 5.2 inch screen and better specs than the S5, but has a metal case for a more ‘premium’ look and feel.
Some scientists may have come up with a way to get more than 10-15% efficiency out of solar panels. Geek.com says hey imprint them with little bumps and pits like a Blu Ray Disk for a 22% boost in efficiency.
Stanford engineers have cooked up a nano-coating that reflects heat away AND directs internal heat away. Slashdot.org reports it can cool a building an extra 9 degrees.
Fire Sale on Amazon Fire Phones
Posted: November 26, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Bing Maps, Clearflow, e-paper, Fire phone, Microsoft, Navteq, Nokia, smart watch, Sony Leave a commentYep, there’s a fire sale on Amazon Fire phones. Already 99 cents with a 2 year AT&T contract, geekwire.com says now you can buy an unlocked one for $199, down from $649 when it came out. How long before they have to promise that Bezos will deliver yours in person?
Sony may roll out an e-paper smart watch next year. Gigaom.com reports that in addition to the face, the entire band will be an e-paper display. Taking a page from Apple’s playbook, Sony will try for style.
Microsoft has just launched Clearflow for its Bing Maps. Engadget.com says they use Nokia’s Navteq system, but use live data from main roads to essentially guess traffic on unreported routes. Good luck!
clarkreid 
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