The Internet of Things & Your Local Watering Hole
Posted: January 11, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Apple Watch, Beer, iKeg, Internet of things, Moto 360, Orbis, Samsung, Steady Serve, Tizen Leave a commentThe internet of things hits the local pub. Geekwire.com says Steady Serve technologies showed the iKeg at CES this week. It lets bartenders know how much beer is left in a keg. No more lifting and shaking 100 pound kegs!
9to5google.com reports that Samsung will rollout a round faced smartwatch at Mobile World Congress next month. It’s code named Orbis, and runs Samsung’s Tizen system, not Android, and is aimed ‘squarely’ at Motorola’s Moto 360.
Even though they love to hate each other, Samsung and Apple are still partners. Macrumors.com says Samsung will supply the processor, RAM, flash memory, and other internals for the upcoming Apple Watch.
Apple’s HomeKit Won’t Need Apple TV- Except to Use Siri
Posted: January 10, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, CarPlay, GoPro, Harman, Homekit, Integrated Essentials Cockpit, Siri Leave a comment
More is out about Apple’s Home Kit. The good news is, it won’t need Apple TV for a hub. Cnet.com says the downside is that it needs Apple TV to use Siri to control it from outside your network. That may be temporary, according to Homekit partners.
Bgr.com reports that GoPro’s Hero 4 cameras are about to get better. The Silver and Black editions are getting a firmware upgrade in a couple months that auto converts time lapses into videos, and gives you burst mode and auto rotate.
Stereo maker Harman has rolled out a touchscreen free Carplay competitor called Integrated Essentials Cockpit. 9to5mac.com says It puts the controls on your steering wheel, and the display is centered between the speedometer and tachometer. So far, no word on what car makers may use it.
LG One Ups Samsung With Two Edge Screens
Posted: January 8, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Edge screen, GoPro, HTC, LG, Nest, RE, Samsung, Sensibo Leave a commentAnother player besides Samsung is getting into the 2nd edge screen field. Bgr.com says LG is showing a handset with TWO edge screens at CES, in addition to a curved main screen.
Techcrunch.com reports that for those with window air conditioners, that can’t use a Nest, startup Sensibo has a unit that attaches to your non-central air so you can control it from your smartphone. It starts at $159.
HTC’s RE action camera can now stream live footage to YouTube. Theverge.com says for now, the software update is only for Android, with iOS streaming coming later. Unlike GoPro, it does need to be connected to your phone, but even the $199 model can do it.
Moto Relaunches Smartphone Line in China
Posted: January 7, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: iPhone 6, LG, Moto G, Moto X, Motorola, Reach 79, Signal Strength, Twin Wash Leave a commentMotorola is returning to China next month. 9to5google.com says after being acquired by Lenovo, they’ll begin selling the Moto X, Moto X Pro, and Moto G. The X Pro is basically the same as a Nexus 6.
Smarter appliances are coming on fast, and LG has rolled out the Twin Wash washer. Geekwire.com reports it sports a regular front load washer, and a mini one in the pedestal base, so you can do 2 loads at once!
A lot of iPhone cases add battery life, but Reach 79 has rolled out one for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus that doubles signal strength. Macrumors.com says they’re $60 and $70 respectively, and will help battery life since the phone won’t have to work as hard getting a signal.
Apple Now Selling Unlocked, SIM-less iPhone 6 in the US
Posted: January 6, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android TV, Apple, Bravia, Canvio, Google 'Cast, SIM, Sony, Toshiba, Unlocked Leave a commentApple is starting to sell unlocked iPhone 6 and 6 Plus without SIMs in the US. Techcrunch.com says there’s no difference in pricing…the 6 will start at $649 and the Plus at $749 unlocked and SIM free.
Thenextweb.com reports that all Sony 2015 Bravia TVs will run on the Android TV system. This means they will all be able to use Google’s new ‘cast’ technology for wireless music streaming.
Toshiba has announced that their newest Canvio portable hard drives will stash up to 3 terabytes of your stuff. Engadget.com says to expect to pay a bit more than for similar desktop drives.
Samsung Shows Galaxy S6 to Vendors
Posted: January 5, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Belkin, Galaxy S6, Samsung, Seagate, WeMo Leave a commentSamsung is showing the new Galaxy S6 at CES, but only to select partners. 9to5google.com says SamMobile indicates it will be revealed to carriers and accessory makers. They will probably unveil it to all at Mobile World Congress next month.
According to gigaom.com, Belkin is showing 4 new sensors to its WeMo line of connected home products this week. Door and window sensors, a keychain proximity sensor, and smoke alarm sensor.
Drive maker Seagate is showing off new ultra-slim drives. Engadget.com reports that the portable 500 Gig Model 7 is 7 millimeters thick, and will be $100.
From HD to 4K to 8K-The Video Quality Arms Race Continues
Posted: January 2, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 4K, 8K, CES, Exploit, HD, iCloud, LG, Office Mobile, Sony, Windows Leave a commentJust as higher def 4K TVs are finding their ways into living rooms, Sony and LG are planning to show 8K TVs at CES next week. Bgr.com says a side benefit should be lower prices for 4K TVs this year.
After sprucing up Office Mobile on iOS and Android, gigaom reports that Microsoft will add more touch features for its Windows Mobile version in the next 6 weeks.
A hacker has released an exploit claimed to be able to break into any iCloud account. Businessinsider.com reports iDict has been tried by some Reddit users, and seems to work. No word yet from Apple on a fix.
The Second Coming of Palm
Posted: January 1, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Palm, Samsung, Smart TVs, Tizen, Twitter Leave a commentBefore smartphones, a lot of us had Palm Pilots. Palm may be rising again. Thenextweb.com says a Chinese company has bought the Brand, and posted ‘coming soon’ at Palm.com.
Samsung hasn’t gotten much traction using their Tizen operating system on smartphones, but reuters.com reports that their smart TVs in 2015 will be running the operating system.
Twitter is starting to roll out a ‘while you were away’ recap feature to users. Techcrunch.com says it resemble’s Facebook’s timeline, and is Twitter’s first major non-chronological feature.
A Smartphone Maker Besides Apple Had a Banner Year
Posted: December 31, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Apple Pay, Dyson, Huawei, LED lamps Leave a commentApple’s not the only smartphone maker with big increases in 2014. Reuters.com says Huawei’s smartphone sales are up 40%, and revenues by a third. They shipped 75 million smartphones in 2014.
9to5mac.com reports that iPhone 6 users are finding that cards can’t be added back into Apple Pay after a restore of the phone. So far, the only fix is for Apple to replace the phone.
A $2000 light bulb will be out in May. Developed by Dyson, of vacuum and fan fame, it lasts 40 years. Bgr.com says the LED lamp will save enough energy to be worth it in difficult to access commercial spots like airport and mall ceilings.
HTC Goes Big With High Megapixel Cams in New Smartphone
Posted: December 30, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Art Slim, CES, Hima, HTC, LG, Milk VR, Samsung, Virtual Reality 2 CommentsHTC will show it’s new flagship smartphone, code named ‘Hima’ at CES next week. 9to5google.com says it has a 5 inch screen and a 20.7 megapixel camera, and a 13 megapixel front facing ‘selfie’ camera!
LG has rolled out a new ‘Art Slim’ series of TV’s that are 75% slimmer! They’ll be showing off a .3 thick 55 inch one next week, and cnet.com reports the 65 inch screen is barely thicker. They’re 25% lighter weight, too!
Virtual reality headsets are cool, but you need content, and now Samsung has introduced a service called Milk VR featuring 360 degree content. TechCrunch.com notes that Samsung wants it to become the YouTube of VR content.
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