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!
Will Apple Replace Google for Search On iPhones Next Year?
Posted: November 25, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Bing, Blackberry, Google, iPhone, Microsoft, Oculus, Passport, Samsung, Yahoo Leave a commentA big fight behind the scenes over your iPhone. Theinformation.com says Apple’s deal with Google is up next year, and Yahoo and Microsoft are scrapping to become the default search engine. Siri already relies on Bing for its (or her) search results!
Would you like to get $550 trade-in for your iPhone? Blackberry is offering up to that amount to switch to a Blackberry Passport. Thenextweb.com reports it varies by model, and $150 of it is on a Visa prepaid card, from December through next February.
The Gear VR virtual reality visor is just a start, and more joint Oculus and Samsung products are coming. Cnet.com says that’s according to Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe.He declined to be specific, except to hint about ‘storytelling.’
Google Shopping Gets Cool New Features
Posted: November 24, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Galaxy S5, Google, Google Shopping, MIcro Needle Patches, Samsung Leave a commentJust in time for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Google has improved Google Shopping. 9to5google.com says there’s more detailed information, many items have 360 degree views, there are customer reviews and where something’s in stock.
Scientists at Georgia Tech have developed micro needle patches designed to replace shots. They’re testing in mice right now. Gigaom.com reports you put it on…it’s painless, and take it off in 30 seconds to 5 minutes, and you’re innoculated.
No joy at Samsung…theverge.com reports that Samsung has sold 40% less Galaxy S5 handsets than predicted, down 50% in China, but sales were up in their biggest market, the US.
Amazon’s Warehouse Robots
Posted: November 21, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Biotech, Bleeding, NextGlass, Robots, VetiGel, Wine Leave a commentAmazon has tripled warehouse picker productivity with an army of orange robots, Geek.com says. The robots bring moveable shelves to the pickers, who grab your item and get it on its way to you. The Tracy warehouse is one of 3 equipped with them.
A biotech startup called Suneris has created a plant based polymer gel that can stop a wound’s bleeding in just 20 seconds. Cnet.com reports VetiGel is being FDA tested…it’s already coming out for vets to use on animals.
A free iPhone app claims to use your personal taste to predict whether or not you’ll like a wine you look at at a store. 9to5mac.com says NextGlass takes your input, reads the label, and gives you the verdict.
A Hardware Hit for Amazon- Fire TV Stick
Posted: November 19, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 21 megapixel, Amazon, Chromecast, Code, Disney, DSLR, Fire TV Stick, Frozen, iPhone 7, Sony Leave a commentIn need of a hardware hit after the Fire phone, Amazon is getting it. Techcrunch.com says the Fire TV Stick is their fastest selling hardware ever. The Chromecast competitor is $39, after an advance bargain deal of $19.
Bgr.com reports that next year’s iPhone 7 may have a digital SLR quality camera. It may use a two-lens system to pull that off. What’s not clear is if it will use the just announced Sony 21 megapixel camera sensor.
Code.org has teamed up with Disney to create a coding tutorial starring Anna and Elsa from Disney’s “Frozen.” There are also short videos from women in tech, encouraging young girls to learn programming and go into tech.
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