Motorola Makes Some Strong Smartphone Gains
Posted: February 3, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Apple, Google, Lenovo, Motorola, Nest, Radio Shack, Samsung, Sprint Leave a commentThey’re not up there with the big boys like Apple and Samsung, but Motorola did sell 10 million smartphones last quarter. 9to5google.com says that’s up 118 percent! Lenovo says the division will be profitable in a year and a half.
Apparently, Sprint isn’t the only company interested in some of Radio Shack’s 4000 locations. According to gigaom.com, Amazon is looking at dipping its toe into brick and mortar retail. It could show off it’s mobile and living room gadgets with the locations, which could also serve as a physical pick up and drop off for packages.
Citing 3 studies, Google’s Nest claims the learning thermostat pays for itself in less than 2 years with savings on heating and cooling. TechCrunch says heating costs dropped by an average 10-12 percent, cooling by 15 percent.
Amazon Rolls Out Answer to Apple iBooks Author
Posted: January 22, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Apple, iBooks, iPad, Keyboard, Kindle, Self-Cleaning, Smart Cover, Textbook Creator Leave a commentThenextweb.com says Amazon has released it’s Kindle Textbook Creator. A beta that will help educators get their materials onto Kindles is out today. Unlike Apple’s iBooks Author, the Amazon tool can create publications for Android, iPads, Macs, and PCs.
Apple has patented a smarter smart cover. Apple insider.com reports that users could access information by partially opening the smart cover, or use gestures on it to control iPads inside. It could mean less physical buttons on future iPads.
It sounds si-fi, but researchers at UC Riverside, Georgia Institute of Technology, and in China have developed a keyboard that converts strokes into energy, protects your computer from hackers, and is self-cleaning. Cnet.com says no word on when it might be on the market.
Samsung Tizen Phone Coming Soon
Posted: December 22, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Apple Watch, iPhone, Kindle Fire HDX 8.9, Samsung, Tizen, Z-1 Leave a commentAfter several delays, Samsung will release it’s first Tizen powered phone, the Z-1, next month in India. Gigaom.com says it’s not aimed at top line handsets like iPhone and the Galaxy S5, but to break Android’s hold on the medium and lower price markets.
If you’re a procrastinator and want a full sized tablet, Amazon’s Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 is $299 today only. Theverge.com reports that’s 30% off, but you’ll have to spring for expedited shipping to get it by Christmas.
Appleinsider.com notes that a survey by Piper Jaffray indicates potential Apple Watch buyers are taking a wait and see attitude. Only 7% of iPhone buyers presently plan to buy the smart watch. Apple will need a killer app to get that number up.
Amazon’s One Hour Delivery Service is Live
Posted: December 18, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Amazon Prime Now, Android Wear, Coffee, EyeEm, Photo sharing, Texting Leave a commentPrime Now from Amazon is live, at least in New York. Geekwire.com says the one hour delivery service will be rolled out in other cities through next year. It promises to get daily essentials like paper towels and shampoo to you within an hour of ordering.
Texting on a smart watch…sometimes you really don’t want to say things out loud…over and over. The verge.com reports that Coffee for Android Wear is an app with replies you can swipe through for most any scenario…and it’s free.
When just sharing your photos isn’t enough, there’s EyeEm. Thenextweb.com says it lets friends see and share the same edits to pictures. It’s on both iOS and Android. Photo geeks, rejoice!
Apple Watch Production Should Start Next Month
Posted: December 11, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Apple, Apple Watch, e-card, Robinhood, Stock trading, Surprise Leave a commentApple and suppliers have solved yield issues with some components, and macrumors.com says Apple Watch mass production should start in January. Apple is projecting shipping 24 million watches next year.
Those people who are too lazy to even grab a gift card at the store are in luck…Amazon has launched ‘Surprise.’ Engadget.com reports you can send an e-card with a voucher for a gift. Ahh, the personal touch!
Stock trading for free hits the iPhone with an app called Robinhood. Techcrunch.com says you can track, buy or sell. There’s a waiting list, but sign up now, and you could be trading in a couple months.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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