Google Plans Apple Watch Access from Android
Posted: April 12, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Alibaba, Amazon, Android, Apple Watch, eBay, Excel, Google, iPhone, Microsoft, Office Remote, Paypal, Powerpoint, Shoefitr, Windows, Word, Zappos Leave a commentGoogle seems poised to pull something clever regarding the Apple Watch. Businessinsider.com notes they may be building support for the iPhone into their Android Wear smartwatch software. The present Android wear smartwatches only work with Android phones, and of course Apple Watch only talks to iPhones.
According to forbes.com, Paypal will be allowed to work with Amazon and Alibaba after the split from eBay later this year. The parent company has been positioning Paypal as a ‘true neutral third party’ to commerce and retail clients. In the short term, eBay will remain Paypal’s biggest client, however.
Microsoft has launched without fanfare a new Android app that lets you control Powerpoint presentations on a PC from your Android smartphone. Thenextweb.com reports says the Office Remote app also works with Excel and Word. The remote app has previously only been available on Windows phones.
Amazon has quietly acquired Shoefitr, a startup that uses 3D tech to help match online shoppers with shoes that will fit them better. TechCrunch.com says it’s unclear so far if they will operate it as a freestanding site, roll it into their Zappos subsidiary, or both.
New Features for Microsoft Outlook on Android & iOS
Posted: April 2, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, apps, Chrome, Drone, Flimmer, Google, iOS, Microsoft, Navy, Outlook Leave a commentMicrosoft has updated Outlook for both iOS and Android, according to thenextweb.com. It now shows the full blown address book, there’s a 3 day landscape view of Calendar, and you can now enter zero length meetings & cancel appointments.
Google has expanded App Runtime for Chrome, allowing all developers to make Android apps that will run on any PC or Mac with a Chrome browser. Engadget.com warns that even so, not all mobile apps will play well, but expect many to join Evernote and Vine on your desktop.
The Navy is developing a duck-like drone. Dubbed the Flimmer, engadget.com says it will fly around looking for subs, and then can poke its nose into the water for a better look. They’re trying to improve it’s ability to dive into choppy seas at this point.
Swiss Luxury Watch Maker Joins the Smartwatch World
Posted: March 19, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Apple Watch, Cabs, Carrera, CDs, Digital Downloads, Intel, OpenStreetCAb, Smartwatch, streaming, Tag Heuer, Uber Leave a commentThe Swiss are getting into the smart watch market in a big way. Ahead of the Apple Watch drop, Tag Heuer has unveiled a luxury smart watch. Reuters.com says it’s got Intel inside, and runs Android. It looks just like a real Carrera, and could be on wrists by fall.
Streaming music sales have gone from 5% of the market 5 years ago to 27 percent last year. Cnet.com reports that stream sales hit $1.87 billion in 2014, slipping by CDs, which took in $1.85 billion. Digital downloads like iTunes dropped again, but still accounted for a whopping $2.58 billion!
Right now, it’s just in New York, but there’s an app out called OpenStreetCab that both Uber and the cab companies hate. According to bgr.com, it compares, and tells you which is the cheapest. The data so far suggests it’s Uber for longer rides, cabs for a shorter one.
iPhone Fitness App Won’t Activate Until You Pair With Apple Watch
Posted: March 14, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Apple Watch, Cortana, Einstein Project, Electricity through the air, Fitness app, iOS, Microsoft Leave a commentA developer has discovered that the Fitness app does exist on iPhones in iOS 8.2. Macrumors.com says it apparently doesn’t appear until you pair the phone with Apple Watch…then you get a comprehensive overview of your daily activity and workout history. Apple has been pushing health and fitness as a prime reason to spring for the watch, which is out April 24th.
Microsoft’s Cortana digital assistant is apparently coming to Android and iOS. According to Reuters.com, it may be ready to drop along with the desktop version when Windows 10 is released this fall. The managing director of the Einstein project, which is building it, says it can read and understand email.
Electricity in the air? Yes, and not just a figure of speech. Scientists at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency have just used microwaves to send 1.8 kilowatts of electricity 180 feet through the air to a device! Rt.com notes that’s enough to power a microwave oven! An eventual goal is to transmit solar energy collected and converted to electricity in space down to the surface where we can use it!
Mystery Color & Maybe Third Model of Galaxy S6
Posted: March 12, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Apple, Chromebook, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Internet of things, iPhone, Mystery Color, Samsung, USB type C Leave a commentThere’s a lot of buzz about Samsung’s new Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, and most features are known, but it looks like Samsung has ‘one more thing.’ Bgr.com says in addition to white, black, pale gold, and either ‘blue topaz’ for the S6 or ‘green emerald’ on the Edge, a mystery 5th color will be revealed later…and maybe a third model!
Apple is moving on the internet of things. A new patent shows an iPhone dock with audio, wireless, a touch sensitive display, and proximity sensors. According to Techcrunch.com, it’s a future control center for your connected Apple home.
Last week, the new Macbook rolled out with just one port…the reversible USB Type C. Now, engadget.com reports that Google is very committed to the multi-use port, and it may be showing up on Android phones and Chromebooks in the very near future.
New Blazingly Fast Set Top Box/Game System Coming
Posted: March 4, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 4K, Android, Android Wear, Apple, Google, iOS, LG G Wach, Moto 360, No dropped calls, Nvidia, Set Top Box, The Shield, Wireless signal data, Xbox 360 Leave a commentNvidia, known for their video cards, is bringing out a set top box called The Shield. TechCrunch.com says the $199 box runs Android, and will be out in May. It’s also a gaming console, and supports 4K video. They claim double the performance of an Xbox 360.
According to appleinsider.com, Google is planning to develop an Android Wear app for iOS. This would allow owners of Moto 360 and LG G Watches and other Android Wear devices to use them with iPhones and iPads. Look for it at the I/O Conference in May.
Apple has patented using wireless signal data for vehicle navigation. Gigaom.com reports this would let you plan a route with strong cell signals and no dead spots…it might take longer, but with no dropped calls.
Tim Cook on the Apple Car….Keys
Posted: February 28, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Apple, Apple Car, Apple Watch, Car Keys, Ford, Lower Emissions, Parking, Self Driving, YouTube Leave a commentAlthough he was characteristically mum about an Apple car, CEO Tim Cook did tease about cars in London. Geekwire.com reports he said in an interview that the Apple Watch is designed to be able to replace car keys and what he called ‘the clumsy, large fobs’ which are now used by many vehicles. Apple already has a patent on smartphone tech to unlock cars.
Ford is working on cutting car emissions by speeding parking. Arstechnica.com says the automaker is looking towards self driving cars, and using off the shelf parts and a crowdsourced, real time database, your car would head right to a parking space. Ford claims 20-30% of vehicle emissions now come from hunting for parking.
YouTube for Android is getting a useful…and some say overdue…feature. According to thenextweb.com, you can finally trim videos. It’s reportedly precise enough to nearly edit down to the frame. A preview allows you to check your work before finalizing the upload.
Trade In Your Old Surface for a Surface Pro 3
Posted: February 19, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Do, Firefox, IFTTT, Inbox by Gmail, iPad, iPhone, Microsoft, Safari, Surface Pro 3, Trade in Leave a commentBecause everybody likes a deal, Microsoft is offering trade in credit on the Surface Pro 3. Cnet.com says you can get up to $650 in credit for your old Surface tablet on a 3, but only at Microsoft’s online site and from now until March 8th.
That OTHER tablet now has Inbox by Gmail. According to thenextweb.com, Google has released its invite only mail app for the iPad now. It works with Safari and Firefox, as well as Chrome. If you do have an invite, it’s available at the App Store now.
IF triple T has released a flurry of ‘DO’ apps for Android and iPhone. Gigaom.com says they just give you a big, simple button to do something when you’re ready…send pics to your family, turn on your connected thermostat, or send a document to Evernote with one press instead of a series of clicks and swipes.
Microsoft Opens Up Office To Other Cloud Services
Posted: February 17, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Apple, Box, Citrix, Dropbox, iOS, Microsoft Office, Salesforce, Video Headset Leave a commentMicrosoft has announced cloud storage integration for Office with other than their own cloud service. According to office.com, one of Redmond’s official blogs, in addition to OneDrive and Dropbox, you now have built in file integration for iPad and iPhone. They are also working on Android, Salesforce, Box and Citrix.
Patentlyapple.com reports that Apple has patented a video headset that you slide an iPhone or iPod into for the video. It has picture in picture, so you can still see your surroundings or view email and the like. It’s controlled by haptic touch and Siri.
Worldwide, 1.2 billion smartphones were sold last year, according to German analysts GfK, in a report picked up by tech crunch.com. That was a 23% increase, mainly powered by bigger screen models and South America. They see 14% growth this year, due to saturation of countries in Asia.
Microsoft Apps Coming to Android Via Samsung
Posted: February 15, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Apple, Aviate, Google Play, iCloud, iWork, Microsoft, Office, Samsung, Skype, Yahoo Leave a commentMicrosoft appears to be making a major move to invade Android’s turf. Business insider.com has picked up a report from Sam Mobile that says Redmond may have cut a deal to have apps like Microsoft Office Mobile, OneNote, OneDrive, and Skype pre-loaded on the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S6. We’ll know for sure March 1st when the S6 is introduced.
If you’ve been wanting to use Apple iWork apps on other than your home Mac, you’re in luck. Apple has made Pages, Numbers, and Keynote accessible through iCloud Beta to users without an apple device. Mac rumors.com says you get a gig of storage when you sign up for a free iCloud account.
The contextual home screen for Android called Aviate, which changes through the day to suit your needs, has added search outside the US. Engadget.com reports that the app…which was bought by Yahoo last year…is a free download from Google Play.
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