Improved Touch ID & More Secure Apple Pay on Next iPhone
Posted: February 10, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Apple Pay, iPad Mini, iPhone, Jet Bleu, Locket, ScreenPop, Touch ID Leave a commentThe next generation iPhone will have an upgraded Touch ID, that will be more accurate and have a safer Apple Pay experience. Mac rumors.com cites generally reliable KGI Securities, which also says to expect the new Apple hero phone third quarter.
Speaking of Apple Pay, Jet Blue will be the first to use the system for in-flight purchases. Gigaom.com reports flight attendants will use iPad Minis with card readers, so those without Apple Pay can buy an adult beverage or meal with an old fashioned credit card.
The makers of Locket, the mobile app that brings personalized news and other stories to Android lock screens, are out with ScreenPop. Techcrunch.com says the app lets users send pictures, doodles, emoji, and more from lock screens. An iOS version is in the works.
Ubuntu Smartphone On The Way
Posted: February 7, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, BQ, Cortana, Elite Reviewers, Google Maps, iOS, Local Guide, Microsoft, Microsoft Office, Ubuntu, Yelp Leave a commentAs if the mobile world needed another operating system, and that Android and iOS didn’t dominate the landscape, there’s a smartphone running geek favorite Ubuntu coming out from Spanish maker BQ. It will roll out in Europe with a yet to be announced web only flash sale, tipped on the BQ and Ubuntu Twitter feed and Facebook accounts, according to thenextweb.com. The $195 smartphone has a 4.5 inch screen and dual SIM card slots.
Microsoft Office is going to have an assistant again…and not the annoying paperclip. The verge.com says Microsoft is testing a Work Assistant app that uses Cortana, to open, edit, and share documents using voice commands and Cortana. If it works as planned, the Cortana-based assistant will be particularly helpful on mobile versions of Windows, Android, and iOS.
Google Maps for Android has added a Local Guide, which rivals Yelp’s Elite Reviewers. It is just about to be officially rolled out, but you can get it over at bgr.com and download it now. BGR also has a link for you to sign up as a Local Guide reviewer.
Android’s Billion Phone Year
Posted: January 31, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, DARPA, Google, iTunes, Robots, YouTube Leave a commentA huge milestone has been passed by Android. 9to5google.com says there were a billion Android smartphones shipped in 2014. Strategy Analytics says they had expected the billion number, but only with tablets added in. China was a big help to pushing that number…sales there have doubled since 2012.
Over at Apple, an updated version of iTunes was just released. Thenextweb.com reports that version 12.1 includes a new widget that lets you see what’s playing, skip ahead, and buy songs right from the widget.
DARPA, the folks that basically gave us the internet, has a new futuristic project. Engadget.com says they are developing new tech that lets robots learn from YouTube videos! The idea is to teach the machines not only to collect data, but how to act on it. Don’t expect the rise of the machines to happen any time soon, though!
Full Microsoft Office Hits Android and iOS
Posted: January 29, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, iOS, lithium-ion battery, Microsoft, Microsoft Office, Water repellant Leave a commentOffice for Android is completely live. Microsoft announced on their official blog that the ‘Preview’ has been lifted, and you can download free Office apps from the Google Play Store. Outlook is also now full featured for iOS on the Apple App Store. You do need an Office 365 subscription though.
MIT startup SolidEnergy may have cracked the code for better smartphone battery life. Bgr.com says they’ve built a lithium-ion battery with an ultra thin anode and special electrolyte that can double battery life…and it will be out this year!
Scientists at University of Rochester have developed super water repellant metal and other materials using lasers. Theverge.com reports that earlier chemical treated surfaces tended to lose the repellency, but this can’t be rubbed off.
Nokia Is Going to Build An Aluminum Body Tablet
Posted: December 26, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Bullitt, Kodak, LG, Mercedes-Benz, Nokia, Ruggedized, Self Driving, tablet Leave a commentNokia is jumping back into the tablet business. Slashdot.org says they’ll launch a one piece aluminum bodied tablet running Android Lollypop in China on January 7th.
Legendary film company Kodak is going to roll out a smartphone at the Consumer Electronics Show. According to engadget.com, the Android phone will be made for them by British firm Bullitt, who make the ruggedized Caterpiller phones.
LG and Mercedes-Benz are partnering to make a system to power self driving cars. Techcrunch.com says the system is based on LG’s Advanced Drive Assist Program. LG’s entertainment systems are also slated to go into Mercedes cars.
More Picture Space For Your Smartphone
Posted: November 14, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Android, family, iOS, iPhone, Kindle, Photos, PhotoShrinker, Selfie Leave a commentIf you take a lot of selfies, and are always running out of space, there’s a new app called PhotoShrinker. Techcrunch.com says it’s out for iOS and Android, and will compress your photos to a tenth their original size, making room for more. The shrunken pix look fine online, etc. but save a normal copy for any you intend to make large, actual prints from.
Appleinsider.com reports that the iPhone 6 is outselling the larger 6 Plus by a 3 to one margin in the US. The study comes from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners. The average storage size is now 48 gigs, which shows that more people are buying the 64 gig and 128 gig models…which means more profit for Apple.
A nice feature in the latest Kindle software just being pushed out…gigaom.com says Family Library lets people with Amazon accounts linked to family members share ebooks others have downloaded.
Fitness Tracking Hats & Googly-Eyed Smartphones
Posted: November 11, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Aka, Android, Cellular, Crowdsourcing, Fitness Trackers, Geofencing, iOS, LG, Lifeboat, Tamagotchi, Windows Leave a commentThere are lots of fitness trackers you wear like a watch or bracelet…how about one for your head? Lifeboat is making hats and visors that track heart rate, cadence, gait, steps and calorie consumption. Cnet.com says they’re $99 and work with Android, Windows, or iOS.
Appleinsider.com reports that Apple’s been granted a patent that uses geofencing and crowdsourcing to pinpoint dead spots in cellular networks. It’s good for users, but phone carriers will hate it!
LG has rolled out midrange smartphones with Tamagotchi like personalities. Gigaom.com says if you like a phone with big, googly eyes, check out the Aka line.
Amazon Prime Adds Free Photo Storage
Posted: November 4, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Alienware, Amazon, Amazon Prime, Android, Apple Pay, Google Wallet, HP, iOS, Macs, NFC, PC, Softcard, Windows Phone Leave a commentYou can never have too many backups, and now if you have Amazon Prime, you get unlimited photo storage in the cloud, according to theverge.com. Note that this will work on PCs, Android, and iOS, but not yet on Macs. Amazon says that’s coming. Keep in mind that cloud storage is great for convieninece, but do keep a local backup or 3 of your pictures.
Apple Pay has grabbed a big chunk of the pay with your phone market, even though Google Wallet was already available. Now, gigaom.com reports that Windows phone users can make payments at NFC retail terminals with the Softcard app.
HP is taking orders for a new gaming laptop to compete with Alienware models. Engadget.com says the big plus for the $1500, 15.6 inch touch screen rig is that it’s noticeably thinner than Alienware machines. It will ship this month.
Another Car Line Getting Android in the Dash
Posted: October 2, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Civic, HDTV, Honda, Lumia, Mirroring, Roku, T-Mobile, Windows Leave a commentWe’re seeing more and more of the connected car. Next year, Honda Civic models will run Android. Engadget.com says they’ll sport a 7 inch, customizable touch screen display that will act a lot like a smartphone.
If you’re a bargain hunter or on a budget, check the Lumia 530 at T-Mobile. Gigaom.com says it’s $79.80 off contract. The Windows smartphone will be available October 15th, with pre-ordering starting Sunday.
Set top box maker Roku has enabled screen mirroring from some Android smart devices and Windows devices to your HDTV. 9to5google.com says you can mirror apps, photos, games, and the web on your smart device and your big screen.
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