Apple Investigates Li-Fi for Mobile Devices; GM Quietly Buys Sidecar
Posted: January 19, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, General Motors, iOS, Li-Fi, Lyft, ride-sharing, Self Driving Cars, Sidecar, Uber Leave a commentNot long ago, we reported on Li-Fi, and how it could use light to replace Wi-Fi, only with much more speed and bandwidth. Now, thenextweb.com has found a reference to Li-Fi compatability in Apple’s iOS 9 code and iOS 9.1 firmware. This, along with an Apple patent dug up from 2013 that appears to be a Li-Fi transmitter point to Cupertino baking it in to iOS devices. Don’t look for it by the iPhone 7, though…the infrastructure doesn’t even exist yet…no one’s built a Li-Fi router, for example.
Recently, General Motors dropped $500 million into Uber rival Lyft. The plot thickens, and now it’s been revealed that they have quietly purchased failed rival Sidecar for $30 million. Most of the employees are moving over to GM. It looks like their plans to build autonomous vehicles specifically for ride sharing are heating up. Ford and Mercedes are also working on similar projects. Uber has lots of valuation and a head start, but it looks like the car makers are getting serious about not going the way of the buggy whip.
Apple Owns Smartwatch Market; Skype Adds Mobile Group Video Calling
Posted: January 13, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android Wear, Apple, Apple Watch, Google Hangouts, Mobile group video calling, Skype, Smartwatch Leave a commentMost of 2015, we heard about Apple’s big fail with the Apple Watch, and it’s lackluster sales…all the while Apple claimed it was doing fine. A Juniper Research report picked up by mashable.com shows that Apple was right…fine doesn’t even describe it…Apple grabbed 51.5% of the world smartwatch market in 2015. The numbers aren’t large compared to the 10s of millions of iPhones…only 8.8 million shipped, but over half the market is nothing to sneeze at. Android Wear watches were just 10%. Note that the smartwatch category does NOT count Fitbits.
It’s hard to believe that we’ve had 10 years of free video calling over Skype. Now, the verge.com says Skype has added mobile group video calling to the mix over iOS, Android, and Windows 10 Mobile. Look for it in the coming weeks, but you can preregister now on the company’s dedicated 10th anniversary website to check out an early version. Google Hangouts has had the feature for a while that handles up to 10 friends, but Skype says their group calling can handle up to 25.
Periscope Live Video Tweets in Twitter Stream; Lenovo’s Moto Plans’ Musk on Apple Car
Posted: January 12, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Apple, Apple Car, Elon Musk, Facebook Live Video, Fingerprint sensors, Lenovo, Moto, Motorola, Periscope, Tesla, Twitter Leave a commentTwitter bought Periscope a year ago, and now the live video is available in your feed…in fact, you can broadcast live video directly into your feed without leaving the Twitter app. Businessinsider.com reports that Periscope…which only launched in March 2015…is consistently one of the top 20 social networking apps on iPhone. Twitter hopes this will help engagement, like Facebook has done with Facebook Live Video.
Lenovo is killing the Motorola name for Moto, and now, we hear that all Moto phones in 2016 will have at least 5 inch screens and fingerprint sensors. That’s according to Chen Xudong of Lenovo, in a story from 9to5google.com. For now, at least, Lenovo will use its Vibe brand for smaller and low end phones, and keep Moto as the flagship oriented line. The only down side is they plan to stop using the pure version of Android for a custom version…like almost everyone else.
Elon Musk is on a roll…in an interview yesterday covered by appleinsider.com, he says the Apple electric car is an open secret in Silicon Valley. Musk points out that they’ve hired a thousand engineers, including a number they have poached from Tesla. Musk claims that whatever Apple does automotive-wise won’t hurt Tesla. Apple now holds the domains apple.car, apple.auto, and apple.cars.
More iPhone 7 Rumors; Nest Thermostats Have Battery Problems
Posted: January 8, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Headphone jack, iPhone 7, Low battery, Nest thermostat, Noise reduction, Waterproof, Wireless charging Leave a commentWe just reported yesterday about the possible dual rear cameras iPhones may be getting, and have also covered the likely loss of the 3.5mm headphone jack and waterproofing…as the commercial goes…’but wait…there’s more!’ Apparently, there’s a method to their madness in ditching the headphone jack and making people use the lightening port…and therefore buying new headphones…Apple is working on baking in noise reduction tech for both music and phone calls. Bgr.com says another possible killer feature may be coming…wireless charging! If you are like the 200,000 people mad enough to sign a petition demanding Apple not drop the headphone jack, go ahead and join them…but Apple will surely ignore it and do as it pleases. THAT’s one thing left over from Steve Jobs that will never change!
Lately, my Nest thermostat showed up with a low battery reading, and disconnected from the web. I now find that I’m not alone…there’s apparently a software bug that’s causing this. According to gizmodo.com, Nest has admitted that some people have the problem, and that they are working on it. Nest suggests a manual restart until a fix in in place. I did a modification of this…plugged it into my computer USB port for a hour to charge, then reset the date and time. Interestingly, it loses connection with my wi-fi network and wants to join an unprotected one, so you might check that out, too.
Apple Patent Reveals Possible Two Rear iPhone Cameras; Polaroid Shows 3D Printer
Posted: January 7, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 3D printer, Apple, Dual rear cameras, iPhone, Makerbot, Polaroid Leave a commentAn interesting patent application points to Apple’s possible inclusion of two rear cameras on iPhones. 9to5mac.com reports that they would allow several cool photographic possibilities. One is effectively optical zoom…so you wouldn’t have to crop pictures and degrade the shot. Another is that one camera could shoot still shots at regular resolution while the other could roll on video at the same time. Right now, stills saved out of video have lower resolution. Shooting regular video and slo-mo at the same time is another angle, as is picture in picture. As usual, no idea on when or if Apple will include this feature.
Polaroid, the granddaddy of instant photography…think of the old Land Camera that took instant pictures that popped out and developed before your eyes on old school prints…showed a 3D printer at CES. Sure, 3D printers are popping up like mushrooms, but according to thenextweb.com, this one is particularly user friendly. It’s designed to need far less adjustment than others. Makerbot, for example, needs hundreds of settings rejiggered for every new item. This Polaroid ModelSmart 250s makes most of the adjustments itself. It’s designed to print wood as well as plastic resin…actually 60% real wood, and 40% glue to hold it together. It estimates time for completion, too. Polaroid is shopping for a US distributor, and if they get one, expect it to retail for $2200.
Apple iPhone 7 Rumors & Holiday Sales; New Google Glass Model Leak
Posted: December 29, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Google, Google Glass, iPhone 6S, iPhone 7, phablets, Waterproof Leave a commentAnother rumor has the iPhone 7 being waterproof, and in addition, appleinsider.com is reporting it will used new compound materials to conceal antennas, losing those unsightly plastic antenna cover bars. There is some hand wringing that iPhone 6S sales won’t be as good as the 6 had, but the holidays were great for Apple…according to a Flurry Insights report picked up by appleinsider.com, 49.1% of all devices activated Christmas week were from Apple. Phablets were only 13% of last season’s sales, but this year they grabbed 27% of the device market.
Whether we like it or not, there will be more glassholes. Google Glass lives! Hi resolution images of the next generation Google Glass have showed up on an FCC site. They look almost identical to the previous model, but have a hinge to fold just like regular glasses. The prism is larger, as well, according to arstechnica.com. This version of Google Glass is supposed to be enterprise only, and not intended to retail customers.
Samsung Plans Millions of Galaxy S7 Phones by February; App Finding Apple Pay Merchants Sees Huge Usage Increase
Posted: December 28, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Apple Pay, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, PayFinders, Samsung Leave a commentSamsung is planning a run of 5 million of their next generation flagship Galaxy S7 smartphones ahead of the February rollout. Venturebeat.com reports that 3.3 million will be the 5.2 inch flat screen models, and the rest will be the 5.5 inch model with the curved screen dubbed the Galaxy S7 Edge.
A new app called PayFinders uses crowdsourcing to find merchants that accept Apple Pay. According to appleinsider.com, they had a 750% increase in usage in two days on December 26th and 27th. Apple Maps already has badges showing Apple Pay merchants, but really only the larger chains are represented, and it doesn’t always show all of the stores that have the system.
Google-Password Free Sign In Using Phones; Smaller iPhone 6c…or is it 7?
Posted: December 23, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 6c, 7c, Apple, China Mobile, Google, iPhone, Password-free log in Leave a commentGoogle is testing a way to sign in to your Google account without entering a password. You associate a prime smartphone with the account…locked with a PIN or password. Then, when you want to log in, a notification is sent to that phone. If you click yes, you’re logged in. It’s not super high security, but occasionally asks for a number you have on the phone. Since no password is entered…on a work computer, for example, it can’t be compromised that way. According to 9to5google.com, no word on when or if Google will roll this feature out.
China Mobile just held an event previewing upcoming plans for 2016, and they indicate a 4 inch iPhone which they call iPhone 7 in April, along with the new version of Apple Watch. Most other rumors have this phone as the iPhone 6c. Macrumors.com says it’s supposed to have an aluminum casing like the 5s, and use the A9 processor of the 6s and 6s Plus.
Nexus 6 for $250 at Amazon; Hi-Res Music May be coming to iTunes & Apple Music
Posted: December 21, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Android, Apple, Apple Music, Hi-res, iTunes, Lightening, Marshmallow, Nexus 6 Leave a commentIf you are in the market for a phablet at a great deal, or for a last minute gift for someone you REALLY like, Amazon has a 32 gig Nexus 6 for $249.99 shipped in Cloud White or Midnight Blue. With Amazon Prime, it can be under the tree by the 23rd. 9to5toys.com says the 64 gig model is $299.99, and both come with Android Marshmallow.
A rumor is afoot again that hi-resolution audio is on the way to iTunes and Apple Music. This one is from Japanese blog Macotakara, picked up by 9to5mac.com. The blog claims Apple will have better than CD quality for iTunes sometime next year. The leak is from some manufacturers that make Lightening based headphones, which would support the higher res format.
clarkreid 
Recent Comments