The Internet of Things & Your Local Watering Hole
Posted: January 11, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Apple Watch, Beer, iKeg, Internet of things, Moto 360, Orbis, Samsung, Steady Serve, Tizen Leave a commentThe internet of things hits the local pub. Geekwire.com says Steady Serve technologies showed the iKeg at CES this week. It lets bartenders know how much beer is left in a keg. No more lifting and shaking 100 pound kegs!
9to5google.com reports that Samsung will rollout a round faced smartwatch at Mobile World Congress next month. It’s code named Orbis, and runs Samsung’s Tizen system, not Android, and is aimed ‘squarely’ at Motorola’s Moto 360.
Even though they love to hate each other, Samsung and Apple are still partners. Macrumors.com says Samsung will supply the processor, RAM, flash memory, and other internals for the upcoming Apple Watch.
Apple’s HomeKit Won’t Need Apple TV- Except to Use Siri
Posted: January 10, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, CarPlay, GoPro, Harman, Homekit, Integrated Essentials Cockpit, Siri Leave a comment
More is out about Apple’s Home Kit. The good news is, it won’t need Apple TV for a hub. Cnet.com says the downside is that it needs Apple TV to use Siri to control it from outside your network. That may be temporary, according to Homekit partners.
Bgr.com reports that GoPro’s Hero 4 cameras are about to get better. The Silver and Black editions are getting a firmware upgrade in a couple months that auto converts time lapses into videos, and gives you burst mode and auto rotate.
Stereo maker Harman has rolled out a touchscreen free Carplay competitor called Integrated Essentials Cockpit. 9to5mac.com says It puts the controls on your steering wheel, and the display is centered between the speedometer and tachometer. So far, no word on what car makers may use it.
Apple Now Selling Unlocked, SIM-less iPhone 6 in the US
Posted: January 6, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android TV, Apple, Bravia, Canvio, Google 'Cast, SIM, Sony, Toshiba, Unlocked Leave a commentApple is starting to sell unlocked iPhone 6 and 6 Plus without SIMs in the US. Techcrunch.com says there’s no difference in pricing…the 6 will start at $649 and the Plus at $749 unlocked and SIM free.
Thenextweb.com reports that all Sony 2015 Bravia TVs will run on the Android TV system. This means they will all be able to use Google’s new ‘cast’ technology for wireless music streaming.
Toshiba has announced that their newest Canvio portable hard drives will stash up to 3 terabytes of your stuff. Engadget.com says to expect to pay a bit more than for similar desktop drives.
A Smartphone Maker Besides Apple Had a Banner Year
Posted: December 31, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Apple Pay, Dyson, Huawei, LED lamps Leave a commentApple’s not the only smartphone maker with big increases in 2014. Reuters.com says Huawei’s smartphone sales are up 40%, and revenues by a third. They shipped 75 million smartphones in 2014.
9to5mac.com reports that iPhone 6 users are finding that cards can’t be added back into Apple Pay after a restore of the phone. So far, the only fix is for Apple to replace the phone.
A $2000 light bulb will be out in May. Developed by Dyson, of vacuum and fan fame, it lasts 40 years. Bgr.com says the LED lamp will save enough energy to be worth it in difficult to access commercial spots like airport and mall ceilings.
Samsung Continues to Move Out of High End Smartphones
Posted: December 29, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Apple Pay, Encrypted video calling, Galaxy Alpha, Mega, NFC, Samsung Leave a commentSamsung continues to regroup, and now will drop one of their best phones, the metal Galaxy Alpha, in favor of cheaper phones. Theverge.com says poor battery life and the cost doomed the model.
Riding on the success of Apple Pay in the US, the Cupertino giant is in talks to launch the smartphone based NFC payment system in Britain in the first half of 2015. Macrumors.com reports that banks there may be an easier sell than users.
Kim Dotcom’s company Mega may be getting ready to launch a fully encrypted video call service. Thenextweb.com says the browser based service will include high speed file transfers.
Apple May Add a 4 Inch Model to the iPhone 6S
Posted: December 23, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Autistic, Confide, Encryption, Google Play, iPhone 6, iPhone 6S, Look At Me, Samsung Leave a commentAfter going big with the iPhone 6 Plus, Apple is rumored to be looking at a return to a 4 inch model with an iPhone 6S Mini. Appleinsider.com says an analyst at Cowen and Company indicates it would have specs like last year’s iPhone 5S. This would be the first time Apple has had 3 different sizes of a current model if it happens.
Techcrunch.com reports that Samsung has released Look At Me, and app for autistic kids. It’s supposed to help kids to make better eye contact. Developed by South Korean psychologists and professors, it’s on Google Play.
App maker Confide is offering services to entertainments, labels, and networks. Cnet.com says their app has end to end encryption, and automatically self destructs…leaving no embarrassing email trail. No word on whether Sony has reached out to them.
Magnetic Accessories Don’t Agree with iPhone 6
Posted: December 15, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Apple Pay, Indiegogo, Indiegogo Life, iPhone 6, NFC, Skype, Skype Translator Leave a comment9to5mac.com cautions to stay away from accessories with magnets for iPhone 6 and 6 plus. They interfere with the camera and NFC…better known as Apple Pay.
Indiegogo has launched a new service called Life, for funding life events and raising money for individuals…not charities. Engadget.com says it will be a good option to help a family in need.
Users that signed up for Skype Translator can now give it a go. Thenextweb.com says real time translation is live between English and Spanish for voice, adding to the 40 languages via instant message.
The iPhone 6S Will Have Samsung Inside
Posted: December 12, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Driver Licenses, iPhone 6S, Microsoft, PS4, Samsung, Sony, TSMC, Wii U, Xbox One Leave a commentNext year’s iPhone 6S will probably have Samsung inside…macrumors.com says Samsung has started making Apple’s A9 chip in Texas. iPhone 6 chipmaker TSMC will provide a supplementary supply from Taiwan.
There’s joy in Mudville. After getting bettered by Sony, Microsoft sold 1.2 million Xbox Ones in November, beating out the PS4 and Wii U. Geekwire.com reports a $50 price cut helped out.
Iowa may lead the way in smartphone based driver’s licenses. 9to5google.com says they will have animation to limit spoofing, and will be scannable, so the phone doesn’t leave your hand. 20 other states are looking at doing this.
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.
More On ‘Project Zero’- the Upcoming Samsung Galaxy S6
Posted: December 5, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Foxconn, Galaxy S6, Microsoft, Robots, Samsung, Windows 10 Leave a commentA big leak has outed the Samsung Galaxy S6 specifications. 9to5google.com says it will have a metal body, ditching the cheap plastic, and a 20 mp main camera. It’s expected to roll out in March.
Apple supplier Foxconn is finding their new robots aren’t precise enough to build iPhones. Macrumors.com reports that an upgrade to the so-called ‘Foxbots’ may take years. The present ones were scaled from machines that build cars.
Microsoft is still planning to launch Windows 10 by late summer or early fall, according to Microsoft COO Kevin Turner. ZDnet.com says they will show the first preview of the system in January.
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