Android Wear Gets a Smartphone App
Posted: July 3, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 3D printing, Android, Apple, Google, security Leave a commentAndroid Wear, Google’s smart watch system, now has a companion app, according to tech crunch.com. The app lets you configure your smart watch on your Android phone’s bigger screen.
Engadget.com reports that scientists at Stanford, Harvard, MIT, and University of Sydney have gotten past a major hurdle in printing 3D organ replacements. They can now also print the blood vessels in them.
Apple has a new patent to make your devices more secure. 9t05mac.com says it automatically configures security and other settings of a device based on biosensors that determine the location and habits of the user.
Google for Dinner and Call for Reservations From Your PC
Posted: June 19, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Google, Microsoft, Sharp Leave a commentGetting the jump a bit on Apple’s upcoming Yosemite system, Google search now allows you to call stores from your PC. Engadget.com says the Hangouts calling option will make it as easy as on your Android phone.
With preorders now on for the imminent Microsoft Surface Pro 3 tablet, tech crunch.com says they’ve cut prices on the Surface Pro 2 by $100 to $200, depending on the configuration.
Sharp has announced what they call the free form display…the circuitry is all through it, not just in bezels at the sides. The verge.com says this allows curves and angles. One of the first uses may be in car instrument panels.
Sapphire Glass on All iPhone 6 Models
Posted: June 16, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, BBM, Blackberry, iPhone, Sapphire, Steam, Valve Leave a commentEarlier rumors have said Apple would only be able to use sapphire glass on its larger iPhone 6, but macrumors.com now says there’s enough for the 4.7 inch iPhone 6, the 5.5 inch model, AND the iWatch, with room to spare. The nearly unbreakable screen will be welcomed by klutzy or unlucky iPhone users.
Still looking for an angle to claw back market share, Blackberry has launched BlackBerry Messenger Protected. Techcrunch.com reports its a confidential instant messaging system. It’s primarily aimed at government, government contractors, corporations, and law firms that have extra concern about secure messaging.
No Steam gaming machines from Valve or any of its suppliers this year, but geek.com says a team is working on a handheld dubbed the Steamboy to be out early next year. It’s not expected to be robust enough to play the most robust games, but hey…it’s portable.
Ringly Keeps Your Finger On Incoming Calls & Texts
Posted: June 13, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Apple, Bluetooth, Google Now, iPad, Kindle, Ringly Leave a commentCan’t hear the phone when it’s in your purse? Ringly may be for you. It looks like a fashion ring, but 9to5mac.com says light and vibration patterns can be set to alert you via Bluetooth to calls, texts, and more. It works with iOS and Android, and presale price is $149. That’s a bit pricey, but if you can’t miss a crucial call or text, check it out.
Google Now continues to get smarter. Thenextweb.com says Google is testing a feature that suggests calendar entries from your Gmail inbox. It’s already live with a select pool of users, and you can switch it off if you find it creepy.
According to tech crunch.com, Amazon has added audio integration to its iOS and Kindle apps. It’s an extra $.99 to $3.99 per title, but you can switch from reading to being read to on the fly. You could listen to a book while commuting, then pick up reading later right where you left off with Amazon’s Whisper Sync.
Apple insider.com says the Apple has patented a smarter smart cover for iPads with illumination that lights up to alert users to incoming messages, low battery warnings and other notifications.
Orange is the New…App
Posted: June 9, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Google, Netflix Leave a commentYou know a show’s popular and getting binge watching when it has its own app. According to tech crunch.com, that’s just what Netflix has done with Orange is the New Black. Look for OITNA…orange is the new APP in the app store.
Google Now has had transit information, but the contextual assistant now goes a step further. Gigaom.com reports it will now remind you to get off at your stop…or wake up, if you snoozed during your commute.
A little late to the party, but Apple Maps will have transit directions in iOS 8. Bgr.com says it wasn’t announced, but there were screen shots indicating the addition in a video shown at the World Wide Developers Conference.
All ‘i’s’ Watching October
Posted: June 6, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Fingerprints, iWatch, Kickstarter, Sherlybox Leave a commentThe iWatch will be here in October, and have a curved OLED touchscreen. That’s what 9to5mac.com hears from the Nikkei Asian Review, and it’s also being reported by recode.net. Apple expects to sell 3 to 5 million a month! The HealthKit health and fitness app rumored is said to be a big part of the iWatch rollout.
If you’re a bit paranoid about putting all your stuff on the cloud, how about your own? Bgr.com reports that a Kickstarter called Sherlybox lets you create a personal cloud, and control everything about it. It’ll cost $149 for the setup, and you bring your own drive! What if you run out of room, you say? No worries, it supports up to 127 external USB drives!
Cnet.com says that within a year, police forensics could tell how old a fingerprint is! The work is being done at Netherlands Forensics Institute. They are accurate from 1 to 2 days if the print is less than 15 days old.
Apple Going Bigger on Biometrics
Posted: May 27, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Biometrics, Dropcam, Google, Twitter Leave a commentAccording to KGI research, Apple will include the Touch ID fingerprint sensor on all iOS devices that come out this year…two new iPhone models and two sizes of iPads. They are also changing the sensor to make it more durable, utilizing tin to replace part of the sensor components.
Google is looking at picking up Dropcam, and getting into the home surveillance business. The Information reports that the automated home surveillance business could be combined with Google’s Nest products. With Apple rumored to be launching a smart home system that can be controlled by iOS next week at the Worldwide Developers Conference, it could get interesting!
Twitter may have leveled off in the US, but a report from eMarketer picked up by techcrunch.com says by 2018, 40% of Twitter users will be from the Asia Pacific region.
Pay By Palm
Posted: April 14, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Biometrics, CarPlay, Encryption Leave a commentA new startup is demoing a way to pay at stores that’s always with you…Quixter has a reader that reads the veins in your palm…no card, no phone no wallet. Techcruch.com says its up and running at a university in Sweden. Since it involves replacing readers at point of sale, don’t look for it to spread like wildfire.
Gigaom.com says continued security concerns on the web are prompting Google to look at listing encrypted sites higher in search results. Thousands of websites will encrypt so as not to lose their ranking.
Car electronics maker Alpine will be out this year with a standalone aftermarket console that supports Apple’s CarPlay. Macrumors.com reports it will sell for between $500 and $700.
Repairable Tech and More…
Posted: April 9, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Galaxy Ace Style, Netflix, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy Gear Leave a commentHere’s something you almost never hear…there’s a gadget you can fix. Techcrunch.com says the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smart watch is surprisingly repairable…as easy as a watch to replace the battery or band.
Speaking of Samsung, with the chatter about Apple’s bigger screen iPhones due in September, Samsung has gone the other way, launching the Galaxy Ace Style with a 4 inch display. 9to5google.com says it’s a bid for the mid price market. No pricing yet, but it will be out this month.
JP Morgan thinks Apple should build a laptop-tablet hybrid for between $500 and $1000…knowing Apple, it would be $999! The investment bank says Apple would make an extra 63 billion selling such a hybrid device…this according to cnet.com. Intel says the A-8 chip makes it possible. It has the computing power, but is stingy enough with your battery.
The rush to 3D printing continues, with Micro…a sleek 3D printer, raising a million dollars on Kickstarter in just it’s first day. Bgr.com reports it’s small and sleek…just about 2 pounds, and will be $300.
If you have a 4K TV, and haven’t finished House of Cards season 2 yet, rejoice! Techcrunch.com reports that Netflix is now streaming it in 4K, which they’re calling Ultra HD. They also are rolling out some nature shows in the new format. Don’t expect too much…HDTVtest.com says in their tests, the 4k stream isn’t as clean as some Blu-ray disks.
A Billion Mobile Users on Facebook- NOT Counting Instagram
Posted: April 3, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Earbuds, Electric Lawnmower, Facebook Leave a commentFacebook has passed yet another milestone…theverge.com reports they now have a billion users on mobile devices, and 200 million on Instagram.
Techcrunch.com says Apple has a new patent application that describes earbuds with a built-in mic that could automatically detect your voice, and tune a series of built-in mics to optimally pick up their speech and cancel out any background noise. One can hope they put a little more into quality drivers so they sound as musical as other, third party earbuds…which, up to now, they haven’t done.
If you’re really wanting to go green, check the Ego (love the play on words….E—Go) Power+ electronic lawnmower. No cord, and a lithium ion battery that charges in a half hour. Cnet.com says it’s $499. Did you notice the part about NO cord?
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