New Way to Prevent Picture Shake from Apple
Posted: February 14, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Camera, Fraud Prevention, Google, iPhone, Mattel, View Master, Visa Leave a commentThe smartphone camera wars continue to push the envelope in picture taking. Apple has patented a tech called ‘Mirror Tilt Actuation’ for future iPhones. Bgr.com says it will actually tilt the tiny mirror in the camera assembly on future iPhones, to compensate for jitters and hand movement as you shoot that crucial selfie.
Visa is working with a service called Mobile Location Confirmation to use real time data from smartphones, to prevent fraud and so you don’t have to call your bank to let them know you’re traveling…especially out of the country. 9to5google.com reports that the service will be optional though, so check with your own card provider.
Google has partnered with Mattel to bring the venerable View Master into the 21st century. Thenextweb.com says instead of a plastic viewer and stereoscopic round cardboard, it works on Android smartphones, and provides 360 degree, 3D views. It’s out this fall, and $29.99…phone not included!
Samsung Teases ‘The Future of Cameras’ in Galaxy S6
Posted: February 11, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Camera, Galaxy S6, Google, Mass transit, OLED, Samsung, Urban Engines Leave a commentWe don’t know if it’s dual main cameras or other features, but Samsung says the upcoming Galaxy S6 will have no less than ‘the future of cameras.’ The verge.com says it will do all the thinking for users, who will need only to press the shutter button for great shots. The S6 will be shown March 1st.
OLED screens have been used in some smartphones for years, but never on this scale. Reuters.com reports that Samsung is spending 3.6 billion on building organic light emitting diode screens…mainly for smartphones and tablets, including those of competitors.
Getting around in San Francisco and other major cities can be tough to say the least. Some map apps help, but now, engadget.com reports that the Urban Engines app is out for Android and iOS. Built by former googlers, it works without mobile data and uses augmented reality.
A Smart ‘Swatch’ is Coming
Posted: February 5, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple Watch, Chromecast, Google, HeartThis, iPhone, Shopping, Swatch Leave a commentOn the heels of the imminent Apple Watch, another smart watch is on the way…Swatch will release one in around 90 days that will communicate over the web without having to be charged. 9to5google.com says it will have mobile payment capability and play well with Windows and Android.
Shop ‘till you drop on your iPhone with one app. Techcrunch.com reports that HeartThis lets you shop over 330 stores on one app. After a soft introduction in November, it’s officially being demo’ed at StartX today. Did we mention 330 different stores?
Google’s Chromecast has hit the ten million mark, according to geekwire.com. Google says in 2014, Chromecast was the #1 streaming media device in the US.
Motorola Makes Some Strong Smartphone Gains
Posted: February 3, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Apple, Google, Lenovo, Motorola, Nest, Radio Shack, Samsung, Sprint Leave a commentThey’re not up there with the big boys like Apple and Samsung, but Motorola did sell 10 million smartphones last quarter. 9to5google.com says that’s up 118 percent! Lenovo says the division will be profitable in a year and a half.
Apparently, Sprint isn’t the only company interested in some of Radio Shack’s 4000 locations. According to gigaom.com, Amazon is looking at dipping its toe into brick and mortar retail. It could show off it’s mobile and living room gadgets with the locations, which could also serve as a physical pick up and drop off for packages.
Citing 3 studies, Google’s Nest claims the learning thermostat pays for itself in less than 2 years with savings on heating and cooling. TechCrunch says heating costs dropped by an average 10-12 percent, cooling by 15 percent.
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!
California Grocery Stores Get Apple Pay
Posted: January 15, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple Pay, Chrome, Foodmaxx, Google, Lucky, Private browsing, Save Mart, Simply Prepaid, T-Mobile Leave a commentApple Pay continues to spread. Macrumors.com says Save Mart has rolled it out at all 217 of its California and Nevada stores, including Lucky and Foodmaxx.
Always looking for ways to disrupt the bigger phone companies, T-Mobile has announced ‘Simply Prepaid.’ Gigaom.com reports it starts at $40, and you just pay for the 4G LTE data you expect to use. If you go over, you are just cut back to 3G the rest of the month.
Google just patented a way to activate private browsing on desktops and mobile. Thenextweb.com says it can be triggered by a secure login box or request for credit information. The Chrome browser should sport it soon.
PlayStation Games On TV Without the PlayStation
Posted: December 24, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Google, HTC One M8, PlayStation, Samsung, Sony, TV, YouTube Leave a commentIf you’re a gamer, and thinking about a new TV, Samsung will have TVs that play PlayStation games without the playstation next year. Cnet.com says they’ll use Sony’s PlayStation Now service.
The HTC One M8 is one of the very best Android phones, and HTC has announced you can buy it or any HTC phone from their website at 20% off. Bgr.com reports the deal lasts until January 2nd.
Google will rat you out to the FBI if you post YouTube videos threatening to kill cops. Engadget.com says it’s an automated system…they’re not really screening all those videos.
Apple Pay is Growing At Warp Speed
Posted: December 16, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple Pay, Google, iPhone 6, LoopPay, NFC, Samsung, Search Leave a commentApple Pay is making inroads in mobile payment, and fast. Gigaom.com says the NFC payment system on iPhone 6 and 6 Plus now will work with bank cards accounting for 90% of dollars spent.
On a related note, the verge.com reports that Samsung is planning to launch an Apple Pay competitor. They are said to be in talks with mobile payments startup LoopPay. Recode says the service will roll out next year.
Bgr.com says Google has released its search stats for the year, and in the gadget category, 7 out of 10 were smartphones. The iPhone 6 was most searched for, followed by the Galaxy S5 and Nexus 6.
Apple Patents Way For iPhones to Minimize Drop Damage
Posted: December 2, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Apple TV, Blockly, Chromecast, dropping, Google, iPhone, Made With Code, National Park Service, patent, Roku, streaming Leave a commentApple has patented a system that makes your phone turn in mid-drop, almost like a cat, to minimize damage from dropping. Techcrunch.com says it an older vibration motor than the iPhone 6 and 6+, so a variation may make it into future phones.
The first three quarters of this year, 10 percent of households with broadband bought at least one streaming player, according to cnet.com. Roku still leads the pack with 29% of streaming, with Google’s Chromecast at 20%, and Apple TV at 17%.
Google is partnering with the National Park Service to let kids program and animate the Christmas trees at the White House’s President’s park. Engadget.com says the Made with Code Holiday Lights Project is in the simple Blockly language.
Amazon Tablets & E-Readers On Fire
Posted: December 1, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Apple, Chromebook, e-books, e-reader, Fire, Google, iPad, libraries, tablet 3 CommentsGeekwire.com says Amazon Fire tablet sales tripled and e-reader sales almost quadrupled on Black Friday. Amazon was the #3 tablet seller last holiday season, but then fell off to 5th. No word on the hapless Fire phone’s sales.
Speaking of e-readers, gizmodo.com reports that 95% of US public libraries now carry e-books. This is according to a survey by Library journal, and it’s an increase from 89% that checked out e-books last year. Most carry a little over 20,000 e-titles.
Apple’s tablet sales have slowed up to now, and 9to5google.com says Google sold more Chromebooks to US schools third quarter than Apple sold them iPads. Chromebook’s $199 price is given as the primary reason.
clarkreid 
Recent Comments