Google Box On Wheels For Drone Deliveries; Another Feature Samsung Borrows from Apple for the Galaxy S7
Posted: January 28, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Box on Wheels, Drone Delivery, Galaxy S7, Google, iPhone, Leasing, Project Wing, Samsung, Upgrade Program Leave a commentSince announcing last November that they were launching the Project Wing drone delivery service, not much has been heard from Google on the topic. Now, thenextweb.com says a patent reveals a so-called ‘delivery receptacle.’ It’s essentially a box on wheels with a computing system and drive mechanism, so a drone can drop it off, and it rolls the final distance to you…even into your garage, if you have concerns with packages being stolen off your porch. Google is aiming for a system that will deliver packages of 5 lbs or less to your home or office in under 30 minutes, and this may be an important piece of that puzzle.
We had already reported that the Galaxy S7 will sport its own versions of Apple’s Live Photos and 3D Touch. Bgr.com reports that Samsung will also be rolling out an upgrade program like Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program that arrived with the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. The leasing type program will drop in South Korea first, then come to the US.
More iPhone OLED Display Rumors; Google Makes WHAT from Android?
Posted: January 22, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Apple, Google, iPhone, Japan Display, Java, LG, OLED, Oracle, Samsung Leave a commentJapan Display says it will start mass producing OLED displays within the next 2 years, according to a Reuters report picked up by theverge.com. This is being seen as angling for the Apple iPhone business Samsung and LG are gunning for. It’s been widely rumored that iPhones will use OLED screens by 2018. Numerous Android phones already have them, with Samsung touting Super OLED. Those screens are lighter and thinner than the LCD displays Apple uses, and have more vibrant colors and greater contrast.
Those pesky lawyers! An attorney for Oracle said in court that Google’s Android generated revenue of $31 billion and $22 in profit. If my math is correct, that’s around a stunning 70% profit margin! Bloomberg.com says the disclosure was made January 14th in an Oracle suit accusing Google of using Java software without paying for it to develop Android. Meanwhile, Oracle’s copyright suit against Google also revealed that Google dropped a cool billion with Apple in 2014 to keep it’s search bar on the iPhone! Note to Apple: I’m available for adoption.
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.
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.
Force Touch Keyboard for Apple MacBooks; Fresh 4 Inch iPhone Coming
Posted: November 4, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 3d Touch, 4-inch, Apple, Force Touch keyboard, iPhone, iPhone 7, Macbook Leave a commentApple was granted a patent yesterday for a switch free Force Touch keyboard. Appleinsider.com says that, like the screens on the new iPhone 6+, sensors would measure finger pressure. This could lead to thinner MacBooks, and also allow different levels of pressure to give you different characters without using a function key or key combinations. A patent is no guarantee that we’ll see a Force Touch keyboard, but since Apple has already released the Force Touch Magic Trackpad, it’s a good bet.
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Speaking of Apple and good bets, KGI Securities has a pretty good record of touting upcoming Apple devices, and they forecast that there will be an A9-Based 4-Inch iPhone in Early 2016. It will have a metal case like the 6S and 6S plus. Don’t expect 3D Touch in this smaller, cheaper iPhone, though. Mac rumors.com reports that the iPhone 7 Plus due out next fall will Carry 3 Gigs of RAM! The iPhone 7 will roll with 2 Gigs, like the 6S and 6S Plus.
Too Many iPhones at Facebook; Hillary’s Emoji Problems
Posted: November 2, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 2G, Android, Blackberry, emoji, Facebook, Hillary Clinton, iPhone Leave a commentWe’ve already heard about Facebook instituting ‘2G Tuesdays’, where employees have to suffer along with a slow 2G network for an hour, to help them better tailor the app to run in developing countries where this is reality. Now, 9to5mac.com says the social network is making some staffers switch to Android smartphones for the same reason…making the app work better for Android users. Let the whining commence…
There have been some stories about Hillary Clinton and emoji…intimating that she was confused by them, and needed help. Now, with an email dump, thenextweb.com reports there’s more to the story. Actually, the presidential candidate used emojis all the time. She switched to an older model Blackberry, and found that the emoticon chart with the little faces she loved and used was gone. She had to type them out manually. Nothing like visiting 3rd world countries as Secretary of State, and having such a 1st world problem! No word on why ANYONE would switch to an older smart device, but we hope it was for security reasons!
Preorders Back for Microsoft Surface Book…But Wait Time Slips
Posted: October 15, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: App Store, Best Buy, China, Fry's, Google Play, iPhone, Microsoft, Microsoft Surface Book Leave a commentMicrosoft temporarily shut down preorders for the new Surface Book combo laptop/tablet, but they’re back online. That’s the good news, if you want one of the powerful new devices. The down side? Cnet.com reports that ship times have slipped to between 6 and 8 weeks…two months! If you really want to get one sooner, some vendors…including frys.com have shorter ship times, or you can roll the dice and show up at a Microsoft store October 26th. Best Buy will carry the Surface Book, but their website only says ‘coming soon.’
Since the introduction of larger screened iPhones, China has rocketed to being Apple’s biggest market. TechCrunch.com says that App Annie’s analysis shows that China led all countries in absolute growth 3rd quarter of this year, both measured by app downloads and revenue. Google Play still has more downloads than Apple’s App store in China, but iOS App Store revenue is 80% higher than Google Play! Most of that action is in social video apps and games.
Future iPhones Could Be Inductively Charged-WITHOUT Added Parts!
Posted: October 9, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: ACLU, Apple, EFF, Inductive Charging, iOS, iPhone, Privacy, Stingray, Warrant Leave a commentA patent application by Apple is all about inductive charging…which several other smartphones have had for a while. Bgr.com reports that this is different because NO additional parts are required…a clever idea from thinness-obsessed Apple. Using software, Apple’s system uses electric coils already in the speakers, microphones, and haptic engines in iOS gadgets. It may even be possible to charge older iOS devices in this manner, using a dock designed for inductive charging. Amazingly, the tiny speakers and microphones would still be able to do their normal duties while charging. Since these coils are tiny, don’t expect rapid charging with them, and no word on when…or if Apple will introduce the feature.
Here’s a biggie for those of us in California that value what little privacy we think we have left…yesterday, Governor Brown signed into law an act that requires police to get a warrant before collecting email, IP addresses, or other electronic information. The new law has been pushed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and ACLU, and it should apply to the notorious Stingray, the surveillance gadget that scoops up your info by posing as a cellular tower. Washington state has a similar new law, and the US Department of Justice has vowed to obtain a warrant when they utilize such tech.
Fuel Cell Could Run Your iPhone for a Week!
Posted: August 25, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Apple, Beer, Hydrogen Fuel Cell, Intelligent Energy, iPhone, Prime Now, Wine Leave a commentSome companies have been working on hydrogen fuel cells for cars since the 80’s. Now, one has managed to shoehorn one into smartphone size. Geek.com says Intelligent Energy has added a very slim hydrogen fuel cell to an iPhone 6! It reportedly doesn’t replace the rechargeable battery, but complements it. The company has been working closely with Apple on integrating it without modifying the phone. The back of the phone with the hydrogen cell is covered with vents to allow heat and water vapor to escape, but not enough that you will notice that. The upside? You can use your iPhone for a week without recharging! They are working on a disposable cartridge at this point, and have to decide on pricing, but this could be a huge game changer in smart devices and our other portable electronics!
Amazon has added home town Seattle and surrounding area to it’s one hour delivery service Prime Now. It was already available to Amazon Prime members in Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Manhattan, Miami, and Indianapolis. More cities are on tap for later this year. Speaking of on tap, they have added the option to order beer, wine, and liquor for quick delivery, according to techcrunch.com. Other last minute needs are included in the service, which is via a standalone iOS or Android app…including party supplies, gifts, household items, and cold items like milk or frozen ones such as ice cream. Cheers!
US Phone Carriers’ Switch to Installment Plans = Quicker iPhone Upgrade Cycles
Posted: August 12, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Facebook, Installment plans, iPhone, Mobile news alerts, Subsidized contracts, Twitter, Verizon Leave a commentWith big player Verizon now making the move to installment plans on smartphones from contract subsidies, a well-respected analyst says we could see quicker iPhone upgrade cycles. Appleinsider.com notes that Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray has crunched the numbers, and the switch to installment payments may net Apple an extra 2.9 million iPhone upgrades 3rd quarter, and 4.4 million 4th quarter. The installment plans drop the subsidy for a 2 year contract, and you just pay for the phone service, plus either buy the new phone outright…which almost no one does, or you have an installment payment rolled into your bill, and the carrier makes interest on you.
Facebook is building a Twitter-esque app that lets news providers send mobile breaking news alerts out en masse. The stand alone app is part of the Facebook for Business initiative. When it goes live, users can download the app and select what news providers or topics they want to follow for breaking news. The mobile alerts have 100 characters of text…40 less than Twitter…and a link to the article on the news provider’s website. Right now, the app won’t allow links to other sites…in other words, news organizations can’t just ‘reTweet’ another’s link.
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