A Great Smartphone Gets Windows
Posted: August 19, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Cortana, Facebook, HTC, Microsoft, Norton, Symantec, Verizon, Windows Leave a commentIt’s one of the best smartphones around right now, and tech crunch.com says Verizon will start selling an exclusive HTC One M8 running Windows instead of Android. It will include Microsoft’s Windows Phone personal assistant, Cortana.
Symantec is trimming the Norton line to a single security suite. Cnet.com reports that Norton Security drops September 23rd, and will combine their antivirus and internet security products. You can register up to 3 devices across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. It will retail for about 80 bucks, but expect to see it discounted.
Thenextweb.com says Facebook is testing out adding stickers to newsfeed comments like people presently can drop into private messages. Prepare to either be delighted or annoyed!
Microsoft & HP Set to Take On Chromebooks
Posted: August 18, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Aquos, Buddytruk, Chromebook, HP, Microsoft, Sharp, Sprint Leave a commentMicrosoft isn’t ready to cede the super low laptop market to Chromebooks. They’ve partnered with HP on the HP Stream 14…a $199 Windows laptop. Gigaom.com says it will have 100 gigs of storage on Microsoft’s OneDrive servers for 2 years and will be out this year.
A nearly bezel free smartphone is coming from Sharp. According to theverge.com, they will sell an Aquos Crystal model with a 5 inch screen, and possibly the 5.5 inch model on Sprint’s system. No bezel makes the screen seem bigger, and they will use Harmon Kardon audio.
If you have a pickup or van and want to make some extra cash, check out Buddytruk. Techcrunch.com says think Uber or Lyft for moving…peer to peer via an app. It’s just in LA, but will be expanding soon to other large cities.
The Connected Home Continues to Grow
Posted: August 15, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 3D Pictures, Home Depot, Microsoft, Smart Devices, SMS Audio, Windows, Wink Leave a commentThe internet of things and connected home are alive and well at Home Depot. Gigaom.com says the home improvement giant now has over 600 ‘smart devices’ in stock, and is pushing the Wink home hub platform.
50 Cent’s SMS Audio has just announced BioSport In-Ear, wired earbuds with biometric capabilities to record heart rate during your workout using built-in optical sensors. They will be on sale by 4th quarter.
The Windows phone isn’t doing much, but Microsoft is still trying. Bgr.com says they’ve developed a way to modify regular smartphone cameras to take 3D pictures, by letting infrared light through. No word yet on when this might be in your hands.
Amazon Muscling In on Angie’s List?
Posted: August 1, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Angie's List, Microsoft, Power Saving, Salesforce Leave a commentIf you need a repair or installation, you probably think of Angie’s List, but soon, giant Amazon may take it to the next level. With their service, you wouldn’t even need to make a phone call, you could book the service right on the website. Reuters.com says they’re already testing in Seattle, LA, and New York.
Speaking of Amazon, when you think of the cloud, they’re the big fish…but maybe not for long. Gigaom.com reports that by year’s end, Microsoft will pass up Amazon Web Services and Salesforce.com in cloud revenue.
Forbes.com has picked up a report from the Consumer Electronics Association and Fraunhofer showing power used by home electronics dropped 12% from 2010 to 2013…mainly due to tablets.
Microsoft Ditches Android
Posted: July 17, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Apple, Google, iPhone 6, Microsoft, Nokia Leave a commentBesides laying off thousands, mainly from the Nokia merger, Microsoft is also ‘laying off’ Android. The Nokia Android phones will be switched to Windows Phone and the Lumia brand, according to gigaom.com.
Thenextweb.com reports that the Google Analytics app is now available for iOS. You could already check your web & app data on Android with the app.
Just when you think nothing else can leak out about the iPhone 6, macrumors.com says it will sport a 13 megapixel camera, up from 8 on the 5s.
Microsoft Hopes This is a Killer Feature for Windows Phone
Posted: July 8, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Apple, Microsoft, Sony Leave a commentMicrosoft is working on something of a killer app to woo users to Windows Phones. Gigaom.com says it’s new virtual machine software that will run your Android apps. A new version should be out in time for the next update to Android.
Apple may have dropped glass backs for iPhones, but hasn’t given up on glass. Appleinsider.com reports they have patented a method of building seamless, all glass iOS devices, monitors, and TVs.
Sony is trying to ride the selfie wave…bgr.com saysThe Xperia C3 phablet has a 5 megapixel front facing camera complete with flash, and it ships in August.
Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini On the Way
Posted: July 1, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: e-books, Encryption, Galaxy, Microsoft, Samsung Leave a commentAs many smartphones have morphed into bulky phablets, Samsung continues to cover their bets with many sizes. Bgr.com says the Galaxy S5 Mini will be out in a couple weeks. It has a 4.5 inch display, a little smaller than the expected iPhone 6.
US Book publishers are now making more net revenue from online sales than from brick and mortar stores, according to the verge.com. Paperbacks are still more popular than e-books, according to the publishers.
From geekwire.com comes word that Microsoft has added new encryption to Outlook.com and OneDrive, in an effort to minimize hacking and government surveillance.
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.
Order That Takeout From Your Phone
Posted: May 12, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: LG, Microsoft, Skype, Square, Tablets Leave a commentOrdering takeout from your phone just got easier. Techcrunch.com reports that Square has launched a new app called Square Order, which lets you order from nearby restaurants, pay for your food, and then the app pings you when the food’s ready for pickup. Meanwhile, Square has quietly pulled Square Wallet from the App Store.
LG adds to their 8.3 inch tablet by rolling out no less than 3 additional sizes of the G Pad: 7, 8, and 10.1 inch versions will be available soon…maybe this month. 9to5google.com says all use the personalized ‘Knock Code’ screen lock feature.
The Microsoft morality police have struck, and removed the hidden rude emoticons from Skype. Geek.com says Microsoft has known about them, but no reason was given for pulling the trigger on them now. No more fubar or mooning, until someone comes up with a hack!
Microsoft Considering a Freebie?
Posted: February 28, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Bloomberg, Microsoft, TOR, Twitter Leave a commentFor anyone who can remember Microsoft charging $495 or $795 for software, it’s a small victory…according to the verge.com, Redmond is experimenting with a free version of Windows 8.1. It’s being positioned as Windows 8.1 with Bing, and is focused on getting Windows 7 users to upgrade.
At 19 billion, WhatsApp has gotten a lot of notice since being bought by Facebook, and there are lots of messaging services around…some even shred your messages seconds after they’re read…but they travel through regular channels and can be intercepted by the likes of the NSA. Slasdot.org reports that the people that make TOR, the anonymous browser, are developing an anonymous instant messenger that will be rolled out at the TOR Winter Developers Meeting in Iceland.
Net tools get smarter and smarter, and big data marches one. Gigaom.com says Bloomberg now has sentiment analysis tools that tell traders about spikes in positive or negative chatter about companies…in other words, they gauge the collective mood on Twitter for a stock or company.
clarkreid 
Recent Comments