VW Unveils First Fully-Autonomous Vehicle; Netflix Passes The Venerable DVR
Posted: March 9, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Cord-cutters, DVR, Level 5, Netflix, Sedric, Self Driving Cars, streaming, Volkswagen, VW 1 Comment
Volkswagen has shown their first fully autonomous car, a ‘Level 5’ vehicle, which means no driver required at all. Arstechnica.com says the concept vehicle has opposing sliding doors like a commuter train, couch like seating that faces the middle inside, and NO steering wheel or controls. VW says the vehicle, called Sedric, is designed as either a shared mobility system or could be privately owned like most present cars. It’s controlled by a remote control called the Button…the device summons the car, and identifies the user when the car arrives. It’s electric…with a flat battery back under the floor between the sets of wheels. VW hopes to have some version in service by 2025.
In a huge milestone for cord-cutting, Netflix subscribers have passed up the number of people that have a DVR. Arstechnica.com says 54% of US adults have Netflix now, with 53% having a DVR in home. If you throw in other video on demand subscribers, it’s 64% that have either Netflix, Amazon Prime, and/or Hulu. Of those 51% stream shows at least monthly. Your cable company needs some heartburn medicine.
Apple TV Hires former Amazon Fire Exec; Google Cracks Extreme Picture Zooming
Posted: February 8, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: AI Brain, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Cable, Google, Netflix, Picture zoom, Pixels Leave a commentEvery year is going to be the year that Apple comes out with its own TV, or otherwise revolutionizes television by breaking cable’s stranglehold with Apple TV. Now, according to 9to5mac.com, they have taken another step in that direction. Apple has hired Timothy Twerdahl, former head of Amazon Fire TV, and before that at Netflix. It’s unclear what Apple might be up to, but this hire shows that Cupertino still thinks TV has an important future role to them.
We’ve all seen it dozens of times…TV and movie crime dramas where they zoom way in on a picture and get a perfect view of the crook blown up to full screen. Of course, in real life, you just get a hash of big pixels…until now. Zdnet.com reports that Google’s AI Brain team has developed something pretty close. By showing lots of images to the Google Brain, it learns and can interpolate the hash into a viewable image of a face or room. Of course, since it’s an educated guess, it couldn’t really be used as evidence, but it’s still a huge step towards making science fiction into reality.
HBO NOW Premieres on Google Daydream; Microsoft Turning Phones into Real PCs
Posted: December 8, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: AR, Arm chips, Daydream View, Google, HBO, Microsoft, Mobile, Netflix, VR, Windows 10 Leave a commentIf you are lucky and well healed enough to have a Google Daydream View headset, you know there hasn’t exactly been a flood of material for the VR platform. Well brace yourself…techcrunch.com says HBO’s standalone subscription app HBO NOW is available for the Daydream platform. Google also announced that Netflix will be available soon as well. Keep in mind that the 2D shows will still not be in 3D, but HBO has movies in its library with 3D versions, and Netflix will be able to offer its 3D content up, too.
Microsoft is bringing a full version of Windows 10 to mobile, including desktop app support for ARM chips. According to theverge.com, Redmond demoed running Win 10 on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip today, including HD video playback, Adobe Photoshop, and Microsoft Office. Microsoft put out Continuum for phones last year which emulates a PC, but you can’t run Chrome or Photoshop on it. It’s been tried unsuccessfully before, but maybe this will be the one that actually gives you a full blown PC in your pocket. Stay tuned.
Will iPhone 8 Bring a ‘Supercycle’ of Upgrades; Amazon Prime Offers HBO & Cinemax for Additional $$
Posted: December 1, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Apple, Cinemax, Cord-cutters, HBO, iPhone, iPhone 6, iPhone 8, Netflix, Prime Video, Supercycle Leave a commentThe second half of 2017 may bring what’s being called a ‘supercycle’ of iPhone upgrades. Businessinsider.com reports that KGI Securities has been polling Apple suppliers, and Apple may be gearing up to ship between 90 and 110 million iPhone 8 models the second half of next year. It’s possible that they may even blow past the 113 million iPhone 6’s they sold the back half of 2014. Besides KGI, 3 other analysts believe 2017 could be a banner year as the anniversary iPhone bows.
Just a day after Netflix plays catchup by offering downloads for viewing later, which Amazon has already had, Amazon Prime Video introduces HBO for an additional $15 a month and Cinemax for $10 a month. Venturebeat.com notes that cord cutters could be induced to buy in….but for 30 days, Prime members can try them for free!
Samsung Galaxy S8 Will Have Killer Selfie Cam; iPhone 8’s Third, Higher-Line Model Gets OLED; Netflix Allows Some Downloading of Shows
Posted: November 30, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Autofocus, Download, Galaxy S8, iOS, iPhone 8, Netflix, Offline viewing, OLED screen, Samsung, Selfie cam, Wireless charging Leave a commentThe Samsung Galaxy S8 will have autofocus on the selfie cam. According to bgr.com, Samsung has figured out a way to add autofocus to the front camera without increasing the size of the camera module or the thickness of the phone. The Galaxy S8 will use an “encoder” method that has coils at the side, rather than a Voice Coil Motor that’s used in rear cameras for autofocus.
KGI Securities now says only a new, top line model iPhone 8 will get the OLED with better picture and lower power consumption. Businessinsider.com says updates to the current iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will get glass cases and wireless charging, though.
At long last, Netflix is allowing limited downloading of shows to be watched later offline. Theverge.com reports that it’s Netflix originals like Stranger Things, The Crown, Narcos, Orange is the New Black, and the like, but also a number of random other shows like Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Paddington and Minions and Kung Fu Panda 3. It works on iOS and Android, with two quality versions: Standard and Higher. Netflix hasn’t said how much higher, but notes it will take longer to download. Finally, viewing for that plane flight or commuting over subway systems!
Samsung Clones ‘Jet Black;’ HTC May Leave Smartphone Biz; Amazon’s Clarkson Show Has Big Debut; Electric VWs to be Made in USA
Posted: November 22, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Amazon Prime, Apple, Electric vehicles, Galaxy S7, Google, HTC, Jeremy Clarkson, Jet Black, Leaving market, Mexico, Netflix, Pixel, Samsung, Smartphones, The Grand Tour, Top Gear, USA, Volkswagen Leave a commentIn the past, when Samsung has just plain poached Apple ideas and designs, it’s been a big hit for them. (It’s also hit them in the wallet sometimes, as Apple has sued and won.) Now, Samsung is going to clone Apple’s hot “Jet Black” color. According to bgr.com, they aren’t even waiting for the Galaxy S8….they will roll out Jet Black S7 models as soon as next month. Hey, it’s hard to get sued for using the same color!
HTC has made some really cool phones, and I have several friends that have had them and loved them. They haven’t really caught fire…figuratively…not in the Galaxy Note 7 way, however. Digitaltrends.com says rumors are flying now that HTC will bail out of smartphones completely by this coming spring. They have quietly been shopping the division around, but nothing so far. It wouldn’t be out of the question for Google to snap them up, since the success of the new Google Pixel phones.
Yesterday, Netflix snarked that Amazon hadn’t really paid $160 million to produce their ‘Top Gear’ type show titled ‘The Grand Tour,’ saying it was more like $250 million. The show, starring Jeremy Clarkson, and his former Top Gear colleagues, debuted Friday. It was the biggest premiere ever on Amazon Prime Video, according to businessinsider.com, eclipsing ‘The Man in the High Castle.’ Not only that, it was the top rated show on IMDB with a 9.6 and got 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. Amazon says it got the second most one day sign ups for Prime ever last Friday. Sounds like a hit!
Volkswagen says they will begin building electric vehicle models in North America,and even the US by 2021. Techcrunch.com picked up a report from Automotive news, citing VW brand lead Herbert Diess. Vee Dub will also build large SUVs and limos here. The Mexico factories will also crank out EVs for the North American market.
Galaxy Note 7 Replacements In Stores; Netflix Moving to Half Original Content
Posted: September 21, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Exploding batteries, Galaxy Note 7, Netflix, Original programming, Samsung Leave a commentReplacements for the Galaxy Note 7 should be in stores today! Samsung has shipped a half million to carriers and retailers, according to 9to5mac.com. The replacement phones show the battery icon green in the bar at the top of the screen to indicate a safe battery. This is a no-no according to Google…they’re supposed to be all grey…but so far, Google hasn’t complained. Samsung has also pushed out a software update, which will nag owners of phones with the bad batteries until they take them in and exchange for a replacement.
On the momentum of House of Cards, Stranger Things, and Master of None, Netflix will move towards 50% original programming over the next few years. Arstechnica.com says they will continue to stream half licensed TV shows and movies. This is a sea change….not just for Netflix, but a king-sized cannon shot over the bow to cable and over-the-air TV when it comes to the way more and more people consume video. Right now, Netflix is already a third to halfway to the 50% original mark. No matter how you cut it, ‘cord-cutters’ are here to stay!
Chevy Bolt Will Break the 200 Mi Ceiling; Netflix-Caps Are Dumb; T-Mobile iPhone Preorders Explode, Longer Tweets in Days
Posted: September 13, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Bolt, Chevrolet, Comcast, Data caps, Electric Car, FCC, iPhone 7, Jet Black, Longer range, Longer Tweets, Model 3, Netflix, T-Mobile, Tesla, TWC, Twitter Leave a commentChevrolet has announced that the Bolt…the smaller, all electric sibling to the hybrid Volt….will have a range of 238 miles. Engadget.com notes that 200 miles is the ‘sweet spot,’ and cars having range exceeding that seem to ease driver fear of being stranded. Chevy says the Bolt will be in showrooms before the end of the year. The Tesla Model 3 is still about a year away from hitting the roads.
Days ago, Netflix wrote the FCC, imploring the Federal Cookie Company…as broadcasters have loved to call it…to disallow data caps. Bgr.com reports that Netflix argues caps serve no legitimate purpose and ‘are an ineffective management tool,’ really serving as a way for Comcast and TWC to stifle competition…primarily from services like Netflix. The Federal Communications Commission…which generally moves with the speed of an elderly snail…has yet to respond.
For months, the tech media has whined that the iPhone 7 would be SO boring with not changing the case design that sales would tank. According to appleinsider.com, T-Mobile’s CEO says sales of the iPhone 7 are quadruple that of the iPhone 6. So far on T-Mobile, Matte Black is the most popular color…that’s what I have coming. CEO Legere has a Jet Black one on the way.
The wait is nearly over…next Monday, Twitter’s longer Tweets will finally be live. Theverge.com reminds us that media attachments…including images, videos, polls, etc, as well as quoted Tweets, will no longer count towards the 140 character limit. Usernames at the beginning of Tweets will also no longer be counted. Go crazy, Twitterati!
Sharp May Be Third Supplier of OLED Screens for 10th Anniversary iPhone; Netflix May Launch Downloading
Posted: June 24, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Downloads, iPhone 8, LG, Light Reading, Netflix, Offline viewing, OLED screen, Samsung, Sharp Leave a commentAccording to 9to5mac.com, Apple may not need to rely completely on the two major manufacturers of OLED screens for the iPhone 8. While Samsung and LG currently manufacture most of the world’s OLED screens, Sharp expects to be doing the same ‘before 2018’.
A story in Light Reading picked up by bgr.com says Netflix will go live by the end of the year with downloading, which would allow offline viewing as an option. Not surprisingly, Netflix will not confirm or deny this. Although most people are generally happy streaming TV shows and movies, this would be a big plus for road trips and flying, or places where you know they aren’t going to have a fast or reliable internet connection.
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