The Galaxy S6 May be Metal, Not Plastic!
Posted: October 7, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Galaxy S6, Google, Mobile, Population, Reddit, Samsung Leave a commentAfter testing the water with the Galaxy Alpha, Samsung may be going all in on a metal flagship phone. Bgr.com says a leaked video shows the upcoming Galaxy S6 with a metal frame and back.
This will bring howls of protest from purists, but Google is expanding its definition of news by adding Reddit to search results, according to Engadget.com.
We have reached a dubious milestone…cnet.com says there are now more active mobile devices on earth than people. The Census Bureau’s world population center says we’re a few million shy of 7.2 billion people, but GSMA Intelligence shows over 7.2 billion active SIM cards.
Santa Could Leave Your VR Headset Under the Tree
Posted: October 6, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Adobe, Apple, Galaxy Note 4, Gear VR, iOS 8, Premiere Clip, Samsung Leave a comment9to5google.com has picked up on a report from GForGames that Samsung will release it’s Gear VR virtual reality headset in December, possibly December 1st. It will sell for less than $200, and pairs with the Galaxy Note 4.
Adobe has introduced Premiere Clip, a streamlined video editor for iPhone and the iPad. It’s intended for anyone, not just pros. Theverge.com says it syncs back to the desktop version for easier touching up later.
iOS 8 is now on 45% of Apple’s devices according to cnet.com. By comparison, iOS 7 was at 70% at this point, based on analytics from Mixpanel, which tracks mobile app usage. Of course, Apple has never released two smartphones at once, either, one of which has about a month’s backlog.
iPhone 6 Getting Conquest Sales from Android
Posted: September 22, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Apple, Google, HTC, iPhone, Microsoft, Nexus, Samsung, Windows Leave a commentYou may have heard Apple sold a record number of iPhone 6’s (10 million since Friday and over the weekend), but here’s something that flew under the radar…bgr.com says that the week the new Apple phones were announced, trade-in site gazelle saw Android trade-ins triple!
Techcrunch.com reports that the Windows 9 preview that was expected for the Microsoft event September 30th may not actually be released now until October. No word on what the holdup is.
The next Google Nexus 9 tablet could be beautiful. Gigaom.com says the 64 bit Android tablet will be made for them by HTC, makers of the gorgeous HTC One (M8). It’s likely to replace the $400 Nexus 10, which has been built by Samsung.
Preorders Starting for the Granddaddy of Phablets
Posted: September 18, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Apple, Galaxy Note 4, Samsung Leave a commentSamsung’s newest Galaxy Note 4, the one that started the phablet craze, goes on sale October 17th. Preorders start tomorrow. Gigaom.com says no word yet if it will be joined by the Galaxy Note Edge, with that small right edge display.
U-2’s Bono has let it slip that Apple is working on a new digital music format with them. Macrumors.com reports that features of the new format will help musicians to sell more of their music.
Theverge.com says that…along with yesterday’s Kindle announcements, Amazon announced Family Library. It lets household members share Books, apps, Prime Instant videos, audiobooks, and games — but no music, movies, or TV shows.
The September 9 Apple Event & More
Posted: August 28, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Dyson, iPhone 6, iWatch, LG, Samsung, Twitter Leave a commentThe expected invite is out to the tech press…with the usual Apple cryptic slant…
it gives the widely expected date of September 9th, and then ‘Wish we could say more.’ Apple is building a huge 3 story structure next to the Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino, which was, as pointed out by macrumors.com and others, the location where Steve Jobs showed the original Mac 30 years ago.
With all the buzz that Apple will show the iWatch along with the iPhone 6 September 9th, both Samsung and LG have unveiled more smart watches now. 9to5mac.com says LG has revealed the G Watch R, and Samsung it’s Gear S. Bgr.com notes that the Gear S has virtually identical specs to Apple’s iPhone 4S!
Ever wonder if your tweets are getting noticed? Cnet.com reports that Twitter has rolled out analytics to everyone that used to be only or advertisers and verified users. Click the gear at the top for more info. This reporter had a huge spike in impressions last Sunday, after the Napa 6.0 earthquake.
Dyson has been teasing a secret gadget they’re working on with a YouTube video. Theverge.com says it’s probably a robot vacuum cleaner. Early this year, Dyson put 8 million in a lab that helps robots understand the world around them.
Phablets Will Far Outsell Tablets the Next Few Years
Posted: August 5, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Galaxy Alpha, phablets, Samsung, Twitter Leave a commentTablet sales have been dropping, and laptops edging up, but business insider.com says phablets are the big thing. They project phablets will outnumber tablet sales by 3 to 1 by 2018. Many define a phablet as a smartphone with a screen between 5 and 7 inches…not quite the handy pocket or purse size of a 3.5 or 4 inch smartphone, but still small enough to use as a phone, and big enough to negate the need to haul around two devices.
Twitter is testing showing you tweets from random accounts your friends follow. Thenextweb.com reports that it’s just a test, and so could just go away if they decide not to incorporate this alleged feature.
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Alpha smartphone will not just be their first metal clad model. Gigaom.com says they’re ditching Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors for their own Exynos chip…the first Samsung LTE phone to use it. Using their own chips more and more may counteract the drop off from no longer being Apple’s sole supplier of processor chips.
Samsung Finally Going Metal
Posted: July 30, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Galaxy Alpha, Juicebox, Samsung, Square, Zynga Leave a commentSamsung will launch it’s first all metal smartphone, the Galaxy Alpha August 4th. 9to5google.com says it will have a 4.8 inch screen and a fingerprint scanner.
With Amazon making major noise about getting into the mobile payment business, tech crunch.com reports that mobile payment power Square has rolled out a reader for the new (to the US anyway) payment cards with embedded microchips.
Three ex-Zynga developers have snagged 2.5 million for their new game studio Juicebox Games. Their first game release, HonorBound, has 3 million downloads and is already generating revenue for the startup.
Another Player Joining the ‘Internet of Things’ Party
Posted: July 16, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Homekit, Kindle, Metromile, Nest, Samsung Leave a commentSamsung is about to join the ‘internet of things’ party, in talks to buy SmartThings for $200 million. Bgr.com reports this would put them in the game with Google’s Nest and Apple’s HomeKit. Another option for those who need to control their appliances, light bulbs, security system, & garage door with their smartphones!
Gigaom.com reports that Amazon is testing a Kindle Unlimited ebook subscription service for $9.99 a month. It gives unlimited access to 600,000 titles and thousands of audiobooks.
Metromile is expanding to California. Techcrunch.com says you plug the gadget into your car, and you can save money on pay-per-mile insurance if you’re one of the 70% of people that drives less than 10,000 miles a year. Keep in mind that 70% of Bay Area drivers DON’T drive less than 10,000 miles a year, though.
Roll Up That…TV Screen?
Posted: July 10, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Chromecast, Google, LG, OLED, Samsung, TV Leave a commentLG has just revealed OLED display panels that are flexible and rollable! 9to5google.com says they can make them up to 50 inches now, and shooting for 60 inches by 2017. You probably won’t want to roll up your TV, but it’s a move to much lighter, thinner sets!
On the subject of TVs, bgr.com reports that Google has added a phone and tablet mirroring feature to Chromecast. Whatever you’re doing on your smart device, you can now put up on your big TV screen!
In a move to diversify, Apple is getting the first batch of processors from Taiwanese semiconductor giant TSMC. Up to now, Samsung has been the sole iOS processor supplier, according to gigaom.com.
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.
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