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.
Samsung Galaxy Gear Dropping Android and Name?
Posted: May 15, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android, Facebook, Galaxy Gear, Google Glass, iOS, Samsung, Tizen Leave a commentIn something of a big break, Samsung is moving the Galaxy Gear smart watches from Android to the Tizen operating system. Tizen may be pushed as an over the air update to Gear watches. Geek.com says they will likely also drop the Galaxy name.
A useful feature has been added to Facebook for iOS…thenextweb.com reports you can now create posts offline, and they’ll automatically upload to Facebook when you have a better signal, or switch out of airplane mode if you’ve been flying.
Cnet.com says UC Irvine Med school has handed out Google Glass to all the medical students. Irvine is the 1st med school to fully incorporate Glass into its 4 year curriculum. It could be a boon for doctors to check files or lookup info without having to use their hands. (At $1500 each, don’t hold your breath for your employer or your school to do this!
Repairable Tech and More…
Posted: April 9, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Galaxy Ace Style, Netflix, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy Gear Leave a commentHere’s something you almost never hear…there’s a gadget you can fix. Techcrunch.com says the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smart watch is surprisingly repairable…as easy as a watch to replace the battery or band.
Speaking of Samsung, with the chatter about Apple’s bigger screen iPhones due in September, Samsung has gone the other way, launching the Galaxy Ace Style with a 4 inch display. 9to5google.com says it’s a bid for the mid price market. No pricing yet, but it will be out this month.
JP Morgan thinks Apple should build a laptop-tablet hybrid for between $500 and $1000…knowing Apple, it would be $999! The investment bank says Apple would make an extra 63 billion selling such a hybrid device…this according to cnet.com. Intel says the A-8 chip makes it possible. It has the computing power, but is stingy enough with your battery.
The rush to 3D printing continues, with Micro…a sleek 3D printer, raising a million dollars on Kickstarter in just it’s first day. Bgr.com reports it’s small and sleek…just about 2 pounds, and will be $300.
If you have a 4K TV, and haven’t finished House of Cards season 2 yet, rejoice! Techcrunch.com reports that Netflix is now streaming it in 4K, which they’re calling Ultra HD. They also are rolling out some nature shows in the new format. Don’t expect too much…HDTVtest.com says in their tests, the 4k stream isn’t as clean as some Blu-ray disks.
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