The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple is in talks with Foursquare for a data sharing deal to bolster its Maps application. If this does happen I wonder if this is what Apple needs. A social Map app. Do you think so?
Category Archives: Tech News
Copilot & Letterpress gets updated
Copilot Live had a big update. It’s gone universal. Yelp is now available and traffic incident details on your route, rotation lock and a new privacy menu. The universal part is interesting timing. Google Maps influence perhaps?
My fav word game Letterpress just got updated too. On iOS 6 you can share replays. You can tweet or email or just hoard links to your games. The dictionary is improved as is iPad rotation.
10m Downloads in 48 hours
Google Maps for iOS racked up 10m downloads in 48 hours. That clearly sends a big message. Google Maps was needed and missed.
YouTube Capture – a new app from Google
YouTube Capture is a new app from Google. This new app allows you to easily film and share video. Touch up videos with colour correction, stabilisation, trimming and music tracks. Upload to YouTube , Google +, FaceBook and twitter at the same time. At the moment only available for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
The Android Controlled Toilet
Satis Toilets are releasing new toilets that are controlled by an android app. Users will be able to flush the toilet , lift the lid and more. All from your smartphone.
Only one issue I can see. How clean will your hands be when operating the app? And do you need to wash your smartphone after handling with your hands?
Would you use one?
The Virtual Keyboard – A Blast from the Past – The Year 2004
Below is a review I wrote in November 2004. This gadget caused a storm wherever I used it. It was a cool piece of kit, and was available 8 years ago!
The Virtual Keyboard
Now before anyone asks, is this fantasy or fiction I will state this is fiction and following my use of the keyboard it is no gimmick.
In fact before I continue, I have been left stunned at how well its works. Not to mention the “wow” factor. All my colleagues, friends in the pub, new friends I have made showing the Virtual Keyboard cannot believe what they are seeing. However, they are equally amused by the fact it actually works.
So what do you get in the box.
The Virtual Keyboard, comes with a lovely small case for it, some instructions, the installation CD, and a whole host of adapters which connect to Palm, Pocket PC, Smartphones and even a PC (serial).
The Virtual Keyboard uses the latest infrared and laser technology to project a full size qwerty keyboard onto any flat surface.
The current version is compatible with:
O2 XDA I and II – O/S Pocket PC2002/3
Orange SPV e200 – O/S Smartphone 2003
Palm Tungsten T3 – O/S Palm OS 5.x
Palm M505 – O/S Palm OS 4.x
HP2210 – O/S Pocket PC2003
HP5550 – O/S Pocket PC2003
Laptops/Desktops – O/S WinXP, 2000, NT & 98
The actual device is quite compact. In fact it was a lot smaller than I had anticipated.
Loading the installation CD revealed all the different operating systems. I chose Palm OS5 and installed the driver.
Plug the charging into the wall and give the unit a 2 hours charge. This should last for 2 hours continuous typing. So in reality you should get a whole days worth of typing if you do a bit here and there.
Next it is important to configure the driver to your own typing style and the various options as shown below.
Also when connected the driver provides a useful meter for the battery level.
In addition there are a range of keyboard shortcuts which make life a little easier. So what does it look like in use.
The size of projection is reasonable and easy to use.
It is worth noting that the Virtual Keyboard cannot be used in direct sunlight and must be used on a flat surface. Also, the keyboard driver settings appear to be lost following a soft reset.
Definitely recommended and a very cool piece of kit.
So would you have been tempted?
Reviews of Years Gone By
Over the last 10 years, I have written many reviews covering phones, software, gadgets and all sorts of accessories. Coming up shortly, and over the Christmas and New Year period, I am going to add some of these reviews.
It sure does bring back memories.
Mobile Predictions for 2013
Another year has passed, and the competition is expanding rapidly. There are 5 key operators that exist – Apple, Google, Amazon, RIM and Microsoft.
My predictions for each for 2013 are as follows –
Apple – more of the same. The iPhone 5 becomes the 5S just with better internals and a software feature exclusive to that model. Possible colour options too. iOS 7 will add dynamically changing icons and improve the operating system is minor ways. The iPad Mini will get thicker and heavier but have a retina or near retina screen. The new iPad will be better somehow, probably with better internals like a spec bump on the camera, processor and maybe memory up to 128gb. The remainder of the Apple products will start to feature more iOS like software integration.
Google – expect to see mind blowing specification devices – phones and tablets. Huge screened phones will be abundant. Android will in 2013 close the gap between its Eco system and Apple. But will it be as easy to use? Or will android turn in to a computer operating system and be too clever. Market share will increase again. It wouldn’t surprise me if Samsung release a handset to excel in performance and art form over Apple.
Microsoft – more and more handset will appear and it’s market share will start to grow rapidly at the expense of Apple and Google. This company has the ability to become a major player again. It has plenty of money in the bank at the moment, and has a decent suite of office / work applications that everyone is familiar with.
RIM – Blackberry 10 get launched end of January 2013. I’m certain it will be a big fanfare event. However, by the end of the year, they will have been bought by either Microsoft or Samsung. Maybe Amazon even.
Amazon – and now on to the dangerous competitor, armed and ready to obliterate its competition. New tablets and ereaders plus it’s first smartphone. In 2013 it will strengthen its position and offering. But I say watch out everyone. 2014 is the year Amazon explodes with great new products along with a ready made ecosystem. Plus they already have the cloud sorted and understand about logistics.
Interesting times ahead. What do you think?
Halfbrick Games on iOS
Just a very quick post.
Halfbrick Studios have reduced all their games to free for the next 24 hours. So time to get your Fruit Ninja.
How to use Siri with Google Maps – no Jailbreak
When Google Maps was available to download in the AppStore I sensed a mass rush to install it. This was backed up by it only needing a few hours to rush to the top of the free charts.
Sadly, on iOS you cannot change the default mapping app from Apple Maps to Google Maps. But you can fool Siri.
Here’s how. Hold the home button, and ask Siri to take you to the nearest pizza restaurant. This will fire up Apple Maps. But if you say to Siri, take me to the nearest pizza restaurant “via transit” then Google Maps gets launched.
Simple but effective.
