Assignment 3 Video

Well, we did our video. It's not the funniest video out there but it's reasonable. Thanks to the team for getting it up and running.

A day made of glass

I don't want to be a sceptic but is this really the future that we’re facing. Glass technology? Computer hardware, software and the internet appear to be moving faster than we can imagine. Did you think glass was in the mix?

This video really questions what our generation see now as a digital divide. Are current university students already behind our youth in their learning and potential, are we missing something? I’ve certainly not developed for, nor seen the capability of glass used in application development besides my big screen TV, my mobiles and tablets and the odd touch screen computer, however this video is mind blowing.

Most smartphones these days use glass as the primary interaction tool. I’ve also seen it on PCs and tablets but this video somewhat scares me although excites me phenomenally!

If glass coupled with the internet, hardware and software can develop in ways this video shows. I think we’ve got a very promising future ahead. I want to see more of it and I want to see it now.

I found this video on youtube but the corning website is http://www.corning.com/index.aspx if you're intrigued as I am.

Android apps on the playbook?

Have blackberry given into Android or is these simple reverse engineered samples of simple applications provided on the Android market?

I found an article on ‘engadget’ that showcases the blackberry playbook and its ability to play android applications. The applications displayed seem very simple? Are they reverse engineered copies of android applications available from the android market, or simply a blackberry badged version of an android java based application. It appears you go to the blackberry market and not android to download. The mind questions!

There would certainly be legal aspects to this agreement if it is for real. The use of the android name on the applications certainly seems to suggest some type of partnership. Are two big forces in mobile thinking of joining hands? It may just be so.

It’s a shame the video doesn’t show angry birds or fruit ninja in true format. Mobile gaming is at its peak. This to raises many questions about the validity of this video and what blackberry are claiming.

Certainly something to look out for.

See the full article at:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/androids-apps-on-playbook-eyes-on-video/

Cleano Presto

Sick of having to clean up someone else's mess? Want a fully automated cleaning machine? Then you better look somewhere else, though the Navibot SR8855 robot vacuum cleaner will be able to clean up most small messes. Released by Samsung mid last year the little robot machine (resembling the look alike of a walkman CD player) comes armed with a little embedded camera that scans the entire house and determines the layout through checking what the dimensions of your ceiling are.

The device has three main modes. Firstly a manual process where the user can simply guide the robot where to go through an included remote, Max mode where the robot concentrates all its efforts on a specific spot and Edge which helps to get into those tight spots.

The machine is fairly effective at dogging most objects it encounters as it scurries across the house through its built-in senses. The two main problems with this device is that it can only handle simple room layouts and that it cannot clean up concentrated piles of mess, only simple spills, dust, dirt etc.

The dirt that is collected is hidden well away in a small little side compartment on the side of the device, the price may be the final straw in your decision to buy this product at RRP $1000.

Kissing by Computer?

The internet and smart phones certainly have decreased physical contact (and voice communication) but who’d have thought, you can do it by computer now? Japan has come up with what engadget call an “of-the-wall-innovation” which allows a user to kiss via computer. This device certainly seems a bit of a strange one, but with the internet, working from home, and smartphones, why not send your wife or girlfriend a great whopping tongue kiss whilst you’re away.

The device records and transmits tongue movement from one device to another and users are able to respond from device to device.  It’s in it’s early stages of development and researchers are also looking into “the sense of taste, manner of breathing, and moistness of the tongue”. 

Keep an eye out for one of these crazy devices coming to a computer store near you.

For the full article, see:

http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/02/tactile-kiss-transmission-device-finally-makes-it-okay-to-smooch/

Stolen info from PlayStation hack up for sale?

Last week, many PlayStation users were wondering why they couldn't access Sony's PlayStation Network. In light of these events Sony announced that it had had a service outage and then an "external intrusion" duly missing out on the implications of this.


A couple of days ago Sony announced the potential ramifications of the breach noting

information exposed includes customer names; addresses; e-mail addresses; birthdays; PlayStation Network and Qriocity passwords and usernames; as well as online user handles.

Although there was no evidence that credit card information was stolen it is rumored that the hackers were looking to sell their database of information including a list of millions of credit card numbers.

We all rely on the security of these big organisations to keep our personal information safe. Only recently Vodafone has had several technical breaches from internal staff. Could these events severely affect the reputation of Sony?

Did your personal life just disappear?

Your personal phone may just become your work phone. The smartphone market is taking over our lives and we don’t even seem to understand its capabilities. Could smartphones be the end of our personal lives? It appears that people are ditching their landline phones in favour of high speed broadband and mobile phones, and the death of the landline phone as we know it could just be the result.

The contact ability of smart phones with GPS and network location services might just spell the end of personal lives as we know it. Your employer, if they provide you a mobile phone has the ability to track your every move. Pop your mobile phone into the dock when you arrive at work and you just clocked in. Pop it in late and you may only get payed for the hours you’re in the office.

The idea behind the smartphone dock is brilliant but are consumers going to give into company expectations. Are we now expected to work 24/7 with our desk work phone? The capability is certainly there!

I do like the idea of the ability to charge your mobile phone and replace your home phone but I’m a little scared of what this means. Are Australians now working, all day every, every day and should you be contactable outside of business hours. Are we going to get paid for this capability?

It looks like it’s here, and here to stay.

More information can be found at:

http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/29/desk-phone-dock-review/

Microsoft Surface Review

Microsoft Surface is a multi-touch product from Microsoft which is developed as a combination of both hardware and software technology.It allows a user, or multiple users, to manipulate digital content by the use of gesture recognition.This could involve the motion of hands or physical objects.It has a 360-degree user interface, a 30 in (76 cm) reflective surface with a XGA DLP projector underneath the surface which projects an image onto its underside, while five cameras in the machine's housing record reflections of infrared light from objects and human fingertips on the surface. The surface is capable of object recognition, object/finger orientation recognition and tracking, and is multi-touch and is multi-user. Users can interact with the machine by touching or dragging their fingertips and objects such as paintbrushes across the screen, or by placing and moving placed objects.

Targeted customers are in the hospitality businesses, such as restaurants, hotels, retail, public entertainment venues and the military for tactical overviews.This fast approaching technology has the ability to expand into the mass market,possibilities for domestic use include a virtual serving tray,dinner table or game board .Currently the product is only available commercially,though this limitless technology could see implementation into everyday life in the not too near future.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Review

Malwarebytes is an effective malware remover which comes in two versions,the freeware version which allows users to scan files and recieve unlimited updates and the paid version which introduces the ability for real-time protection and technical support. The spyware remover is ranked #1 on the internet for most downloads, and though the freeware version doesnt allow for real-time protection it can be easily combined with another free anti-virus program and a freeware firewall effectively.Though the program uses a rather high 87 Mb when idle,the program only increases slighlty in usage to 91 Mb on average when performing a quick scan and 92 Mb when peforming a full scan. The interface is well layed out,featuring multiple tabs along the top of the window. The program features a interesting tool called FileAssassin, this tool allows for locked files to removed from the system. It supports multiple drive scanning including networked drives, context menu options including a scan-on-demand for individual files.I give it 4.5/5.Currently the retail price for the paid version is $24.95.

 

The program can be found at this website:

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

Smart Watches – Facebook on your watch?

inPulse, A Canadian company is attempting to build a name for itself in the smart watch marketplace, which I personally didn’t know really existed. The smart watch connects to your smartphone (or PC) and can be programmed to relay instant notifications and alerts directly to the watch.

The device will be marketed with applications which allow the wearer to download and personalise application “including an iTunes controller, PowerPoint Controller, a create-your-own analog clock app, and the FBCheckin app that lets you check into Facebook Places without getting your phone out of your pocket.” They’re also looking at building their own applications store specifically for the device.

The device is already on sale in America and can be purchased for $149USD. I think the device looks reasonable however will it be a success with the smartphone market increasing its capabilities at such a phenomenal rate? According to the New York Times article, students wearing watches is almost non-existent most opting for the phone to get the time.

The idea is certainly something to keep an eye out for in the  future.

More Information can be found at:

http://www.news.com.au/technology/now-facebooks-on-your-watch/story-e6frfro0-1226043383578#ixzz1KaGuGtV6

http://www.getinpulse.com/

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/the-wristwatch-looks-for-a-new-use/

Are Smart Tv's Really That Smart?

It seems to be that the next big leap in tv technology will be instant connectivity to all internet services,centralised servers and over the top content,simply refered to as smart tv's. The smart tv's will feature a similar structure to that of cloud computing,basically allowing games,movies,tv shows etc to be viewed and shared between tv's and certain devices.

Users will be able to do their shopping via the internet, download app's, feature intergrated Wi-Fi and view personalised content to name just a few. Samsung has already unveiled its own app store named "Smart Hub". In regards to apps the store features a very similar layout to that of Apple's "App Store". However the Smart Hub will also allow users to bring all their multimedia applications in one centralised place,reducing time spent searching for multiple applications and the costs involved with having to purchase multiple peripheral devices. The majority of the big name brands have already adopted this technology, with release dates yet to be announced the wait is on.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play

Looks like Sony Ericsson are lifting the game with their smartphones. The XPERIA Play will come with an online Sony store to download and play PlayStation One games which seems a little behind the game however it seems to have potential. With the Nokia N-gage, perhaps being a little before it’s time and being a major failure, this just might be the device to revamp the mobile gaming industry. At launch, the PlayStation store will have 50 games optimised for the device.

The device is slightly smaller than a PSP and it appears that a lot of time has been spent ensuring the device is comfortable to use from a gaming and but perhaps not so much from a phone perspective.  To quote GSM arena’s review, they’ve commented that “when you hold it landscape with both hands, it fits like a glove but otherwise it’s quite big to handle.”

The gaming controller is modelled on the PSP and PlayStation controller so will be familiar to most Sony product gamers. The gingerbread Android OS should be extremely stable but I’m a little confused as to why the device does not contain a dual core processor. My other worry with the device would be the battery life. For users travelling over an hour playing games on buses or trains, let’s hope they don’t have to recharge the phone every few hours.

Let’s see if this device kicks off the future in mobile gaming and is the start of much greater things to come. The success of Angry Birds certainly shows there is a large market for mobile gaming and this device could be the first of many to increase mobile phone gaming capabilities.

For more information on the device, see;

http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_ericsson_xperia_play-review-591.php