May 27
Apple’s launch plans for the Apple iPad is bound to get plenty of online customers angry. According to various reports, the launch of the iPad will actually push through this May 28, but stores will be focusing on people who are going to be lining up in the queue. Those who already made pre-orders might have to wait for as long as two weeks before the touch screen tablet is shipped to their homes.
While there is something that is interesting and enjoyable about having to wait for hours in a queue just to get a single tablet, this plan does cut out online shoppers. In the simplest, aspect, this is unfair of Apple –as the best way to gauge the volume of products that needs to be manufactured is also based on the number of pre-orders that are made prior to the launch –and from that data, the total number of actual stock to be produced for the demands of both online and walk-in customers is calculated.
Sadly, it seems that folks who had the insight and wisdom to order their iPads weeks ahead of time will be getting the bad end of the deal as they will be among the last to receive the device. Indeed, from the way things are, it appears that the only way to get an Apple iPad early once May 28 rolls in is to be camped in one of the many electronic retail stores that are offering the touch screen tablet. Once again, Apple has managed to hurt their very own customers –unless they actually want to discourage people from pre ordering Apple devices online.
Curry’s and PC World stores, along with Apple’s official retail offices will be stocking and offering the iPad to customers on Friday morning –there have also been some reports that store will be opening extra-early to accommodate the projected number of iPad buyers.
Apr 27
Children need to be prepared about the world that they are going to venture into. And despite many of us having been brought up in a generation where protecting the innocence of children was the perfect excuse to avoid having that oh-so-complicated talk about the birds, bees, responsibility and child-rearing, it is high time for parents all over the world to face the hard facts of modern reality: in this day and age, it is virtually impossible to shelter children from the many realities of the world.
The average age for children to receive their first smart phone or learn to access the internet has been gradually getting younger and younger each year. Unfortunately, the system employed by parents has not adjusted at all. In fact, it has simply become a more complicated game of home-based censorship as it is about proper guidance.
And thus our society finds itself embroiled in disputes as to how much responsibility social networking sites should have when it comes to stopping internet predators and cyber-bullies in their tracks.
To take the events of Google Italy’s recent case, it seems that the general public is happy to place the heads of anyone running an internet service for content that is made by users. While it is unlikely that Facebook would be facing the same verdict, the pressure to implement a panic button for users has been pretty strong in the past few weeks.
In the end, Facebook has decided to meet with many experts and groups regarding measures that can be taken to discourage abusive users from the social networking site. The rest however, still remains as the responsibility for parents. For a social networking site, Facebook has already done more than enough for society; it is time society learns to take care of itself.
Read more about the pressures for the addition of a Panic Button on Facebook at the Telegraph UK.
Apr 15
Just what is the iChatAgent? This is the big question on the minds of many developers as they have started delving deep into the SDK for the iPhone 4.0 OS. There are indeed plenty of new features, though very few details on what these added capabilities are, Apple is confident that the sheer number of added functions will be something that users will look forward to.
Anyway, the presence of the iChatAgent heavily hints at the possibility that the next Apple iPhone (the iPhone 4G) would come with a second camera on the front. While Apple has yet to confirm or deny this rumor, it does coincide with many previous claims that the device would indeed have the feature. iPhone users have been begging for a front facing camera for quite some time now and many are hoping that the next device would actually have the feature.
Speaking of features that users are begging for, the new iPhone 4.0 OS does bring with it the added bonus of multitasking for up to four tasks. Apple has also brought in folders for icons and the ability to change the background wallpaper on the phone.
Developers have been unhappy with one major factor of the newly released SDK; the license agreement. It turns out that a clause in the agreement prevents developers from making use of third party software in order to create applications for the iPhone. Many rely on programs such as Adobe Flash Professional in order to create their apps. This rule does push out Adobe from the picture but at the same time, has met the disapproval of many in the dev community.
Expect to see more about the Apple iPhone 4G later this year.
Read original article and the rest of the info about the new iChatAgent at Mobile Choice UK.
Apr 06
There is a new Apple iPhone and Google Android application available in Germany right now. And even if we could download the app, using it would be pointless as it uses a database that is strictly for Germany. However, what the app does and how much the world can benefit from it is a completely different story.
The app is called Barcoo. This barcode scanning application is a simply tool with an extensive database that it calls up whenever a user scans a product. The information shown ranges from the predictable, to the surprisingly ethical: product information and details about the manufacturer.
While the app does help out determining nutritional values, the information can be found on the product labels and all one needs to do is read. At least the app remembers to use traffic light warnings though according to the app developer, that practice should be the responsibility of the manufacturer and the app is only a supplement not an alternative.
The details on the manufacturer however, are impressive. Ratings on how environmentally sound and how well a company is able to treat its employees are two of the details the users of the app would find.
It is an interesting model, and it seriously brings the concept of ethical shopping into play. Just as society has looked down upon the practice of live animal testing or the use of children for labour, such business practices in this day and age should also be considered wrong and should not be supported.
Not that the app will actually tell you not to buy a certain product, after all, the decision to purchase a product is still up to you. In fact, it would be more helpful to everyone if consumers would start getting in touch with their favorite manufacturers to ask for changes in the production methods.
Find out more about the German Barcoo phone app at Spiegel Online.
Mar 31
Do we really want to believe the latest bunch of rumors regarding the upcoming iPhone 4G? Confirming any specifications about the device right now is still a long shot with Apple refusing to give out any details until the official announcement, but we have to admit, some the speculated features are making us look forward to seeing what kind of device the iPhone 4G will be.
The first batch of rumors are pretty basic; removable battery, dual cameras, touch screen casing and of course, an A4 CPU. A 1GHz A4 CPU is already being used in the Apple iPad, so it is not surprising that they would use the same technology for the iPhone. Though it would be more likely that an improved version of the chip will be used, bringing the speed higher than just 1GHz.
The removable battery bit makes us scratch our heads as it has not become a bothersome standard for Apple that all their devices are closed. It would be nice to be able to replace the battery manually should there be any problems with the capacity, but considering that this is not a practice that the manufacturer has been following; it still remains a wishful hope.
According to new rumors, Bing will be the new search engine for the device and that it will also have an HD capable display.
Well, the HD display is understandable and in some ways, predictable. HD is quickly becoming the new standard of display screens everywhere and if the iPhone 4G is to last for two more years, it should be future proof.
As for the Bing rumors, this is mostly due to the fact that Google and Apple are fierce competitors. Though using Microsoft’s Bing is also unlikely as it will be WP7’s primary web searcher.
Find out more about the upcoming iPhone 4G at Tech Radar.
Mar 26
The new super AMOLED screen technology is certainly winning the approval of many tech critics as it delivers some of the best quality images and videos possible on mobile phones. The demonstration of the Samsung Wave at the Mobile World Congress pretty much sealed the verdict as it showed that not only does the display show great depth and clarity, but it is able to display true black tones on a display screen –or convincingly close to true black.
The Samsung Wave is a smart phone that runs on the new Bada mobile platform from Samsung, it was not expected that they would announce a new device using the new technology so soon. But just a couple of weeks ago Samsung has confirmed that it will be using the super AMOLED touch screen on the Windows Phone 7 device that they are currently working on. It has been confirmed that the new phone will come with a 5 mega pixel camera and will be following the type-1 chassis in the Microsoft system requirement for the WP7 mobile platform.
Now, a third device using the high-tech screen technology will be released and this time it is an Android smart phone. The I9000 Galaxy S follows Samsung’s line of Android devices and it is expected to be launched sometime later this year. While the actual release date is sketchy, it has been reported that the phone will indeed be heading to the UK.
The Galaxy S comes with a nice 4 inch capacitive touch screen display –larger than the 3.3 inch screen on the Wave. It will also have a 1GHz processor and a 5 mega pixel camera as well. Expect this phone to have the usual array of smart phone basics such as Bluetooth support, AGPS, WiFi and more.
Find out more about the I9000 Galaxy S at Tech Radar.
Mar 23
There are plenty of things to be noted about the Digital Economy Bill, but if there is one thing that stands out, is that the sum total of the bill pushes for absolute and total control of media –including the internet.
Disclosure of private information, disconnection of services, and the actual surveillance of internet activity are just some of the many facets of the Digital Control Bill that people are getting riled up about, and they should. While the British Government does have laws against piracy, the internet is a realm outside of direct legal control –a factor that will be changed if the Digital Control Bill pushes through.
The First Secretary of State will also be granted the ability to establish and enforce any law regarding file sharing on the internet without passing through the parliament –this will not only turn the internet under government control, but to a point where it is even more controlled than the real world.
No power in the government can control or dictate what we write in our personal letters to our friends and loved ones. The same applies to any bit of information or opinion we say in telephone calls. The same applies to our activities on the internet.
A recent study surmised that the bill will create a scare regarding piracy and will be the reason why the UK will suffer a severe “loss of income” (quite obvious) and “loss of jobs” (not true), the research was requested by the TUC in an effort to gain the support of union groups (like CWU) who are easily provoked by any slight hint of pay cuts or loss of benefits.
Piracy should be stopped, but people like Brendan Barber should know better than to think that an iron-grip approach with a bill like the DCB is the answer.
Get to know more about the Digital Economy Bill at the London Daily News.
Mar 22
A few weeks ago, Apple filed a patent infringement lawsuit against HTC. The lawsuit covered 20 different patents for software and hardware innovations, phones affected by this case include most of HTC’s Android devices and several Windows Mobile handsets.
Many viewed Apple’s lawsuit as an indirect way to affect the distribution of Google’s Android smart phones. HTC has proven to be a key figure in the development of the Google mobile platform and by suing HTC instead of Google, Apple is able to choose its fights.
HTC has not taken the defensive. They announced a few weeks back that they would be defending their works and innovations and they also have their own patents. Even more, HTC has been a leading pioneer in the mobile device industry with their many contributions, to say that they are infringing on filed patents is an insult to their legacy.
HTC’s Peter Chou finally speaks out, “HTC disagrees with Apple’s actions and will fully defend itself. HTC strongly advocates intellectual property protection and will continue to respect other innovators and their technologies as we have always done, but we will continue to embrace competition through our own innovation as a healthy way for consumers to get the best mobile experience possible.”
“From day one, HTC has focused on creating cutting-edge innovations that deliver unique value for people looking for a smartphone. In 1999 we started designing the XDA and T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition, our first touch-screen smartphones, and they both shipped in 2002 with more than 50 additional HTC smartphone models shipping since then.”
At this point, it is hard to see how this lawsuit will turn out. While HTC can only defend itself, Apple will surely be pushing for various sanctions against the manufacturer.
Get to know more about HTC’s statement in the original AP article at Google News.
Mar 17
A recent article at the Times Online UK brings up a very interesting new feature that parents can use in order to monitor their children’s activities online.
The real consideration here is; do we really need such levels of control? In many cases, the security provided by these functions is not worth the trouble they cause –particularly when children realize that they are being monitored. People in general do not enjoy being controlled, monitored or spied upon –not by the government nor by their parents. Even worse, many children are more tech savvy than their parents –giving them the technical know-how to disable such security measures.
In the end, nothing beats old fashioned good parenting. While it is a parent’s task to ensure that a child is not exposed to “bad things”, a parent can shelter a child for so long. What matters is being able to educate a child properly in order to teach what is right from what is wrong. This will be the basis of the discipline that people need when it comes to handling freedom –like the freedom to be online.
Of course, a considerable degree of supervision still helps. Features such as being able to disable or limit mobile phone usage during family hours or during school hours are non-invasive and practical. This is something that you can easily get kids to agree to as opposed to running key loggers and other software.
Another danger to having surveillance applications running is that these can also be used against you. Key loggers can also log your own key entries, providing information regarding your credit card or bank account to others without your knowledge. Simply put, these software are not tools for everyone to use –despite what the ads say.
Get to know more about digital cyber-guards at Times Online UK.
Mar 09
The Apple iPad’s UK release date has been pushed back to late April and rumors are pointing towards a possibility that this is due to manufacturing problems encountered by Apple’s partners in China. Since Apple has yet to actually explain the reason for the launch delay, this is all purely speculation for now.
What we can confirm however is that the iPad will be out by late April –few weeks after the
US launch date of April 3. The 3G version of the iPad will be launched in the US first. The UK launch will see both the 3G and non-3G versions of the device come out.
Delayed or not, this is one gadget that we are really looking forward to. Admittedly, there are a major of letdowns. First is Steve Jobs’ absolute refusal to support Adobe –which means that the iPad will never have Flash support (at least it will have HTML5). Second, and even worse, is the lack of multi tasking. This is pretty odd since even smart phones can multi task. The iPad is supposed to have the hardware for it so we simply cannot fathom why we would not be allowed to jump among active apps or programs.
Despite that, the iPad promises to make net access an instantaneous thing to do taking away our reliance on desktop computers and net books when it comes to internet access (of course, it will never replace computers when it comes to other functions). The iPad also serves as a digital eBook reader and library –thanks to the new iBookstore.
The demonstration of the tablet’s capabilities show that the device is able to run 3D games without much slowdown. The graphic capabilities of the iPad are also pretty impressive –auto rotate animation is pretty smooth.
Read more about the iPad release date getting pushed back at the Telegraph UK.
