Mobile infrastructure must catch up with user needs and demands. Ubiquitous mobile computing is all around us, not only when we use smartphones to connect with friends and family across states and countries, but also when we use ticketing systems on buses and trains, purchase food from mobile vendors, watch videos, and listen to music on our phones. As a result, mobile computing systems must rise to the demand. The number of smart phones will exceed the number of PCs in 2014.
Some time in the next six months, the number of smartphones on earth will pass the number of PCs. This shouldn’t really surprise anyone: the mobile business is much bigger than the computer industry. There are now perhaps 3.5-4 billion mobile phones, replaced every two years (versus 1.7-1.8 billion PCs replaced every 5 years).It means that mobile industry can sell more phones in a quarter than the PC industry sells in a year. After some years we will end up with somewhere over 3bn smartphones in use on earth, almost double the number of PCs. The smartphone revolution is changing how consumers use the Internet: Mobile browsing is set to overtake traditional desktop browsing in 2015.
It seems that 4G has really become the new high speed mobile standard widely wanted during 2013. 3G will become the low-cost option for those who think 4G option is too expensive, not everyone that has 4G capable device has 4G subscription. How the situation changes depends on how operators improve their 3G coverage, what will be the price difference from 3G to 4G and how well the service is marketed.
Mobile data increased very much last year. I expect the growth to continue pretty much as projected in Mobile Data Traffic To Grow 300% Globally By 2017 Led By Video, Web Use, Says Strategy Analytics and Cisco Visual Networking Index: Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast Update, 2012–2017 articles.
When 4G becomes mainstream, planning for next 5G communications starts. I will expect to see more and more writing on 5G as the vision what it will be destined to be clears more. Europe’s newly-minted 5GPPP Association plans to launch as many as 20 research projects in 2014, open to all comers, with a total budget of about 250 million euros. The groundwork for 5G, an ambitious vision for a next-generation network of networks that’s still being defined, and the definition will go on many years to come. No one really knows today what 5G will be because there are still several views. Europe’s new 5GPPP group published a draft proposal for 5G. 5GPPP is not the only group expected to work on standards for next-generation cellular networks, but it could become one of the most influential.
The shifting from “dumb” phones to smart phones continue. In USA and Europe smart phone penetration is already so high levels that there will not be very huge gains on the market expected. Very many consumers already have their smart phone, and the market will be more and more on updating to new model after two years or so use. At the end of 2013 Corporate-Owned Smartphones Back in Vogue, and I expect that companies continue to shop smart phones well in 2014.
The existing biggest smart phone players will continue to rule the markets. Google’s Android will continue to rule the markets. Samsung made most money in 2013 on Android phones (in 2013 in West only Samsung makes money from selling Android), and I expect that to continue. In 2013 Apple slurped down enormous profits but lost some of its bleeding-edge-tech street credit, and I expect that to continue in 2014.
The biggest stories of the year 2013 outside the Samsung/Apple duopoly were the sale of Nokia’s mobile phone business to Microsoft and the woes of BlackBerry. BlackBerry had an agonising year and suffered one of the most spectacular consumer collapses in history, and I can’t see how it would get to it’s feet during 2014. Nokia made good gains for Windows Phones during 2013, and I expect that Microsoft will put marketing effort to gain even more market share. Windows Phone became the third mobile ecosystem, and will most probably keep that position in 2014.
New players try to enter smart phone markets and some existing players that once tried that try to re-enter. There are rumors that for example HP tries to re-enter mobile market, and is probable that some other computer makers try to sell smart phones with their brands. In the Android front there will be new companies trying to push marker (for example OPPO and many smaller Chinese makers you have never heard earlier). Nokia had a number of Android projects going on in 2013, and some former Nokia people have put up company Newkia to follow on that road. To make a difference in the market there will be also push on some smaller mobile platforms as alternative to the big three (Google, Apple, Microsoft). Jolla is pushing Sailfish OS phones that can run Android applications and also pushing possibility to install that OS to Android phone. Mozilla will push on with it’s own Firefox OS phone. Canonical will try to get their Ubuntu phone released. Samsung is starting to make Tizen powered smart phones and NTT DoCoMo could be the first carrier to offer a Tizen powered device. None of those will be huge mainstream hits within one year, but could maybe could have their own working niche markets. The other OS brands combined do not amount to 1% of all smartphones sold in 2013, so even if they could have huge growth they would still be very small players on the end of 2014.
As smartphone and tablet makers desperately search for points of differentiation they will try to push the limits of performance on several fronts to extremes. Extreme inter-connectivity is one of the more useful features that is appearing in new products. More context-aware automatic wireless linking is coming: Phones will wirelessly link and sync with screens and sensors in the user’s vicinity.
You can also expect extreme sensor support to offer differentiation. Biomedical sensors have lots of potential (Apple already has fingerprint sensors). Indoor navigation will evolve. Intelligent systems and assistive devices will advance smart healthcare.
Several smartphone makers have clear strategies to take photography to extremes. 40 megapixel camera is already on the market and several manufacturers are playing with re-focus after shooting options.
In high-end models we may be moving into the overkill zone with extreme resolution that is higher than you can see on small screen: some makers have already demonstrated displays with twice the performance of 1080-progressive. Samsung is planned to release devices with 4k or UHD resolutions. As we have seen in many high tech gadget markets earlier it is a very short journey to copycat behavior.
It seems that amount of memory on high-end mobile devices is increasing this year. To be able to handle higher resolutions smart phones will also need more memory than earlier (for example Samsung lpddr 4 allows up to 4 GB or RAM on smart phone as now high-end devices now have typically 2GB). As the memory size starts to hit the limits of 32 bit processors (4GB), I will expect that there will be some push for chip makers to start to introduce more 64 bit processors for mobile devices. Apple already has 64-bit A7 microprocessor in iPhone 5s, all the other phone-makers want one too for their high-end models (which is a bit of panic to mobile chip makers).
You will be able to keep your mobile phone during some flights all the time and browser web on the plane more widely. At some planes you might also be able to make phone calls with your mobile phone during the flight. Calls on flights have been theoretically possible, and United States has recently looked at mobile phone calls allow the flights.
In year 2013 there were many releases on wearable technologies. Wearable is a trend with many big companies already in the space, and more are developing new products. It seems that on this field year 2013 was just putting on the initial flame, and I expect that the wearable market will start to heat up more during 2014. The advent of wearable technology brings new demands for components that can accommodate its small form factor, wireless requirements, and need for longer battery life.
The Internet of Things (IoT) will evolve into the Web of Things, increasing the coordination between things in the real world and their counterparts on the Web. The Internet is expanding into enterprise assets and consumer items such as cars and televisions. Gartner suggests that now through 2018, a variety of devices, user contexts, and interaction paradigms will make “everything everywhere” strategies unachievable.
Technology giants Google Inc. and Apple Inc. are about to expand their battle for digital supremacy to a new front: the automobile. The Android vs. iOS apps battle is coming to the automotive industry in 2014: car OEMs aren’t exactly known for their skills in developing apps and app developers don’t want to develop so many different versions of an app separately (for Ford, General Motors, BMW, and Toyota). I am waiting for Google’s response to Apple’s iOS in the Car. Next week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Google and German auto maker Audi AG plan to announce that they are working together to develop in-car entertainment and information systems that are based on Google’s Android software. The push toward smarter cars is heating up: Right now, we are just scratching the surface.
For app development HTML5 will be on rise. Gartner predicts that through 2014, improved JavaScript performance will begin to push HTML5 and the browser as a mainstream enterprise application development environment. It will also work on many mobile applications as well.
1,857 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ubuntu phone isn’t important enough to demand an open source baseband
http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/ubuntu-phone-isnt-important-enough-demand-open-source-baseband
Although it’s a bummer that Ubuntu-based smartphones won’t be fully open source, it’s not really Canonical’s fault.
“If you read the catalogue of spy tools and digital weaponry provided to us by Edward Snowden, you’ll see that firmware on your device is the NSA’s best friend,” Shuttleworth said in a recent blog post.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google Glass Signs Deal With Ray Ban’s Parent Company
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/14/03/25/0245252/google-glass-signs-deal-with-ray-bans-parent-company
“Google has signed a deal with The Luxottica Group, the world’s largest eyewear company (controlling 80% of the eyewear market).”
“The deal shows how serious Google is about Glass”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ray Ban and other mega brands to bring Google Glass to the market!
http://www.muktware.com/2014/03/ray-ban-mega-brands-bring-google-glass-market/24370
Google has signed a deal with The Luxottica Group, the world’s largest eyewear company which owns 80% of the eyewear market. Luxottica owns Ray-Ban, Oakley, Vogue-Eyewear, Persol, Oliver Peoples, Alain Mikli and Arnette.
This deal shows how serious Google is about Google Glass contrary to the skepticism raised by high-profiled users like Robert Scoble who spelled doom for the device implying that Google itself is not sure about the future of the device.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google Glass
https://plus.google.com/+GoogleGlass/posts/aso1yad7q5E
The Luxottica Group is a leader in premium, luxury and sports eyewear with over 5,000 optical and sun retail stores in the US
When the first eyeglasses appeared in the 13th century, they took off and over the next 700 years, they evolved over and over, with the first bifocals appearing in the 18th century, and the monocle and sunglasses shortly after.
We see Glass as the next chapter in this long story.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Is 2014 the Year We Hit the Technology Tipping Point?
http://www.workintelligent.ly/technology/trends/2014-3-10-technology-tipping-point/
Earlier this year, Yahoo’s Marissa Mayer said more users would access its content on mobile devices and tablets than on personal computers. That’s the type of trigger that has her and many pundits proclaiming 2014 as a “tipping point” for technology.
Is 2014 the Technology Tipping Point? Let’s look at a few things that are impacting the scales in 2014.
Mobile’s Shift Is Well Underway
Sparking New Business Models
Make Friends With The Machines
Tomi Engdahl says:
Facebook Buys Oculus VR For $2 Billion
http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-to-buy-oculus-rift-for-2-billion-2014-3
Facebook is buying Oculus VR, a startup that makes virtual reality headsets, in a $2 billion deal.
Console gaming companies have sensed the threat of Oculus
According to a statement from CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the company plans to expand Oculus beyond gaming
Zuckerberg expanded on that in a conference call following the announcement, saying he believes virtual reality will be the next big computing platform after mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple Engineer Recalls the iPhone’s Birth
Jobs’s Ultimatum: Lay Out a Vision Fast or Lose the Project
http://online.wsj.com/news/article_email/SB10001424052702303949704579461783150723874-lMyQjAxMTA0MDIwNTEyNDUyWj
In February 2005, Apple Inc.’s then chief executive, Steve Jobs, gave senior software engineer Greg Christie an ultimatum.
Mr. Christie’s team had been struggling for months to lay out the software vision for what would become the iPhone as well as how the parts would work together. Now, Mr. Jobs said the team had two weeks or he would assign the project to another group.
“He wanted bigger ideas and bigger concepts.”
Since then, Apple has sold more than 470 million iPhones. The phone is now the subject of patent disputes around the world between Apple and Samsung, the two biggest and most profitable smartphone makers
Tomi Engdahl says:
Intel Completes Purchase Of Basis Science, Which Will Join Intel’s Device’s Group
http://techcrunch.com/2014/03/25/intel-competes-purchase-of-basis-science/
Intel has just announced its acquisition of Basis Science, the hot wearable technology company based in San Francisco. As TechCrunch first reported, the startup went to the chipmaker for around $100 million. The startup will be part of Intel’s new devices group.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Yes, Flappy Bird Will Return To The App Store
http://techcrunch.com/2014/03/19/flappy-bird-will-return/?source=gravity&cps=gravity
Flappy Bird is coming back to the App Store after its removal earlier this year, according to the game’s developer Dong Nguyen.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Wearable Electronics Driving Battery Revenue Growth
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1321634&
With wearable electronics quickly becoming the fashion these days, demand for batteries to power smart watches, wearable health monitors, and smart glasses will increase tenfold over the next four years, according to an IHS report.
Worldwide revenue for wearable electronics batteries is expected to jump from $6 million in 2014 to $77 million in 2018. Revenue growth will be buoyed by annual shipments for wearable electronic devices, which will reach 56 million units by 2018, according to the IHS Power & Energy report (subscription required).
“Wearable electronics will be the key to sustaining the current very-high-growth levels of battery revenue in consumer electronics,”
Though wearable electronics is an emerging market, smartphones and tablets is still driving the majority of revenue growth in the lithium battery market for portable electronics. Shipments of smartphones and tablet PCs are expected to grow 46% from 2013 to 2015 but then decline, IHS said.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Chinese cops cuff 1,500 in fake base station spam raid
Thousands of devices, hundreds of millions of unwanted texts
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/03/26/spam_text_china_clampdown_police/
China’s police have arrested over 1,500 people on suspicion of using fake base stations to send out mobile SMS spam.
mobile spam is a massive problem in China.
Some 200 billion unwanted messages were sent in the country in the first half of 2013 alone
Fake base stations are becoming a particularly popular modus operandi.
The pseudo-base station used could send out around 6,000 messages in just half an hour, the report said.
Trend Micro highlighted the problem in a recent expose of the Mobile Cybercriminal Underground Market in China.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ugh! This DUNKABLE wearable tech is REPELLENT
Something for a rainy day… like a waterproof Galaxy 5?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/03/26/wearable_tech_water_repellent_treatments_abound/
lthough last Week’s Wearable Technology Show was dominated by gadget solutions looking for a problem, on a couple of stands were solutions to, er, the problem of solutions from P2i and HzO.
The two companies collaborate with manufacturers to ensure that your shiny new wearable tech toy doesn’t turn into a damp squib when the thrills turn into spills.
US outfit HzO provides a more industrial strength polymer coating enabling devices to be used underwater for extended periods.
British company P2i has its roots in Porton Down,
the initiative that led to P2i’s formation was protecting military uniforms from chemical attack
The company has its own nano-coatings that takes care of protecting components, its latest barrier protection treatment is called Dunkable.
While HzO relies extensively on improved methods to apply Parylene – a coating that has been used commercially since the 1960s – P2i’s treatment is a three-stage process involving some some clever plasma techniques for both its Splash and Dunkable applications.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple, Android Smartphone Share ‘Stabilizing,’ Says Raymond James; Nokia, BBRY Game Over?
http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2014/03/26/apple-android-smartphone-share-stabilizing-says-raymond-james-nokia-bbry-game-over/
Raymond James’s Tavis McCourt today offers up the results of his quarterly survey of the smartphone industry, compiled from responses of 500 people in the United States from March 13th to 17th, which suggest Apple’s (AAPL) shares of the market is “stabilizing” as is the share of Google’s (GOOG) Android.
As for Nokia’s (NOK) “Lumia” brand, and BlackBerry (BBRY), McCourt muses it may be all over for both, based on lack of interest:
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Search For The Next Platform
http://avc.com/2014/03/the-search-for-the-next-platform/
I found this part of Mark Zuckerberg’s post on the Oculus acquisition most revealing:
We have a lot more to do on mobile, but at this point we feel we’re in a position where we can start focusing on what platforms will come next to enable even more useful, entertaining and personal experiences.
If you look at these big acquisitions like Nest and Oculus, you might scratch your head.
But the roadmap has been clear for the past seven years (maybe longer). The next thing was mobile. Mobile is now the last thing. And all of these big tech companies are looking for the next thing to make sure they don’t miss it.. And they will pay real money (to you and me) for a call option on the next thing.
It isn’t clear if the next thing is virtual reality, the internet of things, drones, machine learning, or something else.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Microsoft and Dell sign Android, Chrome OS patent agreement
http://www.zdnet.com/microsoft-and-dell-sign-android-chrome-os-patent-agreement-7000027754/
Summary: Microsoft and Dell have renewed their patent cross-licensing agreement, with Dell agreeing to pay Microsoft royalties for Dell’s products running Android and Chrome OS.
Tomi Engdahl says:
HTC One (M8) Teardown
http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/HTC+One+%28M8%29+Teardown/23615
Tomi Engdahl says:
Galaxy S5 hits stores early in Korea, as carriers try to dodge sales suspension
http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/27/galaxy-s5-early-release-korea/?ncid=rss_truncated
South Korea’s major carriers have pulled their Galaxy S5 launch date forward to, well, today, despite Samsung’s efforts to keep the native networks in line with the global launch date on April 11.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Boffins power wearable tech with body static
Fondle your phone for free electricity, thanks to the power of polydimethylsiloxane!
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/03/27/boffins_power_devices_with_body_static/
A group of Chinese researchers reckon they’re close to a practical method of harvesting the static electricity you generate when tapping and swiping the screen of your smartphone as backup power for the phone itself.
In this paper at Applied Physics Letters, they outline their approach, in which rather than grounding their STEG (single-friction-surface triboelectric generator), the body is used as an electrode,
Using a surface of micro-patterned polydimethylsiloxane, the researchers claim they were able to achieve an output voltage of 200V with a current density of 4.7 micro-Amps per square centimetre.
Tomi Engdahl says:
You killed me at hello: 26% of car wrecks involve phones
Talking on the phone — not texting — is the biggest problem
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-car-and-train-drivers-keep-talking-on-phones-2013-07-31?mod=flipboardbizfeed
Despite all the warnings about the dangers of talking or texting while driving, a new study suggests that the situation is getting progressively worse.
Cellphone use is now estimated to be involved in 26% of all motor vehicle crashes — up from 25% last year, according to “Injury Facts,” the annual survey from the National Safety Council released Tuesday. But it’s not texting or checking status updates — widely regarded as the scourge of road accidents — that’s the biggest problem. Around 5% of cellphone-related crashes involve texting, while the other 21% involve drivers talking on hand-held or hands-free cellphones, the survey found.
“Intuitively, texting has more elements of distraction because you’re looking away from the road, but people are more comfortable talking on the phone and probably do it more often,”
Drivers using cellphones fail to see up to 50% of the information in their environment
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple placing next-generation iPhone battery orders with Simplo and Desay
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20140326PD212.html
Apple has reportedly placed its next-generation iPhone battery orders with only two suppliers: Taiwan-based Simplo Technology and China-based Shenzhen Desay Battery Technology. Dynapack, a battery supplier for the iPhone 5 and 5c currently has no orders confirmed
Tomi Engdahl says:
Today’s Apps Are Turning Us Into Sociopaths
http://www.wired.com/opinion/2014/02/outsourcing-humanity-apps/
Technology that optimizes for efficiency is good for society
BroApp is good for society, its makers argue, because it can make people happy without adverse consequences.
Most interestingly, the BroApp makers depicted this functionality in economic terms — as increasing both agents’ happiness.
Tech progress is inevitable; it’s “what technology wants”
We can’t (and shouldn’t) reject automation
Tech change elicits discomfort only at first before it changes the norm
But what if people actually use these apps in a meaningful way, so the apps only offloaded the logistics?
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Other Facebook News: One Billion Mobile Users
March 26, 2014, 10:44 AM PDT
http://recode.net/2014/03/26/the-other-facebook-news-one-billion-mobile-users/
Facebook followers could be forgiven for being fixated by the $2 billion deal to acquire the virtual reality company Oculus.
But another disclosure from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday is also worthy of attention (no goggles required): More than one billion users now access the social network through mobile applications.
This milestone represents a significant shift from just two years ago, when making the leap from desktop to mobile posed a major challenge for Zuckerberg.
Tomi Engdahl says:
iTunes will now refund you for your kid’s unauthorized purchases
http://venturebeat.com/2014/03/25/itunes-will-now-refund-you-for-your-kids-unauthorized-purchases/
How many times have you got your iPad back from the kids only to find that they have just added five in-app purchases to your credit card bills?
Not anymore. Apple just gave you a reason to let your kids play and rest assured the bills won’t ramp up.
The company sent out an email to all iTunes account owners who recently made in-app purchases, saying that refunds will be made if the purchases were made by minors without their parents’ knowledge.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Yotaphone was designed in Finland:
Russia’s Yotaphone challenges smartphone status quo
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d6b22514-5c2e-11e3-b4f3-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2xBNBRBUK
His company, which has fewer than 30 employees at its headquarters in Moscow, set up an office in Singapore to keep in close contact with its manufacturing partner. In another office in Finland, former Nokia employees work in design.
Tomi Engdahl says:
A cloud for everyone, on every device
http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_blog/archive/2014/03/27/a-cloud-for-everyone-on-every-device.aspx
That’s why I talk about them together. Mobile without cloud is limiting. The cloud without mobile is mostly latent potential. But the place where they meet is magic.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Office for iPhone and Android phones is now completely free, Android tablet version coming ‘in the future’
http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2014/03/27/office-iphone-android-phones-now-free-home-use-office-365-subscription-longer-required/
In addition to releasing Office for iPad, Microsoft today also updated Office Mobile for iPhone and Office Mobile for Android with a major change: both are now completely free for home use. You can download the new versions now directly from Apple’s App Store and Google Play.
Microsoft says the decision was made in order to align Office Mobile for Windows Phone with its iOS and Android counterparts. As a result, Office Mobile now lets smartphone users view, as well as edit, content on the go for free. An Office 365 subscription is no longer required for editing.
Tomi Engdahl says:
MIT researchers bring Javascript to Google Glass
http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/mit-researchers-bring-javascript-google-glass
Open Source Wearscript puts Javascript on Google Glass, with many new, and some unexpected, input choices.
The overblown reports of Google Glass privacy distract from the really important Google Glass discussion – how Glass micro apps can compress the time between user intent and action. Micro apps are smaller than apps and are ephemeral because they are used in an instant and designed to disappear from the user’s perception once completing their tasks. Because of the Glass wearable form factor, micro apps deviate from the LCD square and touchscreen/keyboard design of smartphone, tablet, and PC apps, and are intended to be hands-free and responsive in the moment. Well-designed Glass apps employ its UI to let the user do something that they could not otherwise do with another device. Glass’s notifications are a good example of this
White and Greenberg proved using Wearscript and the groups’ creativity that the definition of wearables isn’t complete yet, and the missing ingredient to the wearable killer app is new input devices to simplify HMI.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Survey: More Than 1 In 4 Car Crashes Involve Cellphone Use
National Safety Council: 26 Percent Tied To Use, But Only 5 Percent To Texting
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/03/27/survey-more-than-1-in-4-car-crashes-involve-cellphone-use/
Texting and driving is dangerous but a new survey finds talking on a cellphone while behind the wheel may be even worse.
“People just get too involved in the conversation. Either pull over or wait,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Hot, young under-25s: Lonely slab strokers who shun TV
Gen Y don’t you switch off the telly, we’re on the interwebs
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/03/28/millennials_reject_tv_for_solo_tablet_viewing/
The next generation of millennial kids are a lonely group of slab-fondlers who would rather watch films and movies alone in their bedrooms, it has been claimed.
The “Digital Democracy” survey also found that 37 per cent of Americans are now “digital omnivores” who own a computer, smartphone and fondleslab,
Tomi Engdahl says:
Can instant messaging damage your health? Doctor warns of ‘WhatsAppitis’
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/mar/26/can-instant-messaging-damage-health-doctor-warns-whatsappitis?CMP=twt_gu
Echoing the 1990s ‘Nintendinitis’ scare, repetitive strain injury to smartphone user’s hands leads doctor to report new condition
A doctor in Granada is advising fellow physicians to be “mindful” of the injuries that can result from using instant messaging services, after she diagnosed a 34-year-old pregnant woman with “WhatsAppitis”.
The diagnosis for the sore wrists was “WhatsAppitis,” the doctor concluded. The treatment was “complete abstinence from using the phone to send messages,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Smartphone overuse may ‘damage’ eyes, say opticians
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/26780069?ocid=socialflow_twitter#
Opticians say people are so addicted to smartphones they may be increasing their risk of eye damage.
They are warning overuse from phones and other devices like computers, tablets, and flat screen TVs can lead to long-term damage.
It comes as a survey of 2,000 people suggests under 25s check their phones thirty-two times a day.
Optician Andy Hepworth said: “Blue violet light is potentially hazardous and toxic to the back of your eyes.
“When you’re looking at a smart phone, the light peaking out of that is blue violet.”
extensive exposure to blue violet light can disrupting sleep patterns and affect moods.
an adult spends nearly seven hours a day staring at a screen with nearly half feeling anxious when away from their phone
Tomi Engdahl says:
Report : Kill switch would save consumers up to 2.6 billion per year
The smartphone kill switch could save you USA consumers up to 2.6 billion dollars ( 1.8 billion euros) a year , a recent report says.
The U.S. Creighton University associate professor William Duckworthin , the majority of the savings to the payment of insurance premiums would be used for less money.
Duckworth estimates that Americans spend annually $ 580,000,000 (421 million) purchase of a new phone to replace a stolen and 4.8 billion dollars (3.4 billion euro) for phone insurance.
Kill switch allows lost or stolen phone could render it inoperative . If the property should be mandatory , with an estimated half of consumers would switch to a lower cost insurance policy.
U.S. law enforcement officials and politicians to put pressure on operators so that they would make kill switch possible.
Source: Tietoviikko
http://www.tietoviikko.fi/kaikki_uutiset/raportti+tappokytkin+saastaisi+kuluttajilta+jopa+26+miljardia+vuodessa/a978411
Tomi Engdahl says:
Stop fondling that slab and shag, says lover rubber-glover
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/03/26/condom_earth_hour_durex/
Now Durex’s prurient public relations mob have decided to target the slab-fondlers of this world with a call to put down the gizmo and start shagging.
According to one of Durex’s less than reliable surveys, some 12 per cent of people had answered a phone during sex, while one in 10 had read a text.
Apparently, more than 5 per cent of respondents had even checked Facebook while making love
Tomi Engdahl says:
Proposed privacy laws put blinkers on Google Glass
http://www.afr.com/p/technology/proposed_privacy_laws_could_make_9fjR6ab6xHVteBdI0LxaJM
Recording private conversations or activities using Google’s Glass eyewear or similar wearable technologies without consent could become illegal under a push to overhaul state and federal privacy laws.
The Australian Law Reform Commission discussion paper, released on Monday morning, recommended 47 legislative changes aimed at updating existing privacy laws for the digital age.
It proposed the government introduce a statutory cause of action for a serious invasion of one’s privacy, in what would be the first time a person’s privacy has legally been protected in Australia.
The recommendations comes amid an ongoing debate over the potential implications of wearable technologies like Google Glass, which could be used to surreptitiously record others without their knowing.
“A mobile phone could be used as a surveillance device as well to record a private conversation or record a private activity without consent; it could be set up in a way that’s recording, so we already have the concept that wearable items that are in ubiquitous use do have the potential to carry out what would be unauthorised surveillance,” commissioner and a professor of law at the University of Sydney, Barbara McDonald, told The Australian Financial Review.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Smartphones become ‘eye-phones’ with low-cost devices developed by ophthalmologists – See more at: http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2014/march/eyego.html#sthash.xl5hVsrP.dpuf
Tomi Engdahl says:
The computer knows when you are pissed off
Electronics can be in the future to tell you about how the device user feels.
Dell Dell’s recent Research Research is currently testing the brain and body sensors, which are intended to reveal the user’s mood. Among other things, the brain of the curve and pulse aims to recognize when a person is happy, nervous or scared.
Feel the feed is to be used for a variety of purposes.
Source: Tietoviikko
http://www.tietoviikko.fi/kaikki_uutiset/tietokone+tietaa+kun+sinua+ketuttaa/a978584
Tomi Engdahl says:
Digital Eye Strain
What is Digital Eye Strain?
http://www.thevisioncouncil.org/consumers/content_234.cfm?navID=43
Digital eye strain is the temporary discomfort that follows from two or more hours of digital device use. A variety of consumer electronics can cause digital eye strain, including televisions, desktop and laptop computers, smartphones, e-readers, tablets, and gaming systems.
Symptoms of digital eye strain include red, dry or irritated eyes, blurred vision, eye fatigue, back, neck and shoulder pain, and headaches.
The world’s reliance on electronics has proven to be beneficial in many ways but poses a problem for the eyes. Nearly 70 percent of U.S. adults experience digital eye strain as a result of the growing use of these devices. Adults aged 18 to 34 report feeling eye strain at a higher rate (45%) than their older counterparts.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Smartphone overuse may ‘damage’ eyes, say opticians
http://www.bbc.com/newsbeat/26780069
Opticians say people are so addicted to smartphones they may be increasing their risk of eye damage.
It comes as a survey of 2,000 people suggests under 25s check their phones thirty-two times a day.
Optician Andy Hepworth said: “Blue violet light is potentially hazardous and toxic to the back of your eyes.
“So over a long period of time it can potentially damage your eyes.
“When you’re looking at a smart phone, the light peaking out of that is blue violet.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple’s Cyclone Microarchitecture Detailed
by Anand Lal Shimpi on March 31, 2014 2:10 AM EST
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7910/apples-cyclone-microarchitecture-detailed
Looking at Cyclone makes one thing very clear: the rest of the players in the ultra mobile CPU space didn’t aim high enough. I wonder what happens next round.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google to focus on portrait shots and effects with improved camera app
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/01/google-new-android-camera-app/
We know that Google has been looking to bring more advanced photo features to Android for a while, but it may soon be ready to show off what it’s been working on. Sources aware of Google’s plans have confirmed to us that the search giant is currently testing a new version of its camera app that will sport a refreshed UI, a background-blurring effect for portrait shots and improved panorama and Photo Sphere modes. As part of its overhaul, we’re told that Google has finally fixed issues with the default camera’s photo framing
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple looking to buy Japanese chipmaker
http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Deals/Apple-looking-to-buy-Japanese-chipmaker
Apple is in talks with Japan’s Renesas Electronics to take over a unit that designs chips for smartphone displays
Tomi Engdahl says:
Build Your Own iAd: Apple Throws Open Door to Platform
As It Takes On Google, Company Expands Access to Workbench
http://adage.com/article/digital/apple-expands-iad-developers-adds-video-capabilities/292412/
Apple is making its advertising ecosystem more accessible.
Starting today, anyone with an Apple ID will be able to open an account with iAd Workbench, the company’s mobile-ad management tool, and kick off a campaign within two days. Previously, Workbench was only available to registered mobile-app developers.
Apple’s runaway success in hardware has not yet translated to mobile marketing.
Net revenue hit $260 million last year, up from $38 million in 2011, and is expected to reach $487 million this year, according to eMarketer. But iAd’s market share, at 2.7% of U.S. revenue, still lags behind Google, the entrenched leader, and the fast-rising Facebook.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Diebold Deploys First ATM Without Card Reader Or PIN Pad
http://news.diebold.com/press-releases/diebold-deploys-first-atm-without-card-reader-or-pin-pad.htm
An automated teller machine (ATM) with no card reader. Pre-staged withdrawals on smartphones. Cardless transactions. And everything managed via the cloud. A new era of banking, inspired by the Millennial generation, is dawning at Diebold Federal Credit Union (DFCU), where an innovative ATM from Diebold, Incorporated (NYSE: DBD) and a mobile wallet solution are allowing members to complete self-service transactions and make retail purchases without using physical debit or credit cards.
DFCU is piloting the world’s first ATM without a card reader or PIN pad that relies solely on mobile authentication. When a consumer scans a unique QR code at the ATM using a smartphone, the ATM authenticates the user via cloud-hosted services to enable secure, cardless transactions. With no card or PIN required, the solution eliminates the threats of card skimming and shoulder surfing at the ATM.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mirama hopes to replace your smartphone with a headset, your camera button with a finger gesture
http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/25/mirama-prototype-gesture-interface/?ncid=rss_truncated&cps=gravity
Mirama wants do away with the the camera button on your smartphone. In fact, don’t even get the smartphone out to begin with. Its prototype headset lets you frame and take a picture using your hands and its built-in camera. No buttons, no vocal cues, not even a wink.
The plan is for a head-based wearable to replace the smartphone, at least when it comes to the interface.
Mirama’s prototype is more about the operating system than it is about the hardware itself. The company is already offering a bundle that include a set of glasses and laptop with the Mirama OS pre-installed
Tomi Engdahl says:
Advertising dynamics in freemium apps
http://mobiledevmemo.com/advertising-dynamics-freemium-apps/
Freemium app developers are almost universally dogged by the question of whether ad placements should be included in their products. With only a very small minority of freemium app users making in-app purchases (IAPs) – and, according to analytics firm Swrve, 50% of total IAP revenues being driven by just 0.15% of users – ads represent a reasonable means of monetizing users that will not likely contribute revenues directly.
The troublesome aspect of showing ads to non-converting users is determining when a user can unconditionally be considered non-converting.
Massive growth in the mobile advertising market – Gartner expects mobile ad spending to reach $18BN in 2014, up from $13BN in 2013 – as well as more gravity-conscious expectations of IAP revenues from developers will change this. And once ads become the accepted norm in most (or all) freemium apps by users, the notion that advertising causes churn will be dismissed by developers. Freemium apps will become like television shows: viewers don’t blame a specific show for the presence of ads but rather accept them as a reality of the platform.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apps Solidify Leadership Six Years into the Mobile Revolution
http://blog.flurry.com/bid/109749/Apps-Solidify-Leadership-Six-Years-into-the-Mobile-Revolution
Time spent on a mobile device by the average US consumer has risen to 2 hrs and 42 minutes per day from 2 hrs and 38 minutes per day in March of 2013. Apps continued to cement their lead, and commanded 86% of the average US mobile consumer’s time, or 2 hrs and 19 minutes per day. Time spent on the mobile web continued to decline and averaged just 14% of the US mobile consumer’s time, or 22 minutes per day. The data tells a clear story that apps, which were considered a mere fad a few years ago, are completely dominating mobile, and the browser has become a single application swimming in a sea of apps.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Chin up, tech world. Gartner says it’ll be OK
Worldwide spend to reach $3.6 TREEELLION in 2014
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2014/04/02/gartner_survey_shows_increased_tech_spend/
PC, ultra mobiles, mobile phones and slablets are estimated to grow 4.4 per cent, but the boxcounter reckons demand for highly priced premium phones is slowing, with punters buying mid-range device and low-end Android basic phones.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows Phone 8.1 announced – the operating system is free
The software company Microsoft and the mobile phone manufacturer Nokia have introduced the Build developer event in San Franciso new Windows Phone 8.1 update and it uses the new Lumia 930 phone.
Microsoft’s Senior Vice President of Nokia device transferred Stephen Elop said that Windows Phone 8.1 will be available in June as a free update.
To compete with Apple and Google with Microsoft to change Windows without charge less than a nine-inch phones and tablets.
For application developers, Microsoft announced a new universal your applications (universal Windows apps) that can be developed jointly by the Windows phones, tablet devices and PC computers.
They act, however, only Windows 8.1 to Windows Phone 8.1: Starting, not the older platforms.
For games DirectX 12 interface comes to cell phones, tablets and PCs.
Source: Tietoviikko
http://www.tietoviikko.fi/uutisia/windows+phone+81+julki++kayttojarjestelmasta+ilmainen/a979299
Tomi Engdahl says:
After-sex selfies? Showing off just got a whole lot dirtier
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/sex/10739067/After-sex-selfies-Showing-off-just-got-a-whole-lot-dirtier.htm
Ah selfies… we can’t seem to get enough of them lately. The recent #nomakeupselfie campaign – that asked women to post pictures of their bare faces and donate to charity
#Aftersex selfie is a viral trend
#aftersexselfie involves people posting a picture of their post-coital faces on social media, for no other reason than to share their special moment with the whole of the world wide web.
Radhika Sanghani thinks it’s just old-fashioned boasting masked as a hashtag
Tomi Engdahl says:
The story of Cortana, Microsoft’s Siri killer
http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/2/5570866/cortana-windows-phone-8-1-digital-assistant
Technically, Cortana isn’t supposed to exist for at least another 500 years, but that’s not stopping Microsoft from bringing her to life this week. While Apple has Siri and Google has Google Now — both digital assistants that run on smartphones — Microsoft is taking an approach that mixes the best of the competition with its own unique take. Based on a 26th-century artificially intelligent character in the Halo video game series, Cortana will debut as part of Windows Phone 8.1, the next big update for Microsoft’s mobile operating system.
Cortana is positioned as a personal digital assistant that helps you organize your day-to-day activities, alongside regular web searches for information. Cortana will act as the primary way to discover and search for information on Windows Phone 8.1, or just an assistant to manage your meetings, reminders, and daily life.