Netflix just got an update on it?s iOS app that will be optimized for the iPhone 5. This update will take advantage of the beautiful 16:9 widescreen display. However this is a bit late for the update. Most applications had the updates ready to go when the phone was released last Friday. Some apps that had the iPhone 5 in mind at launch were Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, Foursquare, Pocket, and Flipboard among others. Although none of these apps has a video core which many would argue is harder to translate. So enjoy the new updates to Netflix!
RIM the company that makes Blackberry has had a tough go at it the last few years. Well the struggles continue. The much anticipated Blackberry 10 will not be ready until early next year. It feels like they are putting all the eggs in this basket and hope this will get them out of the gutter. Blackberry is becoming worst of the four big OS for phones. You have the iOS, Android, Windows 8, and the Blackberry. Do you remember 10 years ago when every business person in the world had a blackberry? Well now they all have Androids and iPhones. So RIM really needs to blow everyone away with this new OS. The phones will launch early next year and they will unveil it most likely around the same time, so there won?t be much wait for the anticipation of seeing what the phone can do and when you will have it in your hands, kind of like what Apple did with the iPhone 5. Although I highly doubt it will get the same type of sales the iPhone 5 did.
Adobe has just introduced the Photoshop and Premiere Elements 11. These great programs feature new photo and video editing features. One of the biggest things is that it will be less intimidating to all new users. Adobe Photoshop will have things like preview thumbnails have been brought to the forefront so that they’re easier to find. Also, both pieces of software ship with a re-tooled image organizer that puts commonly used functions front and center, with lesser-used features like keyword tagging hidden in the menus. The organizer also now has Google Maps integration, so you can view your shots on a map. You can also for the first time view by event, or by the names of people tagged in photos. The one exciting things about this is the new comic filters which include Pen and Ink, Graphic Novel, and of course Comic. With Premiere it will support Vimeo uploads which are uploads to Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, Shutterfly and SmugMug sharing built in.) They also will have Hollywood filters such as Red Noir for those who enjoyed the cinematography of Sin City and a Pandora filter which is meant to give an Avatar feel. The software is available for $100 each or $150 for the bundle. If you have elements 10 the upgrade is only $80 or $120 for the bundle. This software will be on store shelves soon.
Apple has released its own map program. Google was removed from the Apple equation on iOS6 but now with all the problems happening with the new Apple maps, people are clamoring for something better, like Google Maps perhaps. Well those wishes will not be coming true. At least anytime soon. Eric Schmidt, Google?s Executive Chairman has weighed in on the subject.
“We think it would have been better if they had kept ours. But what do I know?” Schmidt told a small group of reporters in Tokyo. “What were we going to do, force them not to change their mind? It’s their call.”
Schmidt said Google and Apple were in constant communication “at all kinds of levels.” But he said any decision on whether Google Maps would be accepted as an application in the Apple App Store would have to be made by Apple. So it something has to be said about this. Will Apple decide to give people a choice or is it becoming that evil empire that says you use our, equipment, our OS and now our applications, without choices. This will alienate more consumers then bring them in.
The reports out of Apple is that they have sold over 5 million of their new iPhone 5. This just three days after the launch on the 21st of September. Also over 100 million iOS devices have been updated with iOS 6. Currently the iPhone 5 is being sold in US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and of course the UK with it actually being launch in 22 more countries on the 28th of September. The dominance doesn?t stop there, they are looking to have it to over 100 countries by the end of this year. It is reported that the iPhone 5 has exceeded the initial supply and that the majority of pre-orders have shipped to customers and there are many that are to be shipped in the month of October.
Currently the iPhone 5 comes in either white & silver or black & slate, and is available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model and $299 (US) for the 32GB model and $399 (US) for the 64GB model. iPhone 5 is available from the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple?s retail stores, and through AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, select Best Buy, RadioShack, Target and Walmart stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. iPhone 4S is also available for just $99 (US) and iPhone 4 is available for free with a two-year contract.
Now that the iPhone 5 is finally here, wouldn’t it be nice to see whats inside? Well ifixit.com they decided to do that. They have opened up the iPhone 5 and show you all of it’s components. Now I wouldn’t recommend opening this phone unless you are trained professional and if you are not then this video is perfect for you because you get to see it in all its glory without the hassle of opening it yourself. So below is the video, enjoy!
So the iOS6 is out and about and one of the biggest changes.had to be Apple deciding to change out Google Maps for their own app. Well Apple you should of just stuck with your rival here. People have been complaining on day one about how bad this actually is. From not being about to find places to people being sent in poor directions it is just terrible. So much so that a tumblr account has been made to mock the app. They posted images from this tumblr with some funny captions mocking Apple and their big play at maps. You can view the tumblr here
It has been said by Microsoft officials that on October 25th Microsoft will be launching its new Windows 8 operating system. There is no specifics on the launch party as of yet other than it will be held in New York City. There is also talk of a store for Microsoft opening in Manhattan this fall. Microsoft will be launching not only Windows 8 but the Surface RT tablets on October 26th. Just a day after the launch of the OS. Microsoft seems to enjoy making a splash in New York City as they have had launch parties for Windows XP, Vista and 7 all in New York City.
The Dropbox application for iOS is getting more social after an update. The app now has options to be able to share content to Twitter and Facebook and will now also support AirPrint. Before the sharing options were very limited, to just email and copy to clipboard but now with this update you can post to Twitter or Facebook without a problem. This new update is only available at the moment on the iOS platform but should be coming to Android shortly. The AirPrint is also a very nice feature. So the app is available now on the app store and if you already have dropbox make sure to look for an update.
The FBI has a $1 billion budget for its newest venture, which is using facial recognition technology to fight crime. Named the Next Generation Identification (NGI) project, it has already been approved in some states, and is expected to go nationwide by 2014, according to NewScientist.
NGI improvements and new capabilities are slated to be introduced in a phased rollout across many years. The system will offer ?state-of-the-art biometric identification services? and give a ?flexible framework of core capabilities that will serve as a platform for multimodal functionality.? The company behind it all is Lockheed Martin Transportation and Security Solutions, which the bureau states, won a multi-million dollar contract that consists of a base year and the potential for up to nine more years.
Here?s an excerpt from the project description worth emphasizing:
?The NGI Program Office mission is to reduce terrorist and criminal activities by improving and expanding biometric identification and criminal history information services through research, evaluation, and implementation of advanced technology within the IAFIS environment.
Its goals are as follows:
? Public Safety and National Security
? Biometric Leadership
? Efficiency Improvements
? Privacy and Data Protection
? Smooth Transition?
It looks as if the FBI wants to give law enforcement officials somewhere to put all those mugshots they have collected so they can pick you out from a crowd. The idea is to have agents compare images obtained from public cameras to the FBI?s database of criminals, or use an image of a suspect and compare it to the FBI?s repository of public images to look for leads. This project seems to be an expansion of the FBI?s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) services.
Details on how this will actually work exactly are unknown. The algorithm driving the technology will be a huge issue in the coming years: the agency will want to keep it under wraps, while the public, or at least privacy advocates, will want it exposed.
Speaking of privacy, here?s what the project page has to say on that:
?Privacy considerations have been built into NGI. NGI developed a privacy threshold analysis in June 2006. A Privacy Impact Assessment for the Interstate Photo System has been completed to assess NGI compliance with the Privacy Act. The System of Records Notice is being updated to reflect NGI capabilities. NGI also has continued involvement with the CJIS Advisory Policy Board and the Compact Council.?
The FBI says this is legal. The biggest worry, however, is how this will affect the public at large given that facial recognition technology is basically one massive trial and error test. What happens to all the images of people who are caught on camera but found to be innocent? This will be very interesting indeed.
