Over the last several years, streaming service Netflix gave us wonderful shows: House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Bloodline, The Get Down. Netflix releases a series like any other. This Netflix new show makes history.
This show is called Meridian. It’s only 12 minutes long. It wasn’t even made for Netflix or for a general audience, for that matter. It was made for TV engineers to perform tests on. Now they’re giving away Meridian for free for other engineers to perform tests on it, even other streaming services like Hulu. Netflix is using Creative Commons to make Meridian to make sharing easier. You see, Silicon Valley is obsessed with getting a piece of Hollywood. And Meridian is just the beginning.
Netflix will be conducting experiments to see what works for what markets. For example, you may have a racy movie for streaming services or late night cable TV. What if you want that movie on prime time TV, or on an airplane? You know that movie must be edited for content. And what about sending movies overseas? What appeals to an American audience may not appeal to French audiences. Some countries, like China, have heavy censorship laws. How do movie engineers overcome that? In recent years, Netflix produced over 150 open source products to tackle such questions.
However, Meridian is their most revolutionary open source test. Meridian is shot with 60 frames per second and brightness levels of 4000 nits. Let me break that down in a language we all understand. Meridian picks up all grainy footage, all the cigarette smoke, all the fog, all the foreign noises. When I was a little kid, my Grandmother used to record music form her record player to her cassette tapes (age hint!). We had to be completely quiet or leave the room. Because any foreign sound would be picked up. That’s kind of how Meridian is. Except they want all the footage to be picked up. Does that make you want to watch Meridian?
Today, Apple’s iPhone 7 was released to the American masses. The sales numbers are staggering. This is a day for Apple to celebrate. While Apple is celebrating, their competition is stressing. Apple has massive sales. Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has a massive recall.
The recall was ordered by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a government agency. Approximately one million Galaxy Note 7’s will be recalled due to recent fire and burn hazards. I read one article of a man receiving 3rd degree burns because of his dysfunctional phone. The pictures were not pretty. That’s why they’re not in this article. ?According to CSPC Chairman Elliot Kaye, affected customers can return their bad phone for a refund or replacement. Customers can check a code on the back of their Galaxy Note 7. Type that number in Samsung’s website to see if you’re entitled to a refund or exchange.
The culprit is a battery cell defection. For Note 7’s ordered, bought and shipped between August 1 and September 15, 2016, the lithium-ion batteries were subject to overheat, even catch fire. That heating and fire led the burning of many phones, and even some customers. So far, 55 Galaxy Note burns have led to property damage. Twenty-six burns led to personal injury. Replacement phones should be available at your nearest retailer around September 21, 2016. But if I were you, I’d wait a few days later just to be safe, if you can.
This couldn’t have come at a worse time for Samsung. So far, I’ve heard few, if any, complaints about the iPhone 7. But here Galaxy Note is trying to keep their head above water. This is the part where I usually ask who won: Apple or Samsung? Book look at this sad situation. This is more of an unintentional forfeit than a contest. The question is: Can Samsung turn it around? Can they overcome this scandal? Can Samsung Galaxy Note make up enough sales to even compete with iPhone 7?
There’s been a lot of talk about Millennials, the generation born between 1981-1998. We can’t deny their contribution to technology, as innovators, leaders, tech employees, and obviously, tech consumers. But what about the generation coming after them? What about Generation Z (born between 1999-present)?
That’s just one name they’re being called. Some call them Centennials. Some call them the iGeneration. Whatever name you wish, they’re bringing a lot of tech savvy and buying power with them. They are called digital natives’ for a reason. The average Gen Z’er gets their first smartphone at 10 years old. They check their phones 150 times a day (that’s no exaggeration; that’s a literal statistic). They sent 50 billion instant messages a day. Over 6 billion emojis are sent daily by the Gen Z’er. Keep in mind the oldest of Generation Z are in high school. Already, tech companies and banks prepare for this generation’s buying power. Bank of America prepare for this oncoming wave of future investors. Other companies work around the clock to build better apps, smartphones, social media networks, omnichannel marketing, and other tech facilities catering to the Gen Z crowd. They better hurry. The oldest Gen Z’ers already have after school jobs and the buying power that goes with it.
Tech leaders need to be on their A+ game if they want this generations’ business. Millennials saw the Internet mature. With Gen Z, it already matured. By the time the oldest ones were in 4th grade, we already had smartphones and social media. Plus, by 2030, they’ll be the largest generation of all time, with 2.4 billion people. Compare that to two billion millennials (age 18-35) today, making up 27% of the global population. By the 2040s, Generation Z will make half the global population. They’ll probably be the first generation where the average life expectancy is 100 (today, it’s 71 globally, 79 in USA, Monaco has highest with 89). So we need to take this generation seriously. They are our future. How do we cater to their needs now?
What’s the biggest threat to humanity today? ?Some say it’s ISIS and other terrorist groups. Many would argue climate change. There’s a looming huge threat out there that gets little coverage. A massive solar storm is the threat to all modern technology.
And in the 2010s, we all depend on modern technology. So the threat to all modern technology would be the threat to all humanity. Astronomers fear a solar storm, and for good reason. If a big one hits us, it could knock out satellites, fry electrical grids, scramble global communications, and send us back to the 1850s. Speaking of the 1850s, a massive solar storm did hit us in 1859. It was called the Carrington Event. The worst that happened is telegraph wires were temporarily disrupted. Let’s say we were hit by that same solar storm today. Cellphone and GPS reception would go down globally, simultaneously, and immediately. Our airlines depend on modern technology. ?Air traffic control systems would be out of commission. Flights would be grounded and pilots in flight would be totally on their own. Global space programs would be in shambles. Astronauts in space would die. Modern technology would be destroyed in seconds. However, modern technology would take ten years to repair and trillions of dollars to rebuild.
Do you think this is just some sci-fi movie plot? Think again. As recently as 2005, a solar flare disrupted satellite communication and GPS systems. This compromised travel for ten minutes. Think of how for modern technology has come since 2005. There were no smartphones in 2005. There was hardly any social media back then. Imagine if that solar flare hit today and lasted longer. Even our most basic needs would be threatened: clean water, food, transportation, sanitation. All depend on modern technology. All would be potentially destroyed if hit by a major solar storm. Why isn’t the United Nations doing anything about this threat? Why isn’t NASA doing anything? Why isn’t the US government and others doing more?
Fitbit releases two new devices. The first is the Charge 2. It’s expected to go on sale in September. The Charge 2 is larger than the original. That could be a negative or positive, depending on who you ask. For me, a larger device means you’re less likely to lose it, and you won’t forget you’re wearing it. The screen is larger, too. Other features include mid-workout status, breathing features and a better heart rate monitor. Other than that, it’s really no difference than the original Charge. The Charge 2 will cost around $150.
Then there’s the Flex 2. It’s expected to go in sale in October. Flex 2 looks nothing like Charge, or any smart wrist device, for that matter. It’s the first Fitbit device that’s ‘swim-proof’. You can thank the automatic swim tracking feature. You can wear it in the shower, pool, ocean, etc. It includes alerts when your smartphone is near. It’s the first of the Fitbit family to include this feature. The Flex 2 will cost you around $100. They are available to the public in the next two months. But you can pre-order today.
It sounds like Flex 2 is the better buy. It’s cheaper, and it offers more. It does everything a heart rate monitor is supposed to do. But here, you can use this system in water. That’s more valuable than one might think. Flex needs to step up their game. They’ve already taken flack over failing heart rate monitors. I’ve check who has the best fitness tracker for 2016. Yes, Fibit is on the list. But so is Jawbone, Garmin, Misfit, Xiaomi, and Withings. ?Fitbit has a lot on the line. Fitbit needs for these sales to be out of the park. I think they will do it with Flex 2. Will they do it with Charge 2?
The Apple iPhone 7 isn’t the only phone to get excited about right now. I researched some amazing things about the new Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Some of this stuff puts Apple to shame. So it’s Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs iPhone 7. Let’s get ready to rumble!
You guys can read my report about iPhone 7. Let’s concentrate on Samsung Galaxy Note 7. One exciting feature is the S-Pen. You and/or the kids can draw on your phone with it. You can take notes with it. You can write memos with it, then save it to one of your apps. The S-Pen can even help you craft videos. There’s the whopping 12 megapixel camera and unbelievable storage amounts. This Galaxy Note is so waterproof you can be on it while deep sea diving or snorkeling, much less bathing. The iPhone 7 raves about it’s fingerprint security. Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has eye scan security. No more struggling with passwords. A simple iris scan will unlock your phone and phone apps, and your private folders. It’s the first Samsung phone with a USB-C charging port. It works perfectly with the Samsung VR headset. Coincidence? I think not. Many Galaxy Note fans rave about the coral blue option.
Don’t expect a phone of all this magnitude to came cheap. I’ve checked around. The cheapest Samsung Galaxy Note 7 will cost you around $849. That’s for a black one. Some experts expect the iPhone 7 will cost around $650 (If it’s more than that, don’t blame me! Remember, this is just speculation!) On the surface, price would be the only advantage Apple has on Samsung. But there’s also brand loyalty. I know people who stick with Apple, no matter what. This is Apple’s wild card. If someone offered me to choice between the two as a Christmas present, I’d choose the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. I’d choose it just for the S-Pen. But remember Apple’s loyalty card, and will that be played?
