Tech-nique

Jump by Native Union reached its KickStarter funding goal at lightening speed.  Now for 30 to 40 dollars you can purchase a portable 800 mAh USB/Lightning Wire charging device for all your consumer gadget needs.  Check out more details in the Engadget article. 

This post has been a long time coming.  I apologize for the hiatus.  Tactus Technology is a company working on a microfluidics solution to create dynamic touch screens.  Now working with consumer product manufacturers this kind of technology could wind up in next gen smart phones and tablets.  Check out the main video on the home page for a sneak peek.

Thursday April 4th Mark Zuckerberg announced Facebook Home, a wrapper for smart phones to redefine how people interact with their mobile devices.  Facebook Home complete integrates facebook with the phone with live streams of status, pictures and messages on the home screen of the phone. Some users are worried about the potential for datamining here, but more on that to come. Click on the link below to read more about how facebook plans on moving away from an app-centric user experience to a people-centric interface.

Video Game developers and fans alike have been complaining about how long this third generation of consoles has been on the market.  In case you don't remember PlayStation 3, which had a comparatively late start, came out in 2006! Finally, not to make the same mistake again, PlayStation is revealing its fourth console this Wednesday and is expecting a 2013 holiday season release date.  While we don't know a lot about what this new system is going to look like, you can be sure Sony's acquisition of Gaikai, the cloud streaming game company, is going to play a huge new part.  

Microsoft Surface Pro has finally started to make its way to consumers despite many grumblings that the release was in far too low quantities, but how has the long awaited laptop killer been received?  All in all critics and review sites seem less than amazed.  Due to poor battery life, high price points, and the small screen size this device is really creating a new market rather than replacing the old one.  While the Surface Pro makes it unnecessary to have both a tablet and a laptop, many reviewers say that the experience of using it for either function feels like settling.  Regardless of that fact it looks like despite a +$1000 sale price, it looks like these will sell out for the coming weeks.

Its been several years since people bragged about their brand new BlackBerry mobile phone and RIM, BlackBerry's parent company, has been struggling to find its way back into competition with iPhone and Android, but with a new operating system in the works, a huge push towards app development, and a strong marketing strategy (including a Superbowl commercial to air this Sunday) RIM could make its way back in the consumers' good graces.   BlackBerry 10 promises to be a user friendly, but powerful multitasking tool.  A huge launch app store, powerful camera, new keyboard, and new browser are just some of the feature's that RIM is touting on its promotional website.  We won't know for sure if this will be the great resurgence or a last push for Blackberry until it's released to public this coming Wednesday with the Blackberry Z10.   While Z10 specs have not been confirmed by RIM, rumors say the phone will be released with a 4.2 in display/1280 x 768p resolution, 16 gb of internal storage, 2 gb RAM, 1,800mAh battery, an 8 mp rear mounted camera, and a front 2mp camera all retailing for approximately $500.  

In case you don't remember, Tesla Motors released the Tesla Roadster in 2008.  The fully electric sports car retailed around $100,000 and proved to the automotive industry that electric cars didn't need to look, sound, or perform like an "electric" car.   Enter the Tesla Model S.  This luxury sedan looks to be a sexy, more friendly, and cost effective alternative to the Tesla Roadster.  This marvel of engineering was first unveiled at an auto show in 2009, and started retailing in the states this passed year so why is it in the news again?   This beautifully designed four door sedan retailing for 79,900 (before any government subsidies) can run for 350 miles a charge.  Not only that, but this disguised 416 horse power road demon just averaged 12 seconds a quarter mile during lap after lap on Palm Beach's International Raceway this passed weekend.  

Remember when it was common for people to have different email services?  It seems like almost everyone today has migrated from Hotmail, Yahoo, or AOL to Gmail.  While its not unlike the software super giant to beat out the competition, the main thing they brought to the table was an integrated experience for your email. It was something that no one else really provided... until now.  Microsoft Outlook has gone through a major upgrade integrating social media and Skype to make email a more interactive experience.  Just more proof that Microsoft is trying to step up its game.

In case you missed the press release for Google Fiber here is a quick summary.  Google overlay fiber optic wires in Kansas City KA/MO.  They are offering 1 gigabit downloading and uploading speeds that preformed well in demonstration.  In addition they are coupling their internet service with a tv service that really tries to connect the tv to the internet with nexus 7 tablet remote functions.  It looks like Google wants to make TV the next destination for social media here.  In addition to their feature announcements Google also announced it would provide free broadband in certain locations of KC for a buildfee, they announced the packets and special release they would roll out with their service, and the announced the start of their rally.  Neighborhoods from now until early September will rally their communities to pre-register for Google Fiber in the hope of getting it installed in their area.  Finally as one last promotion, Google announced that it would provide free service to public buildings in the areas that it builds in. Below is CNet's more detailed review of the day's press release.

Google Fiber is going to be announced by Google today at 12 pm EST** via live stream on Youtube.   Google is promising its own internet infrastructure running at 100 times the speed of broadband.  Several months after setting up their own lines in Kansas City the service is expected to go live today.  Be sure that cable companies everywhere will be tuning in to see if Google is going to try make a break into the industry.   Unfortunately, Google Talk has been down in some locations for more than 2 hours this morning casting a cloud over what could have been a very good PR day for Google.   **Time is being continuously pushed back.  TBA 

Apple's Lion OS was retired today giving way to Mountain Lion, available for a $20 download fee.  The new operating system sports 200 new feature developments and improvements ranging from significant to insignificant. To find out if the upgrade is for you, click through to read the Engadget review for a walk through of Apple's newest features.

For a comprehensive review check out the Engadget article below

POP portable battery and kickstarter project offers 25,000 mAh of power,  significantly more than many of the other competitors out on the market, and for a relatively cheap price at $150.  Charge up to four devices with POP through apple, android, and micro usb connectivity.  In a day where you have to charge your power-hungry smart phone everyday, why not just carry around POP with you instead?

Everyone wants to get into the tablet market these days and Asus is no different.  The company that tried to differentiate itself by making smaller more portable laptops soon realized that technology is dying and moved to tablets.  The only thing that really separates this from the other competitors is the dock/keyboard, which gives this product a nostaligic feel for tablets.  In summary this is a decent competitor for non iPad tablets, and much better than Asus' last try, but still a long way off from dethroning Apple.  Nice try Asus... to read specs click the Engadget link

Westinghouse's D55QX1 LCD TV is scheduled to come out early next year.  While this LCD may not have the brightness, efficienciency, or refresh rate of many new OLED TVs on the market, there is one thing this TV has that almost none out there do,  a 4Kp display.  This 56-inch display has resolution so high basically no available video footage can take advantage of its specs currently.  Most would say this is a little excessive, but who doesn't love a little excessive when it comes to TVs.  Coming out early next year it'll be interesting to see if anyone actually buys this before content catches up the hardware.

For anyone that missed the initial press release for Google concept "Glass", this past spring Google announced a heads up display that will revolutionize the way people interact with media and the world around them.  Regardless of any hazard and controversy this concept brought up, at the i/o conference, one of the most lack luster videos for such a revolutionary project was released to bring back some of the hype.  While I agree that jumping out of a plane is a rush and exciting, the video itself doesn't live up to any of the promises we saw originally and I hope the developer releases they are selling for $1500 at the conference are worth it.