Techubbub

Tuesday, 25 December 2012

Facebook releases self-destructing messages app

Facebook on Friday released the “poke app” for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. The new app allows users to log into their Facebook account and send pictures, 120-character messages and 10-second videos which will self-destruct after being sent within a set period of time (1, 3, 5 or 10 seconds). Users need to press and hold the message to see it, and once the message gets expired it cannot be retrieved by either party.

Facebook said in a blog post "With the Poke app, you can poke or send a message, photo, or video to Facebook friends to share what you're up to in a lightweight way"

"When time runs out, the message disappears from the app"

Saturday, 22 December 2012

NASA releases video "Why the World Didn't End Yesterday"

The idea that the end of the world would take place yesterday was based on an interpretation of the ancient Mayan calendar which has a cycle of 5125 years that ends on 21 December 2012. However the world didn’t end and NASA released a video explaining why it didn’t happen.

Sunday, 16 December 2012

Google launches Google Maps for iphone

After Apple launched its own maps app in September, the system was criticised by users due to blurry satellite images, missing towns, wrong location and misspelled landmarks. CEO Tim Cook offered a public apology and advised users to go to Google Maps through the mobile Web browser.

Cook wrote "We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers, and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better," Also he replaced the executive in charge of Apple’s mobile operating system.

Google on Wednesday launched the new Google Maps app for iphone which features 3D pictures, turn-by-turn directions and public transit maps. The new mapping tool became the most downloaded free app in Apple app Store just a few hours after its release.

Google wrote on its official blog "People around the world have been asking for Google Maps on iPhone. Starting today, we're pleased to announce that Google Maps is here, rolling out across the world in the Apple App Store,"

Saturday, 15 December 2012

Samsung Launches Galaxy Muse MP3 Player

Samsung last week launched Galaxy Muse, a MP3 Player with Smartphone Sync Capablility that shares physical features and design aesthetics with the latest Galaxy smartphones. The new device measures 1.7 inches tall by 1.25 inches wide, weighs 0.48 ounces and comes with a built-in clip on back.

Galaxy muse offers touch-sensitive controls, four GB of memory and it can play music up to six hours. Users have to install “Muse Sync app” to sync Galaxy Muse to their phones. The app is currently available on Google Play, marketplace or Samsung Apps, for Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 devices only.

Kevin Packingham, chief product officer at Samsung Mobile said "The Galaxy Muse expands the Samsung Galaxy product portfolio to offer music on-the-go in a compact and lightweight player, with songs shared directly from our award-winning smartphones,"

"Muse is the latest example of Samsung delivering another outlet for content consumption across the entire spectrum of consumer electronics."

Sunday, 11 November 2012

Skype to replace Windows Live Messenger

Most of 100 million users of Windows Live Messenger will be forced to switch to Skype as Microsoft this week announced that the 13-year-old Messenger will be retired by March 2013 and will be replaced by Skype, except in China.

Microsoft bought Skype for $8.5 billion last year and claims users who switch to Skype will get better support on mobile devices.

Tony Bates, president of the Skype division at Microsoft said "We want to focus our efforts on making things simpler for our users while continuously improving the overall experience.”

In a blog post Skype said “Now users just need to update to the latest version of Skype, sign in using a Microsoft account and their Messenger contacts will be there."

Sunday, 28 October 2012

Apple launches iPad mini

Apple this week at an event in California launched a new tablet half the size of its existing iPad called “iPad mini”. The device is 23% thinner and 53% lighter than the third-generation, it is 7.2mm (0.3in) thick and weighs 0.68lbs (0.3kg). It features a 7.9 inch (20cm) display, a fast A5 chip, FaceTime HD and 5 megapixel iSight cameras, ultrafast wireless and 10 hours of battery life.

Phil Schiller, Apple's vice-president of worldwide marketing said “You can hold it in one hand, this isn't a shrunken down iPad, it's an entirely new design.”

"Others have tried to make tablets smaller than the iPad and they have failed miserably"

Saturday, 13 October 2012

Microsoft reveals wrist motion sensor

Microsoft this week at the User Interface Software and Technology (UIST) 2012 conference unveiled a motion sensor “Digits” that users can wear on their wrists to track hand movement and orientation as well as finger motion.

“Digits” uses an infrared laser line, infrared camera, infrared diffuse illumination, and inertial measurement unit to recognise hand and fingers movements and recreate a 3d hand which replicates what the real hand is doing in real time. It could be useful to interact with mobile devices, replace a mouse or control games without touching the screen on tablets.

David Kim, a Microsoft researcher said “Ultimately, we would like to reduce Digits to the size of a watch that can be worn all the time,”

“We want users to be able to interact spontaneously with their electronic devices using simple gestures and not even have to reach for their devices.”