Podcast: Play in new window | Embed
Tech News & Commentary
Mike in Wyoming calling in via the FREE “Into Tomorrow” App asked: ”
I called a little while ago asking about the Samsung Galaxy S3 about how we could up the vibration, I upped the setting and it helped a little bit, but I’m still looking for more of a vibrating movement. Also, I’m kind of curious, what is Nexus? I here there are Nexuses, and who makes it? and is there anything special about it that makes it a different breed?”
Mike, it’s possible that the Samsung Galaxy S3 simply might not vibrate strongly enough to make you happy. We’ve heard rumors of a new Samsung Galaxy Massage smartphone, but we are skeptical that such a thing exists. (Just a little tech humor, there.)
Nexus is Google’s own brand of Android smartphones and tablets. Google does not make the hardware. Some are made by ASUS, some by Samsung, some by other companies — it varies depending on which Nexus device you’re talking about. Google decides the specs, and has input on the hardware design, but the real difference is the software.
Every other Android smartphone or tablet comes with a version of Android that has been customized by the company making the device, to a greater or lesser degree. Sometimes, as with a Kindle Fire HD, you can barely tell it’s Android, they’ve modified it so much. Other times, the changes are more subtle. But in all cases EXCEPT for the Nexus, you’re getting the “added value” (and we use that term loosely) of preloaded apps.
Google Nexus devices run Android, pure and simple. Nothing added, nothing modified. And that’s what sets them apart. Whether that’s good or bad, YOU have to decide.
When we say that Apple doesn’t let carriers customize iOS and Android does, Nexus is the brand that lets you know that are getting the stock Android OS, the way Google envisioned it.
So, if you’ve ever been secretly jealous of how iPhone users don’t need to put up with a Blockbuster app that can’t be removed, or how they don’t have to deal with an app that will just run at startup, eat up your battery, and not care if you want it there or not… you’ve been jealous of the wrong crowd, you should’ve been jealous of Nexus owners.
Tune in to Hour 2 of our podcast for more details.
“This Week in Tech History” Weekly Feature with Chris Graveline
Tom in Albuquerque, New Mexico calling in via the App to give us a “Tech Rage” on an App that isn’t being approved by Apple
Chris in Baton Rouge, Louisiana listening on 107.3 WBRP calls in: “Heard you talk about the air typing that was being developed in Germany. I have a disability and can only type with one hand. I’m wondering if that would work for someone with my type of disability.”
Chris, the technology is still in the research stages. It hasn’t even been developed for consumers yet. But based on what we’ve heard about it, as long as you can write with a pen, you will be able to use this technology.
What they are testing is the ability to sort of “write” in thin air, as if you had a piece of paper floating in front of you. Basically you wear a glove that is equipped with accelerometers and gyroscopes that detect hand movements. The system then detects which letters are being drawn and converts them into digital text, which are then wirelessly entered into an email, text message or other app. The system uses pattern recognition software to interpret gestures and is capable of recognizing approximately 8,000 words, along with complete sentences. The only caveat though, is that you have to “write” in all-capital letters.
The researchers say that the system has an error rate of about 11 percent. It drops to about three percent once it identifies the user’s writing style.
There’s no word on when or even if this will make it into consumers “hands” (so to speak.)
Tune in to Hour 2 of our podcast for more details.
Guests in this hour:
Michael Mayer, VP of Sales and Marketing – Nighthawk
This Week’s Prizes for Our Listeners
Intuit: Codes for TurboTax Deluxe & Premier — File your Federal & State Income tax online.
Iolo: System Mechanic – Fix and speed up your PC… Automatically.
Covington Creations: Earbud yo-yo — A clever solution to tangled earbuds.
Brian David Johnson (Intel’s Futurist): Copies of his book – “Vintage Tomorrows” — A historian and a Futurist journey through Steampunk into the future of technology.