Rumor: another Apple about-face – selling a stylus
This patent application was published way back in March of last year… could Apple actually be planning to use it? One analyst thinks so.
“If you see a stylus, they blew it,” proclaimed a defiant Steve Jobs once upon a time (not too long ago). The man, the myth, the legend was seeking to explain the brilliance of the iPhone: the fingers that everyone have were enough of a stylus that the PDAs of the past had all gotten it wrong. Some time later, Samsung unveiled the original Galaxy Note with a stylus, and as such the dawn of the phablet craze began. These days, just about every company under the silicon sun has a large screen productivity-purposed device, and it seems Apple may be one of them, should a new report pan out.
For well over a year now there has been chatter about a so-called iPad Pro, in part because of an assumed parallel between the computing hardware and tablet offerings (Macbook Air, Macbook Pro; iPad Air, iPad Pro) and countless rumors, “insiders”, and analysts. One such analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo from KGI Securities, has put a number of puzzle pieces together and determined that not only will Apple release a 12.9 inch iPad in 2015, but that it will also put forth a stylus. Kuo is one of the most prominent Apple analysts and some of his past predictions have been spot on. The report, obtained by Apple Insider, looks at key patents filed by Apple rather than (apparently) any kind of insider-source, as Kuo has been wanton to do in the past.
His belief is that Apple will release the stylus somewhat after the iPad “Pro” as opposed to bundling it in (reducing costs/retail pricing), and that it will be a rather standard affair for the first year, with limited customer interest at only around 2-2.5 million units sold. In later iterations however, he mentions everything from wireless charging to motion sensing, to 3-D handwriting, becoming a possible reality.
Given that several large screen mobile devices already make prominent use of a stylus (see the Microsoft Surface Pro 3, the Galaxy NotePRO 12.2, the Toshiba Encore 2 Write, and even the Wacom Cintiq Companion Hybrid among others), the idea of an XL iPad adding support for a first party tool would be par for the course. Complaints about the iPhone 6’s lack of true multitasking have been lobbed over at Cupertino for some months now, as they have been about the iPad series itself. While the addition of an officially sanctioned stylus wouldn’t guarantee major changes with the software, at the very least it would suggest that productivity features on native Apple applications and iOS itself would need to be rewritten and adjusted to taylor to the tool.
Apple has an idea for an unusual stylus tip, but will it see the light of day? And what use would it have for that matter?
Should Apple introduce a stylus, it technically wouldn’t be in “defiance” of what Steve Jobs held to be true: the device in question is cited in reference to an iPad not an iPhone. Still, given the size of the iPhone 6, there is no question that a stylus might be useful for a “smaller” form factor as well, considering Samsung has been playing it up for the past four years with the Galaxy Note line. Tim Cook is also decidedly not Steve Jobs, and the launch of an iPhone phablet is in-and-of-itself a bold move that had some very good results.
Still, you just know that somewhere at Samsung HQ the irony of the current situation is not lost.
A Google-backed startup wants to change VR as we know it
What do you do when a good idea fails? You invest in a better version of it. We’ve known about Google’s huge bet on startup Magic Leap for months, but a recent patent application explains why Mountain View has thrown over $540 million at an unknown entity. We don’t know exactly what Magic Leap will offer, but by piecing together various patent applications we can surmise it relates to a wearable display system that will supposedly enable a super-realistic type of VR it calls “cinematic reality”.
We’ve seen a ton of patent filings from Magic Leap, covering both the tech behind its efforts and the outcome. Without going into too much detail (Road To VR breaks the hardware patents down neatly, if you’re interested), the company is working on a lightweight wearable display system that combines sensors with a fiber-optic projection display to create the illusion of 3D. It does this by detecting what you’re focusing on and layering two-dimensional images at the right depth. You’ll then be able to interact with the projections using a “tactile glove” to detect movements.
In its latest patent filing, Magic Leap gives a clue as to what those interactions could look like. Business Insider has pulled loads of images from the application, which show various use cases for augmented reality, including in-store advertising, productivity and interactive entertainment. One drawing, for example, shows a “friendly monster” in a store enticing a child to interact with brands.
It seems Magic Leap will offer a cross between Google Glass, Oculus Rift and ARI from ‘Heavy Rain’
If you piece the fragments together, it seems Magic Leap will offer a cross between Google Glass, Oculus Rift and Heavy Rain‘s Added Reality Interface (ARI). In the 2010 video game Heavy Rain FBI agent Norman Jayden can use a pair of VR sunglasses to augment his reality, switching his mundane surroundings for a beach, rainforest, or even the surface of Mars, using a glove to interact with an interface that floats in front of him. The vision laid out in patent filings suggests — if Magic Leap can follow through on its ideas — we’re close to seeing an even-more-advanced version of ARI become a reality.
Filed under: Wearables, Google
Via: Business Insider, The Verge
Source: Magic Leap (USPTO)
Bloomberg: One M9 to feature 20MP rear camera, smartwatch coming along
A Bloomberg report reveals some details about HTC’s new flagship phone, expected March 1. HTC’s first smartwatch could be announced at the same time.
Citing a person familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reports that the next One flagship (tentatively known as M9 or Hima) will feature an improved camera and audio experience. The device will feature a 20MP camera as its main shooter, while the UltraPixel sensor, a key spec of the previous two generations of the One series, will be moved to the front. Such a setup would be similar to the Desire 826, announced at CES, which also features an UltraPixel frontal camera.
The M9 will be powered by Qualcomm’s eight-core Snapdragon 810 chip, the source said, and feature a design that resembles the One M8 in aspect and size. While metal isn’t mentioned, it’s very likely that HTC will keep the highly successful metallic design language of the One family, probably with some small modifications.
The device will feature Dolby 5.1 audio technology and run HTC’s 7th generation Sense interface, “with improved location-based services.”
The report also briefly mentions the long-rumored HTC smartwatch, which will reportedly be introduced along the M9 at HTC’s pre-MWC March 1 event. The only detail about the wearable is the integration with Under Armour’s fitness service. During CES, HTC announced that it would weave Under Armour’s services into its 2015 products, including wearables.
HTC confirmed in October 2014 that it had worked on and ultimately axed an Android Wear smartwatch. The company’s marketing head said at the time that HTC needed more time to develop a competitive product.
Check out our HTC One M9 rumor roundup for more details on HTC’s next big thing. What do you think of the M9 so far?
LG’s Tone Infinim Bluetooth headset now comes in white gold
LG’s wraparound Bluetooth headset, the Tone Infinim (HBS-900), is now available in a white gold color variant. Boasting Harman-Kardon sound, retractable earbuds (with the wires housed in the plastic body) and the ability to read notifications out loud from a connected device, the Tone Infinim stands out from the sea of Bluetooth headsets currently available, as we’ve noted in our review.
Microsoft integrates with Moodle to bring Office 365 to the classroom
Microsoft‘s Open Technologies subsidiary today announced new integration between Office 365 and Moodle, partnering with support and hosting services provider Remote Learner. This partnership brings with it a more productive experience for both teachers and students who use Moodle, affecting credentials, calendar management and course content.
Grab one of these Galaxy S4 skin cases today for only $2.95!
The Mobi Skin is a slim, form-fitting TPU case that wraps around your Samsung Galaxy S4 to protect against drops and scratches while providing a better grip on your device. The back features both glossy and smooth matte finishes for a unique look. Get yours today and save 80%
Spotify for Windows Phone updated with an iOS-esque visual revamp
Spotify has released an update for Windows Phone to bring its app on par with its Android and iOS offering. The latest release – version 5.0 – includes a UI revamp that provides subscribers with an iOS-esque interface, deploying transparency and other visual features. While the new Spotify does not strictly follow Microsoft’s Modern UI, the new look is actually rather nice.
These BlackBerry Q10 anti-glare screen protectors are only $8.95 today while supplies last
These custom protectors from BodyGuardz are designed to shield your BlackBerry Q10’s display from scuffs and scratches while reducing annoying glare at the same time. Including 2 per package, you can apply one right away and save the extra for when you need to replace yours, or share it with a fellow Q10 user!
Wrap your iPhone 5/5S in this glossy skin case and save 67% today
The Amzer skin’s gloss finish abridges your iPhone’s subtle contours, giving you the sleek look of a hard case and the shock absorption of a soft case. This case is fashioned from multiple thermoacrylics forming a cover that is highly elastic and highly resistant to oil, corrosion and abrasions. Yours today for only $4.95!
Deep-fried graphene may be the key to long-lasting batteries
The deep frying process isn’t just useful for livening up your food — it might also be the ticket to better batteries in your mobile devices. South Korean researchers have created highly conductive, stable electrode materials by spraying graphene oxide droplets into a very hot blend of acid and organic solvent, much like you’d dip chicken into oil. The resulting “pom-poms” (what you see above) aren’t at all tasty, but their open 3D structure makes them far better for transferring electrical charges than plain graphene.
Other scientists have developed 3D graphene before, with similar energy capacitance. However, this deep-fry method is a lot easier to translate to mass production — it’s simple and scales easily to larger batches. This is just one piece of the puzzle (albeit an important one), so it’ll be a while before you see batteries based on this trick. Should everything pan out, though, your future smartphone or electric car may last much longer thanks to some carbon-based cuisine.
[Image credit: Chemical Materials]
Filed under: Science
Via: Daily Dot
Source: Chemical & Engineering News
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