There is never enough talk about tech these days and we all seem to be becoming experts of sorts!
Jatin Mava is sitting in for Andrew Thomas this week, both call Nexa home.
We had a lot to talk about as usual.
I love the dual screen app and then there is Google, oh boy great things coming.
THE PODCAST.
Here are the show notes.
Think of this as your curated must read on tech!
An advice app I like!
Useful app for iPad users. Second screens for Mac book
Finger licking good
2. Shazam and the idea of big data applied!
Shazam has more than 100 million monthly active users, and its users Shazam more than 20 million times per day. This, of course, generates a ton of data that Shazam uses in myriad ways, not the least of which is to predict the success of a song. O’Riordan explained how they approach their user data and how they’re able to accurately predict pop hits (and misses):
What’s interesting from a data perspective is when someone takes their phone out of their pocket, unlocks it, finds the Shazam app, and hits the big blue button, they’re not just saying, “I want to know the name of this song.” They’re saying, “I like this song sufficiently to do that.” There’s an amount of effort there that implies some level of liking. That’s really interesting, because you combine that really interesting intention on the part of the user plus the massive data set, you can cut that in lots and lots of different ways. We use it for lots of different things.
At the most basic level, we’re looking at what songs are going to be popular. We can predict, with a relative amount of accuracy, what will hit the Top 100 Billboard Chart 33 days out, roughly. We can look at that in lots of different territories as well. We can also look and see, in the first few hours of a track, whether a big track is going to go on to be successful. We can look at which particular part of the track is encouraging people to Shazam and what makes a popular hit. We know that, for example, for a big pop hit, you’ve got about 10 seconds to convince somebody to find the Shazam app and press that button. There are lots of different ways that we can look at that data, going right into the details of a particular song, zooming out worldwide, or looking in different territories just due to that big worldwide and very engaged audience.
Google and the new offering!
Google Photo is cool but not here yet!
Google Jump!
Google has officially revealed Jump, an open-source VR platform that includes plans for a 16-camera array capable of filming 360-degree, three-dimensional pictures and video.
Clay Bavor, the creator of Google Cardboard and a vice president of product management at the company, announced the new platform at Google I/O Thursday. Here's how he described it:
It’s about capturing and sharing these real-world experiences, like the great wall, the coral reef, in an entirely new way, one that looks and feels like you’re actually there. Because the world is filled with all these awesome places and events, like Great Barrier Reefs, and Golden Gate Bridges, and birthday parties and mountain tops.
google NOW getting better!
And love the google blog is on Blogspot!
Instagram lets us know how to make a good carousel ad!
A carousel is simply one post with multiple photos that users can swipe to view. When the feature—which is only available in sponsored posts—was introduced, marketers were interested in the idea of sequential storytelling and building a narrative through multiple photos. The ads were first launched in the U.S. In March and roll out in more countries next week.
No matter which route a brand chooses, there are a few universal style tips to creating a proper Carousel Ad. Instagram's creative strategist Derek Echevarria-Scott walked us through them. These are the tips he had for any creative team looking to build a carousel:
- "The initial image in Carousel should have stopping power in-feed and stand on its own. It's important to convey enough visual information to pay off on the concept, message and branding elements for those that chose not to swipe."
- "Think about creative ways to hint that there's more to the story beyond the initial view. Once the viewer has made it to the second image, it's safe to assume they will swipe to the end."
- "The most important visual information should be within the first two focal points in each image. If a person's face is clearly visible, especially if you can see their eyes, it will always be one of the first focal points."
- "Avoid long, densely worded captions. The viewer will potentially be spending a lot more time with your carousel than the average post in-feed and will want to quickly move on to the next. Think about the key words that you want to be associated with the brand and how it can be incorporated within the copywriting."
- "If the carousel includes a call to action, ensure the landing page continues the tone of the Instagram creative and is mobile-optimized."
This looks really cool and it is android!
Unlike the Apple Watch, the Neptune Duo consists of two components: The Hub, an Android Lollipop-powered device you wear on your wrist used for calls, and The Pocket, a 5" touch display that connects to the Hub, enabling users to view and interact with apps and content. The wrist-worn gadget boasts a 2.4-inch touchscreen, quad-core processor, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, 64GB of storage, 3G / 4G network support and a 1,000mAh battery. Continue reading for two videos and more information.
Read more at http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/neptune-duo-looks-like-a-normal-watch-but-turn-it-on-you-ll-see-it-rivals-the-apple-watch#5jbBuiqfddYkH4aA.99
People will need the tactile but it could work!
How about a handset with a built-in projector that transforms any surface into a touch display? Introducing the Lenovo Smart Cast. It's the world's first smartphone with an integrated laser projector. When the phone is propped up on its kickstand, "surface mode" is activated, and the projector beams a variety of virtual keyboards or even a full touchscreen onto the surface in front of it. You can play a virtual keyboard, games and much more. Continue reading for a video and more information.
Read more at http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/lenovo-smart-cast-is-a-smartphone-with-a-built-in-projector-that-can-transform-any-surface-into-a-touch-display#qBizEfwJ0vp4YV3L.99
This is a great idea!
Here's another look at Solar Roadways, which are one step closer to becoming a reality. For those who missed the story, Scott and Julie Brusaw basically want to build roads with solar panels, not asphalt. They envision a modular paving system of solar panels on roads, driveways and parking lots that can withstand vehicles weighing up to 250,000-pounds, while simultaneously creating solar energy to power homes and businesses. Plus, the panels would also be able to heat themselves to stay snow-free. Continue reading for the original video as well as an update.
Read more at http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/another-look-at-solar-roadways-which-harvest-energy-while-cars-drive-over-them#Hlj040CelQS046QW.99
VERY COOL!
Need this!
Loewe is a well known brand in Europe for its high-end home theater equipment, and its latest project, the Invsio, is definitely no slouch. The clear TOLED (Transparent Organic Light-Emitting Diode) technology allows the display to be used like normal, but then disappear the instant you hit the power button. The bottom portion of the set houses all of the electronics, and the entire unit can be mounted on a wall if you're not a fan of the silver tabletop stand. Without a border or frame of any kind, the display is meant to blend in seamlessly with your living space. Continue reading for more fascinating images.
Read more at http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/invsio-transparent-tv-uses-toled-technology-and-17-more-facscinating-images#r1c7DD15PmRDHSox.99
Insane!
At $1.7-million, the massive 370-inch Titan Zeus boasts 65-billion colors, 4k native resolution, weighs just under a ton and measures in at 26 feet by 16 feet. The display was designed to show up crystal clear in direct sunlight, without glare, and is water resistant to boot. No word yet on where you'll be able to go to see one of these monsters in-action. Click here to view the first image in this week's funny school pictures gallery. Continue reading for a viral video of the heaviest strawberry yet.
Read more at http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/massive-370-inch-titan-zeus-4k-tv-brings-the-movie-theater-experience-home#rq6bILKsXVZPfy83.99
At first glance, these appear to be giant orange baseballs, but they're actually "anti-crime orange balls". Their bright hue comes from the orange paint that fills them, and in the event of a robbery, store employees are instructed to fling them at the perpetrator. When it makes contact, they immediately, marking him or her with orange paint, making it easy for the police to apprehend them. Continue reading for a video and more information.
Read more at http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/they-look-like-orange-baseballs-but-throw-them-at-a-robber-they-ll-be-marked-for-police#LVFPjEQbojarHwHF.99
Need it!
Always wanted a smart watch, but don't need all the features Android Wear or the Apple Watch might offer? Then the Ritot should be perfect. This minimalist piece of wearable tech not only projects the time, but also caller ID, text messages and more. Underneath the shell is a tiny pico projector to beam the high-resolution graphics onto your hand, and the battery purportedly has a 30 day standby time and up to 150 hours in active mode. Continue reading for more pictures.
Read more at http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/ritot-smart-watch-directly-projects-the-time-onto-your-hand-can-also-display-text-messages#1FcPziOIfCWMhQy6.99
USB as a backup!
This is a cool visual weather device!
Facebook is still good for smb
3. Google is thinking! Low powered devices need to have access and this opens a huge market in the rest of the world!
Google I/O is around the corner and The Information is reporting that Google is developing an OS for low-power devices connected on the Internet of Things. Codenamed “Brillo,” we may be seeing a reveal of this platform, which would be launched under the Android brand at Google I/O next weekend. The connected OS would be based on the existing Android OS and would signal Google’s entry into the connected devices marketplace in a significant way.
According to the report, this OS would be primarily aimed at low-power devices that function on as little as 64 or 32MB of RAM. This certainly includes a wide range of connected gizmos including light bulbs, door locks, and pretty much any small smart home function that we can expect to see take off in the next few years.
I think it's time to go to Brazil!
4. Why does UBER need money? for self driving cars?
The day when an Uber rider jumps in a car without a driver looks to be coming closer, after a vehicle involved in the company’s driverless car project was spotted tootling about the streets of Pittsburgh. The Pennsylvania city is the location of Uber’s Advanced Technologies Center, which opened soon after the ride-hailing service revealed its self-driving car ambitions in February.
The San Francisco-based company has chosen to be less than discreet about its test runs, with the words “Uber” and “Advanced Technologies Center” seen emblazoned across the side of its adapted car, a Ford Fusion. A bunch of hardware perched atop the vehicle also helped it to stand out. Uber confirmed to the Pittsburgh Business Times this week that the vehicle is part of the company’s “early research efforts regarding mapping, safety and autonomy systems.”
That's some serious traffic!
Old vs young. We all behave differently online.
5. Retail Beacons! Come on why is this not a big thing?
6. Tracking employees to make a better workplace or…
VoloMetrix, founded in 2011, is part of a wave of startups aiming to let employers track new measures of employee behavior, happiness, and engagement as readily as they monitor sales numbers and online traffic. And much like companies tracking consumer behavior on the web, they’re taking advantage of new number-crunching and data storage capabilities—"the processing power really wouldn’t have been there a couple of years back," Fuller says—and navigating uncharted legal and ethical territory regarding expectations of privacy.
7. ipad vs iphone top 10 paid apps! in the USA, what are we learning about content from kids?
For today’s tech-steeped generation of kids, as well as their parents, the iPad and the iPhone are two very different devices. A recent PlayScience study conducted in the US found that on average, 73% of parents preferred their two to fours to spend time on tablets, as opposed to 12% choosing smartphones. For kids, the divide is less steep, with 48% of this age group preferring to swipe on tablets, versus 23% choosing smartphones.
8. Interactive gaming are we there?
According to NPD’s new Interactive Gaming Toys report, 70% of parents surveyed in the US are familiar with interactive gaming toys (also known as toys-to-life), with 40% owning items from at least one of the three franchises, and 41% of that group owning more than one franchise.
In terms of dollars spent over the past six months, parents estimated they shelled out an average of US$131 on games and characters from either Skylanders, Disney Infinity or Nintendo amiibo.
Compared to other toys and video games, the perception of their investment was very positive, with 77% saying it was definitely or probably worth the investment. Two-thirds of parents said they were extremely or very likely to purchase a new interactive gaming toy (65%) or a new character (67%) within the next six months.
NPD industry analyst Liam Callahan noted that the study shows consumers are moving from franchise to franchise, but not abandoning the category—a factor that bodes well for new entrants as it demonstrates that consumers are willing to try new products.
Co-play is strong in this type of gaming, with 52% of households indicating that adults (age 18+) are among those that play. Interestingly, among Nintendo amiibo-playing households with kids, 21% of parents stated that only adults are playing with this product.
Among all players, the majority of their time spent with these characters involves playing video games, with just 22% of total character playtime being spent engaged with them in physical toy form alone.
Unsurprisingly, the likelihood of playing with the toys outside of the video game decreases with age. 40% of parents said their 13- to 17-year-olds play with toys-to-life characters, compared to 77% for two to fives.
NPD culled data from an online survey conducted among US parents with at least one child aged two to 17 that ran from March 26 to April 13, 2015. Of the 3,688 parents surveyed, a total of 1,187 parents had at least one child who plays with interactive gaming toys.
9. Delta gets a lot of internet culture into its flight safety video!
10 the Facebook Little red book!
We all need one of these at our place of work!
11. Storify as an event documenting tool, cool idea!
is it all about big data and the algorithm?
13. Mozilla phone not getting traction? what is the plan?
Star Wars news! Madam tusard
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