2013
Analyst predicts success for Moto X and failure for the new Nexus 7
Mingchi Kuo (from KGI securities) is an always opinionated analyst with a fairly good track record is pontificating that the Moto X will be a hit but that the new Nexus 7 will be a bust. Kuo uses sources from manufacturers and inside telcos and believes there will be strong adoption of the Moto X devices (especially in light of the 500M$ advertising budget).
A $750 cupcake can be yours
If you love sweets and have money burning a hole in your pocket then keep reading. This incredible cupcake is called Decadence D'Or and can be purchased now at Sweet Surrender inside the Palazzo. Obviously this was created for a particular clientele that is in search of unique experiences and is less price sensitive than the average Joe or Jane. The chocolate is Palmira Single Estate Chocolate. The whipped cream is created by mixing Charentes-Poitou AOC butter, Tahitian Gold vanilla caviar.
French Fry Vending Machine
When I think of vending machines, I expect them to sell stale disgusting cookies but you can now buy fresh french fries. This wonderful machine calls Chaussee de Gand-Steenweg op Gent (Brussls) home. You pay the €2.50, choose ketchup or mayo and then wait the 90 unbearable seconds. NICOLAS MAETERLINCK / Getty Images NICOLAS MAETERLINCK / Getty Images Source : Buzzfeed
MLB Internet Streaming Super Special
MLB.com usually costs $129 a year but you can not get it for the super low price of $19.99. The presubscription comes with At BAt 13 and support a bunch of popular Android devices. You can check out the special page here.
Free iPhone apps today
iPhone YouTube music player edition 2 (Free today - Normally $4.99) PipeRoll 2 Ages (Free today - Normally $0.99) Momento (Diary/Journal) (Free today - Normally $2.99)
Google Nexus 5 rumors
Now that the MotoX is released, we can start concentrating on Nexus 5 rumors. To be completely transparent, we don't even know if there will be a Nexus 5 but reading rumors can be fun. Although some speculated that Motorola may build the next Nexus, a Vietnamese rumor site believes the device will be made by LG, contain a Qualcomm SnapDragon 800 processor, have a glass back and have no back button. Tin He believes the LG G2 is the model of the upcoming Nexus 5 so you can start wetting your appetite by reading that products spec sheet.
iPhone 5C may become best selling smartphone in China
The market is cautiously optimistic that the rumors of a low cost iPhone 5c are real. Now a report by Fortune says that Katy Huberty, or Morgan Stanley, predicts that Apple could become the best selling smartphone in the world's biggest smartphone market (China) if the iPhone 5C costs less than $400 off contract and supports China Mobile's TDD-LTE wireless technology. Her prediction is based on an AlphaWise survey of 2000 mobile phone owners in China. The findings are: Consumers' interest in iPhone remains steady if Apple continues its high-end strategy 23% of potential smartphone buyers surveyed chose the iPhone, slightly above our previous survey in January 2013 (19%).
Google Maps now has real-time Waze traffic information
When Google paid close to 1B$ for Waze, it was safe to assume they would quickly start sucking in real-time traffic information. We now learn that mobile users (Android and IOS) will see Waze traffic information on their Google Maps in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Switzerland, UK and the US. Why isn't Canada on this list? Come on Google.... Waze users are also being given 2 gifts. The Waze (IOS and Android) apps will now be integrsted with Google search (so finding locations will be easier and more accurate).
GoPro Alternative from Garmin
Action cameras (like the GoPro) are a dime a dozen with new entrants every month. Now an unlikely competitor has decided to enter the ring and challenge the GoPro king. Garmin will release 2 new devices : VIRB for $299 VIRB Elite for $399 Like all action cams, these will be rugged cameras that will record 1080p video at 30 fps (frames per second) and will take 16 megapixel still pictures. What Garmin hopes will set its devices apart from its competitors is: a 1.
A Cronut hamburger available in Toronto
What is a cronut? This is a conut: "Described by many as a half croissant, half doughnut — this pastry hybrid by Chef Dominique Ansel is taking the world by storm. After its launch on May 10, 2013, Cronut™ fans spanned the world from Berlin to Singapore, making it the most viral dessert item to date. " - http://dominiqueansel.com/cronut-101/ What is a cronut burger CTV Toronto is reporting hat a maple bacon cronut burger will be sold at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto (from August 16 - September 2).
iPhone 5s will include an A7 processor
Everyone's favorite analyst, KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, predicts the new iPhone 5s will include an A7 System on a Chip (aka processor). Nothing too surprising here, since every new iPhone has always included a faster and better processor. Ming-Chi Kuo believes the A7 will be based on the new ARMv8 architecture which should mean better performance with lower power consumption and a smaller size. Kuo believes the new processor should run 20% faster than the existing A6. The new iPhone is expected to contain the same 1GB of RAM but the faster LPDDR3 (instead of LPDDR2 in the A6).
MotoX now available for pre-order on Rogers in Canada
If you want to try the much hyped Googlorola... I mean Motorola then your wait is over. Head over to the Rogers phone reservation system and get your place in line. "Moto X will be available in black or white exclusively to Rogers Wireless customers this August for $189.99 on select two-year plans. Existing Rogers wireless customers can reserve theirs now on the Rogers Reservation System and new customers can sign up for updates on availability at www.rogers.com/motox. " - Rogers Red Board
MotoX on sale in Canada for $169.99
Rogers will have the Canadian exclusivity for the MotoX (at least at first) and it will be available in black or white for $189. It seems BestBuy will price the new Motorola flagship phone at a nice discounted price at launch. Link to BestBuy
1GB of free Dropbox storage for IOS users
If you have an IOS device, you can earn 1GB of free dropbox storage by following these simple steps: Install the free Mailbox GMAIL app from here Login to your GMAIL account Click on the menu > Settings > Dropbox Link your mailbox app to your dropbox account Within a minute, you will get 1GB of permanent free additional Dropbox storage Enjoy
AA Battery and USB Key in one
We all have USB keys and we all use AA batteries so designer Wonchul Hwang has married them into one concept. Unfortunatly this is still only a concept but I'm sure someone will borrow the idea and create a kickstarter for it... You plug it into a PC and use it as portable storage which also charges it. If you're stuck and need a AA battery for a flashlight or radio, just pull it from the PC and drop it into the device.
Vending machine gives free beer
Most men love beer. Most men love doing nothing. Imagine my surprise when I learned about a vending machine that dispenses free beer for doing nothing in front of it for 3 minutes. Basically you stand in front of it motionless for 3 minutes. You are rewarded with a cold can of refreshing thirst quenching Amstel beer. This marketing campaign is being done for Amstel (called Amstel Pause).
iPhone 5s rumor about fingerprint sensor
Another day another iPhone fingerprint reader rumor. Now we have "leaked" images showing the fingerprint reader sensor images. Nowheelse.fr, a French blog, claims to have these pictures along with the fingerprint scanner hardware. It may not be immediately clear but the "purported" iPhone 5s frame shows a new cut-out near the home button. The blog claims that cut-out will make room for the new fingerprint reading sensor.
Shark eating another shark
Nature proving it is cooler than any tech delivered this inception-esque shark eating shark moment. Scientists were reeling in a smaller shark (dogfish) when a bigger shark (sand tiger) decided it was hungry. Source : helablog
Apple's free app of the week : Doodle Fit 2: Around the World
Every week, Apple provides one popular app for free in its itunes app store. This week Doodle Fit 2 is given the spotlight (by Namco Bandai Games). Its a cool little puzzle game 20 puzzles. Download it from itunes here. Travel the world, solving puzzles as you go! Visit 10 countries, each with 20 puzzles based on an item or landmark from that country. Some puzzles have multiple solutions and some feature interesting facts. Play in Around the World, Time Attack and Challenge modes, but that's just the tip of the iceberg!
What we know about the iPhone 5s
Everyone is getting ready for the September 10th Apple announcement of the the iPhone. Even though Apple hasn't confirmed the event just yet, many journalists are so convinced of the the date that they have bought the their plane tickets and reserved their hotels. Assuming the date holds, what can we expect as hardware. Everyone's favorite Apple rumor generator, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, released a new report with a summary of what he believes the new device will deliver: the new A7, ARMv8 based AP (application processor), featuring a 1GB LPDDR3 RAM chip; a sapphire home button with fingerprint sensor; main camera unchanged with 8MP, but featuring a larger F2.