2013
A new standard for better HD video streaming
Over the last couple of years, we have been treated a fantastic group of web TV and movies streaming services (Netflix, HULU, BBC iPlayer, etc). These services are wonderful when they work smoothly and f...r...u.s....t....r...a...t..i.....n..g when they don't (buffer pains anyone). Now imagine what high definition (and even ultraHD) would do to an already bad streaming situation. The MPEG group submitted a new proposal which was quickly adopted by the ITU as the next generation streaming standard (now called H.265). At the very core, it halves the bandwidth requirement compared to the current standard.
Whatsapp breaking Canadian privacy laws
It seems everyone’s favorite cross-platform Instant Messaging app has is violating Canadian privacy laws (according to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada). The OPC found that on all devices (except IOS 6), the App requires access to the users address book to function. This means that non WhatsApp user information is being stored on the WhatsApp servers without the permission of these users. WhatsApp is “trying to meet” Canadian regulations by adding encryption and other protections but the OPC believes they are not yet compliant with Canadian law and will continue monitoring the firms progress.
Facebook Search Graph may help HR find better candidates
Most people know and use LinkedIn, the huge professional networking site recruiters love. Linkedin does a great job telling recruiters what a candidate knows and where they have worked but it doesn't provide any information on "fit" within a company. This is where the new Facebook Search Graph may provide an additional tool to help recruiters fine tune their candidate search process. Facebook Search Graph will allow the recruiter to ask targeted questions to find connections with people, locations, organization, sports, hobbies and much more.
Rumor - First images of the iPhone 5s
French blog, NoWhereElse, has published pictures they claim belong to the upcoming iPhone 5s and an iPhone 6. They claim that the iPhone 5s will be released this summer and that the iPhone 6 will follow in early 2014. Like most sites, NoWhereElse seems to have gotten some rumors right and messed up others completely. Like all things Apple, we'll have to wait until WWDC to see what goodies Apple has in store for us. Personally I doubt we would see iPhone 6 parts just yet.
Apple users send 2 billion iMessages a day
I wrote about Whatsapp [processing 18 billion](http://www.kiledjian.com/main/2013/1/4/whatsapp-processed-18-billion-messages-on-december-31-2012.html) messages on New Year's day. During Apple's quarterly presentation, we learned that Apple users send 1 billion iMessages a day. Apple solf 47.8 million iPhones during the quarter and the total IOS devices sold to date (from inception) now totals 500 million. Apple also saw the number of total iCLoud users jumped to 250 million in December 2012. 2 billion messages may seem like a lot but then you look at the cross-platform Whatsapp and realize they have a long way to go.
Rumor - Apple will release a 128GB iPhone 5s
Regardless of the maximum device size released by Apple, there are always customers demanding more. The largest iphones currently support 64GB of storage but that may all be about to change. The latest IOS 6.1 beta 5 seems to support a larger 128GB system partition key in BuildManifest. This would match up with previously seem NAND upgrade patterns from Apple (which are about every 2 years). Online storage providers have been trying to fill in the gap by convincing customers that streaming and online storage is a better option than plucking down top dollar for the largest device possible.
Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable battery review
As a business traveler, I adopted rechargeable batteries 5 years ago and haven’t looked back since. I have tried almost every brand of rechargeable batteries and the 2 I have consistently come back to are the Powerex by Maha Energy and the Sanyo Eneloop. The Powerex is the heavy duty battery that works great in high drain devices. I use Eneloop for everything else. The value proposition The value propositions of the Eneloops are: Come pre-charged Maintain 70% of their charge after 5 years of storage Can be recharged 1500-1800 times Testing I recently bought a brand new pack of these batteries and decided to run some tests and share the results here.
Lonely people get more virus'
There are lots of reasons why being lonely is bad for you. Now we can also add weakened imune system to the list of effects. the interesting study was presented January 19 at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. It shouls what people who are lonely seem to be more impacted by viruses and are more likely to produce inflammatory componds when stressed.
Videotron to offer Google Nexus 4 January 30th
I just saw this tweet from the Videotron account... C'est le 30 janvier que Nexus 4 de Google sera offert chez Vidéotron. Êtes-vous prêts? — Videotron(@Videotron) January 23, 2013 This means that Quebecers will be able to walk into any Videotron store and pickup a Nexus 4. Unfortunately no word yet on the price.
Microsoft Office 2013 subscriptions for home users
Microsoft’s next major release of Office is almost here and it is a great time to talk about a new licensing model you will be offered as a subscription. Sure they have tried it in the past but it had always been a badly designed unattractive offering that no one really bought. Microsoft hopes Office 2013 will change that. Microsoft’s Office 2013 subscription will allow you to install the product on multiple devices (Windows, Mac and mobile) and you will be able to easily transfer a license from one device to another.
More Samsung Galaxy S4 (S IV) rumors
Related article you maybe interested in. A supposed Samsung roadmap was "leaked" on the internet and it suggests that Samsung's next generation smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S IV, will pack a 5" high quality 440ppi display (the iphone retina display is around 330PPI). Digitimes, a Taiwanese component and rumor paper, says they will use hexagon and diamond shaped pixel layouts to achieve this incredible density. It is also believed the device will be powered by an 8-core 1.
Canadian companies showing BB10 some love
We are 7 days away from the launch of Blackberry 10 and RIM is maintaining its promise of 70,000 apps at launch. Demos and leaks have already shown Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and Foursquare clients. We also expect the major public media apps like Songza, Pandora, HULU Mobile and Sticher to make their services available. Canadian companies will be showing Blackberry 10 some love and now we are learning that some household names will also release BB10 optimized apps including Air Canada, President's Choice, Tim Horton's and the Weather Network.
Google Nexus 10 available in Play Store
The Google Nexus 10 16GB and 32GB devices seem to be back in stock at the Google Play store (Canada). If you want one, buy it before it goes "Out of stock" again!
Carbonite makes your most used files available everywhere for free
Carbonite is the 800lb remote backup gorilla so anytime they release a new product, I take note. We’ll they released something original and interesting I wanted to share with you because I know it will be immediately useful to you! Carbonite Currents is service powered by apps for Windows, Mac OS X, Android and IOS that tracks all of your recently used documents (the last 30 days) and makes them available to you everywhere on any platform they support. You don’t have to remember to copy it in a special sync folder, upload it to an online locker or email it to yourself.
Tablet domination impacts Intel's business model
It’s no secret the tablet market is steadily chipping away at the tradition PC market and now industry heavyweights are starting to feel the impact. Intel has announced that its Haswell architecture motherboards will be the last batch designed and manufactured by Intel. Other Taiwanese and Chinese manufacturers will easily fill the void however it is interesting to see a tech titan concentrate more on building design references for Ultrabooks and tablet than traditional PC components. Like everything driven by the consumer, they are at the forefront of the switch to alternative computing models (tablets instead of PCs) however CIOs will have no choice but to eventually change their corporate computing model to account for this new reality.
Microsoft Surface Pro will be available February 9
I’m sure you have been counting down the minutes until you can trade your hard earned money against Microsoft’s Surface Pro. Microsoft has said that your wait is over on February 9th when it hits retail. Microsoft will offer a 64GB and 128GB model priced at $899 and $999 respectively. You will want to add one of the keyboard covers adding $120 or $130 (depending on the model). Microsoft will also help you accessories your wonderful new tablet with accessories also being released the same day: limited edition touch covers with interesting patterns, the wedge mouse (for Surface for $70).
How to properly lock down your Facebook privacy settings
Facebook has gone to great length to make sure everyone know that Graph Search won’t reveal anything that isn’t already visible to the person conducting the search. However people may be able to find information about you because of privacy setting misconfigurations you may have made. It is a great time to make sure you have properly locked down your Facebook privacy settings. Click on the little gear icon (upper right hand side) and choose “Privacy Settings”. First Then
Iphone 5s and cheaper iPhone to be released Q3 2013
Nothing is more refreshing in a new year than a fresh round of Apple iPhone rumors. Now KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has come out with his predictions based on unnamed sources. It is important to note that Ming-Chi has a fairly reliable track record with his Apple predictions. I present the iPhone 5S He expects Apple to release it’s latest and greatest iPhone, the iPhone 5s, in Q3 2013. It will likely be announced at the Apple WWDC in June/July.
You will soon be able to easily buy a Google Nexus 4
Google has blamed LG for Nexus 4 shortages and LG has done the same to Google. Cathy Robins, of LG France, is saying that LG produced the number of devices requested by Google but that the quantity ordered was severly low compared to actual market demand. In most Google Play stores, the device was available for hours to a couple of days (since launching in November). She said that LG is ramping up production to meet the demand. She expects supply and demand to level out sometime in February, as it takes about 6 weeks to change the production rate.
Google's newest competitor is Facebook Search
Facebook has now officially entered the search engine business by publicly announcing its new Facebook Graph Search product. Using natural queries, it will allow anyone to datamine public information from Facebook’s 1 billion users. How does it work? You will be able to ask it questions like: What are the most popular Indian restaurants in Montreal with my Indian friends? Who went to Mcgill University, graduate in 2000 with a bachelor in mechanical engineering and is friends with XYZ? You’ll notice that they went to great lengths to make search easier and more natural.