Latest Inventions

posted by admin on Jan 7

Just a quick update on the story of the Apple iSlate that is being talked about…..

Apparently, Microsoft have just unveiled THEIR new slate pc - a Hewlett Packard model about the size of a large paperback! 

They got it out for a look see at the Consumer Electronics Show in Law Vegas, along with 2 other versions: A much larger model from Archos and a slightly longer model made by Pegatron Corp.

Now, whether they did this after all the speculation about the iSlate, or the speculation about the iSlate began after Microsoft booked the stand at the CES makes no difference - they are both due out later this year: but no dates have been given yet for either!

Microsoft’s offering makes use of their very successful Windows 7 software - which turned out to be the fastest selling operating system ever!  Apparently it offers all the same user-friendly technology as a laptop and smartphone - books, music, movies and other applications, but no exact specs have been given.

So, we still have to wait to see what Apple have got up their sleeve at the end of the month before a direct comparison can be made between the 2 - so watch this space……

AND - the Kindle is planning to launch in a bigger size soon as well - the Kindle DX - but will we need it if the new slate computers run the Kindle software?  Keep the smaller one for reading on the move - and use the larger slate pc for at home on the sofa!

posted by admin on Jan 3

There is lots of speculation - but nothing confirmed?

Seeing as the netbook niche has been so popular - and people aren’t put off by the size of the iPhone, it seems as though Apple are going to merge the 2 ideas and create a giant version of the iPhone - about the size of a closed netbook!

The iSlate seems to be the name in the media at the moment - and apparently Apple have already brought the domain name iSlate.com - so are they right?

Apparently Apple have recently released the patent details for such a gadget, but still the details are not certain. 

The ‘Facts’
Well, a 10.1 inch touchscreen display seems to be the most talked about quality of this new gadget, (or possibly a 7 inch smaller version) but writers are also speculating about it having an embedded front facing webcam as well - which would certainly be a nice touch.

The keyboard would be on the screen itself, with the potential for slightly raised areas within the screen to identify where certain ‘home keys’ are if not all keys having raised lips.

Also, it would have internet access - probably wi-fi - with access to iTunes as well as films, TV and books - making it a huge ebook reader!

Apparently rumoured to run on the iPhone OS software, this tablet computer should have all the standard features of any other laptop or netbook.

It is also rumoured that an industry insider reported that Apple are already in the process of making up to 10 million iSlate tablet computers for release this year; 2010.

The Idea:
Some of the mock-up images of the iSlate look amazing with a magazine front cover on it, or some photo’s of friends, but how will you carry it around?  Yeah, ladies can put it in their purse - but it won’t be fitting in any-one’s jean pocket - so will it be as social as the iPhone currently is?

Without a ‘lid’ so to speak - will it be practical for use and transporting around between meetings or when on vacation?  The screen could be up for a real hard time - unless it stays at home like a coffee table ‘book’ used for parties, get-togethers or instead of the TV!

And the cost will certainly be around the same as a small netbook as well - or more for all the Apple specific features - so people are guessing at around $800 to $1000 for an estimated price.

The Launch:
Apple have apparently rented a stage at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco for an announcement about a ’major product launch’ on January 26th, 2010.

And there is apparently an artists impression of a possible Apple Tablet computer on a Clearwire site showing all the other Apple gadgets! Interesting indeed.

See you at the end of the month!

posted by admin on Dec 16

Welcome to the final Blog Carnival of 2009 - And Best Wishes for the New Year!

Let’s begin with the very thorough and interesting article by Mary Jones who details 25 Everyday Technologies That Came from NASA. Neat!

And welcome back to a regular writer on e-books - Marco Gustafsson with his article this time on the Cool-er EBook Reader: Intuitive Marketing or Blatant Copying?.

The third article is about the planet - and lists lectures that could change the way you think about biology, technology and the world itself - let Linda Jones share with you 50 Fascinating Lectures on the Future of the Planet.

A little story about the Eco Rally that took place earlier this year by 00FF00 has some great info and some nice photos too! So, read here about The Revolve Eco Rally

And finally, the obligatory ‘Apps’ listing article this month is from Carolyn Friedman who tells us about the Top 20 iPhone Apps for Business Travelers but is joined by a very in-depth article on just 1 particular app - John presents us with his article on A Bird-finding App for iPhone and iPod Touch

See you in 2010!

posted by admin on Dec 4

Everytime I turn around - there are another bunch of ’apps’ doing the rounds!

Today there are nearly 100,000 mobile applications (apps) that you can choose from, ranging in simplicity from one that makes shotgun noises when you ‘cock’ to another one where you have to help multiple planes land, refuel, take off from your airport!

Some are challenging and seem to promote friendly competition over several weeks, and others are just one-hit-wonders that entertain you for about an hour, tops!

Why So Many?
The reason there are so many is because it is so easy to move these ideas around the office, friend groups and even the world with social networking sites and the increasing availability of ‘free’ internet time and texts etc - allowing kids and adults alike to pass these apps around to all their friends at the click of a button and seemingly ‘for free’.

Many of them save us doing a lot of ‘boring’ things like searching through phonebooks for restaurants or other services, finding tourist spots and museums as well as finding information in lists that will save us rifling through the internet services. You can even play your phone as a musical instrument!

GetJar - an online store for apps - has said that there could be 10 million apps available by 2020, and cheif executive Mr Laurs predicts that they will become more useful and more popular than the internet is now.

The Big Hitters:
Company-wise Apple run the show at the moment with over 65,000 appa available in their on-line store - but others like Nokia and Blackberry who also have smartphones are trying to replicate their success and keep in the market.

Apps-wise, no-one is really the big winner.  Most apps fall away with apparently a 90% fail rate, and those that spread the globe are short lived in the grand scheme of things.  Original apps need to keep coming, keep being invented and keep the user interested.

It can be something as simple as guessing which of the logos is actually the real one - which I found really tricky even though we see these logos virtually everyday (like BMW and Amazon).  Or as complicated as designing a tower-block - it just needs to be something that people want to share with friends - then you have your winner.

Anyone out there can invent their own new app - all hoping to be in that remaining 10%!

posted by admin on Sep 16

Hello again, and welcome to the carnival.

There don’t seem to be many articles this month that are worth sharing with you.  Many left over from last month and the new ones are either not really ’latest inventions’ and many of the submitted articles are just a few paragraphs long and full of links!

These aren’t articles - they are not sharing anything new with readers or even treating us like readers - they are trying to get clicks by using key words!

Where are all the great articles about actual new inventions, great technology and interesting new gadgets?

Lets hope we get some in for next month otherwise this carnival will have to change it’s name to ‘X new iPhone applications for Y’ as these are all I get plenty of!

And here is the latest one:  Shannon Wills presents 50 iPhone Apps That Will Make You Much Healthier

Hope to see you next month…….