Digithoughts

Google Glass prototypes | Engadget

…this shows off the full process from strapping a cellphone to a pair of goggles along with a pico projector shining directly into the wearer’s eyes. The jump from off the shelf components to custom 3D-printed materials is represented in the third version (top right), and allowed the progress seen along the bottom row.

Apple App Store and Google Play downloads, 2008 - 2013

This week, both Apple and Google have released new download numbers for their mobile app stores. Apple has served 50 billion app downloads, while Google is just behind with 48 billion downloads. These are huge numbers and both growth curves are remarkable, even though it certainly looks like Google Play soon will surpass the App Store in terms of total downloads.

Fix Windows RT?

Windows RT hits a new low: just $300 for Dell’s XPS 10 convertible | The Verge

Microsoft’s Surface notwithstanding, Windows RT hasn’t yet been the success that Microsoft has hoped. Samsung seems to be distancing itself from the operating system, and many PC manufacturers have yet to bite at all. However, Dell has publicly committed to the OS, and this week it’s making Windows RT more accessible than ever before: it’s cutting the price of the Dell XPS 10 tablet to just $299

Today’s version of Windows RT and its accompanying devices are because of obvious reasons not flying off the shelves. Who are they for and why? What and what not are they capable of? What are they in relation to “full” Windows 8 devices? Why are they better than competing iOS and Android products? It’s all very unclear. RT may not seem to be worth saving but MS need a strong product in the ARM universe. And what if Windows RT was done right? What if the underlying idea with Windows RT isn’t totally bad, and would it really take very much to make Windows RT a much more attractive proposition? The original Surface RT was announced in June 2012 and a huge corporation such as Microsoft should be able to address all of the below points for the next iteration:

• Faster next-gen ARM based hardware.

• Better multiple windows/app management for increased productivity. The same goes for Windows 8 of course.

• Include a super clean new native Modern UI styled Office suite instead of today’s bundled desktop styled version, which is only available in the quasi Windows RT desktop mode. If MS want other companies to build high quality Modern UI/Windows 8 apps, the company should of course lead the way.

• Make RT devices Modern UI only and skip the old desktop mode entirely. Windows RT doesn’t support third party legacy apps anyway and the desktop mode makes the product unnecessary confusing.

• Until hardware and software catches up and prices are lower, I believe MS can wait with retina screens for another year or so. But 1080p instead of 720p should  be a done deal. At least for the more premium offerings.

If addressed, these points would enable modern, fast, slim and affordable Windows RT machines with great battery lives. Products that can stand up against Windows 8 devices as well as iOS and Android tablets. To only use the Modern UI would make the user experience more cohesive and increase the differentiation from “full” Windows 8. A few hit Windows RT devices would also spur development of quality Windows 8/Modern UI apps, which would benefit both Windows RT and Windows 8. 

Atari Breakout is Google’s latest easter egg

digg:

Do a Google Image search for Atari Breakout. You wont be disappointed.

Oh man, there goes my day. Isn’t this evil? Better ask Eric.

The best smartphone camera, part II | DPReview Connect

DP Review tests the cameras of Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, Apple iPhone 5 and Nokia Lumia 920:

None of the devices in this shootout are good at everything. So, if you’re planning to take a lot of pictures with your smartphone, you should be clear about where your priorities are.

The last shootout I linked to gave Nokia the nod of approval. In this, arguably more serious test, it’s however apparent that the Nokia produces pictures with quite unnatural colors and not so pleasant noise reduction and sharpening. So be sure that you agree with Nokia’s processing decisions before choosing the Lumia.

In this test, I prefer the Galaxy S4 or the HTC One images in most cases. Even though neither of them are blowing away the competition in every condition. I like the direction HTC has taken with only 4, slightly larger, megapixels, but the lower pixel count shows in some cases. Maybe we can hope for 6 mega-“ultrapixels” in the next iteration?

So what about the iPhone 5? From one who chose the iPhone 5 over the Nexus 4 due to a superior camera, it is clear that it’s not superior when compared to the other devices in this shootout. The iPhone underperforms and Apple needs to improve their camera significantly to catch up and get ahead in the next iPhone.

Intel Silvermont: next-gen mobile CPU’s three times as fast and more energy efficient | Engadget

ARM’s long been the dominant form of silicon in mobile devices, but Intel aims to change that with its next-generation Atom chip design codenamed Silvermont.

I’m definitely looking forward to Intel’s next-gen mobile chips. However, even though Intel showed real improvement within mobile the past year and actually shipped somewhat ARM-competitive chips, the fact is that the company has continually overpromised while underdelivering within mobile for as long as I’ve been following the mobile industry (i.e. 2007 — rembember Menlow, MIDs and UMPCs?). So my hopes are high, but I’m not holding my breath.

Gmail for iOS update links Google apps directly | Slashgear

The [Gmail] app now redirects links to other Google apps, such as YouTube, Google Maps, and Chrome. Any links that appear in an email in the Gmail app will automatically go to one of these three apps if installed on your iOS device

Smart workaround for iOS’s inability to let users choose what app links open in. I presume other apps will follow Google’s lead on this one.

Google Glass Isn’t A Segway, It’s Gordon Gekko’s Cell Phone

searchengineland:

Even as more people got cell phones, the novelty of them — the rarity of them — could make the “haves” seem like they were somehow showing off an unneeded luxury to the majority of the “have nots.”…

…I can recall conversations where people said they didn’t need them, indeed didn’t want them because they just thought it was crazy that you’d be connected 24/7.

Virtually no one views cell phones today as some unneeded luxury, nor that someone is some type of a jerk or show-off for having one. They are common-place devices that all types of people have.

While the “Segway on your face”-angle is both fun and punchy, this Gordon Gekko analogy might be more apt.