Posts Tagged ‘maybe’
Smartwatch Market Could Be A Third The Size Of The Netbook Market This Year (Maybe)
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It’s almost like Apple, Google, Samsung and Microsoft have actually launched smartwatches. Except of course they haven’t. But who cares! Analyst house ABI Research has been stroking its collective beard and come up with a forecast for the size of the nascent smartwatch market. And — drum roll please! — it reckons you can bank on more than 1.2 million of the wrist-strapped gizmos shipping this year.
Put another way, that’s about as many Raspberry Pi microcomputers shipped in its first year on sale. Or just over a third as many netbooks are predicted to ship this year (3.97 million units globally, according to IHS iSuppli). Which means smartwatches could be about as popular as a niche gadget for learning about computing/making a DIY robot, but less popular than the PC that’s cannonballing towards extinction the quickest.
Which sounds about as plausible as any guesstimate produced prior to any mainstream tech companies actually launching product. If you’re in the business of reading tea leaves it helps if you wait for someone to make a brew before doing divinations.
ABI says its “market intelligence” of the “strong potential emergence of smart watches” — note the careful hedge, and don’t bet the farm on this one just yet — is based on the emergence over the past nine months of “a number of new smart watches”, which is likely referring to Kickstarter-funded Pebble and its myriad of wrist-coveting, crowdfunded competitors.
The analyst also says its forecast is based on ”contributing factors” that it reckons are encouraging the smartwatch market to (maybe) emerge from its Kickstarter-powered chrysalis and (possibly) blossom into a standalone butterfly — namely:
…the high penetration of smartphones in many world markets, the wide availability and low cost of MEMS sensors, energy efficient connectivity technologies such as Bluetooth 4.0, and a flourishing app ecosystem.
Even though the smartwatch market remains a partially formed, largely limp-wristed creature, listlessly stuck within its chrysalis of potential, ABI has already spotted four categories hoping to fly in the months and years ahead — aka: notification types (such as MetaWatch and Cookoo); voice operational smartwatches (such as Martian); hybrid smartwatches; and completely independent smartwatches — i.e. smartwatches that have their own OS and aren’t just playing second fiddle to a smartphone.
In the latter category, ABI cites I’m Watch as an example but also suggests that other “possible archetypes” could be “Apple’s hotly anticipated iWatch, Samsung’s Galaxy Altius and Microsoft['s 'Windows Watch', or whatever catchy name Redmond ends up bestowing on it, if indeed it ends up making such a thing at all]. If Mark Zuckerberg or Jeff Bezos or Justin Bieber decide to launch their own Android-powered smartwatches ABI would presumably add those in here too.
“Smartwatches that replicate the functionality of a mobile handset or smartphone are not yet commercially feasible, though the technologies are certainly being prepared,” adds senior analyst Joshua Flood in a quasi-illuminating statement of the potential factors that could influence this nascent market’s potential as the hands on our (non-smart)watches push inexorably on.
[Image by Telstar Logistics via Flickr]
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Amazon Rumor Roundup: Faster And Cheaper Kindle Fire, Kindle Touch With Better Screen And Maybe A Phone
Author: Nancy Kennedy
Amazon is a company that just cannot stop leaking information about its new products. Before the live coverage of Amazon’s press conference on TechCrunch at 10:30 in Santa Monica, it is now a good time to write down what we know about Amazon’s lineup.
New Kindle devices are highly expected and the major focus of the conference should be on hardware. The Nexus 7 has proven to be a beautifully-designed cheap 7-inch tablet and an update to the Kindle Fire would be a welcomed announcement. The Kindle Touch has lost its edge in the e-reader landscape with the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight. Moreover the Pearl E Ink screen has not been updated since 2010. Lastly, there are some rumors that Amazon might finally be ready to release a Kindle-branded phone.
Kindle Fire
Even though Amazon claims that the Kindle Fire is now sold out, what it really means is that Amazon stopped production of the current Kindle Fire — a device cannot be sold out because it is the company that decides to stop production. Seeing how Amazon is desperate for attention, a new Kindle Fire is therefore very likely.
Some pictures of the device leaked. It still sports a 7-inch display with a narrower matte bezel and maybe a front-facing camera on some models. Amazon could choose to only offer the camera on the higher-end model to keep the entry price very low.
A 10-inch device could be introduced as well but we are much less confident about this rumor as the price has always been an important selling point for Amazon over the years. And of course it would put that purported tablet in direct confrontation with the iPad.
Talking about prices, in order to keep its edge in the race to the bottom, Amazon may adopt a similar strategy as its ereader strategy. In other words, Amazon may lower the price by showing ads — also known as special offers — when you turn on the device. A $ 149 device sure looks attractive when it is just a click away to add to your virtual cart.
Engadget received some logs that could indicate that the new Kindle Fire operating system will be based on Android 4.0.3 instead of 2.2 — a much needed improvement for third-party developers and even users. A bump in specs would be logical as well, with for example an improved processor and a screen with a better resolution.
And then there is the Firedock. Amazon trademarked the brand, probably for an accessory. Will it be unveiled today?
Kindle Touch
While we are not sure about the entry-level Kindle, the Kindle Touch is likely to receive an update. It is currently unavailable on Amazon.com. It did not receive the same PR treatment as the Kindle Fire, but the Kindle Touch is in need of an update as well.
Yesterday, the new Kindle Touch was teased by Amazon in an ad. The home button is gone and the bezel is now black.
Competitors such as the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight or the just-announced Kobo Glo have a screen that glows in the dark. Contrarily to what it looks like, those devices are front-lit and not backlit. It uses small LEDs in the bezel to project light on a transparent film. The Kindle Touch should probably use the same technology due to the characteristics of E Ink screens.
Another improvement would be a new E Ink screen. The current Pearl screen has been used in Kindle e-readers since 2010. The company E Ink stated that a generation is supposed to last two years. Screen contrast between the text and the background should be improved as well as screen refresh rate for faster page turns — it depends on the processor too. But the more important improvement would be a bump in resolution. The Kindle has had the same 800×600 resolution since 2007. The Kobo Glo has a 1024×768 six-inch screen. Maybe it will be the same resolution for the Kindle Touch, maybe not.
Kindle smartphone?
Over the past few days, some rumors of a Kindle-branded smartphone have emerged. It is probably the next logical step for Amazon after hyping up its App Store so much. Bloomberg has come to that conclusion after hearing rumors from Foxconn and the hire of Matt Gordon, a specialist in patent protection to avoid lawsuits.
It is unclear whether the smartphone will be unveiled today. The rumors come very late. Moreover, specs and design remain unknown. It would be an interesting turn for Amazon, even if it is only released in a few weeks. With its incredible retail presence thanks to the ubiquitous Amazon.com, the device could sell well and prove to be yet another challenger in the smartphone landscape.
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Maybe Abstinence IS The Answer: Banana Slugs Try To Bite Each Other’s Wieners Off After Mating
Author: Gabe Hall
Banana slugs are hermaphrodites and have both a dingaling (that comes out of the top of it’s head — think unicorn, but with a dong instead of a horn) and hoo-ha (I’m ten). So when they mate they usually both give and receive. But when they’re done they try to bite each other’s penises off so they can’t mate with other slugs. That…sounds like a terrible time. Definitely not the kind of Craigslist casual encounter one would hope for. Now, I’m not advocating being a bad lover and pulling the ol’ hit-and-split, but yes, yes I am. So to all you banana slug readers out there: finish first and RUN. Do NOT wait around to smoke a cigarette afterwards and DEFINITELY don’t give your partner your name or address. The last thing you need is an ex-lover showing up in the middle of the night to gnaw your pecker off. Booty call, my ass!
Hit the jump for the disturbing video of a penis-biting contest in action.
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Judge puts the kibosh on one Apple vs. Motorola patent trial (maybe, tune in next week)
Author: Matthew Baker
In an (all too rare, if you ask us) occurrence, US Circuit Judge Richard A. Posner has tentatively decided to dismiss an Apple patent infringement case against Motorola. Both sides were seeking damages in the case, and the decision to dismiss it “with prejudice” would mean neither side could refile these claims again. According to his ruling in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, neither side could credibly establish its damages so he’s putting a stop to things before it ever goes in front of a jury. That said, he will issue a more in depth ruling next week and noted that he could still change his mind. For our sanity alone we hope he does not, although it ultimately won’t matter much with so many other smartphone patent lawsuits involving these companies filling up dockets in courts around the globe.
Judge puts the kibosh on one Apple vs. Motorola patent trial (maybe, tune in next week) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 21:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Space travel coming to an airport near you? Maybe, if Skylon keeps its cool
Author: Rahul Gabe
Want to get from New York to Perth in under 4 hours, or maybe just head to outer space on a lark? Reaction Engines’ “Skylon” mach 5 spaceplane might be your chariot — or not. Its scheme of ingesting oxygen from the atmosphere instead of stowing it like a 50-year old modern multi-stage rocket sounds good, but the project’s fate may hang on critical new tests. Failure is still a possibility, but if the high-speed, superhot gases can be cooled enough for the hybrid Sabre engines to work, and if Reaction Engines Limited can secure another round of funding, punching your space-ticket could soon be a very real possibility.
Space travel coming to an airport near you? Maybe, if Skylon keeps its cool originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 23:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Lytro Video? Maybe Later – For Now, Lytro Focuses On Photos
Author: Tristan Richards
We were recently able to pose a few questions to Ren Ng, founder and CEO of Lytro, and the person upon whose research the whole product is based. Their camera, which allows the shooter to set the focus after taking the shot, among other things, is launching soon. But there is still much to learn about it, as the company has been fairly close-mouthed about the its specs and capabilities.
First, Ng declined to name the supplier for the lens, an 8x zoom with a fixed F/2 aperture — that’s serious glass, and they’re keeping their source secret. The striking design is actually necessitated by the lens; most zooms that size will protrude from the body of a camera owing to certain optical necessities, but Lytro’s is all-internal, and to keep the whole thing compact the rest of the camera was built around the lens.
The “light ray” technology behind the camera is also potentially usable for video. The trouble is that processing that much image data might not be possible at the moment, given how differently the Lytro handles data. But if you take away that processing roadblock, there doesn’t seem to be any reason why video should be taken off the table. But for the debut, still photography is the only worthwhile thing to target, since the market is so much bigger and the tech supports it right now.
We also asked about wireless capability. The chipset used on the Lytro is listed as being both wifi and Bluetooth capable, but no wireless syncing or direct-to-Facebook type functions have been mentioned at all. The only thing Ng would say was that they were hard at work on the wireless piece. It doesn’t seem too far out there to expect an update to the Lytro that will add some basic wireless functionality, but for now all we know is it’s being considered.
They seem to be open to licensing the technology or partnering with other services, possibly for co-branding purposes. But at the moment the focus is on just getting the product out there. Other means of monetizing or spreading the technology may be resorted to later, especially if (perish the thought) the camera sells less than expected.
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Arris brings Moxi HD DVR sales to an end, plans to cut off guide data after 2013… maybe
Author: Jenny Zhao
While Moxi may live on in spirit as a white label multiroom HD DVR for cable companies, parent company Arris announced on its website this week the retail boxes and extenders are no longer being sold. Initially, a note on the company’s home page indicated tech support and guide data would come to an end at the end of 2013 as noted by Zatz Not Funny, but references to that have since been removed. Potentially abandoned users on AVS Forum have already started looking for alternative ways to keep the guide data flowing and possibly get help from Arris in prying open the code to do so. We’ve contacted Arris for more information but haven’t received a response yet — we’ll update you when / if we do. In the meantime Digeo’s baby is still operational, so owners can enjoy however much time they have left, we’d recommend studying up on the stages of grief so you’ll understand how to handle them over the next several months.
[Thanks, Alfred]
Arris brings Moxi HD DVR sales to an end, plans to cut off guide data after 2013… maybe originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Maybe Skyrim In Real Life Isn’t So Cool After All
Author: Troy Barnes
Seen here about to fail hard, 37-year old “warrior” David Millington prepares to wage battle on an enemy he’s held a grudge against for 30 years. Wait — since you were seven?! Jesus, he wiped a booger on your arm, bro – let it go.
This is the astonishing moment a crazed attacker stormed into a supermarket armed with an arsenal of knives including a hockey stick with a blade on the end as oblivious punters carried on their shopping.
Described as looking like a ‘warrior’, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how David Millington, 37, went into Morrisons in a suburb of Wolverhampton last March wearing a tool belt containing five kitchen knives and a makeshift shield.
Millington then chased security guard Andrew Osbourne, who he lived close to as a youngster and reportedly has a 30-year grudge against, through the store before being tackled to the ground by brave manager Michael Walsh.
First of all, that’s not a shield. Not even a MAKESHIFT one. That’s a piece of foamboard with a belt taped to it. Secondly, I can’t believe his mom let him leave the house with her good knives. Lastly, Millington was ruled unfit to stand trail and ordered to be treated in a mental hospital because he’s a little cray-cray. Gee, you think? He had 30 years to plot revenge and this was his plan A.
Thanks to Seb, who agrees in 30 years you could have at least ordered something from ACME.
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Panasonic plans to go forth with Android to all of Europe this spring, North America is a definite maybe
Author: Janet Odell
Have you been hoping to experience a Panasonic boom up close and personal, but found yourself in the wrong locale? The Japanese electronics giant wants to change all of that by expanding its Android lineup to Europe and North America, according to Nikkei. The company’s said to be in talks with a “major telecommunications firm” in Europe to bring several devices to the continent as early as this spring, and is aspiring to eventually make it to North America and other Asian countries. This lines up with last week’s rumors that it was seeking out a PR agency to help spread the news when the time’s right. Might we expect Panasonic to make a mobile splash at CES or MWC in a major way? It’s going to be exhibiting at both, so we’d say there’s a pretty good chance.
Panasonic plans to go forth with Android to all of Europe this spring, North America is a definite maybe originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Nov 2011 19:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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J.Reyez – Maybe One Day (feat. Jay Park)
Author: Rod Sutherland
Download Song: limelinx.com If you enjoy this track and would like to make a donation to help support me with further musical projects feel free to donate to me through bandcamp! JREYEZ.bandcamp.com something hype for y’all to enjoy! 
beat produced by J.Reyez Lyrics: (verse 1) my name is J.Reyez, yup the korean guy I represent the Asians, we all chinky-eyed so hot, I ain’t trying to be lukewarm trying to get a deal that involves no coupons they label me cuz I’m tatted up they be hating me, I laugh and grab my nuts when they hear the kid flow they’re like damn son I didn’t know that his country made Samsung carry on, type it in my blackberry phone kid from Ontario, heard through your stereos and I’m very gone, far from this galaxy nahh you ain’t matching me, not in my faculty do you, if you ain’t like me then screw you we all gotta buzz bzzzz all off of youtube? you think you’re the sh*t? go ahead and prove it middle finger to the haters, dueces (chorus) get my money up, they trying to take me down I’m not about the flash, I’m just trying to make it out get my money up, and you can hate me now but I’ma still do my thing and get my money up maybe one day I can say that I’m ballin’ one day I can say that I’m ballin’ maybe one day I can say that I’m ballin’ one day I can say that I’m ballin’ (verse 2) the game is a maze and I am amazing I’m so correct so don’t be mistaken music is music, ugh if I’m asian rappers that are underground, stuck in the basement I’m trying to make …
Video Rating: 4 / 5
