The Weekly: 01 April 2013
Highlights
Facebook 'OS' on Android, Disney Scraps LucasArts, EA Goes Into Social Media, Mozilla and Samsung OS and some Apple rumors
I mentioned Facebook OS in my older article OS Wars. It seems they have finally announced that they're launching an Android... launcher. It's their way of trying to be an OS without being an OS, yet. Sales will begin this month over Google Play Store, which kind of defeats the exclusivity of working with HTC. I guess it's easy in and easy out.
It's gonna have more Facebook and less of anything else. To me it's tough enough having to filter the noise in Facebook as a app itself. All I have to say to that is No Thank You, I'll stick to my Apex Launcher.
Disney Buys Lucasfilm and Dumps LucasArts
This is unbelievable. Unbelievable!!! They didn't even wait an entire year before they just decided to kill it.
Good bye Grim Fandango, Full Throttle, Maniac Mansion and Day Of The Tentacle. But most of all, good bye Guybrush Threepwood Mighty Pirate, good bye Scabb Island and good bye Puerto Pollo.
EA Builds Music and Photo Sharing App Vue
Seriously what were they thinking? They may have all too much cash and partner's program that they're trying new stuff, and seeing what happens. But it may also be ways to collect user information. Or just maybe it's their evolution from building social online games like Sim City.
But I don't really understand apps that will link all users' ultimately to Facebook, Google+ and Twitter. Available only in Canada and Australia now.
Mozilla + Samsung = Servo
It's official. Mozilla announced they will be working with Samsung to develop the Servo, a new mobile OS. So it seems the vision of the Seabird is fast approaching. For who've not seen the Seabird, hit the video below.
Well they envisioned more hardware than anything else here. This could very well be the launchpad for Samsung to set a good foothold into OS development, now that Google might do something to regain control of Android. And let Bada be a lesson to them.
Samsung will also be able to help Servo's build completely compatible with Android hardware, which means Android phones may be able to dual-boot or completely replace their existing OS with Servo. It's a good way to jump-start itself into the market if you ask me, reducing the time-lag and resources it takes to make, market and distribute new hardware across the globe.
From Apple
iOS7, finger print authentication on devices, iRing, iWatch. The iPhone 5s may come out June this year with finger print authentication pre-installed and well ahead of iOS7. It seems they may place the reader on their Home Button. Makes sense as it's surface is big and round, just right for finger print sensor. But thoughts will loom around the finger print marks left on button surfaces potentially creating errors in reading. I'm sure they will have a way around it though.
Wearable devices will be introduced as well, with rumors hovering around rings and watches also spotting finger print capabilities. iOS 7 will feature flatter design, letting go of the skeuomorphistic look.
