The Weekly: 01 July 2013
Highlights
PayPal goes to space, Facebook with chatrooms, TouchCast for podcasters, dodgy Facebook security, 3D printing in Windows 8.1, Happy Birthday Google+, FFvs13 not happening, BandCamp a better music store, Samsung buys again, Firefox OS out soon, Truman Show building a reality, Apple infringes Boston University, Canon 70D, DiGi has Zero Contract, Yahoo buys again, Super Android-powered phone.
PayPal goes to space, Facebook with chatrooms, TouchCast for podcasters, dodgy Facebook security, 3D printing in Windows 8.1, Happy Birthday Google+, FFvs13 not happening, BandCamp a better music store, Samsung buys again, Firefox OS out soon, Truman Show building a reality, Apple infringes Boston University, Canon 70D, DiGi has Zero Contract, Yahoo buys again, Super Android-powered phone.
Right now they said it's for astronauts wanting to buy e-books from space. But many think it's just Paypal is just trying to generate some publicity and to be the first to reach space. And maybe to sell drinks and food in Virgin Galactic trips.
Coming soon to a Facebook near you: You're closer to doing every single god-dammned thing in your Facebook site now, with the all-new Facebook chatrooms! Remember mIRC and ICQ? NO? Well those are really old-skool IM platforms we old-timers used to use when we were younger. Now they're built into every single chat platform in the world, including Facebook.
Rejoice! One more reason not to leave Facebook so soon.
Rejoice! One more reason not to leave Facebook so soon.
Now you can create podcasts using only an iPad and TouchCast. This awesome app lets you do multiple interactive screens like a professional. And what's cooler? Your viewer can touch and switch between screens as they like during your podcast. Seriously, if you are an aspiring podcaster, you really need to check THIS app out.
Do you know Facebook has been collecting your information from the net and your friends without your knowledge? Do you know people can probably get stuff about you that even you don't want to put up for people to know? Well now you know. Smart people will quit Facebook in 3, 2, 1, GO.
Microsoft went through the trouble to include 3D Printer drivers into this update. Well if you would've told us that earlier we'd forgive you for all the mess you made with the Start Button! Not like any of us has a Replicator, but it's good to know our new Windows will be compatible.
Happy Birthday Google+ Many more happy returns!
IGN reports that FF vs 13 may never come to be. They also said that when contacted to respond on the matter, Square Enix didn't give any answer. Well since it's so late now, better for them to return to the drawing board and make something for 15.
If how much your favorite artists make per album sales matters to you, then you should try buying songs from bandcamp.com. This company really believes in disintermediation because they sell you songs directly from artists and not using middlemen. Oh some albums are also cheaper than iTunes! I'm gonna sign up and explore a little right now.
Boxee is a set-top box manufacturer, just recently acquired by Samsung for US$30mil, will close down on the 10th July. On one side they may need Boxee to improve on their crappy TV interface, and on the other side they could be jumping into the cloud TV industry.
They're coming out, and it's gonna be completely open, as compared to open-sourced by Android which means people who want to use the Android will still need to comply to certain guidelines set by Google.
Open means anyone can do absolutely anything to it, including a complete restructure without any permission. We'll see what awesomeness comes out of it. I love how companies are starting to adopt Html5. Be afraid, Microsoft and Apple. The age of specialized operating systems are coming to an end.
World's Biggest Building in China
They called it the New Century Global Center. It's about 2.1 million square feet in size. It's got an artificial beach with an artificial horizon. It's got an artificial sun! Reminds me of the Truman Show.
Seems Apple has been infringing a patent owned by the university to make thin gallium nitride film semi conductors that can produce blue lasers cheaply and compactly, as reported by The Verge. The article went on to describe that this infringement has been causing 'substantial and irreparable damage to the University'.
First they control the price of university ebooks, and now they're caught doing this. As far as ethics go, this here company has got nothing right.
Up from the 60D, this coming model will have more megapixels, touch-screen, built-in Wifi and up to 25600 ISO. They also said this machine will improve on video capabilities. Don't know how much it will cost, but I'm thinking close to RM 4,000 for the body. Going kit? Don't bother. There's absolutely nothing good about the Canon kit lens.
When DiGi first advertised their Zero Contract HTC One devices, many people asked and wondered if this was even true because of two things: 1. The device was a mere few hundred bucks less than RRP, and 2. You still need to pay RM116 which will be rebated across two months.
Well it really is Zero Contract. Contract here means you have to either stay with them for 12 or 18 or 24 months. This plan does not tie you to any of those, instead just hopes you can stay with them for 2 months to try their service out. If you don't like it, leave after 2 months. If you really hate them, leave immediately and forfeit the RM 116 you paid upfront. Sounds very simple to me. HERE is more info.
And she's still on a shopping spree! Video-sharing App Qwiki gets absorbed into Yahoo for US$50mil. It's time we start seeing Yahoo doing something significant with all their purchases.
And a very expensive one too. Former Nokia staff comes out and starts up Adaia, an Android-powered smartphone able to take some form of abuse. Maybe around RM 3,000 - 18,000 are their estimated figures.
Their 'abuse' target is 10 meters underwater and 9000 meters up. That's higher than Everest if you're wondering. Why Android? Because there's simply 'no alternative'. We may know why he left Nokia then.
