Technology catch-all thread

[chw42]

No they didn't, live wallpapers have existed for eons.

 

As what, screen savers? I was too lazy to look through the Google results for live wallpapers. All of them are Android related.

[Y2HH]

As what, screen savers? I was too lazy to look through the Google results for live wallpapers. All of them are Android related.

 

They did bring it to mobile, but I had a live wallpaper of water back when Vista came out. It was back when that whole HTML active x desktop aero crap came around, it wasn't nearly as nice as Googles implementation, but it was a while ago to be fair to Microsoft.

Edited June 11, 2013 by Y2HH

[Y2HH]

That wallpaper doesn't do the new UI any justice.

 

It wouldn't be my choice for a wallpaper, it's off my friends beta phone we are messing with to play with iOS 7.

[Y2HH]

iPhone doesn't have NFC. Sorry bro.

 

And this is the moment where I feel like one of those people in the Samsung commercials telling iPhone users theirs doesn't do "it".

 

You can program NFC tags to do specific functions on the phone, like switch on bluetooth, switch on GPS (or toggle if you want), open an app, etc. once you tap the NFC tag to your phone. You can place the tag on your car (most of them have adhesive) or you can get one on your key chain (what I have). There's applications that aid you in "programming" the tags. It's pretty easy.

 

Can be done through Bluetooth already. NFC isn't necessary for this. Still can't stop a person from picking up the phone and using it, though, which was what he was posing the question as. When I get in my car, my phone auto connects to the cars Bluetooth, and I can make calls issue texts, etc, all with buttons on my steering wheel.

 

Studies by the highway safety organizations show it's no safer than just picking up the phone, however. Hands free is plecebo, it's just as dangerous according to studies so far.

Edited June 11, 2013 by Y2HH

[chw42]

They did bring it to mobile, but I had a live wallpaper of water back when Vista came out.

 

This whole issue of borrowing or copying stuff from other operating systems, especially mobile operating systems, is only relevant because Apple loves to claim others took what they made. Steve Jobs was once quoted as saying that he wanted to bring Android to the ground at any cost, because Android had supposedly ripped off every part of iOS. And then you have the whole Samsung vs. Apple ordeal where Apple wanted devices banned because Samsung devices had a system-wide search function. Apple sure as hell didn't invent system-wide search, but they might make get $1 billion out of it. So when Apple decides to borrow elements from competitors, critics take notice and they will look for even the smallest resemblances to bash Apple. And most of that is fair because if Apple gets to sue over a technicality, why can't you bash them over a glaring similarity? You can't have a double standard where everything Apple gets a pass for borrowing while the competition gets sued or criticized for borrowing.

 

 

[Y2HH]

This whole issue of borrowing or copying stuff from other operating systems, especially mobile operating systems, is only relevant because Apple loves to claim others took what they made. Steve Jobs was once quoted as saying that he wanted to bring Android to the ground at any cost, because Android had supposedly ripped off every part of iOS. And then you have the whole Samsung vs. Apple ordeal where Apple wanted devices banned because Samsung devices had a system-wide search function. Apple sure as hell didn't invent system-wide search, but they might make get $1 billion out of it. So when Apple decides to borrow elements from competitors, critics take notice and they will look for even the smallest resemblances to bash Apple. And most of that is fair because if Apple gets to sue over a technicality, why can't you bash them over a glaring similarity? You can't have a double standard where everything Apple gets a pass for borrowing while the competition gets sued or criticized for borrowing.

 

Yea I don't agree with Apple on the issue of software patents. I think everyone copies everyone in software, as they should.

[chw42]

Can be done through Bluetooth already. NFC isn't necessary for this. Still can't stop a person from picking up the phone and using it, though, which was what he was posing the question as. When I get in my car, my phone auto connects to the cars Bluetooth, and I can make calls issue texts, etc, all with buttons on my steering wheel.

 

Studies by the highway safety organizations show it's no safer than just picking up the phone, however. Hands free is plecebo, it's just as dangerous according to studies so far.

 

You have to enable the bluetooth first though.

[Y2HH]

You have to enable the bluetooth first though.

 

Only if you disable it, I leave it on.

[chw42]

http://jonyiveredesignsthings.tumblr.com/

 

That's a thing.

[chw42]

Only if you disable it, I leave it on.

 

I toggle it off when I leave my car with my NFC tag.

 

I like to save battery, even keeping it on won't drain much at all.

 

And I also hate the Bluetooth icon when it's not connected.

[chw42]

Can be done through Bluetooth already. NFC isn't necessary for this. Still can't stop a person from picking up the phone and using it, though, which was what he was posing the question as. When I get in my car, my phone auto connects to the cars Bluetooth, and I can make calls issue texts, etc, all with buttons on my steering wheel.

 

Studies by the highway safety organizations show it's no safer than just picking up the phone, however. Hands free is plecebo, it's just as dangerous according to studies so far.

 

Actually, how do you do all of that through Bluetooth? That has to be done through the car then, which means the car must have that function?

[Y2HH]

This whole issue of borrowing or copying stuff from other operating systems, especially mobile operating systems, is only relevant because Apple loves to claim others took what they made. Steve Jobs was once quoted as saying that he wanted to bring Android to the ground at any cost, because Android had supposedly ripped off every part of iOS. And then you have the whole Samsung vs. Apple ordeal where Apple wanted devices banned because Samsung devices had a system-wide search function. Apple sure as hell didn't invent system-wide search, but they might make get $1 billion out of it. So when Apple decides to borrow elements from competitors, critics take notice and they will look for even the smallest resemblances to bash Apple. And most of that is fair because if Apple gets to sue over a technicality, why can't you bash them over a glaring similarity? You can't have a double standard where everything Apple gets a pass for borrowing while the competition gets sued or criticized for borrowing.

 

And we couldn't agree more here. Apple acts like a little b**** when it comes to this, and now they're all starting too. Nokia essentially sued them all, and won. Samsung sued Htc, Mocrosoft, Apple, Apple is suing everyone, and the consumers always lose.

 

We've seen this before with Microsoft when they had their monopoly, so this isn't surprising.

[Y2HH]

Actually, how do you do all of that through Bluetooth? That has to be done through the car then, which means the car must have that function?

 

It does. Can't be done in any old car, it all goes through the cars speakers, mic, etc.

 

You can do it with a Bluetooth headset also, the buttons on the headset control certain functions on the phone. I've never used it that way, though.

 

I actually don't like it very much, I try to stay off my phone in the car these days.

[Y2HH]

I toggle it off when I leave my car with my NFC tag.

 

I like to save battery, even keeping it on won't drain much at all.

 

And I also hate the Bluetooth icon when it's not connected.

 

Lol hilarious. I hate that icon too.

[Y2HH]

http://jonyiveredesignsthings.tumblr.com/

 

That's a thing.

 

That's awesome. I have to show this to people.

[chw42]

It does. Can't be done in any old car, it all goes through the cars speakers, mic, etc.

 

You can do it with a Bluetooth headset also, the buttons on the headset control certain functions on the phone. I've never used it that way, though.

 

I actually don't like it very much, I try to stay off my phone in the car these days.

 

I think I misunderstood what Gage was talking about. I thought he was talking about how he can enable bluetooth + car mode in one action when you get in the car, which can be done through a single NFC tag action. He might have been talking about what you are talking about, which is pairing the phone with the car's bluetooth system.

[Y2HH]

I think I misunderstood what Gage was talking about. I thought he was talking about how he can enable bluetooth + car mode in one action when you get in the car, which can be done through a single NFC tag action. He might have been talking about what you are talking about, which is pairing the phone with the car's bluetooth system.

 

I think he was talking about, when you get in your car, NFC or BT activates, and at that point, you cannot do anything BUT make calls, answer calls, dictate texts/send them, or have texts read to you. And probably mapping for turn by turn, I'd assume. I think that's what he was talking about...though IMO, that's a bit too big brother for my tastes.

 

To be perfectly honest, I understand we both tend to "defend" our chosen platforms a bit, but all things considered, we probably aren't very far on most of the things we discuss here, depending on the platform. Whatever mobile OS I use, however, I don't want it messed with by a carrier, or a manufacturer if they're a 3rd party. If/when I get an Android phone, it will be an Android phone, not a TouchWiz Sense Pseudo Google version full of Verizon/AT&T/carrier spyware. It's one of the few reasons I lean toward iOS still, they're phone software is just cleaner in this regard, and they update. Microsoft is a bit too new to the game, with hardware I still find lacking in comparison to what you can find on Android/iOS, and they lack support...their updates are slow too arrive and few/far between, unlike both iOS and Android, which get frequent update love. The Nexus brand phones also fall short, IMO, as they're not flagship devices, and often purposefully gimped. For example, no LTE on the recent Nexus...that was annoying, purposeful garbage, and there was no excuse for it other than to make manufacturers happy. I'm very very happy for the upcoming Google edition GS4/One, however, those have to be bought at full price, which is a lot of cash up front.

 

But all in all, in a legit conversation, I bet you'd find we agree on a lot more than you'd think.

[lostfan]

I'm about to bite on the HTC One. Anything I should be reconsidering/waiting for before I go ahead and purchase?

I love this phone, one complaint about it is the stock keyboard blows fat cock. It can't tell when my thumb is on u, I, or o, and sometimes when I look down and make SURE to see the key I want is selected, it actually changes it. I ditched it and used swift key instead.

[lostfan]

So after spending last night playing around with iOS7, it's a lot more consistent in how things look/feel/work. Where iOS6 became more of a collection of added icons/ideas over time, iOS7 takes all of those ideas (and a few new ones from WM8, Android and WebOS), and updates the way they look and their implementations so they feel much more consistent across the board.

 

I have to find out more about the new APIs they opened, as based on the fact they've now opened a game controller API, which would allow addon hardware to turn the device into a full on gamepad, it seems as if Apple is loosening it's rules a bit when it comes to what can interact with iOS, which is a good thing.

 

A few other thoughts on the state of the tech industry:

 

As a long time XBOX user, having been a beta tester of the original XBOX Live, and a 360 owner, I have to say I'm disappointed in the X-Box One, or the XBone, for short. It's too expensive (500$ retail), the game fiasco where you don't own games is annoying, etc. So it's looking like Sony has won me as a customer for the PS4. Sorry, Microsoft...but we must part ways in the console business after more than a decade together.

I was reading all the tidbits from that presser and I was thinking "god, all this s*** they're saying is new has been standard ?android features for like 2 years but they're talking like its a revelation"

 

Edit: you guys have already talked about this, silly me

[chw42]

I think he was talking about, when you get in your car, NFC or BT activates, and at that point, you cannot do anything BUT make calls, answer calls, dictate texts/send them, or have texts read to you. And probably mapping for turn by turn, I'd assume. I think that's what he was talking about...though IMO, that's a bit too big brother for my tastes.

 

To be perfectly honest, I understand we both tend to "defend" our chosen platforms a bit, but all things considered, we probably aren't very far on most of the things we discuss here, depending on the platform. Whatever mobile OS I use, however, I don't want it messed with by a carrier, or a manufacturer if they're a 3rd party. If/when I get an Android phone, it will be an Android phone, not a TouchWiz Sense Pseudo Google version full of Verizon/AT&T/carrier spyware. It's one of the few reasons I lean toward iOS still, they're phone software is just cleaner in this regard, and they update. Microsoft is a bit too new to the game, with hardware I still find lacking in comparison to what you can find on Android/iOS, and they lack support...their updates are slow too arrive and few/far between, unlike both iOS and Android, which get frequent update love. The Nexus brand phones also fall short, IMO, as they're not flagship devices, and often purposefully gimped. For example, no LTE on the recent Nexus...that was annoying, purposeful garbage, and there was no excuse for it other than to make manufacturers happy. I'm very very happy for the upcoming Google edition GS4/One, however, those have to be bought at full price, which is a lot of cash up front.

 

But all in all, in a legit conversation, I bet you'd find we agree on a lot more than you'd think.

 

They only gimped it because of how awful Verizon was with the Galaxy Nexus. At that time, T-Mobile didn't have their LTE network up yet and it seems like T-Mobile is the only carrier Google wants to deal with right now.

 

That said, the Google Experience phones should solve a lot of the issues you stated with the Nexus lineup.

[lostfan]

Google Now is seriously like the coolest f***ing thing in the history of ever,

[Y2HH]

Google Now is seriously like the coolest f***ing thing in the history of ever,

 

It is?

 

I find it big brother creepy. I just don't trust one company with so much of my personal information, I guess for my own peace of mind I prefer spreading it out a bit, especially in light of the fact that they're seemingly giving it away when asked. At least if you spread it across Microsoft, Apple, Google, Yahoo and Mozilla they'll have to do a bit of work to piece together the puzzle.

 

It's depressing, to be perfectly honest.

 

It's 2013, 1984.

Edited June 12, 2013 by Y2HH

[chw42]

It is?

 

I find it big brother creepy. I just don't trust one company with so much of my personal information, I guess for my own peace of mind I prefer spreading it out a bit, especially in light of the fact that they're seemingly giving it away when asked. At least if you spread it across Microsoft, Apple, Google, Yahoo and Mozilla they'll have to do a bit of work to piece together the puzzle.

 

It's depressing, to be perfectly honest.

 

It's 2013, 1984.

 

If everyone is participating in PRISM, it really doesn't matter how you spread the data.

 

But then again, do you have anything to hide?

[Y2HH]

If everyone is participating in PRISM, it really doesn't matter how you spread the data.

 

But then again, do you have anything to hide?

 

Everyone isn't participating, though, and spreading your data increases the odds some of it will be lost on those that don't.

 

Privacy wise, it matters in either case, at least then it has to be extrapolated and re-connected, it's much easier if it all comes from one source, and since the odds are none of them will use the same data or storage format, cross searches are harder to perform and more time consuming. This also assumes they all deliver the data at the same time, so it can be cross referenced, which will never happen. The point is, why make it so easy on them and pretend it doesn't matter?

 

I think it matters more now than ever, at least until proper laws can be passed and tried in court, but right now, it's wide open grey area, and making it easy on them is the worst choice a person can make.

 

And whether I have anything to hide is besides the point.

Edited June 12, 2013 by Y2HH

[ChiliIrishHammock24]

Some are, but beta testing.

 

The icons look a LOT better when a darker background is used, versus the lighter blue one Apple used in their demos. At least, IMO.

 

 

 

Oh my, that looks awful. Their old one was much cleaner, albeit boring.