GOOGLE i / O 2015 SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

Are we there yet? No!

Are we there yet? Uh-uh...

We are here!

 SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

GOOGLE i / O 2015
M-PRESSIVE?

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! How’s it going? It is great to see you as always! Did you enjoy Google i / O 2015?

Here are my thoughts... Read on!

#GoogleiO2015 #iO2015 #Android6 #AndroidM #AndriodWear #AndroidAuto

CODENAMED ‘M’
Is it me? Have you noticed that the Google i / O keynotes have become progressively lacklustre? Don’t misunderstand me... ...there were great tidings as per usual but these revelations are mostly aimed at developers (app programmers and general Google / Android / Chrome programmers). In other words: There were no announcements regarding new tech for us to drool over! Typically my mind wandered and I don’t think that that the Nexus Player was mentioned at all nor was Google Glass. Hmmmm... I would have thought that there would have been an announcement on the next version of Chromecast; I had the inclination that Google Glass wouldn’t be mentioned at all as I reckon that there is a lot of work to be done still! That said we learned that more content was being added to Chromecast – including HBO! Yay!

We learned about developments in Google Wear and Auto; there are new wearables on the horizon but, again, no details. Fair enough!


‘M’ PEOPLE
I was very happy and surprised to learn of Android codenamed ‘M’ that’s in the pipeline that will go back to basics i.e. quashing thousands of bugs (not that I have noticed anything untoward with my Nexus 6, Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S4 and Moto G 2014)! The sound settings will return to having control of notifications, ringtone, alarms and media on an individual basis! As predicted Google are going to try and deliver battery efficiency with a facility called “Doze”. Doze effectively allows your device to go into a deeper sleep mode when not in use for long periods. There is, predictably, support for the USB C type port that should allow devices with the USB C port to charge more efficiently. Great!

If, like me, you do a lot of messaging and word processing on your mobile device you will be glad to know that selecting text will be easier with Android M – Milkshake. That’s good news as there are times when I am close to throwing some of my handsets against the wall!

Sharing will be made even easier! I never had a problem with sharing – when I borrowed my nephew’s iPhone I realized just how wonderful life is on Android.
FINGERPRINT SCAN & ANDROID PAY
Android M – Mudpie will include the fingerprint scan as part of the security functionality within. This means that any device with a fingerprint scanner will be compatible directly with Android 6, M – Moonpie.

Android Pay pretty much sounds like what Samsung has created with Samsung Pay; I am no expert by any means but it seems as though there isn’t much between these two payment options.

Perhaps we can glean from this that the next Nexus devices will include a fingerprint scanner. Of course there was no mention of the next Nexus devices as they are typically announced towards the third quarter in time for Christmas! The tablet isn’t such a big deal anymore and so there is no need to wax lyrical over the Android (iPad killing) tablet! In the event of these new Android devices I can only hope that they’ll be getting some decent processors respectively.

BRILLO:
THE INTERNET OF EVERYTHING
In a nutshell ‘Brillo’ is a scaled down version of Android that should allow electronics manufacturers to include Brillo in a multitude of devices such as smarthome devices such as Nest, fridges, coffee machines, cameras and so on. The idea is that these devices do not need to run on the up to the minute CPU! Brillo is said be able to run on the most minimal hardware requirements. Brillo can definitely up Google’s game somewhat as Android is ubiquitous and it should make things easier for the manufacturer to create devices that make it easy for the consumer to connect to (and control).

Brillo opens up many, many possibilities for manufacturers to add Android compatibility with just about every conceivable piece of electronic equipment! So, the next time you purchase a standalone digital camera it could very well be that it has Android compatibility built into it which brings me to...

GOOGLE PHOTOS
I have been hearing and reading on the prospect of Google Photos... Google Photos does look pretty awesome with its ability to catalogue photos and videos for free and unlimited! Whoohoo! But the catch – if you can call it that – is that the photos are taken with a 16MP camera (so there goes the standalone Brillo enabled 30MP camera) and the video is limited to 1080p! I think it’s pretty good going! I like it and I will use it for sure! It’s available right now! Yay! Oh, but does this mean that the forthcoming Nexus handsets will be limited to 16MP??? Mind you 16MP is great quality! But you know me and Android fanatics – we want the biggest, fastest and the best! Yes, this is subjective but I am sure that those who just love taking pictures on the handset would want to have the highest possible MP rating!

Just to go off tangent slightly... I found myself looking for a dedicated digital camera recently... Why? Four things:-

1. Optical zoom; I find that there is no Android handset or any other handset that has a really useful optical zoom. Digital zoom is no substitute!

2. Mega Pixels; I can get a very high MP rating on a standalone dedicated digital camera that should – with a decent lens – translate to even better pictures.

3. It ties in with points 1 and 2... ...it’s a good lens! A good lens can make such a difference!

4. Video quality; although many of today’s top handsets can record high quality video I think better quality can be had with a better lens and microphone.

The question is: Will there be a Photos Pro and how much will it cost per month or year?

Anyhoo, it appears as though we’ll get a video editor thrown in the mix! Oh, Google Photo will put together photo collages and edit video for you automatically! It sounds interesting! I must give it a try some time... Google Photos is available NOW on Google Play Store!



THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SEE
Apart from new toys for the consumer I wanted to see...

The Android PC; I know that I keep going on about it but now that Android is multi-processor compatible I keep imagining the possibilities with an i7 CPU and a decent graphics card! I reckon that it would be easier to edit video on an Android PC than a Windows one. I am sure that many established software developers for the PC would do an Android PC version!

Google Car; with today’s electric car engines becoming more powerful, efficient and cost effective and 3D printing technology I think it is time for the consumer to design his / her electric car online and either have it delivered or be able to go to the manufacturer and drive it off the premises. When I take public transport I see people getting on the bus just to take them 5 minutes down the road. That’s nuts! The main reason is for shopping; all too often lone mothers with a push buggy have the arduous task of jumping on a crowded bus – often with no space for a third buggy – and I reckon the solution is the affordable Google (electric) Car! I’d get one as I would use it for short trips i.e. to shop, visit my folks (more often), etc. And because advances in battery technology it is possible to charge fully in a short space of time thus making Google Car a Godsend! Do you know how expensive it is to run a petrol / diesel car in the UK??? Jeez, Louise!

CONCLUSION
Oh, I forgot to mention that in Android 6, M – Maltesers, the user will be able to have more control over app permissions which is a welcome relief as I am concerned as to why certain apps have to access my contacts! What else do these apps access – my emails???

It’s always great to see, as an Android user, Google making greater improvements on the best and most used mobile operating system on the planet. However, it would have been better if the consumer had a new toy to get excited about – even if it was Chromecast 2! I did feel that there could have been more said on the Nexus Player and possibly a hint at a strong tablet to come... Yes, tablets are kind of passé at the moment but I feel that it is because the best is yet to come from Android. I think that Google’s Sundar Pichai missed out on an opportunity to get Android tablet users whipped up into frenzy over the delivery of a truly outstanding tablet (I still think it’s going to come from Samsung this year)! I am seriously ready to throw my Asus FonePad 7 LTE out of the window!

I get that Google might want to keep the forthcoming Nexus handsets under wraps for now but I look at the Moto products as taking up where the Nexus 5 left off in terms of affordability. I would have like to have heard news on the Moto G 2015 (add that to my things that I wanted to see list).

Google i / O 2015 was definitely one for the developers! The consumer will reap the benefits later. I did enjoy i / O 2015 nonetheless. I have come to appreciate this latest subdued style of keynote instead of watching and listening to the Apple one that blows smoke up...


Above: Flick your wrist and change the screen! Wow!



Saying that (above) I have yet to be convinced by the Android Wearable... Not that I find the Apple Watch better... So far I am just not enthusiastic with the reinvention of the watch. At least Google have, once again, made me curious about the forthcoming new wearable devices.

It’s now time to play the guessing game as to what the next version of Android will be called and to await its release early next year (I hope).

If you are a consumer I can only say to you: Watch out of Google announcements throughout the year! I am almost certain that Chromecast 2 is on the way... I think Google are waiting for Apple to announce Apple TV 2.

As for the Nexus handset or handsets (as the latest rumour is that LG and Huawei will be launching 2 new Nexus variants later this year)... ...the announcement will probably come late September – after Samsung announces the Galaxy Note 5. Certainly after Apple has announced the iPhone 6S and 6C (if they will release another plastic handset with a multitude of colour options again).

Roll on!

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REMEMBERING LEONARD NIMOY SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
CULTURE: REMEMBERING LEONARD SIMON NIMOY
March 26, 1931 – February 27, 2015

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! It is great to see you as always! I hope that life is treating you well and that your tech is functioning as it should!

Yesterday the world was rocked by the passing of Leonard Nimoy otherwise known as Mr. Spock. I thought that I would write about Nimoy's and Star Trek's influence on my growing up as a child. What was your experience with Star Trek? Were you Mr. Spock or were you Captain Kirk in the playground? Here's my experience...

#LeonardNimoy #Spock #StarTrek #SciFi

ACROSS THE STARS

What can I tell you about Star Trek that you don’t already know or can find out for yourselves via Google? All I can say is that I used to watch Star Trek religiously as a child; come home from school, wolfed down my dinner and settled to watch what has to be the most successful Sci-Fi series of all time at around 19.00 on BBC 1. I was definitely too young to understand some of the deeper episodes when Captain Kirk wasn’t seducing or being seduced by some sexy looking female alien. Star Trek opened up my mind to imagine what the future would be like. I was always torn between wanting to be a charismatic fearless hero like Captain Kirk or the calm, deep and logical Mr. Spock. This was always a bone of contention and confusion in the playground at school; you know how it is... One minute you are Kirk and the next you are Spock. Many a make-believe game was spoiled by other children wishing to change characters on the fly and not to mention not being able to stay dead.

I see Google as being Star Trek what with Google Now and the ability to translate languages spoken in real time. Of course, we have communicator in the form the mobile phone and smartwatch. Yes, I know I keep ripping on Apple but I do see them as being the Borg of the later Star Trek spin offs; they assimilate the technologies of others and call claim them as its own. OK! Enough of that already... Star Trek has inspired science and the technological industries.

I wonder what it must have been like for Leonard Nimoy to see much of Star Trek materialize in his lifetime... The 3D printer, handheld devices that can analyze blood, tablets (not that I can remember a tablet featured in Star Trek) and voice recognition – artificial intelligence that has many of us holding conversation – of sorts – with our devices.

MR. SPOCK

Throughout my child to the present day I have felt like an alien... I sometimes feel that I am the most misunderstood person on the planet! Such thoughts and feelings should never be with a child but such is life. For sure the Spock character gave me someone to identify with during my school years. Spock rarely got angry and chose – most of the time – to deal with situations with logic. People seem to forget that Spock influenced Kirk to be more thoughtful and less emotional. The constant verbal sparring between by Dr. Bones McCoy and Spock showed me, as a child, that some people are like that... ...some people need to cause some kind of fray when there is absolutely no need for it. It’s illogical and that’s the nature of a lot of people – I included.

I had learning difficulties growing up which was undiagnosed, dyslexia and dyscalculia, these afflictions were quite hard to deal with. Teachers would just get incredibly upset with me because I mostly likely defiled their dreams of being that special one who got through to all the pupils albeit inadvertently. Apologies, former teachers! It was the character of Mr. Spock that helped me use my mind in a different way. I knew that I had a flair for creativity and writing – even though I had certain limitations. I often would find myself in a world of my own trying to write about it in the hope that I would be understood better.

I became an artist / writer with the influence of the Mr. Spock. The mind is such a great place to explore. I think I surprised my teachers in high school when I became something of a poet. Yes, my brain does work!

LEONARD NIMOY

There was a time when I was fascinated by the man behind Mr. Spock. Even without the pointed ears the man looked pretty much like the half human alien he portrayed. He had a face like no other. I found his face delightfully bizarre in that he, as an actor, could look villainous but when he smiled I could see or at least imagine a heart-warming personality. Sometimes we think we know but do not.

I found the man mesmerising as he had a great sounding voice and he certainly knew how to emote with it. To see him in roles outside Star Trek was a sight to behold as a child. I remember him in Mission Impossible and a few different shows... shows that I shouldn’t have been watching but as an insomniac child I would often get up and watch these delightfully fascinating Sc-Fi / Horror TV series like the Twilight Zone. If my memory serves his character was on a train being seduced by a lovely looking woman and he was resisting... ...and when he gave in the woman became hysterical and cried for help or something like that... I think he was dragged off by the train police... Such were the times. But that has obviously stuck in my mind. I also remember seeing Nimoy in the 1978 remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I found his portrayal of Dr. David Kibner character to be kind of creepy. I have to see that film again as my mind has developed considerably; I watched the film when it came on TV and I was anticipating another kind of horror which sent me in the wrong direction so to speak. But I was creeped out further when this body snatching spore enveloped Dr. David Kibner’s body.

I found the man amazing as he had many talents: actor, singer, writer, photographer and director. I thought Three Men and a Baby (1987) very enjoyable. The actors Ted Danson, Tom Shelleck and Steve Guttenberg never had a better on screen role. I was also very impressed that Nimoy directed Star Trek III: The Search for Spock in 1984 and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home in 1986. I think The Search for Spock was quite emotional when we saw the rebirth of the character. I also loved the ‘save the planet’ tone of The Voyage Home.

Going back to Nimoy’s distinctive voice... I loved his work in cartoon series The Simpson’s and especially Futurama! You can hear that he had a great sense of humour and was able to laugh at himself, Spock and the Star Trek phenomenon – including fans.

BEAMED UP

So many people, including I, said “rest in peace” upon learning of Nimoy’s passing after 83 years on planet Earth. But when I think about death it is an odd concept or at least our attitudes towards it. Unless cremated the body – the shell does anything but to rest in peace. We either don’t want to think about the process a seemingly lifeless body has to go through or don’t believe there is an afterlife or a life beyond death.

Through Star Trek I have come to love science fiction, science and technology. Perhaps it is odd that this appreciating of science fiction has me to understanding that the amazing energy that powers the body has been transformed. When a light bulb blows the electricity is still there. It is so very odd that we only think of outer space in the context of the stars and other planets. But we often forget or seem to forget that we too are in space! The Earth is very much like a spaceship Enterprise (a strange name for a spaceship / starship given that enterprise is destroying the planet) and that our bodies are a biological spacesuit.

I would like to think of Leonard Nimoy continuing his voyage through space and time. Most certainly, I / we will still connect with his creative spirit and endeavour to make the most of our duration on starship Earth until the day we are beamed up too!

Oh, the Vulcan nerve pinch does work! Don’t try this at home. Better still, don’t try it at all.

Ah, I also have to state that Star Trek is also partially responsible for getting me into Electronic music what with all those lush sounds of laser beams, sliding doors and computer bleeps, etc. Thank you, Leonard Nimoy and Star Trek!

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TODAY IS THE DAY: ANDROID 4.3 & NEXUS 7 MARK II

Android Jelly Bean 4.3, please come out...

The new and improved Nexus 7 second generation running Android 4.3.

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

TODAY IS THE DAY: ANDROID 4.3 & NEXUS 7 MARK II.  
#SundarPichai #Android4.3 #Nexus7

Good afternoon, Synapse Circuit Readers! It’s less than 2 hours before we know what Google’s Sundar Pichai, head of Android and Chrome, will be revealing.

It is expected that we’ll be introduced to Android 4.3, Nexus 7 second generation and possibly the latest developments with Chrome.   

MORE EXCITEMENT
Android fans around the world will be very excited in anticipation even though the general consensus is that Android 4.3 will not be a major leap forward. It is an advancement nonetheless of the world’s most popular mobile operating system! Bring it on!

I would imagine that every dedicated fan has seen the leaks of the second generation Nexus 7 tablet (as pictured above) and that it will not come as a big surprise. However, the Nexus 7 mark 2 is good news for the consumer who is considering a tablet this year. I’m considering a tablet this year and I have yet to decide. I can hardly wait!

1:26:48 and counting...

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GOOGLE NOW 24 / 7? THE EXPERIMENT

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
GOOGLE NOW 24 / 7?
THE EXPERIMENT
#GoogleNow #Android #Google #ProjectPrism #Paranoia #PhoneHacking

Good afternoon, Synapse Circuit Readers! It’s another scorching day! I feel like a baked potato!

About last night...

POPULATION EXPERIMENTATION
Last night / early morning, I decided to write an experimental piece to gauge the effect of Project PRISM has left upon us, the level of concern / paranoia and raise discussions.

The piece was also based upon some out there conspiracy theories doing the rounds on the Internet that have filtered down to people offline – a Neurological Network if you will. Once in a while I get approached by strangers who inform me of the elusive shadow world of the... ...wait for it... ...yes, the Illuminati and proceed to warn me of the dangers of mobile phones and joining social networks and how our information is being used to keep a watchful eye on us. Maybe I have a sympathetic demeanour why I get approached a lot and thankfully not so much of late

I am reminded of the era of J. Edgar Hoover and how the telephone conversations of Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were listened in on. Then there are the stories of undercover agents infiltrating the Ku Klux Klan, Black Panthers, the Hippies and other seemingly radical group formations. Today there are many documentaries on the Discovery channel that asks questions surrounding the deaths of US President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert Kennedy. Oddly, there aren't documentaries on the deaths of Dr. Martin Luther King or Malcolm X... Too radical? Perhaps! But I have noticed that in almost every era there’s some kind of awareness of some conspiracy or another. In the 70s we had some theories surrounding the death of Karen Silkwood; the same things occurred: phone taps, death threats. And subsequently theories abound surrounding her fatal car crash. Skip forward to the 80s in the UK where (mostly) women set up a camp in RAF Greenham Common to protest against nuclear weapons; many women have said that they had their phones tapped and that they were spied on. The police were allegedly driving around in vans and taking pictures of the protestors presumably to create profiles. Fast forward to the present day in the UK where undercover policemen have been outed and have caused grave concern over using the identities of dead babies to assume a watertight alibi. And, of course, Project PRISM has recently come to light.

I have wondered to myself, ‘Are people unconsciously embellishing these ideas by putting their own enthusiastic and imaginative spin on them?’ You know how it is, right? Someone tells someone else a story and that someone else tells it to another and adds his or her own flavour. It is what the media does – except that it wilfully paints a false picture so that lies and truth are indistinguishable. Yet some of us feel compelled to buy into it. It’s almost unavoidable. For example I rarely buy newspapers but while I am shopping in my local supermarket I can’t resist seeing what crap is being told in some of the tabloids. Crap, but entertaining crap – sometimes! 

It is interesting how technology has helped to spread the word around the world in minutes! 

PHONE HACKING / IDENTITY THEFT
Recently in the UK we have also seen Phone Hacking by journalists looking to get the most up to the minute scoop on anybody they deem newsworthy, celebrities, the royal family, politicians, etc. I find it amazing as to how far these so called journalists will go to find a story. So, now the idea of spying on people has moved away from a shadow police / government and with the right equipment just about everybody can get into espionage. 

I have seen many scare articles on the subject of hackers being able to hack into any mobile phone and remotely activate the microphone whereby the hacker is able to record audio from that handset without the owner knowing. The hacker is said to be able to use the camera to not only take pictures but to see remotely too.

It this makes me wonder as to how safe is our privacy when we use these wonderful gadgets. It follows that if we are able to set-up an application to retrieve our stolen handsets that can remotely record the audio and even take a snapshot of the thief then it is possible for a hacker to get into our phones without us knowing. And if a hacker can do it then so must intelligence agencies. The situation reminds me of the US TV series starring Jim ‘Jesus’ Caviezel called ‘Person of Interest’ whereby a computer genius invents a grand super-snooper-computer to pick out bits of conversation emanating from any mobile phone, CCTV and basically any electronic device with an audio / visual feed. There are echoes of Project PRISM there. However, the ‘Person of Interest’ always manages to foil the bad guy unlike Project PRISM... I mean, the tragic Boston bombings weren't foiled.

Then there are the horrendous stories of identity theft! Unsuspecting folk suddenly find themselves with a massive credit card bill and in some cases individuals are being set-up in character assassinations. How many times have we heard innocent people being falsely imprisoned or even killed through a manipulation of ID?

PARANOID?
Should I be? Should you be? Going back to this ‘shadow group of people’ this idea has now permeated the media... It’s usually a bunch of extremely wealthy people who have conspired together to become untouchable, with impunity to do as they deem fit. In Batman Begins it’s the League of Shadows; Smallville (TV series based on the formative years of Superman) it’s the Gravitas Group and in the (underrated) Watchmen movie a lone rogue former masked adventurer (superhero) heads a company called Pyramid. And we know that the Freemason’s is the worst kept secret in the world. I ask, ‘Is it our imagination of what we think Freemasonry is about because we don't really know any wiser or are the ideas based upon reality?’

Again, lately the media has paid a lot of attention to these ideas and the documentaries – if you can call them that – seem to play into our fears / suspicion rather than to answer questions in any real depth. I guess we do love a good mystery. And I guess our love of mystery plays to a part in our brain that allows the mystery to be sustained.

Of course there are many who dismiss the idea of this secret society outright. Some of the stories on the web are so outlandish it makes me wonder some more as to if the people putting those ideas out there are just trying – with some success – to make others believe the absurd. By now with these wonderful handsets featuring full HD video cameras in their millions should be able to capture shape shifting humanoid aliens, a clear alien spacecraft and other supernatural activities that are said to be “happening everyday” that many are unaware of. But the flipside of the coin is the recent outing of UK celebrity child abusers in the form of Jimmy Savile, Stuart Hall and the alleged soap opera star, William Roach. For years there were rumours about these men abusing young girls & boys that weren’t taken seriously until now. God (another popular rumour) only knows the secrets that Savile has taken with him to the grave.

Let me know what you think!

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GOOGLE NOW 24 / 7? WORRIED?

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

GOOGLE NOW 24 / 7?
#GoogleNow #Android #Google

Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers! Here I am with the fan at full blast! It’s 00:45 and I’m writing this short article now, Google Now...

DO YOU TRUST IT?  
Yes, it’s regarding Google Now being on 24 / 7; do you trust it? The mic is constantly on? Hmmmm... I don’t know about that what with project PRISM – the all Seeing Eye ‘n’ all that. Oooh, I’ll have a side of New World Order to go. Thank you! Oh, I’ll have fries to go with that! Super-size me!

I grew up in a very religious family and I tell ya, “The silent listener at every meal...” And now Google wants a piece of the action? Sheesh! It makes you wonder, right?

Check out the iPhone’s Siri; I am sure you are aware that “Siri” is “Iris” backwards. I wonder if the mic is open 24 / 7. I am so not convinced that Apple didn’t know about intelligence agencies snooping on its users. Yes, of course... ...Retina display! I bet you that the front-facing camera watches you, has taken your pic, added it to your very own dossier and you’re in a massive database! It’s the same with Google too! They will continue to deny it because how can they admit such a breach of privacy.

May I remind of what Google Chairman said about privacy, “If you’re doing something that you shouldn’t be doing it then you shouldn’t be doing it.”

I’ve got nothing to hide! But still, I do like my privacy.

MOTO X / ANDROID 4.3
Despite the above I do love the idea of controlling my handset without touching it! If it works anything like it does in that Canadian Rogers “leak” I am all for it!

But what’s with that wrist action to launch the camera???? I can’t do that in public just in case some guy thinks I am insulting him! Can’t I just tell it that I want to take a picture?

If Google’s Sundar Pichai announces that the mic would be open 24 / 7 with Android 4.3 on the 24^th of this month would you be happy? Would you be happy if you had no option to turn it off? Hmmmm...

Let me know what you think!

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BREAKFAST WITH GOOGLE 24th JULY 2013

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

BREAKFAST WITH GOOGLE
24^th JULY 2013, 9:00 AM
#Android #JellyBean4.3 #VanillaAndroid #Nexus #GoogleNexus #StockAndroid #GoogleNow

Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers! What a heatwave! This is the hottest July on record! I guess this is a great time to for Google’s Sundar Pichai to invite us to breakfast to talk product – I hope!

WHAT TO EXPECT 
Ok, so Android 4.3 is not going to be a game changing update, but I expect that the there’ll be a continuation of the butter effect. I am also expecting that notifications will come as cards to enhance the Google Now app. Perhaps the cards will get a makeover too! But will 4.3 see the introduction of the open mic that is a main feature of Moto X?

MOTO X
I expect we’ll be hearing about Moto X as it is expected to reach the markets by August. I guess you’ve read my articles on Moto X so no need to wax on some more. I am curious though as to if there will be different versions like the RAZR series.

NEXUS 7 2^ND GENERATION
Yes, I have promised myself that this will be the year that I get a tablet! It could very well be that the second generation Nexus 7 could be the one! There again, the second generation Nexus 10 could also be the one! Lol!

LOW KEY?
I have to say that the event seems low key... Very subdued... Hmmmm, Google had rotten luck last year with the freak weather in New York but c’mon, Google! Push the boat out! At the time of writing there was no disclosure of where the event is taking place other than somewhere in San Francisco. I guess Google don’t want to tempt fate!

I’ll be tuning in...

Let me know what you think!

Take good care!

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ANDROID TALK 02 JULY 2013

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
ANDROID TALK   

#Android #JellyBean4.3 #GoogleGlass

Good afternoon, Synapse Circuit Readers! How are you doing today? Did you celebrate Canada Day? I hope you had a great time! Yay! Oh, Canada!

Hey, do you ever stop to think about Android? I do... I think about Android a lot...

THE DRIVING FORCE
Whether you love Android or absolutely hate it there is no denying that Android has been driving the innovations within the mobile devices industry. Just look at the designs over the years... From the Galaxy S1 to the HTC One it has been such an amazing journey in design. I think the 4.3” and above screen has been the best thing ever! I love catching up on my TV programs on a Sunday morning while I am having a lie-in courtesy of my Android handsets... Mwah X!

This is why I felt that the BlackBerry Z10 wasn’t right. Hey, before you can accuse me of being “The Android is best, forget the rest...” I just love technology period! It just so happens that as a consumer I have chosen Android because it works exceptionally well for my purposes. I was having a discussion with a BlackBerry guy who thinks the Q10 is better for him as a jet setting businessman and that it is better than Android (he owned an S3) and I can’t and do not want to argue against him... To each his or her own... I think that’s what differentiates me from many of the ardent Fan Boys or Girls of the various platforms out there: I’m not interested into being derisive towards others who aren’t Android. I think it’s stupid. Incidentally, I think that a lot of this hatred for other platforms comes from Apple and Microsoft CEO’s who have had a lot of bad things to say about Android. Lol! The Fan Boys and Girls lap it up and spit contempt in the eyes of Android Fan Boys and Girls. As well as driving innovation, Android also inspires a lot of negativity. Lol!

Steve Jobs has had heaps of accolades attributed to him but I don’t think that “visionary” is appropriate, do you? I mean if it were up to Jobs the iPhone screen would have remained at 3.5”. Certainly the “phablet” would never have been invented by Jobs or anyone else at Apple. Again, this is a fact and not an attack. If you’re reading this thinking I am attacking Apple for its non inventiveness then I suggest you grow up!

Jobs scoffed at the 7” Android tablet and here we have the compromise, iPad mini which is actually quite a decent tablet as it goes. The compromise showed the tech industry that Apple was wrong to undervalue the smaller tablet market. It has been said that Android hasn’t had any real success with the tablet but then why would Apple create the iPad mini if the smaller tablet market wasn’t booming? Apple keeps claiming that their iPhone and iPad browsers are the most used in the world yet my statistics show that Chrome rules the desktop browser followed by Internet Explorer and then Firefox. On the mobile side of things it’s Windows followed by Android then Macintosh, Linux, iPhone and iPad. I am surprised about Windows coming in on top! But it stands to reason that because Android is the most widely used mobile operating system in the world then surely it must be that there are more Androids surfing the Web than iOS users, no? Whatever, my stats speak for itself.

THE ANDROID TABLET
Has the Android tablet been a success? I think it has in many, many ways... Just pop into a consumer electronics store and you can find many Android tablets by many different manufacturers and some of them are quite good too! I actually wonder how many of these Android tablets are sold. I know that Android tablets go down well at Christmas time. As you know I have yet to get myself a tablet... I am still waiting...

The Nexus range of tablets seemed to have gone down a storm what with certain models being sold out on a regular basis on the Google Play store. If you have read my article on ‘The State of the Android Slate’ then you’ll know that I am not 100% convinced about getting a tablet myself... I am not too happy about the design of most Android tablets what with the thick bezel. Why can’t the bezel be thinner? It doesn’t have to be smartphone thin... Would it cause a problem for the screen size?

That said I do like what Samsung and Asus are doing at the higher end of the Android tablet market. Oh, the new Sony tablet looks great too!

What I do like about Android tablets in general is that they are inexpensive enough to replace the PC for web surfing and the high-end ones can be used in a very productive way. I am so curious at what the second generation of Nexus tablets will bring. I am also curious about the forthcoming tablet based apps.

I’ve predicted that this is the year of Android tablets and it looks as though my prediction is coming true. I’m just waiting it out...

ANDROID 4.3
It has been said that Android 4.3 is due sometime this month and I am inclined to believe the rumour as many screenshots of 4.3 have been released online and the said devices that will be getting this release are the Nexus devices as well as special Google editions of the Galaxy S4 and One. Hmmmm... There’s no release date for the special Google editions where the UK is concerned. Bummer! I was thinking to myself, ‘Why buy Google editions of the S4 and One when either handset can be bought on contract and rooted?’ It’s not quite the same, is it?

4.3 is not going to be a major update and apparently there will be some tweaks to the camera and there will be some battery saving features too. Cool. I hope that there will be more of the buttery smoothness too! I can hardly wait to see the full features of 4.3!

KLP: KEY LIME PIE
I can’t even begin to imagine what Key Lime Pie will bring to the Android table but I do hope very much that Android 5 will be the one to unify a vast majority of Android devices out there. I don’t know about you but I have been wondering why Android 5 isn’t here already and to finally be able to smash notions of “fragmentation” would be well worth the wait. From the recent i / O developer conference took from it many important messages one of which is that a lot of work is being done to “fix” Android. Fingers crossed on that!

GAMES
I can’t say that I am a games person at all! Where would I find the time? Anyway, every other day I am learning about some new Android based games console... The biggest rumour in that area is that Google are going to release a games console very soon! Cool! Is this the reinvention of the Nexus Q ball thing?

Please let me know if you’re planning to buy an Android games console!

THE DRIVING FORCE
No, you’re not experiencing déjà vu... Or are you? I just wanted to finish where we started: The Driving Force.

Are you excited about Glass? I am! A wearable computer powered by Android! I am wondering - told you that I am always wondering – if Glass will determine the overall new look of Android 5 when it is eventually released this fall. It’s all starting to make sense to me... Google Now came about through Glass... Duh! It must be something to be able to see notifications via Glass and act upon them on command... Wow! I can see how one would be able to converse between devices: Glass, handset, tablet and watch! I can see how wonderfully transparent conversing between various Android devices will be.

The Tesla electric car manufacturer has teamed up with Google to provide the Glass experience for one of their cars... Interesting! Google is certainly making Sci-Fi concepts a reality! That’s the power of Android and it’s why it’s my choice.

This is not to say that other operating systems can’t scale the dizzy heights of invention, far from it. It is my observation that has Android spearheading the movement towards the future today!

Let me know what you think!

Take good care!

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