Chrome OS – the great leap forward

Acer Chromebook R13 convertible Chromebook
Credit: Google/Wired

Chrome OS is secure, simple, & boots in under 10 seconds. But its, “just a browser”. Android on the other hand has millions of apps.¹ The strengths of those two operating systems are about to come together.



And Chromebooks recently outsold Macs for the first time
http://www.theverge.com/2016/5/19/11711714/chromebooks-outsold-macs-us-idc-figures

How Chromebooks are about to totally transform laptop design
https://www.wired.com/2016/09/chromebooks-totally-transform-laptop-design/?mbid=nl_9916_p3&CNDID=

Attention, college students: Chromebooks are about to get awesome
http://www.wired.com/2016/08/attention-poor-students-chromebooks-get-awesome/?mbid=nl_81216_p3
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¹Statista: “Number of available applications in the Google Play Store from December 2009 to February 2016”,
http://www.statista.com/statistics/266210/number-of-available-applications-in-the-google-play-store/ / college students Chromebooks are about to get awesome back-to-school advice don’t buy a laptop wait a couple of months Apple release new MacBook Pro Windows PCs a few made by Microsoft itself new breed of Chromebooks on their way lots of good Chromebooks cheap ones ridiculously expensive ones straightforward laptops Google Play Store Chrome OS millions of Android apps on your Chromebook change Chromebooks completely touchscreens will be more important new sensors processors integrated detachable hybrid laptop-tablet things buy a recent Chromebook support Android app integration when it launches full app-y experience HP Chromebook 13, for instance great laptop more versatile device from Asus Chromebook Pixel has a touchscreen timeframe you should seriously consider buying a Chromebook ChromeOS secure and simple lose or break your device all your settings and data restored in a few minutes Chromebooks have great battery life don’t require much power pretty portable too Chromebook is plenty of computer for reading Wikipedia and writing your papers what’s great about ChromeOS how little setup it requires you just log in. tweak and fiddle Chrome Web Store full of extensions apps Plex torrented get JSTorrent downloading LastPass 1Password keep all your logins in order Line Google Hangouts Chrome apps Facebook Messenger WhatsApp have decent web apps Evernote for taking notes download New Tab Draft notepad every time you open a new tab Word and Excel Chrome Google Docs Sheets work offline great apps learning math reviewing flashcards reading textbooks Android app a few tweaks Chromebook Android Google Pushbullet links files photos device OneTab many tabs dock at the bottom of the screen right-click icons enable OK Google start a search biggest change Chromebook Mac Windows PC ChromeOS device powerful feature-rich a Chromebook’s exactly what most people browser Android biggest ecosystem apps laptop laptop /

Jaguar Formula E ready for the new racing season

Jaguar Formula E car in its Panasonic livery on Thursday 1st September 2016 at Mallory Park, England
Credit: World Copyright: Andrew Ferraro/LAT/Jaguar/Electrek

In December of last year, Jaguar announced its intention to enter Formula E in the 2016-2017 season. With the 1st race of the new season in 09 October in Hong Kong, Jaguar has announced more of its plans:

Drivers: Adam Carroll & Mitch Evans with Ho-Pin Tung as a reserve
Sponsor: Panasonic
Car:



Electrek – Jaguar unveils its all-electric race car ‘I-TYPE’ for the Formula E, Panasonic joins the team
https://electrek.co/2016/09/08/jaguar-unveils-all-electric-race-car-i-type-formula-e-panasonic-team/

The Verge – Jaguar names Panasonic as title sponsor of its Formula E team
http://www.theverge.com/2016/9/8/12846824/jaguar-formula-e-sponsor-announced-panasonic

Jaguar – Jaguar Electrifies
http://www.jaguar.com.au/jaguar-racing/index.html / sounds new Formula E race cars Jaguar officially unveiled all-electric I-TYPE compete Formula E championship partnership battery maker Panasonic Panasonic EV industry supplying battery cells Tesla joined Jaguar all-electric racing championship create Panasonic Jaguar Racing team Adam Carroll Mitch Evans team drivers Ho-Pin Tung reserve driver team vehicle debut first race few weeks season 3 Formula E October 9, 2016 09 October 2016 Hong Kong new I-TYPE serve test bed Jaguar’s upcoming electric vehicle technology rumours Jaguar plans release all-electric SUV 2017 all-electric prototype camouflaged F-Pace exterior spotted in the wild Jaguar’s official plans bringing electric vehicles to market Jaguar automaker comeback racing Formula E all-electric Championship lithium ion LiIon battery charge recharge battery swap two cars change cars battery pack gearbox gear box /

iPhone 7 announced – no 3.5mm headphone socket

iPhone 7 Plus with revised antenna lines, dual cameras, in Rose Gold, Gold, Silver, Black & Jet Black
Credit: Digital Trends

Once more, the new iPhone has been announced at the Apple September event. Specs of the 7 & 7 Plus are very much as expected:

● revised antenna lines

● additional camera only in the iPhone 7 Plus – doesn’t take advantage of the most recent developments in dual cameras for phones – implementation is simply 2 cameras – one with the same focal length as previous iPhones, the other, used wholly independently, with twice the focal length + digital zoom

● solid state home button – click simulated, as in the MacBook 12" – pressure-sensitive

● water resistant
● no 16GB version – iPhone 7 comes in 32GB, 128GB & 256GB capacities
● no 3.5mm headphone socket
● new headphones using the Lightning socket

● a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter will be included for owners who want to continue using their existing headphones

● no option to charge & use headphones at the same time for now, unless using wireless headphones

● which Apple will be happy to sell you



LA Times – Can I charge & listen at the same time? No.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-apple-iphone-can-i-charge-and-listen-at-the-same-1473283039-htmlstory.html

CNet – Jet-black Apple iPhone 7 is here with a water-resistant body, better cameras, 256GB capacity – & no headphone jack (hands-on)
http://www.cnet.com/au/products/apple-iphone-7/preview/ / iPhone 7 iPhone 7 Plus Apple announced launch event San Francisco water resistance better battery life iPhone 3.5 mm 3.5mm headphone jack feels the same funky home button hands-on Apple's event water resistant water resistance demo room Apple's iPhone 7 seems bunch of upgrades no headphone jack home button solid-state Force Touch Jet black Apple's new glossy black color iPhone iPhone slim black obelisk iPhone 7 iPhone 6S same 4.7-inch screen HD Retina display 25 percent brighter last year's model pressure-sensitive 3D Touch layer buzzes slightly press and hold the screen static home button solid state physically press click pressure-sensitive taptic feedback three levels of pressure haptic feedback light or strong buzz doesn't feel like a button takes getting used to water-resistant water resistant IP67 no headphone jack Apple's new EarPods headphones Lightning connector port adaptor new funky-looking AirPods headset connects wirelessly auto-pairing worked well sounded pretty good new camera 12-megapixel camera larger aperture optical image stabilization stabilisation keeps images steadier camera sticks out more from the back second 56mm telephoto lens built-in zoom feature new front-facing camera iPhone 7's 7-megapixel front-facing camera 5 megapixels iPhone 6S auto-image stabilization stabilisation optical image stabilization digital image stabilisation stereo speakers second speaker joins Apple longer battery life greater battery capacity longer battery life 12 hours LTE browsing iPhone 7 Plus two more hours faster processor iPhone 7's new A10 Fusion chip 64-bit quad-core processor 40 percent faster last year's A9 processor two cores are high-performance two are high efficiency conserve battery while handling tasks deeper visual graphics gaming Super Mario is coming to the iPhone more storage! 32GB, 128GB, 256GB capacities colors colours color colour Glossy jet black matte black gold, silver rose gold new jet black /

Economics of away-from-home charging infrastructure for electric vehicles

Ecotricity away-from-home charging facility
Credit: New Atlas

Electric vehicles (EVs) are a new technology, so the economics of the emerging industry are not yet clear.

Charging outside the home is part of the puzzle. Most EV owners, most of the time, are able to charge at home. Charging away from home only becomes important to enable high use days, such as a trip out of town.

Installing £30,000+ ($US40,100, $AU51,500 – see the video with Dale Vince below) worth of equipment, which most users will use rarely, is a hard way to make money. Witness Better Place.¹

Another problem grows out of the length of time it takes to charge an EV. Not directly – charge time is not a problem in & of itself. In practice, where fast-charging is available, after a journey of 100km, 200km, or more, most people are glad of 30 minutes to stretch their legs, use a toilet, get a cup of coffee, &/or a meal. Closer to home, 30 minutes for shopping may be convenient.

Petrol pumps are installed at a density which ensures that customers almost never have to wait. In times of extraordinary demand, people will wait for one or two other cars ahead of them at a petrol pump. Not so so easy for an EV at a charging bay, where 30 minutes for an 80% charge is typical. It follows that charging stations need to be installed at a sufficient density that an EV driver can always find a free bay.

Electricity generators & distributors are impacted by the above only to a limited extent. Over the medium term, wide-spread EV adoption will drop the business of the fossil fuel distributors in their collective lap. This is already happening. While away-from-home charging may never be profitable, practical overnight charging is returning a profit to electricity providers right now, & this will only grow over time.

At the moment, there is a chicken-&-egg situation with consumers unwilling to buy EVs, because there is limited away-from-home charging infrastructure, & electricity generators & distributors unwilling to provide charging-away-from-home infrastructure because demand is low.

In the video below, Robert Llewellyn interviews Dale Vince,^2,4 founder & CEO of Ecotricity,³ on progress, & some of the issues encountered, rolling out away-from-home EV charging in Britain.


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¹ Wikipedia: “Better Place”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Place

² The Engineer: “Dale Vince, founder & CEO of Ecotricity”, https://www.theengineer.co.uk/issues/october-2013-online/dale-vince-founder-and-ceo-of-ecotricity/

³ Wikepedia: “Ecotricity”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotricity

⁴ Dale Vince appeared previously on Fully Charged in an October 2010 episode:

/ Ecotricity The Electric Highway Fully Charged road electric relatively short ranges long charging times current lithium-ion battery packs development electric carry supply electricity onboard provide power electrified long-haul all-electric powers project backing electric motors powertrain drive electric-only driver connect disconnect lithium-ion battery pack storage capacity electric-only driving technology LiIon lithium ion battery charge EV electric vehicle range miles tire tyre tyres tires battery charge recharge discharge owner satisfaction vehicle supreme quietness range charged normally maximum max range range anxiety software updates app smartphone app /

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 fires – cause – simple solution

Under some circumstances, lithium ion batteries can fail, with emission of heat, smoke, & fire. PC Pitstop demonstrated with a laptop in 2006. Keep in mind that they did something unspecified to the laptop to generate the failure, but this merely initiated a failure mode inherent in the lithium ion battery.



In 2013 they repeated the demonstration – no sign that the technology in use had been made any less dangerous in the intervening years:



Something similar in a Samsung Galaxy S5, with the failure being initiated by a hammer – most of this is, “abuse a phone & see what happens”, nonsense, but as soon as the hammer directly impacts the battery, it rapidly fails, just after the 3:40 mark:



This is fundamental to lithium ion batteries, as fitted to phones, tablets & laptops.

None of the instances above represent normal operation, but reports of battery failures in phones & laptops have appeared over the years, such as when a phone was caught in the reclining mechanism of an aircraft seat on Tuesday 21 June, 2016 on a Qantas flight from Sydney to Los Angeles.

ABC – Plane fire sparked by passenger's phone to be investigated
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-30/plane-fire-investigated-after-passenger-sets-seat-alight/7558416

In the last few days, reports have surfaced of a number of spontaneous battery failures in the recently released 5.7" Samsung Galaxy Note 7, phablet:

ABC – Samsung halts sales of Galaxy Note 7 over exploding battery concerns, retailers stop selling phones
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-02/samsung-galaxy-note-7-phones-pulled-from-shelves/7810474

Android Authority – Galaxy Note 7 recall: another phone just blew up in Australia
http://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-galaxy-note-7-recall-714419/

Although the Note 7 failures are, apparently, due to faulty batteries, there are two things that Samsung (& other manufacturers) can do to reduce, or eliminate the risks inherent in phones & laptops with LiIon batteries:

1. Replace fire-prone lithium ion batteries with the fundamentally safer lithium iron phosphate chemistry.

Lithium ion phosphate cells are fundamentally safer, & have been available for a number of years.^1,2

How safe? – in the video below, a slow reaction, with less smoke, & no flame, produces an apparently lower temperature – not beyond, “uncomfortably hot”:



2. Return to making batteries removeable

If the Samsung Note 7s had removeable batteries, they could all be defused by simply removing the battery. Storing the battery away from flammable materials would render it safe too. When Samsung has a solution to the problem, they could supply new batteries to customers at a considerable saving of time & expense.
__________

¹ Wikepedia:“Lithium iron phosphate battery”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_iron_phosphate_battery#Safety

² Battery University: “Types of Lithium-ion”,
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/types_of_lithium_ion / Samsung halt sales Galaxy Note 7 exploding battery retailers stop selling phones Samsung halt sales Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones prepare replacement devices phones already sold multiple reports exploding batteries Australia's biggest phone retailers stopped selling phone reported problems were being investigated Samsung take about two weeks prepare replacement devices phones already sold high-end gadget launched just weeks ago users have complained battery fault caused phones explode catch fire while being charged 35 cases of problems smartphone concerned customers return the phone outlet where they purchased it JB Hi-Fi Optus Telstra remove phones unclear how many phones been affected telecommunications provider paused sales Samsung Galaxy Note 7 investigation by Samsung customers concerns Samsung Galaxy Note 7 handset visit nearest Optus store discuss their options Telstra investigating problem Galaxy Note 7 phones Samsung precaution paused Galaxy Note 7 sales Telstra spokesperson contact existing owners directly issue affecting their phones unclear how many phones have been affected problem nip it in the bud right now analysts expect the Note 7 problems to be resolved quickly ongoing major problems derail Samsung's mobile recovery string of product successes reversed the smartphone leader's declining market share South Korean firm maintain strong sales momentum stiffening competition Apple Inc release its latest iPhone Samsung name exploding battery injury Investors stripped about $7 billion off Samsung Electronics' market value shipment delays on Thursday /

Android to iOS – how to swap from the Google to the Apple mobile platform

Apple's Android app to assist users to move to iOS
Credit: Apple Inc./Google Play

“Everything about iOS is designed to be easy. That includes switching to it.” – Apple – http://www.apple.com/au/iphone/switch-to-iphone/

Move to iOS – app available on the Google Play store
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apple.movetoios

Move from Android to iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch
https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT201196

How to move from Android to iPhone: Transfer contacts, photos, music & apps from Android to iOS without losing everything (including your mind)
http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/iphone/transfer-contacts-music-photos-apps-from-android-iphone-move-to-ios-3459466/

Join the Apple club with our complete guide to switching from Android to iOS
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-to-switch-from-android-to-iphone-guide/
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On the other hand, if you're swimming in the opposite direction, have a look at these:

Get going on Android
https://www.android.com/intl/en_au/switch/

Apple detox – how to switch from iOS to Android without missing a beat
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-to-switch-from-iphone-to-android/ / move from Android to iPhone transfer contacts photos music apps from Android to iOS without losing everything explain how move from Android iPhone transfer contacts from Android to iPhone transfer apps from Android to iPhone transfer photos from Android to iPhone how to transfer music from Android to iPhone Apple's user-friendly Move To iOS app alternative methods you may prefer making the switch easiest way transfer all my data old Android phone iPhone Android user thinking about switching iPhon already made switch from Android to iPhone transferring all your data music photos contacts calendar nothing lost in the process transferring contacts from Android phone to iPhone Google is good at this stuff basic principle back up backup to the cloud desktop machine sync to iPhone Apple recently launched Android app guide through process move from old iPhone new iPhone transfer music from one iPhone to another how transfer contacts music photos Windows Phone to iPhone move from BlackBerry to iPhone transfer contacts from Android iPhone Move to iOS app iOS 9 new Move to iOS app wirelessly transfers user's contacts message history camera photos videos web bookmarks mail accounts calendars wallpaper DRM-free songs books from Android phone to new iPhone switching process suggests install free apps Android device also available on Apple's App Store switchers quickly get back on their feet favourite apps Facebook Twitter paid apps Android with iOS versions available added user's wish list iOS App Store Android app helpfully prompts users recycle Android phone Google's mobile platform Apple Move to iOS app app available on the Google Play store app makes process moving Android to iPhone far simpler alternative methods prefer transfer contacts Android to iPhone use Google the simple way transferring contacts from Android to iOS Android phone transfer contacts from BlackBerry to iPhone Android phone Google account Gmail Google Play your contacts will be associated with your Google account use most often should be back up backup backed up Android phone Settings Android phone choose Accounts and Sync enter your GMail account details enable synchronisation phone contacts Google Contacts synchronise new iPhone Settings > Mail Contacts Calendars Gmail account Contacts enabled account all of your Google contacts in your iPhone iPhone productivity app reviews transfer contacts from Android to iPhone Google belt and braces make sure this process always works in future iPhone followed the steps above Android before you make the move open Settings application on your iPhone select Mail Contacts Calendars Add Account… Other Add CardDAV Account account information server enter google.com User Name enter your full Google Account Google Apps email address password Google Account Google Apps password enabled 2 Step verification generate enter application specific password description Personal Contacts select Next Contacts option turned ON completed setup process open Contacts app your device syncing automatically begin iPhone Google smartphone Google should hold the key to all of your contacts transfer contacts Android to iPhone swap SIMs Android phone same sized SIM micro-SIM nano-SIM micro SIM nano SIM later iPhone models cut down any SIM to fit last resort SIM contacts save all contacts Settings Import SIM Contacts transfer apps from Android to iPhone pay app Google Play pay to buy again on Apple App Store app Android available iOS login details content service purchased Android app accessible on your iPhone using iPhone sign up Apple App Store Transfer photos videos Android iPhone installing data-transferring app data transferring app data transfer app data transfer app Apple App Store Android Google Play store recommend Copy My Data PhotoSync install your chosen app both your Android and your iPhone guided moving files from one to the other move photos from Android to iPhone use computer with iTunes find photos videos your Android phone move your computer sync iTunes sync your new iPhone with iTunes similar process music transfer photos Android to iPhone connect Android phone PC Mac choose photos videos want to move drag folder your computer create new folder Desktop called Photos for transfer plug in your iPhone PC Mac iTunes click your iPhone click Photos select Sync Photos from checkbox choose folder saved your photos click Apply photos sync your iPhone transfer music Android to iPhone transferring photos Android to iPhone music files Android files iTunes sync up your iPhone simple to transfer critical stage back up backup Android PC or Mac Android devices mounted used as external storage simple dragging your music files mounted Android phone's folder structure moving into music folder your PC or Mac install open iTunes on your computer Library click Music open the folder your music files drag Music view iTunes iPhone click iPhone click Music sync your entire library select songs artists just added click Sync songs added to your iPhone owning music use Spotify Apple Music Best ways to back up photographs How to transfer photos from iPhone to PC move from iPhone to Android swapping handset from iPhone to Android smartphone transferring contacts music other data Apple create tool company has firmly contradicted this assist its customers pro-Android detailed advice swapping from iOS to Android How to move from iPhone to Android summary process bullet points contacts open contacts iPhone swipe down select the tab share via email email download contact your new Android device music back up backup your music from your iPhone Mac or PC software TrustCopy WideAngle Software your music your computer attach your Android USB and drag-and-drop the music files photos & videos save video photos your iPhone your Mac or PC drag and drop your Android device install third-party media player play the videos /

The New iPhone – Apple September event 2016

iPhone 7 showing revised antenna lines
Credit: weibo.com

Apple has a major event every year in September, at which the new iPhone is announced. This year it will be at 10:00am US West Coast time on 07 September (5pm GMT, 3am 08 September Australian EST).

Apple upgrades its iPhone to a new number every second year, with a minor, “s” upgrade on the alternate year. Last year was the 6s (& 6s Plus), so this year should be the 7 (& 7 Plus).

What to expect on Wednesday:
● new design with revised antenna lines
● no earphone socket

● new earphones utilising the Lightning socket – an earphone plug to Lightning adapter is almost certain to be offered – just what combination will be included in the box is another question – & other manufacturers are ready to take up any slack

● additional camera – probably only in the Plus – depending on the implementation, may yield better definition, &/or low light performance &/or performance equivalent to an optical zoom

● rumoured iPhone 7 Pro is unlikely to appear

Watch the keynote live at:
https://www.apple.com/apple-events/september-2016/

The Verge – Apple’s iPhone 7 announcement: what to expect
http://www.theverge.com/2016/9/2/12639648/apple-iphone-7-event-rumors-watch

Forbes – Apple Loop: iPhone 7 Launch Confirmed, iPhone Features Being Killed, Apple's Super iPhone Cancelled
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2016/09/02/apple-news-digest-iphone-launch-dates-confirmed-pro-cancelled/#1d20ef8b1582

9 to 5 Mac – iPhone 7 – Apple's next flagship iPhone is expected to arrive fall 2016
https://9to5mac.com/guides/iphone-7/

MacRumours – Spec Sheet Shows iPhone 7 Plus With 256GB Storage & Lightning EarPods
http://www.macrumors.com/2016/08/31/spec-sheet-iphone-7-plus-256gb-earpods/ / Apple’s iPhone 7 announcement September tech world time for Apple news Apple holding event unveil next generation biggest products 07 September 7th new versions iPhone Apple Watch launch generational leap iPhone Apple different approach this year subtle subtler physical changes phone first Apple updated Apple Watch changes San Francisco iPhone 7 new iPhone new number usually brand-new design Apple tweak existing formula improving things here and there laying the foundation bigger changes down the road new(ish) design iPhone 6 iPhone 7 look pretty much the same cleaner look unsightly antenna lines disappearing off the back small change strong effect no headphone jack new feature The Big Story of the iPhone 7 Apple expected remove the headphone jack standby of consumer electronics invention consumer electronics iPhone all headphones wireless connect Lightning port upsides Lightning headphones downsides, too devices work with 3.5mm headphone jack annoying tradeoff to consider new Pods headphone jack Apple Apple new EarPods terminate Lightning connector headphone jack wireless earbuds AirPods another camera Apple add second camera onto back iPhone higher-quality photos zoomed-in view zoom lens Huawei’s P9 uses second black-and-white black-&-white b&w camera added sharpness detail LG’s G5 second camera zoomed-out perspective zoomed-in view Plus model larger iPhone model 7 Plus smaller model camera updates image stabilization goodbye 16GB finally no more 16GB model Apple stop putting 16GB storage entry-level iPhones bump up 32GB clickless home button home button won't click in new button pressure-sensitive haptic feedback feel like you're pushing it in won't physically move as in MacBook 12 inch blacker black space gray black phone faster new processors more RAM removal of the headphone jack iPhone 7 more water resistant waterproof bit thinner dual SIM tray blue color option wireless charging smart connector /