Smartwatches – wide choice available

Apple Watch Sport
Credit: Apple/Macworld

Smartwatches have achieved a degree of popularity, with many major players showing an interest. Single most popular smartwatch OS is Google's Android Wear operating system.

Manufacturers include HTC, Sony, Pebble & Motorola. Apple will be releasing early next year.

Major coverage from all of the tech sites, including the special-purpose The Smart Watch Review
http://www.thesmartwatchreview.com/

Best smartwatches 2014
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-smartwatches,review-2156.html

2014 smartwatch comparison guide
http://www.gizmag.com/compare-best-smartwatches-2014/34880/pictures#48

Samsung has been cranking them out – no less than 6 different models on the market at the moment

L to R: Gear S, Gear 2, Gear Live, Gear 2 Neo, Galaxy Gear, Gear fit
Gear Live uses Android Wear OS – all others run Samsung's Tizen
Credit: Samsung/Gizmag
http://www.gizmag.com/samsung-gear-s-vs-gear-live-gear-2-neo-gear-fit-galaxy-gear/33602/

Android Wear – Google’s watch OS – by someone who’s not having any
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/android-wear-too-skimpy,news-20048.html

Android Wear – a bit more enthusiastic
http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/03/android-wear-review/

If nothing above attracts you, have a look at Martian Notifier
http://www.gizmag.com/review-martian-notifier-smartwatch-wearables/32667/ / smartwatch smart watch peripheral smartphone smart phone Bluetooth low power 4.0 battery life batterylife capacity charge recharge devices pocket notifications your wrist calling texting handset control music playback fitness tracking tracker track workouts options apps make calls Pebble Steel injection molded CNC-machined 316 stainless steel resistant corrosion watch face attractive band brushed stainless steel black matte color options steel wristband installed leather band Corning Gorilla Glass pixel LED backlit e-paper screen three navigational buttons scrolling selecting branding newer model heavier lighter Samsung Galaxy Gear Pebble Steel paired metal band new charger waterproof 5 ATM submerged water 165 feet setup
compatible Android iOS devices testing App Store Google Play store data nearby devices to create account for the appstore email address creating a password location Pair to sync it with our phone firmware up-to-date Enable Notifications sending sample texts phone calls successfully paired appstore load watch faces enable notifications lock screen Bluetooth turned on interface simple minimalist user interface tech timepieces Samsung Galaxy Gear Sony Smartwatch 2 Pebble Steel music notifications alarms watch faces settings menu Gear S Gear Live Gear Fit Gear 2 Gear 2 Neo Galaxy Gear Tizen /

Vessyl – the cup that knows what you are drinking – update

Vessyl has sensors that can detect what you’ve poured into it, & how much. Through the day, it can track such things as water, caffeine, alcohol, sugar, & protein in what you’ve drunk, plus your hydration level.

http://www.theverge.com/2014/6/12/5801106/vessyl-smart-cup-that-knows-exactly-what-youre-drinking

TechHive has a highly critical article. Check the comments – turns it into an interesting discussion.
http://www.techhive.com/article/2457644/why-have-consumers-spent-1-million-on-vessyl-an-absurd-calorie-counting-cup.html

Are the TechHive criticisms justified? Obviously, there are limits to what the device can measure. Limitations include:
• anyone who expects Vessyl to count all of their consumed calories is going to be disappointed
• users it will have to be prepared to change their habits – e.g. always carry the device & use it for all liquids consumed
• hydration: obviously, the user's water intake can be measured. Water loss, the other half of the hydration equation, is quite complicated. Caffeine & alcohol intake have a bearing, & Vessyl measures those, but water loss due to perspiration depends on the temperature of the day & exercise. Some fairly vague claims are made about, "your unique hydration needs", in the faq at https://www.myvessyl.com/faq, under the heading "How does my Vessyl help me stay hydrated?"

Vessyl is the only practical means I know, of measuring caffeine consumption. Caffeine content of coffee is not a standard unit. Variables include:
• type of coffee bean
• instant generally contains less caffeine than fresh
• grinding
• how the coffee was made e.g. filter verses percolated
• where the cup of coffee was made. A few years ago, a university study measured the caffeine content of over 90 97 short blacks from restaurants in Melbourne on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The strongest sample contained nearly nine times as much caffeine as the weakest*.

Its a well-known principle that, "If you can't measure it, you can't manage it." Google found over 46,000 matches to the preceding statement. Anyone who has an activity tracker has seen the value of this principle**. Vessyl is another measuring tool to help manage health & fitness.

Vessyl is available at the pre-order price of $99 for a few more days.

Manufacturer’s web site
https://www.myvessyl.com/
––––––––––––––––––––
* Ben Desbrow et al: "An examination of consumer exposure to caffeine from retail coffee outlets"
http://www.academia.edu/1879395/An_examination_of_consumer_exposure_to_caffeine_from_retail_coffee_outlets
** Dena M. Bravata, MD, MS et al: "Using pedometers to increase physical activity & improve health"
http://web.mit.edu/mobilehealth/www/House_n/Readings/BravataETAL07.pdf / biomedical computing student Queen’s University Justin Lee internet of things device computer tumbler cup Yves Béhar designer Jawbone OLPC 13 ounce cup recognizes recognises any beverage pour into it display displays nutrition nutritional content synchronise syncs drinking habits smartphone smartphone smart-phone app Vessyl prototype beverages successfully identified all of them 10 seconds Thermos recognized recognised Crush orange soda Vitamin Water XXX Tropicana orange juice Gatorade Cool Blue plain old water beverages by name knows the difference Gatorade Cool Blue Glacier Freeze Vessyl tell the difference between strong weak coffee caffeine sugar protein calories fat caffeine beverage track tracks drinking ship preorders pre-order track our movement provide transparency carry water bottle Nalgene bottle Kleen Kanteen consumption track exercise sensor instantly analyze nutritional content contents constituents beverage molecular level sensor analyse analyze analyzes liquid quality control non-contact sensor processor algorithms match your beverage beverages tested with Vessyl measures displays nutritional content displays nutritional data better habits syncs back to your smartphone Bluetooth low energy metric total mg of caffeine consumed today hydration measurement how hydrated you are Vessyl app small blue light will illuminate above it accelerometer gestures charging coaster smart cup stay better hydrated /

Driving the Toyota Mirai fuel cell vehicle

Not quite so ugly from this angle
Credit: Green Car Reports

In June of this year, I wrote of Toyota’s Mirai fuel cell vehicle, “So, how big is the market for a vehicle with all the disadvantages of a fuel cell, performance of a Prius & a price similar to a Tesla Model S?”

At that time, neither performance nor price were certain. Unfortunately, the speculation has largely proven to be accurate.

To quote the Green Car Reports article linked below:

“But what's it actually like to drive, as a car?”

“Perhaps not surprisingly, the answer turns out to be rather like a Prius, only quieter.”

“0-to-60-mph time of just under 10 seconds” – unfortunate similarity to a Prius too.

Price:

Arguably, this is Mirai’s strength. At $US57,500, it will undercut the cheapest Tesla Model S. However, there is reason to believe that this price is only possible because Toyota will lose $US60,000 to $US120,000 on every Mirai it sells.

Green Car Reports test drive:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1095985_2016-toyota-mirai-first-drive-of-hydrogen-fuel-cell-sedan / 2016 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car promotion attention very low numbers built Toyota Prius hybrid divisive design styling polarizing unappealing perceived cacophony of shapes accents curves swoops angles best view relatively small 16 inch wheels rear end styling aerodynamic purpose most extreme concept cars four seats comfortable weight range performance seating position fairly upright like a Prius interior materials hard plastic soft surfaces three separate color display screens dashboard slightly less Space Age vehicle information center Start it like a Prius three drive modes available Normal Eco Power powered by an electric motor gasoline engine under harder acceleration energy battery pack electric mode dominant sounds noise whine 4,056-pound Mirai feels heavy from behind the wheel electric motor driving the front wheels power electronics compressors plumbing hydrogen and oxygen fuel-cell stack under the front seats pair of hydrogen tanks hydrogen compressed to about 10,000 psi smooth comfortable ride relatively tall sidewalls of its tires electric power steering vague relatively numb little feedback from the road prototype fuel cells don't instantly spool their power output to match demand 1.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack maximum output of 114 kilowatts 153 horsepower 2-ton vehicle weigh more than a conventional gasoline car won't win any drag races noise aside /

It's bendy, it's flexible, it's durable, it's virtually unbreakable, it's – glass

Gorilla Glass was a major breakthrough in phone durability. It is quite likely protecting your smartphone from damage right now.

Further developments promise stronger, safer, more durable & lighter vehicle windscreens in the near future.

Bendy flexible, durable, virtually unbreakable glass in these videos is definitely worth a look!



/ slow motion shatter laminated glass windscreen zone toughened tension compression Corning Glass Corning Wear pyrex optical fibre flexible light data low attenuation bend bent voice and data communication Internet data transport bend strain pane willow glass /

Make it easier to read text on your phone

Credit: Gizmodo

Even a 6 inch phone screen is small by any other standard – how big is your desktop, laptop or TV screen? Background lighting is often far from ideal – all struggle to cope with direct sunlight.

For these, & other reasons, text can be difficult to read on a phone screen. Below are some things you can do, on iOS & Android, to improve the situation.

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/12/make-it-easier-to-read-text-on-your-phone/ / software running smart phone smart-phone smartphone pocket options improve readability serious problem eyesight squinting big difference usability text looking bigger sharper latest versions iOS Android accessibility options iOS 8.1 opening Settings General Accessibility Larger Text option toggle on off Bold Text feature device restart tap through Larger Text set your preferred text size applied system-wide system wide new setting affect all Apple’s apps Mail, Messages App Store third party third-party apps settings each individual app fully support iOS’ accessibility features Safari increase size text websites activate Reading Mode feature icon URL field accessibility settings applied improve legibility text device Zoom Increase Contrast options accessibility menu Display Zoom feature Display & Brightness section Settings app switch this on home screen icons text larger Android slider on/off switch bigger text Settings app select Accessibility Large text switch it on new setting applied lock screen Gmail third-party app accessibility menu colour inversion high-contrast text options experimental latest Android build high contrast text occasionally add light or dark outlines text home screens Magnification gestures triple-tap on the screen app enlarge text hold pan around the screen display /

Looking into the future: Samsung Gear VR review

Credit: Oculus/Samsung

At the moment, both software & functionality are extremely limited & it requires a Galaxy Note 4 for processing power & display, but it works & works well. And the software library … can only get bigger.

http://www.cnet.com/au/products/samsung-gear-vr/

http://www.engadget.com/2014/12/17/samsung-gear-vr-review/

https://www.oculus.com/blog/introducing-the-samsung-gear-vr-innovator-edition/ / can finally buy a virtual reality headset use it in your home cost accessible impressive virtual reality headset software Facebook's recently acquired Oculus VR team virtual reality very exciting a new medium technologically possible wireless consumer grade virtual reality Samsung's Gear VR feat illuminating vision near future palatable consumer experience dream completely realized incredibly accessible light comfortable attractive impressive visuals limited functionality extremely limited software library Samsung Galaxy Note 4 very expensive Oculus VR Samsung Gear VR virtual reality headset a new medium light comfortable accessible Gear VR most usable virtual reality headset first to market hype extremely limited selection software functionality Innovator Edition early adopters virtual reality enthusiast Gear VR headset strap review experience tech demo consumer product a few games experiences game demo mainstream consumer device test balloon world's largest electronics manufacturer gauge of success did people who bought it like it return 100 percent of them existence-proof John Carmack make it better review units to press on sale evangelize build virtual reality market demonstrative device distribute perspective for the VR enthusiast latest firmware your carrier insert 16GB microSD card powers VR computing power cpu central processing unit Gear VR's screen setup attach your Note 4 front of the shell docking area for the phone front micro USB microUSB micro-USB plug screen facing inward latch secure securing downloading operating system OS Oculus Home video player Gear VR Video Velcro straps run through a quick tutorial how to use the headset swipe wiping touchpad headset pause pausing movies in-game actions single back button ridged for quick location volume rocker pair a Bluetooth controller analog stick setting up setup set up Oculus Samsung bare-bones bare bones goal accessibility easy easier setup short recent history virtual reality headsets calibration calibrate calibrating cameras testing resolution settings download install firmware hardware restart headset's software suite Bluetooth gamepad headphones Maximum Immersion Experience one-eighth-inch audio jack translucent plastic functionality other electronics usage smartphone smartphone answer phone calls functionality text messages emailsnotifications VR Gallery Oculus Cinema /

Battery flat? You need a Plan V

We’ve all been there: you need to make a call, & your battery is flat. There’s a Plan V for that.

Plan V attaches to you keyring, so you can’t leave home without it. When the need arises, attach a 9V battery, plug it into the charge port of your phone (microUSB & Lightning supported) & you have 800mAh of charge, around 4 hours of talk time on most phones, such as an iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy S5.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1838401618/plan-v-the-failsafe-charger-you-cant-leave-home-wi?ref=category_location / Plan V battery back-up back up backup leave at home forget to charge failsafe charging device always on you small key size you need it your phone is flat need urgently call navigate meeting get out of a dangerous situation Plan V failsafe device don't need to charge small keyring like a car jumper cable connect a 9 volt battery Plan V device hook it up plug in insert connector square batteries smoke alarms widely available car jumper cable design production funds raised costs of production optimization optimizing product field trials performance tweaks marketing product wider availability design development working prototype mass production experience consumer electronics industry designed product manufacturing avoid cost schedule blowouts launch shipped on schedule safety environmental certifications Apple MFI certification iPhone international shipping /