Let’s be clear here, until the fruit company makes an official announcement nothing any analyst or leakster says will hold water. That being said, Brian Blair of Rosenblatt Securities claims he has details about Apple’s possible smartwatch which he says come from a Taiwanese supply chain for Apple. I usually try to avoid articles like this but the source site is Pocket-lint and I had to laugh at the headline for their story (Apple iWatch details leak, said to look like the Moto 360). The reason Mr. Blair and Pocket-lint say the Apple smartwatch looks like the Moto 360? Because it is round. Yes it is round. Which kind of makes it look like a hundred different watches on the planet doesn’t it?
My Glass, My Self: A Reflection of Intimidation
As a self-proclaimed geek, technology tends not to scare/intimidate/worry me. I research prior to purchase, and once I buy the research intensifies (because tips and tricks are important) as does the hunt for accessories. Wash, rinse, repeat. But my routine needed to be altered when I received my invite to join the Google Glass Explorer program. At first I was SUPER excited for the opportunity and found a way to afford the $1500 (not including accessories) price tag. I was excited and I let that cloud my judgement and alter my regular tech requirement routine. I didn’t finish my research prior to buying (the invite expired in 48hrs) but I did have questions and called the Glass helpline (they also extended my expiration date by 4 days). While I did get some basic questions answered, I had no idea what I was in store for once I finally received my Glass.
Blake’s Stage Of Rage: Lavabit, Secret Courts, And Trampled Freedom
As I write this have finished reading a write up at The Guardian by Ladar Levison the founder of Lavabit, an email service that gained notoriety for its use by Edward Snowden in the wake of Snowden’s NSA leaks. Lavabit’s mission was simple. Provide a source for email that was secure and encrypted. That is to say, the email service’s main goal was to keep those emails private. In this write up (which I implore you to read) Ladar talks about some of the details of his legal case that eventually lead to the closing of his business/service.
Apple Celebrates 13 Years Of Apple Stores
Back in May of 2001 Cliff Edwards of Bloomberg Business Week had an article titled, “Sorry, Steve: Here’s Why Apple Stores Won’t Work”. Now thirteen years later Apple seems to be doing just fine in the retail space, expanding much further than even I realized. Check out this animated map put together by retale.com which shows the expansion of Apple stores worldwide since 2001.
Nintendo Lacks Focus – A Proposal
Over the last few months analysts and consumers alike have realized that Nintendo has a potentially serious problem. Sales are faltering and brand recognition is being overtaken by other companies, namely Sony, Microsoft and, to a lesser degree, brands available on more mobile devices than Nintendo’s proprietary mobile hardware. Our own Justin Jelinek reported on this earlier last week.
Zack Snyder Teases His Version Of The Batman And I Approve
Like many people when I heard Ben Affleck was being tapped to be the next Batman my blood boiled and the knee jerk was almost … Read more…
Over Contrast/Saturation Is Creating Average Photographers
With the availability of cameras to almost everyone, and the availability of amazingly powerful processing software, there are more photographers out there than ever. The market is flooded with different photographs of almost every type imaginable, with everything from point and shoots and cellphones to multi-thousands of dollar DSLR’s.
Apple’s Speculative Purchase Of Beats Audio Begs The Question, Why?
Apple has long made a habit of buying up companies for their technology, innovations and most importantly their patents. Generally the companies purchased are low key under the radar non consumer centered companies, which is why the news of a Beats Audio buyout has me scratching my head. Before we move on to the potential Beats Audio purchase, let’s look at a list of companies Apple has purchased since 2008, shortly after they hit it big with the iPhone.
Aercast Episode 2 Is Now Available
Episode 2 of Aercast is now available on your favorite podcast app and iTunes. This episode we welcome Blake Mitchell to the podcast team and have some good discussion on Google, Apple, Net Neutrality and some other pretty fun topics. Go listen now and consider supporting our Patreon campaign HERE.
The War Is Approaching: ComiXology, Amazon, Apple, and Payments
Last week ComiXology, a digital comic books distribution platform, made some changes in the way they do business. They uploaded a new app to the Apple App Store to replace the app that they have had up for some time. The changes that were made were not minimal. They stripped out the in app purchase (IAP) system that they had been using and put in a cloud syncing option so that users could log in to the Comixology.com website to make purchases and then sync them to the app. Unsurprisingly, some people were upset.
A Cinco De Mayo Technology Salute To The Founders Of The GNOME Project
Cinco De Mayo: I don’t generally celebrate this holiday but I thought it would be fun to give some props to a couple of Mexicans who have had an impact on technology today. So here’s a quick explanation of what Cinco De Mayo is, as explained via Wikipedia.
Happy Star Wars Day: May the 4th Be With You!
There’s hardly a man, woman, or child alive today that hasn’t heard of Star Wars. This cultural phenomenon is a result of the work of filmmaker George Lucas. Just in case you’re not familiar, Star Wars is an epic space opera that takes place “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….” as the famous opening crawl explains.
Apple Awarded $119 Million In Latest Battle With Samsung, With Rant
Yeah, we know you know. It’s hit the web like a digital tsunami, Apple has won the latest court battle against Samsung slithering out with $119 million dollars. On the flip side, a much less lofty flip side, Samsung sprung out with $158,000 from a couple of patents the jury found Apple in violation of. Re/Code did get a statement from Apple right after the verdict and here’s what they had to say.
Buying Camera Equipment And G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)
So this article is somewhat difficult to write, because there is the side of my brain that screams “Oh my god, that is SO cool, I MUST HAVE IT”. There is the other side that yells back “Really? and you want to use that equipment for what? You’re wanting to spend HOW MUCH for it?”
A Lucky Break Puts Technology Into The Hands Of Disadvantaged Kids
Ken Starks lucky break didn’t show up in the way most people hope for. He owned a pressure washing business in Texas and a major accident led to the start of a technology project that would change the lives of children living in the hill country of Texas. Ken’s project, named Reglue, has now provided Linux computers to over a thousand disadvantaged kids. Reglue has also created learning centers throughout East Austin that teach computer skills and help with online job search tools.
Support The Aercast And Techaeris Patreon Campaign
We’re a small startup technology website that covers the latest tech news. We also provide product reviews and opinions on some of your favorite gadgets and thingamabobs. We’re not funded by any corporate entity and we really want to keep it that way. So please check out our Patreon page and show your support for independent tech news. We feel once corporations get involved in the news it can become skewed and agendas become the focus. We want to focus on our readers, listeners and viewers not on some entity dictating what should be said.
Google Glass: The Tech You Love To Hate(?)
Tax Day (4.15.14) was the day to become a Glasshole part of Google’s Glass Explorer program. For a mere $1500 any one was able to purchase Glassware without an invite from The Goog. The Explorer Bundle included a Glass headset, frames (optional), a mono earbud, your choice of sunglass frame, charger and a pouch. Because most of us tech geeks already wear regular glasses, Google has made very basic hipster-like frames (offered for free yesterday, regular retail cost *read: what I paid* $225), with a special cut out for the Glass head set. Lenses for these frames can be ordered by searching through Google’s Preferred Provider Network of eyecare professionals. These providers will custom fit your Glassware to your frames enhancing your experience (Glass lenses are only available at a prescription up to +/-4). There is also an option (in NY or LA) to go to a Glass Boutique and have your Glassware fitted professionally which includes a short tutorial on all that things your new tech can do.
Apple’s Big Lesson For Google, Inaction Will Cost You The Throne.
The following article reflects my personal opinion, it does not reflect that of my employer, or the Techaeris staff.
“Don’t be like Apple.”
“That was such an Apple move.”
“Android will NEVER be like Apple.”
“Samsung is the new Apple.”
The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly: Amazon Purchases ComiXology
ComiXology, the company that is at the top of the heap for digital comic book distribution was purchased by Amazon last week. Let’s take a look at the good, bad, and ugly.
Google Comes Clean In Their ToS
Think of the biggest lie you’ve ever told. Now, think of the biggest lie you’ve ever told over and over and over… How about “click … Read more…
Do Sales People Really Help You Make The Right Choice, Or Just The Popular One?
To me, choosing a smartphone is much like selecting the next car you want to buy. It has to look good to you and feel right in every way if you’re going to spend your hard earned money. Even if you have a decent amount of knowledge, you want the sales person to help you make a decision partly based on information he or she might have that you do not as yet. If that person does not possess the knowledge needed to convey all the pertinent information to you it’s possible you might drive off the lot with something you might regret later. The same can be true of shopping for a smartphone.
The Ongoing Photographic Journey
Since I’m new to everyone, I’ll give a little rundown on how I started on my photographic journey.
I’m not a pro by any means, but I love to grab my camera and find amazing things to take shots of.
Throwback Thursday
I stopped at a convenience store and I noticed all of the soda bottles looking old-school with labels that read “throwback.” Retro seems to be the big thing now. Let’s make all the new stuff look like the old stuff but still have the same functionality as the new stuff and yet charge more for the new stuff that looks like the old stuff. (yes, that sentence totally made sense…just read it again).
HTC M8, Samsung S5, It’s Your Turn Apple
HTC just announced and unveiled their newest flagship phone, the HTC One M8. The M8 is the much anticipated follow up to last year’s HTC One M7. Initial impressions and reactions seem to be positive for the M8. Having owned the M7 before my current iPhone 5s, my initial impressions of the M8 are also positive. It seems HTC has managed to take an excellent design and make it that much better.
A PC Building Experience By An Inexperienced Builder
I recently have been embarking on several side projects and adventures in my life of technology. By all accounts, I am just your average tech-loving … Read more…
Top 10 Must-Have Chromecast Apps
It will come as no surprise to anyone who follows me on Techaeris when I say that I love the Google Chromecast. Earlier this year, I wrote an article as to whether the $35 dongle mattered and why; in short, I believe it matters because the proliferation of the device and an open SDK is helping Google create an industry standard for casting content to screens in a market where others have had either marginal success or failed.
Cloud Storage, Which Do You Prefer?
I have had Google Drive since it’s inception, but until recently it was lacking in features compared to several other cloud storage options. The first cloud Storage I used on a regular basis was DropBox because it was easy to upload, download and share to anyone via email or link. It has been the most popular backup solution for a great many people world wide.
Giveaway! The Limefuel L28N5 Battery Case (CLOSED WINNER CHOSEN)
This contest is closed, please congratulate the winner SIRREED!
Giveaway!
Yesterday we brought you a review of the Limefuel L28N5 battery case, and it left us very impressed. Read the whole review HERE. We liked it so much we decided to team up with the awesome folks over at Limefuel to give away an L28N5 to ONE lucky Techaeris reader! Yes indeed, you could win your very own Nexus 5 battery case from Limefuel and Techaeris!