Archive for June, 2010

Google music service on it’s way

The Wall Street Journal reported some new details about the long-rumoured Google music service, this time with a tasty Android twist.

Google’s plan, it seems, is to launch a download service first — one that is tied to the company’s search engine — and then to progress to an online subscription service by 2011. The ultimate goal is to have a cloud-based subscription service that could stream directly to Android-based devices.
While rumours and reports about Google formally entering the music sales or subscriptions space have been ongoing for years, this time the talk might be for real. In October, Google launched its music discovery search features. At the time, we discussed its implications on the music business as a whole.

Additionally, VEVO (a partnership service between YouTube and Universal Records) has at least theoretically created better relationships between the major labels and the search giant. However, when trying to assess Google’s overall music strategy, Android appears poised to be the biggest catalyst.

Skyfire Launches Skyfire Browser 2.1 and Passes over 500,000 users on Android in first Six Weeks

Skyfire today releases version 2.1 of its Android browser. The enhancement provides increased stability as well as support for 750,000 additional websites for watching Flash video.

Since the launch of Skyfire for Android on April 29^th, Skyfire has added over 500,000 new users. In just six weeks, Skyfire activations have reached the top 0.7% among all the 65,000 apps on the Android Market.

Skyfire’s Cloud Solves Problems that Adobe Flash 10.1 Won’t
Skyfire enables Flash video from across the millions of web sites that use the popular Flash plug-in. Skyfire plays Flash video by transcoding video files into HTML5 in the cloud and optimizing them for mobile delivery. Skyfire’s cloud technology means videos play faster and smoother, with less buffering, less “stuttering”, and better battery life.

In a series of tests conducted by Skyfire, users were able to watch twice as many minutes of video per hour, and conserve 30% more battery life, when compared to native Flash 10.1 being released this week on a subset of Android phones. The vast majority of Flash video content on the internet is designed for desktop computers with high-speed connections. When it comes to mobile, this makes playback difficult, especially on crowded 3G networks. Skyfire’s cloud ensures that each video is adapted to the right bandwidth, as well as the right format to ensure hardware decoding, which saves battery and preserves video performance.

Yellowsnow revenge as iPhone 4 screen change colour

A forum poster claiming inside knowledge has explained the discolored displays on iPhone 4s as being a result of the devices being fresh out of the factory. The bonding agent (which the poster says he was involved in pitching to Apple) between the layers of glass hasn’t had time to dry yet, he says, and normal use for a couple days should clear it right up.

Obviously this solution takes time, and we’ll only know that it worked if reports start rolling in that the blotches are spontaneously disappearing. If you have a discoloured iPhone screen, keep a close eye on it and let us know if anything changes.

Apple is using a bonding agent called Organofunctional Silane Z-6011 to bond the layers of glass. Apparently, Apple (or more likely Foxconn) is shipping these products so quickly that the evaporation process is not complete. However, after one or two days of use, especially with the screen on, will complete the evaporation process and the yellow "blotches" will disappear.
How do I know? I was involved in pitching Z-6011 to Apple.

The iPhoneBook

A special applicaiton that know no bounds is the iPhone PhoneBook. On of the most simple ideas beautifully executed for kids. Check this out for the new way to blend old and new to keep the kids entertained.