Tech Speak: Zombies, Run!

I recently picked up a running app which is for sale in hopes to keep up my resolution of keeping healthy. Like any other running app, it keeps track of your distance and timing. However the key difference is you play missions to make running fun. Zombies, Run! is a story where you're in a zombie infested world (aren't we in all the games?) where you play as a runner for Abel town doing missions which requires you to, well, run. Putting on your ear piece, the app will play the mission out to you during "cut scenes" and in between stories you can choose to play music as well as let zombies chase you. If you choose to let the zombies chase you, you will have to pick up your pace when they get closer. This adds to the fun. You will also pick up items along the way which you can use to upgrade your town facilities such as hospitals. Though the storyline may say stuff like "the zombies are right ahead, you need head right" or "I need you to cut into the abandoned hospital to get some medicine", you just need to keep going straight. No safety concerns here except when you need to speed up if the zombies are after you.

If there's one complaint I have, it's the review of your runs can only be done on their website zombiesrungame.com. However the review is quite detailed as you can see below. You can even see your speed and route. Upgrading of your town can be done in the app or on a browser.

The app cost $9.81 SGD usually and is going at 50% off, $4.90 SGD for "new year resolution sale". The sale has been around for quite a long time so I suggest you get it soon before it ends. There's another version which gives you a training program so that you can reach a running distance of 5km at one go as well. It's quite a bit cheaper and going at 75% off now but I think Zombies, Run! is a better choice.

Zombies, Run!

Zombies Run! 5k Training

Tech Speak: What I To See In The Tech Scene In 2013

I wrote about what I want to see in the technological scene in 2011 http://infinite.acperience.net/2011/01/what-i-want-to-see-in-the-tech-scene-in-2011/
and I missed it for 2012. So here's my take for 2013.

In 2012, we saw that technological advancement is still not slowing down. There was a huge turn out of different mobile devices and the tablet scene is finally picking up the pace. Dirt cheap tablets are coming in. Personal assistant Siri and Google Now had a bit of spotlight as well. Battery capacities are finally starting to increase. Apple played punk by releasing 2 iPads within a year. They also showed that an older architecture doesn't necessarily mean a lesser chip with A6. Frankly 2012 was a disappointing year. I wasn't impressed with a single Android phone. Galaxy S3 Touchwiz UI is still ugly as hell. HTC and Motorola finally unlocked their bootloaders for many phones but it was still difficult to achieve S-OFF with them. Even Samsung and nVidia are still not releasing drivers for the AOSP development community. iPad Mini is a disappointment too. (yeah yeah we all know how Apple works by now, release a lousy device so that they can put in better stuff next year). Windows 8 caused less excitement than I expected. Tablet laptop hybrids are crazy expensive, effectively cranking up the norm prices for a standard laptop again. Windows Phone 8 was still meh.

 

What Should Happen in 2013

1) Flexible Display

Samsung and Apple are getting in on this one so I think we should start to see the first non-straight device in 2013. Can't imagine how a device's screen can bend within the insides bending though.

2) Higher Capacity Battery

With Samsung Galaxy S3 and Motorola Razor Maxx putting in large batteries inside slim bodies, it appears that it is possible to have high capacity batteries in a slim profile. The processors are getting more and more powerful. Bigger batteries would be nice.

3) Custom Processors like A6

I would expect the likes of LG and Huawei to go deeper into custom processors instead of just using the common ones like Qualcomm's in hopes of achieving what Apple did with A6. More variation might have its good but I also expect more problems with apps compatibility and more hassle among the AOSP community.

4) Cheaper Mainstream Tablets

With rumours of a $99 or $129USD ASUS tablet, it seems like everyone is forced to lower the prices of their tablets. It just doesn't seem worth it to get a tablet at $999 anymore if they can do almost the same things. iPad Mini was a big disappointment in the price range department. I suppose Apple makes premium goods for a price but that much more expensive than Nexus 7?

 

What I want to see in 2013

1) NFC adoption

NFC is picking up the pace too slowly. Sure we could put the blame on Apple for not joining the wagon since they would definitely boost the adoption speed by leaps and bounds. But I guess Google should have quite a bit of influence too right? Hopefully more OEMs and credit companies would open up to NFC.

2) Wireless charging

This is just for my convenience I guess. It's getting too little hype.

3) Less devices

More thoughtful designs, less variation please. I think Motorola is heading in a good direction. They only have a few good devices whereas HTC, Samsung, Sony all have a huge range that it's hard to keep up. Before you know it there's a slightly better upgrade to a phone that's a few months old. All these OEMs have mentioned of lesser but higher quality devices but looks like their hands are still quite itchy.

4) HTC to wake up their idea

Yes, I have been a user of HTC for a while. And there's nothing but disappointment in 2012. No LTE in flagship devices, multiple flagship devices etc. Stupid One X+ upgrade though Droid DNA was just nearing launch. These are all crazy mistakes.

5) Higher adoption of LTE

Singapore is finally in the LTE game but there are still way too few LTE devices.

6) Blackberry's comeback

I know nobody cares. But more competition is always good. I would like to see how Blackberry makes a comeback and if those who abandoned Blackberry and tasted iOS or Android would go back or not.

7) Google's smart watch

Google has made a patent on smart watch for some time but we still haven't seen anything yet. Now that there's rumours of Apple and Intel ganging up to make a smart watch, Google better watch out. Time is running short.

8) Google Glasses

The Google Glasses Demonstration during Google I/O 2012 was superbly impressive. If I had the money I would have ordered the prototype. Having a wearable computer in the size of your glasses is beyond cool. Looks like futuristic technology is finally coming.

9) Less patent wars

Seriously enough is enough.

Tech Speak: Get Extra Space On Dropbox

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5881692/get-up-to-45gb-of-extra-space-on-dropbox-for-uploading-photos-and-videos

Increase your dropbox size by up to 5GB. This is part of Dropbox's experimental testing. Help them test their beta and earn free space. The new function to this beta is auto uploading of pictures/videos from your memory cards, cameras, handphones to dropbox. It's not exactly auto actually. When you insert your SD card into your computer, autoplay will show dropbox as an option (i.e. to say autoplay has to be enabled). Dropbox will auto detect your photos and copy them into a folder called "camera uploads" and starts uploading them into your dropbox. For every 500MB of data you uploaded this way, you get 500MB of free space. You get 500MB the first time you upload something, and in total you can get 5GB using this method.

 



I tried to copy photos I already have on my computer, put inside my SD card and then import them using autoplay. Dropbox said it did not detect any new photos. So I guess there's no easy way to trick the program. Still, this is a good method to gain more space for your dropbox.

Do make a backup of your dropbox folder just in case. I installed the beta without a hitch though. Information on how it works on Mac and Linux is in the forums post below. Download link for the beta is also there.

 

http://forums.dropbox.com/topic.php?id=52900

 

The Facebook Series #5: Spam Links

There's an easy way to find out if a link your friend posted is spam/trojan or not. Take a look at the URL.

Let's take the most recent free KFC for a week one as an example. The URL posted was addchicken.com . You'll notice that there is no "KFC" in the URL given. Further, as this is supposedly an offer for Singapore thus there should be a .sg behind as well (in case you didn't know KFC exist in more than one country). Also, it is wise to look at what the offer is. Do you really think KFC will let you eat everything for free for one entire week?

The other spider-under-girl's-skin link is obviously a spam link as well. The URL often has really weird domains such as that ending with .info .

Sometimes, using your brain before clicking on a link just because it looks interesting helps. Spam links are getting more common these days. Just clicking on them makes you repost it automatically. Even if you remove them from your wall, your friends will still see it. While such backdoor trojan are used to hack into your account (password, friends list or whatever), I haven't heard of a major problem arising from clicking such links but you'll never know.

If you did not find my post hiding a "hint" of sarcasm, you are probably one of those who blindly click on links. I'm blocking you.

The Facebook Series #4: Bring Back The Old Facebook Chat

I honestly hate the new Facebook chat sidebar and if you're like me, this URL (taken from a nice guy at Lifehacker.com) https://www.facebook.com/presence/popout.php will give you back the old Facebook chat. Granted it's not integrated into the main Facebook page but at least it shows you a list of people who are online rather than making you search for your friend.

Tech Speak: The Technology I Want Now

I want this 2 pieces of technology. NOW.

ASUS EEE Slider Pad. Honeycomb tablet which comes with a built in keyboard. Tegra 2.

Motorola Droid 3. Android phone with qwerty keyboard. Omap dual core processor with 1GB RAM

Tech Speak: Instant Messaging Status Meanings

http://lifehacker.com/5819017/im-status-how-should-you-use-it

Here's a good article from Lifehacker about what kind of IM status habits say about you. For example, if you are constantly available, it actually gives out a signal to people that you are not contactable all the time even if you're online (because it's simply impossible for you to be around all the time). Thus if your status is available all the time, it prevents people from having high hopes of getting a reply from you if they send an IM to you unless they know your schedules and IM habits. This either makes them resort to other means of contacting you or makes them not IM you all together. It's not a good thing because more often than not they will not know how long they have to wait before they get a response from you. A more responsible way is to make use of busy, BRB or idle statuses.

More in that article.

 

Tech Speak: If Social Media Is A Drug

http://www.indiskretionehrensache.de/2010/06/social-media-drug/

Tech Speak: iOS 5 New Features

During Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2011), Steve Jobs announced a bunch of new features for the upcoming iOS 5. I think Apple is definitely headed in the right direction with stuff like notification system (ripped off from Android) and iMessages (ripped off from Blackberry Messenger). Although Android is still hands down the most feature rich phone, but the learning curve is steep and many things, just like the old iPhones, requires apps to do these things. iOS 5 integrates these new features and make them easy to manage. With luck, Apple might just get a whole lot more Android and Blackberry users on their wagon. Apple already has an amazing number of user base. It is no doubt that these new features will attract more people. Here's some of the most prominent features.

1) Notification System.

The iOS used to be intrusive and forces you to read your mails, messages, whatsapp immediately no matter what you are doing. No longer will that be the case. You can simply swipe down the top of the screen to reveal the notifications and I heard it's easy to remove them as well. A tap on the notification will bring you to the correct app. These notifications appear on the lock screen as well. Nifty.



2) Reminders

This isn't a simple reminder app (built in of course). Aside from time requirements, you can also input location requirements. So say you need to buy milk from NTUC. Key that right in and if you pass by an NTUC (I believe you can only key in one NTUC), it will remind you that you need to get milk. You can set it such that it reminds you when you enter an area or leave an area. Sounds convenient but I wonder about the battery life.

3) OTA (Over the air updates)

One irritating part about iPhones is that you always have to link it up to your PC/Mac to synchronise stuff or update your phone. There are apps which allow you to sync stuff like music wirelessly but this doesn't apply to phone software updates. Now you no longer need to connect to your computer for the first boot up activation and for minor updates (but you'll still need to for major updates). If only they allow app synchronisation over the air just like Android. Oh and music too.

4) iMessages

This inter-iOS messaging tool is compared to BBM (Blackberry Messenger). The idea is basically the same. Messaging made easy for all iPhone users (and iPads I believe). I don't foresee it overthrowing Whatsapp and the likes anytime soon though. It's free and works on wifi and 3G.

5) Twitter integration

Depending on whether the built in twitter app is good or not, this may not be as much of a big deal. I believe it will though unless other 3rd party apps do not get the built in twitter notification. I don't think that many people use Twitter for iPhones since most of my friends use 3rd party apps.

6) A better Safari with Reader integration

This makes web browsing and viewing of RSS feeds much easier. There's now tabbed browsing. Not sure how effective this is as tabbed browsing on my Dolphin Browser HD on Android sucked.

7) iCloud http://pocketnow.com/iphone/apple-introduces-free-icloud-service-with-no-ads-yanks-mobileme

Finally some cloud love from Apple. This is one of strongest point Android had over Apple. iCloud syncs most of your stuff, like documents, files, mails, texts, ringtones, photos, videos, books on the cloud. It's mainly a sync and backup too. Most wonderfully it's gonna be ad free and free of charge. I don't think I saw music though.

8) A better camera

You can now use your volume button as a shutter button. Convenient and less shaky movements. There's also some simple additions like built in red eye reduction, ability to zoom and crop etc.

9) Game Centre, News Stand, Better Mail Client, and a few more

A central game centre will allow you to compare scores with your friends better. News stand includes news from most publishers. A better mail client allows you to send emails much more easily (I'll admit that Android's mail client suck to the core, thank goodness for Gmail app).

You can read up more at http://pocketnow.com/iphone/apple-introduces-ios-5-developing or go to the Apple website to watch the keynote. Now if Apple integrates widgets like Android, we might just have a winner here. Hopefully this goes to iPhone 3GS as well. I really don't think it will go to iPhone 3G though.

Tech Speak: Top 10 Awesome Android Features Which iPhone Don't Have

http://lifehacker.com/5801862

There's definitely much more to that, eg. the notification system (but you can get this if you jailbreak your iPhone).

It's a good read. I personally think that the top features are custom ROMs, custom apps to do the same things differently (like SMS), ability to install different keyboards, custom home launchers, widgets, ability to add SD card, wireless app installation and flash. Do read the article for more explanation.

Tech Speak: Google I/O 2011 Summary

http://phandroid.com/2011/05/12/google-io-2011-wrap-up-what-was-your-favorite-announcement-or-moment/

Here's a good post on what happened during Google I/O 2011 (I/O stands for Input Output in computing language btw).

Here are some highlights which I feel are significant (to me anyway).

1) Android Honeycomb 3.1 update released.

2) Android Ice Cream Sandwich coming out in Q4 2011 and will integrate both tablet and phone form factors for Android

3) Google Music Beta launched (but only in US)

4) Google together with some carriers and phone manufacturers promise 18 months of updates for each phone

5) Chromebook, a netbook which is fully web based, that is, the operating system is the chrome browser will be launched in mid June.

Google I/O  2010 gave all its attendees a Nexus One (I think). This year they gave everyone a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Both were new products which have not even been launched. If you think about it, though Google I/O's ticket cost like really expensive (more than a few hundred bucks I think), the free gift makes up for it. Really hope I can go there too. Too bad I'm not a developer. I think next year they will probably give the Google TV.

Tech Speak: Backup Your Office Documents with Google Cloud Connect

Google Cloud Connect is an add on for Microsoft Office. It simply enables auto/manual synchronisation with your Google Docs account. Cloud Connect appears as an additional toolbar for Office. Should you put it to auto, it syncs with your Google Docs each time you save. Naturally you can set it to manual as well. If you do not know already, Google Docs allows the uploading of Office formats (serving as backups) and it also has its own format (you can convert Office formats to Google Docs format if you want to edit it online). Cloud Connect backups your files rather than converting it into Google Docs format, thus preserving the formatting of your documents.

Google Cloud Connect can be downloaded here and it works for Office 2003, 2007 and 2010. It is not available for Mac yet.

 

Tech Speak: How Google Hires

http://gigaom.com/2011/05/02/eric-schmidt-former-google-ceo-how-google-hires/

Here's an article which Eric Schmidt explains what are the things Google looks out for when they interview people. One nice thing here, they do not mind getting people who lack team work. Hmm but shucks, they did mention that it applies to people who are exceptionally smart.

The article also mentioned that Google received 75000 resumes when it stated that it is hiring 6000 people. Dang, such slim chances for me eh...

Tech Speak: iPhone 5 May Look Like This

http://thisismynext.com/2011/04/22/iphone-5-design/

It'll be great... for iPhone fanboys if iPhone 5 looks like this. Though this only a made up model, it looks like it might be pretty much how the end product will look like according to all the rumours so far. Why can't Android based phones look nicer? After so many Android phones, they all look the same or plain ugly these days. Blackberries look professional. iPhones look cool. Android on the other hand looks too run of the mill. Hope thing's will change soon. Android might be full of functionality but still...

 

which of these Androids elude sexiness to you? Okay maybe Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc does a little. But that's it.

This is my phone HTC Desire Z. Need me to express how ugly it is?

Tech Speak: Apple No Longer Dominant

http://www.businessinsider.com/smartphone-survey-results-2011-4?op=1

Singaporeans wake up your idea please.

Android has become more dominant in other parts of the world but in Singapore iPhone is still a common sight. Most people still agree that iPhone is superior to Android. How shallow.

Now, iPhone 4 is a good phone. There is no denying that. In fact, I hope that Apple continues with the good job and keep the competition going. Healthy competition keeps the industry progressing. What I hate (in fact you can even tell this from the surveyors) is that iPhone fanboys are obnoxious and they think iPhone is the ONLY way to go and it is superior in every way.

Give me a moment while I go knock my head against the wall. I live in a country where most people think this way.

Tech Speak: April's Fool

It's April's Fool again. Here's some good ones by Google and Starbucks this year.

 

1) Gmail Motion http://mail.google.com/mail/help/motion.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu927_ul_X0

Introducing Gmail Motion. Work with your emails using your webcam.

 

2) Google Docs Motion Beta http://www.google.com/google-d-s/promos/motion.html




3) Google Autocompleter http://www.google.com/intl/en/jobs/uslocations/mountain-view/autocompleter/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blB_X38YSxQ

Be an autocompleter. Requirements include being able to type 32000 words per minute and being psychic. You will break about one keyboard every 8 days.

 

4) Chromericse http://www.chromercise.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjbkAECbDBE

Your web browser can't get any faster but your fingers can. Exercise them today.

 

5) Comic Sans for your Chrome Browser http://www.google.com/landing/csfe/

Research shows that Comic Sans is a better font than others. While the research sounds fake, the Chrome extension is real. Download it at https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/inoibihbncpenbmllpjoonoaadechdng#. I've enabled it and now my Chrome looks... funny.

 

6) Starbucks Mobile Pour http://www.starbucks.com/blog/introducing-starbucks-mobile-pour



Now you can use GPS to let Starbucks deliver a coffee straight to your location. Baristas on scooters, how cool. iPhone only.

 

Tech Speak: Cyanogenmod Girls

http://pocketnow.com/android/cyanogemod-grows-up-removes-cm-girls-wallpaper

http://www.cyanogenmod.com/blog/the-cm-girls-wallpaper-and-its-effect

For the record, I think enough has been said about this issue. What I don't understand is why is there so much hoohah about a picture like this? Cyanogenmod is a custom ROM for Android created by Cyanogen as a home made custom ROM for a small group of people in the past. It was about openness, more open than Android's open-source-ness is, apparently. This picture apparently symbolises freedom. Naturally there will be 2 camps of people, those who feel that this freedom should stay as it is with the picture and those who feel that professionalism is at stake and the picture should be removed.

But this is just a photo of a group of hot babes right? Is it really so unprofessional? Furthermore, one of the developers (after making the decision to take this photo off), has already uploaded it for anyone to use. I don't get why people still need to make so much noise after a decision has been made. Just get over it already. I think ultimately the spirit of Android is about choice. There will definitely be people who are fine with this and people who are not. The final decision (with the uploading of this photo) is the best compromise. Period, so people should just keep quiet already.

Oh by the way, I'm a proud user of Cyanogenmod and I have been a tester for CM7 alpha ever since Build 10. It works great on my rooted HTC Desire Z. For more info, check out http://www.cyanogenmod.com/ or you can ask me. =)

Open Source FTW.

Tech Speak: Chrometa

http://www.chrometa.com/pricing.php

A time tracking software has become free. The software looks interested and is said to be more useful for students. I haven't tried it out but perhaps you'll want to download the software and get the license key for free first.

The Facebook Series #3: HTTPS Support

https is a format which is more secure than your regular http. Facebook has finally introduced this option of using https. I shall not go into the workings of https, just take it that its much more secure. You can activate it from your Account Settings on the top right hand corner.

Tech Speak: Google Contacts

http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/two-improvements-to-contact-groups.html

These 2 features are way long overdue. However the sad part is that it can only be accessed through Gmail Contacts (right inside Gmail interface) and not Google Contacts which I'd prefer.