EDITORIAL: Why did the iPhone 5 skimp on true innovation?

Today’s announcement was one of the most hotly anticipated industry events. I waited and waited, ready to be wowed. But now that it’s over, I have bad taste in my mouth (and it’s not the Chinese I had for dinner).

These few past months I followed the iPhone leaks as closely as possible and during all this time I just hoped there will be more to the new iPhone than they suggested. Well, unfortunately, that was it. Even Samsung made a better job of keeping their Galaxy S III under wraps before it was ready for announcement.

The upgrades are easy to spot. The new iPhone is impressively slim and light and it comes with Apple’s next gen A6 processor, which is up to 2 times faster. The iPhone 5 has a single radio chip supplying GSM, HSDPA, CDMA and LTE communication while going easy on the battery. At 4 inches, the screen is certainly bigger and has a more movie-friendly aspect ratio. I’m not going to get into all the iOS6 specific features since those are coming to the iPhone 4S anyway.

On the negative side, the iPhone 5 screen is only 4 inches big, and not only this, but only height was added. The camera is mostly the same as on the 4S, and LTE connectivity in Europe is still as scarce as water in the Sahara to be really worth it. Finally, the new sleeker connectivity jack renders all previous docking accessories obsolete.

Honestly, I’m already tired of hearing Apple’s stale remarks how the new iPhone or the new iPod was Apple’s best thing so far. What I wanted to see today on stage was pure innovation, something that would again open new doors and make other manufacturers lose their breath in trying to catch up.

Instead, what I got was a predictable phone with unexciting specs; a phone that I would hardly call cutting edge, top-of-the-line, and all those labels that usually go hand in hand with Apple’s latest. After all, the iPhone has always been the most expensive SIM-free smartphone on the market.

Sure, people will probably continue to buy it in millions, since once it’s out, it would be the most sensible buy, if you are after an iPhone. But I still have that bad taste in my mouth. The iPhone 5 failed to meet my expectations. I didn’t have a feature wishlist, except perhaps a seriously bigger screen. But most of all, I expected to be surprised. Well, none of these two things happened. And I wonder, who’s to blame? Is it me, or is it Apple that’s changing into a conservative phone maker, who likes to play it safe like Nokia used to before it became clear it’s not getting them anywhere.

I’m more than sure that somebody in South Korea is having a big party right now. More than anything, it feels like this year’s iPhone is Apple skipping a turn a second year in a row all the while Android and Windows Phone have been seriously upping their game moves.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Shimi, the intelligence musical companion you’ll want as your personal DJ

Shimi is a sophisticated robotic smartphone and MP3 player dock that will play your songs and enjoy it without judging your taste in music.

If you’re lonely on a Friday night or looking for a pal that won’t criticize your taste in music, Shimi just might be the robotic companion and personal DJ for you. Tovbot’s Shimi, developed by engineers from Georgia Tech, IDC Herzilya, and MIT Media lab, shimmies to music playing from your smartphone or MP3 player, can understand commands, and learn your musical preferences.

The Shimi, at first glance, just looks like a toy — but it took the minds of weathered PhDs to program and design this rather sophisticated piece of machinery. 

“We saw first-hand the level of excitement and interest that we were getting from our amazing robotic musicians like Shimon. So, we decided to use our experience with those larger, much more expensive robots to create Shimi, an extremely intelligent personal robotic companion with a personality and high-quality audio that consumers can afford,” Tovbot Co-Founder, Gil Weinberg, tells us.

Right away, we can recognize that the Shimi sports a “face” with speakers that protrude from the ends of its wing-like facade, resembling that of a hammerhead shark. The robot’s left foot serves as a dock for your MP3 player or smartphone, while its right foot is built for the sole purpose of tapping to the music.

The Shimi’s existence is almost comical because at its core, it’s really just a glorified speaker dock for your Apple device. At the same time, it’s highly sophisticated and capable of natural language processing, machine learning, motion tracking, and its gears are silent, contributing to smooth movements that might make us forget for a moment that Shimi isn’t a robot.

When you turn on the music, pivoting on five strategically placed motors, Shimi will groove to the music as it bobs its head to and fro, while its foot taps on beat with the music that’s currently playing. And no dance is the same, as its movements depend on your song choice.

You can also call out commands for Shimi to play specific songs from your connected mobile device, or ask it kindly if a certain song can be found in your music player’s library or even a streaming service like Spotify, to which Shimi will offer gesture responses of “yes” or “no.”  A secondary option to search for music, if you’re rhythmically talented, is to tap out the beat of the song that you’d like Shimi to play. It will for the most part recognize the beat and select the song accordingly.

Using its motion tracker, it can recognize your movements and direct its speakers toward wherever you are, but according to its creators, the next stage is app development that will enable Shimi to recognize your facial expression, learn what types of music you like, and recommend new music. ”Shimi will continue to evolve based on crowd-sourced ideas, including adding Android compatibility, Bluetooth connectivity and LED lighting color schemes,” said Weinberg.

The creators of Shimi have taken to Kickstarter to help complete their vision. The musical companion will cost $149 for the duration of the Kickstarter campaign, although a limited supply of 100 Shimis were up for grabs at a cost of $129, until that offer sold out.

Check out the video of Shimi in action below.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

10 Coolest Headphones

The music industry is all about expression with different genres catering to the taste of different individuals. The music we choose to listen to can therefore tell a lot about us – and so can the type of accessories through which we listen to music.

In the modern world, headphones are more than just a practical tool that enables us to listen to music on the go. Available in a range of colours and designs, headphones are now just as much a part of personal expression as our choice of music – so what are 10 of the coolest designs?

1. Beats
Focusing on auditory quality just as much as style, this outstanding range of earphones from Dr Dre is a clear contender for cool headphones.

2. Skull Candy
Another popular brand, these in-ear headphones are known for their colourful designs. They offer a high level of comfort as well and deliver an impressive sound quality which makes them a great overall performer.

3. Altec Lansing A1 Custom Single Driver Earphone
These custom moulded earphones are perfect for those who want an understated but impressive style. They are relatively plain in design but utilise a unique shape which provides high levels of comfort. Excellent sound definition is transmitted through these exceptional earphones, making them a great option.

4. Sennheiser CX 680 Sports
Combining brightly coloured accents with a black base colour, these earphones are the perfect embodiment of casual cool. They’re designed to fit ear canals with greater comfort and even boast a waterproof construction. Distinctive embellishments which protrude from the top of the earphones also make them a clear choice for the style conscious.

5. Lego Earphones
A popular brand which has found its way onto everything from keyrings to flash drives; it seemed only a matter of time before Lego earphones became available. These in-ear varieties are fun and colourful, making them perfect for those with quirky tastes.

6. Ultimate Ears 18 Pro
With 6 drivers per earbud, these fantastic earphones deliver a high quality sound which is virtually unrivalled. Alongside that, their bold appearance utilises bold colours and interesting shapes to give them major style points.

7. AKG K 350
These great earphones are a testament to the fact the high quality and impressive style doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Affordably priced, they offer consumers a comfortable design which delivers high sound quality through a brightly coloured earbud.

8. Soul by Ludacris SL99
Earning major cool points through their endorsement by Ludacris, these earphones also benefit from a comfortable flat earbud and understated, subtle designs.

9. Munitio Bullet Headphones
These 9mm earphones are specifically designed to resemble bullets and are completely unique. Constructed from a single piece of copper alloy and coated in Titanium, the quality of materials and of sound deliverance are high.

10. Transformer Headphones
Whilst these may not actually transform into anything, their design is one which cannot be surpassed. Featuring mini transformers set onto the outside of the earbud, these are a great and novel example of how eccentric headphone designs can be.

Guest post by Richer Sounds experts in HiFis, smart tvs and headphones. Visit the website to view the latest headphones deals.

Source : techtalkafrica[dot]com

Is Resident Evil 6′s DLC a timed exclusive on Xbox 360?

Is Capcom giving Xbox 360 owners a taste of Resident Evil 6 DLC ealier than PS3 and PC players?

Capcom wants Resident Evil 6 to be Call of Duty. It’ll tell you up front that it just wants to make a game that’s all things to all people—a patient horror game, a tactical shooter, and a balls to the wall action spectacle—but we all know the truth. Look at Resident Evil.net. Look at all those exploding helicopters. You’re not fooling anyone, Capcom.

There’s another way in which Resident Evil 6 is following Call of Duty: Black Ops 2’s lead: Downloadable content for the game is coming to Xbox 360 before any other platform.

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Japan Twitter feed (via Kotaku) made the announcement on Friday morning.

Now Capcom hasn’t weighed in on this just yet. We’ve reached out to Capcom’s American office to see if this is true for all territories, just Japan, or whether it was just a poorly phrased Tweet. We’ll update this when we hear from them.

It isn’t, however, unlikely especially if the downloadable content in question is for the game’s competitive Mercenaries mode. Timed exclusive DLC is the closest thing to a console exclusive publishers are willing to make in this day and age. Capcom is after all already offering a plethora of exclusive DLC bonuses through retailers GameStop, Best Buy, and Amazon. 

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com