Android

Samsung Galaxy Gear – The Evolution of the Smartwatch

2013-09-04 by QTOOTH

Amid great fanfare, Samsung introduced their Galaxy Gear. The occasion for the introduction was the IFA 2013 Consumer Electronics Show, the largest of its kind in the world. It is even bigger than the CES trade show that is held every year in Las Vegas. There are so many exciting things coming out of this year’s event that it may take a while for us here at QTOOTH to even cover it all. For Samsung, this is their first foray into the brave new world of smartwatches. Let’s take a look at some of the exciting things that it represents, where they got it right and where they might want to improve the product.

First, let’s talk about the fact that smartwatches will not be for everyone. The wearing of watches is at an all time low no matter how smart they are. People are quite comfortable with getting thew time and just about every other type of data from the smartphones, or their computers, cars, tablets, radios, etc… So even despite this limited market, it is interesting to see so many manufacturers getting on the bandwagon i the rush to provide some form of smartwatch. There are already ones on the market from major players like Casio, Nike and Sony, and the leading edge of this mania came from the small upstarts like the Pebble, Agent, and others. It is also a very strong rumor that Apple will be introducing their own smartwatch within the next few weeks.

Of course the reason we here at QTOOTH have our reservations when it comes to any form of smartwatch is the fact that they are not hands free. For us the reason to go wireless is so that we can “un-tether” ourselves from our technology. Just by the very nature of a wrist mounted device means that it will take not just one hand to operate but two! One to wear the device and the other to operate whatever interface is included. Plus, the watch is located near your hand which is often located in a position that makes it difficult to see, or to hear. Of course some things on a watch can be voice-controlled, but so far we haven’t seen a lot of functionality that can be accessed by voice alone on these first smartwatches.

That said, the Galaxy Gear is one of the best options in a smartwatch that we have seen so far. Seeing that all of the might of a behemoth like Samsung is behind the project, including all of their available technologies, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Starting with its screen, the Galaxy Gear has a 320 x 320-pixel, 1.63″ diagonal AMOLED touchscreen. The brain of this smartwatch is provided by an 800 MHz processor powered by a 315mAh battery. For audio, it has a speaker and a pair of mics for recording and playing back video content. This also allows for communicating with phone calls using the built-in dialer that works with whatever Galaxy device to which it is paired. Mounted into the wrist strap itself is a BSI (back-illuminated sensor, or back-sided illumination) sensor with an autofocus lens so that the wearer can capture 1.9-megapixel still images or 10-second videos at 720p, 640 or VGA quality resolution with sound. We have yet to get clarification as to whether the sound is captured in stereo via the two onboard mics or whether those mics are only paired for noise cancellation purposes when in use for making phone calls. Samsung states that the camera is designed more for convenience than it is for image quality. The camera also comes with a pre-installed app called Memographer for media management.

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So far there are a few dozen apps that will be available for the Galaxy Gear upon launch. This may be what sets this watch apart from the others. If Samsung can get a large amount of truly useful apps available quickly it will give it a real edge over the other entrants into this field. Like most of the other smartwatches, Gear can only display one app at a time due to its limited screen size and resolution. Each app is displayed as what’s known as a “card”, which is basically a slightly over-sized icon. To navigate your way around from one app to the next all you need to do is swipe the touchscreen with your finger. The other means of navigating your way through the watch’s offerings is to use the single button that is located on the right side of the body. A single press of this button will bring you to the home screen. Double pressing the button launches Samsung’s S Voice for voice controlling options and as triple press activates the “safety assistance” feature which will send your location info and a message to a saved contact in the event of an emergency.

As much as it seems like the Galaxy Gear should exhibit some real power, it seems a bit slow when executing some pretty basic functions, like launching an app. This is surprising considering that its processor is faster than what many of us had in our main computers just a few years ago. Part of the reason for this may be because it is communicating and synching with the wirelessly attached device. This might be something that will improve as updates become available, even with its current hardware configuration. Some of the apps that did perform very well though were the watch faces, of which optional ones can be uploaded from the Gear’s Android companion app, as well as the Music app which is basically a remote control for any native or 3rd party app currently active on the connected device.

There are some odd limitations that come with what we are sure is the first generation of this device. Only 10 3rd party apps can be uploaded at a time. The interface could use a little bit of refining for a smoother experience. But one of the most interesting things is the fact that the S Voice feature can only be accessed by tapping the side button twice. That might be hard to do if your hands are otherwise occupied and misses the point of being hands-free. It would be nice if they included a specific voice command that would activate the voice control functions. That can be done as shown by Google Glass’ “Ok, Glass” to activate its voice command. As much as we’ve slagged on their device, that is one of the things that Google definitely got right.

We have a mixed review as far as the look of the device is concerned. Leaked reports had the Galaxy Gear looking pretty hefty but the one on display today was much more svelte. However, it is still pretty big and considering the color options that they have so far. Two of the colors are Rose Gold and Mocha Gray which are definitely aimed at a more feminine fashion sense. The size of this device look plenty awkward in our opinion when worn on even slightly petite wrists. For men it seems to be just about right in size and proportion. Men may prefer the JET Black or Oatmeal color, but for the sporty or flashy of any persuasion they may opt for the Wild Orange or Lime Green. Speaking of which, because of the utilitarian/industrial funkiness of the design this may not be what many people would want to wear on more formal occasions, but we suppose that is a subjective call.

Battery life on this device is pretty much limited to a single day of “regular” use. We are not sure what that means exactly yet, but that certainly puts it in a different class of fashion accessory than the average watch which can be worn for months at a time, or longer, depending on a person’s needs. That means that the Samsung Galaxy Gear will need to spend a fair amount of time on its included micro-USB-equipped plastic charging dock. The dock connects through five metal pins, or leads, located on the rear of the watch.

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Another limitation, and perhaps its most significant, is that it is only compatible so far with the Galaxy Note 3 and the new Note 10.1. It is most likely to work with the Galaxy S4 phone when it gets the Android 4.3 update. What’s really unfortunate though is the fact that it will most likely never work with any non-Samsung smartphone or tablet.

So, to be honest, the future has arrived and the Dick Tracy watch is now a reality. In fact, it’s better and more powerful than anything he could’ve imagined. And yet will people want it? We’d love to get your feedback in the comments below or contact us directly.

The Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch will cost $299 when it starts shipping on September 25th to the world, except to the US and Japan who will have to wait until October. Strange release dates. Perhaps they just want to tease the two biggest markets for a bit? Or perhaps they’re afraid that they’ll sell out immediately once the US and Japan csan get them directly. We’ll see!

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PetziConnect – A Wireless Remote Camera & Treat Dispenser For Pet Owners

2013-08-09 by QTOOTH

Pet owners have gone boffo crazy for gadgets that allow them to remotely monitor and care for their pets. How modern! Taking advantage of this developing mania, err… we mean need, is Petzila who has created the PetziConnect wireless monitor. It includes not only a wireless HD camera and microphone but also a dispenser that will provide treats for your pet when triggered remotely.

Where other devices, like the FitBark or the Tagg Pet Locator are more for tracking either the fitness or the location of your pet, the PetziConnect allows you to interact with your pet even while you are at another location, like work, school, vacation, etc…

Using the camera and microphone allows pet owners to remotely summon their furry four-legged family member from their mid-day nap and then watch as they react to the disembodied voice of their master coming out of a box plugged into the wall. The PetziConnect can also record video or take photos. The owner then has the option to reward their feigned interest by dispensing a treat using a button on either the iOS or the Android app or through the internet.

Petzila was seeking funding on Indiegogo to manufacture the first batch of its wirelessly connected pet monitor/treat dispensers but easily passed its crowdfunding $30,000 goal. And in case you were wondering, PetziConnects says its device is made rugged enough to survive being mauled by a frenzied pet hoping to get more treats or to liberate its owner from inside the box. The lowest price-tag for crowdbackers to purchase a device is $99 and is scheduled for a December delivery.

In the meantime, check out all of the alternatives that are already available in the links below.

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Moto X Phone – Revealed by Google at Last

2013-08-03 by QTOOTH

The Moto X! Finally revealed by Google it represents a bid to revive the once mighty mobile tech giant. We here at QTOOTH remember having several Motorola phones over the years. We loved them. Durable with excellent call quality. Nothing else compared. The ultimate benchmark for quality was a Motorola phone on the Verizon network. We were huge, devoted fans. Remember those days?

And then the smart phone revolution began and Motorola was completely cut out of the loop. How they didn’t see it coming is a mystery. Apple, Samsung, HTC, Nokia, LG, even Blackberry had at least something going on. But not Motorola.

So, after much hype and anticipation, Motorola Mobile’s new owner Google finally rolled out their new offering. The general consensus? Better luck next time. Overpriced, under-performing and laden with curious choices, including NOT including the latest version of the Android operating system. This has to be one of the biggest mysteries, after all, Google makes Android and Google owns Motorola. Why wouldn’t it be sporting you latest offering? Baffling…

The biggest feature that they are touting? It’s ability to come in different colors… after being special ordered… and taking at a few days to get to you. Really? When most people want a phone they want it immediately. They want to walk into a store and by it today. And in the end, who really cares what color your phone is when you are just going to cover it with a case or some type of protector? That’s where the real style choices happen, not with the phone itself.

The phone features a 4.7-inch screen device is aimed at the iPhone and the Galaxy S phones. The Moto X features “all-day” battery life, a choice of colors and materials, and an instant-start camera, the company said today at a press event in New York. The Moto X is priced starting at $199 with a two-year contract and will only be available on all AT&T by the end of August or early September. That’s about the same time that the new Apple iPhone is set to hit the market and will probably make the Moto X completely irrelevant.

The device is the first homegrown smartphone from Motorola since Google acquired the business last year for $12.4 billion, as the Internet giant ramps up its hardware ambitions against Apple and others.

There is some claim to being made in U.S.A. and are hoping to attract fans because of this. The reality is that it will only be assembled in Texas at a former Nokia factory and that this will mostly involve the customizing of the color options. Customers can choose the colors of the front, back and accents of the Moto X on the website Motomaker.com. Motorola guarantees phone delivery in four days. One of the custom options is to have a wooden back made from a choice of ebony, teak, rosewood, or bamboo. Only that last choice is remotely sustainable. So? Not exactly hi-tech and not exactly made in America. Unlikely that they will fool anyone with this ruse.

Here are a few good details:A curved, ergonomic back and 10-megapixel camera. Similar to the Motorola Droids on Verizon Wireless, the Moto X runs on a chip system known as X8. Motorola developed twin lower-powered chips to run alongside the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro main processor.

The multichip system is designed to conserve battery life by letting the processor sleep while the lower-power chips work in the background — sensing location, speed and message notifications, as well as listening for voice commands. As an example, even if the phone is locked, the user can say, “OK Google now,” to create and send a message, or open turn-by-turn navigation through Google Maps. And with two flips of the wrist, sensors will turn on the camera and be ready to shoot in 2 seconds, said Rick Osterloh, product chief for Motorola.

As we see it here at QTOOTH maybe Google/Motorola will make more of their investment back when they introduce it to the international market. Maybe they are just trying to establish value by charging $199 with a two year contract but it should be half the price, or less, for what it offers. We’ll take an iPhone 4s or a Galaxy S3 over this anytime. Also, maybe they have plans to roll out instant upgrades to the latest Android OS. Whatever their plans are, they better move quickly to save this phone from an early death.

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Twine: The Wireless Sensor That Monitors Your Life and Alerts You – Wherever You Are

2013-07-12 by QTOOTH

So here’s the scenario:
You’re at work, on vacation, goofing off on holiday… but you have that nagging feeling that the relentless rainstorms back home might be finally adding up to enough to flood your basement. Again. Although you can’t see it, things are happening pretty much exactly as you fear is starting to look like this:

Not so bad you think? EXACTLY! It’s just starting to come into the basement. Luckily you have a Twine wireless sensor unit ready to detect the state of things and it sends you a lovely notification through text, email, tweet, etc… Like so:

Now you can call your family, neighbors, house-sitter, handyman, and make sure things are taken care of BEFORE there’s any real damage from an otherwise avoidable disaster. But wait! The Twine is capable of doing a lot more. And if you are really clever, and one of those home inventor/creative-types, you’re pretty much only limited by your imagination. Here’s the lowdown for Twines own site:

Listen to your home, wherever you are.

Twine alerts you to small problems before they become big problems. Quick Wi-Fi setup and AAA batteries that last up to 3 months let you drop Twine anywhere you want to monitor temperature, vibration and orientation. Additional wired sensors detect floods, leaks, opened doors, and signals from your other home systems. Tell a web app what to listen to with simple rules, and you’ll get notifications and peace of mind via email, SMS, Twitter and more.

How it works

Twine is a wireless sensor block tightly integrated with a cloud-based service. The durable, rubbery block has Wi-Fi, on-board temperature and orientation sensors, and an expansion connector for other sensors. Power is supplied by micro USB or two AAA batteries that will run for up to 3 months (and Twine will email you when you need to change the batteries).

The Twine web app makes it simple to set up and monitor your Twines from a browser anywhere. You set rules to trigger messages — no programming needed. The rules are put together with a palette of available conditions and actions, and read like normal sentences: WHEN moisture sensor gets wet THEN text “The basement is flooding!”

Because the hardware and software are made for each other, setup is easy. There’s nothing to install — just point Twine to your Wi-Fi network. Sensors are immediately recognized by the web app when you plug them in, and it reflects what the sensors see in real time, which makes understanding and testing your rules easy.

Listen to your world

Talk to the Web

Out of the box, Twine has several internal sensors.

Temperature

Measure the temperature. Are your pipes freezing? Is your air conditioning broken? Is it nice up by the lake today?

Vibration

Sense when Twine starts or stops shaking, with adjustable sensitivity. Know when your laundry’s done, your sump pump starts, or someone’s knocking at the door.

Orientation

Sense which side of Twine is facing up. Trigger actions by flipping Twine over, or detect when the garage or the oven is left opened.

Plug in additional external sensors and they pop up on the web app, ready to use.

External temperature

Measure the temperature where your Twine can’t go. Make sure your freezer or refrigerator is working properly, your grain silo isn’t too hot, or that the weather outside is nice.

Magnetic switch

Triggered when a magnet is moved toward or away from it. Get notified when your door or window is opened, the mailbox is opened, or your dog goes outside.

Moisture sensor

Detect the presence of water. Know when your basement floods, when your AC’s drip pan is overflowing, or when it rained.

Breakout board

Plug in your own digital input without soldering. Terminals for signal, 3.3V power and ground are provided. Connect your doorbell, garage door or other electrical system.

Cloud Shield

The easiest way to make an Arduino talk to the Internet. Add Twine actions to your project, or use Arduino to build custom sensors for Twine.

Twine can contact you in a number of ways.

Email
Twitter
Text message *
Phone call (text-to-speech)*
HTTP GET and POST requests
Put your real-time Twine sensor information in Panic Status Board or your own webpage

* With optional paid account: $5/month for 100 text messages, $9/month for 200 text messages or voice calls.

via Supermechanical: Twine

These is one cool unit. We here at QTOOTH can’t wait to get our hands on one. I see these, or similar devices, becoming routine in many homes in the near future. Can you say, “Hey insurance company! How’s about a discount on our home or renter’s policy if we promise to run these?”

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Wireless Fun with the Sphero iOS and Android App Controlled Robotic Ball

2013-07-09 by QTOOTH

And now for a little bit of fun! Check out the Orbotix Sphero, the first robotic ball gaming device that you control with a tilt, touch, or swing from your smartphone or tablet. You can even use Sphero as a controller for on-screen gameplay. Sphero interacts seamlessly with mobile apps, giving you new ways to test your skills, play games with friends, or get inventive and co-op this for your own nefarious purposes. A Bluetooth connection makes Sphero ready to play as fast as you can launch an app. And with single- or multi-player games, there will be plenty of surprises.

Acclaimed by Popular Science, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, and MSNBC and featured as one of the year’s hottest gadgets by TechCrunch, Wired, Gizmodo, Engadget, and Make magazine, Sphero offers a new type of game play for the smartphone generation.

A durable, impact-resistant polycarbonate shell allows for lasting gameplay. Easily operate the Sphero robotic ball from your smartphone or tablet’s touchscreen. Controlling from your mobile device is easy and intuitive–just tilt, gesture, or swing, and it responds. Because your experience changes with every new app you download, the entertainment never stops.

Sphero’s Bluetooth connection ensures control is always responsive and fluid, even at long ranges. You will be able to steer through homemade obstacle courses, weave it between feet, and even out-maneuver your family pet.

Sphero immerses you in a new type of gameplay called mixed-reality, in which real and virtual elements are seamlessly merged together. Several free apps are available for download (and more continuously being developed), providing you with plenty of gaming thrills.

Standout apps include Sphero Drive, where you can choose from touchscreen interfaces like joystick, old-school RC control, and tilt mode to give you a variety of ways to test your skills and challenge friends. In a mixed-reality version of golf, you create a hole, then swing your phone to putt towards the hole. Think Sphero just rolls? Think again. Hold it in your hand, start up Chromo, and move Sphero to match colors and patterns as they appear on your screen.

Roughly the size of a baseball, Sphero is compact enough to slip into a bag or jacket pocket. The durable, impact-resistant polycarbonate shell allows for lasting gameplay. And with customizable colored LEDs, you can change color to suit your mood, play in the dark, or create a team color.

Sphero is extremely efficient. A single battery charge delivers over an hour of full-throttle play, thanks to cable-free induction charging. Sphero is compatible with a variety of mobile platforms, including iOS 4.0 or greater, Android 2.2, Android 2.3.3+, and Android 3.0+. Sphero also has an Open API (application program interface) for developers, which allows virtually anyone to program new games and apps for Sphero. The API is intuitive, so you will be able to use it whether you are a seasoned developer or a novice app programmer.

What’s in the Box? Sphero robotic ball, inductive charging base, quick-start card, and user’s manual.

Free Apps Available via Download Include:

Sphero

Familiarize yourself with Sphero’s personality, give commands, and gain access to basic driving functions. See where you stand on leaderboards and achievements. Even discover new apps as they roll in.

Drive

Drive Sphero with joystick, tilt, or old-school remote controls. Create challenging courses, race against friends and family, or turn out the lights for a little night racing.

Golf

Sphero is the ball and your phone is the club. Create a “hole” then swing your phone or swipe a finger to hit. Challenge friends to a round of office golf, create your own course at home, or venture out and make your own course practically anywhere.

SpheroCam

Have fun with Sphero and never miss a funny moment. Use the built-in camera on your device to record video or take snapshots while you simultaneously drive it. Will your SpheroCam video go viral? Record, upload, and find out!

Draw N’ Drive

Use your finger to trace a shape or path on the screen and it will follow it before your eyes. Just give your smartphone or tablet a shake to clear the slate. Even make Sphero change colors as it rolls by using the integrated color wheel.

Chromo

Get ready to challenge your coordination and memory with the first app that lets you use it as a controller. Move Sphero to match the colors on your screen for an entirely new way to challenge yourself. You can choose from six different game modes.

MacroLab

Create easy, repeatable programs and macros. Arrange simple commands and settings in any combination you choose to let Sphero drive autonomously, follow unique patterns, and more, all while learning basic programming. Play your commands, save favorites, and even share them with friends. MacroLab makes programming easy and fun.

So we at QTOOTH say give it a whirl, it looks like fun!

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Borqs Focuses on the Road Weary with Smart Vehicle Mounted Terminals

2013-06-27 by QTOOTH

Intimidated by road-trip getaways? Overwhelmed by boredom while driving? Like to work on-the-move but can’t access your office computer from your car? Well, quit worrying, because vehicle-mounted terminals are finally here! Boasting user-focused interactive features, these smart devices are designed to completely satisfy drivers’ demands in the modern age. What’s more, Borqs believes that their advances are sure to bring about an entirely new driving experience and radically change car culture.

In 2012, 15.495 million passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, and others) were sold in China, a growth rate of 7.1 percent from the previous year. An EnfoDesk report titled “The Quarterly Report of China’s Pre-installed Vehicle Navigator Market” revealed that shipments of before-market vehicle navigation systems had increased dramatically during the 2nd quarter of 2012 to 361,000 units in total. This represented an increase of 22.9 percent over the previous year. In the 4th quarter, this number rose further to 342,000 units, an increase of 9.3 percent over the previous quarter. Additionally, the after-market demand for commercial vehicle navigation systems is also rising by the day.

Customer demands in this large market are becoming more complex. On a driving holiday, car owners want to be able to simultaneously change destinations, check out local geography and weather conditions, enjoy unrestricted videophone calls and high-speed web browsing, watch HD video on demand, play online 3D games, interact via voice, and use other data-intensive interactive applications. The Borqs Smart Vehicle Mounted Platform meets all of these demands.

Borqs has redesigned Android for vehicles, and the result is an open, flexible, and secure vehicle-mounted OS that leverages satellite positioning and inertial navigation technology provided by Beidou. Borqs’ sophisticated systems also rely on network-assisted positioning technologies, guaranteeing accurate full-time navigation services across any and all topographies. TD-LTE also integrates a high-speed wireless data cloud, providing users with dynamic and intelligent navigation services. And thanks to the accurate positioning services and real-time data provided by Beidou and TD-LTE, Borqs’ Smart Background Vehicle Management System makes it easy to simultaneously monitor, supervise, and dispatch up to two passenger vehicles and one hazardous cargo vehicle, all in real time.

The Borqs Smart Vehicle Mounted Terminal uses Android 4.1, offering a feature-rich UI with simplified workflows, all adapted to the specialized habits of customers. The device is also future compatible, supporting mobile internet technologies such as HTML5 and IPv6. And Borqs has also expanded platform functionality to include cloud computing and safety control features. For our Smart Vehicle Mounted System, Borqs has collaborated with many of China’s premier car manufacturers, including FAW, Chang’an Automobiles, the GAC Group, and GEELY, providing customers with vehicle-mounted communication, recorded media entertainment, information services, route guidance, safety assistance, and car maintenance tips for vehicle monitoring, navigation, and entertainment.

via Smart Vehicle Mounted Terminals: For an Entirely New Way of Life — CUPERTINO, Calif., June 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ —.

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