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Monday, May 28, 2012
Monday Brief: Enyo team members head to Google, Absinthe 2.0 released, and more!
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Editor's desk: Next small things, WWDC 2012, videos, podcasts, features, and more!
What's the easiest way to take a weapon away from a Grammaton Cleric? The answer to that is the answer to a lot of seemingly difficult problems, including, sadly, how to get passwords away from unsuspecting users. Unfortunately, it's not at all a way to get anything away from Apple. Not ever. So we're left with a mix of leaks, speculation, and analysis. We've been trying to avoid the rumor regurgitation lately to focus on some of that analysis. More on that below.
The next big (small) thing
A while ago, after Apple announced the iPad had done in 2 years what took the iPhone 3, the iPod 5, and the Mac 20, I asked out loud what Apple could possibly do to once again equal or surpass that success? What could be Apple's next big thing?
It's looking increasingly likely that next big thing may come this fall, and will be something quite small.
WWDC 2012
We're only a couple of weeks away from Apple's 2012 World Wide Developer Conference. While there might be some new Macs announced sometime around the show, we're still hearing there won't be any new iOS devices this summer (see above). However, we're assuming we'll see the first signs of iOS 6.
I'll be there, along with our app editor, Leanna Lofte, and our podcast co-host, Seth Clifford.
If you're a developer and you have something awesome to show off, email iosapps@imore.com and let us know. We'd love to meet up.
Video velocity
I don't think it's any secret that iMore's really taken things to another level when it comes to photography on a gadget blog. Especially with Leanna's work, it's not impossible to imagine us being a photography blog that just happens to have iOS devices, apps, and accessories as our subject matter.
Well, like I promised when we changed the site name, we're not going to be slowing down any time soon. So now we're trying to bring the same art direction and ambition to our videos as well.
We want to make them fun and dynamic, engaging and informative, authoritative and definitive but always, always accessible and approachable. We want to keep them part of our discussion and our community, but we want to do it with far more style.
It's an effort to bring some of the iMore TV flair to all of our efforts. To make it the rule instead of the exception. So we've drafted Georgia's husband to help us out and he's been doing a bunch of different experiments with the last few accessory review videos we've done. We're still getting all our equipment in order, and we're still working hard to solidify the concept, but I'm really excited and I can't wait to show you where we're going with them.
If there's anything you want to see us try -- or not try! -- let me know.
Podcast perfectionism
Speaking of experiments, we're still working on the format of our iPhone & iPad Live podcast. We're focused on keeping the 60 minute hard stop, but how we fill those 60 minutes is still up for grabs. For a few weeks we tried to split things up, focus on a headline story, then divide the rest up between news, apps, and accessories. Last week we went more with a round-table concept, invited on a guest, and really did a deep dive on a few, related stories. Specifically, we got Marc Edwards of Bjango to fill in for Seth, and Mark Gurman from 9to5Mac to fill out the panel, and we discussed the ever loving stuffing out of what we might see from Apple when it comes to next generation and new devices.
Which format do you like best so far? Do you want smaller shows or more guests? Fewer topics or more variety? What's your ideal balance?
Check out last week's show and tell me what you think.
Features
- Jailbreak, app piracy, and the true cost of theft by Ally Kazmucha. There's no such thing as "free" -- everything comes at a price.
- Best free simulation games for iPhone by Simon Sage. You asked, our resident editor-at-very-large answered.
- Best free educational apps for iPhone by Leanna Lofte. Our resident math teacher takes a look at several different ways the iPhone can help all of us learn.
- How to set up, configure, secure, and start using Siri by Gary Mazo. Our new, in-depth help series on Siri has begun.
- How to take fantastic photos of your kids with your iPhone by Leanna Lofte. Our iPhoneography series returns, in cutely awesome fashion.
- How Apple could provide direct document access in iOS 6 by yours truly. It's the third year in a row I've updated this article. Hopefully that makes it charming.
- When is the iPhone 5 coming out? by Georgia. Because you guys won't stop asking, we're making it easier to answer.
- The 16:9 iPhone by yours truly. Assuming Apple goes with a wider screen iPhone, how could they make it work? Could it even work?
Recommended reading
- Understanding Skype's limitations on Windows Phone by Rafael Rivera. Microsoft owns Skype yet Skype can't run, or can't run well, on their phones. And there's a reason for that.
- Why it wouldn't make sense for RIM to initially launch a BlackBerry 10 phone with a physical keyboard by Kevin Michaluk. Not in a world where people are fine typing glass, at least.
- iOS 6 and Files.app by Federico Viticci. Wherein Federico riffs on my Files.app for iOS concept with his usual insight and aplomb.
- Speculation on the next Mac Pro by Marco Arment. I'm hoping for a Mac Pro update as well, with the latest Xeon chips and Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 support.
- The 7-inch iPad by Jim Dalrymple. The written equivalent of smashing a guitar over the head of silly iPad mini stories, then doing a rational, hard rock solo on the joint.
- Three Things That Should Trouble Apple by Guy English. Success hides vulnerabilities. Guy pantses the Apple quarterback and points out the holes in their undergarments.
- A New Service to Take Writer's Content and Redistribute it as an eBook to the Web, Thus Avoiding Visiting the Writer's Site by Ben Brooks. Ben continues to give content creators a voice in how their content is used (or misused, depending on your point of view.) How would this service fare if it, for example, offered all the Harry Potter books or Game of Thrones episodes? (Don't miss his follow up posts either.)
- Facebook's IPO "Disaster" by MG Siegler. On just how many f--ks Facebook gives about investors unhappy they couldn't profit-take the day after Facebook went public.
- Warren Buffett's letter to publishers and editors by Warren Buffett. One of the world's richest men thinks it was a mistake for newspapers to give online content away for free.
Equilibrium
The answer to the riddle at the start of this editorial? You ask him for it. (And you make sure as hell your Gun Kata is better than his.)
Excuse me while I go train...
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Diabetes Deaths Drop Substantially, US
In the decade leading up to 2006, the US saw a substantial drop in deaths for people with diabetes, especially in connection with heart disease and stroke, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)...
Game of the Week: Burnout CRASH! for iPhone and iPad
This Memorial Day weekend is rife with games on sale, but even with the "Because we May" promotion offering up a bunch of options, Burnout CRASH! is our game of the week. It's on sale for $0.99, down from $4.99, and offers a fun, fast-paced destruction derby consistent with the great franchise. You lead your car by pressing the screen down in front of it with the express goal of blowing up as much stuff as possible. Your first crash blocks off traffic, and as more cars pile in, your Crashbreaker meter climbs, allowing you to flick your wreck across the road and explode it next to neighboring buildings.
There are three game modes spanning six themed locations and 18 intersections, all with online leaderboards. Dramatic power-ups are available if you cause enough damage or crash the right cars; they're all goofy, including spinning the Pizza of Fortune wheel to win a prize, or calling in an alien UFO to cause some destruction to the neighborhood. In the end, you're scored based on the dollar amount of damage you cause, and earn bonus stars for accomplishing particular tasks in the level, like blowing up particular structures. As you amass stars, you unlock new levels and new cars with varying crashing power and Crashbreaker ability.
Burnout CRASH! is the perfect game for players with short attention spans; there's always a lot of explosions, goofy sound effects, snappy one-liners, and seemingly random prizes. It's an entertaining time-waster for sure, especially if you've spent any time with the console Burnout games. I find the bass on the audio maxes out every once in awhile, and the leaderboards, for all of their prominence, aren't particularly interesting if you don't have a lot of friends that play it. No dice on cloud saving or Retina iPad textures, but at least it's universal.
$0.99 - Download Now
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Solar Power in a Suitcase for Medical Situations
Obstetrician Laura Stachel from Berkeley, CA was on a medical relief mission in Africa when she observed a C-section being performed at night,… by the light of a kerosene lantern. The lantern died during the operation, so the rest of the procedure had to be completed with a flashlight.
She was shocked by the lack of resources available for medical treatment during her visit, so when she returned home she set about trying to come up with solutions.
Her husband works in the solar industry, so he began to experiment with various combinations of solar panels and small lights to invent a portable solar kit that could be used for medical field trips in Africa. Solar power and a small battery system seemed to be the best choice, because villages in rural areas are off-grid but there is abundant sunshine during daylight hours for recharging batteries. Also, small lights could be stored in the same suitcase kit for transportation and protection during trips.
Today, their suitcase solar kits are used in nearly 200 medical clinics in various locations across the planet. Initially, the kit was designed for use in obstetric situations, but now can be employed in any medical emergency or healthcare event.
Key components of the system are solar panels for generating 40 or 80 watts, LED lighting for medical tasks, chargers for batteries and cell phones, and a 12-amp-hour sealed lead acid battery. There are also outlets for 12V DC electronics. This system can also be expanded to accommodate 200 watts of solar panels and a 140-amp-hour sealed battery.
About 15,000 mothers each year are now provided emergency medical care 24 hours a day because of the solar suitcases. Reportedly, over 350,000 mothers die from pregnancy complications each year.
Additionally, these small portable lighting systems don’t generate air pollution by burning kerosene, and don’t have the same potential to start accidental fires.
If you are interested in supporting We Care Solar, you can donate on their site.
 Image Credit: We Care Solar
Related posts:
- U.S. Marines Go GREENS with Portable Solar-in-a-Suitcase
- Forget Solar-in-a-Suitcase, the Air Force is getting Solar Power in a Shipping Container
- Google Donates 3,000 Solar Chargers to International Medical Corps
Source: CleanTechnica
HyperSolar Envisions Solar Powered Hydrogen "Farms"
Last year the solar company HyperSolar, Inc. filed a patent application for a solar powered system that creates renewable methane gas from water, which it has been testing out at California’s Salton Sea. Just last week, the company announced that it has completed a proof-of-concept prototype for a solar-powered hydrogen generator, so this looks like a good time to check in and see what they’re up to.
Everything you need to know about hydrogen
Hydrogen can be produced from plain water through a reaction touched off by electricity. However, it takes a significant amount of energy to split hydrogen atoms from water molecules. If the energy in question is a fossil fuel then hydrogen is a wash in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
An emerging solution is to develop hydrogen production systems that are integrated with solar power, essentially mimicking the natural process of photosynthesis.
One notable example of this approach is MIT researcher Daniel Nocera’s solar powered “artificial leaf,” which is based on a small solar module the size of a playing card.
Plastic bags, solar power and green hydrogen
Hypersolar’s system goes even farther down the size spectrum, using tiny particles consisting of a nanoscale solar device and a protective plastic coating.
The particles float in water, and the coating enables them to function in hostile environments including sea water, wastewater or stormwater runoff. That gives the system a leg up on conventional hydrogen systems, which require purified water.
The reaction takes place at ambient temperatures, so it can take place in a low-cost glass vessel or even an ordinary plastic bag.
For the proof of concept prototype, Hypersolar used a baggie placed in wastewater from a pulp and paper mill.
A little help from hydrogen friends
Hypersolar recently partnered up with the UC-Santa Barbara College of Engineering to bring the technology closer to commercial development, with a focus on using municipal and industrial wastewater as feedstocks. Potentially, the system could be scaled up to form sprawling hydrogen “farms.”
When they’re ready for another announcement, we’ll be sure to check in again.
Image: Courtesy of Hypersolar.
Follow me on Twitter: @TinaMCasey.
Related posts:
- HyperSolar’s Green Gas Makes Fracking Obsolete
- Renewable Natural Gas from CO2, Water, & Sunlight
- Hydrogen for 200 Million Vehicles: Air Products/Orange County Open Wastewater-Hydrogen Fuel Plant
Source: CleanTechnica
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