Scared of the Google Eye?
I have noticed a small amount of backlash and negativity over the announcement of Google’s Project Glass (or “Google Eye” as the device itself might be called). I’ve seen the usual technophobic over-reactions and a number of comments exclaiming that they’ll never wear such a device (and that others shouldn’t either). It all feels very familiar…
I’m wondering… of those claiming they’ll never wear this kinda thing – do they currently have a smartphone? Did they say the same about that technology or was that somehow different? Because I’m about 99% convinced that wearable tech is going to be the next big thing and that eventually… not having some kind of wearable tech on your person – be it a Google Eye or an iPod Nano watch – will be as rare as not having a smartphone is today.
I do share some privacy concerns over all of this and occasionally wonder if there’s a point where we (as in humanity) could go too far. That’s a healthy fear (which increases as I get older, possibly due to mortality reason)… contemplating the dark sides of it all. But then there’s the positives… the practical, the enrichment of life that technology brings. I like to think about it in utterly simplistically terms – as I take some comfort in this – for every damaging application of technology invented…. a compensating applications of technology can be invented to balance it out. So for example if a cheeky Google Eye developer releases an x-ray vision app, instead of fearing a world where everyone can see everyone naked, consider that someone somewhere will bring out out a new clothing material to block it!
Project Glass
I’ve been harping on about it for a while saying it’s gonna be the next big thing. Here it is…
This is going to disrupt things big time.
A few predictions:
- This could well start to chip away at Apple’s reign (unless perhaps they respond with Nano watches and convince everyone they’re better). But I’ve already got the Android SDK installed and will be diverting my attention there more over time. I’m sure other devs will start thinking the same.
- This further convinces me that Microsoft is just too slow these days and will continue to fall behind the pace.
- The media will jump on this negatively due to privacy concerns and that’ll be the greatest obstacle for Google to overcome getting this to market.
- Design will be important (if they look geeky, uptake will be slow). The first version we’re seeing here ain’t bad imo but I’m sure others will disagree. Regardless, I imagine they’ll release this in the same model of Android smartphones… i.e an open OS/framework for anyone to manufacture to. So we’ll eventually see designer Project Glass D&G prescription/shades etc. and then it’ll impact the mainstream.
- Goes without saying this will impact smartphone sales eventually. For some these may even be enough to get by on their own (especially if voice input grows with it – and Google is working on that Siri competitor remember). However I think the most likely user-case will be a combo of glasses/smartphone or glasses and some other kind of bluetooth input device (mini keyboard).
Where Are The TV Apps?
Some opinions I shared recently on the state of Apple TV:
I’m just surprised the whole TV thing is taking so long to establish. I guess R&D takes time and Apple is behind closed doors trying every combination of hardware, design, software (inc. SDKs), UI, … etc. I thought the Apple TV would have apps by now though. That 8Gb of on-board memory is still un-tapped.
It’s clear they’re heading there though, eventually. The latest Apple TV update, which looks a bit naff in my opinion (unlike of Apple to do that) is obviously starting to introduce the idea of apps with them big, ugly icons. When an app store is released and the devs pile in (especially the mainstream publishers like iBBC, Netflix, …) then it’ll really start to take off. And at that point, if I can use an app like AirServer to stream my local video library, as well as BBC, and other app “channels”… well I doubt the traditional TV stuff will get much of a look-in again.
Bandwidth will remain an issue until network infrastructures catch up. That will give terrestrial TV and other forms of lounge-media (DVDs, Bluray) a while longer… but I still think they’ll start to fade. On-demand, schedule-free and an even playing field for publishers will win out. Not entirely, but I think there’ll be parallels between what’s going in the games industry right now. Big game development studios are losing out to the new micro-apps industry where anyone – indy or company – can publish to everyone in the world. It’ll be the same thing on the TV front… the mainstream networks will take a hit when everyone has an AppleTV (or GoogleTV) and is a button press away from YouTube, Vimeo, Netflix and Angry Birds – The Cartoon Series (it’ll happen). There will still be a place for big-budget players and decent TV episodes will still cost millions to make but they’ll need to adjust their sales models.
The Itch Is Scratched
Back in April 2010 I started this blog with the opening statement…
Welcome to my new blog. It’s about my 10th. The chances of its long-term survival are bleak I’m afraid. The good news is that you’re reading the very first post so my enthusiasm and itch-to-write is currently completely disguising the time-investment required to keep on posting! I’m also, once again, under the utter disbelief that this time will be different. I guess we’ll see…
The itch is now scratched. It’s time to do something different around here. This will be the last post to this blog.
My reasons are:
Who am I talking to? I appreciate those that took the time to comment on my posts but (personal) blogging platforms just aren’t a place that reward feedback or ongoing conversation. Social networks are where that happens. I get more response from a tweet of 140 characters than I do a 200 word article that took me an hour to write.
Social noise is becoming extreme these days. Everyone’s following Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, all their favourite news sites, e-mail, instant messages, iPhone alerts, … it goes on and on. There is a never-ending and increasingly overwhelming amount of information to interact with and consume. It’s crazy. And it means folk only have time to focus on the most relevant and the most important (to them). My day to day activities qualify in neither category in the vast majority of people’s minds. I won’t beat myself up about that because that’s the case for 99% of us in this world.
I may as well leave industry commentary to the journalists. There are writers who get paid to comment on and report industry events to the extent I sometimes try. They have the advantage of time and reputation on their side. I do enjoy writing and that’s often enough (to express myself/opinion) but perhaps I’d be better seeking out an already-established avenue to do that – or simply surpress it and focus on bigger goals.
Which brings me onto the primary reason for this decision… I’m going underground to focus on pet projects. I’ve got some interesting ideas that I’ve been developing lately and I plan to push a few of them over the line.
I’ll be updating this website soon to be more project portfolio, less blog.
Update: I’m now redirecting my root domain elsewhere. I’ll leave this blog in place for the time being. Maybe I’ll come back to it someday.
Update 2: I’m back :)
iOS5 Top 5 New Features
This post is part of my WWDC and E3 2011 commentary.
For me, the most exciting news at WWDC 2011 were all the new features packed into version 5 of Apple’s mobile operating system. These will be rolled out as free updates to everyone who owns an iPhone or iPad in a few months time. There are over 200 new features – too many to discuss in one post. Here are the 5 I think will impact the most…
WWDC and E3 2011
It has been an exciting time for technology enthusiasts lately. Two, huge events took place in the same week. One was Apple’s WWDC (Worldwide Developer’s Conference) where Steve Jobs and co. revealed their future plans for iOS (the iPhone and iPad operating system), Lion (the Mac’s operating system) and iCloud (a new service for storing your data online).
The other event was E3, the biggest annual entertainments expo at which all the games developers, publishers and console manufacturers pack into one space and try to wow the press and public with what they’ve been working on. It’s a place for big reveals, immense amounts of hype, and cutting edge tech. I absolutely love it.
The problem (and it’s a nice problem) with having both WWDC and E3 in the same week is that it has taken this long to absorb everything new that was announced. I’ve been watching all the keynotes and trailers, reading up on all the technical info and figuring out what’s hot and what’s not.
So what were the biggest announcements? What’s most likely to shake up the industry in 2011-2012? What is going to end up in the hands of average Joe Punter? I’ll be sharing my opinions in a series of posts over the next few days and weeks…
- iOS5 Top 5 New Features
More coming soon…
Update: We’re past the point where it’s worth me writing anymore about WWDC and E3. It was some time ago now and the world has long since moved on. I think it’ll be better if I concentrate on my own life/projects here from now on, rather than try to commentate on everything else. That’s what news blogs and social media are for.
Feed Junkie TV
I’ve been getting more and more needy-greedy for desktop real estate lately. I’m now up to four displays in my man cave at home (more if you include iPads and iPhones, which I don’t) and five in the office at Linc (two of which aren’t currently in use but soon will be).
I blame the person who first dumped a second monitor on my desk and suggested I give dual-screen a chance because “monitors were going spare”. I didn’t need a second monitor back then… my desktop habits were perfectly organised into a single space: four borders, no neck action required. Now I can’t comfortably make do without at least three screens to flick between, cross reference and feed me information from multiple sources.
Nintendo 3DS (Or iPad 2?)
If, like me, you walk into a JB HiFi (or equivalent) anytime soon, with a bit of cash in your back wallet, looking around at what new gadget you can treat yourself to (as you do), you’ll see there are currently two pop-out options.
- Nintendo’s latest gaming handheld, the Nintendo 3DS.
- Apple’s iPad 2 (or the older, iPad 1 if you haven’t got one already).
Which should you get? There’s an easy answer… the iPad 2. Unless perhaps… you already own an iPad 1. Which I do. So I got the 3DS…
Apple Stealth: iOS in the Living Room
The new iOS 4.3 update for iPhones/iPads was released yesterday. I was tinkering with it last night and with (what I believe to be) one of the most exciting and potentially impacting features: AirPlay.
If you’ve got an Apple TV, AirPlay lets you beam any video/audio in an app out onto your big TV in the living room. I’ve been anticipating this feature since 4.2 when a (disappointing) partial version of it was first rolled out, limited to just some of Apple’s own apps. Now it can be used by 3rd party apps too such as InMethod’s AirVideo (screenshot above) and I’m happy to report, it works really well.
