Author Archives: Ewdison Then

Google, and now parent company Alphabet, is often known for a place where dreams are made. The flip side of that coin is that it is also sometimes a place where those dreams are buried. Notorious for axing even expensive projects, Google and Alphabet regularly shut down things that no longer seem viable, especially from a commercial perspective. The latest to be given that treatment is wind power company Makani but, fortunately, the story doesn't end on a completely sad note.

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The 120Hz displays on the Galaxy S20 series are definitely game-changers as far as the traditionally slower AMOLED screen tech goes. But as with the first 120Hz screens that landed on the first Razer Phone, there is some confusion as to what the feature can and cannot do or even when. Samsung may have opted to err on the side of caution much to some new Galaxy S20 owner's dismay but it seems that at least one of those will be "fixed" in some future firmware update.

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Apple has just publicly admitted that the novel coronavirus outbreak will indeed have adverse effects on its upcoming products, warning investors of supply shortages and missing earlier guidance targets. It's not all doom and gloom though, despite the somewhat muted atmosphere, and Apple is still expected to push through with product launches despite potential supply problems. Apparently, that includes even a new iPad Pro that may launch next month, perhaps alongside the cheaper iPhone 9 or iPhone SE 2.

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The effects of the novel coronavirus have already started to be seen and felt in the tech industry. Big events like MWC 2020 have been canceled while press announcements are being moved to live streaming platforms. Companies, including Apple, have lowered their forecasts due to supply, production, and logistics problems in China. For a while, reports gave hope that at least the iPhone 9 or iPhone SE 2, whichever it will be called, would be spared from this but now Apple's supply woes are expected to extend to April, potentially affecting the launch of this more affordable iPhone model.

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Smartwatches have suddenly become hot items in no small part thanks to the Apple Watch's life-saving health features. As far as smartwatches themselves are concerned, however, there has actually been very little innovation or substantial changes in that space. That is a prime opportunity for anyone and everyone to claim a smartwatch revolution, which is the picture that OPPO's vice-president of global marketing is trying to paint in drumming up hype for the OPPO Watch.

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Virtual reality head-mounted displays, at least the ones not powered by smartphones, aren't that easy to make, which is partly why dedicated HMDs are far and few in between, not to mention expensive. In addition to the variety of sensors and cameras required for tracking, the displays used in these headsets are often custom made per VR platform. One way to bring down prices and make VR headsets more common is to commoditize the components which is exactly what Japan Display, Inc. or JDI is doing with what may be one of the few mass-produced displays for VR HMDs.

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Microsoft is doing more than putting a new coat of Fluid paint on its apps and services across different platforms. It has, for better or worse, started to merge three of its core Office apps into one app to rule them all. After going in and out of private testing, that unified Microsoft Office app is now available for all on Android. For some reason, however, Microsoft has chosen to ignore the one or two places where this app could have the most beneficial impact.

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It's hard to believe that it has almost been three months since Google made the rather gutsy move to take on the gaming console giants and to some extent even Steam but that's exactly how long since Stadia has been running. It has been a rough first few weeks and, to date, there are still some doubts about its long-term viability. Its true test, however, will come when the trial period for Stadia Pro subscribers end but it will apparently make sure that these "Founders" won't have to move out completely when that date arrives.

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The Galaxy Z Flip just launched but it is also just Samsung's opening salvo. The company wants to sell more foldable phones this year, which means it has to make more foldable phones as well. The Galaxy Z Flip changed the formula a bit but the Galaxy Fold's true successor is still coming. Codenamed "Champ", not "Winner 2" as earlier leaked, this won't just be a repeat of last year's form with new Ultra-Thin Glass on top. It will bring its own innovation to the fold, no pun intended, and it will most likely push the price tag even higher.

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Blizzard may have been getting a lot of flak lately for its failure to reinvigorate the classic WarCraft III through its Reforged remaster but that is just one of the recent high-profile flops the game developer has made. More than a decade ago, it called quits on what could have been a major milestone for Blizzard's entry into the console space but, after years of delays, StarCraft: Ghost was eventually canceled. Now thanks to the magic of the Internet and some brave source, the public is getting a taste of what the game on the Xbox could have been.

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Google has always been accused of trying to copy Apple but there are cases when that can actually be a good thing. For a time, it seemed that the tech giant has finally come across its own confident aesthetic identity, one that fans of both software and hardware products can be proud of. Then along came the Pixel 4, which seemed to throw a wrench in that theory. And just when you thought the worst is over, here comes a first glance at what could be the Pixel 5.

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The idea of literal wearables, that is smart clothes, hasn't exactly appealed even to tech-savvy consumers. There are cases, however, when embedding almost undetectable sensors and chips in clothing can have a significant advantage over traditional forms of monitoring. It turns out, diapers are a prime example of that and researchers at MIT are developing a sensor that not only can be put in a diaper to alert caretakers if it's wet, it can also be disposed along with the dirty diaper.

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