Author Archives: Ewdison Then

Fame has its price, as many high-profile personalities can attest to. In addition to dealing with both love and hatred, there's also the matter of potential threats to their safety. That's true for both a single person and a large company, especially one that's both famous and infamous like Facebook. But while most other companies have to take a reactive stance, Facebook tries to be one step ahead of danger by putting its own users in a "Be On Lookout" or BOLO list of people whom it perceives as a potential threat to the safety of its employees and offices.

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It seems that Samsung is truly retiring the Gear brand, putting all its mobile products under a single "Galaxy" name, regardless of form or operating system. That has started with the Gear Watch, now Galaxy Watch, and the rumored Galaxy Buds that will succeed the Gear IconX. Now it seems that Samsung itself has accidentally confirmed that the Gear Fit trackers will also experience a change, but the new Galaxy Fit and Galaxy Fit e will bring more than just a new name.

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In 2017, Fujifilm launched the X-T20 that took its cues from the design and features of the X-T2 mirrorless camera. Today, it's making a similar addition to its X series, this time taking after last year's X-T3. While the new X-T30 comes in a lighter and more compact body, that doesn't mean it's any less capable. In fact, it combines the best of both worlds by inheriting the X-T3's 4th gen specs as well as the design and convenience features of the X-T20.

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Although Apple's iOS App Store is starting to show its holes, no thanks to Facebook and the whole Enterprise Certificate brouhaha, Google's Android counterpart has mostly been perceived has having too many holes for comfort. With a different set of standards and different methodology, Google Play Store, despite the canonical source of Android apps, has had so many lapses that weekly malware reports have become almost a joke. Google now reports how much of its security system has improved in 2018, which, to be fair, might be true. It still, however, might be below acceptable thresholds.

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Although not exactly billed as a mostly consumption platform like Android, Chrome OS's image has mostly been limited to basic computing tasks, especially word processing and Internet-related activities that students and office workers often do. It was only recently that Google made serious efforts to present Chrome OS as a place to get real work done, especially in contrast to iOS on iPads. Its next trick will take it further in that direction, putting it on the same level as desktop operating systems with virtual desktops.

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NASA has announced that the twin Van Allen Probes that have been orbiting the Earth for over six years are entering their final phase of exploration. The probes have been exploring the Earth's radiation belts since they launched in 2012. During their mission, the Van Allen Probes have confirmed scientific theories and revealed new structures and processes to scientists.

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Mark Zuckerberg wants to unify the company's separate messaging services. Not everyone agrees, especially considering the privacy nightmare it could lead to. The social networking giant, however, could be attacking the problem from a slightly different angle. There are now signs that Instagram is playing around with a version of its Direct messaging feature for web browsers on desktops. And while this might sound like a great standalone feature, it could also be just the opening salvo for a series of changes.

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If Activision Blizzard manages to pull off this near-impossible challenge, it will be a miracle. Not that it will do anything to repair the company's tarnished image. After announcing a record-breaking 2018 revenue, the game developer announced it would be laying off around 800 people. That's because it expects Blizzard to have disappointing sales this year due to the lack of new major content for existing games. And its strategy to make ends meet? Make new games instead.

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The investigation that revealed Facebook's and Google's misuse of their Enterprise Certificates have opened up a can of worms on both sides. On the one hand, it reveals the extent companies will go to in order to collect user data, even paying them in the process. On the other hand, it has also revealed a chink in Apple's armor that has let apps be installed without its usual screening process. Now it seems that there are even more apps that have abused those Enterprise Certificates to get past scrutiny, including vice apps that would have never been allowed on the App Store otherwise.

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In the old days, and still occasionally these days, id Software's original Doom game has been the litmus test of whether something is worthy to be called a computer or not. It has been installed on ATMs and even the MacBook's Touch Bar, proving the case. But how about playing Doom on an OS running in a browser running on an OS running on a computer? Well, you can do that now, too, thanks to version 2 of Felix Rieseberg's Windows 95 Electron app.

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Apple never really jumped on the virtual reality bandwagon, even when smartphone-powered VR headsets and experiences exploded for a short while. Instead, Apple is putting its eggs in the augmented reality basket, going as far as saying it is the future. Now it has taken one concrete step closer to that future by moving long-time iPhone executive Frank Casanova to handle its product marketing for all things related to augmented reality.

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Not a fan of a color that will make your phone look like an oversized candy lemon candy? Fortunately, Samsung is going to offer the Galaxy S10e in more color options. It's not as many as the iPhone XR, sadly, but if you prefer a more subdued but still eye-catching hue, then the Blue color option might be your best bet. But what if you want something better and more expensive than the Galaxy S10e? Good thing, then, that the Galaxy S10 will come in blue as well.

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