Create entertaining animations on iOS
A few days ago, CNET photographer Josh Miller was going around the office making Cinemagrams. I had seen the app before on the iTunes App Store most-popular lists, but had assumed it was simply a version of Instagram for video. When Josh showed me how the app worked, I was really impressed.After seeing what Cinemagram could do (more about that below), I started wondering about other animation apps in the App Store and came upon several that were impressive for different reasons, but popular for the interesting animations you could make with your iPhone.This week's collection of apps is all about making short animations. The first makes stop-motion animations by taking several photos of a moving object. The second makes short videos into animated GIFs you can add to text messages. The third is Cinemagram, an app that lets you make photo and video hybrids that are simple and fascinating.You can choose from several filters to apply to your animated GIFs.Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNETGifBoom (free) lets you create animated GIFs using multiple photos, and it does a pretty good job, but there are better options available. The app offers a social component that lets you share your animated GIFs, see popular posts, make comments, and follow other users. The interface is easy to understand, with buttons across the bottom for viewing a feed of people you follow, checking out the latest and most popular submissions, looking at recent activity, and options for finding friends and tweaking your profile.To create an animated GIF, simply touch the camera icon in the bottom center of the screen. With the camera open, you have buttons for using your iPhone flash, switching between front- and rear-facing cameras, and a zoom slider. You also have the option here to assemble your animated GIF from images in your iPhone photo library. Touch the camera icon on this screen to start recording. As you record, you'll notice a counter in the lower-right-hand corner of the screen that shows how many photos are being snapped. Once it reaches the maximum of 20, the app sends you to a screen where you'll pick the photos for your animation.Before your GIF animation is posted, you can put the finishing touches on your project in GifBoom's preview screen. You can rotate the orientation, uniformly crop all images, add effects, add a frame, and type words that show up onscreen as part of the animation. Once you're satisfied, you can hit Next, and in the last step, you can add a caption and choose whether you want to additionally share your animation with Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, via e-mail, or through iMessage. Even if you choose not to share via those methods, when you touch Publish, your animation will be shared with other GifBoom users.The process is fairly straightforward in GifBoom, and the social components are executed well, but the resulting animations aren't very smooth. In the settings you can set GifBoom to take more photos per second to alleviate some of the stop-motion effect, but you'll never get a smooth animation like you will from the other apps in this collection. It's also important to note that this app seems to be embraced by a young audience (with mostly teenagers posting animations).GifBoom offers a lot of extras that make the app admirable, but the resulting animations are not on par with other apps in this collection. Still, if you like the idea of creating animated GIFs that have a more stop-motion quality, GifBoom might be a good option.One of the very few features in MyFaceWhen is the ability to choose your clip from shot video.Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNETMyFaceWhen (free for a limited time) lets you shoot a short video using a much simpler process and doesn't offer the social connectors of GifBoom, but the resulting animated GIFs are smooth. The idea behind the app is that while texting you might want to attach a video reaction to what your friend just said. In other words, "This is My Face When you said that."Creating a smooth animated GIF couldn't be easier. You simply touch the center of the screen to start recording and touch it again to stop. From there the app processes your short video and turns it into an animated GIF. The app's GIF editor lets you trim the length of the video and optionally fine-tune the starting and ending points to make the loop a smoother transition. The whole process takes about a minute, making MyFaceWhen ideal for dropping a quick animated GIF into a text message.MyFaceWhen produces great results, but I do have some complaints. If you want to share your GIF animation beyond iMessage, you're out of luck. The app only offers the option to copy the GIF to your clipboard and doesn't offer any connections to popular social-network services. It's also important to note that the animated GIF will only play in the small preview window of text messages. Touching the animation (as you would do to zoom in on a photo in iMessage) shows you a still image. The developers are careful to point this out in their description of MyFaceWhen. But even without being able to zoom in on animations, having a small animation that plays in the iMessage window is a pretty cool addition to your text messages.MyFaceWhen is an incredibly simple app for making animated GIFs you can drop into iMessage. It's not as feature-packed as other apps (and another means of sharing the animations would be first on my wish list), but it does what it does very well. If you're looking to add something extra to your texting, definitely check out this app.This Cinemagram I made creates the illusion of water perpetually flowing into the mug.Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNETCinemagram (free) lets you create a fascinating hybrid of photo and video to make cool-looking animations you can share on Cinemagram's social platform and other social-networking services. The app leads you through the process, which requires a little more work than MyFaceWhen, but produces unique-looking animations.What you can do with the app is create a still photo with only part of it animated, for a really cool-looking effect. The best way to understand Cinemagram is to launch the app and see what other users have made. The app has its own social platform similar to photo-sharing app Instagram, with feeds for popular animations, the latest animations from everyone, or animations from just your friends. There are a lot of talented Cinemagram users out there, so checking out the possibilities is the best way to get acquainted with what the app does.When you're ready to create your own Cinemagram, touch the Capture button in the bottom center of the screen and then touch the record button. When you're finished recording, you'll move on the next step, which is to draw a mask. The mask is the area of the Cinemagram that will be animated. When you're finished drawing the mask with your finger, hit Next to "Colorize" (the app's name for image filters) your Cinemagram. The app offers 10 different filters to choose from, with options like redscale and sepia. When you're finished you can preview your Cinemagram before posting it to the feed. You also have the option to go back and change your mask or Colorize selection if you want to make tweaks before posting.In addition to sharing on the Cinemagram platform (complete with Likes, comments, and comment replies), you can also share your project on Facebook orTwitter, or via e-mail.Cinemagram is a fun and unique app for creating photo and video hybrids and I've been amazed by some of the stuff people have made using the app. If you want to try an interesting app for creating animations, Cinemagram is an excellent choice.
RoadAhead- Savior of the long-distance driver-
RoadAhead: Savior of the long-distance driver?
You're driving to Grandma's house. You've got 200 miles to go. In the car with you: a fatigued spouse, two kids at each other's throats, and a slobbering Labrador Retriever with a full bladder. You're hungry, the gas tank is nearly empty, and you want to get off the road for dinner. Where do you stop?Traditional roadside placards and billboards might tell you what's next on your route. Some GPS units and apps will show you what's beyond that as well. But nothing I've seen yet is as dialed in to the road-tripper's dilemma as a new app launching today: RoadAhead.RoadAhead is a smartphone app (iPhone only so far: iTunes link) that can tell you which exit to take when you're on the move and looking for a certain combination of services. Say you want a sit-down dinner, gas, and a playground. You can select just that combination, and the app will show you which of those services are at each exit ahead of you. It will rank services based on how well they fit in with your direction of travel--if possible, it won't route you across a freeway or far off the beaten path.Most importantly, it won't ever show you attractions or services that are behind you. Because we don't double back, kids. If you wanted to go to Burger King, you should have told me 30 miles ago.RoadAhead founder Jeffrey Beir (formerly of North Bridge Venture Partners, Xerox, Lotus, and his own start-up, eRoom) tells me the technical challenge to building this app was not trivial. A proprietary database takes available map and business data and enables the app to route based on direction of travel. "It's a tough algorithm," he says. The app will route you or call a destinationScreenshot by Rafe Needleman/CNETThe interface is tuned in to the needs of the highway driver. The next exit on the freeway is always on the top, with the services in the categories you want listed. You can click through to call a business or get a Google Map route to it. For safety's sake it's better for a passenger to operate the service while on the move, but the app is clean and simple and attuned to the needs of the driver nonetheless. It's a good app, and I look forward to giving it a workout on my next road trip. But what I really like about this project is its business potential. There is a great opportunity to make money from location-based ads and coupons. A future version of the app will pull coupon data from various feeds. Beyond that, RoadAhead could launch its own network for roadside business owners or franchise operators who want to grab people off the highway. (User reviews may come in future versions, too.)Due to its (reportedly) unique technology, solid business potential, and real-world utility, I'd say this fledgling company won't last a year as a standalone business. It'll get snapped up. Its suitors could come from the navigation world (Garmin), search (Google), the user reviews world (Yelp), or the location-based deal business (Foursquare).RoadAhead has many good exits.
You're driving to Grandma's house. You've got 200 miles to go. In the car with you: a fatigued spouse, two kids at each other's throats, and a slobbering Labrador Retriever with a full bladder. You're hungry, the gas tank is nearly empty, and you want to get off the road for dinner. Where do you stop?Traditional roadside placards and billboards might tell you what's next on your route. Some GPS units and apps will show you what's beyond that as well. But nothing I've seen yet is as dialed in to the road-tripper's dilemma as a new app launching today: RoadAhead.RoadAhead is a smartphone app (iPhone only so far: iTunes link) that can tell you which exit to take when you're on the move and looking for a certain combination of services. Say you want a sit-down dinner, gas, and a playground. You can select just that combination, and the app will show you which of those services are at each exit ahead of you. It will rank services based on how well they fit in with your direction of travel--if possible, it won't route you across a freeway or far off the beaten path.Most importantly, it won't ever show you attractions or services that are behind you. Because we don't double back, kids. If you wanted to go to Burger King, you should have told me 30 miles ago.RoadAhead founder Jeffrey Beir (formerly of North Bridge Venture Partners, Xerox, Lotus, and his own start-up, eRoom) tells me the technical challenge to building this app was not trivial. A proprietary database takes available map and business data and enables the app to route based on direction of travel. "It's a tough algorithm," he says. The app will route you or call a destinationScreenshot by Rafe Needleman/CNETThe interface is tuned in to the needs of the highway driver. The next exit on the freeway is always on the top, with the services in the categories you want listed. You can click through to call a business or get a Google Map route to it. For safety's sake it's better for a passenger to operate the service while on the move, but the app is clean and simple and attuned to the needs of the driver nonetheless. It's a good app, and I look forward to giving it a workout on my next road trip. But what I really like about this project is its business potential. There is a great opportunity to make money from location-based ads and coupons. A future version of the app will pull coupon data from various feeds. Beyond that, RoadAhead could launch its own network for roadside business owners or franchise operators who want to grab people off the highway. (User reviews may come in future versions, too.)Due to its (reportedly) unique technology, solid business potential, and real-world utility, I'd say this fledgling company won't last a year as a standalone business. It'll get snapped up. Its suitors could come from the navigation world (Garmin), search (Google), the user reviews world (Yelp), or the location-based deal business (Foursquare).RoadAhead has many good exits.
The 404 880- Where we separate the hacks from the cracks (podcast)
The 404 880: Where we separate the hacks from the cracks (podcast)
If you leave your Facebook logged in on a friend's computer and that person posts an embarrassing photo for all your friends to see, would you say you got hacked?Today's episode of the podcast takes issue with the misuse of the word "hacked." With news stories about Stuxnet, PlayStation 3, and News of the World throwing around the term with no specific definition, we hope to define exactly what it means to hack...at least according to the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.First, we'll explore the origins of hacking by breaking the definition down into subcategories like phreaking, cracking, and spoofing. Then we'll tell you why the courts decided that sending out too many e-mails to someone can be considered computer hacking, and we'll introduce the 23-year-old Assistant Commissioner hired by the NYPD to spearhead its new social media unit.Finally, we close today's show with an exploration into the changing landscape of "Sesame Street," and why some of the LGBT community is pushing Bert and Ernie to finally tie the knot on the air.The 404 Digest for Episode 880DragCloseThis content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Stock art meant for news stories about cybercrime.NYPD forms new social media unit to mine Facebook and Twitter for mayhem.Court deems e-mail spam is considered a form of computer hacking.iPad cases made out of Bernie Madoff's auctioned clothing.Slice Harvester shows every pizza spot in NYC on a Google map.Petition asks Bert and Ernie to get married already.Working in an office is bad for your brain.Episode 880PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
If you leave your Facebook logged in on a friend's computer and that person posts an embarrassing photo for all your friends to see, would you say you got hacked?Today's episode of the podcast takes issue with the misuse of the word "hacked." With news stories about Stuxnet, PlayStation 3, and News of the World throwing around the term with no specific definition, we hope to define exactly what it means to hack...at least according to the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.First, we'll explore the origins of hacking by breaking the definition down into subcategories like phreaking, cracking, and spoofing. Then we'll tell you why the courts decided that sending out too many e-mails to someone can be considered computer hacking, and we'll introduce the 23-year-old Assistant Commissioner hired by the NYPD to spearhead its new social media unit.Finally, we close today's show with an exploration into the changing landscape of "Sesame Street," and why some of the LGBT community is pushing Bert and Ernie to finally tie the knot on the air.The 404 Digest for Episode 880DragCloseThis content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Stock art meant for news stories about cybercrime.NYPD forms new social media unit to mine Facebook and Twitter for mayhem.Court deems e-mail spam is considered a form of computer hacking.iPad cases made out of Bernie Madoff's auctioned clothing.Slice Harvester shows every pizza spot in NYC on a Google map.Petition asks Bert and Ernie to get married already.Working in an office is bad for your brain.Episode 880PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Pioneer unveils AVIC-X920BT with Pandora Link
Pioneer unveils AVIC-X920BT with Pandora Link
LAS VEGAS--Pioneer unveiled the latest addition to its AVIC line of in-dash navigation solutions and its first Pandora Internet radio-enabled car stereo, the AVIC-X920BT, during its CES 2010 press conference.The X920BT's navigation features enhanced ECO routing functionality.PioneerOne of the most notable changes to the AVIC's software is Pandora Link, which adds the ability to stream audio and display metadata from the Pandora Internet Radio app on a connected iPhone with a 3G connection. Users are also given access to album artwork and controls such as skip track, thumbs up and down, bookmarks, and station changes from the X920BT's touch-screen interface.The X920BT bumps the AVIC-X chassis' screen size to 6.1 inches with a WXGA resolution and a new touch interface. Features such as voice recognition, Bluetooth hands-free calling/audio streaming, and USB connectivity for iPhone/iPod carry over from our current Editors' Choice title holder, the flagship AVIC-Z110BT, as do an updated version of Pioneer's ECO routing and fuel cost monitoring function.New to the AVIC-X series is compatibility with Pioneer's AVIC Feeds iPhone app for wireless transfer of POIs and routes via Bluetooth.Could this be the way drivers navigate their media in the future?PioneerFinally, there's a new interface throughout that makes turn-by-turn navigation and search of music libraries easier. A feature called MusicSphere interfaces with an iTunes plug-in that analyzes music files and creates specialized mood-based playlists--for example, gloomy, bright, or energetic--and presents up to 40 of these playlists in an animated 3D sphere interface.Pioneer claims this will provide quick access to the user's music, but we maintain that it's hard to beat an old-fashioned fast-scrolling list. We'll wait until we get a hands-on before we pass judgment.The AVIC-X920BT will be available in 2010 with an expected suggested retail price of $1,200.
LAS VEGAS--Pioneer unveiled the latest addition to its AVIC line of in-dash navigation solutions and its first Pandora Internet radio-enabled car stereo, the AVIC-X920BT, during its CES 2010 press conference.The X920BT's navigation features enhanced ECO routing functionality.PioneerOne of the most notable changes to the AVIC's software is Pandora Link, which adds the ability to stream audio and display metadata from the Pandora Internet Radio app on a connected iPhone with a 3G connection. Users are also given access to album artwork and controls such as skip track, thumbs up and down, bookmarks, and station changes from the X920BT's touch-screen interface.The X920BT bumps the AVIC-X chassis' screen size to 6.1 inches with a WXGA resolution and a new touch interface. Features such as voice recognition, Bluetooth hands-free calling/audio streaming, and USB connectivity for iPhone/iPod carry over from our current Editors' Choice title holder, the flagship AVIC-Z110BT, as do an updated version of Pioneer's ECO routing and fuel cost monitoring function.New to the AVIC-X series is compatibility with Pioneer's AVIC Feeds iPhone app for wireless transfer of POIs and routes via Bluetooth.Could this be the way drivers navigate their media in the future?PioneerFinally, there's a new interface throughout that makes turn-by-turn navigation and search of music libraries easier. A feature called MusicSphere interfaces with an iTunes plug-in that analyzes music files and creates specialized mood-based playlists--for example, gloomy, bright, or energetic--and presents up to 40 of these playlists in an animated 3D sphere interface.Pioneer claims this will provide quick access to the user's music, but we maintain that it's hard to beat an old-fashioned fast-scrolling list. We'll wait until we get a hands-on before we pass judgment.The AVIC-X920BT will be available in 2010 with an expected suggested retail price of $1,200.
NTP scores legal victory in patent case, report says
NTP scores legal victory in patent case, report says
Bloomberg reported today that a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that seven of NTP's e-mail-related patents remain valid and enforceable, and ordered the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to reconsider a recent ruling that called them invalid. The court upheld the ruling on an eighth patent found to be invalid. The patents are being used by NTP, which makes its money extracting licensing fees from companies, in patent infringement lawsuits against Apple, Google, Microsoft, Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Yahoo, and T-Mobile USA. The cases have been on hold pending the review of the patent offerings, Bloomberg said. The patents are defined as a way to send information, such as e-mail, through a radio frequency wireless network, which could be broadly applied. NTP sued RIM in 2001, and in 2006 the two companies came to a settlement to avoid the shutdown of the BlackBerry e-mail system.
Bloomberg reported today that a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that seven of NTP's e-mail-related patents remain valid and enforceable, and ordered the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to reconsider a recent ruling that called them invalid. The court upheld the ruling on an eighth patent found to be invalid. The patents are being used by NTP, which makes its money extracting licensing fees from companies, in patent infringement lawsuits against Apple, Google, Microsoft, Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Yahoo, and T-Mobile USA. The cases have been on hold pending the review of the patent offerings, Bloomberg said. The patents are defined as a way to send information, such as e-mail, through a radio frequency wireless network, which could be broadly applied. NTP sued RIM in 2001, and in 2006 the two companies came to a settlement to avoid the shutdown of the BlackBerry e-mail system.
Now you can choose an iPhone carrier with the Apple Store app
Now you can choose an iPhone carrier with the Apple Store app
Apple customers who buy products through the iOS Apple Store app will find a couple of helpful updates in the latest release.Launched yesterday, version 2.1 of the Apple Store app now lets U.S. buyers of a new iPhone choose a plan from among all three carriers--Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint.Users can also manage their accounts directly through the app. You can now update both your billing and shipping information without leaving the app, a process that previously required you to log into the Apple Web site.And to kick off this week's opening of a new Apple retail store in Amsterdam, (English translation) the app itself is now available for users in the Netherlands.The last update to the app in November added a couple of major improvements, including the ability to pick up items ordered online at your local Apple Store and pay for items in the store via your iPhone.The latest version of the app requires iOS 4.3.3 or higher. The app is compatible with the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, though Apple has yet to create an iPad-specific version.
Apple customers who buy products through the iOS Apple Store app will find a couple of helpful updates in the latest release.Launched yesterday, version 2.1 of the Apple Store app now lets U.S. buyers of a new iPhone choose a plan from among all three carriers--Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint.Users can also manage their accounts directly through the app. You can now update both your billing and shipping information without leaving the app, a process that previously required you to log into the Apple Web site.And to kick off this week's opening of a new Apple retail store in Amsterdam, (English translation) the app itself is now available for users in the Netherlands.The last update to the app in November added a couple of major improvements, including the ability to pick up items ordered online at your local Apple Store and pay for items in the store via your iPhone.The latest version of the app requires iOS 4.3.3 or higher. The app is compatible with the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, though Apple has yet to create an iPad-specific version.
WSJ- Foxconn gearing up for iPhone launch next month
WSJ: Foxconn gearing up for iPhone launch next month
Apple's given Hon Hai Precision Industry the green light to begin mass producing both high- and low-end iPhone models, according to a new report.Citing sources, The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) says Apple's gearing up for an early September launch of those devices, and has put in the orders with its usual assembler, Hon Hai, which goes by Foxconn. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment on the report.The news comes amid numerous leaks of purported parts for both high-end and lower-end iPhone models, expected to be unveiled at an event in early September. Most recently that's taken the form of a gold-colored iPhone, which several reports have since claimed will be the real deal in this next set of updates. Related storiesiPhone 5C aims to replace iPhone 5, not iPhone 4S -- analystWhy a gold iPhone makes senseNew, high-quality shots of 'iPhone 5C' casing appearThe Journal's report is the latest in a series to suggest that work has already begun to produce Apple's next iPhones. Japanese Apple blog Macotakara suggested Apple was building an "S" model of the iPhone back in March. More recently, China Business News last month suggested that Foxconn was in the throes of large-scale recruiting for workers to build the device. Apple is expected to unveil two new iPhones next month: a high-end 5S model that will add new hardware features to last year's iPhone 5, as well as an iPhone 5C that will feature plastic components to cut down on costs. Myriad components for both devices, including rear casings, have cropped up online over the past few weeks, suggesting Apple is on the brink of preparing the gadgets for consumers.
Apple's given Hon Hai Precision Industry the green light to begin mass producing both high- and low-end iPhone models, according to a new report.Citing sources, The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) says Apple's gearing up for an early September launch of those devices, and has put in the orders with its usual assembler, Hon Hai, which goes by Foxconn. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment on the report.The news comes amid numerous leaks of purported parts for both high-end and lower-end iPhone models, expected to be unveiled at an event in early September. Most recently that's taken the form of a gold-colored iPhone, which several reports have since claimed will be the real deal in this next set of updates. Related storiesiPhone 5C aims to replace iPhone 5, not iPhone 4S -- analystWhy a gold iPhone makes senseNew, high-quality shots of 'iPhone 5C' casing appearThe Journal's report is the latest in a series to suggest that work has already begun to produce Apple's next iPhones. Japanese Apple blog Macotakara suggested Apple was building an "S" model of the iPhone back in March. More recently, China Business News last month suggested that Foxconn was in the throes of large-scale recruiting for workers to build the device. Apple is expected to unveil two new iPhones next month: a high-end 5S model that will add new hardware features to last year's iPhone 5, as well as an iPhone 5C that will feature plastic components to cut down on costs. Myriad components for both devices, including rear casings, have cropped up online over the past few weeks, suggesting Apple is on the brink of preparing the gadgets for consumers.
Wozniak warns Apple must stay 'cool' -- or else
Wozniak warns Apple must stay 'cool' -- or else
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has a warning for Tim Cook and his executives: stay cool, or you'll have trouble.Speaking to Bloomberg in an interview published today, Wozniak said that while Apple is still "really good at setting a standard with a new device," it's starting to lose its standing as the coolest company in the technology industry."We used to have these ads, 'I'm a Mac and I'm a PC,' and the Mac was always the cool guy," Wozniak told Bloomberg. "And ouch, it's painful, because we kind of are losing that."According to Bloomberg, Wozniak said that Apple's products are no longer able to easily trump competing devices from Amazon and Google because those companies "all have great ideas." He added that Apple should at least consider opening iTunes to Android and Windows Phone users.Wozniak has been surprisingly outspoken about Apple over the last several months. In October, he called the company "arrogant" and lamented that it believed it was "the only one with the right clue." In November, he said that he was worried that Apple is "just used to cranking out the newest iPhone and falling a little behind." He also took a jab at the late Steve Jobs, saying that he didn't have "to be as much of a real rugged bastard, put people down, and make them feel demeaned."Despite the negative talk, Wozniak told Bloomberg that he was hoping Apple would launch the rumored iWatch -- a device, he said, he would definitely buy.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has a warning for Tim Cook and his executives: stay cool, or you'll have trouble.Speaking to Bloomberg in an interview published today, Wozniak said that while Apple is still "really good at setting a standard with a new device," it's starting to lose its standing as the coolest company in the technology industry."We used to have these ads, 'I'm a Mac and I'm a PC,' and the Mac was always the cool guy," Wozniak told Bloomberg. "And ouch, it's painful, because we kind of are losing that."According to Bloomberg, Wozniak said that Apple's products are no longer able to easily trump competing devices from Amazon and Google because those companies "all have great ideas." He added that Apple should at least consider opening iTunes to Android and Windows Phone users.Wozniak has been surprisingly outspoken about Apple over the last several months. In October, he called the company "arrogant" and lamented that it believed it was "the only one with the right clue." In November, he said that he was worried that Apple is "just used to cranking out the newest iPhone and falling a little behind." He also took a jab at the late Steve Jobs, saying that he didn't have "to be as much of a real rugged bastard, put people down, and make them feel demeaned."Despite the negative talk, Wozniak told Bloomberg that he was hoping Apple would launch the rumored iWatch -- a device, he said, he would definitely buy.
Woz- Zuck = me + Jobs
Woz: Zuck = me + Jobs
Is Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg a combination of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak?That's how Woz himself paints the 28-year-old CEO.Offering his insights on Facebook as the company Zuck founded and runs preps its IPO, Wozniak told Bloomberg that he sees Zuckerberg as a "real acute" businessman who has both technical abilities, like Woz himself, and the vision and corporate smarts of Steve Jobs."I was thankful to have a partnership with Steve Jobs and I see Mark Zuckerberg closer to the combination of us," Woz said in the Bloomberg interview. "When he speaks he speaks with a lot of idealism for the users and a lot of good ideas for the product overall."Related storiesFacebook's IPO said to have more demand than shares availableFacebook amends IPO filing: Mobile a growing problemFacebook IPO has some investors wary (video)Woz himself plans to invest in Facebook after the IPO launches, no matter what the price.The popular social network said it wants to raise as much as $13.6 billion in its initial offering, valuing the company at up to $96 billion. Facebook is looking to price those initial shares between $28 and $35 as they prepare to start trading by the end of this week.Wozniak may have trouble getting in on the ground floor and will likely have to wait until after the stock hits the market. Reports say that Facebook's IPO is already oversubscribed.Woz also praised Facebook for staying private for so long, showing other companies that going public doesn't have to be the only goal for a thriving and innovative business.
Is Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg a combination of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak?That's how Woz himself paints the 28-year-old CEO.Offering his insights on Facebook as the company Zuck founded and runs preps its IPO, Wozniak told Bloomberg that he sees Zuckerberg as a "real acute" businessman who has both technical abilities, like Woz himself, and the vision and corporate smarts of Steve Jobs."I was thankful to have a partnership with Steve Jobs and I see Mark Zuckerberg closer to the combination of us," Woz said in the Bloomberg interview. "When he speaks he speaks with a lot of idealism for the users and a lot of good ideas for the product overall."Related storiesFacebook's IPO said to have more demand than shares availableFacebook amends IPO filing: Mobile a growing problemFacebook IPO has some investors wary (video)Woz himself plans to invest in Facebook after the IPO launches, no matter what the price.The popular social network said it wants to raise as much as $13.6 billion in its initial offering, valuing the company at up to $96 billion. Facebook is looking to price those initial shares between $28 and $35 as they prepare to start trading by the end of this week.Wozniak may have trouble getting in on the ground floor and will likely have to wait until after the stock hits the market. Reports say that Facebook's IPO is already oversubscribed.Woz also praised Facebook for staying private for so long, showing other companies that going public doesn't have to be the only goal for a thriving and innovative business.
Woz says he'd mull return to Apple if asked
Woz says he'd mull return to Apple if asked
Steve Wozniak, the man who co-founded Apple with current CEO Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne says he'd "consider" coming back to work for the company if asked.However that statement, which came out during an interview with Reuters, comes with some strings attached, specifically about the openness of the company's products."My thinking is that Apple could be more open and not lose sales," Wozniak told the outlet. "I'm sure they're making the right decisions for the right reasons for Apple."Wozniak is a well-known tinkerer and put together the predecessor to the first Apple computer out of off-the-shelf components, as well as writing his own version of BASIC to run on it. Following that, and before teaming with Jobs to produce computers Apple would go on to sell commercially, Wozniak even distributed the design to others in a computer club so they too could make their machines.Apple now sells devices that have done away with the idea of self-servicing, instead pushing customers to go through the company's support network when seeking repairs, as well as selling just one computer (the Mac Pro) that's fully customizable postpurchase.Wozniak, who has not actually worked for Apple since 1987, still receives a paycheck and holds stock in the company. For the past three years, he's worked for data storage company Fusion-io as its chief scientist. The question of whether Wozniak would rejoin Apple to play an active part in product development and production comes at a time when current CEO and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is on his third medical leave, and after a group of shareholders unsuccessfully pushed the company to set up and detail a CEO succession plan.
Steve Wozniak, the man who co-founded Apple with current CEO Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne says he'd "consider" coming back to work for the company if asked.However that statement, which came out during an interview with Reuters, comes with some strings attached, specifically about the openness of the company's products."My thinking is that Apple could be more open and not lose sales," Wozniak told the outlet. "I'm sure they're making the right decisions for the right reasons for Apple."Wozniak is a well-known tinkerer and put together the predecessor to the first Apple computer out of off-the-shelf components, as well as writing his own version of BASIC to run on it. Following that, and before teaming with Jobs to produce computers Apple would go on to sell commercially, Wozniak even distributed the design to others in a computer club so they too could make their machines.Apple now sells devices that have done away with the idea of self-servicing, instead pushing customers to go through the company's support network when seeking repairs, as well as selling just one computer (the Mac Pro) that's fully customizable postpurchase.Wozniak, who has not actually worked for Apple since 1987, still receives a paycheck and holds stock in the company. For the past three years, he's worked for data storage company Fusion-io as its chief scientist. The question of whether Wozniak would rejoin Apple to play an active part in product development and production comes at a time when current CEO and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is on his third medical leave, and after a group of shareholders unsuccessfully pushed the company to set up and detail a CEO succession plan.
Woz- No, Apple was not started in a garage
Woz: No, Apple was not started in a garage
If you didn't start your company in a garage, it can't be much of a company, can it?After all, a fine modern company needs a legend of bootstrapped pain, dripping roofs and hordes of chilly engineers huddled in a place only big enough for a Honda Legend.Sometimes, though, that's what these stories are: legends.For decades, many thought that Apple's formative years were spent with a whiff of gasoline hanging in the air. Yes, it all happened in the garage of Steve Jobs' childhood home in Los Altos, Calif. Or did it? In an interview with Bloomberg, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak poured cold water on the story.He said: "The garage is a bit of a myth. It's overblown. The garage represents us better than anything else, but we did no designs there. We would drive the finished products to the garage, make them work and then we'd drive them down to the store that paid us cash."Woz explained that the fledgling Apple "outgrew that garage very quickly."More Technically IncorrectStephen Hawking: Humans evolve slowly, AI could stomp us outTwo-phone standoff after cop stops man for 'walking with hands in pockets'Pilot survives second crash; should he give up flying?He added: "There were hardly ever more than two people in the garage and mostly they were sitting around kind of doing nothing productive."Well, yes. But it's a great story, isn't it? Once you're a success, tossing your company's history into a field of magical distortion makes it all sound a little more romantic than it probably was.We don't need people and companies to be successful. We also want their stories to be moving, inspiring and, most of all, movie-worthy.Who wants to see a movie about a company with a good idea that buys a big factory, employs lots of people and pleases even more? How dull.
If you didn't start your company in a garage, it can't be much of a company, can it?After all, a fine modern company needs a legend of bootstrapped pain, dripping roofs and hordes of chilly engineers huddled in a place only big enough for a Honda Legend.Sometimes, though, that's what these stories are: legends.For decades, many thought that Apple's formative years were spent with a whiff of gasoline hanging in the air. Yes, it all happened in the garage of Steve Jobs' childhood home in Los Altos, Calif. Or did it? In an interview with Bloomberg, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak poured cold water on the story.He said: "The garage is a bit of a myth. It's overblown. The garage represents us better than anything else, but we did no designs there. We would drive the finished products to the garage, make them work and then we'd drive them down to the store that paid us cash."Woz explained that the fledgling Apple "outgrew that garage very quickly."More Technically IncorrectStephen Hawking: Humans evolve slowly, AI could stomp us outTwo-phone standoff after cop stops man for 'walking with hands in pockets'Pilot survives second crash; should he give up flying?He added: "There were hardly ever more than two people in the garage and mostly they were sitting around kind of doing nothing productive."Well, yes. But it's a great story, isn't it? Once you're a success, tossing your company's history into a field of magical distortion makes it all sound a little more romantic than it probably was.We don't need people and companies to be successful. We also want their stories to be moving, inspiring and, most of all, movie-worthy.Who wants to see a movie about a company with a good idea that buys a big factory, employs lots of people and pleases even more? How dull.
Curious to know what movies and TV shows are coming to Netflix
Curious to know what movies and TV shows are coming to Netflix Watch Instantly over the next few weeks? Get a head start and mark your calendars using the list below, just released to us by Netflix. FILM Avail 1/1 Duplex (2003) Ben Stiller, Drew Barrymore, Eileen Essel, Harvey Fierstein, Justin Theroux, Maya Rudolph New York City couple Alex and Nancy dream of the departure of their upstairs neighbor, who;shogging a rent-controlled apartment they;d dearly love to have. If she doesn;t move out, they may have to take matters into their own hands. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett, Philip Seymour Hoffman Charming sociopath Tom Ripley maneuvers into the lush life of Dickie, a young heir vacationing in Italy. Hired to persuade Dickie to return to America, Tom embraces Dickie;s posh lifestyle and takes extreme measures to hold onto it. Avail 1/2 Drinking Buddies (2013) Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Ron Livingston, Ti West, Jason Sudeikis Workmates at a small Chicago brewery, Luke and Kate are romantically involved with others but also the best of friends -- on and off the clock. Things get complicated, however, when the couples spend a weekend together at a lakeside retreat. Good Ol; Freda (2013) Freda Kelly was just a shy Liverpudlian teenager when she was asked to work for a local band hoping to make it big: the Beatles. In Good Ol; Freda, the band;s former secretary tells her personal stories for the first time in 0 years. Avail 1/3 Jack Reacher (2012) Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins, David Oyelowo, Werner Herzog, Jai Courtney When ex-military cop Jack Reacher investigates an elite sniper charged with killing five people, he teams up with a beautiful defense lawyer -- and they soon find themselves drawn into a dangerous cat-and-mouse game in this exciting thriller. Avail 1/4 Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013) Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen, Peter Stormare, Thomas Mann, Derek Mears, PihaViitala, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Zoe Bell Fifteen years after outsmarting a sinister witch by pushing her into an oven, a now-grown Hansel and Gretel are pooling their wiles to take down witches as professional bounty hunters in this action-packed reimagining of the classic fairy tale. Avail 1/5 The Last Stand (2013) Arnold Schwarzenegger, Johnny Knoxville, Forest Whitaker, Rodrigo Santoro, Jaimie Alexander Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a border town sheriff who;s taken up his post after tragic events brought an end to his tenure with the LAPD. But his quiet life is interrupted when a drug boss escapes FBI custody and flees straight toward his town. Avail 1/16 Spy Kids 3: Game Over Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alexa Vega, Holland Taylor, Sylvester Stallon, Salma Hayek In the continuing adventures of the two spy siblings, Carmen gets caught in a virtual reality game designed by the kids; new nemesis, the Toymaker, and it;s up to Juni to save her by battling through the game;s levels. Avail 1/17 The Square (2013) Inspiring and intense, this critically praised documentary chronicles the popular uprising in Egypt that captivated the world with scenes of courage and freed om in the face of violentopposition, igniting a history-making revolution. Avail 1/19 Rent (2005) Chris Columbus;s faithful adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical set in New York;s East Village boasts a slew of stars from the show;s original Broadway cast, including Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp,Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs and Jesse L. Martin. Based on Puccini;s opera La boheme, the story follows a group of scrappy bohemians who face true love, broken hearts, drug addiction and AIDS -- and paying rent to high-powered oppressors. Avail 1/24 Mitt (2014) Following his bid to win the U.S. presidency, most Americans believed they knew Mitt Romney.With unprecedented access, this documentary tracks Romney from 2006 and his first effort to win the Republican nomination, through the 2012 elections, revealing the man behind the sound bites in an authentic view the public rarely glimpsed during the media frenzy of a national campaign. Avail 1/29 The Croods Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, Clark Duke When an earthquake obliterates their cave, an unworldly prehistoric family is forced to journey through unfamiliar terrain in search of a new home. But things for pessimistic dad Grug go from bad to worse when his daughter meets a clever cave boy. TV Avail1/1 Dexter:Seasons5-8 Avail1/5 JakeandtheNeverLandPirates:Season2 Avail1/8 TheLyingGame:Season2 Avail1/13 BeingHuman:Season3 Avail1/15
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