NixMashup for September 12, 2014

SmartWatch Specs Compared to Original iPhone

This ZDNet article compares the Galaxy Gear S smartwatch specs with the first-generation iPhone from 2007. Similar specs include a 1GHz dual-core CPU and 360×480 pixel display. The Smartwatch specs are superior in areas like 3G support, 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, a heart-rate monitor, and 512MB of RAM compared to the iPhone’s 128MB. The author concludes, “My point here isn’t to say that the Galaxy Gear S is the same as a seven-year-old iPhone, but to point out how technology – in particular component size and display densities – have changed over that time, making it possible to shrink a smartphone down to a size where it will fit on your wrist. And just think about what the next seven years will bring.”

#androidwear, #watches, #iphone

So Much for Munich’s Switch Back to Windows

Adding more evidence that the recent story of Munich switching back to Windows was pure crap, Munich is promoting Open Source and Linux by providing free Ubuntu CDs to anyone who requests one through their public libraries.

#windowstolinux, #linux, #ubuntu

Android Wear Updates

Several updates to Android Wear were announced, including offline music playback and GPS support. You can now listen to music on a Bluetooth headset and track your running distance and speed without your smartphone. Other updates coming soon include support for third party watch faces and customization enhancements.

#androidwear, #watches

Your Daily WTF Technobabble Prescription

Interesting and entertaining account of diagnosing the appearance of phantom screen characters on a Doctor’s office computer.

#wtf, #funny

Doing Reverse() and SkipWhile() with Java Streams

A new library called JOOQ adds several useful capabilities to Java 8 Streams.

#java

Bikes For The Sea

Very cool new cycle which works on water. Want!

#futuretech, #recreation

APIs and the IoT

Interesting article on how value from an Internet of Things is derived from the unique API of devices working with the APIs other devices and the cloud. A simple example would be knowing which lights in a building to turn on based on the location of people or their meeting schedules.

#iot, #futuretech

Android Apps Coming to ChromeOS

Android apps like Evernote are now available for the Chromebook with the launching of Google’s “App Runtime for Chrome.” Many questions remain about this technology and what might be involved in porting Android apps. More intriguing is whether we’ll be seeing the Android App Runtime on other OS’s like Linux. We linked to a story about Ubuntu Devs Porting Android Apps to Ubuntu back in May. I wonder if there’s a connection?

#android, #chromebooks, #ubuntu

Wired Requiem for the iPod

With the news of Apple no longer producing the iPod Classic, here’s an excellent piece from Wired on the special place of the iPod in popular culture and history of technology. On the top of my office stereo receiver is an iPod Classic, an iPhone 3G and sometimes my Samsung S5. Of the three, the iPod Classic gets the least use, though I sometimes like to pick it up and scroll through my library.

#ipod, #nostalgia

Seeking Out Hills

This is a great article from the Women’s Running section of Runner’s World on the importance of seeking out hills while running. Also describes how the benefits of running hills extends to our approach to life outside of running.

#running, #fitness, #recreation, #philosophy