Apple's Siri trounces Samsung's S Voice (hands-on)
I've updated this hands-on to reflect Siri's new tricks in iOS6; it originally posted June 21, 2012 comparing S Voice on the Galaxy S3 -- which is still current -- to Siri on iOS 5. If you're wondering, tomorrow I'll be comparing the updated Siri to Google Voice Actions.Voice assistants like Siri, S Voice, Google Actions, and Microsoft's TellMe aren't new, but they are evolving into more mainstream features that can expedite results. S Voice, which launched this summer on the Samsung Galaxy S3, is Samsung's answer to Siri. That also makes S Voice the predominant voice app for the iPhone 5's brawniest Android contender.S Voice has been getting a bad rap ever since the its debut. CNET Asia and CNET UK both slammed the Siri-wannabe before the Galaxy S3 arrived in the U.S., and Siri easily won here in San Francisco as well.The dueling assistances can perform many of the same tricks. I repeated 12 Apple iPhone 5 commands that span the breadth of their shared cpabilities, at the same time and in the same location. Since my test phones were on different data networks, I factored accuracy only, not the time it took to complete an action.Hanging with SiriSee full gallery1 - 4 / 26NextPrevOne thing I'll point out isn't something I could capture in screenshots -- for every time S Voice misinterpreted, I repeated my command until either the I got the right syntax, the app interpreted me correctly (like if I spoke much slower), or I got fed up with S Voice continuing to miscompute.Although Siri performed better than S Voice overall, Apple's assistant is hardly a dream. For as long as I've used either app, they've both caused headaches. I love the concept of voice-recognition software -- especially when I'm hands-free -- but many times, it's simply faster and more accurate to just type in the query myself.1. Place a callBoth assistants heard my command and launched the dialer. 2. Send a textBoth Siri (L) and S Voice (R) interpreted and texted my message.Jessica Dolcourt/CNETSiri had no problem executing my whim. When I first asked S Voice to "text Jason Parker Hi," it tried calling him. You'll have to teach yourself to say "Text So-And-So message Hi" if you want to text with your voice. I also recommend keeping texts short and sweet. S Voice continually botched longer messages throughout my testing period. By the way, I use CNET's Download.com editor in a lot of examples because I know he won't scream at me for sending him random calls and texts. 3. Set an alarmSiri (L) required less confirmation to set the alarm than S Voice (R).Jessica Dolcourt/CNETS Voice and Siri both set my alarm for the following morning. However, Siri was more confident, setting the alarm and offering me an out to cancel. S Voice required time-wasting confirmation before saving the alarm.4. Get directionsBoth assistants quickly opened their navigation apps. When enabled, they both show multiple layers and terrain types.Jessica Dolcourt/CNETS Voice opened driving navigation to get to Google (just not the office I wanted; this is not Samsung's fault) while Siri opened driving directions to Jack London Square in Oakland.Jack London Square is a major Oakland, Calif. landmark. Cupertino, Calif.-born Siri should know better.Jessica Dolcourt/CNETSince driving directions are new in iOS 6, I also experimented with language -- what could I say or not say to make Siri give me what I wanted? You can ask for driving directions or command Siri to navigate, but use the word "drive" and you'll be sorry. It also helps to annunciate.5. Check the weatherBoth assistants fetched the correct information.Jessica Dolcourt/CNETBoth Siri and S Voice returned similar results for London's weather, just not exact forecasts.6. Play a tuneSiri began playing the song I bought over iTunes. S Voice didn't.Jessica Dolcourt/CNETSiri was able to launch a Nicki Minaj song I downloaded from iTunes (it was Starships, if you must know), but S Voice struggled to launch the same song that I purchased from Google Play. It was also unable to launch Google Play. Since I only have downloaded Google tunes on the GS3, this feature didn't work for me.7. Set a calendar event Siri got a lot closer with my request, since I wasn't trying to invite anyone to a meeting. They both nailed the separate dates.Jessica Dolcourt/CNETThe name of my salon is a bit unusual, so I can't blame either assistant for tripping over it, but Siri alone captured the right appointment time and name of my stylist. S Voice branched off in the effort to include a contact from my address book, which took up my time and wasn't what I wanted. The reason you see two separate appointment days was a personal inconsistency, not any fault of either voice assistant.8. Search the WebSiri got much closer to my actual request. S Voice just needs a hearing aid.Jessica Dolcourt/CNETI searched on multiple topics on both Siri and S Voice. While both did fine with the basics, there were problems with more complicated requests, or even with requests it found simple enough to understand, but didn't correctly execute. Siri was able to sound out something close to "kookaburra," but S Voice tripped up and just set my search term to "cook." Um, no. That'd be Pixar's new movie, Brave.Jessica Dolcourt/CNETNeither one understood my devotion to Pixar films. In S Voice's case, the blunder illustrated my user error in incorrectly structuring my commands. However, the app's rigidity once again got in the way and completely tried my patience.9. Ask: When was Abraham Lincoln born?Expand S Voice's response (right) to see more. Wolphram Alpha sources both assistants.Jessica Dolcourt/CNETBoth S Voice and Siri tap Wolphram Alpha for this type of information. S Voice returned the short answer, with a choice to expand for more. Siri expanded by default. I personally prefer S Voice's bottom line with the option to dig deeper. "Date formats" and "time differences" don't make any sense to me.10. Ask: How far is it from here to Siberia?Siberia: nowhere on Earth or closer than you think?Jessica Dolcourt/CNETNow, I know they both heard me, and in truth, I expected Wolphram Alpha's database to take over. Instead, S Voice (left) played dumb and Siri (right) gave me driving directions. However, there' s really no need. Apparently, Siberia is within walking distance.11. Updating social networksOnce again, S Voice (R) isn't quite sure what I'm trying to say, even in a simple update.Jessica Dolcourt/CNETPosting Facebook and Twitter status updates is easy in theory on both S Voice and Siri, and I performed the commands several times on each with similar messages. Both offer opportunities to adjust or correct the message before posting, but Siri was the clear winner. Not only was Siri more accurate, its animation is also more engaging. For instance, Siri will stamp your canceled messages with a red icon if you abort.S Voice, on the other hand, doesn't appear to know its own name -- and that's just its first problem. Simple tweets worked fine, like "Testing S Voice on the Galaxy S three." However, the more complex you get, the harder it garbles. "Testing out the functionality of tweeting on the Galaxy S3" became "Testing out the functionality of the athletes on the galaxy s three."12. Movie showtimesYou can search for movies with either assistant.Jessica Dolcourt/CNETSiri and S Voice both found me showtimes. I do like how S Voice pulled up Fandango's Web Site to also offer a ticket sale, but I'm not sure I'd want that option every time.S Voice-onlyTweeting with S Voice breaks down with complexity. S Voice smoothly launched native apps.Jessica Dolcourt/CNETWith iOS 6, Siri caught up with S Voice on a lot of fronts, including launching apps, kicking off driving directions, and updating Twitter and Facebook with your voice. What's more, Siri does it smoother and with fewer mistakes. S Voice still has the upper hand when it comes to switching on system settings like turning on and off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Although Siri does this too now, S Voice swiftly opened the native apps I threw at it, like the calendar, YouTube, and the calculator. However, it didn't open the Google Play store, which means that commands like, "Download Angry Birds!" are a no-go.Siri-onlyNot only will Siri now mine Yelp for restaurant ratings, it's smart enough to order them too.Jessica Dolcourt/CNETSiri already had several tricks up its sleeve that S Voice couldn't match, but iOS 6 took it a step further. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Siri could apply filters to find the "best," or top-rated, restaurants nearby.Linking in Open Table to Siri is a practical way to get dinner reservations.Jessica Dolcourt/CNETWhat's more, OpenTable ties into Siri, so if you ask to make reservations, Siri will search for you, then launch the app (which you've had to download) so you can seal your dinner deal. As usual, Siri doesn't always know that "Locanda" is a place and "Low Conda" isn't, or that you want reservations rather than respirations. Siri commands might creep up in other apps, too, OpenTable-style, since with iOS 6, Apple opened up the Siri API to third-party developers. You'll soon be able to use Siri to interact with these apps, for instance, adding reminders to a non-Apple app.Siri can pull down sports scores, but only for the most recent season.Jessica Dolcourt/CNETSports scores are also new to Siri in iOS 6, but they only retrieve stats for the current season.Siri also dictates e-mail, a feature that predated iOS 6. Try it on S Voice if you'd like, but all you'll get is an apology that S Voice is unable to send e-mail. Siri did well enough with this simple message, but I'd hesitate to compose something much longer, especially without automatic punctuation control (you can vocally punctuate, which is good, since you know, I'm a writer and stuff.)Siri took simple e-mail voice dictation well.Jessica Dolcourt/CNETEyes Free, which will be able to control compatible cars, is technically part of iOS 6, but it's still under development, and I wasn't able to test it. I anticipate a larger launch when the feature's ready for prime time.Verdict: Both have a long way to go, but S Voice has longerIt's only a matter of time before voice-command software becomes more accurate all around. In the meantime, Siri offers a hands-down better experience, since it better interpreted my commands, and didn't require as much repetition.S Voice also struggles more than Siri to filter out sound, even when I'm attempting to annunciate (which just makes me feel like an idiot while in public: "GOO-gl-PLAY.") Even when I tested S Voice in a quiet area of the office, I noticed that the GS3 recorded the sounds of closing doors, conversation floating down the hall, the click of the screenshot, and in one instance, a more forceful breath.With some fine-tuning and a broader command vocabulary, S Voice 2.0 will be able to close the gap with Siri. However, both programs need to work out enough kinks that I'll probably wait a few generations more before relying on either one to operate my phone.
Next on Roundtable- Unjammable networks and aerial drones
Next on Roundtable: Unjammable networks and aerial drones
I'm preparing for two very cool Reporters' Roundtable shows that I'll be recording this week. First up, we're doing a show on one of my favorite technology topics, mesh networks. Then, it's attack of the drones.Mesh networkingMesh networking is when wireless devices pool together to share bandwidth and connections. Mesh networks can also be made more resistant to jamming and censorship than traditional point-to-point wireless. The tech is hard to implement, but the the military has been using mesh technologies to great effect for years, and commercial and consumer implementations of mesh networking pop up from time to time.I'll be interviewing two leaders in mesh for this show: first, Devabhaktuni ("Sri") Srikrishan, who was the founding CTO of Tropos Networks (recently acquired by utility technology company ABB), which makes mesh networking for cities and infrastructure.Srikishan is now working on building small, portable mesh radios he believes can give oppressed citizens access to the Internet even when their government tries to shut them down.Also on this show: Micha Benoliel, the CEO of Open Garden, a company bringing cooperative network sharing to your smartphones, tablets, and computers. Benoliel's product, if successful, could upend almost everything we know about how wireless bandwidth is metered and sold to consumers. Aerial dronesThat's my Thursday. Then, on Friday, I'm recording a Roundtable on aerial drones. Small and increasingly autonomous flying vehicles will soon be popping up everywhere, not just in war zones. We've got consumer-grade, iPhone-controlled quadcopters at Brookstone stores, and a growing industry supporting drone hobbyists. Drones are literally heading everywhere: Recently I talked to an entrepreneur who wants to use autonomous drones to deliver emergency medicines to people in otherwise inaccessible villages in the developing world. And then, of course, there are those military applications. When will autonomous drones get the authority to make life-or-death weapons-firing decisions on their own? Or are they already?I have two great guests for this show. In the studio I'll have Wired Editor-in-Chief Chris Anderson. He's also the guy behind the  DIY Drones hobbyist community, and its manufacturing arm, 3D Robotics.  Also joining us is Daniel Suarez, the author of "Kill Decision," a really fun yarn primarily based on the rise of autonomous drones. Suarez is author of two other geek thrillers, "Daemon" and "Freedom." He'll be in the studio with me and Anderson. It's going to be a great show.The mesh networking show should appear here on the Reporters' Roundtable blog and on iTunes on Friday, and the drone episode on Monday or Tuesday. Watch for them.If you have any questions or topics you'd like to see addressed on either of these shows, please drop me a line (rafe@cnet.com), or leave a note in the comments.
I'm preparing for two very cool Reporters' Roundtable shows that I'll be recording this week. First up, we're doing a show on one of my favorite technology topics, mesh networks. Then, it's attack of the drones.Mesh networkingMesh networking is when wireless devices pool together to share bandwidth and connections. Mesh networks can also be made more resistant to jamming and censorship than traditional point-to-point wireless. The tech is hard to implement, but the the military has been using mesh technologies to great effect for years, and commercial and consumer implementations of mesh networking pop up from time to time.I'll be interviewing two leaders in mesh for this show: first, Devabhaktuni ("Sri") Srikrishan, who was the founding CTO of Tropos Networks (recently acquired by utility technology company ABB), which makes mesh networking for cities and infrastructure.Srikishan is now working on building small, portable mesh radios he believes can give oppressed citizens access to the Internet even when their government tries to shut them down.Also on this show: Micha Benoliel, the CEO of Open Garden, a company bringing cooperative network sharing to your smartphones, tablets, and computers. Benoliel's product, if successful, could upend almost everything we know about how wireless bandwidth is metered and sold to consumers. Aerial dronesThat's my Thursday. Then, on Friday, I'm recording a Roundtable on aerial drones. Small and increasingly autonomous flying vehicles will soon be popping up everywhere, not just in war zones. We've got consumer-grade, iPhone-controlled quadcopters at Brookstone stores, and a growing industry supporting drone hobbyists. Drones are literally heading everywhere: Recently I talked to an entrepreneur who wants to use autonomous drones to deliver emergency medicines to people in otherwise inaccessible villages in the developing world. And then, of course, there are those military applications. When will autonomous drones get the authority to make life-or-death weapons-firing decisions on their own? Or are they already?I have two great guests for this show. In the studio I'll have Wired Editor-in-Chief Chris Anderson. He's also the guy behind the  DIY Drones hobbyist community, and its manufacturing arm, 3D Robotics.  Also joining us is Daniel Suarez, the author of "Kill Decision," a really fun yarn primarily based on the rise of autonomous drones. Suarez is author of two other geek thrillers, "Daemon" and "Freedom." He'll be in the studio with me and Anderson. It's going to be a great show.The mesh networking show should appear here on the Reporters' Roundtable blog and on iTunes on Friday, and the drone episode on Monday or Tuesday. Watch for them.If you have any questions or topics you'd like to see addressed on either of these shows, please drop me a line (rafe@cnet.com), or leave a note in the comments.
Buzz Out Loud 1585- Girls just wanna Pinterest (Podcast)
Buzz Out Loud 1585: Girls just wanna Pinterest (Podcast)
Sure, there's a new iPad to discuss, a mind-controlled skateboard to tell stories about, lawsuits against Apple over Siri, and the thing where Ray Kurzweil doesn't think there's intelligent life in the universe. But Sharon Vaknin is on the show today, so as soon as Pinterest comes up, that's all we can talk about! PIN ALL THE THINGS! Plus, some news, I swear. This 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.PlayListen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe: iTunes (MP3) | iTunes (320x180) | iTunes (640x360) RSS (MP3) | RSS (320x180) | RSS (640x360)EPISODE 1585 NEWS:-CNET conversations with hot startups of SXSW 2012-Mind-controlled skateboard-Ray Kurzweil interview: he doesn’t believe there are aliens out there!-Five non-surprises from first new iPad reviews-Walmart will stream your own DVDs back to you–for a fee-â€Why I left†letter turns into a meme; startups recruit dissatisfied hires-Change: It’s Okay.Really.-After-244-years-encyclopaedia-britannica-stops-the-presses-Man sues Apple over Siri ads: Does he have a case?-Yahoo sues Facebook for infringing 10 patents-Yahoo's own lash out against company over ‘weaponized’ patents-SXSW: Company Turns Homeless into Wi-Fi Hotspots in Texas-Homeless-hot-spots-at-sxsw-a-manufactured-controversy-The Power of Youth: How Invisible Children Orchestrated Kony 2012QUICK HITS:-Google hires DARPA Director Regina Dugan-Police tell Twitter that missing girl is safe before telling momGADGETS:-New rumor adds to 15″ MacBook Air chatterINTO IT NOT INTO IT:-iCEO: Cuddle with a Steve Jobs plush-New iPad hits stores at 8 a.m. Friday-Pinterest to get ‘beautiful’ profile redesigns-Wal-Mart to offer digital movie content-MP3 DJ Doorbell: Rickroll your unsuspecting visitors-The ShutUp Gun in action-Cupcake ATMVOICEMAIL:AJ from Los Angeles has a prediction on the iPhone 5.Collin Davies says he is not excited about the latest Apple Product.Dan in Salt Lake City is super frustrated with ICS and Google.EMAILS:Hey Buzz Crew,As a loyal AT&T customer for over 10 years and an iPhone owner for over 4 I was incensed when I began to be throttled in late February. Due to the success of Matt Spacarelli in small claims court, I began to plot my REVENGE!!! When I saw that my iPhone 4S had magically became a 4G phone overnight my bile began to rise and I was ready to add this to my list of complaints. But, lo and behold, my speeds have increased from a throttled .2 Mbps, to 2 Mbps on 3G, and now 8 Mbps! So, until I get throttled again later this month, AT&T can consider me a happy customer! Love the show. Gregâ€"â€"The elephant in the room omission from the new iPad is the failure to incrementally increase the maximum amount of storage.Does that relate to the flash memory crisis from the tsunami?Does that relate to a technical/financial issue (reaching the end of Moore’s law)?Is that an attempt to force iCloud on users?WillNew Havenâ€"â€"Molly the iPhone is five years old and there are 500,000 apps. The iPad is two years old and there are 200,000 apps. Do the math.Daneâ€"â€"http://bol.cnet.com, 800-616-2638 (CNET), buzz@cnet.comFollow us on Twitter: @mollywood @brian_tong @stephenbeacham @sharonvak
Sure, there's a new iPad to discuss, a mind-controlled skateboard to tell stories about, lawsuits against Apple over Siri, and the thing where Ray Kurzweil doesn't think there's intelligent life in the universe. But Sharon Vaknin is on the show today, so as soon as Pinterest comes up, that's all we can talk about! PIN ALL THE THINGS! Plus, some news, I swear. This 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.PlayListen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe: iTunes (MP3) | iTunes (320x180) | iTunes (640x360) RSS (MP3) | RSS (320x180) | RSS (640x360)EPISODE 1585 NEWS:-CNET conversations with hot startups of SXSW 2012-Mind-controlled skateboard-Ray Kurzweil interview: he doesn’t believe there are aliens out there!-Five non-surprises from first new iPad reviews-Walmart will stream your own DVDs back to you–for a fee-â€Why I left†letter turns into a meme; startups recruit dissatisfied hires-Change: It’s Okay.Really.-After-244-years-encyclopaedia-britannica-stops-the-presses-Man sues Apple over Siri ads: Does he have a case?-Yahoo sues Facebook for infringing 10 patents-Yahoo's own lash out against company over ‘weaponized’ patents-SXSW: Company Turns Homeless into Wi-Fi Hotspots in Texas-Homeless-hot-spots-at-sxsw-a-manufactured-controversy-The Power of Youth: How Invisible Children Orchestrated Kony 2012QUICK HITS:-Google hires DARPA Director Regina Dugan-Police tell Twitter that missing girl is safe before telling momGADGETS:-New rumor adds to 15″ MacBook Air chatterINTO IT NOT INTO IT:-iCEO: Cuddle with a Steve Jobs plush-New iPad hits stores at 8 a.m. Friday-Pinterest to get ‘beautiful’ profile redesigns-Wal-Mart to offer digital movie content-MP3 DJ Doorbell: Rickroll your unsuspecting visitors-The ShutUp Gun in action-Cupcake ATMVOICEMAIL:AJ from Los Angeles has a prediction on the iPhone 5.Collin Davies says he is not excited about the latest Apple Product.Dan in Salt Lake City is super frustrated with ICS and Google.EMAILS:Hey Buzz Crew,As a loyal AT&T customer for over 10 years and an iPhone owner for over 4 I was incensed when I began to be throttled in late February. Due to the success of Matt Spacarelli in small claims court, I began to plot my REVENGE!!! When I saw that my iPhone 4S had magically became a 4G phone overnight my bile began to rise and I was ready to add this to my list of complaints. But, lo and behold, my speeds have increased from a throttled .2 Mbps, to 2 Mbps on 3G, and now 8 Mbps! So, until I get throttled again later this month, AT&T can consider me a happy customer! Love the show. Gregâ€"â€"The elephant in the room omission from the new iPad is the failure to incrementally increase the maximum amount of storage.Does that relate to the flash memory crisis from the tsunami?Does that relate to a technical/financial issue (reaching the end of Moore’s law)?Is that an attempt to force iCloud on users?WillNew Havenâ€"â€"Molly the iPhone is five years old and there are 500,000 apps. The iPad is two years old and there are 200,000 apps. Do the math.Daneâ€"â€"http://bol.cnet.com, 800-616-2638 (CNET), buzz@cnet.comFollow us on Twitter: @mollywood @brian_tong @stephenbeacham @sharonvak
The 404 415- Where Wilson draws the short straw
The 404 415: Where Wilson draws the short straw
Wilson is "out sick" today, but we're lucky to have Ms. Natali Del Conte nearby to replace him on the show. She was working out of the office last week, so we take this opportunity to update ourselves on all things NDC and you'll be surprised to hear of the changes coming to Loaded. We're so proud of her. Congrats, Natali! We officially kick off this Monday episode by defining the Web's trendiest new buzzphrase, "augmented reality." We're not sure who came up with it, but it's all the rage in the world of iPhone apps. For example, Yelp built an Easter egg into its app that uses the smartphone's GPS to superimpose digital data onto the world through the camera, making it easy to view restaurants, taxis, bathrooms, and subway information around you. We think it's pretty cool, but Gawker has its own application ideas, like an app called ClubLech, which uses facial recognition and user-inputted data to identify all the singles in a room. Sounds creepy and, like a lot of technology, it takes the fun out of getting to know someone in person. Plus, who wants a digital sign superimposed over their head pointing out their depressingly single relationship status?Are you having a hard time saying goodbye to "Reading Rainbow?" We are, too. The show has been on the air for 26 years and just recently celebrated its final episode on August 28. We're sad to see a relic of our childhood go the way of the dodo, but it makes perfect sense, since we're pretty sure kids are just illiterate now, so why have a show to promote books? But don't take our word for it; just ask a kid to define the word "Scholastic." If you want to get your voice mail heard on the air, just give us a call at 1-855-404-CNET and tell us what's on your mind! Could be something about one of our shows, maybe one of the hosts, or just something random that popped into your head. We'll take them all!EPISODE 415PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio |Subscribe in RSS Video This 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.PlayFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Wilson is "out sick" today, but we're lucky to have Ms. Natali Del Conte nearby to replace him on the show. She was working out of the office last week, so we take this opportunity to update ourselves on all things NDC and you'll be surprised to hear of the changes coming to Loaded. We're so proud of her. Congrats, Natali! We officially kick off this Monday episode by defining the Web's trendiest new buzzphrase, "augmented reality." We're not sure who came up with it, but it's all the rage in the world of iPhone apps. For example, Yelp built an Easter egg into its app that uses the smartphone's GPS to superimpose digital data onto the world through the camera, making it easy to view restaurants, taxis, bathrooms, and subway information around you. We think it's pretty cool, but Gawker has its own application ideas, like an app called ClubLech, which uses facial recognition and user-inputted data to identify all the singles in a room. Sounds creepy and, like a lot of technology, it takes the fun out of getting to know someone in person. Plus, who wants a digital sign superimposed over their head pointing out their depressingly single relationship status?Are you having a hard time saying goodbye to "Reading Rainbow?" We are, too. The show has been on the air for 26 years and just recently celebrated its final episode on August 28. We're sad to see a relic of our childhood go the way of the dodo, but it makes perfect sense, since we're pretty sure kids are just illiterate now, so why have a show to promote books? But don't take our word for it; just ask a kid to define the word "Scholastic." If you want to get your voice mail heard on the air, just give us a call at 1-855-404-CNET and tell us what's on your mind! Could be something about one of our shows, maybe one of the hosts, or just something random that popped into your head. We'll take them all!EPISODE 415PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio |Subscribe in RSS Video This 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.PlayFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Microsoft Office HopTo app hops onto the iPad
Microsoft Office HopTo app hops onto the iPad
iPad owners tired of waiting for Microsoft to launch a version of Office for the tablet now have yet another option.Released Thursday, HopTo is a free iPad app that lets you view, edit, and create Word documents and Excel spreadsheets, and view PowerPoint presentations. The ability to edit a PowerPoint file is slated for an upcoming version.You can view PDFs and a wide array of image files, including JPGs, PNGs, TIFs, and animated GIFs. You can listen to MP3s, iTunes M4A files, and other music formats. I was also able to play QuickTime video clips.You can access files and documents from Dropbox, Box, and Google Drive. A representative for HopTo told me the company plans to add support for Microsoft SkyDrive in the near future. You also can retrieve files from your local computer by installing a File Connector program. For now, the program works only on Windows PCs, but HopTo said that Mac support is coming soon.Opening a Word document or Excel spreadsheet displays the file fullscreen with a formatting toolbar at the bottom. Tapping on the screen triggers the iPad's keyboard. The app wisely avoids cluttering up the interface with pull-down menus or a large ribbon. Instead, the formatting toolbar provides access to all of the basic Office commands and features.As always, the iPad's onscreen keyboard takes up a fair amount of space. But there's still enough room to see a few paragraphs or lines of your document. And if you use an external keyboard, so much the better.To create a new Word or Excel document, simply hold down the plus button in the upper right corner of the screen. That same button lets you open tabs in which you can retrieve and switch among additional files. HopTo displays a list of recent files so you don't have to hunt for them in the cloud. A built-in search feature also helps you find specific files by title or content.HopTo is a solid app with a clean and simple interface and an easy way of working with your online files. And since it's free, it's certainly worth trying. Who needs Microsoft when apps like HopTo can deliver Office to the iPad?
iPad owners tired of waiting for Microsoft to launch a version of Office for the tablet now have yet another option.Released Thursday, HopTo is a free iPad app that lets you view, edit, and create Word documents and Excel spreadsheets, and view PowerPoint presentations. The ability to edit a PowerPoint file is slated for an upcoming version.You can view PDFs and a wide array of image files, including JPGs, PNGs, TIFs, and animated GIFs. You can listen to MP3s, iTunes M4A files, and other music formats. I was also able to play QuickTime video clips.You can access files and documents from Dropbox, Box, and Google Drive. A representative for HopTo told me the company plans to add support for Microsoft SkyDrive in the near future. You also can retrieve files from your local computer by installing a File Connector program. For now, the program works only on Windows PCs, but HopTo said that Mac support is coming soon.Opening a Word document or Excel spreadsheet displays the file fullscreen with a formatting toolbar at the bottom. Tapping on the screen triggers the iPad's keyboard. The app wisely avoids cluttering up the interface with pull-down menus or a large ribbon. Instead, the formatting toolbar provides access to all of the basic Office commands and features.As always, the iPad's onscreen keyboard takes up a fair amount of space. But there's still enough room to see a few paragraphs or lines of your document. And if you use an external keyboard, so much the better.To create a new Word or Excel document, simply hold down the plus button in the upper right corner of the screen. That same button lets you open tabs in which you can retrieve and switch among additional files. HopTo displays a list of recent files so you don't have to hunt for them in the cloud. A built-in search feature also helps you find specific files by title or content.HopTo is a solid app with a clean and simple interface and an easy way of working with your online files. And since it's free, it's certainly worth trying. Who needs Microsoft when apps like HopTo can deliver Office to the iPad?
Google acquires hand-gesture interface startup Flutter
Google acquires hand-gesture interface startup Flutter
Flutter, a company that makes a hand-gesture interface for simple media, announced Wednesday it's been acquired by Google.The 3-year-old startup uses a device's built-in Webcam to detect users' hand gestures, allowing them to control the playback of music and videos on a variety of applications with the swipe of a hand. The app, which the company describes as the "Kinect for iOS X," is also available for the Windows operating system.Flutter CEO Navneet Dalal announced the acquisition in a home page note that said the company would continue to update the app. "Today, we are thrilled to announce that we will be continuing our research at Google," Dalal wrote. "We share Google's passion for 10x thinking, and we're excited to add their rocket fuel to our journey."Related storiesAT&T to sell Moto Backflip March 7?Dialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)IT players in motionGoogle confirmed the acquisition to The Next Web, which first reported the news."We're really impressed by the Flutter team's ability to design new technology based on cutting-edge research," Google said in a statement. "We look forward to supporting and collaborating on their research efforts at Google."Google declined to reveal the terms of the deal.In June 2012, San Francisco-based Flutter raised $1.4 million in seed funding from Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, Spring Ventures, and Start Fund, according to TechCrunch.
Flutter, a company that makes a hand-gesture interface for simple media, announced Wednesday it's been acquired by Google.The 3-year-old startup uses a device's built-in Webcam to detect users' hand gestures, allowing them to control the playback of music and videos on a variety of applications with the swipe of a hand. The app, which the company describes as the "Kinect for iOS X," is also available for the Windows operating system.Flutter CEO Navneet Dalal announced the acquisition in a home page note that said the company would continue to update the app. "Today, we are thrilled to announce that we will be continuing our research at Google," Dalal wrote. "We share Google's passion for 10x thinking, and we're excited to add their rocket fuel to our journey."Related storiesAT&T to sell Moto Backflip March 7?Dialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)IT players in motionGoogle confirmed the acquisition to The Next Web, which first reported the news."We're really impressed by the Flutter team's ability to design new technology based on cutting-edge research," Google said in a statement. "We look forward to supporting and collaborating on their research efforts at Google."Google declined to reveal the terms of the deal.In June 2012, San Francisco-based Flutter raised $1.4 million in seed funding from Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, Spring Ventures, and Start Fund, according to TechCrunch.
Google- 500,000 Android devices activated each day
Google: 500,000 Android devices activated each day
Android device activations are skyrocketing.Google Android chief Andy Rubin tweeted today that "over 500,000 Android devices" are now activated each day around the world. Moreover, he said that activations are growing at a rate of 4.4 percent week-over-week.That figure becomes more significant when one considers that just last month at Google's I/O Conference, the company announced that 400,000 Android devices were being activated each day, up from 300,000 daily activations in December and 100,000 activations per day a year ago.In 2008, 400,000 to 500,000 units of the first Android smartphone, the T-Mobile G1, were expected to sell in the entire fourth quarter.As Android's popularity has soared, so too has its market share. According to a report released by ComScore earlier this month, Android secured 36.4 percent of the U.S. smartphone market during the first quarter of 2011, easily besting Apple's iOS platform, which controlled 26 percent of the market. Research In Motion and Microsoft followed with 25.7 percent and 6.7 percent of the market, respectively.On a global scale, market researcher Gartner sees good times ahead for Android handsets. The research firm said in April that it expects more than 630 million smartphones to hit store shelves in 2012 and that Android will be running on 49.2 percent of them. Apple's iOS will come in second with 18.9 percent market share, Gartner predicts.
Android device activations are skyrocketing.Google Android chief Andy Rubin tweeted today that "over 500,000 Android devices" are now activated each day around the world. Moreover, he said that activations are growing at a rate of 4.4 percent week-over-week.That figure becomes more significant when one considers that just last month at Google's I/O Conference, the company announced that 400,000 Android devices were being activated each day, up from 300,000 daily activations in December and 100,000 activations per day a year ago.In 2008, 400,000 to 500,000 units of the first Android smartphone, the T-Mobile G1, were expected to sell in the entire fourth quarter.As Android's popularity has soared, so too has its market share. According to a report released by ComScore earlier this month, Android secured 36.4 percent of the U.S. smartphone market during the first quarter of 2011, easily besting Apple's iOS platform, which controlled 26 percent of the market. Research In Motion and Microsoft followed with 25.7 percent and 6.7 percent of the market, respectively.On a global scale, market researcher Gartner sees good times ahead for Android handsets. The research firm said in April that it expects more than 630 million smartphones to hit store shelves in 2012 and that Android will be running on 49.2 percent of them. Apple's iOS will come in second with 18.9 percent market share, Gartner predicts.
Gold iPhone 5S- Gone, baby, gone wherever you look
Gold iPhone 5S: Gone, baby, gone wherever you look
Apple's gold iPhone 5S has had its ship date pushed back on the company's online store and elsewhere around the Web.Shortly after Apple started selling the iPhone 5S on Friday, the company's ship date for the gold-hued phone slipped from a window of seven to 10 business days to the broader, later target of October across all models and carriers. The silver and black models are still available to ship within seven to 10 business days.In addition to Apple's online store, the company's gold handset has been pushed back at a host of online retailers, including carrier Web sites. AT&T, for example, has put a wide swath on when the handset might be available, saying it could ship anywhere between seven and 28 days.Even at the company's flagship store in New York City, there was no satisfaction for shoppers seeking gold. Later Friday morning, Apple confirmed the tight inventory for the new high-end iPhone. "Demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and we are currently sold out or have limited supply of certain iPhone 5S models in some stores," a company rep told All Things D.Apple's gold iPhone 5S is the first from the company to break away from the traditional white and black versions. Since its announcement last week, analysts have suggested that the gold iPhone 5S could prove popular, and at least on Apple's online store, that appears to be the case.Apple's online marketplace isn't saying exactly when the handset will launch in October.Update 8:17 a.m. PT: Added statement by Apple.iPhone 5C and 5S hit the streets worldwide...See full gallery1 - 4 / 45NextPrev
Apple's gold iPhone 5S has had its ship date pushed back on the company's online store and elsewhere around the Web.Shortly after Apple started selling the iPhone 5S on Friday, the company's ship date for the gold-hued phone slipped from a window of seven to 10 business days to the broader, later target of October across all models and carriers. The silver and black models are still available to ship within seven to 10 business days.In addition to Apple's online store, the company's gold handset has been pushed back at a host of online retailers, including carrier Web sites. AT&T, for example, has put a wide swath on when the handset might be available, saying it could ship anywhere between seven and 28 days.Even at the company's flagship store in New York City, there was no satisfaction for shoppers seeking gold. Later Friday morning, Apple confirmed the tight inventory for the new high-end iPhone. "Demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and we are currently sold out or have limited supply of certain iPhone 5S models in some stores," a company rep told All Things D.Apple's gold iPhone 5S is the first from the company to break away from the traditional white and black versions. Since its announcement last week, analysts have suggested that the gold iPhone 5S could prove popular, and at least on Apple's online store, that appears to be the case.Apple's online marketplace isn't saying exactly when the handset will launch in October.Update 8:17 a.m. PT: Added statement by Apple.iPhone 5C and 5S hit the streets worldwide...See full gallery1 - 4 / 45NextPrev
Giving peace a chance- HTC, Nokia settle suits in patent deal
Giving peace a chance: HTC, Nokia settle suits in patent deal
HTC and Nokia on Friday said that they would settle their legal differences over disputed patents, just the latest in a recent trend of surprising camaraderie between tech companies.Related storiesDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)Apple seeks ban on U.S. Nokia importsNokia patent shows shape-shifting phoneAT&T-Verizon price war debunked (FAQ)Linja Zax 2.0 brings 3D scrolling to your pocket Under the agreement, the two companies will end all their pending patent lawsuits. HTC will pay Nokia a fee -- the amount of which was undisclosed -- for access to Nokia's technology and the two will collaborate on work involving HTC's LTE patents.The companies also will look at future technology collaboration projects. There have been a surprising number of such deals struck in recent weeks. Google and Samsung Electronics said last month that they had struck a cross-licensing deal, further aligning two of the largest players in the wireless industry. Samsung, meanwhile, inked a similar deal with Cisco Systems, believed to help it with its smart-home strategy. HTC and Nokia have long been at odds regarding their patents, and a deal brings a bit more stability to both sides. HTC is already dealing with falling profit and revenue, as it struggles to find a way to turn itself around, while Nokia is completing the sale of its devices unit to Microsoft. Of course, the biggest patent lawsuit in the industry -- a massive fight between Apple and Samsung -- remains. But with all of these deals breaking out, perhaps there's hope Apple and Samsung can make up too.
HTC and Nokia on Friday said that they would settle their legal differences over disputed patents, just the latest in a recent trend of surprising camaraderie between tech companies.Related storiesDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)Apple seeks ban on U.S. Nokia importsNokia patent shows shape-shifting phoneAT&T-Verizon price war debunked (FAQ)Linja Zax 2.0 brings 3D scrolling to your pocket Under the agreement, the two companies will end all their pending patent lawsuits. HTC will pay Nokia a fee -- the amount of which was undisclosed -- for access to Nokia's technology and the two will collaborate on work involving HTC's LTE patents.The companies also will look at future technology collaboration projects. There have been a surprising number of such deals struck in recent weeks. Google and Samsung Electronics said last month that they had struck a cross-licensing deal, further aligning two of the largest players in the wireless industry. Samsung, meanwhile, inked a similar deal with Cisco Systems, believed to help it with its smart-home strategy. HTC and Nokia have long been at odds regarding their patents, and a deal brings a bit more stability to both sides. HTC is already dealing with falling profit and revenue, as it struggles to find a way to turn itself around, while Nokia is completing the sale of its devices unit to Microsoft. Of course, the biggest patent lawsuit in the industry -- a massive fight between Apple and Samsung -- remains. But with all of these deals breaking out, perhaps there's hope Apple and Samsung can make up too.
Get a $926 Mac software bundle for $49.99
Get a $926 Mac software bundle for $49.99
Good news, Mac users: You're about to get a bundle of love. By which I mean software.The iStack Mac Bundle comes with 10 apps that would normally cost $926. (And people say Mac software is overpriced.) Your cost: $49.99.Let's start with the crown jewel of the bundle, the program that's most likely to make your wallet spring open: Parallels Desktop 7. A $79 program all by itself, Parallels lets you run Windows 7 and Windows programs on your Mac, no rebooting required. It's a top-rated utility, and with good reason.Even if you buy Parallels from, say, Newegg, you'll pay around $60, which is $10 more than the bundle costs. And, let's not forget, iStack comes with nine other items.Among the highlights: Snagit, a popular screen-capture utility; PaintSupreme, an image-creation and image-editing tool; Disk Drill Pro, which helps you recover lost data; and iGlasses 3 for fine-tuning Webcam images.Of particular interest is Udemy's iOS App Development Video Course, which teaches you everything you need to know about designing and launching iOS apps. It typically costs $499 all by itself.Whether or not you buy the bundle, you can also get Breeze, an $8 window-management tool, for free.I'm not a Mac user myself, so I can't judge the overall appeal of the bundle. That said, there's no question that it's a bargain for anyone interested in Parallels Desktop or iOS app development.StackSocial will offer the iStack Mac Bundle for the next 13 days, so you've got time to decide if it's a worthwhile buy.
Good news, Mac users: You're about to get a bundle of love. By which I mean software.The iStack Mac Bundle comes with 10 apps that would normally cost $926. (And people say Mac software is overpriced.) Your cost: $49.99.Let's start with the crown jewel of the bundle, the program that's most likely to make your wallet spring open: Parallels Desktop 7. A $79 program all by itself, Parallels lets you run Windows 7 and Windows programs on your Mac, no rebooting required. It's a top-rated utility, and with good reason.Even if you buy Parallels from, say, Newegg, you'll pay around $60, which is $10 more than the bundle costs. And, let's not forget, iStack comes with nine other items.Among the highlights: Snagit, a popular screen-capture utility; PaintSupreme, an image-creation and image-editing tool; Disk Drill Pro, which helps you recover lost data; and iGlasses 3 for fine-tuning Webcam images.Of particular interest is Udemy's iOS App Development Video Course, which teaches you everything you need to know about designing and launching iOS apps. It typically costs $499 all by itself.Whether or not you buy the bundle, you can also get Breeze, an $8 window-management tool, for free.I'm not a Mac user myself, so I can't judge the overall appeal of the bundle. That said, there's no question that it's a bargain for anyone interested in Parallels Desktop or iOS app development.StackSocial will offer the iStack Mac Bundle for the next 13 days, so you've got time to decide if it's a worthwhile buy.
Apple prepping Air-like 15-inch MacBook, report says
One tech site claimed back in July that a 15-inch model would be part of the MacBook Pro line.Macrumors, which also supports the MacBook Pro theory, had originally reported about an ultrathin MacBookback in July. Presumably, a Mac laptop as thin as the Air will not have an optical drive.That would be in line with the handful of Air-like Ultrabooks now hitting the market. And it would be interesting if Apple extended Air-like designs all the way to 17 inches. While there are a number of 11- and 13-inch Windows Ultrabook designs on the market, there have been few with 15-inch or 17-inch screens, though Dell tried this once with its Latitude Z. That 0.8-inch thick laptop had a 16-inch screen.Of course, one of the most intriguing questions is timing.Would Apple bring out a spanking-new model based on current Intel Sandy Bridge processors or wait for the more appealing Ivy Bridge chips due by late in the first quarter or early second quarter of 2012? Ivy Bridge will support USB 3.0 and its built-in graphics processor is also expected to be compliant with OpenCL, a technology that accelerates gaming and multimedia operations.
Apple prepares Moscone for next week's WWDC
With less than a week to go before its big developers conference next week, Apple has already begun decorating the outside of the Moscone Center in San Francisco, where the week-long event is held.As usual, that involves plastering large Apple logos on the outside of the three story building, as well as adorning some of the inside halls with large graphics. There aren't too many surprises inside so far, though that could change as more signage goes up. In years past, that's included early looks at icons for products like iCloud. Apple typically covers up time-sensitive things with black wrapping that's removed when the keynote's over.Josh Lowensohn/CNETOh, and in case you were wondering what the ginormous Apple logo looked like before it went up, here's some of it being prepped to go:Josh Lowensohn/CNETAnd the nearly finished version (from last year's show, when the weather was much better):Moscone getting prepped for WWDC last year.James Martin/CNETWWDC begins with a keynote next Monday at 10 a.m. Pacific. CNET will be thereto bring you the news live.
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