Techno Babble

Ever since I first explored the use of Pico Projectors, I’ve mentioned that it was only a question of time before Apple looked to incorporate the technology into their iOS devices, and here is a patent application from Apple which goes some way to proving that theory.

United States patent application US 2011/0197147 was originally filed in Feb 2010 and is called Projected Display Shared Workspaces.

Generally, the patent talks about how 2 or more projected displays, each from a separate device, could be displayed adjacent to one another to produce a shared workspace. Images displayed on one of the projected displays may be copied or transferred  to another projected display within the shared workspace.

Each  device may also contain a cameras that can be used to detect gestures on its projected display so that a user can transfer images between displays using simple gestures.

Devices that could be used include any type of electronic device capable of displaying projected images and recognizing gestures through a camera.

Suitable devices which are specifically mentioned as examples  include an iPod,  iPhone and MacBook.

Also mentioned is the important realisation that whereas a single camera can be used to determine movement in x and y spatial directions relative to the projected display plane – 2 or more cameras may operate in conjunction with one another to detect the spatial z direction .

One or more communication interfaces will provide channels that allow the devices to share information and control settings for the shared workspace.

Other related topics are discussed in more detail in the patent (see link above).

Now, I believe, it’s only a question of time before some of these features start appearing  in the market.

The iOS 4.3 Software Update from Apple, has been released a couple of days before the iPad 2 hits the streets.

Main enhancements to iOS4.3 include:

• Faster web browsing with Safari incorporating the new Nitro JavaScript engine. This will run JavaScript up to 2x quicker than the speed of Safari in iOS4.2.
• iTunes Home Sharing allows iOS 4.3 users to play media on an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch from their iTunes library on a Mac or PC over a local wi-fi network.
• There are also improvements to AirPlay that allow you to stream additional content including video from 3rd party apps, to AppleTV (which requires a 2nd generation Apple TV running the latest software).
• There is a new Personal Hotspot feature. This allows you to share an iPhone 4 cellular data connection with up to 5 additional devices in a combination of a maximum of 3 over Wi-Fi, 3 over BlueTooth and 1 USB device.
  Note: Personal Hotspot requires a supporting hotspot tethering plan from your carrier
• The iPad side switch can be customised to allow you to either use it to lock the screen in landscape or portrait mode or to use it as a mute button.
• Also on iPad, you can use 4 and 5 finger gestures that allow you to pinch to reach the Home Screen. Swipe Up to show the multi-tasking bar and Swipe Left or Swipe Right to switch between running applications.

As always, to install the updates it’s simply a case of connecting to your Mac or PC and using the software update feature for your device in iTunes.

Note: The iPhone 3G or 1st and 2nd generation iPod Touch are no longer supported in this version of iOS.

Full details about iOS 4.3 are available from:

http://www.apple.com/ios/

A simple tip that allows you to create your own library of PDF files and read them on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad using iBooks.

From iTunes, select File…Add to Library, navigate to the PDF file(s) and pick Choose.

This will load them into the Books section of your iTunes library and syncing with your device will copy them into your iBooks library under a new section called PDFs.

Job done.

And another thing, if you have a Mac you can add a PDF directly to the Books section of iTunes, using the following approach:

Make an alias of the iTunes program (ctrl click on the iTunes program in the Applications folder)

Drag the alias to your [home-folder]/Library/PDF Services folder and rename it, if required.

Now you will have an iTunes option when, for example, you pick the PDF button in a Print dialog.

This is a simple readme text file which I’m going to add to my Books collection, and here it is in iTunes. (note: it works with text files too!)

Job done

Apple recently announced the next major software update for the iPhone, namely OS 4.0, currently scheduled for release in the Summer (2010).

Claimed to contain more than 100 new features for iPhone and iPod users to enjoy but not if you’ve got an iPod Touch 1st generation (I’ve got 2) which does not seem to be supported in OS 4.0 at all.

Is this a mechanism by Apple to phase out those laggards who still have the 1st generation iPod Touch?

In addition, if you have an iPhone (not 3GS) or 2nd generation iPod Touch you won’t be able to use the multi-tasking feature which comes in OS 4.0

With those limitations out of the way, let’s look in more detail at what’s coming.

An SDK, providing more than 1500 new APIs, is currently available in Beta form, and can be downloaded from the iPhone developer site.

Arguably the biggest feature will be the provision of multi-tasking.

Multitasking

Developers will be able to access seven multi-tasking services which will allow tasks to be performed in the background. This means, for example, that you will be able to make a Voice over IP call while playing a game or checking for email.

Folders

Apps can be organised into folders using drag-and-drop. This will allow a user to manage up to 2160 apps rather than the currently allowed limit of 180 apps.

Better eMail

Messages from all email accounts can be displayed together in a unified inbox. Messages can also be organised by thread and attachments can be opened in third party applications.

iBooks

The ability to browse, buy and read books. Flip through the pages of a book you’ve downloaded from the iBookstore while listening to your music collection. You will be able to browse tens of thousands of books, by title author or genre, check reviews and read sample pages before you buy.

Watch the Apple iPhone OS4.0 Keynote at

http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/1004fk8d5gt/event/

PhoneGap is an open source development framework for creating mobile applications using HTML and JavaScript.

As simple as HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Software development is hard work. Device integration should be simple so you can focus on the application you are building instead of authoring complex compatibility layers. PhoneGap aims to solve device integration by web enabling devices native functionality with open standards.

http://www.phonegap.com/

It enables you to build mobile applications for a number of devices while still taking advantage of the core features available in the iPhone, Android, Palm, Symbian and Blackberry SDKs.

There is a “Wiki” of information available at:

http://wiki.phonegap.com/

PhoneGap can be downloaded from

http://www.phonegap.com/download

where you can also obtain a device simulator application.

Here’s a blog worth following if you want to watch what may be on the horizon from Apple …

http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/

The most recent articles include:

New Media Player Armband Revealed for Attachable Accessories

Will Liquid Cooling be Coming to the iMac?

Apple Design Wins: Animation GUI for iPhone & LED Cinema Display

Apple Granted a Huge Patent Win for 3D Virtual Apple Store

3DVIA Mobile is an application from Dassault Systemes that allows you access to your 3DVIA account from your iPhone.

Features available include:

• the ability to view (pan, zoom and inspect) 3D models in real-time using the in-built 3DVIA player.
• search through all the available models on 3DVIA posted by users and premiuum content partners,
• access your account on 3DVIA
• possition and overlay models from 3DVIA on your iPhone photos and email/share the results

Currently available as a free download from Apples App store

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=324682238&mt=8

Find out more about 3DVIA and register for your own account at

http://www.3dvia.com/

and more about 3DVIA Mobile at

http://www.3dvia.com/mobile/

The High Capacity Color Barcode (HCCB) is a barcode system developed by Microsoft Research.

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/hccb/

It’s not a brand new technology though, having been under development for some time – you can read a news item about the technology (dated 19 April 2007) on the BBC website at

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6570871.stm

It has become more prominent, however, following the recent release of Microsofts second application for the iPhone – Microsoft Tag.

This application is available for a range of mobile phones including the iPhone and allows a user to take a snapshot of the barcode (tag) with the camera. The tag is then decoded to produce a unique ID which is sent to Microsoft servers and  interpreted to provide an action assocated with the tag such as opening your phone’s web-browser at a specific web address. 

The process is intended to provide users with the ability to easily connect to information related with the placement of the barcode. For example on product literature,

Microsoft Vista Packaging + Tag

Another example would be enabling a  user to automatically upload contact details to their phone by simply taking a snapshot of the tag placed on a business card.

From the publishers point of view, Microsoft provides analytics that show which tags are being read and  when and where they’re being read.

Find out all the details, and try it for yourself at 

http://www.microsoft.com/tag/

or use the following Microsoft Tag … 

http://www.microsoft.com/tag

Other Related Technology

DataGlyphs from Parc Research

http://www.parc.com/research/projects/dataglyphs/

QR code

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_Code

http://www.denso-wave.com/qrcode/index-e.html