Apple gets healthy

They say that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. However, Apple is looking to attract the attention of healthcare professionals by entering the world of healthcare.

Designed exclusively for the creation of personal health management apps, Apple’s new CareKit platform will serve as a key catalyst in the development of apps that allow users to transmit information about various medical conditions to their doctors. 

Apps created with this platform will not only be a boon for everyday users, but will help doctors to remotely track patients suffering from certain medical conditions.

While the idea sounds promising, getting doctors on board is vital to the success of CareKit. There are still some doctors in the U.S. who have yet to adopt electronic health records in their offices.

Read more here:
http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/28/11510590/carekit-apple-apps-glow-start-one-drop-diabetes-depression-pregrancy?via=indexdotco

Reality check

One of the hot topics in the tech industry today is augmented reality (AR). AR is designed to modify or enhance a realistic environment with the addition of audio, data, graphics and other elements. Discussions about AR were originally met with caution and skepticism, but over time, that has evolved into optimism and confidence. 

Investors have opened their minds and wallets to the tune of over $3 billion in this previously uncharted area, and major players like Google and Microsoft followed suit. In fact, a recent report from Digi-Capital predicts that AR will be a $120 billion market within the next four years.

AR has the potential to impact many fields, such as education and medicine, and will play a major role in the development of smart homes. But the real questions on everyone’s minds are is the world truly ready for AR, or is it in need of a reality check?

Read more here:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/mahindracomviva/2016/04/11/augmented-reality-blurring-the-lines-between-the-real-and-virtual-worlds/#64380bdb5f6a

Taking a bite out of Apple

For what seems like an eternity, Apple has held a lofty position within the tech industry. With its ever-popular line of smartphones, computers and tablets, it seemed nearly impossible to knock the gadget-producing juggernaut off of its throne.

But as the old adage states, all good things must come to an end. Apple’s second-quarter fiscal report, released on Tuesday, showed that worldwide unit shipments totaled 51.2 million, a decline of 16 per cent as compared to the 61.1 million sold last year.  

Could this be a sign of things to come for Apple?

Read more here:
http://www.cnet.com/news/apple-misses-sales-as-iphone-shipments-drop-for-first-time-ever-2q-2016/

Spotify faces the music

If you enjoy streaming music online and building customized playlists based on your musical interests, chances are you’ve used Spotify to satisfy your aural pleasure. However, users of the service are singing a different tune these days due to a massive security breach.

Recently, a list containing the credentials for hundreds of Spotify accounts was posted on Pastebin.com. Although Spotify claims it hasn’t been hacked, the evidence says otherwise. The motive for the breach is unclear, as is when the information was acquired.

Read more here:
http://techcrunch.com/2016/04/25/hundreds-of-spotify-credentials-appear-online-users-report-accounts-hacked-emails-changed/

A change will do you good

Sheryl Crow once sang those very words in a song about making positive changes to one’s life. Following the same formulaic process every day can become tedious, and making a few changes every so often can making a boring routine more interesting. This is especially true in the traditional workplace meeting. 

Do we need another social network?

To say that social media has had a profound impact on our lives would be no understatement. From Facebook to Instagram, and everything in between, there are many channels for us to share selfies, opinions, and those all-important cat videos.

However, despite the variety, one man thinks the existing platforms are not enough. Enter Sean Parker, the man who brought Napster and later Facebook into the limelight. He firmly believes that another social network is in need of some Airtime.

Read more here:
http://www.cnet.com/news/why-sean-parker-thinks-the-internet-really-needs-another-social-network-facebook/

Alphabet soup

Alphabet, the parent company of search engine giant Google, is getting an education in the ABCs of investing.

Despite boasting a rich portfolio that includes intriguing ventures such as Google Fiber, smartphone developer Nest, and Verily, a life sciences company, these investments have done more harm than good for Alphabet.

While profits from these ventures totaled $188 million, according to Alphabet’s second-quarter earnings report, they have also generated significant losses in excess of $800 million.

Read more here:
http://www.wired.com/2016/04/googles-parent-company-losing-even-money-moonshots/

Pumping up performance

In the late 1970s, pop music sensation Elvis Costello told us to “Pump It Up” in a song that would become a worldwide smash hit. In the late 1980s, M|A|R|R|S told us to “Pump Up the Volume” in an equally popular single. In 2016, we are being told to pump things up once again, but this time by a major player in the tech space.

Monstrous battery can charge your phone for 40 days

Every person’s worst fear is being out and having your phone die. We’ve all been there, that frantic mad dash to find an outlet to charge our phone, lest we miss those important text messages and Facebook posts

The new trend of having a portable battery charger definitely comes in handy for a few hours of extra juice. But in the event of an apocalypse, this new device has you covered. Take that, zombies.

Read more here:
http://gizmodo.com/this-monstrous-battery-can-charge-your-phone-for-40-day-1772000022?

Cut to the QuickTime

The end of a popular video player could mean the beginning of a litany of security issues for many computer users.

After the discovery of two significant security flaws in its QuickTime video player, Apple has announced that it is ending support for QuickTime 7 for Windows. The flaws, originally discovered by Trend Micro, allow for the exploitation of remote code, which could trigger heap overflows when a malicious website is visited.

Claiming that QuickTime for Windows has “depreciated,” Apple chose not to issue a patch for QuickTime, and is thus urging users to uninstall it as soon as possible.

Read more here:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/windows-quicktime-1.3540832

QuickTime 7 uninstall guide for Windows:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205771

Netflix and no chill

Netflix is raising its prices for all users of its streaming services. This has investors and consumers nervous about potential long-term repercussions. With an ever-expanding list of competitors, will this change have you reconsidering how you use Netflix?

Read more here:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/laurengensler/2016/04/15/netflix-price-hike-wall-street-concerns/#7d59e6c25b93

Say goodbye to keyboards?

Apple recently filled a patent for keyboard that would no longer require physical keys. The modern keyboard has remained essentially the same since its inception. Will this change how we use computers?

Read more here:
http://elitedaily.com/news/apple-patent-macbook-keyboard-without-keys/1450682/

Super saver

The iPhone and its derivatives have become the key tool of the masses, able to perform various functions with the tap of a touch screen or the opening of an app. But just like every superhero out there, our beloved devices are not without their weaknesses.

We often use our smartphones to play games, use social media, make short videos and share photos. But it’s all fun and games until your phone lets you know that you’re about to max out your data storage limit.

But fear not, iPhone users. There is a way to free up valuable space on your mobile device so that you may resume your regularly-scheduled game-playing and selfie-taking. The best part? You won’t have to delete anything off of your device. All it takes is a quick visit to the App Store.

Read more here:
http://wtvr.com/2016/04/08/weird-trick-frees-up-tons-of-storage-on-your-iphone-without-deleting-a-thing/

A device that can zap away pain?

The Quell is a new FDA-approved pain relief device. The device claims to relieve pain by stimulating nerves with electricity. It conveniently syncs with an app to allow the user quick and easy control. But does it live up to the hype?

Read more here:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/sethporges/2016/04/08/review-can-this-wearable-device-really-zap-away-chronic-pain/#163706365d60

Unwanted tech support

We’ve all found ourselves in a situation when we required some form of tech support. Whether it was a device that had malfunctioned or a program that was not working properly, help was just a phone call or software download away.
 
Or so it may seem. Recently, several downloadable programs purporting to clean computers or provide tech support turned out to be complex scams. They would use a highly aggressive approach to lure users to contact them, and that’s when the real shenanigans would begin

Read more here:
https://blog.malwarebytes.org/cybercrime/2016/04/dodge-four-tries-to-escape-from-being-scammed/

Toronto’s bright Future

If you were to ask someone what the first thing that came to mind at the mention of the word Toronto, the answers would be varied. Some would say that it’s Canada’s largest city; others might recall the recent successes or failures of the city’s sports teams. But the results of a recent study associate Toronto with something entirely different.

Facebook Messenger wants to become your one-stop shop

At today’s F8 Facebook conference, Mark Zuckerberg announced the launch of the Messenger Platform which will transform the Messenger app into a hub for shopping, news and entertainment.

Read more here:

http://money.cnn.com/2016/04/12/technology/facebook-messenger-bots/index.html

Diode domination

The smartphone as we know it has come a long way since its inception. Each new release from mobile juggernauts Apple and Android is packed with dozens of new features, capturing the attention of an audience that always wants to be connected.

A recent scientific breakthrough will give smartphones more power than ever imagined. The project, a joint United States-Israel partnership, saw the creation of a molecular diode. Built from a single DNA molecule and forged from 11 base pairs, this tiny diode proved that electricity could be conducted through a molecular component.

Read more here:
http://www.timesofisrael.com/super-small-diode-could-herald-iphones-a-million-times-more-powerful/

An app that knows how you feel

Can an app really understand emotion? Is it possible to break down the human condition into an algorithm?

Your Chariot awaits

Uber is many things to many people. For some, it’s a cheaper alternative to riding in a taxi, with the average fare being up to 50 per cent less than a taxi fare. For others, it’s a way to supplant their income with their own vehicle simply by driving people to certain destinations. But in the world of ride-sharing, all that glisters is not gold, especially for some riders.

Data is the new electricity

It has been said that Big Data is becoming a driving force for the businesses of today. While every company collects various types of data, what’s most important is how they harness it to transform it into intelligence, insight and action.

In this keynote address, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discusses why data has become the new electricity for the corporate world, and what businesses can do to use it to their advantage.

Old fashioned writing meets new-age tech

Are you one of those people that needs a hard copy of a document to study it properly? Do you feel like you learn better while reading off a paper rather than a screen? Do these preferences conflict with our increasingly digital society that requires everything to be easily available to email, print and share?

If you answered yes to these questions, then perhaps this new Moleskine smart writing set is for you. This product works as a hybrid between old-school handwritten paper and digitally available documents.

Read more here:
http://www.pcmag.com/news/343492/moleskine-smart-writing-set-digitizes-your-notes

A paralyzed rat that walked again

This is an amazing scientific feat. Here’s hoping it leads to major breakthroughs.

Virtual reality

The past few years have seen computers undergo a significant evolution. What were once devices for business and personal use are now akin to digital Swiss Army knives. Recently, a new partnership between two major names was formed with the intention of transforming computers into digital content development powerhouses. 

Give new life to an old S4

The Samsung Galaxy S4 was one of the more popular smartphone models to hit the market. Although durable and reliable, they are beginning to show their age. If you’re like me and resistant to change, here’s something you can try to give new life tn older phone. Rooting allows you to gain administrative privileges to your phone and make all kind of changes you would be otherwise unable to. It also allows you to remove many of those pesky bloatware programs your phone comes with. I just attempted it with my old Galaxy S4, and I am pleased with the results.

Words are important

Back in my elementary school days, my dad handed me a book called Words Are Important. The well-worn tome was required reading for students in his day, as it taught them the fundamentals of spelling, grammar and sentence structure. The world of technology has its share of important words too, but many of them are rapidly losing their meaning. 

Windows to tweak Start menu again

Windows is looking to tweak the Start menu. Where have we heard this before? This time they are asking for feedback first. Will they finally create a proper successor to the Windows 7 Start menu?

Read more here:

http://www.cnet.com/news/miscosoft-tweaks-start-menu-for-the-windows-10-anniversary-update/

A Tesla for all

The Tesla is a mechanical marvel, but owning one might require people to be in a higher tax bracket. Often boasting six-figure price tags, the vehicles are usually seen driven by the rich and famous.

However, that is about to change. Tesla chairman and CEO Elon Musk recently announced the launch of the new Tesla Model 3. Scheduled for a 2017 release, the Model 3 will sell for $35,000, making the innovative electric vehicles available to all. 

Read more here:
http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/31/11335272/tesla-model-3-announced-price-release-date-specs-preorder

Internet 100 times faster than WiFi

 
Sick of slow Internet? Maybe this could be the answer. A new technology called Li-Fi which travels by light could vastly improve internet speed.
 
Read more here:
http://elitedaily.com/news/lifi-internet-faster-wifi/1299370/

Fashionable technology?

M.I.T. is working on a new form of wearable microchip embedded within your clothing. In a society where we are so concerned about privacy , where do we draw the line?

Read more here:
http://nyti.ms/22TM3qn