Author Michael Lewis is best known for uncovering hidden corners of our present, whether in baseball (Moneyball), the financial collapse (The Big Short), or high frequency trading (this month’s Flash Boys). But in the September 26th, 1996 issue of the New York Times Magazine, Lewis took a swing at predicting the future.
Recently a handful of OEMs, even some from emerging markets, committed to Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform. Most of them are expected to deliver WP powered handsets later this year. There have been countless rumors about Sony throwing its hat in the ring as well. Apparently the Japanese company is mulling a Windows Phone handset, possibly even multiple handsets. A latest rumor suggest that these handsets might be released come July.
Sony Mobile Europe head, Pierre Perron, has also confirmed that Sony is continuing discussions with its partners, which includes Microsoft. While he didn’t say anything specific about Sony’s WP handset plans or if and when such devices will hit the market, Perron comments tie in perfectly with recent rumors about Sony considering Windows Phone. Previously Sony Ericsson had a long relationship with Microsoft, several handsets powered by Windows Mobile were released.
If speculation is true, Sony has already started a test run of its Windows Phone handset batch. Expected to be released this July, rumor has it that this may be the very first device to come with the new Windows Phone GDR update installed straight out of the box. No word as yet on the possible specifications, we’ll have to wait for a bit before rumors about it come in.
Sony Windows Phone Device Expected This July , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Cellphones, Microsoft, Sony, Windows Phone, 
If you’ve ever argued that the British government is a little too nosy, you’ll be glad to hear that there’s some fresh evidence to back up your claims. The Interception of Communications Commissioner has published a report noting that UK police and…
All gaming aspirations aside, Amazon says it has a good reason for building its new Fire TV set-top box: People really like its streaming video content. The company is claiming that its instant video usage has tripled year over year, surpassing both…
![Microsoft Seeks To Flood China With Cheap Windows Tablets [Rumor]](https://i0.wp.com/cdn2.ubergizmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/microsoft__logo.jpg?resize=625%2C344 "Microsoft Seeks To Flood China With Cheap Windows Tablets [Rumor]"){kind=logo}
Its no secret that Microsoft considers mobile critical to its long term strategy. The company has taken a number of steps recently to ensure continuing growth in the mobile market, but it would have to do a lot more to gain some semblance of dominance. Upstream supply chain sources based in Asia claim that Microsoft is courting MediaTek to push cheap Windows tablets in China’s white-box tablet market.
Both companies have not confirmed the rumor, but it doesn’t seem impossible. At BUILD 2014, Microsoft announced that it is going to offer Windows for free on devices with displays under 9 inches, this includes both smartphones and tablets. What this basically means that OEMs aren’t on the hook for licensing fees so they have an additional incentive to design and develop Windows devices. This may also have an effect on the devices’ pricing.
Its no secret that many OEMs decided to stick with Android given Microsoft’s high licensing costs. The company has drastically changed its licensing policy, evidently in hopes of attracting more hardware partners. Sources believe that OEMs might now reconsider committing to the platform. Microsoft is obviously making these moves to gain a greater chunk of the mobile market, and a cheap tablet push in China could really end up serving its interests.
Microsoft Seeks To Flood China With Cheap Windows Tablets [Rumor] , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Tablets, Microsoft, Windows, 
Slowly but surely, homes across the world will be controlled via app or completely automated. There are already a number of devices that can automate your lighting, locks, hubs, and thermostat. These all have their own corresponding app, but wouldn’t it be nice if they were all voice controlled so you didn’t even have to open an app to tell it what to do?
Normally we hate our alarm clocks, but the ivee might be the first one you don’t completely despise. Yes, it will still be your morning wake up call, but it will also control aspects of your house, if you tell it to. This personal WiFi assistant can tell you the weather or time anywhere in the world, as well as the stock prices of any company. All you have to do is say “Hello ivee”, and anything after that will be a command.
This alarm clock has a built-in rechargeable battery, dual beam forming microphones, a temperature and light sensor, as well as a 4.3” display. This will automatically dim its backlight depending on how much light is in the room. You can plug in your smartphone via USB to charge it at night, or your MP3 to listen to whatever you’d like. If you don’t want ivee hanging on your every word, then you can flip the switch in the back so it will function as a regular alarm clock. This will cost you around $200, but would likely only be beneficial to those who have home automation devices for it to connect to.
Available for purchase at Staples
[ The ivee – a smart alarm clock for a smart home copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
We’ve seen eavesdropping issues in Chrome before, like one exploit that lets sites ask for permission to the microphone, and then keeps listening long, long after
Comcast and Time Warner Cable have made filings explaining to regulators why their merger should not be struck down. In February Comcast announced its intention to acquire time Warner Cable in a stock-for-stock transaction, with the former picking up TWC’s 284.9 million shares to the tune of an equity value going north of $45 billion. There’s much speculation that regulators might not be open to the idea of Comcast and TWC being merged, and they have the power to strike the deal down. Comcast seems to have revealed something about the next Apple TV in one of the documents in its filings.
David L. Cohen, an executive vice president at Comcast, writes in the document that even while Apple offers an online video service, it continues to “explores development of an Apple set-top box.” Recent rumors suggest that Apple has long been in talks with Comcast for an internet TV streaming service that would go through its set-top box. These talks have apparently slowed down due to Comcast’s bid for TWC.
Other rumors suggest that Apple’s new set-top box was due be launched as soon as this month, but the deal has pushed it back. It remains unclear if a deal with Comcast will ever be reached, but the more Apple waits on this, the more its rivals will benefit. The TV market is already filled with similar products from Google, Roku and even Amazon. Apple surely needs to step up its game.
New Apple Set-Top Box Hinted In Comcast/Time Warner Cable Filings , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Apple, Apple TV, comcast, 
Where on Earth is this freaky lava pool? Why do people hate love locks? Is it true that fire ants love the suburbs? And what do the soon-to-be-lost sounds of the industrial age sound like? All your answers are here, in this week’s landscape reads!
Transit maps are as unique as the cities they represent. To know Tokyo’s subway, you have to know the quirks of its subway map; to navigate NYC, you have to familiarize yourself with its mapping idiosyncrasies, too. But what if design was standardized across every city in the world?
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