Tag: Google

Engineering, TechnologyLeave a comment

Stream-ripping threatens music industry, as companies struggle to make streaming profitable – annotated infographics

E&T magazine

As if a beleaguered music industry didn’t already have enough to contend with, the rise of streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play Music, Pandora, Deezer and Tidal –  yes! even Tidal! – have changed the way many people listen to music. It has also brought about a new form of piracy, known as “stream ripping”. This new type of copyright infringement has overtaken conventional music download piracy. Click on the graphic for an expanded view. It’s not all days of wine and roses at the streaming companies, either. Spotify is the most successful streaming music service in the … Continue reading Stream-ripping threatens music industry, as companies struggle to make streaming profitable – annotated infographics

booksLeave a comment

Book review: Head in the Cloud: The Power of Knowledge in the Age of Google – William Poundstone

E&T magazine

It is often cited that we are living in an information age. Gone are the days of trawling through text books and library archives to find the material to complete your latest homework assignment. The internet possesses all the information you could ever need – and then some. Pick up your smart phone or connect to your computer and you have a wealth of data available at your fingertips. While it’s true that it is incredibly easy to look up facts on Google, it’s not so easy to remember any of them. Some have argued that having such a wealth … Continue reading Book review: Head in the Cloud: The Power of Knowledge in the Age of Google – William Poundstone

UncategorizedLeave a comment

Book Review: Design Meets Disability – Graham Pullin

E&T magazine

By Jade Fell “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry From their humble beginnings, balanced on the noses of monks and scholars in the 13th century, eyeglasses have undergone a fantastic transformation. The handheld lorgnette donned by ladies in the 19th century gave way to the inexpensive pince-nez of the early 20th  – but It was not until the latter half of the century that eyeglasses were transformed from a mere medical necessity to something more. In Design Meets Disability, author Graham Pullin … Continue reading Book Review: Design Meets Disability – Graham Pullin

Engineering, TechnologyLeave a comment

#Google rolls out high-speed WiFi to India’s train stations – an annotated infographic

E&T magazine

Here’s a high-tech counterpoint to the traditional Westerner’s view of Indian train travel, a picture of thousands of smiling brown faces crowded into – and onto – antiquated rolling stock, bodies sprawled over the rooftop, hanging off the sides of the train, enjoying the subcontinent sunshine, while a splendidly uniformed buffet car representative tiptoes delicately amongst the huddled masses, offering tea and samosas. From now on, those huddled masses might also be wielding smartphones, laptops and iPads and surfing the information superhighway, as we used to call the internet back in the last century. Google is collaborating with Indian Railways … Continue reading #Google rolls out high-speed WiFi to India’s train stations – an annotated infographic

Engineering, TechnologyLeave a comment

Google’s Alphabet complicates the simplification – an annotated infographic

E&T magazine

Google has restructured to create a new holding company called Alphabet, separating its core web advertising business from newer ventures like driverless cars. The planned structure resembles that employed by General Electric, with a central unit handling corporate-wide activities such as finance and relatively independent business units focused on specific areas. Analysts have interpreted the move as an attempt to focus on some of its more ambitious projects in areas such as wearable devices, driverless cars, home automation and Internet connectivity. The irony of this somewhat underwhelming announcement (it must be August for this to be such big news) is … Continue reading Google’s Alphabet complicates the simplification – an annotated infographic

Engineering, TechnologyLeave a comment

#Apple still the world’s most valuable brand – least surprising news story of the day – an annotated infographic

E&T magazine

In a news revelation on a par with such unremarkable headlines as “Earth still round”, “Pope still Catholic”, “Bears still pooping in the woods” and “Kanye West still a complete tool” comes the announcement that Apple has once again retained its top spot as the world’s most valuable brand, according to consultancy Brand Finance. So, you’re telling us that Apple once again enjoyed both an embarrassment of riches and also a multitude of end-user warm fuzzies? No shizz, Sherlock. The concept of being a valuable brand is based on perceived commercial value, derived from a combination of brand strength and … Continue reading #Apple still the world’s most valuable brand – least surprising news story of the day – an annotated infographic

Engineering, TechnologyLeave a comment

Magic Leap’s tech vision explained, as #Google invests $542 million – an annotated infographic

E&T magazine

Magic what now? Magic Leap, the little-known firm that has attracted $542 million of funding from Google and other wealthy backers. Apart from wondering why all those involved settled on the unusual sum of 542 (why not 540 or 550?), this is clearly one heck of a lot of money for a company that might or might not have something interesting to bring to the world at some unspecified date in the future. Nice work if you can get it. The four-year-old visual display company is developing its own eyeglasses-like device, designed to project computer-generated 3D images over real life … Continue reading Magic Leap’s tech vision explained, as #Google invests $542 million – an annotated infographic

Engineering, TechnologyLeave a comment

#Microsoft to enter the #wearable technology sphere with new smartwatch – an annotated infographic

E&T magazine

Ever-anxious to join in with what looks like a fun party to be at, Microsoft will shortly launch its own wearable device, according to Forbes. With the likes of Apple, Google and Samsung already making headlines and – more importantly – money out of the wearable technology sector, it was inevitable that Microsoft would chime in at some point with another me-too gadget of its own. Zune, anyone? According to the Forbes report, the device will be a smartwatch that will passively track a wearer’s heart rate and sync with different mobile platforms, including Apple iOS, Google Android and it’s … Continue reading #Microsoft to enter the #wearable technology sphere with new smartwatch – an annotated infographic

Engineering, TechnologyLeave a comment

#Google announces Project Ara, the really smart smartphone – an annotated infographic

E&T magazine

Project Ara is a modular cell phone that can be customised by swapping out individual pieces, such as the battery or camera. The intention is that instead of buying a new smartphone, users can simply upgrade out-of-date elements or replace malfunctioning components. In this way, the Ara could have a useful working life of five or six years. Of course, any half-decent piece of equipment should have a shelf life of at least that amount of time, but other factors prevail, such as obsolescence-inducing OS upgrades. With a $50 base price, Ara could bring smartphones to the six billion people … Continue reading #Google announces Project Ara, the really smart smartphone – an annotated infographic

Engineering, TechnologyLeave a comment

Ad agencies targetting marketing messages as #wearabletech #gadgets take off – an annotated infographic

E&T magazine

Good news! As if we didn’t already have enough problems with spam e-mail, mobile pop-ups, video pre-roll and web tracking, now the advertising industry is targetting wearable technology, such as smart watches, as the next market in which to to inveigle their client’s inane wares. Whoop de doo. There’s a great Futurama scene where the gang are physically attacked by flying pop-up ads: disturbingly likely. Behold, the future. Ah well, if you don’t buy in to wearable technology, you can safely avoid this whole hornet’s nest. There are no pop-up ads on an analogue watch. Wearable technology is, of course, … Continue reading Ad agencies targetting marketing messages as #wearabletech #gadgets take off – an annotated infographic