Dear Apple, Please Think Differently

Finally, Apple succumbs to its own tunnel vision. Having pioneered pinch and zoom for small form factor displays, they think that's the only way to do touch-based zoom. So stupid, they ask the question, how do you do pinch and zoom on a watch? It's just not going to work. So, what's the answer? The digital crown.

Duh! If it's a watch, it has to have that thing on the side you use to adjust it. Yuck!

Why not get rid of the damn thing? You need zoom, why not think of a better way? How about this?

To zoom in, you drag your fingers along the edge in a motion that suggest yours turning a tap or a screw or a lid clockwise. Opposite for zooming out. You can get much finer control than with the stupid digital crown thing. Sure, you might not be able to move both fingers, but you only have to sense the intention - if you detect touch on 2 sides, you're in business..

Unlock : Apple Unveils New Touch Gesture

This one's great for reading audio-books that are website based - you know, click the "Next" link to load the next page..

So, you touch and turn instead of just clicking - the thumb works best - and, you guessed it, Safari fetches the next page, but doesn't display it - it's readily available. Then, when you do click, it displays it immediately, no need to wait.

You're welcome Apple. Don't mention it Jony.

iTunes for Android

Would it be legal for Apple to block this?

Wonder why Yahoo hasn't made this a reality yet - that could be their entree into the mobile arena.

Here's the deal :

Apple (scum) hate android users. But, Android users, being savvy, know there's decent content on iTunes, even if managed by a scumbag company. So, how about installing iTunes on a virtual mac on the cloud that the OS then communicates with to serve the smartphone client iTunes4Add app?

On-Demand, Low-Data-Rate Internet Access

How can we solve this problem? How does one go about building infrastructure to solve this problem?

A co-worker reported the other day that (in the house he is renting) he had to mess with the kitchen sink plumbing and found a plastic straw, a plastic knife and a stainless steel knife - sharp, not cutlery.

So, if you're a landlord and want to be alerted to such transgressions as they happen, what can you do?

Can one install a sensor in the kitchen sink that can detect something like this? Maybe? How?

And, when you detect, how do you scream? One way is to ask your tenant if your devices can connect to his wi-fi.. please?

Maybe not.. then... how? Can you buy a module from Cox or Boost or T-Mobile that will do 10 bps (yes, 10 bits per second, or less, heck even 1 bps is good enough here, you just need low power-consumption, 1 year battery life - so you can change the battery when you change tenants, but you need access when you want it)

A Mobile Smartphone

How about a phone that's capable of movement? And a camera so good, it can read and play CD's and DVD's - not immediately of course, but, give it 5 minutes and you're good to go..

Gives a new meaning to "mobile" doesn't it?

Cadence and Triad Semi Vie to be the Topcoder of Hardware

I think it's a worthwhile idea - any circuit design can testify that, in a job at a large corporation, there's too much he needs to do that he'd rather leave to someone else. At the same time, the type of work he does enjoy is little and infrequent.

Enter the topcoder of circuit-design - and architecture.

Maybe some University Professor needs to latch onto this before a large corporation does.

Inspired by Hillsborough - Your Iron Jacket

The Problem

The Hillsborough disaster of 1989 resulted in about 100 deaths from compressive asphixia - the victims couldn't breathe because of overcrowding. Think about it, your chest has no room to expand (not your stomach either). What can you do?
The Solution

What if you had a jacket with a rigid frame - so strong that it could resist large compressive force and guarantee its wearer sufficient breathing space?