The Final Investigative Report on Kickstarter and the Failed (Fraudulent) Zano Drone Project

Here is the detailed report (Medium) commissioned by Kickstarter over the failed Zano drone that I was also a backer and, ultimately, victim to.  With millions of backers' money, Zano, the drone that would change everything, was a sure thing, right?  The video was awesome and its features were nothing like what is available on the market.

Delay after delay.  This was expected.  I like to give people the benefit of the doubt.  But then, boom!  Torquing Group went into liquidation, taking all our money with it.  No drone.  The shocked look on my face was likely plastered on thousands of others as well. 

While you can read the post (recommended) to find out what exactly happened, the result as far as I'm concerned, and likely feared by Kickstarter, is that I have been a lot more cautious about funding anything.  This is in light of other complaints from backers on other projects as well.  Kickstarter, like Indigogo, was fast becoming a place for companies to pull money from backers that sell subpar products or to entice users to back products, which at times, seem just another way to get buyers to pre-order. 

I still go on Kickstarter and scout for interesting projects but I have not backed anything for a while.  And I reckon others are doing the same thing I am.  Furthermore, I am also quite content to let others take the risks.  Sure, there are rewards like getting the final product earlier or with a discounted price.  Those are the rewards but I'm also perfectly fine paying retail on something later so long as I know it is what it is and works as advertised.

Cars, Security, and Safety

Here is an interesting article from MacObserver discussing the importance of Apple's open source programming language, Swift, that is used write apps for iOS, Watch OS and OS X. And presumably, Car OS when Apple releases its Apple Car.

Not only is ease of use going to bean issue as far as operating the car is concerned, but hacking and cyberattacks are going to be something future vehicles are going to need to be protected against as best as Apple can.

And when Apple designed Swift, security was paramount. In doing that and with annual improvements, it kept an eye on Car OS as well. Only Apple knows and perhaps, under the Apple's glasnost that is Tim Cook's reign, we may learn of it when Tim or Jony Ives tells us about the iCar development process on 60 Minutes.


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Apple Needs an iCloud Plug-In For Windows 10 Browsers Or Re-release Safari for Windows

If you're on a Windows 10 machine, Apple offers an iCloud app and associated extensions for use with Windows more popular browsers, Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome. It was more than I thought were supported by Apple for its cloud service but there should be more support for Windows users for iCloud. After all, Apple has an equivalent webapp for its OS X app like iWork apps, mail, and other major iCloud services. Barring that, Apple should reintroduce Safari that has built-in support for iCloud services.

Right now, you can use any of the above three mentioned browsers use access iCloud.com but you are met with a warning that the browser does not fully support iCloud features. You can download iCloud for Windows that offers a direct integration with iCloud data and Windows.

For most people, what Apple does offer now is sufficient. But as a writer and blogger, I would like to be able to sharing links and information from one app to another more seamlessly than what is currently possible now on Windows. I had tried to sent an URL in my browser on the Macbook and all I had do was to click on the share icon in Safari and all the options that I have set up for sharing pops open.

When I'm on a Windows machine (unfortunately, I cannot be on a Mac all the time I'm at work), I have to copy and paste the URL in another tab where iCloud.com apps are on and then go through an extra couple of steps to do the same thing. If Apple had build a better extension or even a Windows version of Safari with the same functions as on OS X, I could save myself a lot of trouble. As it is now, I'm forced to spread my links on Feedly, Twitter, Instapaper, or another social network.

It is unlikely I'll see Apple build a more robust iCloud for Windows app that offers a similar experience as I do on the OS X. As it is now, new and old iPhone and iPad users can use their iOS devices entirely free of a traditional computer - all their data are cloud-stored. Sure, a vast majority of businesses still rely on PCs but more and more are work entirely on their tablet or phone. And Apple has been positioning the iPad as a laptop replacement, this is especially evident with the release of the iPad Pro. And iOS will only mature more and more with each annual update and gain added features that make using PC in businesses and schools more obsolete.

I started off writing this post to name the hole that is glaringly evident in Apple's iCloud services and its use on Windows, where Wintel machines still dominate the computing landscape. I've come around to the fact that iPad and mobile computing is where Apple is focused on and directing its innovative visions towards. Still, it will not happen overnight or even in the next few years. Tablets will have a lot of growing to do.

In About 5 Years, Your Mobile Devices May Lasts More Than 50% Longer Or More

By using sulfer, Sony has managed to increase the energy density of a new battery and, according to The Independent, give mobile warriors 40% increase in battery life.  And since this will not hit the market until 2020, there is ample time for Sony to improve up on that.

And with more efficient chips, software updates, and other energy saving components like more efficient screens, smartphones and other mobile devices may well see greater than the 40% increase in battery life.  I hesitate to say double but who knows right? 

Personally, I'd settle for a 50% increase that would allow me to go through a proper day of heavy use - gaming, watching videos, chatting on apps, and using the GPS for running or getting around town without worrying. 

Can't wait.  The limiting factor for true mobile experience has been the battery life. This will unleash us from having to worry about the battery drain and truly let us be mobile. 

While the article made no mention of laptops, I do consider them to be mobile devices, especially the lighter Chromebooks, Surface tablets, and the ever ligther Macbooks.  And while Apple, Google, and Microsoft give them 7-10 hours of battery life under certain use conditions, I find that real work use is actually 50% less.  Perhaps, this new Sony battery tech and really allow moderate to heavy users really be productive with true all-day devices in a few years.

Yahoo's Video Guide Offers Nothing Novel - So Why?

Yahoo launched another app today, Yahoo Video Guide App (tumblr), that is supposed to help users find content to watch on the mobile apps for Android and the iOS platform.  However, it does nothing that is novel that other apps do not already offer.  Hence, it's the reason why I've stayed away from it.  So, why? And why now?

Once you open up the app and find the show you want to watch, you are still forced to download that app if you already haven't or switch away from Yahoo's guide and enter the video streaming app.  Say you want to watch any of the Stargate TV series, which is only available for streaming on Amazon or for download on iTunes.  So, you'll still have to switch away.

Granted, it makes discovery a heck of a lot better which is probably the reason why Yahoo came up with this.  It's a nicer app than most other discovery ones that I've downloaded, used for a few minutes, and deleted for all of enternity.

As a long-time Yahoo fan and feel nostalgic whenever I think back to my college days using Yahoo to conduct rudimentary searches, I like to see Yahoo gain some foothold in the media market.  There has been quite a bit of turmoil of late for Yahoo and it feels like Yahoo is throwing stuff up on the wall and hoping something sticks.

Yahoo Video Guide, as nice as it is, feels that way. 

Source:  Techcrunch.

Time For Apple To Take The Gloves Off On Video Subscriptions

According to Bloomberg, Apple will not going to go through with their live TV/video subscription as planned.  At best, the whole concept is on hold.  It remains to be seen if Apple should just forget about their whole approach in trying to secure deals with content providers like CBS.  After all, Bloomberg's source for their post is CBS.  So, what should Apple do?  Take the gloves off and pour billions into the only demand and or live market.  Start signing deals and stripping others of content. 

For instance, start with sports.  Take the all the main sports in the US and put them all under the Apple Sports banner.  Apple can dish out games to those who are willing to play "ball".  For instance, Apple can allow Disney's ESPN to show some games because Apple and Disney likely have a better relationship and can come to amicable terms than say Apple and CBS can.  Deny those who are playing hardball with their cotnents. 

From there, Apple can build on their platform and get into developing and distributing its own content like Netflix is successfully doing.  Again, Apple can do deals with Disney or others as well.  Even with HBO or Netflix. 

The tens (or is it hundreds now) of billions that Apple has overseas can be put to work in similar fashion. Secure Asian contents like anime or Korean dramas or football games all over the world.  That money Apple earned overseas are not coming back to the US any time soon. 

Apple's brand and appeal will allow Tim Cook to launch a global network in such a way no other company has been able to do.  Apple can break down artificial barriers that content providers erected against admissions or to extract additional fees or protectionist reasons.  Finally, Apple can bring true competition worldwide. 

While it would be great to secure local live content, that should follow over time when providers see how successful Apple will be and will want to be a part of it. 

There is a time when Apple needed partners.  And Apple would rather have partners.  But if you ask someone to a dance and no one wants to, well, you just have to go at it alone and find out how to have fun.  For Apple, it's changing the rules and dirsupting the market.  Maybe it was not the right time when the Apple TV was still just a hobby.  Now, the Apple TV is a serious contender for living rooms across the world.  Apple has to get get serious about that and stop treating TV and video streaming as a hobby. 

Getting Rid of the 3.5 mm Jack Is Nothing: Eventually, All Apple Products Will Have No Ports

People seems to be stressing themselves over the fact that Apple is looking into replacing the 3.5mm input for headsets and your only option will be to use the Lightning connectors or wirelessly through Bluetooth connectivity. Well, here is another shocker:  eventually, Apple will do away with that as well.  No ports.  Everything will have to be connected wirelessly - headsets, speakers, charging stations. 

And not only for iOS devices but you can pretty much forget USB ports on most consumer oriented Macs as well.  Those who are complaining that Apple provided only one USB-C port?  Yeah, nada ports in the future.

Why?  That's the future, homies.  And it goes to the design philosophy that Apple has.  It might not happen in the next couple of years but 5 years from now, that may well be the case.  As iPhone and iPad user, I'm still having to charge via the Lightning port, a wire.  But pretty much everything else is done wirelessly - data transfers like buying apps, using apps, and backing up my iCloud data.

And when I'm at Starbucks, I'm enjoying their wireless charging. Yes, it's through a wireless connector through the Lightning port but that's a temporary solution until Apple sees fit to introduce wireless charging (that we currently have on the Apple Watch) for other products as well. 

And if you want to jump a bit head, you can buy wireless charging setups for  your iPhone but, honestly, just wait for Apple's own implementation.  It's likely Apple has learn quite a bit from practical Apple Watch's wireless charging experiences and will bring that know-how over to iOS products, probably first to the iPhone and eventually, the iPad, and then Macbooks down the road.  And yes, eventually, your screens will serve as solar chargers from the sun as well as ambient light sources. 

Without the 3.5 mm jack and the Lightning port, all iOS devices will look even better.  And I'll tell you what - there are other things on the iPhone and iPad that will eventually going away as well.

Stay tuned.