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Looking for A Hardware for the iPhone

January 17th, 2010 luca No comments

Excited by the next rumored iPhone 4G’s feature, a RFID tag reader embedded, I’ve googled for “iphone hardware”.

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The touchscreen interface seems better suited to sweeping gestures than tapping ones, although programs like Bebot have implemented clever workarounds.

But with Apple opening up the iPhone’s dock connector to third parties, I wonder: Couldn’t a manufacturer develop a hardware music keyboard with an intelligent docking station? You’d slot in your iPhone and get a high-res screen, tactile controls, and all kinds of sound-making capabilities.

(source: A hardware Music Keyboard for the iPhone – O’Reilly – David Battino )

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Will the iPhone be the Swiss knife of the Smartphone market?

January 17th, 2010 luca No comments

As reported by ReadWriteWeb, there’s rumor about the RFID reader feature of the next iPhone, the 4G’s.

So, it’s seems that the iPhone will be a platform for an huge different field: as a mobile self-payment system, or as chemical detector and as a RFID tag reader.

According to a number of believable blog reports, RFID is set to be a part of the as yet unannounced iPhone 4G. Apple holds a patent for a touch screen RFID tag reader and is said to be testing an RFID-enabled iPhone currently. So RFID could be a feature of the iPhone 4G as soon as Spring 2010.

(source: ReadWriteWeb – iPhone as RFID Tag & Reader: Coming Soon)

iPhone RFID: object-based media from timo on Vimeo.

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Paul Graham’S Lessons For Startups 2006

January 12th, 2010 luca No comments
Paul Graham’S Lessons For Startups 2006

View more presentations from guest9baf73.
Release Early:
The thing I probably repeat most is this recipe for a startup: get a version 1 out fast, then improve it based on users’ reactions.
But pay attention on:
Startups can die from releasing something full of bugs, and not fixing them fast enough, but I don’t know of any that died from releasing something stable but minimal very early, then promptly improving it.
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Smart Meter a way to help CO2 reduction?

December 24th, 2009 luca No comments

Smart Meter may help CO2 reduction while puts you in control of your energy cost.
By 2015 something like 250 million smart meters will be installed worlwide.

According to a new report from Pike Research, more than 250 million smart meters will be installed worldwide by 2015, representing a penetration rate of 18% of all electrical meters by that time, up from 46 million in 2008.

(source: PikeResearch – Smart Meter Installation to Reach 250 Million Worldwide by 2015)

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It’s time to Christmas Shopping?

December 18th, 2009 luca No comments

It’s time to Christmas Shopping? Bring your cellular with you and start to search.
As reported by Deloitte, 20% of shoppers it will use or they have intention to use their cellphones as a smart searching tool for reviews, word of mouth, buzz.

One in five shoppers said they intended to use their cellphones to shop this holiday season, according to an annual survey by Deloitte, the accounting and consulting firm. Of those, 45 percent said they would use their phone to research prices, 32 percent said they would use it to find coupons or read reviews and 25 percent said they would make purchases from their phones.

(source: Mobile Phones Become Essential Tool for Holiday Shopping NYTimes)

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U.S. App store: growth and trends of Applications

December 17th, 2009 luca No comments

An interesting view of the growth and the trends of iPhone Apps on U.S. App Store, by Ben Lorica – O’Reilly Radar.

One crude measure for the relative complexity of developing apps across categories is to compare the number of apps per seller. The Top 5 categories in Nov/2009, were Books (17 apps per seller), Travel (6 apps per seller), Education (4 per seller), Reference and Sports (3 per seller). There were also 3 apps per seller in the Games and Entertainment categories in Nov/2009:

(source: Apps Per Seller Across the US iTunes Categories O’Reilly Radar)

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WideNoise one of the Top 10 Internet of Things Products of 2009

December 9th, 2009 luca No comments

As business developer of WideTag Inc. I’m proud of the WideNoise inclusion on the Top 10 Internet of Things Products of 2009.

The iPhone is a fertile ground for Internet of Things, as a product called WideNoise shows. WideNoise is an iPhone application that samples decibel noise levels, displaying them on an interactive map.With the app you can take a sound reading, and if you so wish share that with the WideNoise community. You can check the average sound level of the area around you, which might be handy if you’re house-hunting or simply looking for a quiet spot to relax in.
(source: Top 10 Internet of Things Products of 2009)

WideNoise

WideNoise

WideNoise

WideNoise is the iPhone and iPod Touch application that samples decibel noise levels, and displays them on a worldwide interactive map.

Noise is pollution as well

We live every day surrounded by all kinds of sound around us. We are accustomed to this background noise, but in the end we feel relieved when, maybe in a park, that stressful noise disappears. WideNoise helps you better understand the soundscape around you.
(source: WideNoise)

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A dream or a pain?

December 2nd, 2009 luca No comments

SquareUp presents a new gorgeous mobile self-payment system. Something like a mobile wallet, with you everywhere!

Swap you payment on SquareUp

Swap you payment on SquareUp

  • 0 to $60 in under 10 seconds.

    Start accepting payment cards immediately with Square. No contracts, monthly fees, or hidden costs. Effortlessly manage all the money you take with an easy and intuitive interface.

    Create a Square payer account to speed up and secure every payment. With photo verification, Square users can visually confirm you are the card holder.

  • Swipe it.

    Read payment cards from any device with an audio input jack, including your mobile phone. Accepting payments has never been faster or more convenient.

  • Pay quickly, securely.

    Create a Square payer account to speed up and secure every payment. With photo verification, Square users can visually confirm you are the card holder.

SquareUp (via Garry’s Posterous )

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A threat for Apple TV?

December 2nd, 2009 luca No comments

A 150$ Cisco Router, together their Flip video camera, will be a threat for Apple TV?

FlipShare TV

FlipShare TV

Cisco Systems, which acquired the Flip products in March, has come out with the FlipShare TV –- a set of products that helps people transfer their videos from a Flip camera to a PC and then to a television.

The FlipShare TV has three parts. First, there’s basically a small router that connects to a TV via composite cables (the red, white and yellow ones) or an HDMI cable for better quality. Then, there’s a USB stick that plugs into a home computer. Finally, there’s a remote control.

NYTimes: For $150, Cisco Router Will Play Flip Videos on Your TV

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Health 2.0: iPhone Sensor by NASA Ames Research Center

November 27th, 2009 luca No comments

A Dream or a Nightmare?

Just an iPhone and a small Chemical Sensor to read your Health status… it’s so interesting and awesome!

The chemical sensing prototype plugged into an iPhone - Photo credit: Dominic Hart/NASA

The chemical sensing prototype plugged into an iPhone - Photo credit: Dominic Hart/NASA

Jing Li, a physical scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., along with other researchers working under the Cell-All program in the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate, developed a proof of concept of new technology that would bring compact, low-cost, low-power, high-speed nanosensor-based chemical sensing capabilities to cell phones.

The device Li developed is about the size of a postage stamp and is designed to be plugged in to an iPhone to collect, process and transmit sensor data.

The latest-generation of the chemical detector board, about the size of a postage stamp, sensing chip facing up.  - Photo credit: Dominic Hart/NASA

The latest-generation of the chemical detector board, about the size of a postage stamp, sensing chip facing up. - Photo credit: Dominic Hart/NASA

Jing Li - NASA Ames

Jing Li - NASA Ames - Photo Credit: NASA Ames Research Center

NASA Ames Scientist Develops Cell Phone Chemical Sensor via iPhoneMedicalApps

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