gregalexander

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gregalexander
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  • Bluetooth 5 on iPhone 8, iPhone X improves range and speed of BLE iBeacons, IoT sensors

    gregalexandergregalexander
    eknight said:
    If you use the new Apple TV as a HomeKit Hub can you take advantage of the Bluetooth 5.0 to get better range for Bluetooth HomeKit accessories like locks and door sensors?
    Yes I'd say that's the intent. To support the greater number of Bluetooth 5 HomeKit devices that are coming. 
    patchythepiratelolliverwatto_cobra

  • Editorial: An ad-free, premium social network... from Apple

    gregalexandergregalexander
    There's certainly appeal in being given a diverse range of news sources, instead of the ones I am likely to agree most with. 

    A portal on a story, with links to articles from different sources/perspectives. 

    I also wouldnt mind if "news" sources had to agree to a code of conduct - including highly visible retractions, very clear labelling of "satire" and "opinion", and even scores based on errors. 
    ration alapple jockeyrepressthisgtr

  • Inside iOS 11: The coolest Apple ARKit demos created so far

    gregalexandergregalexander
    ihatescreennames said:
    Again, all of it is cool, but what advantage is there for the regular consumer?  That's my continuing question in all of this.

    Augmenting reality requires the system to have a model/map of reality that they can overlay. 

    Youre right that augmenting a table to show a game on it doesn't really achieve much. But the neat tricks will expand into things we can't do any other way. 

    The furniture stores are are an example. Someone will make a "will this fit?" App that takes an image of your current cupboard and a space on your wall and tells you if it can be moved. 

    The phone will be making full 3D models of what it sees, and what can be done with that will be staggering. 

    There'll come a time when you raise your phone in the supermarket, and it overlays health information on the image. Crosses out your allergen foods and highlights your favourites (green highlight on all the non-dairy Indian curries?). Or circles the items from your shopping list so you can pick them up. This won't happen for a few years but it's where it's heading. 

    Also video chat will take a person you're talking to and show them standing in the room with you. Again like they're invisible but right there, you just need the phone to see them. 

    I imagine my kids will will have an imaginary friend app, probably linked with a toy. My kids would like to think there's an invisible Mickey Mouse they can only see through the Disney Magic Mirror, who lives in their room and is always there with them. And perhaps they'll buy a Lego "Invisible jet" that will land next to their hand built plane, but they can watch it fly around and follow it. Or they'll have a game with a path for them to follow and hidden treasures. 

    This is a big step to a new way of interacting... but there are many steps. 
    radarthekatmacky the mackywatto_cobra

  • Apple's iOS Addiction already has a solution on the Mac

    gregalexandergregalexander
    Unfortunately the problem of devices distracting kids is worse than the old problems of kids wanting to play outside, or with toys etc. In comparison to the TV its more tightly integrated, the interactivity keeps kids involved. 

    Kids still get hungry and thirsty when playing with toys or outside, while on the phone they can go hours without noticing. Playing outside is healthy, playing with others outside or on toys builds social interaction skills and makes friends.

    Online apps try to tie the kids in (and do a good job of engaging them), and they change the challenges continually. Kids can hide their phones from parents and do things much less supervised. 

    I think they activate the same neurology engaged in gambling that leads to problems.  

    None of this is Apples fault or responsibility. 

    We monitor our kids closely but even with lots of effort it isn't enough. If Apple can help is that would be good.  

    The MacOS stuff is a start. Perhaps make a "parental friendly" rating that app developers can apply for that allows greater oversite - like parents authorising friends, or giving privacy to chats with specific real-life friends but sharing chats with parents for anyone met online (for 8 year olds, for example). 
    GeorgeBMacwatto_cobra

  • Apple responds to viral tweet over disappearing iTunes movies

    gregalexandergregalexander
    arthurba said:
    But the same would have been true if the movie was purchased on DVD.  Here in OZ the disc would have been Region 4, and a 'standard' DVD player in Canada would be locked to Region 1 and wouldn't play the DVD.  So in that sense - iTunes is no different to a DVD.  The differences are:
    1) it's really easy to get an "unlocked" dvd player
    2) worse case scenario you can take your Oz DVD player with you to watch your Aussie films
    Yes. True for Bluray too. 

    But 4K Bluray has finally removed regions apparently. 
    arthurba