Windows Phone 8 (WP8) Tips - Bing, Camera, and Image Apps (2)

WP8 already improved photo and video functions of the camera and added some interesting features and apps as preload services. 

• Image Editing: WP8 lets you edit photo directly through your phone. When viewing a photo, select "edit" then you can "rotate", "crop (trim or clip)", or "fix (enhance)" the photo. The following example use "crop" to clip the original photo into the desired area. Finally, press "done" and "save". Obviously, this function is useful while you want to edit your profile photos.

     

• Bing Service and Camera Integration: Translation and QR Code Recognition services provide by bing search can be accessed from WP8 camera. Just press "search" button on the right of "Home (Windows)" button, then click the "vision (eye)" button, focus on the text and press "scan text". By selecting the target language for translations within "TRANSLATE TEXT TO", you will obtain the translated texts covering on the original texts of the photo. (Following images of the first row.) The same processes are also workable for recognizing QR Codes, MS Smart Tags, ISBN of book, CD or DVD, as the second row images (the first two images) for demonstrating QR Code translation for URL. Like Google's home page that presenting everyday topic, bing search also provides some visions about today's topics as shown in the left column image on the third row. Just click the "transparent block", then you will get the "take a bow" message, click it to read the information and knowledge about today's topic.

  

 

 

• Bing/Scout: In the bing app press "scout", you can check POIs (point of interests) around your location based on bing map services.

• Camera/lenses: While using camera, many image processing apps are integrated into the camera app, you just click "lenses" on the settings, you will see image-related apps installed into your WP8. Press "find more lenses", you will get more interesting apps (image on the right column) that can be bind with the camera app. These apps are very useful and funny, I will introduce them in another blog article someday.

  

Windows Phone 8 (WP8) Tips (1)

Sometime, I wonder about why MS is so stupid. Why not pay budgets to carry out mimic apps and functions from Apple or Android. 

Canonical outs project to help Ubuntu smartphones launch with over 10 core apps

Finally, Microsoft is aware to copy right things from competitors and really completes many improvements on WP8. 

• Take a screenshot: press "lock/power" and "windows home" buttons at the same time. The image is stored in "PHOTOS\albums\screenshots". 

• Kid's corner: the best improvement of WP8 is providing "safe apps" for your kids. Go to "SETTINGS\kid's corner\On", you will see options, including games, music, videos and apps, for selecting adequate contents and apps for your kids. Then, "launch kid's cornet" and "set password". Finally, the home screen becomes the kid's safe playground. When this function was launched, you must input the password to return your phone or just "swipe left" to change to the kid's home screen.

select kid's contents and apps

the home screen of kid's corner

• SETTINGS\battery save: press "advanced" and select "Now until next charge", your phone is smart to save power consumption now.

  

• SETTINGS\lock screen: You can customize your home screen with various apps like Facebook, photo, Bing, etc. Third-party apps can also be set as home so that you can see messages from apps (e.g. CNN) in the home screen. Choose apps to set "quick status" on the home screen.

Windows Phone 8 + Nokia Lumia 920

Windows Phone 8 is based on the same Windows 8 kernel, Microsoft wants to make UX on smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops become consistent.

New features in Windows Phone 8 include support for multi-core processors (up to 64 cores), higher resolution screens, microSD cards and NFC sharing. Pre-installed apps will include Internet Explorer 10, Wallet and Nokia Maps. Read more: http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews/software/3407872/windows-phone-8-review/#ixzz2HqDQdeic

The most exciting support is the Nokia Maps consisting of Nokia Map (vs Google Map), Nokia Drive+ Beta (turn-by-turn directions better than iOS6 Map, the Release version should be better in the future), Nokia Transit (cover trans. info. of major cities within USA), Nokia City Lens. By the way, the best device of WP8 is surely the NOKIA LUMIA 920. If you are not familiar to use WP8, Nokia Care contain information about helps, tips and tricks for using WP8.

See Nokia City Lens in action

The Best Pen for Smartphone ... is Free!

Nokia Lumia 920 (or 820) is equipped with super touch technique from Synaptics.

Super Sensitive Touch™ built on ClearPad™ Series 3 enables enhanced touch support on Nokia’s first Windows Phone 8 smartphones

But if you don't want to scratch your Corning Gorilla 2 glass, you had better to accept my recommendation "using wood stick". Although it was "scratch" tested by hammer and knife.

 super touch technique from Synaptics

 "scratch" tested by hammer and knife

Try it! If it's not workable on your smartphone: 

1. Did you use Nokia Lumia 920 or 820?

2. Did you find the "workable" secret?

Sony Xperia Z Ultra is the first follower.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra leaks shows Snapdragon 800 chip and pencil used as stylus

Google再度投資再生能源兩億美元

From THE NEXT WEB 9 January 2013

Google宣布投入約兩億美元投資西德洲的風力發電，預估可以產生供應超過60,000美國家庭平均用電量。網頁內容最有趣的就是下圖，可以清楚知道Google到目前為止，投資的再生能源 (renewable energy) 可用於各種用電的數量大小。

Image credit: Petr Kovar

希望大家能重視再生能源，不要像「核四」那樣死撐著。錯誤就承認，往前邁進才會成功進步。就像丹麥認清自己問題和缺失，早就努力利用風力發電，目前占26％，將在2020年提前達到全國電力來源50%來自風力發電的目標，2050年將全面100%以風力發電。因此，丹麥目前是全世界最大的風力發電技術輸出國，丹麥輸出風力發電相關設備到其他國家的金額，高達69億美金（約台幣2068億元）。

完全掌握全世界的飛機現在在哪？

Flightradar24整合Google Map API服務，將目前飛機座標、班次、詳細資訊完整呈現餘地途中。包括班機資料的及時性「real time data（圖：黃色飛機） or 5 min delay data（圖：橘色飛機）」。UI同時也用飛機「頭」代表飛行方向。更重要的是，飛機真的會動，隨時更新。

這個服務真的太好了，以後接機可以隨時掌握何時出發。還有App，支援手機、平板和Windows 8。更有趣的是，還整合Google Earth（要先安裝），提供「cockpit view (座艙視角)」，讓你當機長開飛機（真是邪惡！小朋友一定愛不釋手）。

最後，Zoom out到整個地球（速度稍慢），得到以下感想。

• 地球資源大量消耗。
• 資源分配不均，非洲對地球最好，但好像也沒飛機航道是飛非洲內陸的。（可能是資料來源取得的問題，大部分是重要國際線航班）
• 美國飛機好像比歐洲多，應該是資料來源的問題。美國包含一堆國內線 (domestic) 航班，其他國家應該只蒐集國際線 (international)。不過美國國內線也太多飛機了。
• 不要在玩電玩了，多想想如何從這樣類似的想法，創造新的應用，而且是和現實結合的。例如：按照各航班資料，可以大約計算全世界目前人的流動數量，長期監控統計，應該可以找出有趣問題。

後記：最近2014/7/17發生的「馬航MH17被飛彈擊落」事件，由即時航班資訊可以看出航線的應變狀態。
After Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was reportedly shot down: http://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-airspace-map-2014-7

http://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-airspace-map-2014-7

用Instagram落伍了，改用Cinemagraph吧

  

和Instagram一樣的社群相片服務，但是改成video，但又不是video，是gif。


App版在手機按住螢幕「固定」一兩秒攝影後，可以「特效」，將想要展現動作的部分「塗鴉」，之後App就後製成細緻平順的GIF圖檔。之後，就像使用Instagram一樣地分享。

Cinemagraphs™ 上的展示，用的是MP4，以展現高畫質。

我想，展示的最好的就屬這個部落格了。（但是咖啡crema顏色不好，應該不好喝）

29 DAYS: Something Better Than Instagram

App Store超過400億次下載 ( CUPERTINO, California―January 7, 2013―Apple)

The 10 billionth app downloaded was a game called Paper Glider, a free app snagged by Gail Davis of Orpington, Kent, UK. As promised in the highly publicized “App Store Countdown to 10 Billion Apps” campaign, Gail will receive a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card.
From: http://www.sync-blog.com/sync/2011/01/its-official-app-store-hits-10-billion-downloads.html

之前達到100億次下載是2011年一月，也就是說，照目前氣勢，Apple Store每年200億次下在是基本數量。這還不包括更新和重複下載的次數。(*40 billion unique downloads excluding re-downloads and updates.)


根據Apple官網公布的消息：App Store Tops 40 Billion Downloads with Almost Half in 2012，以下數據可以參考。

• 夫妻檔 (Imangi Studios) 開發的game "Temple Run": downloaded more than 75 million times
• 開發App可以收入一億美金，但不知是多大的公司？Backflip Studios and Supercell, two emerging game development studios, brought in over $100 million combined for their leading freemium titles DragonVale and Clash of Clans
• 超過百萬次下載的，你玩過幾個？Uber, Flipboard, HotelTonight, and AirBnB attracted millions of users on iOS
• 775,000 apps to iPhone, iPad and iPod
• 155 countries around the world,
• more than 300,000 native iPad apps available

但對於後續開發者來看，要如何獲利？如何從近百萬的Apps數量中冒出頭？冒出來後，如何留住客戶（產品好、服務好、設計好 ...），以維持住曝光率？目前很多都是遊戲類賺錢，但是這是持久該於行動裝置上使用的Apps嗎？還是該思考適合行動裝置學習知識的Apps，這才是根本之道？畢竟每個人都該不斷學習，連小孩都懂。

Santiago Gonzalez - 愛寫程式的14歲小男孩 (2013)

LEGO EV3: 樂高第三代機器人

LEGO unleashes new generation of MINDSTORMS robots

EV3套件內含17中機器人設計圖，其中大部分如蛇和蝎子，走仿生機器人風格。

特色：無Wi-Fi連線、ARM9、SD 擴充介面、紅外線遙控，最重要的是和NXT相容。

可以直接在EV3 "intelligent" brick 操作寫程式，看樣子應該更加易學好用，不需接PC就可以做些簡單程式，號稱不開電腦，20分鐘即可上手。也可以利用 Android 和 iOS 裝置控制 。與Autodesk合作，LEGO EV3還提供3D建造說明 App。

預計2013下半年全球發售，售價約為USD 350。


The Hardware
Each programmable EV3 brick comes with an ARM9 robotic processor, an SD expansion slot and embedded 16MB flash memory, Linux, Bluetooth 2.1, iOS and Android compatibility, a USB 2.0 interface allowing Wi-Fi connectivity, four input and output ports, a Matrix display with a loudspeaker.

MINDSTORMS EV3 features three interactive servo motors (two Large similar to NXT ones and one Medium); two touch sensors; one color sensor able to detect six colors and absence of color; one infrared seeker sensor that can measure distance, movement, giving robots the ability to see and detect various objects; and one infrared "beacon" designed to control the robots remotely from a distance of up to 6 feet. Up to four bricks can be daisy-chained, and the USB port and Wi-Fi connectivity allow for a wide range of expansion. MINDSTORMS EV3 is also backwards compatible with all MINDSTORMS NXT robots, allowing users to utilize everything they bought during the NXT generation with EV3. 

   

 

Santiago Gonzalez - 愛寫程式的14歲小男孩 (2013)

He is a prodigy. 熟悉數種程式語言，開發的Apps已經好幾千次下載。小學六年級就上full time college的課程，主修CS（Computer Science），預計十六、七歲分別要取得學士、碩士學位。

他覺得學習就好像吃飯一樣的基本，5:30am起床，寫一小時程式，程式寫的concise and short, like poem。以Object-C開發約15個Apple Apps，遇到惱人的bugs，也會堅持要fix! 不斷學習新知充實自己，顯得比同學成熟，但也常保赤子之心（一堆Disney玩偶，Winnie the Pooch）。不想交女友，覺得太浪費時間（更何況一堆大學生還在沈溺在電玩的虛擬世界）。喜歡編織（太靜態的了，一點都不sporty!），還編了Angry Birds裡面的Piggy，覺得自己是個書呆子。小一就從大人的書籍裡尋找想要學習的知識。

現在，Santiago是校內教授的RA (research assistant)，研究開發sensor network的省電問題。當然，和學校老師保持良好互動、問問題、求知慾，這些都是目前多數大學生做不到的。他得碩士學位後，想到Stanford念CS取得PhD學位後，想到Apple工作（希望Apple那時還跟現在一樣strong）。

重新思考Web發展過程被忽略的部分

先瞭解Internet and Web的發展史：
Internet 網際網路 30 歲生日快樂！回顧一下網際網路發展史吧
第一張上傳到網際網路的照片滿20年，外加背後的小故事
輕鬆點：關於Internet，你有所不知的冷知識


回到嚴肅議題，深思以下文章：
From: http://gizmodo.com/5970114/ Rebuilding the Web We Lost

這一代或未來Web用戶和創作者該想想的：

• 承擔和接受指責：早期Web承擔社會責任的精神已經漸漸沒落，尤其是現今媒體，只會從事輕鬆工作，從PTT或YouTube報新聞，像是踢台的「XXXX不有」，一小時談的都是「翻社自網路」的新鮮事。這種媒體不生產有意義的內容就算了，還不斷使用公眾媒體內容，遇到「你好大就害怕，都不敢報導」，毫無社會責任感。
• 不要只滿足UX標準，該有所提升了：新的App發展受傳統（目前主流已經是傳統了）FB, Twitter, Pinterest等文化框住，創新當然就越來越受限。或許跳出UX的框框，可以思考新的應用。
• 重新思考創投基金：為了獲利（例如FB），導致決策方向偏向短期獲利，不在乎Social Network的基礎「用戶」，一再讓用戶不滿意。從資金角度看，公司不再樂意維持龐大用戶服務的經濟，或是大量濫用廣告要短期獲利。最後，只創造少數有錢人，和多數工作機會，Startup當初的目標呢？
• 開始靠天才，永續經營和創新要靠文化。成功案例為何都來是矽谷，清一色都是Man創業成功（應該還是少數小有成功的創業女性）？但之後的創新產品，往往是一群「不同質」的人所創意發想的。
• 從大品牌服務的弱點，思考創新。

以上僅寫出認同的觀點。

七種末日降臨方式

 大致上都是想像的到的末日執行方式，但最後一個真是有想像力。The computer simulation we live in gets rebooted. We're living a life made of code.

或許AI Computer統治地球後，會寫70億個programs模擬人類在虛擬世界的生活，以免電腦太無聊。這時候，如果程式有bugs，就執行kill processes；或某部分程式有大量問題，就將整座城市（註：執行「程式」的主機）關機重開 (reboot)，這樣做Garbage Collection最快。還要一直注意，AI可能生小孩，會亂按「Esc」或「Ctrl+C」，這算個人的「亂數世界末日」。

或許一直活在虛擬電玩世界的人，該好好認真思考。若這麼喜歡虛擬世界，乾脆如電影「魔鬼複製人」，把你的思想和一生複製到「雲端城市/程式」去生活好了。

讓你的智慧型手機變成氣象觀測站的 Netatmo

From: http://chinese.vr-zone.com/46361/netatmo-let-your-smartphone-become-weather-station-01022013/

這款裝置很有設計感，我看主要還是鎖定Apple用戶。但問題是：

觸控螢幕餐桌

From: Touchscreen restaurant table forecasts the end of human interactions

Basically, Seamless Web has arrived to a real world setting.

一張觸控螢幕的餐桌可以做什麼？