Chromecast Status Update

This is a look at what's news about Chromecast since it's initial rollout.

I'm giving a brief presentation for my local Google Developer's Group next week, and this is a collection of the information I've gathered for the presentation.

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NSA Can Decrypt SSL Data

Generally, I try to keep this blog out of politics, but the NSA's really gone too far this time.
Just the fact that it is now known this can be done would lead criminals to try and do it too.
And are we sure that isn't already the case?

And who's going to trust the NSA's Secure Linux now?

And what about AES encryption... supposedly the NSA had a hand in "making it more secure".


N.S.A. Foils Much Internet Encryption - NYTimes.com


This ReadWrite article alerted me to the NYT article above. The NYT article is lengthy, this article provides a short synopsis.
Encrypting Your Data? The NSA May See It Anyway – ReadWrite

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Strange, Possibly Humorous News

Most of these are humorous.

▶ Breaking News: Secret of Samsung Technology caught on tape - YouTube


BBC News - Who, what, why: How does a skyscraper melt a car?


Kit Kat hilariously mocks Apple, Jony Ive in new video - Android Authority

Well, I guess it's nice to see the computing industry return to rock star like status:

This one's quite complicated:
Let’s Google the hussy: Mistress of Brin a top search on own Web engine

Robert X. Cringely on the Brin affair:

In case you need another reason to hate Google Glass | Cringely - InfoWorld

She seems to attract an amazing amount of controversy (Google her):
Yahoo's Marissa Mayer: Hail to the Chief - Magazine

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Non-Android Linux and Open Source News

Don't get too excited about this next, it was only a 50,000 run.
Jolla smartphones sell out » Telecoms.com

In less than 5 years, I'm projecting that a micro-business that has a need for a specialized computing device (as an example, look at UPS's wireless delivery pad they developed several years ago), will be able to have that device created for them (in tiny volumes) for a cost similar to what it takes to have semi-custom software delivered today. In 10 years it will even be cheap.
For $50, you can build a custom Android or Linux mini-computer

The title sounds silly, but I think this guy has a good handle on a major problem with Linux:
What Linux really needs is more fun - TechRepublic

The first 10 paragraphs of this next article (which goes on to be about Linux distributions) are quite amusing... be sure to watch the video, it one last tribute to Steve Ballmer.
Steve Ballmer retires: A dark day for Linux! | ITworld

ZTE's $80 Firefox OS mobe sells out on eBay • The Register

Linus Torvalds celebrates 22 years of Linux with nostalgic message | PCWorld

Gee this makes me feel old... no wait, that's just me being old:
Graying Linux developers look for new blood | ZDNet

I see these best of things all the time... but this one is different. First of all it contained several things I'd never heard of before. And... drum roll... it contained four commercial apps.... imagine that commercial apps for Linux. [Three games <= $20 and a $50 finances app.]
25 Best Linux Apps

KDE Connect brings together your Android phone, Linux desktop - Liliputing

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Android Device News

Android devices come out so often that I've given up trying to track them. Instead, what I'll be doing is providing a monthly "links" post that highlight the most important, interesting or unusual devices that have arrived that month.

Accessories and Watches

Meet Motorola Skip, the Moto X NFC-based unlock accessory

Nymi Is A Heartwave-Sensing Wristband That Wants To Replace All Your Passwords & Keys | TechCrunch

Lilbits (8-13-2013): Casio's new watches control music playback on your phone - Liliputing

Casio's response to smartwatch competition? "We're ready." - Android Authority

Toq: A Smartwatch That’s Qualcomm, Inside and Out | TIME.com

These next 2 articles are about the Galaxy Gear (Samsung's new watch).
Galaxy Gear Integrates Fitness Apps, Competes With Trackers – ReadWrite

Samsung Draws a Big 'Meh' for Clunky, Pricey Galaxy Gear Smartwatch | Mobile Tech | TechNewsWorld

So far 4 companies (Samsung, Sony, Qualcomm and Casio) have announced smart watches before Apple.

Cameras

First look: Sony's iPhone-compatible QX10 and QX100 Cyber-shot lenses

Samsung Galaxy NX coming in October for $1700 (Android-powered DSLR) - Liliputing

Tablets/Hybrids

Starting to see a lot of reasonable stuff from relatively unknown places:
Alcatel OneTouch Scribe Pro to rival Samsung's Galaxy Note in size, note-taking ability - Liliputing

This sort of thing was bound to be coming... a tablet specifically made for a specific kind of professional:
Wacom introduces Cintiq Companion Android and Windows 8 tablets for graphic artists - Liliputing
Music is another area I think one will see covered soon.

First big name tablet geared specifically to kids:
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Kids now official, coming first to South Korea

AnandTech | ASUS Officially Announces Transformer Pad TF701T with 2560x1600 Display

Phones

It's not every day I feature the AppleInsider article for a review of Android products, but they did a good job here:
Samsung shows off Galaxy Note 3 'phablet', new Note 10.1 tablet, Galaxy Gear smart watch

I anxiously await full reviews of this phone's camera:
Hands-on: Sony Xperia Z1 review - Pocket-lint

The Rest

Android Computer-in-a-Projector: The New EPICT EPP-100

Hex: A copter that anyone can fly! by Benjamin Black — Kickstarter

GameStick $80 game console set to ship in September - Liliputing

LiliputingCuBox-i mini PCs can run Android or Linux, sell for $45 and up » Liliputing

Itsy-bitsy $45 computer sports Android and Linux | Crave - CNET

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ARM and Intel News

Well, I'm sure we're all anxiously awaiting the Bay Trail launch on September 11th.

Here's some news to tide you over:

More on ARM moving into the next big thing (while Intel is still playing catch-up in the maturing mobile market).
ARM low power processors take us closer to the Internet of Things

I don't follow the server market closely, but when "Avoton" was announced, it seemed rather ho-hum. Anybody got a good link giving an overview of what the near-future state of the low-power server market is?
Intel to ship new Atom server processors next week

This next article hits Intel hard on its LTE failings. Also points out that Intel is failing to make Android inroads. I have to agree on the Android point... I'm not seeing anybody doing anything with Bay Trail... perhaps the announcement on the 11th will bring news. I'm seeing bragging from Intel about how Bay Trail changes things, but zip on a actual substance. I even saw one rumor today saying Bay Trail would roll out in late 2013 and early 2014 (which would be too late; in fact that would bring it into competition with ARMv8 chips where pretty clearly it would just lose). It's looking like Clover Trail all over again... nice chip, 6-12 months too late. (Motorola used to do this relative to Intel... oh, the irony!)
Intel’s post PC strategy is faltering

Microsoft seems to think it has a "PR" problem or an "OEM" problem, not a "Windows 8 is faulty" problem. Does Intel suffer from this sort of delusion as well? From the outside, it is clear that Intel's problem is that it isn't delivering anything the mobile market wants. Apparently Intel believes it has a "PR" problem.
Intel to fire entire PR team - It’s the cascade effect

A list of the new mainstream processors, with pricing. It's fine, but at a time, when it really needs to be great.
Intel launches Haswell desktop processors

This next article is a bit hard to read, but it makes some interesting points about Bay Trail vs Haswell. It also tells some things about chip pricing I didn't understand before. If someone knows of a clearer source for this information, I'd love to see a link in the comments below!
The important point from the article is that the nature of Haswell chips' design forces the chip to be expensive. This forces "$330 Celeron" laptops to use old technology. Bay Trail side-steps this problem. His argument is that Bay Trail should work great as the chip for low-priced laptops (the ones that actually sell well).
Intel Corporation (INTC): Intel: Where's Haswell? - Seeking Alpha

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Watching Microsoft's Death Spiral #6 (Nokia)

Well Microsoft hit the accelerator pedal on it's death spiral today.
Earlier death spiral posts: [#1, #2, #3, #4, #5]

Microsoft announced it is buying Nokia's Device & Services Business (plus some patents) for 7.1 billion dollars. Essentially, this is Nokia's handset business.
The bulk of this post is from a comment I made on Mary Jo Foley's "All About Microsoft" blog on ZDNet. MJF wrote an article asking: Does its Nokia buy thwart or fuel a possible Microsoft break-up?

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