How we use tech
Friday 11 September 2009
Here are some of the latest ways you could watch video, use your phone and browse the net. Technology is endless!
Video
The line between real life and computer generated images is getting smaller and smaller. With a compatible device, like a phone or a webcam, augmented reality layers computerised images over ones captured on camera.
Augmented reality can also recognise the objects being filmed and obtain information from them - and it adjusts to your movements, so it will pick up new information when you move the device.
This technology has already made its way on to some mobile phones, and now it’s in games too. Before the release of a popular computer game, players were given the chance to find some clues. All they had to do was point their webcam to coded images on the game’s website. The site, using the image captured on the webcam, then slowly revealed the clues.
Watch how this person uses augmented reality on their phone to get around.
Mobile
Earlier this year, Apple celebrated the download of one billion applications – at one point around 10,000 were being downloaded a day. Now there are around 75,000 different applications available, each changing the way we use our phones.
Newbies
One of the most recent applications released include the Bestival app which contains information on the event, which begins today, and a game.
Heard of Spotify, the music site that lets you stream your favourite tunes? Now paying subscribers can get it on their phones too. The app connects to your on line account so that you can edit playlists and search for new tracks.
If you’re a trainer freak then your must-have app should be Nike iD. It lets you design your own trainers on the go - from the colour of the fabric, to the colour of the tick. Unfortunately, the app is aimed at female trainer freaks only.
Along with these new apps, the latest iPhone OS 3.1 software is also available for download. It features something called Apple’s Genius which recommends you certain applications depending on the apps you’ve already downloaded. Clever, eh?
Smartphones
iPhones aren’t the only smartphones that can do cool things. Internet site Yahoo recently announced that it was launching a Fantasy Football app on different Blackberry models. The app will allow football fanatics to manage their fantasy teams and leagues, add and drop players, view player details and get some expert advice too. Watch this video!
On line
YouTube
Now that the clash between PRS and YouTube is over you’ll be able to watch your favourite music videos on the site again. You’ll also get to watch television programmes that use backing tracks.
Soon, there’ll even be an option to use YouTube as a social networking site. In the near future you will be asked if you want to share information with your on line contacts – via your Gmail address book. A suggestion box will also come up with a list of other YouTube users who you may know, giving you easy access to your mates and family.
Google waves
This new on line web application is designed to bring together email, instant message, and social networking.
A wave is a live on line conversation, sort of like instant message, only better. Not only will you be able to send text and pictures, but you’ll be given the option to embed videos, maps and more on to messages. You could also go back to an earlier time in the convo and edit it. A playback feature will let you look at the conversation from beginning to end to see what was edited and when. Find out more.
Popmorphic
This latest music video player will completely change the way music videos are watched. Music controls on the player will let you adjust exactly what you want to see - you could avoid close-ups, watch clips from certain angles, or focus entirely on your favourite singer, drummer or guitarist.
In the end, you could make the video as slow paced, choppy, or speedy as you want. Here’s some more information.
