The Best Apps On Google Chromecast

At the beginning of last month Google released its Chromecast Software Development Kit (SDK) and API, meaning that the inexpensive HDMI dongle is about to get a whole lot more apps. Add the fact that Chromecast is now available in another eleven countries, including the U.K., Canada, Italy, Sweden, France and Germany,  we should start to see more interesting and useful apps.

There is a growing number of apps in various genres but they can be a little hard to find in the Google Play Store, so thankfully the developer community has created Cast Store, which is a directory of all the Chromecast apps currently available. To help you sift out the more interesting ones, we’ve put together a list of what we think are the best apps.

CastPad

This app is great if you have kids as it allows you draw on your phone (with a stylus!) and then display the work of art on your TV screen. Of course it’s fun for adults too and can make a good game of pictionary lots more fun.

Flixster

This free movie tracking app will provide you with all the movie reference information you will ever need, including local show times, cast, reviews and trailers. A recent update means you can also load movies onto the SD memory card (if you have a Samsung device). Included on Flixster is a host of free and paid movies ready for you to watch when you want.

Google Acquires Titan Aerospace Before Facebook Does

Google has bought Titan Aerospace. Yes, you heard that correctly.  The very same Titan Aerospace that Facebook wanted to acquire.  Google have snatched the firm right from under Zuckerberg’s nose.  Last month Facebook  was allegedly in talks to buy Titan Aerospace for approximately $60 million.  The disclosure of the amount that Google has paid is not public.

The WSJ has allegedly claimed Google want to boost their aerial technology, the company has consequently acquired Titan Aerospace, though the final purchase price has not been disclosed. This report further claimed that Titan Aerospace and its staff of 20 employees will stay in New Mexico, and Vern Raburn, chief executive officer, will continue to oversee the day to day running of the business.

We reported in early March about Facebook wanting to acquire Titan Aerospace for their latest purchase and TechCrunch reported that Facebook has planned to build 11,000 Solara 60 drones to offer Internet access in Africa. These drones would be classed as “atmospheric satellites” for monitoring weather, assisting in disaster recovery and offering communication capabilities.

If Facebook purchased Titan, it would see the social network rival Google’s Project Loon, which is aiming to offer Internet connectivity via air balloons. In addition to this, Facebook most probably wanted to further connect Africa, because of the newly acquired WhatsApp service.

Google however has seized Titan Aerospace first. The Wall Street Journal has said the Titan team would now work directly with Google’s Project Loon, thereby helping to build large, high-altitude balloons that send Internet signals to the offline world.

Titan’s drones are capable of collecting real-time, high-resolution images of the Earth. The technology also features atmospheric sensors and supports voice and data services. This also means Google could use them with Google Maps.  The Titan team may also work with Google’s Makani project, developing airborne wind turbines for energy efficiency.  I can see a future acquirement of Altaeros Energies may be in the pipeline, although the Makani project is similar, so who knows?

As always, if you would like to leave a sensible comment, then please do so in the comments section below.

Google Seeks to Integrate Cameras Into Contact Lenses

Google announced in January that it was developing a smart contact lens that could continually monitor blood glucose levels of Type 2 diabetics. It has been announced that Google is also working to create a contact lens with an integrated camera that would help people with visual disabilities. 

The lens is meant to work like this: a small camera will be embedded out of the way of the pupil so it will not obstruct vision. Blinking activates the sensor for the camera. An advantage to using this lens instead of something like Google Glass is that the camera is able to follow the eye’s precise movement. Even the smallest sideways glance will still allow the camera to face the point of interest. The data collected by the camera can be processed to recognize a variety of properties including faces, motion, color, light, and certain objects.

If someone with a visual impairment is wearing the lenses and is, say, about to step off the curb while there is traffic present. The lens, which can be linked to a smartphone, will give an auditory warning for the wearer to stop, and then let the user know when it is safe to cross. The facial recognition could help the wearer identify friends and family by connecting to a database. There is also the potential for law enforcement to use the technology to spot persons of interest or those with outstanding warrants.

Of course, the lens isn’t only for those who need help visually navigating their surroundings. It will also be able to take regular pictures hands free. The developers also hope to be able to zoom the camera in, reducing the need for binoculars. While this does seem pretty handy in some circumstances, it seems fairly creepy for others. Keep your blinds closed, guys.

At this stage, the lens is still theoretical, but a patent application was filed on the design back in 2012. There is no telling when or if this product will be available on the open market.

Shahnawaz

iPad 3

The new iPad launch (the iPad 3 that's not been called the iPad 3) kicked off at 10am PT/6pm GMT on Wednesday 7 March, and ourHands on: iPad 3 review is now up.

Browse back through our new iPad launch liveblog - or read on for a round-up of all the new iPad announcements.

Before talking about the new iPad, Apple's Tim Cook unveiled anupdated Apple TV box, bringing 1080p video streaming to the device which has a release date of 16 March and a price of $99. We've got the lowdown in our Apple TV: what you need to know post.

But it's the new iPad that grabbed the headlines. See what upgrades the new iPad has over the iPad 2: