Google Chromecast was launched to compete with the Apple TV, which sells for $99.00, at a fraction of the price. The launch was an instant hit selling out in all of the major online retailers. Furthermore, Google is frantically posting job listings for their Chromecast team in order to meet production and create betas for Chromecast.

Chromecast is able to stream in HD quality to your TV in both 720p and 1080p, though some users reported a little lag in the 1080p streaming. Fortunately though, Chromecast works crossplatform on any machine that can download Google Chrome. In addition, Google is working hard to bring more support and apps for Google Chromecast.

In order for Chromecast to continue to move forward from its successful launch, Google needs to act fast in an effort to make it widely available to consumers.

Blackberry is set to launch their new Blackberry Q5 handset on August 13th. The new device targets a more affordable audience than the high-end Z10 and Q10, and targets the legions of BlackBerry Curve owners who are approaching the end of their respective contracts. Blackberry plans to heavily target these consumers during the all-important back-to-school season.

Despite the emphasis on hardware, Blackberry’s future does not rely solely on the success of their new devices. Blackberry’s business model is changing with the launch of the Blackberry 10 platform. They are trying to be portrayed as a software company, and not just a device manufacturer. The company is focused on expanding the BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 deployments — including support for iOS and Android devices. In addition, Blackberry plans to extend its BBM social messaging service across multiple platforms and leverage its secure BlackBerry Global Data Network. The goal is allow Blackberry to be successful in the enterprise world regardless of which device a consumer has.

As of August 6, Samsung has announced their partnership with BlackBerry Messenger, BBM and is spreading the word quickly. They announced that BBM for Android will be available in Google Play and Samsung app store free of charge.

It has been 10 years since the BlackBerry Boom from the first Smartphones. In the beginning, BlackBerry was the hot commodity that everyone wanted to get their hands on. Now, 10 years later, BlackBerry is finding itself trying to reinvent their brand image as more than just a device maker by signing Blackberry 10 deals with the other device manufacturers.

Blackberry should continue to maintain some market share in the smartphone device segment, but they have lost a large portion of their users to other major platforms. Thus, Blackberry will need to continue to evolve as a software solution to stay relevant.

Last week, BGR shared the first picture of BBM for Android running on a handset and the app has reportedly been made available to early beta testers ahead of its public release. With group chat applications such as GroupMe and WhatsApp dominating the cross-platform group chat market, Blackberry is in desperate need for a successful launch of BBM. Time will tell what the future holds for Blackberry.

Well, how close did this all come to a reality?

Google Glass physically consists of a 5MP camera with a clear prism that is attached to a flexible metal frame.  Google is working to incorporate prescription lenses for those who need glasses. The product comes with built in WIFI and Bluetooth technology, but no gps chip. In addition, Google Glass comes with 16GB flash memory preinstalled.

Directly from the Google Glass “What It Does” page:

• Take pictures, video, and live stream hands free
• Turn by turn directions in front of you
• Speak to send a message
• Ask any question
• Get translations for different languages
• Get answers without asking

In fact, Google posted a video back in February demonstrating these features:

One of the most heavily debated aspects of the device surrounds the ability to discretely record video or use the device. Privacy is a big public concern as people are afraid of the capabilities and customization options to come. Moreover, Google Glass has not even fully launched yet and it is already being banned in public places such as casinos.

Currently, Google Glass is not available to everyone. If you are one of the lucky developer’s chosen by Google, you can purchase a pair for a whopping $1,500! The tech world is speculating a late 2013 or early 2014 widespread launch of Google Glass.

FaceBook’s move appears to have made a larger impact than many had predicted as Topsy’s Analytics show an increase in Instagram posts and a decline in Vine posts since the launch.

The Orbis Team decided to take a stab at it…

If you’re not familiar with Vine, it’s a relatively new app from Twitter that allows you to record six second looping video clips (with audio) that you can share on Twitter, Facebook and Vine.  Since it’s launch in January, Vine has grown its monthly active users by 50% in the last month and is easily the most popular video sharing app out there. The super-short format has clearly inspired creativity in Vine’s users. I spent way too long watching this loop:

I think it’s obvious what you are Harry… vine.co/v/bpj7Km0T3d5

— Jackson Holland (@_jacsun_) March 20, 2013

The app serves more purposes than that, however, allowing you to manage incoming calls. If you’re unavailable, the app lets you choose to send callers an audio or text message letting them know you’ll return their call. You can also send out your contact info – including other numbers, website URLs, or links to your social media accounts – if you so desire. StarStar Me also allows you to block certain numbers.

StarStar numers work in tandem with your existing 10-digit mobile number – you don’t forfeit your current mobile number. That way your mom can still call your cell number, but your friends can call **BARTMAN or whatever you’ve picked for your StarStar number. When choosing a StarStar number, here are the parameters: The number must be at least 5 characters long with a max length of 9 characters. The number length does not include the ** characters at the beginning of the numbers. So hurry up and swipe **PhilsPhan if it’s still up for grabs.

StarStar Me isn’t available universally yet. It’s currently on the Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon networks, and will be available on other major carriers in the near future. Calls within the U.S. from Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T are currently supported, but calls from landlines, roaming calls, and calls from other mobile carriers are not at the moment. Sprint subscribers can have two StarStar numbers per mobile phone number, while T-Mobile and Verizon subscribers can get up to three. A recurring monthly fee is charged for each StarStar number.

The app is available for iPhone and Android. Callers using other mobile devices can reach you via your StarStar Me number, as long as they are on the carriers previously listed. SMS message cannot be sent to your StarStar number.

How to get it: iPhone and Android users on most mobile carriers can now sign up for StarStar Me service.iPhone and Android users can call **ME (**63) on their mobile phone to download the free StarStar Me app to get their StarStar number. Sprint customers can also sign up here, T-Mobile customers can sign here, Verizon customers can sign up here.  Alternatively, users can downloading the app from Google Play (Android) or the Apple App Store (iPhone).

Check out more info at their website.

Time will tell if this “Child of the 90’s” can grow up into a successful modern browser.

In addition to the ease of communication, Microsoft feels that the added features Skype will bring is another big reason for the switch.
Among these new features: support for more devices; video, landline, and mobile calling functions will be consolidated into one single application; sharing of screens; video calling from mobile devices and via Facebook; and group video calling will be added.

With consumers favoring social media and texting over Instant Messaging, Microsoft feels they have a more universal and compatible product in Skype. The business world, however, still relies strongly on Instant Messaging as a technology. It plays a large role in unified communications, which means the Skype rollout will also give the business world more features in one product. Presence functionality – the ability to know a coworkers location and availability, is built in to the software – which is a major reason why Instant Messaging technology is so important for businesses.

Social messaging is a big competitor in the consumer market, but even enterprise social software makers are trying to integrate instant messaging to their platforms because of the heavy reliance by businesses. Microsoft currently has an enterprise product, called Lync, which includes Instant Messaging. Right now, Microsoft doesn’t have plans to oust Lync in favor of Skype, but they will likely plan to increase integration between both in the future.

In the end, Microsoft is just treating the change as another new client that users will need to upgrade to in order to keep up with changing technology. The transition will be smooth, so it’s unlikely to cause many customer issues.

The program, officially known as the Copyright Alert System, combines the efforts of Hollywood studios, record labels and major U.S. Internet service providers (ISPs.) The goal is to stop piracy, by giving repeat offenders warnings based on how many strikes they have. While the first strike may result in simple warning, users who receive a fifth warning will be redirected to a landing page with educational information on copyright. Their internet service will not be restored until they contact their ISP.

It is unclear how ISPs will handle Internet users who reach six strikes. There is speculation on whether users will be disconnected, sued by rights holders, fined, etc. While Lesser is promising the six strikes program by year’s end, ISPs are not providing any details on the program. Is this a realistic timeline considering we have not heard any new information since the initial announcement of July 2011?

A similar program in France called Hadopi, allows three strikes against users. Keeping up with the copyright infringements for a population of 65 million people has proven to be a difficult task for Hadopi. While 18 million complaints have been made, the agency has only dispersed 470,000 first strikes, 20,000 second strikes and 10 third strikes. Hadopi attributes this to two factors: technical difficulties and wanting to give users time to change their ways after their first strike.

What are your thoughts on the six strikes program? Do you think we will see it in 2012?

China’s middle class is growing and so is its disposable income. More people are traveling to movie theaters to view the latest releases. The Chinese audience wants not only a movie, but a heightened experience – enter the 3-D movie. Hollywood is on the cutting edge of 3-D technology. China’s 3-D technology cannot compare at this time, causing American 3-D blockbusters to be in high demand. China’s box office sales in the first half of 2012 were up 41.7% due to imported movies. Most of the imported movies were in 3-D format.

One issue with importing 3-D blockbusters to China is the language barrier. As a viewer, it’s difficult to watch a 3-D film while simultaneously reading subtitles. It almost certainly causes a headache. This is one of the challenges that filmmakers are trying to address and resolve. One solution is to keep projector bulbs turned up high to help eyes easily adjust. Unfortunately, each bulb costs about $790, so it’s a fairly expensive solution. Another way to help ease the eyes is to shoot the 3-D film live by using two cameras at once. Most 3-D films are shot and then transformed into a 3-D film in post-production. Shooting 3-D films live is also quite expensive.

Despite some challenges, it seems that 3D films in China are the next big thing.

What do you think of 3D films?