iWatch

     Recently apple has released the apple iWatch to the public and has integrated the iWatch applications into the app store. This is really awesome because many people have been waiting for the iWatch for a very long time.

     The basic model of the watch is priced at around 349 dollars. The price of the models can greatly differ, however, with the priciest model potentially being priced at over ten thousand dollars (this was initially predicted by watch specialist and writer named Ariel Adams). Apple took a great amount of time and care to design the product. Analysts who have gotten a chance to get their hands on the product have said that they were able to tell that there was a lot of consideration put into the design of the watch and its components. They said that even the wristband was carefully designed so that it could maximize the user experience (Apple has been known to put a ridiculous amount of effort into the design of their products ever since their creation.)

One of the most promising features of the watch is its ability to connect to the internet. This opens up a world of opportunities for software developers around the world. Since the watch will have so much processing power for its size people will be able to develop apps that can be used as great tools. many analysts have said that the main selling point for the watch probably won't be the actual hardware, but it will be some app that somebody design that takes great advantage of the capabilities of the device. Since the release of the watch the public has given it great reviews. Many find it useful because of its ability to flawlessly sync and mold with the experience of your phone and other apple electronic devices such as iPads and iMacs. Some people, however, view the watch as dinky and think that the applications on it are not useful and that they actually hinder the user).

     I personally think that wearable tech such as the watch that Apple developing will be a major part for our lives in future years. I think that the iWatch will is a great balance between the tech world and the actual world as its function is to not intrude upon the way that you do things but to be there as a type of assistant (This is why I don't think that something like Google Glass will become popular, it intrudes upon the interactions that you have with people everyday). Hopefully inventions such as the iWatch continue to pop up around the world and help increase the productivity and creativity of everyone.

Word Count: 444

Columbia Invents a Camera That can Power Itself

Recently researchers at Columbia University have created a camera that can take pictures that does not need a battery and that can power itself. I think that this is pretty cool because you often find yourself not being able to take pictures or do things on electronics because the batteries are out. I think that this technology could be used in other products such as phones to make it easier for the user to have a device that is always charged. This would be very helpful for people who are on the go a lot or in areas where power is not readily available. I also think that it is cool that the camera is actually functioning. This means that the technology that is needed to make it work is really coming along and that people are figuring out how to optimize it. This means that more self powered tech is probably just right around the corner, which is great for the average person during this era when everybody is busy every minute of the day. Overall, I am really excited to see what this technology can be used on other than cameras. Link to the original article with more information on the camera.

Word Count: 204

GTA V's PC Release

Recently this week the long awaited PC title Grand Theft Auto V has been released on Steam for anybody with a capable PC to download and run. The world of PC gaming is filled with many opportunities for gamers to get their games for cheaper prices, unlock the performance of their computers to get the most out of games, mod the games to their liking so that their experience it great, and enjoy the benefits of better graphics and continuously improving technology. For PC gamers it is a thrill to enjoy a game that tests the limit of their builds while providing a smooth gameplay experience. This Monday I downloaded the massive game, Grand Theft Auto V, and cracked it open for the first time. I was pleasantly surprised that the game ran very well on my PC and that it looked beautiful. The game looks significantly better on the PC than it looks on the other game consoles (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One). The first thing that I tested on the game was the online experience, which is the only reason I bought the game. I bought the game alongside many of my friends on the PC. They were also pleasantly surprised by the good performance that was characteristic of the game. The game is a great way to mess around with friends. You are able to do a load of missions with your friends that are action packed and full of many funny moments. While the game is fun, it is meant for an older audience and should not be played by anybody under the age of 17. The game is at its best when it is played at friends because you are able to mess around with them in an open world with a lot of drugs, money, and cars. You can do a multitude of things in the game. You can take an approach where you focus on doing missions around the city to increase your level or you can cause havoc around the city with your friends and other random people on the internet, escaping from the cops and roleplaying your way to being the most prolific gangster in Los Santos. Although the game has many suggestive themes, for people who can keep themselves sane throughout the experience it is great fun. There is also loads of customization in both the singleplayer and multiplayer aspects of GTA V. You can choose from a wide variety of outfits and looks to make your character look just the way you want him/her to be. You can look like anything from a hardcore gangster to a casual business man that is just having a bad day.

Overall, I think that GTA V has been ported to the PC pretty well. I think that it is the type of game that will thrive in the PC community as the experience is greatly shaped by the creativity of the user. You can do a variety of things in the game, such as participate in server wide bike race in the mountains of Los Santos. I think that the game will do well, and if it keeps getting updated it will be a legendary title for the PC. For Grand Theft Auto V the possibilities are endless.

Word Count: 548

Star Wars Battle Front Sneak Peak to Come Out this November

Recently the creators of Star Wars Battlefront have announced that they are going to release a sneak peak of the game this November. This is pretty awesome because a lot of people are looking forward to the release of this game alongside the release of the new Star Wars movie that is coming out later this year. Personally, I am looking forward to this game and I will get it as soon as it comes out for the PC. I think that it will be awesome because it will bring a modern twist to a game that I played a lot during my childhood on the original Xbox. Star Wars Battlefront was fun because you were able to immerse yourself in the epic battlefields of the Star Wars series. This was cool for anyone that was a Star Wars fanatic during the time. I am mainly looking forward to the improved graphics that the game is going to bring to the series and the improved multiplayer experience because of better connections and better server technology that has been developed over the years. This is good because I remember playing the multiplayer on the original Xbox over Xbox live and enjoying it a lot but also suffering from a lot of lag. With new and improved technology the game developers will be able to make the multiplayer experience a slot smoother for the user. I also think that the game will benefit from a lot of new and improved gameplay mechanics. Over the years since the original Star Wars Battlefront game other FPS games such as Call of Duty and Counter Strike have set a standard for fast paced first person gameplay. I remember the original Star Wars Battlefront being relatively slow paced. I am sure that the developers will make sure that this installment will be fast paced and full of action.

I am sure that this game will be a great sequel to the original Star Wars Battlefront game. In the community of PC gamers all around the world this is one of the most anticipated games of the year, and it is so for a very good reason. For people like me it will be a chance to relive the days when I would come home from school, jump on the trampoline, and then head straight onto the Xbox to dive into the world of Star Wars and play as my favorite Jedis and Sith Lords. Overall, I am really excited for the trailer that they are going to release this November, and I will continue to follow the development of the game and express my opinions to the developers to make sure that it is a noteworthy gaming experience. Link to the original article with more information on the release date of the trailer for Star Wars Battlefront 2.

Word Count: 472

THX Audio Note Origins

Audio engineer James A. Moorer has told people that the original inspiration for the iconic THX audio note was inspired by the movie series "Star Wars". I think that this is cool because it puts a story behind the famous note that lets you know that you are in the theaters.

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/the-star-wars-inspired-history-of-the-iconic-thx-115130823374.html

Word Count: 51

Memorie's Pizza

Memorie's Pizza is standing at the fore front of a hot topic in today's politics and the internet. They are standing for the bill that was passed by Indiana state legislature that allowed businesses to discriminate against people because of religious reasons. The restaurant recently told the Associated Press that they did not provide service at a gay wedding because of religious reasons. This upset many and caused a huge commotion on the internet. This commotion led the pizzeria to shut down for a brief period of time. On the other hand conservatives around the world have started a kickstarter to help the pizzeria. The kick starter raised over $250,000 in one week. The funds will be going directly to the pizza joint and the cause of the bill.

Overall, I think that the bills that were passed in Indiana were discriminatory and that they contradict the ideals that the United States stands upon today. I think that the bills are a step in the wrong direction and it is very hard for me to see how anyone could think anything other than that. Here is a link to the original article with more information on the subject.  https://www.yahoo.com/tech/indiana-pizzeria-at-center-of-religious-115307450604.html

Word Count: 206

Recently Volvo has partnered with groups in New York city to develop reflective spray paint for bicyclists all around the world. This will help ensure the safety of cyclists during the night, in which they are often very hard to see. The paint is already being tested in New York city and should be releasing in the near future. The paint has a very shiny white appearance to it and makes anything that it is sprayed onto glow white when a light is flashing on it.

I think that this is pretty cool because people will now be able to make reflective clothing that they can use when they are riding their bikes. The paint will be pretty cheap and people will be able to get a hold of it pretty easily which means that more people will be able to be protected while they are riding their bikes. The paint is also pretty cool because it can be sprayed onto almost any service. This means that you could spray it onto thing such as helmets and backs. You could also use the paint to make pretty cool designs so that people that see you while they are driving their cars during the night don't just see you as a guy riding a dinky little bike but as a guy riding a dinky little bike with a reflective butterfly on his back. I also think that the spray paint has a lot of potential to be used in other areas than just safety. People tend to have a liking to making things stand out. With this paint you could make just about anything reflective. I think that this could be pretty cool for some visual effects with things such as sunsets and could be a pretty cool tool for people who are creating light shows. I also think that reflective spray paint could be used for other things such as cool paintings on the street. Instead of using yellow paint to mark the sides and medians of roads, we could use reflective paint to ensure that people can also see the boundaries of where they can drive during the night. We could also use reflective spray paint to help illuminate road side signs during the night without using electricity. This would make it easier for drivers to navigate the road when it is dark outside. I also think that you could use reflective paint to make it so that cars are more visible during the night and during fog. If somebody forgets to put their lights on it makes it very hard for people to see their car. If you were to have reflective paint on certain points on the car it would make it easier for people to see oncoming cars that may have forgotten to put their headlights on. I also think that it would be a good idea for the company to develop a wider variety of colors of the paint so that it is more appealing to the average person. It would be pretty cool to have a car that glowed blue during the night. It would also be pretty interesting if the company were to develop a type of paint that was a certain color during the daytime but then changed to another color during the night that was more vibrant. This would allow people to have cars that are black but also have cars that are safer by glowing a different color in the night such as white. I also think that by adding a different array of colors to their arsenal the company would attract more car companies to their product, because they would be able to produce a wider amount of colors and cars. I also think that it would be cool if the paint were made so that it would dry quickly and be able to come off easily with the use of a certain compound. This would make it so that users could use anything that they may have or be wearing as a surface to use for reflection. This would make it more appealing to people because they would have to change their routine less to make sure that they are safe. People often give up safety for a large increase in efficiency, and not being able to remove the ugly and unattractive paint would be very very inefficient. I also think that it would be cool if the paint could be bought in little sticky reflective strips instead of paint. This would allow the user to be able to take the reflective strips off of their clothing and then place them another piece of clothing. This would make it so that the process of making yourself reflective before going on a bike ride or a walk would be more efficient. This means that more people would actually take the time to put it on and be more safe.

Overall, I think that it is pretty cool that Volvo is teaming up with other companies to make it so that people can travel in safer methods. I think that it is important to improve efficiency in transportation but I think it is more important to ensure the safety of the things that are being transported. It does no good to get somewhere faster if the content that you are delivering doesn't even make it to the destination half of the time. I hope that this technology is made better by introducing more colors and being more widespread in the public. I think that reflective surfaces could be a key part of making today's transportation more safe and efficient for everybody. Here is a link to the original article with more information on the new reflective paint product the Volvo and other companies are teaming up to make.  https://www.yahoo.com/tech/reflective-spray-paint-for-cyclists-makes-you-glow-115297194344.html

Word Count: 975

Netflix Set to Have Next Season's House of Cards

Netflix has recently announced that the 2016 season of House of Cards will be featured on Netflix just like the two previous seasons of the show. The show features stars such as Kevin Spacey and is pretty action packed. The next season isn't even really that close but I am sure that it will be very exciting and action packed just like the ones before it. I am glad that Netflix is continuing their move to branch into the everyday lives of people by providing TV shows for users. It provides depth for their platform which ensures its place in the entertainment market.

Word Count: 103

April Fool's Gamer Jokes

This year marks another very successful year for the gaming industry with the launch of many successful games and the ever increasing sales of next generation gaming consoles and custom built gaming personal computers. With the increased attention to gamers the gaming industry has been given the perfect opportunity to pull pranks on millions of people around the world. Last Wednesday was not only my birthday but it was also April Fool's Day, a day marked with jokes and silly pranks of all scales and levels of humor and appropriateness. This year many gaming companies such as Blizzard and Valve have taken the opportunity to prank their users with things such as the promise of a full sized model of starcraft ships by the year 2015. I think that this is pretty cool because it brings some more positive attention to the gaming world and helps to spice up the scene a little bit. I hope that even more gaming companies decide to get in the mood for April Fool's Day next year and prank their users just like Valve and Blizzard decided to do. The original article can be found here. https://www.yahoo.com/tech/fooled-ya-some-of-this-years-most-notable-online-115228940369.html

Word Count: 200

Tech Execs Against Pro-Discrimination Laws

Recently there has been a surge of tech executives standing up and taking a stand against recent laws that have been passed in Indiana that allow business owners to deny service to certain customers based off of religious beliefs. This has outraged many because it is basically a bypass for companies to use when they want to limit their service to people of a certain race or sexuality. The first notable CEO to step out against these bills was the CEO of Apple, who has openly said to the public that he himself is gay. Prior to this week a pact that was comprised of 40 large company executives was acting against the bills set up by the state of Indiana by limiting their trade to the state and stopping promoting it. Recently, in this last week, 30 other corporate executives have joined the cause and signed onto the pact. These include executives such as the CEO of Microsoft, the CEO of Intel, and even the CEO of Netflix. They too has shown considerable efforts to stop the bills by denying certain services to companies in Indiana.

Overall I think that it is pretty cool that the tech industry is putting all competition aside and uniting to make the world a better place not just through their technology but by humanitarian efforts. I think that it is a brilliant movement because the tech industry really has the power in this modern age to help shape today's society for the better. I think that it is great that they are against these bills and not for them. Without the help of these large corporations I would think that the state of Indiana would become a failure, so I would not see a reason for the state to keep the bills in act. I am also glad to see that the tech industry can make a change. For me personally it has brought a more personal touch to electronics. I have come to realize that behind the development of every piece of technology that I touch there is a person on the other side that has opinions and thoughts about the same world that I live in. The overall support from the tech community for this charge has also made me realize that the internet and technology have helped inspire people to search for equality and a better life for all people, not just the privileged. Many people don't realize that things such as the internet are like an equalize for today's society. Given a computer and a couple of programs people can create many different things and do many cool things such as playing games. Nowadays all you have to do to have a safe and fun experience at your home is buy a computer. Although computers are seen by many people in the public as things that are only meant for nerds and that they make it so that people have no social life I think that computers bring about opportunities for people of different backgrounds to accumulate a wide range of information at one source. I also think that the internet is great because it can be a way for you and your friends to keep in touch all the time and get work done as a team. I always talk to my friends on Skype or on team speak and we play games such as Counter Strike and Call of Duty. It is really fun because we are able to play pretty complex game that involve team work and a lot of skill. I have actually improve my teamwork skills through online games. The internet has also provided a great way for me to work on school work with my friends. Working on school work with my friends over the internet is not only more efficient but it also makes it so that I learn the material better. This was true for AP World last year. When we got a new assignment for AP World me and my friends would get on the computer and do the assignments. We would critique each others' work and make sure that we had key points in our assignments. This ended up making me learn the material better, and I think that it was the main reason why I got a five on the exam. I also think that the internet is mainly composed of people who are liberals. This is especially true on websites that are based on a community of people. Many liberal groups of people have arisen from the internet, such as the group called Anonymous. Although not all of the reasons that Anonymous have attacked corporations have been well justified, it is safe to say that in general they fight for equality among all people.

Overall I think that it is pretty cool that the large executives of the tech industry are putting aside all of their differences and uniting for a single cause. I am glad to see that there are true people behind the development of the devices and programs that I use everyday that have the same views on equality that I do. I think that it is great that some of the large corporations in the United States today are willing to stand for the ideals that this country was built upon (technically). Overall I am very glad that they are putting together a very strong effort to help get the bills appeal. I could not see a reason for the state of Indiana to not appeal the bills, because if they didn't the state would go down the drain.

Word Count: 936

HBO Gets a Deal with SLING

Recently HBO has struck a deal with the SLING broadcasting network to expand it's network to more viewers. The deal makes it so that SLING users can buy a subscription to HBO for 15 dollars a month. The subscription includes the actual channel along with other services that HBO offers such as movies and other downloadable content and interfaces such as on demand shows such as Game of Thrones. The network plans to be launched on the SLING broadcasting network before the premier of this season of Game of Thrones. This will give people the time to get their subscriptions up and running so they won't miss the action that the next season of Game of Thrones will throw at them.

Overall I think that it is pretty cool that HBO is taking steps now to become even more of a household name than they already are in the entertainment industry. I am sure that this will help ensure their spot in the home entertainment industry for a very long time.

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/hbo-is-coming-to-sling-tv-this-month-115228185609.html

Word Count: 171

17 Year Old Races for the First Time

One of the online racing champions, Michael Conti, got to race in a race car for the first time after seventeen years of life. He has been the champion of the online games Gran Turismo and Forza multiple times and hadn't even driven a car for fourth months prior to his racing experience. He said that it was a pretty cool experience and that it was awesome to see the differences between real life and the video games that he had a passion for. Overall, he was honored to have the experience and thought it was an awesome day. Of course he was a natural on the race course due to his prior experience in the games Forza and Gran Turismo. The original post that describes the boy's experience can be found on yahoo tech. https://www.yahoo.com/autos/see-a-17-year-old-online-nascar-champ-get-his-115183384957.html

Word Count: 142

Android Apps Can Now Be Run On iMacs

Recently the teams over at Android have been working on a way for mac users to play with their favorite applications on the iMac. This has been tested by multiple people and apparently works pretty well. For many they said it was a very smooth experience that the touch interface was integrated well with a mouse and keyboard. Many also said that the bigger screen made the user's experience better.

Overall I think that it is pretty cool that Android is making a move to expand their products into the personal computer market. This is a pretty big step for the company because the personal computer is one area of electronics that they really haven't expanded their products to. This is largely because Microsoft has a very large stake in the personal computer market. They dominate everything that has to do with a desktop, monitor, mouse, and keyboard. Microsoft also runs Windows, which is the most popular operating system for personal computers in the whole entire world. This means that Microsoft has control over most of the software that is on personal computers because their operating systems provide an interface for users to develop software. I also think that the fact that Android is trying to make their operating system available to personal computer users is cool because the android applications will now be available over the chrome web store. This means that we will now be able to download our favorite applications onto our personal computer, which allows for easier integration between phones and personal computers. This will make it easier for software developers to make applications that work with both your computer and your phone to provide a more streamlined and complete experience. I also think it is cool that applications will be available on the chrome store because users will be able to download games onto their computer. This is cool because phone games generally tend to take up less resources than computer games, which allows people with mediocre personal computers to take advantage of all that their personal computer can handle. The addition of mobile games to personal computers will also be fun because they tend to be pretty good for burning some time while you are bored, which would help a lot when my family goes on car trips to California during the summer. I also think that it is pretty cool that Android is moving their applications over to personal computers because it allows for people to be able to get more money out of the applications that they pay for. Now, instead of only being able to use an application on your phone or other mobile devices you will be able to use it on your computer. The new interface for applications will also make it easier to access your information that you have on your applications from different areas because you will no longer need your phone to access your smartphone applications. Now you will be able to get on a computer at a place such as your uncle's house in California and you will be able to download all of the applications that you will need to do things. For example someone could come up with a work space application for their work and make it compatible with your computer and your smart phone. When you are at your house you could use your computer to access the data base application, and when you are out of your house, say in your car, you could use your phone to access it. The application could include many things such as a secure email service and a word processor so workers could use the technology that they have to make themselves more productive. I also think it is pretty cool because it will provide more practice for software developers to develop applications that work both on the personal computer and on Android devices. It is also pretty cool because people will be able to run the applications faster on the personal computer than they can on smart phones and tablets. An example of this can be found on the calculator. Math teachers at my school use an application on their computer that is a virtual replica of the ti-84 calculator. Because the processing power of the personal computer is so much better than the processing power of the typical calculator, the computer does things such as graphing a lot faster than my calculator does. This ends up making the process of making calculations more efficient. This would also be true for Android applications that are transferred over to the personal computer. They would be a lot better and faster because they would take advantage of the superior processing power that the typical personal computer has over the typical smart phone or android device.

Overall I think that the Android is taking steps in the right direction by developing an interface in which users can transfer their applications over to the personal computer. I think that it is a great opportunity for Google to penetrate into an area of marketing that is, for the most part, guarded by the technological giant, Microsoft. I think that Google's efforts are just a part of many effort's made by the technology departments in various different companies to streamline the experience for the user and make peoples' lives more efficient. I can't to see who wins the race and becomes the next Microsoft.

Word Count: 905