Facial Recognition Likely in iPhone 5
Amidst the continual iPhone 5 rumours and speculation, a particularly interesting feature that could be an addition to Apple’s next device is real-time facial recognition. Although not a new technology, it’s recently become commonplace as a biometric security mechanism to unlock the latest Android devices. Those who have picked up Galaxy Nexus phone contracts will already be enjoying this futuristic feature to unlock their phones. Likewise, Apple already uses a similar, albeit non real-time technique on Macs in applications such as iPhoto, so it’s reasonable to expect that such a technology may appear in the iPhone 5.
Android Facial Unlock Criticised
Possibly the most controversial feature in Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) was the ability to unlock the handset by face alone, commonly referred to as “face unlock”. While undoubtedly fun, it has been lambasted as a very weak security mechanism that can be fooled simply with a photo of somebody’s face. After it debuted on Android many videos were posted online demonstrating the inherent flaws. To alleviate such concerns, Google have said that facial unlock is only a beta version with improvements on the way, and should not be used as the main security method to access the phone. It’s still advisable to use a PIN or password for maximum security.
Android’s facial unlock is undeniably much less secure than a password, and it’s not suitably robust to protect your sensitive files and personal information. There are additional methods to enhance security such as waiting for the user to blink before matching their face, but it’s really just a novelty for now. There are also concerns about the impact on battery life, as it requires the camera to be active.
iPhone 5 Facial Recognition
How does all this relate to Apple? The innovators at Cupertino have a history of innovation and it’s likely that facial recognition will find its way to the iPhone eventually. Owners of jailbroken iPhones can already use a similar application called RecognizeMe, but it’s inconsistent at best and only provides a means to unlock the phone – hardly innovative. In 2011 it was revealed that Apple had filed a related patent in the US, but while this doesn’t mean that facial recognition is destined for the iPhone 5, more creative and unique ways to interact with the device would help differentiate iOS from Android and Windows Phone.
What might facial recognition be used for on the iPhone 5? Besides questionable phone security and its inherent risks, certain applications could really take advantage of the technology. iPhoto and the camera could automatically detect faces and make an association with pictures already on the phone. FaceTime could instantly recognise callers and add new faces to the Address Book and your iPhoto library. The possibilities are endless, but it remains to be seen whether it’s more than a gimmick.
As a novel way to complement technologies already rumoured to be in the iPhone 5 (such as gesture and motion control – similar to Microsoft’s Kinect system) real-time facial recognition could be genuinely useful if implemented well and used effectively. And as frequently demonstrated, Apple excels at applying existing technologies to original uses, often in quite unexpected ways
Best Value Online Games for your Phone
Best value online games Between educational websites for toddlers and that social networking friend request from your nan, it seems that everybody is using the Internet these days. It’s no surprise, then, that many are logging on to enjoy some casino games online, taking their turn at their favourite arcade game, or even becoming the manager of their very own farm (or cafe), without leaving the comfort of their own home.
One upshot of this popularity is that many websites have started charging for their best games; even those which are initially free may require money once you have reached a certain critical point. In short, it has become increasingly difficult to find quality games which are good value for money; here is a list of some of the best around.
If you want to play your favourite slot game, but have already reached your betting limit, many online slots offer the option of playing for free. One of these is even based on one of the world’s most popular trilogies: The Lord of the Rings. This game is a five reel video slot which allows you to immerse yourself in all things Lord of the Rings as you meet beloved characters and enjoy cinematic footage between rounds. You can even enjoy the betting experience and place a stake as low as 1p to be in with the chance of winning in this exciting and iconic slot game.
Another game straight from the screen is Deal or No Deal; though this screen is slightly smaller! Much like the television programme, the player chooses boxes at random, hoping to be left with those containing the largest possible sums of money. Offers are made by the elusive banker based upon the boxes which remain and the player can take the deal or play on in the hopes of being offered more money. To be in with the chance of winning a cash payout, place a bet as low as 50p; although you can just play for fun without having to bet any money at all.
Chain Reactors is a unique and exciting puzzle game in which the player is paid when a chain of five animated symbols match up. Three different progressive jackpots can be won, or you can try the game out and play for free. Two variations of this game are also available: Royal Reactors, in which the animated symbols are given a regal theme; and Chain Reactors 100, in which the player tries to make a chain of six or more animated symbols to signify a win.
Aztecs n’ Adders is a modern twist on the classic board game Snakes n’ Ladders; it is an interactive game, where the aim is to have your counter reach the top of the board within six rolls of the dice. Be careful not to hit any snakes though, as they will hinder your journey by sliding you down to a lower square. Again, this is a game in which you are given the option of placing a bet for a cash prize, but can also be enjoyed for free.
One of the most popular flash games online is Bejeweled Blitz; a gem-swapping game in which players must create a group of at least three matching gems to eliminate them and score points. Additional point bonus can also be earned by creating a combo or cascading multiple gem trios at once. This is another free game that can be found on many online gaming websites.
The best things in life are free, and this is true for some of the most popular online games. Now that you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank to indulge in your favourite game, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy yourself!
5 Reasons Why Mobile Marketing is the Advertising Sector to Target in 2011
Mobile marketing is a relatively new phenomenon. The technological advances of mobile phones in recent years, combined with the sustained growth and application of the Internet into an increasing number of spheres of everyday life, has seen specialist companies develop a new form of advertising to take advantage of this.
Listed below are just five reasons why your company should target mobile advertising to expand its business during 2011:
1. The mobile advertising market is about to experience rapid growth
Now may be the best time to join the mobile advertising revolution. Enders Analysis reported in the Financial Times that it expects to see mobile advertising investments grow from £46 million in 2009 to £419 million within six years. You can be sure that this vast new market is one that your competitors will be very keen to adapt to.
2. The increasing popularity of smartphone technology
The reason for this expected growth is simple: the rapid increase in the uptake of smartphone technology. Gartner’s mobile market report found that over 100 million smartphones were sold during the first quarter of 2011, an increase of 85 per cent year on year. Furthermore, Gartner also predicted that smartphone sales will reach 468 million units for 2011. The fact of the matter is that customers and businesses are both rapidly replacing their traditional mobile handsets with the next generation of smartphones, and are doing so very quickly.
3. The increasing diversity of uses people are using their phones and smartphones for
No longer do people just use their mobile devices to make calls and send text messages. Increasingly, smartphones are developing technology that can impact on many aspects of the user’s life. From providing music and storing photographs, to using navigation systems and the Internet whilst on the move, smartphones are being used more frequently, which means advertisers have more opportunities to present their products to the consumer.
4. Unlike other forms of advertising, mobile advertising is welcomed by the majority of users
Research conducted by the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB), revealed that in contrast to the negative opinion people have of some forms of advertising, such as cold calling, 70 per cent of mobile users have stated that they view mobile advertising as informative, clever and innovative. 89 per cent of respondents stated that they liked or were neutral towards advertisements, and 88 per cent said they would be happy to receive mobile marketing, especially if it included free or discounted content.
5. Mobile advertising is specifically targeted
Whilst these are appealing factors, the biggest bonus for any business using mobile advertising is not that it is cheap, scalable to size and immediate, but instead that it has the ability to target key demographic customers who will receive the ads. Specialised technology allows companies to target their marketing towards those customers most likely to want and need their products. This is of two-fold benefit to the company, firstly, they only spend their precious advertising budget on customers most likely to make a purchase and secondly, it vastly increases the likelihood of the money they spend on advertising being returned to them in the form of a sale.
This flexibility of being able to target specific demographics makes mobile advertising not only powerful, but cost effective. For the modern business, it is a perfect way to contact customers to inform them of your services or products.
The mobile advertising market is set to boom in the next few years. As mobile technology allows people to interact more intuitively and within increasing everyday situations, the chance to have your business take advantage of this is an excellent opportunity to increase your business’ profile and profitability.
The performance of the Sony Xperia Play
The sony xperia play is the newest Sony Ericsson handset to hit the market and is a great investment for gaming fans.
The actual handset houses a full games controller, which is hidden underneath the ample sized screen. In order to release the controller the user simply has to slide the phone apart.
The games controller is very similar to that of an actual PlayStation controller and features all of the keys you would expect to see, including the infamous four-buttoned controller pad. The only difference is that the joysticks have been replaced by a touchpad instead in order to make the phone appear less bulky and also so that the gaming pad is able to slide directly underneath the touchscreen.
When the user downloads games to the handset, these are instantly stored to the phones internal memory. The user can then however transfer them to the microSD card in order to free up some space on the Sony Xperia Play’s handset. This will in turn allow for smooth functioning of the phone when playing any one of the many downloaded games.
The Sony Xperia Play also features an Android operating system, which not only makes it a great handset for gaming fans, it also makes it a great business phone. The Sony Xperia Play offers users with access to a first class browser, exceptional email messaging features and great media playback.
There is also a 5-megapixel camera attached to the handset, complete with an LED flash, which allows users to take snapshots on the move, they can then either store these images to their handset or alternatively share them with friends via email and MMS picture messaging.
This phone is a great investment for those who like the best of both worlds as it can be used for both its business aspects and its gaming features!
Sony Xperia Play and Apple iPhone 4 Shootout
If gaming on your smartphone is a priority, then the leading contenders in this field are the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play and the Apple iPhone 4, so let’s take a closer look at these beauties.
From a gaming hardware point of view the Sony Xperia Play should win hands down. The gaming controller slides out from the phone and contains PlayStation type buttons. On the left there is a direction controller, and on the right there are four additional PlayStation buttons. In the centre there are two touch-sensitive track pads which are effectively joystick controllers. Along the edge of the handset there are left and right buttons along with start and select buttons.
Apart from being comfortable and ergonomic, the buttons mean that the whole of the screen can be used to view the action graphics rather than losing some of it to virtual controllers.
With the iPhone all game controllers are displayed on the touch screen which uses up a lot of real estate, however the actual display is higher resolution than that found on the Play.
The downside to all these Xperia Play hardware controllers is that the phone is rather bulky and heavy compared to the slim lines of the iPhone.
Naturally from the point of view of gaming experience the Play would be expected to win hands down, but there are some caveats there too. So far there are only 60 PS type games that make optimal use of the buttons and with standard games there is not a particular advantage over the iPhone, so until more PS games become available for the play, the advantage may not be as much as it seems.
If price is an important factor, then the Xperia Play is a tad cheaper than the iPhone, but it is also the case that the same game ported to the Play costs considerably more (5 or 6 times more) than the iPhone version. On the other hand, for games that work well with the Play controls gaming experience is considerably better.
If your wanting to find our more information on the handsets visit Dial A Phone.