Harry Potter goes digital
One of the drawbacks of living in Harry’s world is that you don’t have much privacy. The Marauder’s Map tells you where everyone’s feet are and this can have some err… interesting consequences in real life, as this .gif of the map in The Prisoner of Azkaban movie shows. Luckily no one can see our every move on their magical devices (muggle phones), right? No, not so much anymore. Let me introduce you to two new apps, Highlight and Glancee.
Where there are similar apps like Banjo and Sonar that show you who checked in where on a little map by using your Foursquare, Twitter and Facebook accounts, Highlight and Glancee are Marauder’s apps as you don’t need to check in. As these apps grow in the techno-loving communities it is safe to say that there can be some strange consequences.
Did I mention that you can see people’s every move, even if you aren’t friends with on Facebook? As long as they also have the Highlight map. I mean app. You can also see their “public” information on Facebook on the app. Oh she likes cheese and wine too! Lovely … now you can go to the same restaurant as her tomorrow without this “her” even knowing that you exist. It really is a stalker’s paradise.
Highlight is only available on iPhone at the moment and Glancee on Android and iPhone. Glancee does not show you a map, but tells you who is close by. Users might find this more reassuring. Until your boyfriend puts two and two together and asks what you’re doing hanging out with his best friend.
Professionals at conventions find these apps useful to meet others in their field, as the techno lovers at SXSW Interactive found. You can see what everyone else does for a living and if they “like” the same things on Facebook and, if you think they’re a good connection to have, you can message them and set up a meeting.
The implications of these apps aren’t necessarily horrific. They can be switched off when you want some privacy and they have the potential to make business networking and meeting people more fun. Time will tell if users warm up to these stalker-friendly apps.
(Image by Dave Delaney, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0, via Flickr)
MyndPlay: reading your mind
Have you ever been frustrated with the ending of a movie? Well, there’s a solution to that now. The latest film gadget is quite the big deal; MyndPlay. MyndPlay is a media player that allows viewers to play their preferred movie ending. But that’s not the catchiest part of this gadget, reading your mind is.
Sony changing the future of power outlets
It seems that anything electrical is getting upgraded these days – including our power sockets! Sony recently held a showcase in Tokyo, where they displayed smart sockets which only provide electricity to approved users or devices.
Putting it all on the line: Nokia Lumia
Nokia is taking the biggest gamble of its career. It has teamed up with Microsoft to launch the new Lumia 800 smartphone. This move can be considered a last ditch effort by Nokia to capture the smartphone market, considering its sales dropped 31% in the last quarter of 2011. So, how does the phone compare to other smartphones on the market?
What an iPad really costs
They are forced to work 24-hour shifts, live in crowded dorms and work with poisonous chemicals, all for very little pay. These are the working conditions at the iPad manufacturing plants in China. Have you ever thought about the person who made your iPad? Have you thought about the impact it has on their life?
