Amber Alert on Android and iPhone

This would be the first time I received Amber Alert on my Nexus 4 and iPhone. Users can turn this kind of alert on their phones.

AMBER Alert
Boulevard, CA AMBER Alert UPDATE:
LIC/6WCU986 (CA) Blue Nissan Versa 4 door

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Child abduction (AMBER Alert)
Boulevard, CA AMBER Alert UPDATE:
LIC/6WCU986 (CA) Blue Nissan Versa 4 door

Android Amber Alert

 

Ambert Alert setting in iOS 6 and iOS 7 can be found in Settings > Notification Center
At the bottom there are “GOVERNMENT ALERT” settings.

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Amber Alert settings in Android (4.3) can be found in Settings > Wireless & networks > More… > Cell broadcasts

Android Cell Broadcast settings

Apple keeps improving iOS 6 Maps.

Apple keeps improving iOS 6 Maps as promised while detractors keep attacking on the issue.

Apple should have mentioned in the beginning that iOS 6 Maps is a work in progress. Just like a series, they’ll fix each episodes in post. As higher quality aerial photos and Digital Elevation Maps are added and processed, iOS 6 Maps 3D view will be improved. The same goes with the navigation feature of iOS 6 Maps.

Comparisons below.

 

Brooklyn Bridge

The Melted Brooklyn Bridge. (2012-09-26)
Brooklyn Bridge in proper 3D view. (2012-10-05)

 

Statue of Liberty

Statue of Liberty, in a skewed, non-3D view. (2012-09-26)
Statue of Liberty, in 3D view. (2012-10-05)

Maps and Glass Houses

Many criticize Apple’s own Maps app in iOS 6 such as the melted Brooklyn Bridge. Remember that throwing rocks at glass houses is a lot easier than making a Map application. Let’s throw some rocks at those glass houses.

The melted Brooklyn Bridge in Apple Maps. Low quality satellite photo and raw elevation data do not produced a good automatically generated 3D view of the bridge.

There’s a little photo stitching problem, most likely because it is automatically done by software.

Apple is not the only one having problems making 3D maps. Google is having the same issues on different locations.

3D view of Golden Gate Bridge in Apple Maps:

3D View of Golden Gate Bridge in Google Earth:

Apparently there’s a floating road on the water next to the Golden Gate Bridge according to Google.

It is really easy to choose and pick the battle. Over time Apple will improve its Maps application just like what Google has been doing for the last 5 years. Google is not immune to some silly mistakes, that’s because the map is processed and assembled by some algorithms. There’s where human element is needed to make some adjustments and corrections.

Bring your torches an pitchforks to AT&T, demand unrestricted FaceTime access.

As reported by many GigaOM, Net Neutrality complaint against AT&T is about to be filed with FCC.

From GigaOM:

Free Press, Public Knowledge, and the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute have informed AT&T that they intend to file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission against the wireless carrier for violating network neutrality rules. The complaint will address Ma Bell’s plan to keep certain subscribers from using Apple’s FaceTime video calling on the AT&T cellular network. The move was expected, but the timing on when the FCC responds is unclear.

From Free Press:

WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, Free Press, Public Knowledge, and the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute notified AT&T of their intent to file a formal complaint against the company. In the complaint, the three organizations will assert that AT&T is violating Net Neutrality by blocking the popular video-conferencing application FaceTime. The groups will file the complaint with the Federal Communications Commission in the coming weeks. Under the agency’s Open Internet rules, which prohibit companies from blocking such applications on their mobile networks, anyone filing a formal complaint must give at least 10 days’ notice of their intent to file.

With iOS 6, Apple adds the ability to make FaceTime calls over cellular. AT&T told MacRumors that customers are required to subscribe to Mobile Share data plan to use FaceTime over cellular. This certainly does not sit well with AT&T customers with iPhone 4S and soon to be released iPhone 5. As reported by AppleInsider, both Sprint and Verizon will not restrict the use of FaceTime on their network.

It’s time to bring your torches and pitchfork to AT&T. Sign the petition at Free Press.

Yet another reason to ditch AT&T: FaceTime over Cellular restriction.

At time of this post, AT&T will only allow FaceTime over Cellular if customer subscribed to Mobile Share data plans. AT&T is restricting the use of FaceTime over Cellular network unless you pay more. In the mean time, other video communication apps such as Skype are not restricted.

Following the iPhone 5 announcement, Verizon and Sprint will allow FaceTime over Cellular on any data plans. It is time to ditch AT&T and take our business to Verizon or Sprint.

iOS 6: Panorama

iOS 6 brings Panorama to iOS devices.

It is available for iPhone 4S in addition to iPhone 5. What about iPhone 4? Stay tuned.

UPDATE:
Panorama is available only on iPhone 4S, iPone 5 and the new iPod touch.

I took a low light panorama picture using an iPhone 4S. I had to resize it because it’s too huge.

24 MegaPixels photo anyone?