• Xbox Adaptive Controller welcomed by UK charities and gamers with disabilities - https://news.microsoft.com/en-gb/2018/05/17/xbox-adaptive-controller-welcomed-by-uk-charities-and-gamers-with-disabilities/
• Microsoft Quantum helps Case Western Reserve University advance MRI research - https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2018/05/18/microsoft-quantum-helps-case-western-reserve-university-advance-mri-research/
• Microsoft acquires Semantic Machines, advancing the state of conversational AI - https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2018/05/20/microsoft-acquires-semantic-machines-advancing-the-state-of-conversational-ai/
• Microsoft Cloud delivers when it comes to energy efficiency and carbon-emission reductions, study finds - https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2018/05/17/microsoft-cloud-delivers-when-it-comes-to-energy-efficiency-and-carbon-emission-reductions-study-finds/

• US Partners Weekly Bulletin - https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/msuspartner/2018/05/14/us-partners-weekly-bulletin/
• ANNOUNCING: The Microsoft US OCP Virtual Partner Briefing - https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/msuspartner/2018/05/15/announcing-the-microsoft-us-ocp-virtual-partner-briefing/
• US Lounge: Partners’ place to connect and learn at Microsoft Inspire - https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/msuspartner/2018/05/15/us-lounge-partners-place-to-connect-and-learn-at-microsoft-inspire/

• Announcing the Xbox Adaptive Controller for accessible gaming - https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2018/05/16/announcing-the-xbox-adaptive-controller-for-accessible-gaming/#i3HffdkERyFhXBhf.97
• At Microsoft, every day is Global Accessibility Awareness Day - https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/accessibility/2018/05/16/global-accessibility-awareness-day-is-today-and-every-day/

• Microsoft Build 2018 sessions video recap - https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/build-2018-videos/

• Help Improve Power BI - https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/help-improve-power-bi/

• Securing the modern workplace with Microsoft 365 threat protection – part 4 - https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/microsoftsecure/2018/05/16/securing-the-modern-workplace-with-microsoft-365-threat-protection-part-4/
• Now that you have a plan, it’s time to start deploying - https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/microsoftsecure/2018/05/17/now-that-you-have-a-plan-its-time-to-start-deploying/

• Unlocking the power of the team with Surface Hub 2 - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2018/05/15/unlocking-the-power-of-the-team-with-surface-hub-2/
• Trends in the workplace—white paper on the cultural transformation - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2018/05/15/trends-in-the-workplace-white-paper-on-the-cultural-transformation/
• Reimagine accessibility and foster inclusion in the modern workplace - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2018/05/16/reimagine-accessibility-and-foster-inclusion-in-the-modern-workplace/
• Glassmaker glassybaby streamlines retail scheduling and fosters communication with Office 365 - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2018/05/18/glassmaker-glassybaby-streamlines-retail-scheduling-and-fosters-communication-with-office-365/

• Azure the cloud for all – highlights from Microsoft BUILD 2018 - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-the-cloud-for-all-highlights-from-microsoft-build-2018/
• Azure.Source - Volume 31 - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-source-volume-31/
• Why developers should enable Azure Security Center’s Just-in-Time VM Access - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/why-developers-should-enable-azure-security-center-s-just-in-time-vm-access/
• Protect virtual machines across different subscriptions with Azure Security Center - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/protect-virtual-machines-across-different-subscriptions-with-azure-security-center/
• Accelerate innovation with Consulting Services in Azure Marketplace - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/accelerate-innovation-with-consulting-services-in-azure-marketplace/
• Detect malicious activity using Azure Security Center and Azure Log Analytics - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/detect-malicious-activity-using-azure-security-center-and-azure-log-analytics/
• Announcing SQL Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) and SQL Vulnerability Assessment general availability - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-sql-atp-and-sql-vulnerability-assessment-general-availability/

• Build recap: Azure innovations announced for government - https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/azuregov/2018/05/15/build-recap-azure-innovations-announced-for-government/
• Custom Speech Service for Government - https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/azuregov/2018/05/15/custom-speech-service-for-government/
• Strengthening cybersecurity for the DoD – accelerating compliance - https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/azuregov/2018/05/18/strengthening-cybersecurity-for-the-dod-accelerating-compliance/

• Bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell to keynote at Microsoft Business Applications Summit! - https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/bestselling-author-malcolm-gladwell-to-keynote-at-microsoft-business-applications-summit/

• Using the Azure IoT Python SDK: make sure you check the version! - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/iot-python-sdk-troubleshoot/

• Insurance:
  • How AI and ML are used to Improve CRM for the Insurance Industry - https://enterprise.microsoft.com/en-us/articles/industries/insurance/how-ai-and-ml-are-used-to-improve-crm-for-the-insurance-industry/
• Government:
  • Why Modern IT Service Management Matters to Government Agencies - https://enterprise.microsoft.com/en-us/articles/industries/government/why-modern-it-service-management-matters-to-government-agencies/
  • Improving public safety with collaborative IoT security solutions - https://enterprise.microsoft.com/en-us/articles/industries/government/improving-public-safety-with-collaborative-iot-security-solutions/
• Health:
  • GDPR Implementation & HIPAA Compliance: What you need to know - https://enterprise.microsoft.com/en-us/articles/industries/health/gdpr-implementation-hipaa-compliance-what-you-need-to-know/
  • Episode analytics now mission critical as outcomes meet incomes - https://enterprise.microsoft.com/en-us/articles/industries/health/episode-analytics-now-mission-critical-as-outcomes-meet-incomes/

• Microsoft Inspire 2018
  • July 15^th – July 19^th 2018
  • Las Vegas, Nevada
  • https://partner.microsoft.com/en-us/inspire

• Microsoft Business Applications Summit
  • July 22^nd – July 24^th 2018
  • Seattle, WA
  • https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/businessapplicationssummit

• Microsoft Ignite 2018
  • September 24^th – 28^th 2018
  • Orlando, FL
  • https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ignite

• Dynamics Communities Summit 2018
  • October 15-18, 2018
  • Phoenix, AZ
  • https://www.dynamiccommunities.com/conferences

These are the droids you’re looking for…

Introduction

As I write this late in the evening I was reminded by a news story of a presentation on robotics I delivered to a class of nine year olds in December. During the presentation I showed the kids a video of an exoskeleton that was worn by a Kawasaki worker no doubt designed to help him / her lift heavy objects safely.

Naturally in the robotics world you tend to think that many of the robots you see are more proof of concept rather than in production. I was surprised to learn of a company in the USA called ReWalk who like Kawasaki are working on exoskeletons to help the injured / elderly move around safely. Hopefully trials will go well and this company will actually start to deliver these systems as too many great things appear in the robotics world but struggle to actually get released as products.

Speaking of which, the release date of Jibo is hopefully still in march / april however as the BBC found out the Jibo team was not quite prepared to show anything more of Jibo beyond its dance moves. I am sure my own kids will enjoy playing with Jibo’s animation tools and making him move but for now we are left looking forward to a new video showing Jibo interacting with ..err actors in a home setting - http://blog.jibo.com/2016/01/27/behind-the-scenes-at-the-jibo-video-shoot/

Personally I remain positive that Jibo will excite consumers and as a father remain committed to deliver on my promise to my kids to not to open the Jibo box until they get home from school . March / April cannot come soon enough…will Jibo ship or will it be delayed..we shall see.

IBM and Pepper have teamed up to have Pepper tied into the Watson expert system. IBM has worked with SoftBank to enable Watson to communicate in Japanese. This will certainly ensure that Pepper can deliver great responses and appear less flustered when asked questions it cannot respond to.

Finally, the hot news this week was more AI than robot and that is that Google have developed a system to beat a top European player in the ancient game of Go. Implications for robotics applications are unknown at this point but the fact this has happened is amazing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUbqykXVx0A 

The News

Accenture Strategy Chief: The winners in the robot revolution will become ‘augmented’ - http://www.businessinsider.com/accenture-strategy-mark-knickrehm-wef-davos-robots-ai-digital-disruption-2016-1?r=UK&IR=T

Rise of the robots will cost 5 million jobs by 2020 - http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-18/rise-of-the-robots-will-eliminate-more-than-5-million-jobs

Jibo nears release… http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35353546

Department of veteran affairs purchases exoskeletons from ReWalk for trials - http://rewalk.com/department-of-veterans-affairs-purchases-six-rewalk-robotics-exoskeleton-systems-for-national-multi-center-clinical-tria/

Segway launching robotic platform and looking for developers - http://www.sci-tech-today.com/news/Segway+Unveils+Robot+You+Can+Ride/story.xhtml?story_id=13100DO0GUJJ#

Toyota launches new AI lab in the US to focus on autonomous cars and assistive robots for the elderly - http://www.techrepublic.com/article/toyota-launches-new-ai-lab-in-us-calls-autonomous-cars-robots-on-wheels/

IBM’s Watson will now help Pepper deliver smarter answers and hopefully deliver those answers in Japanese at least until Pepper appears in the west - http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2016/01/12/is-it-robot-love-ibms-watson-helps-softbanks.html

More on the SoftBank / IBM story - http://www.thestreet.com/story/13430476/1/could-your-next-store-visit-be-guided-by-a-robot-ibm-hopes-so.html

Robots are China’s new worry - http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2016/01/28/forget-the-markets-robots-are-chinas-new-worry/#1e9f562a1edb

World’s first robotic farm producing Lettuce - http://www.techinsider.io/spreads-robot-farm-will-open-soon-2016-1

Development of care robots in aging Japan - http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/01/27/national/social-issues/development-care-robots-growing-aging-japan/#.VquXwML2aUk

Telepresence robot helps five-year-old with leukemia keep up with class - http://wgntv.com/2016/01/26/telepresence-robot-helps-5-year-old-with-leukemia-keep-up-with-class/

Scottish health boards to reveal robot trial results - http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-35407816

The robotic journey will continue next week

http://www.twitter.com/jodonnel

UK retailer advertising for Windows Phone developer – app on the way? - https://findbacon.com/job/full-time-software-developer-windows-phone-at-sainsburys-supermarkets-ltd-i

Windows 10 Mobile now supports phones with X86 chipsets - http://www.techtimes.com/articles/126875/20160123/windows-10-mobile-now-supports-smartphones-with-intel-x86-chips.htm

Microsoft revenue sharing and gift cards - http://wmpoweruser.com/microsoft-is-decreasing-revenue-sharing-for-app-purchases-made-with-a-gift-card/

Windows 10 Mobile delayed until February - http://www.winbeta.org/news/windows-10-mobile-release-delayed-february-says-internal-microsoft-email

More on project Islandwood and Astoria - http://news.softpedia.com/news/microsoft-look-how-easy-it-is-to-bring-iphone-apps-on-windows-10-mobile-499199.shtml

NYPD officers using translator app on Windows Phone - http://www.windowscentral.com/all-nypd-officers-will-soon-use-translator-app-their-windows-phone

Apps:

Brazilian airline launched Windows 10 Mobile app - http://www.winbeta.org/news/brazilian-airline-azul-rolls-windows-10-mobile-app

Domino’s adds Windows 10 Mobile support to app - http://www.winbeta.org/news/dominos-adds-windows-10-mobile-support-app-not-universal

Google paid 1 billion for search on iPhone in 2014 - https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http://www.gizmoids.com/2016/01/google-paid-1-billion-for-search-spot-on-iphones-in-2014/&ct=ga&cd=CAEYACoTMzA0MjI4OTA4ODgyMTMzNjI0NDIaMzRkYjkzNTNmYmFlNTQzYzpjb206ZW46VVM&usg=AFQjCNG1noTtaAynlOMKgJLaOOsi4uHxeA

Google dominated CES without making an appearance - http://neurogadget.com/2016/01/22/how-google-won-the-ces-2016-without-making-an-appearance/22907

iOS store earns more than Google Play store - http://www.streetwisejournal.com/ios-app-store-android-google-play-comparison/

Apple posts record Q4 2015 in India - http://www.bgr.in/news/apple-posts-record-q4-2015-in-india-sells-800000-iphones/

Possible iPhone sales decline? - http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-suppliers-idUSKCN0V00V5 - more on this - http://www.businessinsider.com/it-gets-worse-we-do-not-expect-a-major-iphone-7-bounce-back-2016-1?r=UK&IR=T

Microsoft’s Word Flow keyboard coming to iPhone - http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/microsofts-word-flow-keyboard-is-coming-to-the-iphone-18-01-2015/

Built For BlackBerry app program shut down - http://www.ubergizmo.com/2016/01/built-for-blackberry-shut-down/

T-Mobile joins AT&T in offering BlackBerry Priv - http://www.wirelessweek.com/news/2016/01/t-mobile-joins-t-offering-blackberry-priv

BlackBerry says handsets are as secure as ever - http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35344138

Cyanogenmod to add protected apps feature - http://www.gizmodo.in/indiamodo/Upcoming-version-of-CyanogenModto-make-the-protected-apps-feature-mainstream/articleshow/50719796.cms

No news this week

No news this week

Canonical working with AT&T - http://www.techtimes.com/articles/125139/20160118/at-t-goes-open-source-adopts-ubuntu-for-both-internal-and-customer-facing-systems.htm

No news this week

End of Weekly Mobile News Summary

John O'Donnell

http://www.twitter.com/jodonnel

Windows 10 Mobile is finally coming together - http://www.forbes.com/sites/marcochiappetta/2015/10/30/as-it-nears-release-windows-10-mobile-is-finally-coming-together/

Windows 10 Mobile on 5.7 percent of phones according to AdDuplex - http://news.softpedia.com/news/windows-10-mobile-exceeds-windows-phone-7-market-share-for-the-first-time-495458.shtml - more on this - https://www.thurrott.com/mobile/windows-phone/7326/windows-phone-usage-stats-for-october-2015

Pinball FX2 arrives on Windows 10 Mobile - http://news.softpedia.com/news/pinball-fx2-arrives-on-windows-10-mobile-495400.shtml

Russian bank launches app - http://www.telecompaper.com/news/mdm-bank-launches-mobile-banking-app-for-windows-phone--1109868

Facebook pushing employees to use Android - http://www.wired.com/2015/10/facebook-workers-ditch-iphones-in-push-for-world-conquest/

Microsoft Arrow now available in the Google Play store - http://tech.firstpost.com/news-analysis/microsoft-arrow-android-launcher-now-available-on-the-google-play-store-286264.html

Apple considering OLED for iPhone 7? - http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/10/30/apple-inc-reportedly-considering-oled-display-for.aspx

Apple rejecting digital scales apps - http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/apps/a17976/iphone-6s-scale-apps/

How much longer can iPhone sales continue to skyrocket - http://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2015/10/28/apples-iphone-sales-q4/

Verizon getting BlackBerry Priv? - http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2015/10/31/blackberry-priv-verizon-model-in-claimed-image/

BlackBerry Priv videos released - http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2015/10/31/blackberry-priv-verizon-model-in-claimed-image/

No news this week

No news this week

No news this week

End of Weekly Mobile News Summary

John O'Donnell

http://www.twitter.com/jodonnel

Microsoft reduces price of Lumia 950 in UK on back of mark share rise – UK at 11.3 percent market share for Windows Phone according to Kantar - http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/microsoft-cuts-price-lumia-590-590-xl-uk-windows-phone-market-share-grows-1525554

Microsoft prepares next version of Wallet - http://mobileidworld.com/microsoft-windows-wallet-210235/

A peak at the Lumia 950’s liquid cooling? - http://www.pcworld.com/article/2995421/phones/microsoft-store-lists-lumia-950-as-teardown-offers-peak-at-950-xls-liquid-cooling.html

Trivial Pursuit & Friends arrives on Windows Phone - http://mobile.softpedia.com/blog/trivial-pursuit-friends-arrives-on-windows-phone-495104.shtml

Hey Cortana now available for Android - http://www.pcworld.com/article/2995421/phones/microsoft-store-lists-lumia-950-as-teardown-offers-peak-at-950-xls-liquid-cooling.html

A history of Android market share - http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/10/25/a-history-of-android-market-share-how-googles-mobi.aspx

Google getting into the Android coding boot camp game - http://www.businessinsider.com/google-coding-bootcamp-for-android-developers-costs-13500-2015-10

Android Marshmallow – 9 killer features - http://www.alphr.com/google/1001796/android-marshmallow-9-killer-new-features

iPhone 6s screen can weigh objects! - http://www.techinsider.io/iphone-6s-3d-touch-scale-2015-10

Facebook app draining iPhone battery - http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/22/9600466/facebook-acknowledges-ios-battery-drain

Apple planning big design change for its next iPhone - http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-iphone-7-rumors-design-2015-10

Intel coming to iPhone 7? - http://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2015/10/19/tim-cook-iphone-intel-inside/

The BlackBerry Priv’s price tag is absurd - http://fortune.com/2015/10/22/blackberry-priv-absurd-pricing/

No news this week

Samsung and Oracle partnering - http://www.zdnet.com/article/move-over-apple-and-ibm-samsung-works-with-oracle-for-enterprise-mobile-watch-apps/

No news this week

Ubuntu celebrates 11^th birthday - http://liliputing.com/2015/10/ubuntu-celebrates-11th-birthday-looks-ahead-to-smartphonedesktop-convergence.html

No news this week

End of Weekly Mobile News Summary

John O'Donnell

http://www.twitter.com/jodonnel

Microsoft Lumia 640XL LTE launched in India - http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-lumia-640xl-lte-launched-in-india-at-rs-17399 - It will also get Windows 10 Mobile when it launches

Five reasons to buy the Lumia 950XL - http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaymcgregor/2015/10/17/5-reasons-to-buy-microsoft-the-lumia-950-xl/

Essential Apps for Windows Phone – I must really check out Hitman Go - https://recombu.com/mobile/article/best-windows-phone-apps

Here is why T-Mobile US is not carrying the new Windows Phones - http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/10/16/heres-why-t-mobile-us-inc-isnt-carrying-the-new-wi.aspx

Check out the camera innovations in the Lumia 950 and 950 XL - http://wmpoweruser.com/microsoft-finally-details-the-camera-innovations-in-lumia-950-and-lumia-950-xl/

More Windows 10 Mobile devices shown in Japan - http://winbeta.org/news/windows-10-mobile-devices-shown-off-japan

Google Play visual overhaul coming - http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/google-play-is-about-to-look-a-lot-nicer-on-your-android-devices-1307017

Google releases Marshmallow quick start guide - http://www.androidauthority.com/google-releases-marshmallow-quick-start-guide-649689/

LG gets marshmallow to their devices first - http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/15/lg-g4-marshmallow-update/

Intel trying to be a iPhone chip supplier? - http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/10/17/heres-how-intel-corp-can-win-the-apple-inc-iphone.aspx

How is Apple doing in China - http://fortune.com/2015/10/14/apple-china-iphone/

BlackBerry Priv smartpone - http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_priv_official_promo_video_goes_live-news-14525.php

BlackBerry may exit the BlackBerry handset market and instead build Android devices - http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/10/14/blackberrys-may-soon-be-a_n_8296052.html

No news this week

Samsung continues its Tizen push with the Z3 - https://www.whatech.com/mobile/reviews/101969-02-samsung-z3-another-push-for-the-tizen-os-with-an-affordable-5-inch-metal-smartphone

No news this week

Ubuntu phones will run any Linux application? - http://news.softpedia.com/news/ubuntu-phones-will-run-any-linux-application-on-top-of-unity-8-494496.shtml

No news this week

End of Weekly Mobile News Summary

John O'Donnell

http://www.twitter.com/jodonnel

Windows 10 Mobile review hands on - http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/mobile-phones/1403609/windows-10-mobile-review-hands-on

Lumia 520 at top worldwide - http://www.inferse.com/34914/nokia-lumia-520-popular-windows-phone-adduplex/
- More on this - https://www.thurrott.com/mobile/windows-phone/4869/windows-phone-usage-stats-for-july-2015

Changes to store listings and search algorithms - http://blogs.windows.com/buildingapps/2015/07/24/changes-to-store-listings-and-search-algorithms/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Lenovo less likely to make a Windows Phone - https://www.thurrott.com/mobile/4815/lenovo-less-likely-to-make-a-windows-phone-handset-now

Microsoft’s Cityman and Talkman phone rumors - http://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft-cityman-and-talkman-flagship-full-details

Minimum hardware requirements - https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/dn915086(v=vs.85).aspx#_#2.0_-_minimum_hardware_requirements_for_windows_10_mobile

Lumia 950 leaks show Microsoft could finally deliver an amazing phone - http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/lumia-950-leaks-show-microsoft-could-finally-deliver-an-amazing-phone-1299695

The Android model is failing - http://techspective.net/2015/07/24/the-android-model-is-failing/

Sony experiments with Android - http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2015/07/sony-experiments-with-a-more-stock-approach-to-android/

How Samsung plans to show up its Apple made competitor - http://www.inquisitr.com/2282338/iphone-7-how-samsung-plans-to-show-up-its-apple-made-competitor/

Check out Apples new iphone campaign - http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple-redefines-the-power-of-plain-language-in-new-iphone-campaign

Photos of iPhone 6s leak - http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-iphone-6s-photo-leaks-showing-screen-2015-7

Is Apple planning a solar powered iPhone - http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/is-apple-preparing-to-make-a-solar-powered-iphone

Apps:

Developer branches (ahem) out and creates Prune…literally a game about pruning trees  - http://www.theverge.com/2015/7/23/9016313/prune-iphone-ipad-game

Microsoft launches send email app for iPhone - http://www.informationweek.com/software/enterprise-applications/microsoft-launches-send-email-app-for-iphone/d/d-id/1321435

Will BlackBerry really kill their smartphone business if sales do not pick up - http://bgr.com/2015/07/24/blackberry-ceo-chen-interview-smartphones/

Why BlackBerry should sell itself to Samsung - http://www.fool.ca/blog/2015/07/23/why-blackberry-ltd-should-sell-itself-to-samsung-for-19-per-share/

No news this week

Samsung Z3 Tizen release date - http://vinereport.com/article/samsung.z3.tizen.release.date.specs.samsung.ready.to.launch.tizen.powered.z3.smartphone.but.limits.release.to.india.bangladesh.and.nepal/1883.htm

Launch markets for Tizen phones - http://www.mnrdaily.com/article/samsung.z3.tizen.release.date.specs.news.launch.markets.revealed.for.upcoming.tizen.powered.smartphone/1587.htm

Indian smartphone manufacturer Intex has licensed Sailfish - http://www.medianama.com/2015/07/223-intex-sailfishos-license/

Ubuntu still not consumer ready - http://www.engadget.com/2015/07/24/ubuntu-phone-review/

What if Nintendo produced a phone with Project Ara like capabilities such as swapping in hardware? - http://moviepilot.com/posts/2015/07/21/imagine-a-world-where-nintendo-made-smartphones-this-concept-designer-did-and-it-s-magical-3396507?lt_source=external,manual

Is Project Ara still alive? - http://www.techtree.com/content/features/9477/happened-googles-project-ara.html

End of Weekly Mobile News Summary

John O'Donnell

http://www.twitter.com/jodonnel

These are the droids you’re looking for…

Introduction

Update: Link to Pepper app store (apps in Japanese) - https://store.aldebaran.com/default/applications.html?pepper=1 

This last weekend Softbank launched their new Pepper robot in Japan and promptly sold the first 1000 in minutes. This robot designed by Aldebaran Robotics will let you interact with it using both speech and also your emotions. The robot will supposedly detect your emotion and react accordingly. Recent videos showing interaction with the robot shows its limited response range which surely will end in frustration if not corrected with software over time using the subscription service.

As well as being able to move around your building Pepper can also interact using its two arms and there is the problem. While impressive will these arms present problems in reliability? What happens when your child tries to grab one of the arms? Will the robot be able to survive when the grandkids get their hands on it?

Released only in Japan right now there are many unanswered questions around Pepper but with about 60 apps available at launch we will wait and see if the excitement remains once the robot gets in the hands of more consumers. Twelve months from now will pepper be taking an active part in buyer’s lives or will it be stored back in the box waiting for it to become the next collector’s item.

All this being said it is impressive to see such large investments into SoftBank so kudos to them for launching first.

Now we wait for the follow up reviews and Jibo to step into the limelight…err well it will not exactly step as Jibo can only rotate on its base

While the world went Pepper crazy this week a really cool story was that Wowee Robotics, maker of the hit MiP robot that every kid wanted last Christmas saw beyond their accounting department and included a hacker port! Surprising as how many people will actually use it compared to the number of units sold but huge Kudos to Wowee for doing this and also SparkFun for making it easy to patch into the port and create your own addons. In one case someone has added a RaspBerry Pi to the MiP so it can only be a matter a time before we see a MiP robot integrated with a RaspBerry Pi running Windows 10 Core.

Press event video from Pepper launch over the weekend - http://webcast.softbank.jp/en/press/20150618/index.html

1000 Pepper robots sell out in a minute on Saturday - http://www.cio.com/article/2938593/1000-pepper-robots-sell-out-in-a-minute-on-launch-day.html

Japanese snap up first thousand Pepper emotional robots in a minute - http://sputniknews.com/science/20150620/1023621815.html

Childlike robot that understands emotions set to go on sale in Japan - http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_28337520/childlike-robot-that-understands-emotions-set-go-sale

Why SoftBank’s Pepper could become the iPhone of robots - http://www.cio.com/article/2938153/why-softbanks-pepper-could-become-the-iphone-of-robots.html

The faces of Japan’s humanoid robots - http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2015/06/19/the-faces-of-japans-humanoid-robots/

SoftBanks adorable Pepper robot goes on sale this Saturday - http://www.engadget.com/2015/06/18/softbank-pepper-robot-on-sale/

SoftBank lands 236 million dollars from Alibaba and FoxConn to bring Pepper to the world - http://techcrunch.com/2015/06/18/alibaba-foxconn-softbank-and-pepper-walk-into-a-bar/#.3hok0n:uyVe

http://www.mi-sci.org/

Michigan science center opens new robot lab - http://www.dailyastorian.com/michigan-science-center-opening-new-exhibit-featuring-robots-da-ap-webfeeds-news-entertainment0d6edcdf9df9440fa04f11d4a63e7970

What happens when the family robot dog dies - http://www.techtimes.com/articles/62019/20150619/what-happens-when-the-family-robot-dog-dies.htm

Did you know your kids MiP robot was hackable? – Thank you to WowWee for seeing beyond the bottom line and adding a hacker port to the hugely successful MiP robot…now where did I put my Dremel J

Thank you also to Spark Fun for supplying the necessary bits to make this possible - https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/hacking-the-mip---proto-back

Check out the iRobot Create 2 for your own robotic exploration - http://www.irobot.com/About-iRobot/STEM/Create-2.aspx

More on the iRobot Create 2 - http://electronicdesign.com/blog/running-irobot-create-2

http://www.fetchrobotics.com raises 20 million dollars to help automate warehouses - http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/blog/techflash/2015/06/fetch-robotics-raises-20m-to-help-automate.html

http://www.cataliahealth.com/

Catalina Health raises 1.25 million dollars for its healthcare robot - http://www.techcroc.com/catalia-health-raises-1-25-million-khosla-ventures-healthcare-robot/

More on this robot - https://vimeo.com/130560599

The robotic journey will continue next week

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End of Weekly Mobile News Summary

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