Parks Associates Study on Why Amazon, Google and Roku updated Hardware beating Apple TV

“The market consolidation around these four brands forces new entrants to develop more creative features and functionality to tap into the strong consumer demand for streaming content. Devices with additional functionality such as the Intel Compute Stick may be a sign of things to come, where streaming is not the primary function but an extra feature to provide additional value.”

Parks Associates Director of Research Barbara Kraus commenting on the results of a study on Streaming in the US of A 

Nobody knows for sure what Apple has in store for us come Wednesday September 9^th 2015 despite my predictions in my Geezam blog article entitled “Apple Event on September 9th 2015 – AI Siri, iPhone 6S, Apple TV and Pro iPad”. 

One thing for sure, though, the Apple TV is in need of a serious hardware upgrade, having not gotten one for the past three (3) years as opined in the article “The next Apple TV: What to expect”, published August 31, 2015, CNET News.

This as they're now 4^th in terms of popularity according to market research firm Parks Associates as reported in the article “Study: Apple TV falls to 4th place behind Roku, Google and Amazon”, published August 23, 2015 By Mike Flacy, Digitaltrends.

What’s more, market research firm Parks Associates is predicting total sales of Streaming devices to reach 86 million by 2019.

This is based on their survey titled The Streaming Media Device Landscape Report published in the article “Amazon, Apple, Google, and Roku dominate streaming media device market with 86% of sales” covering the usage of Streaming devices in 2014.

So what exactly does their The Streaming Media Device Landscape Report say?

Parks Associates says Apple now 4^th in Streaming - Why Amazon, Google and Roku update Hardware beating Apple TV

According to their survey, the four (4) most popular Streaming devices in American households are in the order as follows:

1.      Roku

2.      Google

3.      Amazon

4.      Apple

Not surprising, as Roku has been touting sales of 10 million since September 2014 on their Roku blog as detailed in my blog article entitled “10 million Roku Streaming Devices sold - Roku still King of Streaming as Google, Amazon and Apple unable to beat Baked in Surprise”.

It was since then that Apple TV was in trouble, holding on to third place. This is clearly no longer the case as according to the graph from Parks Associates, Apple has slipped to fourth place.

What’s more, these four (4) account for 86% of all Streaming devices, be it on Streaming Set Top Box or Streaming Sticks sold in the US of A.

The Parks Associates article is sparse on words, as you have to purchase The Streaming Media Device Landscape Report but the following stats stand out readily:

1.      20% of U.S. broadband households own at least one Streaming Set Top Box

2.      8% own at least one Streaming stick

3.      2% own both a Set Top Box and a Streaming stick

Having purchased a Streaming Set Top Box or a Streaming stick isn't a big deal; it could be lying around your house in a drawer unused. So what are the usage numbers like?

Apple is Third in terms of actual usage - Apple Event may reveal upgraded Apple TV

Usage numbers are the real stats gold mine and for that The Streaming Media Device Landscape Report has us covered:

1.      37% of households actively use their Roku Streaming device

2.      19% of households actively use their Google Chromecast

3.      17% of households actively use their Apple TV

4.      14% of households actively use their Amazon Fire TV

So Apple definately has to come with the goods such as a Processor and Memory upgrade, a TV subscription service, 4K Support and integration into Apple Homekit Ecosystem as opined in my MICO Wars Blog article entitled “How Apple Magic Mouse and the Wireless Keyboard are being upgraded”.  

Can't wait until 10am PST on Wednesday September 9^th 2015 when Apple will lay their cards on the table and all will be revealed at the San Francisco’s Bill Graham Civic Auditorium!

Here's the link:

The Streaming Media Device Landscape Report

Amazon, Apple, Google, and Roku dominate streaming media device market with 86% of sales

Parks Associates

NSWMA's E-Waste Collection Pilot Project - Why End-of-life Policy for E-Waste Collection needed in Jamaica

Jamaicans are slowly getting hip to the idea of recycling E-Waste (Electronics Waste).

This as the NSWMA (National Solid Waste Management) has declare that the six (6) month Electronic Waste (E-Waste) pilot project was a success as reported in the article “NSWMA Reports Positive Results From E-Waste Pilot”, Published Monday August 31, 2015, The Jamaica Gleaner. 

The E-Waste Collection Pilot Project, which began in May 2015 as explained in my blog article entitled “NSWMA e-Waste Collection Initiative – Telecom Providers, Jamaica's E-Waste Problem and Starting Electronics Manufacturing Industry”, is slated to come to an end on Sunday, September 27^th, 2015.

Based on the results thus far, the NSWMA Collection Team will compile the results from the E-Waste Collection Initiative as noted by Community relations manager at the NSWMA, Shauna Guthrie. This data will be used by the Ministry of Local Government to make a decision as how best to expand this project islandwide to collect E-Waste all across Jamaica!!

Dear reader, a quick recap of what the E-Waste Collection Pilot Project was all about is necessary at this point!

NSWMA's E-Waste Collection Pilot Project - Ending in September may mark a new chapter in E-Waste Collection in Jamaica

The pilot initiative was aimed at getting Jamaicans into the habit of recycling E-Waste such as:

1.      CPUs

2.      Mobile phones

3.      Printers

4.      Monitors

5.      Laptops

6.      Keyboards

7.      Computer mouse

8.      Chargers

9.      Cables

E-Waste collected exposed to a very strong oscillating magnetic fields so as to depolarize any storage media and thus permanently erase any data stored on Flash drives, Hard Drives, SD Cards and Floppy discs.

The E-Waste Collection Pilot Project wasn't aimed at of the communities in Kingston and St. Catherine, but mainly at the following communities:

1.      Duhaney Park

2.      Patrick City

3.      Harbour View in St. Andrew

4.      Hellshire in Portmore, St. Catherine

5.      Angels 1, 2 in Portmore, St. Catherine

6.      Angels Grove in Portmore, St. Catherine

Persons outside of these areas can participate by dropping off their E-Waste at the following locations:

1.      NSWMA head office, 61A Half-Way Tree Road in Kingston;

2.      Dermason Plaza, in Independence City, Portmore

3.      King Street in Spanish Town (next to the fire station)

The data collected will help the NSWMA to decide the best way to scale up the collection, storage, and monetization of the Electronics they receive from the participant in the Project.

It'll also be used by the Ministry of Local Government, which controls the NSWMA, to guide the creation of a Law regulating the proper disposal of E-Waste generated by Telecom Providers, manufacturers and MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise) in Jamaica!

More on this when the NSWMA’s E-Waste Collection Pilot Project goes islandwide!

MSBM Mobile App make UWI Orientation Easier - How the MSMB may be Developing Research and Business Apps

“In order to continue to deliver an exceptional teaching and learning experience to our students, MSBM has provided a solution that will meet the information needs of its students in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. Our mobile App will provide the students with real-time information on developments in the school and will allow our students to always be in the know. It is the first of its kind anywhere in the university system in Jamaica”

Executive Director of MSBM, Professor Densil Williams, commenting on the MSBM launch of the MSBM Mobile App

UWI (University of the West Indies), it seems, is finally stepping into the 21^st Century as it relates to the use of smartphones for more than just games.

The MSBM (Mona School of Business Management) recently introduced a mobile App called MSBM Mobile for Tablets and smartphones as part of the start of the orientation process at the UWI as reported in the article “Mona School Of Business Launches Mobile App”, published Monday August 31, 2015, The Jamaica Gleaner.

Uploaded on Thursday June 4^th 2015, the App, dubbed MSBM Mobile, also packs in their orientation video to help students register seamlessly for their classes since Monday August 24^th 2014. 

As anyone who's been through the UWI knows, finding things on that gigantic campus is like travelling across the Sahara Desert. The UWI website is no less helpful and can be as difficult as finding as needle in a haystack.

Available only on the Google Play Store, it's also a lot more convenient than the website, as most student by now either have a smartphone or Tablet and can access the Internet via UWI's free Wi-Fi Internet.

The MSBM Mobile App, which is based on the Kurogo Open Source Platform, was developed by the MSBM in conjunction with the Computer Science Department.

This is the same Department that was behind the updating of Google Transit on Google Maps to include JUTC routes as reported in my blog article entitled “JUTC Google Transit from UWI Computer Science Department - Why Google Maps is the next step towards an AVL”.

So how does the MSBM Mobile App help to make a UWI student's orientation that much easier?

MSBM Mobile App - How a UWI Orientation App makes UWI like Dora the Explorer

It does so by making everything super-easy to find!

The interface for the MSBM Mobile App is very linear and intuitive, with the following options in the menu section:

1.      Courses

2.      Booking

3.      Directory

4.      News

5.      Calendar

6.      Dining

7.      Social

8.      Map

The built-in GPS tells you exactly where you are on the Mona Campus and what's closest to you. You can also search the MSBM Mobile App in order to find information and have it displayed on a map of the campus.

New Students to the UWI and more specifically the MSBM can easily parse the Menu options within the MSBM Mobile App and find the following information:

1.      Class schedules

2.      Faculty and staff directory

3.      Events

4.      Campus News

5.      Reservations/scheduling for study spaces

6.      Videos/photos

7.      Social media

8.      Maps of the Campus

9.      Dining options on Campus

So with so many things done right, save for a little lag in the interface, what does this mean for the MSBM and App development on the UWI?

MSBM Mobile App – Why MSMB may be Developing Research and Business Apps

Personally the only problem I have with this App is that you cannot complete your registration via the App, which is still a problem for most UWI students. Also, it's only available for Google Android users; Apple peeps have been shafted yet again!!!

Still, anything to make navigating the harsh realm of the University of the West Indies easier is always welcome. It's also an initiative that other Universities such as the MICO University College, could do to help students complete their orientation on time.

But more interestingly, is this the start of a UWI Developer push, where every month we'll hear of another App being developed by the Computer Science Department in collaboration with other Faculties and Department on the UWI Campus? 

Possibly Apps for Research, Data Capture, Gaming and even Business App in partnership with a certain Telecom Provider?

Only time will tell if my sources are spot on...but this is definately now on my watchlist!!

MSBM Mobile App in the Google Play Store

MSBM Website

Kurogo Open Source Platform

Email: msbm.mobile@gmail.com

   

Instagram nixes Square format for Video and Images - Why Bulk Uploading for Advertisers coming by Black Friday

Great news for all you Instagrammers out there!!! Instagram has decided it's not cool to be a square!

As of Thursday August 27^th 2015, Instagram has relaxed their rule on photo uploads being in a square format as reported in the article “Instagram images no longer all square”, published 28 August 2015, BBC News.

They declared their love for change in an Instagram blog post aptly entitled “Thinking Outside the Square: Support for Landscape and Portrait Formats on Instagram”.

Many users who live on Instagram can rejoice, as they no longer need to use third-party apps such as InstaFit to crop or adjust their photos to Instagram’s square golden rule as noted in the article “Instagram Goes Rectangular”, published 27 August 2015 by Cat ZakrZeweski, Wall Street Journal.

This change not only applies to images but to videos as well, which will no longer need to be clipped at the ends, but shown in all their glory, be it 4:3, 16:9 or 21:9 aspect ratio as noted in “Instagram Isn't Only Square Photos Anymore”, published 8/27/15 by Alissa Walker, Gizmodo. 

This doesn’t mean the clean feel of your Instagram feed will be disrupted; you' still see previews of your images in the usual centered square format. The difference will be noticeable when you click on the images and it expands into its original uploaded format.

Now you can upload photos in either Portrait or landscape modes, a win for many who've complained over the years over this rather silly restriction on creative freedom. Or is it more a case of appealing to advertisers and the potential of increased commerce by Christmas?

Instagram changes Square format for Video and Images - How Instagram's change pleases advertisers and users alike

Alas, it's really about commerce.

Advertisers are interested in throwing more money at Facebook owned Instagram to do advertising as per a previous Instagram blog post in June 2015 entitled 

 “The Next Steps for Ads on Instagram: New Formats, Increased Relevance, Broader Availability”

Makes sense, being as they're clocking some 300 million Active Monthly users back in December 2014 as reported in my blog article entitled “Instagram's 300 Million Active Monthly Users – Teenagers and Millennials Selfie Trend boosts Facebook's Advertising Revenue while Chasing Pinterest and Tumblr”.

The pressure to please advertisers must have been very hard to resist. Still, I'm glad that this'll be benefitting both advertisers and users alike albeit I'm far from being pleased. 

Instagram still has no API that allows you to upload pictures in bulk either from your smartphone or on your desktop. My gut feeling tells me that this is what this change from being a square is really all about!

Instagram and Bulk Image and Video Uploading - Why pleasing Advertisers by Black Friday means Bulk Uploading is coming

Personally, dear reader, I think Instagram plans to introduce bulk Uploading by Black Friday in November 2015, just in time for Christmas!

Back in March 2015, a young developer named Caleb Benn had developed a US$4.99 App called Uploader for Instagram.

This App allows Apple Mac users to upload images from their Apple Mac desktop to their Instagram account without having to install BlueStacks as noted in the article “Post photos from your Mac with Uploader for Instagram”, published March 23, 2015 by Matt Elliott, CNET News.

However, Instagram wasn't having any of that and by April 2015 declared that his company, Anobot LLC, had to remove the App as making modifications to their API was illegal.

Good thing he's stayed under the radar, making his app available only to Apple Mac users via their Mac App Store; he’s already made US$6000 before he was asked to shut it down as reported in the article Teen rakes in $6,000 on “Uploader for Instagram app, told to shut down [Updated]”, published Apr 4, 2015 by Cyrus Farivar, Ars Technica.

Since then I've not heard of a replacement for the Uploader for Instagram from Instagram. Even stranger is that fact that copycat Apps such as Up – Uploader for Instagram have appeared on the Mac App Store!

But with advertisers possibly wanting to use Instagram as a storefront, requiring the bulk uploading of images, an API for a Bulk Image and Video Upload must be in the works.

Instagram Change a precursor to Bulk Uploading – Get Ready for Instagram Shopping

This change from square to anything-goes uploading may actually be a necessary precursor to test out how advertisers and users react before rolling out bulk uploading built into Instagram straight from your Apple Mac, Windows phone or Camera roll on your smartphone.

I personally think this’ll occur and I’ve already added “Instagram” to my Google alerts as explained in my Geezam blog article entitled “Google Alerts Diamond in the Rough coming to Google+ to deliver Technology News”.

I suspect Instagram Shopping online, possibly structured similarly to Pinterest’s Buy Buttons and “Buyable Pins” for advertisers as described in my blog article entitled “Pinterest launches Buy Button - Why @Pinterest “Buyable Pins” will work thanks to Confessions of a Shopaholic” may be coming by November 2015, just in time for Black Friday and the Christmas Holiday!!

Here’s the link:

Thinking Outside the Square: Support for Landscape and Portrait Formats on Instagram

The Next Steps for Ads on Instagram: New Formats, Increased Relevance, Broader Availability 

@evleaks says Blackberry Venice running Android is coming - Why a switch to Google Android will not improve Blackberry Sales

There are rumours abroad that suggest that Blackberry may debut an Android smartphone as reported in the article “BlackBerry Venice phone, running Android, said to arrive in November”, published August 19, 2015 by Lance Whitney, CNET News. 

This is based on a post on the twitter account of reliable leaker Evan Blass, aka @evleaks, on Wednesday August 19^th 2015:

BlackBerry Venice confirmed for November release on all four national US carriers.

href="http://t.co/l5jFCGKLjO">pic.twitter.com/l5jFCGKLjO

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 19, 2015

His tweet shows rendering of the Android smartphone, codenamed Venice, running Google Android 5.0 Lollipop.  He also posted Tweets with videos that purported to show a Blackberry running Google Android:

Eye candy. pic.twitter.com/GtJwOfOus8

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 19, 2015

.@halfnibble More of an "Android Maya job," innit? pic.twitter.com/4Fhll0Bfv0

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 19,  2015

So is @evleaks telling the truth? Or is this just Social Media hocus pocus?

Evaluating the @evleaks posts - Blackberry codenamed Venice might be a new Blackberry

Considering that Google Android 6.0 Marshmallow is set to launch sometime in September 2015 as predicted in my blog article entitled “Google Android M is Marshmallow - Why LG, Motorola, HTC, Xiaomi might switch to Samsung Pay in AI Awakening in 2016”, this information is a little dated.

This Venice device looks a lot like the Blackberry Passport that had launched on AT&T Network in February 2015 as reported in my blog article entitled “US$649.99 Blackberry Passport and US$419.99 Blackberry Classic - Why Americans are ready to fall in love with Blackberry”  .

Even the specs are similar albeit slightly bigger than those of the Blackberry Passport as listed in my blog article entitled “US$599 Blackberry Passport Launched - How Blackberry Blend Remote Access may trump Apple Pay Wallet in the US of A”. 

1.      Google Android 5.0 Lollipop

2.      5.4" screen

3.      2,560x1,440 pixel resolution QHD LCD screen

4.      3GB of RAM

So this may be evidence of a new Blackberry and it possibly might be running Google Android.  Is there any other  evidence that Blackberry has turned to the Dark side....er..I mean switched to Google Android?

Unfortunately yes!

Blackberry Passport spotted running Android - Why a switch to Google Android will not improve Blackberry Sales

In fact, there is even a video, released on Monday August 24^th 2015 showing  Google Android 5.0 Lollipop running on a Blackberry Passport as reported in the article “BlackBerry Passport shown running Android in new video”, published August 24, 2015 By Chris Welch, The Verge.

This recent video as well as the @evleaks suggests Google Play will be the App Store used by this alleged device, implying that Blackberry may be augmenting it with their own app store. Blackberry Hub will also be on the new device, making viewing of your emails text messages and Social Media ports on any device possible.   

Content Transfer will also be available on the new device, making this still a comfortable transition for lovers of Blackberry who had defected to Google Android.

Based on the appearance of the renderings in the @evleaks photo which may have been from a presentation, it would appear that the Blackberry Venice will have the same look and feel of a typical Blackberry Smartphone.

However, it would have Google Android 5.0 Lollipop  as the underlying OS, with a Blackberry themed skin as pointed out in the article “New BlackBerry Venice leak hints that BlackBerry 10 could be used as an Android skin”, published Aug 22 2015 by Alan F., PhoneArena.

So it’s possible that Blackberry may indeed by planning a Blackberry Android smartphone, especially as they've not released any new smartphones since the Blackberry Classic back in December 2014 as pointed out in the article “BlackBerry's Android device one step closer to reality”, published AUGUST 21, 2015 by  Jason Cipriani, Fortune.

So where do I personally stand as it relates to the possibility of a Blackberry powered by Google Android?

Bad decision by Blackberry - Android has Fragmentation and Security problems during Global smartphone slowdown

I'm not in support of this change of OS, as Blackberry seems to be selling itself short by succumbing of popularity of Android.

Especially given Android’s current security problems such as StageFright and Certifi-Gate as explained in my blog article entitled “Check Point Software Technologies discover Certifi-gate – How to Control an Android Lollipop smartphone and Why fragmentation is at fault”.

Yes, Android is winning in terms of global sales overall, according to the stats from IDC in the article “Here's why the iPhone isn't going to catch up to Android any time soon”, published Aug. 26, 2015, by Rob Price, Business Insider UK. 

But their popularity is also resulting in severe fragmentation of their OS, with millions of devices running different versions of Google Android.  Not to mention Global smartphone sales are slowing down due to most markets being saturated with smartphones, possibly except for India, the Middle East, Russia and North Korea!

This is due to competition among OEM (Original Equiptment Manufacturers) and an unwillingness among customers to upgrade to a new device on a yearly update cycle as pointed out in my Geezam blog article entitled “Why Android Fragmentation Worsens as Apple iOS 8 adoption almost complete”.

Focus should be on launching more smartphones in India, China and other regions where smartphone penetration and growth potential exist. The use of a lower security OS just because the consumer market loves an OS made popular by the OEM's usage of Google's free OS is not good decision.

I fear that this will not produce the desired result, as smartphone sales are slowing down globally indicates bearish times for Google Android.

New York Bans Palcohol - Why Powdered Alcohol will be abused by underage College Students

“This dangerous product is a public health disaster waiting to happen. I am proud to sign this legislation that will keep powdered alcohol off the shelves and out of the wrong hands.”

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo commenting while signing legislation banning the sale of Palcohol, a powdered alcohol product

Looks like Alcohol will be getting no love from at least twenty (20) States in the USA.

This as the State of New York has joined in the ban of Palcohol, the powdered alcohol as reported in the article “New York Bans Sale Of Powdered Alcohol, Joins 20 Other States”, published August 17 2015 By Guneet Bhatia, International Business Times. 

The crystalline powdered alcohol product has not found favour with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

This despite the stamp of approval given by the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau on Palcohol back in March 2015 as reported in my blog article entitled “Palcohol officially approved by TTB - Why Children will Abuse as US States and Countries ban this @Palcoholic product”.

That list of states in the POWDERED ALCOHOL 2015 LEGISLATION is as follows:

1.      Alabama

2.      Alaska

3.      Connecticut

4.      Georgia

5.      Indiana

6.      Kansas

7.      Louisiana

8.      Maine

9.      Nebraska

10.  Nevada

11.  North Carolina

12.  North Dakota

13.  Ohio

14.  Oregon

15.  South Carolina

16.  Tennessee

17.  Utah

18.  Vermont

19.  Virginia

20.  Washington

New York joins this list along with Maryland and Minnesota who've had temporary bans in place since July 2015. So why does the US Local Government hate Palcohol?

New York Bans Palcohol - Why Powdered Alcohol will be abused by underage College Students

The reason may be that Palcohol is easily available to persons under the legal age for drinking, which in the US of A is 21. With so many colleges in the state and the start of School on the horizon, the Governor is probably keen to prevent the product from falling into the wrong hands, especially as it's not alcohol and thus can be sold outside of a bar setting.

To quote New York Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz on Friday August 14^th 2015: “Powdered alcohol is a product with no legitimate reason for being. Kids can stash Palcohol in their pocket when they leave the house for a party, and their parents would never know the difference”.

Then there is the dangerous nature of this product as explained in the article “Yes, powdered alcohol is real. It’s already banned in New York and at least 20 other states”, published August 15 2015 By Abby Phillip, The Washington Post.

Palcohol, which is being marketed by Lipsmark, an Arizona-based company, is sold in a variety of flavours:

1.      Cosmopolitan

2.      Powderita (a margarita flavor)

3.      Rum

4.      Vodka

If mixed in inappropriate concentrations, it can cause severe intoxication. Worse, some persons have found ways of ingesting Palcohol via snorting, like cocaine.

Some College seniors have even found faster ways to get drunk via pouring it down their asses, which is called butt-chugging.

Inventor of the Palcohol, Mark Phillips, is now facing an uphill battle to have these various bans reversed, claiming that the point of powdered alcohol is convenience and that it's safer than bottled alcohol or beers, quote:  “Palcohol is not some super concentrated version of alcohol. It's simply one shot of alcohol in powdered form. When I hike, kayak, backpack whatever. I like to have a drink when I reach my destination. Carrying liquid alcohol and mixers in bottles to make a margarita, for example, was totally impractical”.

So will he succeed? Or will Senator Joseph Griffo succeed in having a ban placed on the product, possibly labeling it a drug like crack or cocaine?

On paper it's a great idea, but it's just too easy to abuse something that so portable that's already illegal for the under-21 crowd.

Here’s the link:

Palcohol Website

Palcohol Twitter Feed: @Palcoholic

Palcohol Facebook Page

Palcohol YouTube Channel   

Google Android M is Marshmallow - Why LG, Motorola, HTC, Xiaomi might switch to Samsung Pay in AI Awakening in 2016

It's official!!!

The New name for Google's latest iteration of Android is Marshmallow as introduced on Monday August 17^th 2015 as reported in the article “M is for Marshmallow: Google names its next Android update”, published August 17, 2015 by Richard Nieva, CNET News.

Google Android M was introduced at Google I/O 2015 under a shroud of secrecy as noted in my Geezam blog article entitled “Google IO 2015 - Google Android VR coming as Android Wear turns it up a Notch”.

The tradition that Google started of naming each iteration after an American snack food continues with Marshmallow, an American Campfire favourite. The video below gives you a peek into the Google Tradition of making and placing a giant statue on the lawn of the Google Campus whenever a new version of Android is launched.

Android 6.0 will see some new and exciting features from Google, now restructured under the umbrella company Alphabet as explained in my blog article entitled “@Google Inc is now Alphabet Inc – Why an Alphabet Soup of Business Structure means better Engineering Project Success”.

These features will be coming with the next generation of smartphones from OEM (Original Equiptment Manufacturers) across the world.

So what exactly are these features? How will Google deal with the issue of fragmentation, which seems to be getting worse as noted in my Geezam blog article entitled “Why Android Fragmentation Worsens as Apple iOS 8 adoption almost complete”.

And will Google address the StageFright and Certifi-Gate vulnerabilities as described in my blog article entitled “Check Point Software Technologies discover Certifi-gate – How to Control a Android Lollipop smartphone and Why fragmentation is at fault” that threaten almost 90% of smartphones worldwide?

Google Android M is Marshmallow - Android Pay coming to challenge Apple Pay and Samsung Pay

As expected, there will be several key updates as I'd detailed in my Geezam blog article entitled “Google IO 2015 - Google Android VR coming as Android Wear turns it up a Notch”.

 

Google Android 6.0 certain has some big shoes to fill as noted in “Android 6.0 Marshmallow is official and coming later this year”, published May 28, 2015 by CNET News.

Android Pay is the much-anticipated successor to Google Wallet that's expected to challenge Apple Pay, Apple's payment wallet which has already expanded to Britain as noted in my blog article entitled “250,000 merchants in Britain accept Apple Pay - Why Bitcoin is more secure as Eight banks except HSBC and Lloyds on the Bandwagon”.

It's expected to work with some 700,000 stores in the US of A such as like Walgreens, Macy's and Best Buy.

But I've not heard any word about Android Pay expanding outside of the US of A albeit Google Android Twitter account says it's coming soon as reported in the article “Android Pay: The payment platform be coming shortly as confirmed on official

Android Twitter account”, published August 28 2015 by Staff Writer, Venture Capital Post.

Looking forward to #AndroidPay? Stay

tuned. #soon

— Android (@Android) August 26, 2015

But even though they're late to the game, the lower cost of a Google Android smartphone, the proliferation of NFC (Near Field Communication) compatible POS (Point of Sale) terminals are huge advantages.

Not only that, but the potential to do transactions using your Paypal account or even Bitcoin Account at launch means that Google will easily overtake Apple Pay as predicted in “Google's Android Pay May Be First Mobile Wallet Consumers Actually Use (Sorry, Apple Pay)”, published August 28 2015 By Mike Brown, International Business Times.

But another possibility exists; Samsung might form an alliance with OEMs, presenting Samsung Pay as an alternative to Google Pay.

Samsung Launching Samsung Pay - Why OEM might jump ship as Samsung Pay works with older Magnetic Strip Readers

Interestingly, Samsung has also launched their version of a digital Wallet called Samsung Pay during the Samsung Unpacked Event on Thursday August 13^th 2015 in New York as noted in my Geezam blog article entitled “How Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus Keyboard Cover Nostalgia wins Applause”.

So clearly there other OEM i.e. Motorola, HTC, Xiaomi and all of their kind who'll be rolling out Google Android 6.0 Marshmallow will be using Google Pay.

Unless they plan to announce their own partnership with other third-party Wallets during the IFA Trade Show in Berlin, Germany starting Friday September 4^th 2015 as reported in my blog article entitled “Samsung Galaxy Gear S2 images in LookBook - How to sell a Wearable using Fashion, Style and beat Apple Watch” or decided to side with Samsung Pay or possibly even Apple Pay.

Folks, despite Apple pay being on the Apple iPhone 6 and the Apple iPhone 6 Plus, it's possible that Apple may announce the coming of Apple Pay to Android come Wednesday September 9^th 2015 as reported in my Geezam blog article entitled “Apple Event on September 9th 2015 – AI Siri, iPhone 6S, Apple TV and Pro iPad”.

But Samsung Pay, with its ability to work with older MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) as described in my Geezam blog article entitled “Samsung Pay supports NFC, MST with KNOX Security for Merchants and Banks” means many smartphone makers might defect over to Samsung or even Apple Pay.....should the chance present itself.

Google Now is Google on Tap - Why Google Android 6.0 may mark AI awakening by 2016

Google Now, your Siri-esque Voice assistant, will now be called Google on Tap.

Just press and hold down the home button on your Nexus smartphone, which is allegedly to be made by LG as noted in the article “Purported image of Google's next Nexus handset leaks online”, published August 17, 2015 by Don Reisinger, CNET News.

The Google Nexus is intended to be Google's flagship phone running pure Google Android 6.0 Marshmallow and will also be packing Google Fi, Google’s MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) as described in my blog article entitled “Google's Project Fi Network – How @Google Fi's @Sprint and @TMobile MVNO will force @ATT and @Verizon to join their VoLTE Forces”.

Google on Tap allows the user to get useful information based on your previous acuity on your smartphone and even your travels based on your GPS and accelerometer.

It can choose your songs for you, select a good restaurant nearby based on what restaurants your contacts have visited and even show you the closest gas stations and alert you of congested roads ahead.

It may even potentially answer Voice Mails, even converting them to IM (Instant Messages similar to a planned Siri Voice Assistant Apple is going to roll out in 2016 for iOS 10 as predicted in my blog article entitled “Apple's Siri Voice Assistant to answer Calls in 2016 - How @IBM's Watson may power Siri AI in Corporate and Enterprise Cloud Heaven”. 

Folks, this is the closest you’ll get to artificial intelligence on your smartphone.

Combined with smoother transition between apps and compatibility with USB type-C as noted in “Android 6.0 Marshmallow is official and coming later this year”, published May 28, 2015 by CNET News, Google Android 6.0 Marshmallow will be a delight to Developer who already have it to play around.

Google Pay after Apple Launch – Just in time for Black Friday and Christmas

Google's expected to launch Android 6.0 Marshmallow as well as the New Nexus smartphone later in September 2015.

This might be possibly a week after Apple's iPhone 6 event on Wednesday September 9t 2015 as explained in my Geezam blog article entitled “Apple Event on September 9th 2015 – AI Siri, iPhone 6S, Apple TV and Pro iPad”.

This so that they can catch smartphone purchasers who may opt to use Google Pay during the Black Friday Sales just in time for the Christmas shopping season!

Google Pay security features and lightning fast processing will make it easy for Christmas shoppers to literally wave their smartphones and pay for what they purchased.

Jamaica running out of Burial Space - How to recycle the Dead as land for Agriculture and Housing

I thought this day would never come; Jamaica is running out of land to bury dead people.  

So says the Chairman of the Council and Mayor of Spanish Town Norman Scott has announced plans to spend some JA$17 million to expand the Church Pen Public Cemetery in Old Harbour as reported in the article “St Catherine Parish Council Working To Address Burial Space Shortage”, published Thursday August 27, 2015, The Jamaica Gleaner.

Most of the cemeteries in Spanish Town had reached their capacity. To that end, the St Catherine Parish Council has decided to secure more land to deal with the shortage of space in cemeteries.

This plan came to light while he and Local Government Minister Noel Arscott toured a new ten (10) acre plot of land that was to extend the Church Pen Public Cemetery in Old Harbour.

The ten (10) acre was part of phase one of the expansion of the Cemetery, with an additionally five (25) acres of land to be utilized in the future as part of a second phase to expand the cemetery.

Plans for this land include a chapel, a crematorium and an area to bury infants.

But aside from the sticker shock that I got from the price of this expansion, was another shocker; Local Government Minister Noel Arscott plans to expand this concept to the rest of Jamaica’s cemeteries, as they too are facing overcrowding by the dead.

Isn't there another way to dispose of the dead than using land?

Jamaica running out or Burial Space - Jamaican Religious culture to blame

This islandwide shortage of burial land isn't a new problem, as it's been quietly reported in the Gleaner since November 2014 as reported in the article “Jamaica Running Out Of Public Burial Space”, published Tuesday November 11, 2014 by Jodi-Ann Gilpin, Gleaner Writer, The Jamaica Gleaner.

Part of the problem has to do with Jamaica's religious culture; we're mostly Protestant Christians, who've inherited a religion from our slave masters. This religion specifies that in order to go to heaven, you have to be buried in a Church, Family or Public Cemetery, with an elaborate ritual whose opulence is said to indicate the level of importance you had while alive.

The more persons that come to your funeral and the level of people that come to your funeral, the more important you were. This too is reflected in the type of casket you’re buried in, the funeral home your family can afford and even the Church that'll do the last rites.

But couldn't all this be avoided by recycling humans being?

Recycling the Dead Jamaican - How to recycle the dead via Cremations, Organ Transplants to Green Burials

After all, humans are nothing more than organic based machines that have parts that work together, moved by the laws of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

Why not just simply pass a law to cremate all remains of all Jamaicans instead as argued by NEPA (National Environment and Planning Agency) in May 2015 in the article “Consider Cremation As An Alternative To Burying- NEPA”, published Thursday April 2, 2015 by Jodi-Ann Gilpin, The Jamaica Gleaner?

That is, after they harvest healthy organs and blood from the persons before they died to be used in medical procedure to save the lives of many Jamaicans needing certain organs.

You could still have the expensive funeral, but minus the burial. Better yet, by mandating that all burials be green burials, i.e. buried without being chemical treated.

The human remains would naturally rot and be converted by the elements back to the soil, allowing the land to be later re-used for housing or agriculture as argued by owner of House of Tranquillity Funeral Homes, Joseph Cornwall as explained in the article “Make Green Burials Mandatory, Urges Funeral Home Operator”, published Monday June 22, 2015, The Jamaica Gleaner.

The relatives or spouse of the dead could keep the remains or have them buried under a tree, benefitting the environment as their burnt remains are rich in phosphorus and carbon, which is great for growing plants. They can even have a burial at sea, with the relatives of the deceased scattered to the winds benefitting plants and animals.

Expanding Cemeteries is bad – Jamaica needs land for Agriculture and Housing

Expanding cemeteries runs counter to the logic of the Ministry of Agriculture as well as the Ministry of Land and Housing, which need more land to grow more food for Jamaica's ever increasing population.

But my idea and the ideas of NEPA and owner of House of Tranquility Funeral Homes, Joseph Cornwall will face an uphill struggle against a cultured deeply rooted in a religious rite that has largely been the result of Slavery and then the subsequent Colonialism.

Otherwise for the sake of the dead, we'll run out of land space to grow enough food, ironic as we already import most of the food that we eat as opined in my blog article entitled “Jamaica's Basic Item Food Bill mostly from 1st World Countries - Buy Jamaican Build Jamaica made from Imported Raw Materials in containers that says Made in Jamaica”.

If this continues, we may be unable to import food due to the world population ballooning to  billion by 2030 and then 11.2 billion by 2011 as explained in my blog article entitled “United Nations Population Division says 11.2 billion people by 2100 - Why Africa and India Population exploding as Insect Meat is coming”. 

Without land, we won’t be able to house the expected population of 4 million who'll be living on this little island by 2030, also another crisis that’s slowly coming to a boil on Jamaica Land we Love.