Punch up your iOS 7 app's wow factor by using UIKit Dynamics

Your can improve the user experience of your iOS 7 apps by incorporating UIKit Dynamics features into your development work. Marcio Valenzuela warns: just don't overdo it.    UIKit Dynamics adds a new level of features to the overall user experience (UX) of iOS 7 apps. The API is, however, something to be used sparingly and only when needed; otherwise, you might get user complaints about the bounciness of a table view or the...

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Beware the perils of dealing with a 'nested cloud' solution

Mary Shacklett explores the risks of using a cloud provider that relies on a third-party cloud service.    Cloud will continue its expansion as an IT solution, propagating an ecosystem that could turn into a "cloud upon cloud" architecture. I call this "nested cloud," because every time you peel away one layer of cloud, you're likely to find another cloud layer nested under it. The best way to illustrate this is with an...

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Weigh security risk vs. productivity gain when using the FileThis billing service

FileThis is a cloud billing service that fills a hole in productivity, but it may also introduce a potential security vulnerability.   Image: iStock/maxkabakov FileThis, a cloud service that grabs and organizes account statements from hundreds of vendors, exited beta in February 2014 after two years in development. The service fills a hole in personal data mining; there is no standard file format for billing data, and the...

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10 industries 3D printing will disrupt or decimate

As it evolves, 3D printing technology is destined to transform almost every major industry and change the way we live, work, and play in the future.  The MakerBot factory is located in Brookyln, New York.  Image: Louis Seigal  For better or worse, the 3D printing industry is poised to transform nearly every sector of our lives and jumpstart the next industrial revolution. Sound like a hyperbole? We've compiled a list of...

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10 facts on 3D printing: Understanding tech's next big game-changer

As 3D printers are become more affordable and versatile, they are destined to disrupt multiple industries. Here's what you need to know about this quickly accelerating technology.   The MakerBot Replicator 2 enables users to make big objects, up to 410 cubic inches. It was released in 2012 and was designed for the desktop of an engineer, researcher, or creative professional.  Image: MakerBot  The world of 3D printing...

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Windows 8.1 gives malicious code the boot(s)

Windows 8.1 includes a variety of security controls designed to guard against malware compromise during the boot process.    The Windows operating system has a number of security controls, and most users have some sort of anti-malware security suite installed on their Windows PC -- but those things can’t protect you until the operating system is up and running. There are threats out there that can compromise a system during the...

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Apple's CarPlay will drive the future of car dashboards

Apple is taking over your dash, integrating iOS with big in-car nav screens via partnerships with a ton of carmakers and a new feature called CarPlay.  Apple is finally taking over your dash, integrating iOS with big in-car nav screens via partnerships with a boatload of carmakers and a new feature called CarPlay.  Credit Ferrari Introduced this week at the Geneva International Motor Show, CarPlay (née iOS in the Car)...

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New Google Glass app makes objects interactive in real time

A new app from Blippar brings real-time image recognition augmented reality to Google Glass users.  View while using Blipper Glass app and looking at an object.  Photo: Blippar Imagine walking down the street while wearing Google Glass and, as you pass a store, news of a sale at that retailer appears in your field of vision. Or, as you visit a tourist spot, Google Glass automatically displays a note left by a previous visitor....

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