Thurrott Daily: May 23

Tech tidibts from around the web.

5/23/2016 3:18:04 PM

With HoloLens, Microsoft aims to avoid Google’s mistakes

In other words, don’t let the dufus users walk around in the real world like leering pornographers? That’s quite the advance. Reuters tackles the big issues.

“They’re taking a more measured approach with HoloLens, and it’s the right strategy,” said [someone, who cares who]. “You don’t want to over hype it and get people very disappointed, and that’s what happened with Google Glass.”

The HoloLens traces its lineage to Kinect, an add-on for Microsoft’s Xbox gaming console that was introduced in 2010 … HoloLens enables users to control holograms through finger bends in a motion called the “air tap.” Kinect developer Alex Kipman and much of his team also led the creation of HoloLens.

“Over time, less expensive hardware would create a larger market,” he said, adding he expected the first consumer HoloLens to be priced under $1,500.

Eh.

“Apple targeted by patent troll because the iPhone can make calls”

The joke’s on the trolls. Wait until they find out the iPhone can’t in fact make calls.

Microsoft cracks down on ‘terrorism content’

Way to take a stand, guys. The BBC reports.

Microsoft has announced a new policy to remove “terrorist content” from its consumer-focused online services.

It said material endorsing a terrorist organisation or its acts, or that encouraged people to join such groups, would be banned.

The rule will apply to services such as Xbox Live and Outlook webmail.

But Microsoft said it wanted its search engine, Bing, to be “unbiased” and would not remove terror-related search results unless required to by law.

Apple offers to replace iPads with MacBooks in Maine State classrooms … at no additional cost

You just can’t make this stuff up. From the Lewiston-Auburn Sun Journal:

After hearing students and teachers overwhelmingly say iPad computers are used to play games in class, while laptops are better for schoolwork, Auburn and other districts are sending iPads packing and returning to laptops.

The Maine Department of Education and Apple are offering Maine schools a “Refresh” swap offer at no additional cost.

Laptops and iPads ordered in 2013 can be returned for new and improved Apple MacBook Air laptops, which cost less than the Apple laptops three years ago.

One teacher wrote in the survey that iPads “provide no educational function in the classroom. Students use them as toys. Word processing is near to impossible … I applaud this change.”

“The iPads are largely students’ gaming devices,” another teacher wrote. “The iPads are a disaster,” another said.

I expect to see a few of those quotes in the next Apple keynote. Maybe Tim Cook could mock them.

“Apple is behind Google when it comes to VR, but there could be a fix coming at WWDC”

Seriously, how far up Apple’s ass do you have to be to use that headline? Let me rewrite it: Apple has no VR solution, so it is behind everyone in VR.

Google’s new app helps anyone be a scientist

Even Christian Scientists(!) based on the source of this story:

With the new app Science Journal, Google wants to make everyone think like a scientist.

OK, enough kidding. Let’s go to the source.

The Science Journal app allows you to gather data from the world around you. It uses sensors to measure your environment, like light and sound, so you can graph your data, record your experiments, and organize your questions and ideas.

Try some themed activities, developed with the Exploratorium that use Science Journal, and peak your curiosity. Brainstorm, design, and build your own projects! Use Science Journal to guide the process of experimenting.

Each activity has new ideas to explore. In the activities, you’ll use sensors to create experiments and explore the world around you. Gather the materials yourself from around your house or school, or get a prepackaged kit.

Once you have finished one or more of the suggested activities, there’s no need to stop. Come up with your own questions and ideas to help build a foundation of learning to explore on your own.

This looks pretty interesting. Don’t hold your breath on a version for Windows phone.