Apple Maps, uneventful due to internal problems

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iOS 8 has many interesting developments, perhaps one of the most anticipated was Maps, however, nothing has changed since iOS7. Besides the new APIs and some developments in China, Maps in iOS 8 are the same as always. Why?, if it is precisely the aspect of iOS that has received more criticism from the user community.

Not to be pessimistic with improvements to the maps, but Apple could do it better

Apparently, Cupertino had planned to present improvements, but a series of unfortunate coincidences have finally decided not to present anything. Many developers left the company, the related projects were planned poorly and developers who remained had to be changing too often project. Says one source in TechCrunch.

See if purchase of the Spotsetter App, help change that and we can see all the latest in fall.

Final Cut Pro X and Proxy editing files

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Edit HD video is not limited to the last Mac with powerful processors and lots of RAM. Do it on older computers is possible. We just need to know how to harness its power and how to work more optimally. 

Any starting with video editing should know what video formats are the best to work with the selected application. In OS X, despite the criticism, one of the best options is Final Cut Pro X. The Apple's professional video editor allows us to make all kinds of issues and its price makes it one of the most attractive solutions.

When FCPX was presented watched how the number of video formats expanded. It was possible to edit AVCHD files imported from different cameras without resorting to converters. Of course is still more advisable to transcode ProRes since editing is more efficient. The "only" problem of working in ProRes is that the file size increases. A video 200MB happens to occupy 1GB approximately.


There are computers that can not handle this task, to solve it we have the option to edit using proxy files. A proxy file is a copy of our original material that the system creates and you will have a lower resolution than the original. Exactly 1/4 of the clip resolution. This helps the computer manage a lighter gross, so editing is facilitated file.

One example. Edit 4K on a MacBook Air is an impossible task. If we work with proxy files will conduct an issue with 1080p files, something the Mac can move with greater ease. Then once finished editing, when export is done using the files at full resolution. The proxy only serve as a reference and to facilitate editing. 

Editing in mobility

As you see, make use of the Proxy editing in FCPX not only allow us to do with our less powerful computers or even as a way to stretch the life of our Mac. Also provides us the ability to edit in mobility. That is, we can work on our Mac Pro or iMac with the original files and high resolution, but if we need to start while we are traveling, or want to continue at home on laptop we can too.

So we go to use the Proxy Edition. According to MacBreak explained how the idea is to create a library in FCPX where the original files are referenced and it just kept proxy material. Thus, we can take our laptop to the library, make any necessary edits and then copy back to our main Mac project. But I leave you with the video where the workflow you will see more clearly.

Students at Columbia University created a system to run iOS apps on Android

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Six students of Columbia University in the United States have developed Cider, a system that lets you run Android apps on iOS. How we hear. Performance is not exactly great, but as proof of concept, get a compatibility layer between these operating systems is undoubtedly a singular feat. 

Cider is an architecture that modifies Android to mimic the application binary interface of iOS allowing it to run their binaries. For this, the new combination of techniques for compatibility between the two mechanisms that are used include: adaptation code at compile time and diplomatic functions. The first reduces the effort required to support multiple binary interfaces (iOS apps, and the Android), while the second allows iOS apps to access the Android libraries and interfaces of hardware and software. 

Looks complicated because it is. No talk of using a virtual machine, but something even more transparent at all levels, convincing the code of iOS apps that are running on the Apple XNU kernel instead Linux kernel of Android. Attentive to sample video done with a Nexus 7 tablet which runs Cider iOS apps like Yelp or iBooks. Yes, slow, but more or less functional. 



Note that at the moment it is only a prototype and its implementation is incomplete. The authors point out that today's phones and tablets equipped with many features that hope to use Android (including GPS, camera, Bluetooth, etc ...) that are not supported by Cider.

The students plan to continue their research and further develop Cider, but if you use Android and expect to download iOS apps shortly, better go saving for the iPhone 6. As the research project is great, but considering that the only official source for downloading apps is the App Store, how long do you think it will take Apple in iOS modify and / or Xcode to introduce additional security measures? And not to mention the army of lawyers eager to war.

Nike says goodbye to the FuelBand. Could it mean an alliance with Apple?

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During Easter has become an important announcement: Nike FuelBand developing leaves. Which was one of the first devices market quantifiers leave the project, and not only that because Nike has confirmed in a statement to CNET that will put aside all kinds of design and manufacture of hardware.

In contrast, the American company has confirmed that put all their efforts on developing software. Applications for the world of sports, programs and compilers of statistics in this field. There will be new versions of Nike FuelBand but continue selling their current model SE.

A rather surprising announcement, but not least, is surrounded by much speculation. Many are beginning to say that Apple and Nike have agreed to a new device on the first mark, a kind of new quantifier. Relations between the two companies are very frequent since 2006 when they got together to present the Nike + iPod in, but had never gone a step further. If we also consider that Tim Cook is part of the board of Nike, all seems well under way:

This rumored alliance will result awaited iWatch? If so, chances are you know throughout 2014, we'll see if in surprise or complying with the speculation.

iOS could integrate Shazam among its services

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Rumors have risen around iTunes, Siri and iOS 8: Is Apple preparing to integrate a similar service Shazam on your operating system? So say sources close to the project and have decided to remain anonymous.

Until recently talked about Siri is lagging behind in terms of performance, Apple is not willing to let this happen easily. According to the latest rumors (Bloomerang) the company would be willing to add some kind of service similar to Shazam on iOS, and it could be announced at WWDC 2014.

They claim in the publication, several sources related to the project (do not want to be identified) have discussed the existence of this function in development. This would of application being developed with the help of Shazam Entertainment's own, who is collaborating with technology stored in his company, to meet an interesting trade agreement between the two.

The function, as mentioned, could be presented at the next WWDC. The data suggest that this would come in Shazam on iOS iOS 8 and will not be available before. The integration of this function would be very similar to other services such as Twitter or Facebook, to maximize your comfort.

We know that Apple is one of the companies that invest more money in the music industry, not only in the development of platforms as powerful as iTunes but throughout the technology behind the algorithms of identification and labeling songs. This measure could serve as an additional feature and very interesting to Siri.