Counterclockwise: smartphone OS obituaries

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Frank Cisco

A few weeks ago we looked at the history of iOS, now let’s remember the OS that are no longer with us. Some of them powered smartphones before someone even coined the term, but they proved evolutionary dead ends.

Symbian: 2000-2012

Many will remember Symbian as their first smartphone experience. The OS launched on mobile in 2000 with the Ericsson R380 and the Nokia 9210 Communicator. It saw many versions – Series 60, 80, 90, also UIQ. Most didn’t live long, Series 60 coming out as the sole survivor.

It turned into Symbian^1, Symbian Anna and finally Belle. The last few Symbian-running Nokias got updated to Belle (by that time Nokia was the only maker still using the OS) and the Nokia 808 PureView proved to be the last Symbian phone ever.

Windows Mobile: 2000-2010

Like Symbian, Windows Mobile hit the mobile scene in 2000. Back then it was PocketPC 200 and powered PDAs and phones, the term “smartphone” hadn’t caught on yet. It transformed into Windows Mobile and HTC and others helped transform its UI into something better than a desktop UI running on a stylus-centered touchscreen.

Microsoft saw the end coming and launched Windows Mobile 6.5 as a stopgap measure while Windows Phone 7 was being finished. The last WM6-powered phone seems to be the Sony Ericsson Aspen launched in 2010.

Windows Phone 7: 2011-2013

In 2010 Microsoft was finally ready with its next-generation mobile OS, dubbed Windows Phone 7 (no more “Mobile”). Unfortunately, while the software was done the hardware wasn’t. Nokia would eventually kick things off with the Lumia 800 in 2011.

After several updates, this branch of Windows reached version 7.8 and that was the end of the line for it. Much like Windows Mobile 6, WP7 phones could not be updated to version 8. The last phone with Windows Phone 7.x to launch was the Lumia 925 in June 2013, another PureView finishing off an OS.

Danger OS: 2002-2010

In 2002 Sharp and Danger introduced the Hiptop – a smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard sold by T-Mobile as the Sidekick. With solid messaging features it became fairly popular for a while, surprisingly lasting until 2010 when hardware keyboards were old news.

KIN OS: 2010-2011

Microsoft bought Danger and continued its partnership with Sharp to produce the Kin. It switched the carrier to Verizon but kept the hardware QWERTY. The Kin were a sort of limited smartphone – not quite on par with iOS, Android and even Windows Phone 7.

The touchscreen-only Kin TWOm was discontinued in 2011 as it became clear the Kins weren’t gaining traction and Microsoft’s new darling, WP7, was ready to go. One thing has to be said though – KIN OS inherited the UI style of Zune, which was the groundwork on which Metro UI was based.

Also, by that time Danger founder by the name of Andy Rubin had moved on to another company that produced a little OS known as Android.

Palm OS: 1996-2008

Most of those are mere newcomers to the smartphone game. Palm OS has been going since 96 and like Windows Mobile it began life as a PDA OS, eventually growing phone functionality.

Palm phones were quite well known for their hardware QWERTY keyboards and that lasted until 2008 with the release of the Palm Centro.

Web OS: 2009-2010

Palm wasn’t ready to give up on keyboards, but it gave up on Palm OS. It created Web OS – one of the most influential touch OSes, that barely managed to survive a year in the smartphone market. Launched with Palm Pre and put out to pasture with the Pre 2.

It’s still ticking as a TV OS in some LG models and its UI legacy continues in Android and iOS.

BlackBerry OS: 1999-2013

BlackBerry started off with a pager in 1999, moving on to phones like many of the other OSes on this list. There was collaboration between Palm and BlackBerry for a while, but the BlackBerry OS like Palm OS was aging quickly in the eyes of iPhone users.

Eventually the classic OS was killed off in favor of BlackBerry 10 in 2013. Despite the similarity in the name it was a completely new operating system, based on QNX which the company had acquired earlier. BB10 is still on the market though it’s once dominant position is just a distant dream.

Maemo, MeeGo, Bada: 2008-2012

It’s a slaughterhouse over here. Maemo was Nokia’s backup OS, Linux-based and powerful it powered the company’s proto-phablet, the…

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How NASA Got New Horizons To Pluto

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Frank Cisco

A century from now, NASA’s successful flyby of Pluto and its five known natural satellites will rank right up there with the moment Apollo 11 first touched down on the lunar surface and the Viking 1 lander sent its first color photos from Mars.

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Crew Members Sample Leafy Greens Grown On Space Station

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Frank Cisco

Crew Members Sample Leafy Greens Grown On Space Station
Fresh veggies grown in space microgravity are on the menu for the first time for NASA astronauts on the International Space Station.

Crew members on Expedition 44, including NASA’s one-year astronaut Scott Kelly, harvested some “Outredgeous” red romaine lettuce Monday, Aug. 10, from the Veggie plant growth system on the nation’s orbiting laboratory.

August 9, 2015 at 03:27AM
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A Day in the Woods, un gran y especial puzle donde tienes que ayudar a Caperucita a escapar de la muerte

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Frank Cisco

Pinche aquí para ver el vídeo

Hoy es un día especial por tener entre manos un videojuego de esos únicos que nos suelen llegar de tanto en tanto y que en sí tiene todas las virtudes para ser nombrado como uno de los mejores de este año.

A Day in the Woods es el videojuego en cuestión y que nos lleva a proteger a Caperucita Roja, quien por lo visto ha perdido el sentido para sortear los peligros que la acechan en el bosque, como pueden ser los lobos o esos osos blancos. Caperucita Roja realmente no se mueve, sino que seremos nosotros los que, al cambiar de posición las fichas hexagonales que la rodean, conseguiremos que se vaya desplazando y así consiga volver a casa sana y salva. Un videojuego que despunta por su logrado estilo visual que lo diferencia de otros muchos, aparte de contar con una realización técnica de esas de gran atención en los detalles con gran derroche de calidad por todos los costados.

Ayudando a Caperucita Roja

Con A Day in the Woods nos trasladaremos a un puzle lleno de fantasía, gran colorido, personajes únicos y un estilo visual que podría dejar a Monument Valley para el arrastre. Seguramente que no dejarás de sorprenderte cada vez que eches una partida a este gran videojuego.

A day in the Woods

Volviendo a la temática del juego, más bien su gameplay, comentar que para terminar todos los niveles tendremos un número máximo de movimientos para que Caperucita logre volver sana y salva a su casa. Otra de las necesidades que tendréis que cumplir en cada nivel es recolectar todas las flores que hayan en el camino, por lo que se pone bastante difícil terminarlos y acrecienta la atención que tenemos que poner en cada uno de ellos. Por cierto, una atención que pasará a centrarse en el gran arte visual que impera en cada recoveco de este videojuego para Android.

Un videojuego muy especial

Como todo parece tan bonito y tan bien acabado, nos pensamos que con A Day in the Woods va a ser como dar la vuelta al parque de atracciones. Para nada, hay ciertas piezas, como son piedras y árboles, que no pueden ser movidas, así que tendrás que buscártelas para mantener a Caperucita a dos del oso o una araña, antes de que aceche y se tiren directamente por la pobre Caperucita.

A day in the Woods

Por lo que, entre las flores, los obstáculos y los animales que están deseando comerse a Caperucita, la dificultad aumenta considerablemente. Esto también le da más jugo a este videojuego, porque otros como Monument Valley con una gran realización técnica, se pierden un poco en la facilidad que es el terminarlos, y al final uno se queda con la sensación de que muy bonito sí, pero ya lo acabé, quiero más.

Todo la complicación en su gameplay está aderezada con una presentación como videojuego simplemente espectacular. Es un juego especial, uno de esos que seguramente tendremos en la memoria durante un buen tiempo. Las piezas de puzle están presentadas como si fueran miniaturas. Cada árbol, animal o incluso Caperucita misma pareciera que estuviera tallada en madera y no muy bien pintada, lo que le da un aire simplemente mágico cada vez que se echa una partida a este gran juego.

Un videojuego único que está disponible en la Play Store por el precio de 5,40€ sin publicidad y sin compra dentro de la aplicación, así que tendrás todo su contenido mediante un único pago. Un juego de ensueño para tu Android que no puedes perderte.