Apple’s annual fall product preview featured a colorful array of unprecedented announcements kept 6,000 in-person attendees and thousands more online viewers interested for more for almost two hours. “To wear it is to love it.” Everyone knew there would be a new pair of iPhones—the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus—but this is not how the evening started. First came the Apple Watch, now best buddy with high-end fashion house Hermès, in an entirely new collection that features hand-stitched leather straps and a special watch face. The couture device will have a selection of three bands with the stainless steel face: a single leather loop, a double loop, and a cuff. The double loop one comes only with the 38mm face, while the thicker cuff only has the 42mm version. The band leather is available in different colors. Apple also announced new gold and rose gold colors for the Apple Watch Sport, a take on the pricey Apple Watch Edition series, but in anodized aluminum. Moreover, an expanded range of pastel Sport Band colors were presented under the fall collection. This can only mean that more colors are in the works for next year. Starting September 16, the wearable software will be updated to Watch OS 2, providing support for native third-party apps named “third-party complications” that bring notification and other third-party app data on to watch faces, as well as some overall performance improvements. More on that when it’s out. “Thin. Light. Epic.” Then there was the iPad Pro. This (not so) little (anymore) device grew up into a fabulous 12.9-inch screen, with plenty of surprises. Very comfortable for gaming, entertainment, and serious work tool, the new iPad is accessorized with a full-size keyboard and a multi-tasking tool. And if you thought that MacBook...

QuadHD displays are yesterday’s hot thing. The new point of attraction is 4K. At IFA 2015, Sony introduced its Z5 family—Z5, Z5 Compact, and Z5 Premium phones—with Z5 Premium sporting the world’s first 5.5-inch 4K (3,840×2,160) with 806ppi display, “next-generation” cameras, and some teensy-weensy fingerprint scanners. This is the first time ever that Sony has launched a trio of phones at the same time. They all share many features, but there is one thing that differentiates the Premium from the rest. The 4K display is a truly ridiculous world-beating panel, with vibrant colors and deep blacks. Unfortunately, the new screen tech was saved only for the Premium, while Z5 stays with the 5.2-inch 1080p unit and the Z5 Compact gets only a 4.6-inch 720p display. Aside from the 4K monster, the Z5 Premium flaunts a mirrored glass back in black, gold, and chrome. Z5 comes in white, black, gold, and subdued green with a frosted glass back, and Z5 Compact seems to be designed for the younger customer base, dressed in white, black, but also yellow and coral; these too with frosted glass at the back. If you’re picky about the size of the device you’re choosing for yourself, you’re in luck: Z5 Premium has 5.5-inch display and is 7.8mm thick, the Z5 has a 5.2-inch display and is 7.3mm thick, and the Compact has a 4.6-inch display and is 8.3mm thick. What’s your size? Specs-wise, the trio shares pretty much the same features. All three have inside Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810 processor, up to 32GB of internal storage (expandable to 128GB by microSD), high-res audio chips, “up to two-day battery life,” and a fingerprint sensor built into the power button on the right edge of the phone, a position that feels more natural than...

Samsung decided it was wise to move the Unpacked event up earlier than usual. In previous years, the unveiling of new devices took place a week before Apple’s fall iPhone launch. So last week, New York City hosted the Galaxy Note 5 launch extravaganza a few weeks sooner than previous years, introducing a pair of 5.7-inch devices: the flat, S-pen-equipped Galaxy Note 5 and the curved-screen, no-pen Galaxy S6 Edge Plus. At a first glance, it’s not wrong to say that in many ways, the Galaxy Note 5 is the larger version of the Galaxy S6, just as S6 Edge Plus is the larger version of the S6 Edge. The Galaxy Note 5 seems like a combination of the Galaxy S6 we’ve seen earlier this year with the Note 4 from last year, showing a familiar shape and size. However, even though Samsung recycled a lot of what we saw in the Galaxy S6, it is working hard at replacing the cheap plastic feel its previous devices had, with a glass back and front, held together by a metal chassis. Specs-wise, the Note 5 sports the same octa-core Samsung Exynos processor as the S6, with the difference that this time it’s paired with 4GB or RAM. The device comes with 32 or 64GB of storage, not offering the larger 128GB. What’s even worse is that the microSD card support is gone, and this might upset many of its fans. Further, the 3,000mAh battery is smaller than the one in last year’s Note 4, and the removable battery is also gone. As compensation, the company integrated wireless charging and quick charging. Note 5 has the same 16MP camera with OIS like the S6, and the 5.7-inch Super AMOULED display has the same quad HD resolution....

There is one thing the Egyptian Pyramids, Rome’s Colosseum, India’s Taj Mahal, and the Great Wall of China have in common: masonry. All these astonishing architectural achievements, scattered all over the globe, share the same building technique chosen for its beauty, versatility, and durability. The level of complexity varies from simple masonry to ornate exteriors or high-rise buildings. After more than 6000 years, masonry is still used today. Just go down the street and look around at the office buildings, schools, houses, or patios and you’ll see some form of masonry. Traditional builders are convinced that regardless of the material used – whether it is brick, block, tile, terra-cotta, or stone – the skill and precision of the mason can never be replaced by machines. One Australian engineer presented a robot that wants to prove otherwise. Fastbrick Robotics has finished developing the robot named Hadrian (after the ancient Roman emperor Hadrian, who had a thing for construction and ordered the building of Great Britain’s famous Hadrian’s Wall). It took the engineers ten years and $7 million spent in research and development to bring Hadrian to life. Even though the robot is still in the prototype stage, Mike Pivac, an aeronautical and mechanical engineer, and the CEO of Fastbrick Robotics, hopes to bring the commercial machine onto the market within the next couple of years. Hadrian is able to handle, process, and lay 1,000 bricks an hour, work 24/7, and complete the shell of a brick house in just two days. This means 150 homes a year! Here is god to know that a standard house takes around 15,000 bricks to develop, and about six weeks to complete through the traditional method. The first step in putting Hadrian to work is creating the layout of...

Remember last year’s $300 smartphone? If you liked it, soon is your chance to upgrade to the next generation of good, cheap smartphones built by the Chinese manufacturer OnePlus. Following OnePlus One – the little Android that could –  OnePlus 2 has already requested by over 2.6 million people, even though the device has just been unveiled, with the official launch scheduled for later this month. The new OnePlus phone shows significant improvements to the specifications while keeping the price relatively low – $329 (£239) for 16GB, $389 (£289) for 64GB. Sandwiched in the middle of this meaty smartphone are high quality ingredients paired tastefully for a satisfying experience. OnePlus 2 is fueled by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor that’s been tweaked to correct the notorious overheating issue experienced in other phones. The octa-core runs at 1.8GHz with 4GB or RAM if you opt for the model with 64GB of internal storage; only 3GB of RAM are allocated for the 16GB version of the phone. Both have Adreno 430 GPU running graphics duty. The device is powered by a 3300mAh non-removable battery, ample enough to get you through the day without recharging. One of the downsides of the device is the missing micro-SD card slot and of the NFC chip (present on last year’s model). Yet, OnePlus 2 features dual nano SIM support with 4GT LTE capability. An interesting addition is the new USB Type C port and charger made popular by the new MacBook, making OnePlus 2 one of the few smartphones out there that’s laying the bricks for the adoption of the USB-C. Furthermore, the company claims that the OnePlus charging cable uses patented technology that makes the Type-A side reversible as well. The smartphone comes equipped with a fingerprint scanner too,...

Yardi has been recognized for its self-storage technology platform by Inside Self-Storage, an industry publication for storage providers. The company won the Best Technology Innovation category in the 2015 Best of Business awards. It’s the latest honor for the company’s move into the self-storage business, which began in early 2014 with the acquisition of Salt Lake City-based Centershift. Today, that product is part of Yardi’s Genesis2 offering, targeted directly to self-storage providers. Genesis2 is the first single platform, device-agnostic, full suite solution, complete with robust accounting capability and customer management portals. “This is just the tip of the iceberg, from an innovation standpoint, for Yardi in the self-storage market,” said Mark Smith, Director of Self Storage Marketing for Yardi. The company also offers platforms for the industry’s largest storage providers. Yardi Genesis2 is designed for the property manager who wears every hat. Typically managing a small to mid-sized portfolio, they need comprehensive, mobile solution that makes juggling multiple tasks easier. Lauded features include best-practice workflows, all-one-functionality, maintenance, insurance, payment processing, and tenant services. Yardi Genesis2 is available today, and you can get more information...

You’ve probably heard – or personally experienced – the convenience and controversy of Uber. Taking on the traditional taxi transportation model, this global ride-sharing company has made a huge splash in changing the way ridesharing works. But Uber isn’t just about using an easy app to find a ride home from a party or the airport. The company is now branching out and setting its sights on the senior demographic cohort, hoping that it can make their lives a little easier – and maybe even help them stay independent longer. Two less well-known Uber services, uberASSIST and uberWAV, are designed specifically with seniors and the disabled in mind. Drivers for these services will operate vehicles that are accessible (such as a van with a ramp able to load a wheelchair), and often will have to take extra time to assist their passengers with boarding and departing the vehicle. uberASSIST, the senior service, hit the news in a big way last week because it was talked about at the White House Conference on Aging, an annual event that focuses on elder issues. Not long ago, Uber and competitor Lyft were hit with criticism, even lawsuits, for not complying with state and federal disability access regulations. Now, it appears that the company is taking steps to address those concerns. Pilot programs of uberASSIST include Ventura, Calif.; two Florida cities (Gainesville and Miami Lakes), Columbus, Ohio; Austin, Texas; and Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz. The intent is to partner with cities and community senior centers to get seniors access to the technology required to request a ride – and even teach them how to use an app or mobile communication device. As the Baby Boomers age into retirement and their senior stage of their lives, services like this...

The number of people living in urban areas is increasing at a rapid pace. Currently, about 54 percent of the world’s population live in cities and use about two-thirds of the world’s energy and the majority of other resources. By 2025, 34 cities worldwide will have a population of greater than 10 million people, and according to the United Nations, about 6.3 billion people, or 66 percent of the world’s population, will have moved into a city by 2050. The increased urbanization comes with a set of challenges that affect not only the current residents, but also future ones and the planning needs to address how cities can grow to accommodate them, in a sustainable and cost-effective manner. The demand for resources handled by the municipality will reach extreme heights; the demand for water alone is estimated to reach by 2025 80 billion additional metric tons and this is not the only reason of concern: reliable power and energy, air quality, traffic flows – all will impact quality of life. With these in mind, more and more metro areas are getting smarter by using technology. According to a study by IHS Technology, by 2015 the world will have at least 88 smart cities, out of which 25 will be in the United States. The report “Smart Cities: Business Models, Technologies and Existing Projects” defines the ‘smart cities’ as those that have “deployed – or are piloting – the integration of information, communications, and technology (ICT) solutions across three or more functional areas of the city.” Applications include mobile and transport, energy and sustainability, physical infrastructure, governance, and safety and security. Europe and Asia lead the way in implementation of smart cities, however, the U.S. is making efforts to bring smarter and more efficient city infrastructures...

Two Yardi commercial real estate clients were recognized this month with prestigious Digie Award honors from the technology-focused conference and networking event Realcomm. Deutsche Bank Wealth & Asset Management was recognized for “Best Use of Automation in Real Estate Investment Management” and Stuart Appley of Shorenstein received a “Digital Impact Award” for his contributions as an industry visionary. According to Realcomm’s website, the Digie Awards (the name stands for “Commercial Real Estate Digital Innovation Awards’”) were created to single out “companies, real estate projects, technologies and people that have gone above and beyond to positively impact our industry through the use of technology, automation and innovation.” Yardi is a recipient of numerous past Digie Awards for the innovation contained within its technology products, and this year the company’s energy efficiency monitoring platform, LOBOS, was a nominee. You can hear Yardi Senior Vice President of Global Solutions, Rob Teel, talk about the product’s role in the commercial technology platform in this video. Stuart Appley – Shorenstein Appley has been with Shorenstein since 2007 and serves as the company’s CIO. A self-described “cloud evangelist,” with a technology focused Twitter account, he has been responsible for pushing Shorenstein’s technology platforms into the realm of today’s best practices. The company chose Yardi to be its technology provider several years ago. “It was time to automate a lot of different parts of the business, and Yardi’s system was the only one that has the breadth to allow us to do that,” Appley noted. Realcomm recognized Appley as “an industry visionary and early adopter of an ‘all in’ cloud strategy for the business of commercial real estate,” who “elevated IT from a tactical to strategic role pursuing a business transformation through technology.” “Real estate, traditionally, never spent any money on...

The 26th WWDC presented a new level of Apple software power, setting a high standard for hardware improvements that will be announced later this year. Attendees gathered from over 70 countries to celebrate the 100 billion Apple app download milestone (an impressive 850 apps are downloaded per second) and to assess future opportunities. The App Store currently holds 1.5 million apps, an exponential increase over the 500 apps in 2008, with over $30 billion paid out to developers so far. El Capitan is the new OS X, which summarizes what the update is all about. It’s named for the iconic rock tower and popular climbing destination inside Yosemite National Park.  Unlike OS X Yosemite, which came with a series of big modifications for the operating system, the new upgrade is a relatively small upgrade. It focuses on three aspects for improved performance and user experience: Spotlight, Built-In App improvements, and Window Management. Spotlight now allows more extensive and integrated search capabilities such as looking up sporting event tickets, weather, and upcoming events using natural language; the search improvements extend to apps like Mail where queries like “Show me emails from Bill that I ignored” will work. Built-in Apps like Mail have swipe interaction enabled – swipe left on a message to delete it, swipe right to mark as unread. Moreover, Tabs are enabled in the Mail app and links and files can be added by simply dragging them in. Safari now allows to “pin” sites, so they’ll load instantly from the landing page. Furthermore, it lets mute audio tabs without entering the specific pages. With the new Window Management the user can automatically split the screen between apps and store multiple desktop layouts in a navigation bar on top. Performance-wise, El Capitan is presented...

The Smart Home is a very entertained interest in the technology industry; nowadays it comes equipped with devices capable to increase comfort, protect occupants, and save on utility bills. Houses already have Nest – the smart thermostat, Goji – the smart lock, Tado Cooling – the air conditioning/ thermostat smart device, and Luna – the smart mattress cover. Using the smartphone as the device to turn on lights, lock doors, check humidity levels, and monitor energy use inside the home, requires a large data set, and systems must be programmed individually and connected to the controlling transmitter. Terralux, a LED lighting company, recently launched a new product named Ledsense, which is a cloud based lighting system with brain power. Looking at the evolution of LEDs, not too long ago, they were not only ineffective, but also very expensive; those were the shining times of the Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). Since then things evolved and nowadays LEDs show increased improvement in efficacy, today demonstrating some of the highest light outputs – measured in lumens per watt – and at the same time, the economics of LEDs are compatible with other light sources. Slowly, but surely, LEDs are replacing CFLs, with more and more organizations looking to save money and deliver a lighting alternative that is friendly with the environment. The Ledsense platform integrates the LED light unit with sensor communication and control technology; it acts like an Internet of Things on LED lights. These units are quite amazing: they include sensors that can determine building temperature, sense motion from a person in the vicinity, and even sense odors and potentially toxic chemicals in the air. All this data is collected and then communicated back to the building owner, through the cloud. “A light is no...

The Atlanta Braves and Comcast have entered into a landmark multi-year technology and real estate partnership that will call for multi-terabit network capabilities to SunTrust Park and the surrounding community, creating the most technologically advanced mixed-use development in the U.S. Under the terms of the deal, Comcast will provide video, voice and high-speed Internet connectivity throughout the 60-acre development, which includes the new ballpark, retail shops, restaurants, an office tower, hotel, an entertainment venue and residential units. Comcast will become the signature tenant in the office project. “From the outset, we said the Braves would set a new standard of excellence in every aspect of this project, and building the most technologically advanced ballpark in history and redefining fan connectivity is key to accomplishing that,” Terry McGuirk, Atlanta Braves chairman, said during a live news feed. “Our partnership with Comcast will keep us head-and-shoulders above other sports venues and mixed-use communities around the country and allow us to meet our fans’ high expectations for engagement, awareness and access. Shoppers, hotel guests and office tenants will also enjoy an experience unlike any other community.” The development’s all-fiber network will be capable of delivering multi-gigabit speeds throughout the complex on game days and every day in between. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reported last month that Braves ownership Liberty Media is spending $452 million to develop their new mixed-use project adjacent to SunTrust Park, putting the total cost of the ballpark and mixed-use project at $1.1 billion. Located at the intersection of I-75 and I-285 in the bustling Cumberland CID, SunTrust Park will flow directly into the surrounding development, creating a vibrant atmosphere with unique shops, restaurants, offices, residences and entertainment venues that are accessible 365 days a year. The new nine-story office tower will house more than 1,000...

As green features become more and more important both from an environmental point of view, as well as a tool to increase occupancy and attract eco-conscious renters, the pressure is on for apartment owners. While many green upgrades do come with a high price tag, plenty of green upgrades can be achieved at relatively low cost and plentiful gains down the line. We explore the easiest solar-powered green solution that you can introduce into your apartment communities right now. Easily one of the least eco-friendly amenities, the pool can easily be greened harnessing the (free) power of the sun. It can be as simple as switching to solar-powered pool lights. Once bought, these tiny gadgets work away on their own. It’s as simple as placing them in a pool, where they will automatically charge during daylight hours and come on at night, when the sunlight fades. Some also have lightshow features that can set the mood for an impromptu pool party. Others also double as pool sanitizers, dispensing chlorine while giving off light at night. If you really want to green your pool, but don’t want to switch to saltwater, there are numerous mineral-based and solar-powered gadgets that cut down chlorination by 80 percent or even more. While these gadgets take care of algae and microorganism, they don’t clear surface debris. If you’re looking to fully automate pool maintenance, a solar pool skimmer is just the thing for your apartment community. This little gadget cleans up to 95 percent of surface debris, eliminating the need to hand skim, while also significantly cutting down on filtration and bottom cleaning. The solar-powered robot also features solar-charged batteries, meaning it also works well into the night. It can also double as a chlorine dispenser. BBQ facilities are...

Yardi® announced today that it has been selected by iStorage® to provide the management software for its self-storage portfolio. With over 65 properties in ten states and several new acquisitions under contract, iStorage needed an innovative and flexible system that provided time-saving controls to support their aggressive growth. After an extensive due diligence period comparing multiple systems, iStorage chose Yardi Store Enterprise™ and completed implementation of the platform in March 2015. As a rapidly growing business, iStorage needed to transition to their new system quickly. To ensure iStorage was up and running smoothly, cutover from their legacy system was successfully completed with expert support from the dedicated Yardi team in just three days. The implementation included extensive testing and custom development through Yardi Store’s powerful API for both internal and customer-facing systems. According to Chris Harris, president of iStorage, “We chose Yardi Store Enterprise over other options because of its multi-store management capabilities, strong accrual accounting platform, customization opportunities and friendly support team. Our core system must also support our aggressive growth objectives, and Yardi Store Enterprise was the clear and obvious choice for us.” He continued, “Yardi Store Enterprise is delivering everything we need, and thanks to a smooth rollout we experienced very little business interruption. The Yardi team was there every step of the way to support a quick and efficient transition to our new system.” Yardi is delighted to welcome iStorage to its continuously growing family of clients. “It has been a pleasure to partner with iStorage. They have assembled a world-class team that sees the big picture and strives to do everything the right way for their customers. Yardi looks forward to helping them achieve their goals, as we continue to offer a product stack that will keep iStorage —...

Asset Management companies in the UK have experienced several years of growth due to foreign capital flowing into the country during the lean years. As rents stabilize, the rate of growth is clearly unsustainable. Yardi brought together several asset management experts to discuss how asset management will reinvent itself during economic recovery and prosperity. According to Richard Williams, managing director asset services UK, CBRE
, The answer boils down to the company’s country of origin. Far Eastern and Middle Eastern investors continually require traditional asset management services. “That’s where most of our team’s work has come from in the last year. Although they tend to buy trophy properties, we spend a lot of time teaching them the fundamentals of asset management. It’s impossible for them to do this from Asia where they’re based.” Locally, there is a different story. Shaun Hose, director of asset management, BNP Paribas Real Estate, explains, “Now, the market has improved to such an extent that the yield shift alone won’t meet target returns. Institutional investors are looking for assets they can intensively manage and have levers to pull. The regions are high up on the agenda for UK investors as occupier markets come back, but London markets continue to be dominated by foreign investors.” This leaves local investors seeking a select few assets that will offer the value that they need: core plus assets with both income and an angle, and doughnut assets that are inside the M25, but outside of central London. Such properties include multi-let industrial, or distribution centres, with their low vacancy rates, resilience, and growing popularity. Such centres are often occupied by online retailers, powerhouses whose bravado is far from diminishing. There is also a notable amount of obsolete properties that could use a second wind....

Google likes to play, and the company’s innovative ATAP group has been toying with a 3D-mapping project  that would enable hardware to approximate with the same visual acuity of the human eye. The feature was already available in autonomous robots and military research labs, but Google’s Advanced Technologies and Projects division wants to make it available to everyone. Project lead Johnny Lee and his team intend to break the boundaries of mobile devices, currently limited to their own screens, and extend to them the human-scale understanding of space and motion. The mission is to build mobile devices capable of using depth sensors and high-spec cameras to craft three-dimensional maps more cheaply and easily than existing efforts. In collaboration with universities, research labs, and industrial partners, the team has built prototypes and shared them with developers who can imagine a wide range of possibilities and work on bringing those ideas into reality. So far ATAP released two pieces of hardware: a prototype smartphone equipped with Kinect-like 3D sensors and other components and a more powerful seven-inch tablet. The tablet has a 1080p display that runs on Android 4.4 KitKat powered by NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra K1 chip next to 4GB of RAM and 128GB internal storage, without microSD slot. Additionally it features USB 3.0, micro-HDMI, Bluetooth LE and LTE. The Tango tablet was built with a depth sensor on the back and two cameras: one has a 4MP sensor capable of offering high light sensitivity and fast speeds, and the other tracks motion more broadly with a 170-degree wide-angle fisheye lens. Designed with developers in mind, the tablet doesn’t focus on aesthetics, but doesn’t disregard it completely. The cameras are mounted at a 13-degree angle to give the needed view for gathering accurate data without having...

Large retail centers used to be revered for their prestige and variety. Getting to the 2 million-square-foot Sears and Roebuck center in Atlanta, GA was once a pilgrimage for consumers throughout the region. The days of such super-sized department stores are long gone. With the growing popularity of online shopping, brick-and-mortar stores are steadily shrinking. This trend is likely to continue but that doesn’t mean that REITS and owners will see less cash flow from their vast, existing properties. Data leasing, the new frontier, is proving to be a gold mine full of possibilities. CBL & Associates is introducing the Digital Star program at its properties. It is a set of fiber paths, routers, and related infrastructure that is made available to tenants in CBL properties. Three shopping centers are piloting Digital Star this year. “The new space for lease is all digital,” says Mike Harrison, Senior Vice President at CBL. “It’s a whole new way of thinking. It’s in high demand.” The average demand ranges from 4-10 megabytes for most retailers but there are tenants such as Microsoft and Apple that need well over 100 megabytes. To meet the growing demand, CBL has teamed up with Granite Communications to provide data management and services. Together, they offer tenants brick-and-mortar stores with a range of digital capabilities. The duo is constantly thinking on its feet. The need for data will only increase as retailers explore methods in which digital and online tools can enhance the customer experience and improve the efficiency of operations. Consumers motivate the bulk of data demands. Even when they are inside of a store, consumers continue to shop and research online for product reviews, detailed product descriptions, and offers from competitors. In addition to in-store wi-fi, consumers expect increasingly interactive...

The battle for territory in the mobile payments sector is heating up. The ability to pay at the cash register with just the smartphone is motivating other mobile armies to take a stand, especially after Apple Pay was launched with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Apple Pay proved to be easy to use; the user simply needs to hold the iPhone near the contactless reader with the finger on the Touch ID and the Near Field Communication antenna in the Apple device will do the rest. Apple Pay is secure; the company uses a Secure Element chip that encrypts user data in such a way that is preventing the company and curious eyes from getting it. The only parties that see the transaction details are the banks, credit card companies and the merchants that are directly involved in the purchase. According to Apple, a unique device number is “assigned, encrypted and securely stored” to each phone instead of the actual credit card number. Moreover, each individual transaction features a one-time dynamic security code number, too. Even though Apple Pay is limited to the users who own iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models, mobile payments have been increasing – the Business Insider research shows that “payments made through Apple Pay accounted for between 0.1%-1.6% of transactions at five top retailers in the month following the launch of the feature.” The results might seem like a small fraction, but for a brand new platform in its first month, this is actually good progress. Joining in is Google who announced partnering with Softcard, a joint venture between Verizon Wireless, AT&T and T-Mobile, to expand the reach of Google Wallet mobile payment service. In accordance with the deal, Google acquired Softcard’s technology, and the US...

Microsoft recently announced the next element of its Surface line, the tablet that can play double role as laptop due to a keyboard attachment (sold separately). Surface 3, now available for pre-order at $499, will ship by May 5th. Surface 3 has lost some weight, in figure and in price, marking a steep discount on the Surface Pro 3’s $800 price tag. The youngest sibling will complement the Surface Pro 3 by offering a 10.8-inch device in a 1920×1280 resolution; a bit more than full-HD, but with a 3:2 resolution like its older brother. It could be that Microsoft wanted the display to look and feel more like a sheet of paper. The device is fed by an Intel Atom x7 processor, a chip with enough juice to power a full version of Windows 8.1 and, later this summer, Windows 10. This is the high-end model, the release suggesting a quad-core Atom design running above 2GHz. The SoC will be accompanied by 64GB of storage with 2GB RAM or 128GB of storage with 4GB RAM, plus a 4G ‘LTE Ready’ version that will join at a later date. Battery life is claimed to run for up to 10 hours for video playback and the screen is described as having “incredibly accurate colors.” Surface 3 will be 8.7mm (0.34 inch) thin at 622 grams (1.37 pounds). It will bring with it a standard 3-position stand and a few accessories: the standard Type Cover, a Docking Station with USB ports, an Ethernet jack and an additional Mini Display Port, and The Surface Pen. The later will be available in red, blue, black, and silver with 256 levels of pressure sensitivity. On the hybrid device will be a full-size USB 3.0 port, a mini-DisplayPort, and a microSD...

In a world where getting around a foreign city is unimaginable without Google Maps, the hospitality industry has no other option than staying ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. The top hospitality players are aggressively expanding new ways to enhance guest experience with dedicated apps, software and even robots. Here are four of the technologies providing a whole new dimension to business and pleasure travel.   Mobile Room Access is the hot new trend in the hospitality industry. Using a dedicated, hotel-branded app, guests simply swiping their mobile device across a specialized keypad to access their room. Some hotels have already rolled out mobile key cards, among them Starwood Hotels. Its dedicated Bluetooth-enabled SPG Keyless technology was launched in early November 2015 at its W, Aloft and Element brands, numbering close to 150 hotels totaling 30,000 rooms. Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) members can download the app from the App Store or Google Play and register their device. When a guest’s upcoming stay is eligible for SPG Keyless, the guest receives a push notification and by opening the app is able to access the room by swiping it across a keyless pad. The Cromwell, the only standalone boutique hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, became the first hotel in Sin City to offer the trendy technology. Hilton Worldwide will start offering Hilton HHonors members mobile room keys at four of its brands starting early 2015 and will deploy the technology across 11 brands globally.   Booking via Instagram. Courtesy of Conrad Hotels and Resorts, travelers can use the ‘gram not only to post enviable photos of their vacations, but also book a stay at one of its destinations. Guests simply click on an Instagram photo and via Curalate’s Like2Buy technology are redirected...

With all the amazing progress technology has made so far, two-thirds of the world’s population does not have access to Internet, 4 billion people out of Earth’s 7 billion inhabitants.  Google’s Project Loon aims to change that. This larger part of the population who needs access to the Internet either cannot afford the cost of a connection, or none exists where they live. Google’s project is among the most fantastical ones out there. What Loony thing is this? Project Loon is the innovative work of engineers attempting to bring internet access to rural and remote areas as well as to bring people back online after disasters. The concept is a network of high-altitude balloons running on the edge of the universe, also known as the stratosphere, at about 20 miles (32km) high. This space in the sky is sort of “above the sky,” twice as high as where the planes fly so that no interference actually occurs. This aerial wireless network can provide up to 3G-like speeds, they say. The project began in 2013 in New Zealand where a small group of pioneers tested the Loon technology. Later, the pilot test expanded to California’s Central Valley and in Northeast Brazil; the results of the pilot tests are being used to improve the technology in preparation for the next stages of the project. The balloons are moved using wind data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Once they collect the information about the speed and direction of the wind, they will move across the stratosphere. To help resist high pressure in the stratosphere, the central control of each balloon is covered by a sheet of polyethylene plastic filled with helium. This envelope apparently has the ability to keep the controllers in the air...

Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1439; since then the printing industry has evolved, from printing blocks to 2D printers with the capacity of mass-producing documents in just minutes. Today,  3D printers are capable of creating pretty much anything, from mechanical parts to prosthetics to buildings. Even though it’s been 32 years since an engineer named Chuck Hull invented 3D printing, only recently the process became one of the industries of the moment for investors. From 2011 to the present day 3D printing has raised almost $4 billion, while during 1987-2010 (23 years) it raised only $300 million. Increase in interest by public investors translates into extraordinary potential and profit in the industry. 3D printing advocates say the technology will be routinely used to build homes, food, and human tissue and believe that it has the potential to revolutionize how we do everything. A good example is General Electric, which announced that it is using this technology to make the next generation LEAP airline engine that will save fuel consumption and expense. Probably the even better news is that 3D printing is no longer reserved for corporations only, but available to all. A Chinese construction firm, WinSun Decoration Design Engineering, unveiled a five-story apartment building, dubbed “the world’s tallest 3D-printed building,” along with a 11,840-square-foot neoclassical mansion, both made entirely with a giant 3D printer. The properties were built with a patented ink created from a combination of recycled construction waste. This project follows last year’s revolutionary initiative when the company built 10 affordable houses in 24 hours, each of 650 square feet at around $4,800. For the affordable project the company used four 3D printers that measure 20 feet in height, 33 feet in width, and 132 feet in length. The process is...

Believe it or not, iUnit is not the next device a certain ubiquitous technology company wants you to run out and buy. Rather, it’s a new modular housing project coming to Denver, Colo. in 2015, blending smart energy use, wireless connectivity, green construction and the urban living preferences of American Millennials. iUnit is intended to challenge the way we think about apartment living today, says founder Brice Leconte. A Washington, D.C. entrepreneur with a passion for startup technology, Leconte is currently an Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Maryland as well as an advisor and mentor at Georgetown University. “iUnit is really a reflection of how I see the world and what I want to do with commercial real estate,” said Leconte, who worked on large single-family home developments early in his career. iUnit at Highland Park is his first foray into the multi-family space. We recently spoke to him about the project and what makes it unique. Tell us about iUnit. What’s it all about? Leconte: There are a lot of things in real estate that don’t make sense to me. One of them is on the modular front – why we are still building buildings out in the elements, while they are being rained and snowed on. I’ve wanted to build differently for a long time, and modular construction has always made sense to me. Building in a controlled environment, we end up with a much better, greener product, and better worker safety. That’s the method we’ve chosen for our multi-family building. We will use a factory in Idaho for the module construction. The other thing that has never made sense to me has how commercial real estate has lagged behind in integrating technology into its buildings. How can we introduce...

The NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association recently held its second annual E.Con in Atlanta, a conference dedicated to e-commerce innovation. During the two-day event, last mile delivery stayed at the forefront of conversation. As the nation faces a shortage of 240, 000 truck drivers, e-commerce companies are actively seeking alternatives to traditional delivery methods. Panelists and attendees discussed four current trends: Unmanned vehicles The lack of CDL drivers and the high costs of employing them are leading e-commerce retailers to seek other ways of getting products from distribution centers to the homes of consumers. Removing drivers altogether could be the solution. That’s one approach that has been tried in Europe and Asia. Those programs started 10 years ago. Unmanned vehicles still haven’t caught on because studies (and many companies) suggest that automated trucks are most suitable for interstate conditions. The last mile in urban and suburban areas has risks associated with pedestrians, frequent construction and redirects, varying laws, and erratic behavior from human drivers nearby. More research and innovation will be needed to make companies and consumers comfortable with unmanned delivery vehicles in heavily populated areas. Uber-style delivery systems Independent delivery services are also popping up across the nation. Drivers for hire (those with a standard non-commercial license) can carry out deliveries from urban and suburban distribution centers to doorsteps. They do not require the pay or hours of career truck drivers. Start-ups and smaller e-commerce companies are exploring these options. They may become more prevalent in the future. There is one major problem. Currently, there is no software that coordinates product size, weight, and shipping distance with these drivers for hire. Everett Steele, CEO of Kanga says, “There is this idea, ‘I want to be the Uber for delivery,’ but one of...