‘Hodor’ app
Tyler Hedrick, an iOS developer at Medium, announces an app called Yo, Hodor. The app works similarly to the popular Yo app where users can create a username, locate friends using the app, and then send them a single word message; in this case, the word “Hodor.” The phrase (and the audio clip used in the app) is from a Game of Thrones character names Hodor who can only say the word “Hodor”.
I wrote an app called Hodor because Hodoring someone is so much cooler than Yoing someone. #yo #hodor #got pic.twitter.com/5VQ8F4Er33
— Tyler Hedrick (@tyler_hedrick) June 20, 2014
Corporal William “Kyle” Carpenter
The Medal of Honor is given to Corporal William “Kyle” Carpenter by President Obama at The White House. Carpenter was injured by a grenade in Afghanistan in 2010 while he was protecting a fellow Marine during an enemy attack. Carpenter was severely wounded and lost his right eye. Obama has presented the Medal of Honor to 39 members of the armed service over the past six years.
Google removes ‘Dawn’ app
Google removes the ISIS app ‘Dawn of Glad Tidings’ from the Play store after it is widely reported by media. The app, which posts ISIS-created content including hashtags, links and images over users’ Twitter accounts, has been available for around two months and has been downloaded thousands of times. Google spokesman:
We remove any applications that breach our community guidelines.
First certified partners
Google names its first certified partners for the Glass At Work program. These partners include APX, AugMedix, Crowdoptic, GuidiGO and Wearable Intelligence. The companies will work to integrate Google Glass for business as well as medical uses. APX Labs’ app will provide business professionals with real-time enterprise data. Augmedix will provide medical professionals with a system to make patient visits efficient. Crowdoptic will create an app that will detect broadcast events in various categories. GuidiGo will work with museums and cultural institutions to enhance visitors’ experience. Wearable Intelligence will create an app for various categories including energy, manufacturing and healthcare. The Glass At Work program will allow the companies to co-brand as well as list on the program website.
ASU tuition reimbursement
Starbucks announces that they will provide tuition reimbursement to Arizona State University’s online courses for interested employees. The requirements of the program are that the partner (employee) must work 20+ hours a week with Starbucks and must have the grades needed to be accepted into ASU. Employees are not being required to continue working with Starbucks after they graduate. CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, says
I feel so strongly this is the right thing to do and Starbucks as a company is going to benefit in ways that probably we can not identify today.
The scholarship is being offered for those with at least two years of college credits, though Starbucks has said they will also be providing assistance for those freshly starting as well.
Glass at Work
Google announces Glass at Work Certified Partners, a program which encourages companies to develop Glass applications for business and industrial use. One of the first partners is Augmedix, which provides applications to help doctors view patients’ records in the Glass display while attending to them.
https://plus.google.com/111626127367496192147/posts/AYCuPN7c2Uq
E3 Xbox One announcements
The company announces a myriad of titles to be launched on the Xbox One, including Plague, Inc. , Halo 5: Guardians and Fable Legends, and Beyond, Mighty No. 9.
Hangouts drawing tool
Google Hangouts adds the ability to draw in your chat window. The tool is similar to Microsoft Paint and allows drawings on blank canvas as well as over pictures. The addition is currently only available to Google+ users.
Mario Maker announced
Nintendo announces a 2015 release for Mario Maker for Wii U. Mario Maker will allow users to create then play their own levels using their stylus. Users will be able to create using the graphics of the original 8-bit Super Mario Brothers game or an updated style.
Wireless cell charging
Starbucks and Duracell Powermat announce that they’ve begun a national rollout of wireless phone chargers in Starbucks and Teavana locations, starting in the San Franscisco Bay Area and featuring a special area on tables throughout the store where customers can place their cellular devices to be recharged. Daniel Schreiber, president of Powermat Technologies, said
This move by Starbucks cuts the final cord of our lives — the power cord. It’s changing the way humanity interacts with power.
Over the next three years, more than 100,000 table chargers — built-in Powermat charge pads — will be installed in Starbucks’ 7,500 company-owned stores in the U.S.
Google My Business
Google announces a new tool for business owners called Google My Business. The tool allows businesses to update all of their information in one system. After information is input, the app populates it in Google Search, Google Maps and Google+. This helps businesses get found more easily in the search engine. The app also provides businesses with insight into the background of their viewers, by giving them some tools from Adwords Express. A mobile application will soon be available.
Onika
Minaj announces her 3rd fragrance Onika will launch July 11, 2014 on HSN.
Smells like angles in the garden of perfection.
Leprechaun: Origins trailer
WWE Studios releases the theatrical trailer for Leprechaun: Origins. The film, a reboot of the Leprechaun series, stars Hornswoggle, Andrew Dunbar, Brendan Fletcher and Teach Grant.
Minajesty Exotic Edition
Minaj announces July 11 as the release date for perfume Minajesty Exotic Edition which will be released on the Home Shopping Network.
Doodle competition winner
Audrey Zhang of New York wins the Google Doodle art contest. Zhang’s drawing will be animated and displayed on the search engine’s homepage. The doodle, entitled Back to Mother Nature wins out of 100,000 submissions. The scene shows a system that can convert polluted water to clean water for both humans and animals. About her doodle, Zhange comments:
I was thinking that if we didn’t have water, we couldn’t live.
In addition to her work on display, Zhang will receive a $30,000 college scholarships and a $50,000 grant for technology towards her chosen school. Google also will donate $20,000 towards clean water in Bangladesh.
Facebook cancellation hoax
A message being spread on Facebook that Season 5 has been cancelled is proven false. The link acts as a lure to a webpage which attempts to convince the user that their Java plug-in needs to be updated. The download is believed to be malicious.
Open Automotive Alliance
Google creates the Open Automative Alliance to bring the Android system to cars. The companies in the alliance include Google, GM, Honda, Audi, Hyundai and Nvidia. The group’s focus is to integrate Android into the entertainment system. They will develop new features that will allow developers to add car modes to the apps. The alliance plans to launch the first cars in late 2014.
Market research supplier named
Nielsen is announced as official market research supplier for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic games. The company will report public opinion and expectations surrounding the games. This is the third time the company has been selected. Ragasol, President of Nielsen Brazil, says:
Organising these events is the most important showcase that a country can have. Our mission is to help the Olympic Movement take decisions and support Brazil in delivering the best Games in history.
4 – 5 more years as CEO
At the annual Tesla general shareholders meeting Musk announces that he plans to stay on as CEO for four or five years, or at least through volume production of Gen 3, the mass market, $35,000-a-year car.
No one is a CEO forever. Eventually they carry you out.
Detainees arrive in Qatar
The U.S. government releases Taliban detainees to Qatar to complete the prisoner exchange. A video uploaded onto a Taliban website shows these detainees being welcomed to Qatar.
