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AP Photo/Kathy Willens

Mobile Monthly: The biggest developments that happened in July

Apple teams up with an old rival, Google’s smart contact lens gets a boost and Microsoft’s digital assistant reveals a talent for predicting football results.

A LOT CAN happen in the space of a month, especially in technology. New developments, product announcements, changes to existing apps and services, it’s all too easy to see something and forget about it a few days later.

To help out, we will be highlighting the most important (and sometimes fun) stories each month Here are the most important developments that happened in the world of mobile in July.

The fight against in-app purchases

Google has agreed to a number of changes made by the European Commission (EC) that will help prevent children from racking up unwanted charges from in-app purchases. From September, any apps that are free to download, but offer in-app purchases won’t be marked as free in store.

Apple has also agreed to make changes, but it hasn’t taken any actions yet, and has been criticised by the EC as a result.

Tablets could soon overtake PCs

Despite a dip in worldwide sales, 2015 could be the year where tablet computers could end up outselling PCs.

A recent report from research firm Gartner said that tablet sales will hit 320 million compared to 316 million for PCs. The reason PCs stayed out on top this year was put down to the cooling of the tablet market and some stability in PC sales, mainly down to users upgrading ageing devices.

Samsung New Tablets AP Photo / Kathy Willens AP Photo / Kathy Willens / Kathy Willens

Google smart contact lenses gets a boost

Back in January, Google announced a smart contact lens which would measure glucose levels and help diabetics.

While this was seen as a nice idea, it may become a reality as it’s announced a partnership with the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, which will see the two companies develop the lens.

No timeline has been given for when the first version might come out, but it’s not the only health experiment Google X is working on.

Another project called Baseline Study will collect anonymous genetic and molecular information from the human body – starting off with 175 volunteers – to help, among other things, identify serious diseases earlier.

Facebook finally rolls out a save article feature

It’s taken a while for it to roll out this feature, but Facebook users will now be able to save articles for later reading. It comes in the form of a new app called Save, and as the name suggests, lets you stockpile articles, links, places and any other interesting content for later without having to leave the news feed.

The articles aren’t saved on your phone. Instead, you will need web connectivity to be able to view them.

Facebook Save Facebook Facebook

Unlikely partnership

Hands up anyone who expected IBM and Apple to join forces? Well, the two former rivals have decided to team up and develop 100 different mobile applications designed for a wide range of industries.

Through this partnership, both Apple and IBM hope that it will lead to more people using iPhones and iPads for business purposes beyond checking email or keeping track of appointments.

Cortana becomes an oracle

Predicting results can be a tricky business, either for a person or computer, but that didn’t stop Microsoft’s new digital assistant from correctly guessing 15 out of 16 games in this year’s World Cup.

Cortana, Windows Phone’s answer to Siri and Google Now, calls upon a large number of factors to help it decide who will win.

It looks at the strength of each team through a variety of factors such as previous wins/losses/ties in qualification matches, other international competitions and margin of the victories in these competitions.

The data can also be tuned based on win/lose/tie probabilities captured by the people wagering on the outcomes.This model doesn’t rely more heavily on any one element but rather has the advantage of dynamically and continuously adapting up until game time in an innovative way to give users the best possible prediction.

Might be handy to have a Windows Phone on you once the Premier League gets started, that’s all we’re saying.

Microsoft Build Conference AP Photo / Eric Risberg AP Photo / Eric Risberg / Eric Risberg

Augmented reality done right

Find following directions to be boring as it is? An aquarium in Tokyo has come up with the novel idea of getting users to follow penguins instead of arrows.

Using augmented reality, the app was to help combat a drop in attendance to the Sunshine Aquarium over the past few years. If you’re in the city, just download the app and follow the penguins to your destination.

penguin-gif-six penguin navi penguin navi

Read: How to speed up your computer without spending a cent >

Read: Here’s how you can prevent ad tracking from happening on your phone >

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3 Comments
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    Mute James
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:13 PM

    Somebody’s weekend is fcuked

    92
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    Mute Ballsnall
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    Jul 25th 2013, 2:43 AM

    Mine an all

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    Mute harry ford
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:25 PM

    As there was a potential loss of €9000 does that mean that the price of cigarettes is 75% tax?

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    Mute Niall Mullins
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    Jul 24th 2013, 8:13 PM

    Yes… if not more!

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    Mute Niall Murray
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    Jul 24th 2013, 11:14 PM

    As little as €15 per 200 fags in Lanzarote. Nearly €10 per 10 here… ;)

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    Mute John Paul O'Callaghan
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    Jul 24th 2013, 8:12 PM

    So 3,000 euro of vodka would make 14,000 euro for the government. How are we in debt with economics like that?

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    Mute Eamon
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:40 PM

    So its real cash, real cigarettes and counterfeit Vodka! I’d never have guessed them in that order.

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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:08 PM

    As I said before. Legal, regulated and taxed. And still criminals smuggle them.

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    Mute GorillaGrower
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:24 PM

    Because of the crazy amount of tax !!

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    Mute Mr Jingles
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:27 PM

    And you think weed won’t be any different?

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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:32 PM

    And you think legalized Drugs would be any less taxed? And that criminals would say ho hum pack up and do something else?

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    Mute Superior Dublin
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:15 PM

    Sh*t… Where will I get my counterfeit vodka now?

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    Mute Paul Madigan
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:14 PM

    Never thought I’d say this but I’m off to louth

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    Mute Morticia
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:31 PM

    Its the bleary eyes and cough that gives the smugglers away each time.

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    Mute SilentFugitive
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:06 PM

    What happens to the cash in these situations?

    17
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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:11 PM

    After the trial. And if there is a conviction the money goes to the Government as its proceeds of crime.

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    Mute Gerard Walsh
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:57 PM

    Balbriggan garda station, for safe keeping.:)

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    Mute Fran ner
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    Jul 24th 2013, 8:15 PM

    Rats out

    17
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    Mute Tyrone Mc Eleney
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    Jul 25th 2013, 7:03 AM

    Does it not go to the CAB Mick if its the proceeds of crime,I for one wouldn’t go near real vodka never mind counterfeit vodka meant to full of nasty chemicals,I no of students that I no over in England that drink it because its £5 a bottle and been a student they have no choice to buy and drink it cuz there on a tight budget,over there the off licence sells it to you from under the counter,everything is mostly counterfeit these days because theres a demand for it,and the government taxes the ass out of everything that moves its the governments fault as well partly cuz the more they keep taxing the more demand for counterfeit goods,that’s my opinion on it,sure there selling counterfeit chainsaws which are dangerous at the best of times,anyways that’s my rant over goodbye……….

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    Mute Jamie Ryder
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    Jul 24th 2013, 11:27 PM

    The gathering cancelled

    17
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    Mute John Deane
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:58 PM

    Looking at that money I wish I could get a loan :)

    16
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    Mute Superior Dublin
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    Jul 24th 2013, 9:06 PM

    I hate you

    2
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    Mute Rayne Brogan
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:16 PM

    Um.. What exactly is counterfeit vodka?

    14
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    Mute Kevin Manley
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:20 PM

    Are you taking the piss?

    11
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    Mute Rayne Brogan
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:24 PM

    Is it paint thinner or something? Cuz they sell that in Tesco and call it value vodka..

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    Mute CAPT. ADEBAYO FLYNN
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    Jul 24th 2013, 8:11 PM

    Hi Rayne, apparently it’s homemade madness. Meth spirits and all sorts in it, probably some vodka too just to ‘water’ it down so to speak. You hear stories of lads going blind and getting very, very sick from a sesh on this stuff. I know some Eastern European pals who were telling me about the vats of stuff that would be made back home. Wild.

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    Mute Patrick
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    Jul 24th 2013, 9:13 PM

    Yup that vodka is extremely dangerous its well known in Russia.

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    Mute john ferguson
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    Jul 24th 2013, 9:15 PM

    You can be sure that cash will not be secure in a garda safe.

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:28 PM

    The vodka is rot gutt!

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    Mute Warren Collier
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    Jul 24th 2013, 11:35 PM

    Is the headline name what Charlie sheen eats for his breakfast?

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    Mute Fergus Gaffney
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    Jul 25th 2013, 1:59 AM

    Congratulations must go again to the Gardai who have again kicked carreer criminals where it hurts. Hopefully there wil be many many more similar seizures.

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    Mute Ballsnall
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    Jul 25th 2013, 2:45 AM

    Ah jasus give us a break , I’m back on the Rollie’s now and will be forced to drink turps again after this bust .
    This shite is killing me .

    5
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