Can your dog help advance the Internet of Things? Ben Jacobs of Whistle thinks so and explains to Stacey Higginbotham how vets, researchers and pet owners can take advantage of data from devices worn by pets.

Lastly, our GigaOM Weekly Wrapup podcast recaps seven years of blogging as GigaOM celebrates another birthday. There’s more information on the PRISM saga and even a little gaming news: Did Sony turn the tables on Microsoft at this year’s E3 gaming convention?

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• CES 2012: a recap and analysis
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• Connected consumer first-quarter 2013: Analysis and outlook

On Wednesday, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Zoom: an Android phone that includes a 10x optical camera zoom (24-240mm, F/3.1 to F/6.3). Essentially the rear part of the phone looks like a traditional Galaxy handset. Turn the device around and it looks more like a point-and-shoot camera. Supplementing the zoom lens is a 16 megapixel sensor and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) to reduce camera shake. Samsung also added a Zoom Ring to quickly access the camera functions: In-Call Photo Share, camera mode choice and other controls.

Of course, since this is a phone, it has the expected connectivity choices: GSM, HSPA+, and LTE. The device runs Android 4.2 on a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor. Samsung hasn’t offered specifics on the exact chip, nor does it mention how much RAM is in the Zoom. That rear display on the camera — or is the front display of the phone? — is a 4.3-inch qHD resolution screen: 960 x 540.

From what I can tell, this isn’t going to be a high-end smartphone with better camera optics but should appeal to photo fanatics that want a solid Android experience. I’m curious how the added camera optics will affect holding the device on a phone call, however.

In tablet news, more details surfaced on the next-generation Nexus 7. This week, FCC testing documents were found for a Nexus-branded, Asus built 7-inch slate. The device (or devices, as there are different models) will have Wi-Fi and LTE options and use a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip in lieu of Nvidia’s silicon that powers the current Nexus 7. The biggest detail missing so far is: what resolution will the new tablet have? My hope is for two options: a lower-cost 1280 x 800 unit and a premium-priced 1080p version.

And HTC looks sure to follow Samsung’s lead in making a mini version of its flagship phone. Bloomberg reported this week that the HTC One Mini will launch this August. The “mini” refers to the smaller design and display: Expect a 4.3-inch screen with 720p resolution; that compares to the HTC One’s 4.7-inch, 1080p display.

Engadget has a reported picture of the new Mini next to the existing HTC One, showing similar design cues. That’s a smart move by HTC, given that its current flagship is regarded by many, including me, to be the best built and designed Android phone available today. You’ll likely give up some performance if you opt for the smaller version though: a dual-core chip and possibly a lower camera resolution. For some, a more manageable size could trump those feature reductions.

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Ironically, it wasn’t even a U.S. news outlet that spotted the FCC testing documents: Notebook Italia got the jump on us all in finding the data. Based on the FCC report, the 7-inch tablet under test uses a Qualcomm APQ-8064 chip, which sounds like the Snapdragon S600 used by the Galaxy S 4, HTC One and LG Optimus G Pro handsets. The tablet will have both a front and rear camera as well as a 15 wHr battery. Versions with Wi-Fi and LTE are likely.

There’s no indication of the screen resolution but the Snapdragon S600 is surely capable of driving a 1080p display: It does so for the trio of smartphones mentioned above. However, a panel with 1080p resolution would likely drive the cost up. I still think Google should offer a wider range of new Nexus 7 tablets: some at a lower price with the current 1280 x 800 resolution and higher-priced models with 1080p screens. Call them Nexus 7+ or Nexus 7 HD tablets.

Regardless of what the final product line update looks like, if you’re in the market for a Nexus 7, it may make sense to hold off. Even if you’d rather have the current model, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Google offer it for a lower price as new models fit into the current price points of $199 to $249.

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We’ve got not one, but two great extensions to share on this week’s show and also discuss a potential new product that would allow for Chrome mirroring to HDTV sets without using any wires. And we expect more Chromebook choices in the near future now that AMD is getting in on the growing Chrome market.

Show notes

Hosts: Chris Albrecht and Kevin C. Tofel

• So about those Mobile Chrome events…
• Chrome will be able to access iTunes files, which could bring some interesting new apps and extensions
• Apple’s new MacBook Air gives hope for better Chromebooks with much improved battery life
• Extension of the week: X New Tab
• Could Google we working on a low-cost “ChromeKey”?
• BONUS extension of the week: Service Pages
• Welcome AMD to the Chrome party!

Got questions, tips or tricks for an upcoming GigaOM Chrome Show? Find Kevin on Google+, Twitter (@kevinctofel) or via e-mail (kevin@gigaom.com)

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• What Does the Future Hold For Browsers?
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Chrome currently accesses local media, which includes video, music and still images, through its mediaGalleries API. By sifting through the latest Chromium code, Beaufort caught mention of iTunes being added to the default destinations that the API has access to.

In addition to the Chrome browser, Chrome apps could take advantage of the app, so a standalone music player for an iTunes library can be built. That won’t help on Chrome OS devices as iTunes can’t be installed on them but Windows and Mac owners that have Chrome installed could take advantage of the new feature.

Not everyone likes to keep their music files in iTunes, however, even if the songs are purchased from Apple’s store. I routinely make duplicate copies of my music files, for example, using both Google Music and Amazon’s MP3 service. Not only do I then have backup copies, but I can listen to the music on a wide variety of smartphones and tablets, regardless of platform. It would be great to see a developer take the new Chrome mediaGalleries API one step further and create a browser based service to move the files through the cloud. Currently, uploading music to Google or Amazon requires a software installation.

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If you’re not familiar with the Wi-Fi Hotspot 2.0 initiative, that’s understandable. It’s a Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA) effort that we’ve been watching for the better part of two years. Last year, the WFA began certifying devices for the program and we’ve only recently begun to see the first phones that can use the technology, which is also known as Passpoint. Samsung’s Galaxy S 4 also supports this effort, which makes roaming simple and seamless.

I noted this simplicity last year: No more entering IDs, passwords or searching for network names/SSIDs. When in range of a Hotspot 2.0/Passpoint network, your handset will seamlessly connect to the network. Here’s how the WFA describes it:

“Wi-Fi hotspot access for in-network APs no longer requires an active selection or input from the subscriber. Passpoint uses a consistent interface and automated association process.

Devices can be automatically granted access to the network based on multiple credential types. Passpoint supports Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)–based authentication, widely used in cellular networks today, as well as username/password combinations and certificate credentials. No end-user intervention is required in order to establish a connection to a trusted network.”

Making the connection even better than a standard Wi-Fi link is encryption. That’s a feature that, again, will require no special user configuration and makes the Wi-Fi connection more like a cellular one when it comes to security. And if there are multiple Passpoint networks in close proximity, you can wander around between them and switch seamlessly.

Users won’t see the feature until iOS 7 is released this fall and even after that, they’ll have to find Passpoint locations to take advantage of it. But as vendors and providers add Wi-Fi Hotspot 2.0 support to their networks, Apple devices running the latest software will be ready to roam.

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• How to deliver the next-generation web experience
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How much of Ive’s new design is groundbreaking? From what I saw, actually not much. Many of the items that caused the crowd to clap and cheer have been around on other platforms for some time. I noticed elements from Microsoft Windows Phone, Android, third-party widgets, HTC Sense and even Palm’s webOS, which may have been ahead of its time. That’s not to take away from iOS 7 though. As a fan of all things mobile, I can appreciate the refinements Apple has built into iOS 7. Let’s take a closer look.

Where have we seen iOS 7 elements before?

You can’t look at iOS 7 without immediately noticing the flat design of the icons and native apps. Gone is the old “skeumorphism”: the virtual representation of physical objects such as a notepad, calendar book or bookshelf. In its place is a fresh, clean design that’s far easier on the eye and more elegant. And Microsoft is likely stomping mad right now because it led the way with flat design in Windows Phone as early as 2010.

How about that new multitasking feature? You can actually see the open app windows — in addition to their icons — in iOS 7. In fact, they look just like the cards that represented open apps in the ill-fated webOS. Apple didn’t show much more than the look of multitasking so I don’t yet know if those apps are active, i.e.: changing in real time on the screen when displayed. And in webOS, you closed the apps by flicking the cards off the screen. I suspect Apple will keep the current method of app closing.

I love the new Control Center in iOS 7 that comes up with bottom-up flick on the screen. It provides one-touch access to Airplane Mode and toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Do Not Disturb mode. Of course, this has long been available natively in Android — some third-party manufacturers have even extended it; some too much (I’m looking at you, Samsung!). Control Center also provides brightness and music control as well as easy access to some quick functions. It’s much the same as Android, but this is one of the best parts of Google’s platform, so Apple chose well.

There were many “oohs” and “aahs” when the iOS 7 home screen wallpaper and Weather app was shown. Tilting the iOS device allows you too see more of the image behind the icons, which is pretty nifty. And it’s something I’ve seen on Android launchers for a good two years. And while the weather app now has moving images to show the weather, that was one of the features found in the Rosie version of HTC Sense, circa 2009!

Another “wow” moment was had for synchronized notifications. And Apple deserved it. There’s nothing more annoying than seeing the same notifications over and over again when switching devices. That’s probably why Google announced it for Android devices at last month’s Google I/O event.

In the end: it doesn’t matter

I could go on with more examples, but you get the point. I do find it ironic that Apple is borrowing heavily from competitors — Steve Jobs once said “good artists copy, great artists steal” – yet it viciously fights back if it sees a competitor product having a similar look or feel. Perhaps that’s more a testament to Apple’s legal team and not its design team: It could be that Microsoft, Google, Samsung and others aren’t as good at the patent game.

Regardless of where the best ideas come from, Apple can put them all together like nobody else. And ultimately, that’s what’s going to matter. Apple will provide the best of its own ideas along a few from other sources when it delivers iOS 7 this fall.

And that is a testament to where Apple excels: Combining hardware, software and services to produce best overall experience across the widest audience. Make no mistake: iOS 7 will be a hit because of that singular integration expertise Apple illustrates time and again.

We’ll be highlighting the future of experience design at our annual RoadMap conference in San Francisco in November, and tickets will go on sale later this Summer. To learn more about the event sign up here.

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Apple also boosted the internal storage on the 11-inch model, which now has 128 GB of flash storage for $999. For $100 more, customers can opt for a similar 13-inch MacBook Air with the same storage capacity. Both have 40 percent faster graphics and 802.11ac Wi-Fi, which increases both the range and speed of compatible networks.

Apple says the new MacBook Air models are available today, once the Apple Store re-opens. That indicates that Apple worked out a deal with Intel in advance to become one of the first customers to buy the new Haswell chip in bulk. Intel just formally announced Haswell earlier this month at the Computex event.

A “sneak peek” of the upcoming Mac Pro was also shown at WWDC. The cylindrical computer is packed with the latest tech, including a new Intel Xeon chip, faster flash storage and, thanks to dual workstation GPUs from AMD, support for multiple 4K displays.

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Apple’s Finder app gains similarity to the iOS Safari browser, as it now supports Finder tabs. These allow users to find and categorize files in multiple tabs within a single Finder window. Also included is support for file tagging to ease with search.

Multiple display users will be happy with OS X Mavericks, which vastly improves on the experience. Critical elements such as the Dock and Menubar are accessible on two or more connected screens and Spaces supports full-screen applications. Apps and files can be dragged across the displays as well. AppleTV can be now used with an HDTV for an OS X display via AirPlay.

Even more iOS influence appears in how OS X handles power consumption. A new feature called “App Nap” remembers the state of an app when a user leaves it for another. Just as in iOS, the napping apps use less power. When users return to the app, OS X ramps the power back up as needed.

Safari gains a few new features and performance boosts which Apple says uses less memory than Chrome and Firefox. The Sidebar is easier to navigate, and perhaps in a bid to replace Google Reader (which closes down July 1), Reading Lists now offer continuous scrolling.

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By banding together, the various companies offer free Wi-Fi to their cable subscribers when outside of their homes and their home market. The hotspots are generally deployed around major metropolitan areas such as New York City; Los Angeles; Chicago; Philadelphia; Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Washington, D.C.; San Francisco; Orlando; Tampa; and Kansas City. So where I live near Philadelphia, an Comcast Xfinity subscriber can take advantage of free Wi-Fi while vacationing in Florida, for example.

Aside from the wider range of coverage across the country, customers of this cable quintuple gain easy access to the wireless network. Instead of each cable company offering their own unique SSID, or network identifier, they all share the “CableWiFi” network name. Customers just input their credentials once and their device will auto-connect whenever it sees the network in coverage areas.

While the cable companies have the largest US Wi-Fi network, Boingo may have the widest amount of coverage across the country. I’ve been in airports and public venues outside of the CableWiFi five major markets and generally can find Boingo coverage. Of course, the key difference is that Boingo sells Wi-Fi access on a per-use and monthly rate to supplement its limited free access. And its plans also extend beyond the borders of the U.S.

Time Warner’s Los Angeles WI-Fi network

But the cable Wi-Fi folks may have another advantage: Network density. While Boingo typically focuses on business locations for its hotspots, the cable companies have built out their metro network to be widespread.

You can, for example, walk around relatively large sections of the coverage cities and stay connected to the wireless network. That’s handy when walking around town or moving locations in a park while staying on the network.

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