Category Archives: Apple

Right on cue prior to an Apple Keynote, product shortages are declared

Apple, Tech News, ,

In about 2 weeks time, Apple is due to hold another Keynote speech, in which new iPads are rumoured to be launch.

And surprise surprise, the likely most popular model, the iPad Mini with a retina display, will be in short supply as commented by Reuters.

Call me skeptical, but every year just prior to a Keynote Product launch, there are stories in the press stating there will be shortages on the new devices. Apple just did it with the gold iPhone 5S and 5S generally. The shortage created queues outside of their stores.

However, if you order on line, your new shiny device will arrive in a week or two. Shortage, I doubt it. Good marketing. Most definitely.

Own an iPhone 5S/5C – 6 tips that might help you

Apple

If you have just bought an iPhone below are a few tips that might help you.

1. Compass App – if you swipe the screen to the left on the built in Compass app you will get to the Spirit Level. Handy if you are putting a shelf up on the wall.

2. Calendar App – Open the app. To get a list view of all your appointments, just tap the magnifying glass icon. To see the week view, rotate phone from portrait to landscape.

3. Managing Cellular Data Use – go to Settings, Mobile (Cellular if in the USA), and scroll down whereby you will see how much data each app is using. If you see any alarm bells you can turn off the particular app using data. At the bottom, you can tap on System Services to see what data the individual services are using.

4. In iMessage, if you want to see the timestamps when a message is received, just slide message to left to reveal the timestamp.

5. To search your iPhone. On home screen, just slide your finger down in middle of screen to reveal search box.

6. Safari – to swipe between different pages, just slide left or right.

There are many more little tips, but if you have one you think is useful, drop a line in the comments.

Samsung announces a milestone for its ChatOn service

Android, Apple, Tech News

If you buy a new Samsung smartphone, or visit the appropriate app store, you will see Samsung has it is cross platform messaging service called ChatOn. It is even available on the Apple AppStore.

Well Samsung just announced it had reached 100 million users for its service. A reasonable number but not at the level of rival service WhatsApp which currently has 300 million users and growing rapidly, or even Apple’s own iMessage.

I suppose all Samsung has to do is buy WhatsApp to solve the number of users, and then integrate it into the SMS app.

I wonder, do any of you use ChatOn, and if so how reliable has it been for you?

New phone dilemmas – do you suffer ?

Android, Apple, Tech News,

Apple launches new iPhones. Samsung releases it’s new phablet. LG, HTC and more all coming out with their next great phone.

And as these phones come out you wonder if your phone you just bought was the right decision. Or are you the sort of person who buys and doesn’t worry about the next big thing.

So here I am looking at my iPhone 5S and am wondering whether I should use Apple’s 14 day return with no obligation and get the Note 3.

I have tried to draw a pros and cons list. And fundamentally it’s a spec vs apps vs one hand vs screen argument. The Note 3 is state of the art. But the apps on iOS are more advanced and function better. But the the Note 3 is probably future proof. But then you could say when will you ever use all those hardware specs?

Watching the YouTube review posted yesterday made me crave the Note 3 even more. So with 2 days to decide what would you recommend ?

Is the iPhone 5C selling more than than the 5S?

Apple, Tech News,

Since last week there are stories in the press saying the 5S is selling 4 to 1 against the 5C. Then another said it was 50/50. Another even said the 5C was selling more than the 5S.

In the course of a year, I would imagine the 5C to sell more than the 5S, as colours are playful and trendy and not everybody is bothered about the specification.

And to be honest, I could not care less which iPhone version sells more or less. But what I do admire, is the fact that Apple has been able to take last year’s 5, stick it in a new colour body made of polycarbonate, skin which also costs less to manufacture, and sell millions.

Now that is clever stuff.

So what are your predictions for the sales of the 5C versus 5S?

Dropbox for Mac gets cool update

Android, Apple, Tech News

Dropbox has released version 2.4 for the Mac.

This update adds a number of new features including the ability to import photos directly from iPhoto into your Dropbox.

You can also set iPhoto Events to be imported automatically into a folder called “Photos from iPhoto” with subfolders for each event.

In addition to the Import from iPhoto even, Dropbox 2.4 also adds Screenshot to Dropbox: any screenshots taken on your Mac will be automatically saved in your Dropbox along with speed and folder improvements.

This new update will make having an Apple and android device even easier now.

Which new iPad would you want?

Android, Apple, Tech News

With Apple rumoured keynote this Month approaching and the expected iPad updates which iPad would you chose? Or if you would rather have a different tablet, why?

Just in case you haven’t read any news in the tech world the next full size iPad will be based on the iPad Mini hardware. This will make if 2mm slimmer probably 25% lighter and potentially feature some other wonderful novelty like touch id. The iPad Mini should receive a retina screen and remain fairly the same otherwise. It may also get touch id finger print scanner.

So ultimately it’s a choice between a 9.7 inch screen versus the smaller and pocketable iPad Mini. Because I take lots of photos I found the Mini screen too small so sold it a month ago ready to get the larger full size iPad.

But what would you prefer? Or would you rather save money and buy a Google Nexus, Amazon Kindle or Tesco Hudl tablet which will cost 50% less approximately?

The M7 co-processor in the iPhone 5S is genius

Apple, Tech News,

Not much has been revealed of the true potential of the M7 processor that resides inside the iPhone 5S.

But if you want an idea install Argus a free app. Link to AppStore.

Quickly sign up and as if by magic up to your last 7 days steps are shown in the app. The M7 processor stores your data for up to 7 days.

And the other aspect. It uses no battery.

Here’s a look at a few days from my activity.

20130929-205713.jpg

And if we look at a specific day it show a the time of activity too.

20130929-205825.jpg

All you now need is a little something on your wrist. Maybe an iWatch.

Apple next iPhone screen size thoughts

Apple, Tech News

This year Apple released the iPhone 5S and reincarnated the iPhone 5 as the iPhone 5C.

But in a surprise it still kept the 4S and it’s 3.5 inch screen on the inventory.

But I think this made sense. The iPhone 6 should have a screen size of around 4.5 inches and without increasing the overall physical size of the current iPhone. When this comes out the 4S won’t be available for sale. This means only 2 phones screen sizes will still only be offered. The new 4.5 inch screen and the older 5S and 5C with its 4 inch screens.

What will be interesting is seeing how many people will jump ship when Apple release a larger iPhone.