Category Archives: Jan 2013

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

Android, Jan 2013, Tech News

The Samsung was shown to me by a friend yesterday.

First up it looked gorgeous in white with the silver sides. It made my iPad Mini feel so inferior. Then there was that crisp screen. Whoever says retina or near to isn’t important is lying. The screen was gorgeous.

And then my friend pulled out the S-Pen and started showing me some of the uses of this Wacom stylus. And then the current pricing is fantastic. I have to say I think the Wacom stylus does add some unique selling points for Samsung’s tablet. I must admit having someone who was very familiar with it, provide a decent demo made me really want one.

My only concern is the lack on android of custom screen sized apps.

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Opera Ice

Apple, Jan 2013, Tech News

Opera Ice Browser

Opera is working on a new web browser called Ice. It is meant to add to their collection of web browser so it won’t replace Opera Mini.

The concept of this web browser for iOS is based on clean lines and minimal interface disruptions.

However, until Apple open up the ability to make it a default web browser, I don’t see the point of installing this in the first place.

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The Smartphone Lust List

Android, Apple, Jan 2013, RIM, Tech News

I have an iPhone 5. Now before you all accuse me of being an Apple user, I’m not. My last devices prior to the iPhone 5 were the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Samsung Galaxy Note. Both amazing phones. My first iPhone was the 4 and then the 4S. Before the iPhone I had a mix of android and windows 6.5 phones. At one point I had a UIQ 3 phone.

So here we are at the end of the first month of 2013, and the rumours or confirmed phones are pouring off the conveyor belt like no tomorrow.

So on my lust list is the Sony Xperia Z. It’s on my list because from all the marketing material, videos and specs it looks gorgeous, extremely functional with its dust and water resistance and has has android jelly bean. And a brilliant camera!

I had the first Samsung Galaxy Note, and I loved it, but the camera and audio quality were compromised. The Note 2 addressed the audio quality but kept the same camera, but enhanced the Wacom stylus and software. So, the Note 3 is of major excitement for me. It’s will probably have a larger screen again, but I hope without being that much bigger. The Note 3 will be excellent for media and so much more. Having the ability to connect USB drives without any fancy accessories is a feature I would require too. It should also have an improved camera and more.

Next on my hot list in the next iPhone but also what iOS 7 will add to the equation. I really hope the new iPhone is something a little more than just a camera and processor bump. A better camera is not to be sniffed out though. However, what will make the iPhone more interesting is the software and iOS 7. An iPhone offers the simplest in use experience. It just syncs and does what you want without any fuss. Except, that used to be the case, but with Apple having to make the phone do so much more,I feel as if its not as stable as it used to be. Also the battery life is horrid. Moving to the Xperia Z or Note 3, both of which claim great battery life is a strong selling point. The iPhone is linked to the best Eco system and has the best after sale values. So a likely contender.

Then there is the rumoured Samsung Galaxy S4. I love the S3. It was brilliant. And technically better spec than the iPhone 5 and more comfortable. But it felt cheap and looked cheap. Not that it was. So the S4 will be practically the same size as the original Note. If the S4 moves to a capacitive home button and some other magical tweaks, this could be a winner.

The Blackberry 10 handsets. I will keep a close eye on these and their offerings. At the moment I’m not convinced of the longevity or app offerings. But not one to dismiss.

The new Nokia with its pure view camera tech. Sounds very interesting but windows does not rock my boat yet. The App Store and Eco system is not there. I can use android or apple without too much difference.

And lastly there is the rumoured Google X phone that is meant to blow everything out of the water. As they say, seeing is believing. But I’m keeping an eye out.

At the moment it is a close call between all the above. What is on your lust list?

Pandora 2012 statistics

Jan 2013, Tech News

Pandora has released some statistics from 2012. First up, 1.6 billion personalized radio stations were created and translates in to over 13 billion hours of music, users listening to over one million different songs from more than 100,000 artists. Finally about 10,000 artists reached about 250,000 unique listeners.

These are not bad statistics but I wonder how much an impact services like Google Music will have on Pandora. It’s possible that people who use Google Music or a similar streaming service are different to those that use Pandora. Or is there potential for a service like Pandora to branch out and offer to stream your own music library as well?

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Clamcase Pro Keyboard for iPad

Apple, Jan 2013, Tech News

The Clamcase Pro keyboard is a beautifully designed keyboard for the iPad. If you follow the link, watch the video on the page. Truly stunning.

Features and Benefits include –

-Spacious island style keyboard
-Aluminum and polycarbonate enclosure
-Patent pending 360° hinge with infinite viewing angles
-Auto wake and sleep your iPad
-Advanced snap close technology
-Quick attach and release of iPad®
-One touch easy pair
-Built-in rechargeable Lithium-ion Polymer battery
-100 hours uninterrupted in use time
-6 Months standby time
-120 minutes for full charge
-Battery Indicator Press to display remaining life

Special function keys provide one-touch access to a variety of features you use most often –

HOME • SEARCH • CUT • COPY • PASTE • SLIDESHOW ONSCREEN KEYBOARD • MEDIA CONTROLS • LOCK

This keyboard is the nearest tying to the MacBook Air, just a lot thicker.

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Will Data Speeds Deteriorate as Demand Keeps Rising?

Android, Apple, Jan 2013, RIM, Tech News, Windows

As phones get more sophisticated, people use them more and more to access the internet. There are rumours that operators will be unable to keep up with smartphone users’ growing demand for data on the move, a report warns.

On average, iPhone, Android or Windows Mobile handset owners consumed 35 times more data traffic than a typical phone user. Source the annual Deloitte report. If this was to carry on, mobile Internet use could explode in a few years time.

The bandwidth demand would not mean users failing to connect at all, the report added, but mobile networks would suffer “rush hours” just like roads do. During these times, it might take two or three attempts to connect, there would be three or four times as many dropped calls, web pages may freeze and browsing speeds would be much reduced, the report said.

This is a real problem. I live in a rural spot but its not uncommon to get faster speeds than the nearest city of Exeter or even Plymouth. Even the customer service staff joked with me that everyone should live in the middle of the Moors then.

I don’t think there is a proper solution either. The government is opening up and selling more of the wireless spectrum but eventually this will get used up. And there is a mad rush to sell this spectrum without much consideration to the interference or loss or TV that some people will suffer.

It could be quite ironic that we buy the latest smartphone because it can manage a super high speed connection, except there isn’t one available.

What is up with Apple’s results

Apple, Jan 2013, Tech News

If you check my news item earlier, Apple just posted the best results of any company in history, yet there stock price dropped by nearly 10 percent.

So what is going on? Is it the people in the stock markets manipulating the share price to make themselves loaded? Maybe. Or despite the whopping headline numbers the figures actually show a slight decline, a decline that has happened now for a while. Question is, does this really matter to Apple.

The decline is in market share across the US and Europe for the iPhone. This is being more than likely eroded by android handsets. However, the sales are kept buoyant by Apple branching out in to new markets and strengthening their position in China. And China is a massive opportunity. Their other products have had varied results, but no surprises that iPod sales are lower as well as Macs. These are being eroded by the iPhone and iPad respectively. But still, despite the erosion the sale figures are still phenomenal.

What I believe is happening is market competition is finally hitting Apple. In 2007 the iPhone took the world by surprise. Competitors 5 years later have caught up and are beginning to take charge. The iPad had a head start. Not anymore. However, even if market share does drop in Europe and USA, will Apple worry too much if China and surrounding areas are lining their pockets?

Or maybe Apple does have a stunning array of new gear in the pipeline. Either way, in the world of technology change is fast and to stay at the top is very difficult if you don’t have the leading products.

Apple Quarter Results – Massive

Apple, Jan 2013, Tech News

Apple has just announced its financial results for the fourth quarter of the 2012 calendar year and first quarter of the 2013 fiscal year, posting record-breaking profits and revenues across the board. The company reported groundbreaking net profit of $13.1 billion on $54.5 billion revenue.

While its gross margins fell to 38.6 percent, down from 44.7 percent in the year-ago quarter, Apple sold a record 47.8 million iPhones and 22.9 million iPads during the quarter. Mac sales fell from 5.2 million to 4.1 million year-over-year, while iPod sales dropped to 12.7 million over 15.4 million one year ago.

“We’re thrilled with record revenue of over $54 billion and sales of over 75 million iOS devices in a single quarter,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We’re very confident in our product pipeline as we continue to focus on innovation and making the best products in the world.”

“We’re pleased to have generated over $23 billion in cash flow from operations during the quarter,” said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO. “We established new all-time quarterly records for iPhone and iPad sales, significantly broadened our ecosystem, and generated Apple’s highest quarterly revenue ever.”

Stunning. Who says the iPhone and iPad isn’t selling. It’s flying off the shelves.

And now the shares drop as the analyst are disappointed. Some financial person is making a mint at Apple’s expense. If anybody had a company making these numbers, that would be astonishing. These sales are being achieved in a world recession. What’s wrong with people.