Category Archives: Tech News

How free is Google and its services?

Android, Tech News

You buy an android phone and its linked heavily to Google. All the data you enter is captured one way or another. Even third party apps collect data. Slowly but surely you start to use these apps by Google and Google’s services and become more and more dependent. Competing apps dwindle away, and then Google decides to change how its app or service works. It either removes part of the feature set, or cans it totally. Latitude in Maps and Google Reader are two examples.

As mobile is becoming more and more the future of computing it has now figured out how to include adverts in its Gmail app under the promotions tab. If you use Google Now it has an even better profile on you, to enable it to work out what to sell you via third party companies or itself.

So how do you feel with your data been sold, becoming dependant on a Google service then losing it, or the whole principle of your data being used for other purposes and not remaining private?

Apple posts it’s latest results

Apple, Tech News

CUPERTINO, Calif., Jul 23, 2013 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Apple(R) today announced financial results for its fiscal 2013 third quarter ended June 29, 2013. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $35.3 billion and quarterly net profit of $6.9 billion, or $7.47 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $35 billion and net profit of $8.8 billion, or $9.32 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 36.9 percent compared to 42.8 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 57 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

The Company sold 31.2 million iPhones, a record for the June quarter, compared to 26 million in the year-ago quarter. Apple also sold 14.6 million iPads during the quarter, compared to 17 million in the year-ago quarter. The Company sold 3.8 million Macs, compared to 4 million in the year-ago quarter.

It is clear from these results that to maintain it’s turnover, margins have been reduced. The iPhone however is still popular. It is still a brand people want and value.

However, people cannot afford to change their iPhone as often or don’t want to as their current model works just fine.

Apple really need to introduce the next new thing and be successful. Actually, Apple just need to launch their updated iPads and iPhones soon as they haven’t released anything for nearly a year while they focused on ios 7 and new hardware.

What we will see is a change in performance once the new hardware is released.

WeMo graces android devices

Android, Apple, Tech News

The Belkin WeMo have for some time been exclusively available on iOS devices. Now another company is offering their products on android. In a press statement, Belkin stated the following –

PLAYA VISTA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Belkin, creator of people-inspired technology products, today announced compatibility with Android 4.0 or higher devices bringing the simple, ingenious WeMo smart home platform to a greater number of mobile users.

“With more than a billion Android devices expected by 2014 according to Gartner, expanding WeMo capabilities to Android devices is a necessary step for the continued success and evolution of the WeMo brand.”
“Android users have been waiting for WeMo compatibility, and our ability to deliver on their request is an important next step in demonstrating our continued commitment to creating a simple, customizable home monitoring and control system that can be accessed wherever and whenever,” said Ohad Zeira, director of product management at Belkin.

Finally, I can start using my WeMo products with my HTC One.

OMG – The HTC One in red

Android, Tech News,

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The other day I ventured in to Phones4u and enquirer about the HTC One in red. The sales person disappeared and returned with the phone. It was taken out of the box and wrapper.

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Now the renders shown in the post make it look quite good, a number of my twitter friends who have already seen it said it looked amazing in red, but until you see to for yourself you will not be able to appreciate the drool worthy aspect of the colour and overall look. The red colour is a metallic finish, and more of a kick ass red than lipstick red as might appear in the renders.

I have seen many phones in my time, but without a doubt the HTC One in red is the most beautiful finish, style and look of anything to date. It made my delicious silver HTC One seem the poorer cousin.

My next dilemma was trying to leave the store and not purchase it ….. to be continued …..

Apple testing larger size iPad and iPhone screen sizes

Apple, Tech News, ,

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple is testing a 12.9 inch iPad screen size and an iPhone in 4.7 and 5.7 inches. None of this is a surprise really, as I’m sure Apple test many different variety of sizes in the course of time.

What might be interesting is whilst a larger iPad screen size of 12.9 inches seems a big jump from 9.7 inches, with the every reducing bezels, the overall profile of a larger screen size may not be significantly larger than the current offering. My only thought though is 12.9 inch screen size is totally overkill for an iPad or tablet and too big for general lap use. People prefer the iPad Mini size as this is far more pocketable and user friendly.

What is more believable is Apple responding to market trends towards larger screened phones and phablets. What we might see from Apple is a 4.3 or 4.5 screen iPhone but in the same size profile of the current iPhone 5, but with no bezel. This would then allow Apple to release a new device somewhere in between the iPad Mini and iPhone. Lets hope we don’t have to wait too long as I really would love to see a larger screened iPhone.

We’ve been hacked – Apple’s confession

Apple, Tech News

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In a rather unusual move from Apple, they released a statement on their Apple Developer Login page saying the site had been hacked. Developers had not been able since last Thursday to login and people were wondering what on earth was going on. This has happened at a rather awkward time, as Apple is trying to finish iOS 7 which is currently in beta.

At present Apple is re writing and creating the whole area to make it more secure. It does ask the question is anything on the web safe now?

Google’s Motorola Moto X Smartphone – photos, details and all before 1st August launch in New York

Android, Tech News

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Twitter leaker evleaks has revealed full press renders for the new Moto X smartphone. It features a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU clocked at 1.7GHz, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage with no micro-SD card slot, a 4.7-inch screen with 720p resolution, 10.5-megapixel main camera, 2.1-megapixel webcam, and a 2,200mAh non-removable battery and an always on listening.

This phone will be made in the US and will come with loads of customisation for the back. The phone’s side profile will be slightly curved and priced keenly. The camera will be setup to take quality shots and work in conjunction with Google+ photo upload and editing service.

What this phone will show that it is now possible to create a decent phone with average specs, but still be road worthy. Expect lots of voice and Google Now touches too.

Just one last thing, why can’t there be a phone launch where everything is kept secret prior to the actual launch date.
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The Nokia Lumia 1020 vs Google nightmare

Android, Tech News, Windows,

Unless you’ve been travelling in the Amazon jungle, absent of any Internet signal, you would have heard or read about Nokia’s new Lumia 1020 smartphone complete with its 41mp camera, and snap on camera grip which includes a further battery too.

And as soon as I watched the Nokia announcement, I decided the Lumia 1020 was an ideal choice of phone for me. Except one issue. It runs on windows phone 8. Now windows phone 8 is excellent. I really like the user interface and general operation. The app situation isn’t a problem either for me.

But then my nightmare problem dawned on me. At present I use the HTC One running Google’s android operating system. With this operating system I use Google Music, Maps, Navigation and Google Now regularly. These services really help make the phone so much better. And because the Lumia 1020 is a windows phone 8, none of these options are available.

I really don’t know what to do… So help me out with your thoughts.

Phone Brands – observations in the Big Smoke

Android, Apple, RIM, Tech News, Windows

About a year and a half ago I had the pleasure of travelling away from rural Devon to London.

I was sat on a underground train in London and observed iPhone after iPhone after iPhone.

Move forward to today and once again I’m in the Big Smoke. Compared to Dartmoor, Devon , London is noisy, congested and filthy.

This time phone brands observed are different. Apple still features a lot, but very noticeable was a plethora of Samsung phones. BlackBerry seemed to feature in small numbers too . I seemed to be the only person, using a HTC One, or any HTC .

Samsung not only had a strong presence but it was the size of these phones. S3 and S4 but plenty of Samsung Galaxy Notes. Despite the size of the Note , whenever I observed one, it was a female owner.

Back to my HTC One, it clearly shows what an uphill battle HTC has to gain market penetration. The same for windows phone.

There is hope for windows phone though. I took my daughter into Carphone Warehouse. She currently has a £50 pay as you go Samsung android phone. It’s rubbish but actually for £50 it’s amazing. Does everything a £500 phone does but with dreadful performance and feature sets. Anyway, I asked my daughter to go and look at all the phones and pick one she liked the style of, ignoring price. I also reminded her I wasn’t buying anything! So this was just a pure selection on style. The winner was the Nokia Lumia 925.

And then we get on to tablets. People were using these in small numbers. I even witnessed photographs been taken with tablets!

So there we have it. Samsung have clearly moved into Apple’s space and big screens as a daily driver are even more usual.