Category Archives: Tech News

PC, Tablet and Smartphone Size & Other Considerations

Okay, you already have a PC or Mac. You also got tempted and bought a tablet like a Nexus 7, Kindle Fire, iPad or iPad Mini. And you also have a smartphone.

Or you are thinking about one or the other. Stop. Before you think about buying something think about what you might want to achieve with each device and the respective screen size. Think about where you will use them and why.

Lets take an example. If you have had a 4 inch screen phone, buying a 7 inch tablet would offer a significant leap up in screen real estate and make life that little bit easier. However, if you had a phone with a 5-6 inch screen, you should skip the 7-8 inch tablet and look at something nearer 10 inches to really make a difference.

So as I an example, I use my iPhone to take photos or my DLSR camera. The photos on my iPhone appear automatically on my iPad. I import my DLSR camera shots into my iPad. I then use 3 photo apps to carry out full editing as required. To really undertake decent editing you need a big screen.

However, if you are going to lug the tablet around, maybe it’s portable size might be important. I can pocket any size tablet or phone up to 10 inches as I now wear clothing that can accommodate such gadgets.

Also think about the apps and services you need. The iPad rules on apps. End of. But if you need to connect USB drives or other USB accessories stick with an android tablet.

Or stick with a phablet and compromise with one device.

Amazon new currency

Amazon has announced that in May a new virtual currency, that will be used inside apps and games for the Kindle Fire tablet family, called Amazon Coins.

Amazon is asking developers to submit their apps and games for approval by April 25, ready for the arrival of Amazon Coins the following month. Software that’s already available won’t need to be modified to accept the new currency, and developers will continue to earn their 70% share on Amazon Coins — just they do with real money.

This is an interesting move by Amazon and another blow to Google.

Siri Eyes Free

Honda has announced that support for Siri’s Eyes Free mode will be coming to the 2013 Accord and Acura RDX / ILX models “later this year.” This applies to the US cars.

Honda added that car owners will need to take eligible models to their local dealer for an optional installation that enables the special Siri mode, which lets drivers use Apple’s personal assistant while keeping their hands on the steering wheel. Additionally, Eyes Free prevents your iPhone’s screen from lighting up when active, cutting back on unnecessary distractions.

Now, get this in UK cars quickly. Siri is great in the car.

Apple’s new warnings if you jail break

Apple just released the latest knowledge base article on jail breaking. This is what might happen according to the article.

Instability: Frequent and unexpected crashes of the device, crashes and freezes of built-in apps and third-party apps, and loss of data. Security vulnerabilities: Security compromises have been introduced by these modifications that could allow hackers to steal personal information, damage the device, attack the wireless network, or introduce malware or viruses.
Shortened battery life: The hacked software has caused an accelerated battery drain that shortens the operation of an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch on a single battery charge. Unreliable voice and data: Dropped calls, slow or unreliable data connections, and delayed or inaccurate location data. Disruption of services: Services such as Visual Voicemail, Weather, and Stocks have been disrupted or no longer work on the device. Additionally, third-party apps that use the Apple Push Notification Service have had difficulty receiving notifications or received notifications that were intended for a different hacked device. Other push-based services such as iCloud and Exchange have experienced problems synchronizing data with their respective servers. Inability to apply future software updates: Some unauthorized modifications have caused damage to iOS that is not repairable. This can result in the hacked iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch becoming permanently inoperable when a future Apple-supplied iOS update is installed.
Apple strongly cautions against installing any software that hacks iOS. It is also important to note that unauthorized modification of iOS is a violation of iOS end-user license agreement and because of this, Apple may deny service for an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch that has installed any unauthorized software.

So is it really worth jail breaking ?

iOS Failings

I really like using my iPhone or iPad. But having used the Samsung Note and S3, iOS really shows its weakness with sharing and business use.

Let me explain. I received an email requiring me to complete an excel spreadsheet. No problem. I have DocsToGo installed as well as Pages. I prefer using DocsToGo as it has more options. Anyway, I completed the spreadsheet on my iPad Mini with ease. And that is where iOS now crumbles.

There is no way I could re-attach the excel spreadsheet to the existing email. I could only send it as a new email. Sorry not acceptable. So this was my workaround.

I sent using DocsToGo the excel spreadsheet to my Dropbox and saved it there. I then opened LogMeIn on my iPad and starter a remote session with my MacBook. I opened up safari, then my email account, opened the email, attached the file from Dropbox and sent it. I then closed the remote session.

Now that’s nuts. Common Apple, include this ability with iOS 7 to have access to the local files. Android has this and shares data so much easier.

After Facebook it’s

Facebook has 50% of the social media active user market. Did you know Google+ is second with 25%. YouTube and twitter are next up with the others all trailing behind.

There is growth in all these areas too. Google has managed to slip into second place by its integration with your gmail and other google services.

Rather clever strategy if you ask me.

Facebook and Google Search Wars

Now that both of these companies are offering search and Facebook is teaming up with Bing, Facebook is deciding to not allow Google access to its data.

No surprises here and as this battle for search intensifies I reckon more conflict will arise. And what happens if Facebook bring out their own mobile phone in competition with android.

This could be one interesting battle.

Does Size Matter

At the moment there are two operating systems in the lead, iOS and android. The iPhone is a 4 inch pocketable powerhouse. The size appeals to the vast the majority. What it isn’t is a compromise.

On android the top android manufacturer is Samsung. Their strategy is large screens. Take the Note and Note 2. The S3 is huge. But then they make the S3 Mini and scale down the components. Why can’t android make a top flight phone that isn’t around the 5 inch mark.

So if Google went hell for leather and made a state of the art 4 inch android phone, then Apple might have a real nightmare.

I hear some of you say, what about the new Blackberry Z10 or HTC Windows 8S. These are both around the 4 inch mark and probably are helping draw crowds in to them because they are not Goliath phones but manageable handsets. Actually I like both of these for the comfort and fit in the hand.

What do you think? Should there be a top end 4 inch android or should everything top end be around 5 inches?

And here’s a more lunatic case

If you thought the last case was extreme, let me introduce you to the Lunatik Taktik Extreme case.

This features protection from impact, drops and screen damage as well as water and dust ingression. Featuring an industry-first Corning® Gorilla® Glass Impact Lens For Screen Protection, High Impact Ballistic Bezels, 9mm Patent-Pending Impact Truss, Water + Dust Resistant Membranes, Sealed Audio & Charging Ports, Secure Screw Closure, Direct Access To All iPhone 5 Ports & Features and a neat Ringer Silencer Switch.

To give you an idea of the protection, check out the photos below. All this for $125.

20130202-203316.jpg