Ok, when I upgrade to my next iPhone, be it the “iPhone 5S,” or whatever Apple decides to call it, Twelve South, will be on my short list for a new case.
[Via iDownloadBlog.com…]
The “Virtual” iPhone ‘Case’
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Has the iPhone Become “Boring?”
With Apple’s hardware design relatively unchanged since 2010, do people see the iPhone as “boring?”
In a piece on iMore.com, Rene Ritchie, seems to think that Apple is facing a challenge of keeping the iPhone fresh – and by extension – interested in the fruit themed smartphone.
“Thanks to Apple’s tick-tock product cycle, where a new design is introduced one year, and that design is iteratively updated with new internals the next year, both of those problems — consumer presumption and competitive counter-programming — become amplified.
When the impression is that Apple will “only” release an S-class phone in any given year, consumers might be more interested in seeing what else is out there. They might be interested in seeing something different.”
I happen to like the iPhone 4/4S/5 form factor to that of the iPhone 3G/3GS. (The original iPhone is sort of a compromise design that I could live with, but I’m not excited about.) I’ve also said that if you read technology blogs like Smartphone Fanatics, we’re not the target market for Apple. Or Samsung for that matter.
I have a lot of respect for Rene’s work and I recommend that you read his ‘The “iPhone 5S” Problem’ article on iMore.
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Nokia to Trounce Mobile Platforms from Apple, Google
“It can be the biggest operating system in the world.”
Nokia CEO Steven Elop speaking with Bloomberg at Mobile World Congress. (Link)
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Vista Has More Users Than Windows 8
Stop and think about that for a second. The 6-year-old Windows Vista operating system, arguably the worst Window releases of all time, has more Internet traffic than Microsoft’s latest ‘flagship’ operating system, Windows 8 according to Net Applications, an analytics firm.
Sounds like raising the price from $39.99 to $199.99 for Windows Professional was exactly the boost Windows 8 needed.
[Via BGR.com…]
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Rumor: New iPhone Models Coming In August
It seems that rumors and hushed whispers are always going on these days about future Apple products and I’ve become more skeptical of them as time goes on.That said, I do catch myself getting a little excited about news of the next iPhone, rumored to be the ‘iPhone 5S’.The latest rumor de jure is that the iPhone 5S will be going on sale in August, 2013. That is not as late in the year as October, when my iPhone 4S went on sale, and later than June when older models went on sale. It’s also later than some of the rumors that put the launch date in late May or early June.As with most of these rumors, they come from somewhere deep in Apple’s supply chain and come to us via websites that we can’t read without running it through Google’s translators, so take all of this with a grain of salt.In addition to the iPhone 5S, the rumor also goes on to say that the often rumored in expensive iPhone designed for ’emerging markets’ will also begin shipping with a body made out of polycarbonate – the same material Apple’s retired white MacBooks were made out of.[Via AppleInsider.com…] -
Third-Party App Invasion
I’m a stock iOS guy. I don’t jailbreak my iPhone. (Go #TeamPure!) I don’t tweak it. I do install apps, games, and utilities. But my every day go to apps have always been the stock Apple apps: Mail, Safari, Calendar, and Siri. Until today.
Starting today, I’m going to try out some third-party applications as my every day go to apps. Why? you might ask? Well, I’ve been reading a lot about how Apple is being ‘out Appled’ by Google. In other words, Google is getting much better at hardware design faster than Apple is getting better at software and services. That doesn’t really mean much to us common folk, but it has inspired me to try out and use new software and that is a good thing.
On my iPhone and iPad 3, Mail has been replaced by Gmail, Calendar by Fantastical, Safari by Chrome, and Siri by Google Search. I also installed Google Maps in addition to Apple Maps, but honestly, I don’t use either maps app on my iPhone very often for it to make a difference.
I though about using Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Cloud Player or Rdio to replace iTunes but I didn’t want to switch to a streaming service because I don’t want to run my iPhone’s battery down any faster than it already does.
I’ll run my experiment for 2-4 weeks and then post my thoughts about things here.
If you have a favorite app that replaces a stock Apple app, let us know and post it in the comments section below.
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Staples Begins Selling Apple Products (Again)
Today Apple accessories are now being sold on the Staples website. It is also believed that Apple’s products will soon be on sale in brick and mortar locations.
When you visit Staples.com you can choose products from iPad Accessories, Mac Accessories, iPod accessories, and of course, iPhone accessories. The Apple TV is also available from Staples.
This will be a return to selling Apple products, for the office supply chain. Back in the 90’s I can remember my local Staples selling the consumer Macintosh line and classic Mac OS upgrade kits.
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LG Acquires webOS, Assets and Employees
You have *got* to be kidding me!“LG announced at this week’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, that it has purchased HP’s webOS Global Business Unit. The deal reportedly includes all of the patents, employees, and source code associated with the operating system originally developed by Palm.”
webOS. Now under new management. (Again.) So who knows what the fate of webOS Community Edition, Open webOS, and Gram will be.[Via AppleInsider.com…] -
HP Announces the Slate 7 Consumer Tablet
BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 24, 2013 — HP today announced the HP Slate7, an affordable Android Jelly Bean consumer tablet that provides customers with easy access to Google Mobile services.
With a 7-inch diagonal screen and weighing 13 ounces, the HP Slate7 is an ideal trusted personal companion, featuring a stainless-steel frame and soft black paint in gray or red on the back. It also is the industry’s first tablet to offer embedded Beats Audio, for the best-sounding, richest audio experience available on a tablet.
The HP Slate7 delivers the Google experience with services like Google Now, Google Search, Gmail, YouTube, Google Drive and Google+ Hangouts for multiperson video chat as well as access to apps and digital content through Google Play.
“To address the growing interest in tablets among consumers and businesses alike, HP will offer a range of form factors and leverage an array of operating systems,” said Alberto Torres, senior vice president, Mobility Global Business Unit, HP. “Our new HP Slate7 on Android represents a compelling entry point for consumer tablets, while our ground-breaking, business-ready HP ElitePad on Windows® 8 is ideal for enterprises and governments. Both deliver the service and support people expect from HP.”
The HP Slate7 joins the recently introduced HP Chromebook as part of HP’s push to offer access to the Google experience.
For $169 dollars, I’d buy one to play with, but the real question I have is: will it run Open webOS?
Read more on the HP Slate 7 website.
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Samsung Announces the Galaxy Note 8.0
SEOUL, Korea February 24, 2013 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today announced the launch of the 8 inch tablet, the GALAXY Note 8.0; a new era of intelligent Note technology set to re-ignite the mid-size tablet category that Samsung established in 2010. Providing unrivalled multimedia performance within a compact one-hand-grip screen, the GALAXY Note 8.0 has the power and advanced technology to evolve the tablet experience and ensure you achieve new levels of efficient multi-tasking while benefitting from superb voice call functionality. Furthermore, the intelligent S Pen brings together the latest innovation and the ease of using a traditional pen and paper; creating a sophisticated mobile experience that will enhance life on the go.“Back in 2010 the launch of the first Samsung GALAXY Tab with 7 inch screen opened a new chapter in the mobile industry. Now almost three years later, Samsung continues to evolve the sector that meets the demands of modern life.” said JK Shin, President of the IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.“The GALAXY Note 8.0 breaths fresh life into the category as it delivers the perfect fusion of portability and everyday productivity – the result is a pioneering, pocket-sized solution that enhances and enriches our everyday lives, whether at work or play,” added Shin.At the core of the GALAXY Note 8.0’s innovative solutions are beneficial functions, including multi-window options to split the portable 8inch screen and allow optimal access to a number of live applications; a new generation of Samsung’s intelligent S Pen with advanced usability; access to a suite of S Note templates and tools that allow you to create, edit, manage and share everyday documents; the Samsung “reading mode” technology to enjoy e books with optimized resolution, video and voice calls＊. In addition, a suite of exciting new content and services are pre-loaded for users at no additional cost including, for the very first time on Samsung GALAXY tablet, the innovative Flipboard, and Awesome Note.A smart diary for life on the goSlim and compact enough to become the perfect on-the-go work and play companion, the GALAXY Note 8.0 brings powerful performance and functionality to support even the most demanding of lifestyles. Designed to store and manage your personal and professional data efficiently, the new era device gives users the perfect pocket-sized hands-on organizational tool. Practical S Note templates and S Planner feature help to manage everyday tasks, including meeting notes, to-do lists and even personal diary entries. All content can be entered and updated with the finest of detail thanks to the evolution of the intelligent Samsung S Pen. Enhanced precision is offered with Handwriting-to-Text conversion and advanced Productivity Tools that support formula and shape recognition are now available at the touch of your S Pen.New content and servicesGALAXY Note 8.0 is packed with pre-loaded content and apps specifically for the value maximizing, mass multimedia consumer. Upgraded Chat-On provides easy instant messaging and group chatting in multiple formats – images, video, voice, contacts – for simple, enjoyable communication. Awesome Note, an integrated application that is introduced in android tablet for the first time with NOTE 8.0, is capable of unlimited note-taking uses including Memo, Diary and Must-remember lists. With Flipboard, your news, social network and other feeds come together in one stylish, flippable format so you can enjoy all your news and life’s great moments in one place. Flipboard developed a customized version of its application exclusively for Samsung that allows users to take the S Pen’s hover feature and preview article headers beneath Flipboard’s main screen tiles. Finally, Smart Remote, gives you a universal remote control and electronic programming guide allowing you to manage TV and video watching seamlessly.A new age of S Pen intelligenceOptimized to aid personalized creativity, the Samsung S Pen has evolved to increase everyday usability and enhance creation expression. Embedded within the tablet, the S Pen is an extension of the GALAXY Note 8.0. Removing the S Pen from the device will automatically launch innovative features such as Pen Detection that will suggest adapted menus that it thinks you’ll need and Page Buddy, a feature that will intuitively activate your most recently adapted S Note home screen.S Pen technology is now so advanced that it doesn’t even have to touch the screen. With Air View, the S Pen needs only to hover over the screen to see previews of videos, emails, photos and appointments on SPlanner without opening the file or application in full. S Pen Gesture allows images and content to be easily edited and cropped, whilst Paper Artist and Photo Note allow photos to be artistically personalized.In addition, for the very first time in GALAXY NOTE category, you can use S Pen to control the physical menu/back buttons on the device with WACOM technology.Maximizing mass multimedia consumptionCreative multi-tasking with the GALAXY Note 8.0 is effortless due to innovative Dual View feature, two multi window options that seamlessly allow you to facilitate multi-screen usage. Dual View’s split screen accommodates optimal operation of different apps, such as launching the S Note on the web browser screen and allowing content to be resized, dragged and dropped as required.Multi-tasking is extended to phone calls＊. Pop Up Note allows you to access S Note at any time to keep track of key actions and Pop Up Video ensures you can keep surfing the web whilst chatting – content windows can be easily resized by pinching to enlarge or reduce.Perfect info-tainment partnerPacked with features to engage, entertain and excite, the GALAXY Note 8.0 supports your practical everyday needs. Reading Mode transforms the GALAXY Note 8.0 into an e-Book reader, provides the optimal reading conditions to ensure you can curl up and enjoy a good book. You can even turn it into a universal remote control with Smart Remote, to seamlessly manage TVs, set-up boxes, DVD & Blu-ray players.You can read the full press release on the Samsung Mobile website.
