tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74947142024-03-05T23:25:15.676-10:00iPhone, iPad, Mac & MeHow I use an iPhone 8 Plus, an iPad, and a MacBook Air in my daily life.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.comBlogger363125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-60320402555922899792018-09-12T13:45:00.002-10:002018-09-14T12:49:03.084-10:00iPhone 8 Plus vs. iPhone XR<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2A9Z7DGaV29hC0OimU3brurXouYknmg_rG7jo2HjdrurFTJmtuaKpUMK1Zy1WSaZb-XmjJ4ZiI-Ck2dpgwboHWV38BuFpukZz_D5Py5Dlsli73tSIHBrjuHHlco1F5eFL3qL/s1600/iPhone_XR_StreetShot_09122018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="1142" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2A9Z7DGaV29hC0OimU3brurXouYknmg_rG7jo2HjdrurFTJmtuaKpUMK1Zy1WSaZb-XmjJ4ZiI-Ck2dpgwboHWV38BuFpukZz_D5Py5Dlsli73tSIHBrjuHHlco1F5eFL3qL/s640/iPhone_XR_StreetShot_09122018.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy: Apple</td></tr>
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I'm only 10 months into paying my iPhone 8 Plus, so I won't be eligible for an upgrade for a while. But, if I were to upgrade, would I be interested in the new iPhone XR?<br />
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Last year, I didn't feel the extra money was worth getting the iPhone X. Is the XR worth upgrading from the 8 Plus?<br />
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<a name='more'></a><b>SCREEN</b><br />
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Both the 8 Plus and the XR feature LCD screens, unlike the OLED screens of its Xs cousins. But, the XR has a larger 6.1" screen with a slightly "better" Liquid Retina screen. The pixels-per-inch actually goes down (from 401 to 326), but has a better contrast ratio (from 1300:1 to 1400:1).<br />
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<b>SIZE</b><br />
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Despite having a larger screen, the XR is actually slightly smaller in size than the 8 Plus. The height of the XR is about a quarter-of-an-inch smaller and the width is about 2 millimeters shorter. The XR is actually about three-quarters-of-a-millimeter thicker and the weight about a third-of-an-ounce lighter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8BkzcbCOYQG6EPgWDG6jV5TVRGVgX8plOt8oGtNnqUjmN4Hv-mhdHLDURLR3MwYUkw3WFJhgEbfjNZEMJKxZR-G8RfCwcZyfZ4o5AkUEAvUvVtK9IhFW3NsWhK5QZuAI_Hfk/s1600/iPhone_XR_black-back_09122018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="1142" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8BkzcbCOYQG6EPgWDG6jV5TVRGVgX8plOt8oGtNnqUjmN4Hv-mhdHLDURLR3MwYUkw3WFJhgEbfjNZEMJKxZR-G8RfCwcZyfZ4o5AkUEAvUvVtK9IhFW3NsWhK5QZuAI_Hfk/s320/iPhone_XR_black-back_09122018.jpg" width="279" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy: Apple</td></tr>
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<b>COLORS</b><br />
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Taking a page from the iPhone 5c, the XR comes in a myriad of colors: black, white, blue, yellow, coral (pink) and (Product) RED. The 8 Plus only came in space gray, silver and gold.<br />
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The XR appears to have a matte aluminum finish as opposed to the glossy finish of the 8 Plus. But, that also means the black on the XR is a deeper black and the white is a brighter white. Like the iPhone X, all of the XR phones have a black bezel on its screen unlike previous iPhones that were either white or black. Frankly, I'm glad they got rid of the white bezel.<br />
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<b>CAMERAS</b><br />
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Now, the difference in cameras is where I have problems upgrading to the XR. The rear-facing camera on the 8 Plus is pretty close to the dual camera system on the X. On the XR, we go back to a single camera system like the iPhone 8. Because of that, the XR loses the 2x optical zoom and even the digital zoom is a paltry 5x compared with the 10x on the 8 Plus. The XR also loses some portrait lighting effects -- Stage & Stage Mono, to be specific.<br />
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The XR does have support for the <a href="https://www.apple.com/iphone-xr/cameras/" target="_blank">advanced bokeh, Depth Control and Smart HDR features</a>, which are really cool. For video recording on the rear-facing camera, the XR now has an extended dynamic range up to 30 fps as well as stereo recording.<br />
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The front-facing camera gets a fairly major upgrade for the XR. It finally gets portrait mode with Portrait Lighting as well as the new features like advanced bokeh and Depth Control. Taking a video selfie on the XR now comes with extended dynamic range at 30 fps, Cinematic video stabilization at 1080p and 720p, 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps, as well as Animoji and Memoji.<br />
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<b>FAREWELL</b><br />
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With the XR, we bid goodbye to the Home button and 3D Touch. The Xs will get 3D Touch, but it is apparent that will be a luxury feature. The Home button is also no longer necessary now that Face ID is the primary unlocking and security authentication method.<br />
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<b>PROCESSOR</b><br />
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The A11 Bionic with Neural Engine is replaced with the A12 Bionic with the next-generation Neural Engine. While I could spout all kinds of numbers, none of that really matters to the average person. There were <a href="https://youtu.be/wFTmQ27S7OQ?t=55m12s" target="_blank">a couple of demos that showed off the processing power</a>.<br />
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<b>AUDIO</b><br />
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The XR has a wider stereo playback, according to Apple. Not sure what that means but I'll need to hear it myself.<br />
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<b>BATTERY LIFE</b><br />
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Apple says general battery life is up to 1.5 hours longer than the 8 Plus.<br />
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<b>DUAL SIM</b><br />
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Unless you travel or need to keep two separate plans on one phone, then most won't need the dual SIM feature on the XR. But, it's nice to know it's there.<br />
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<b>PRICING</b><br />
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Pricing for the XR starts at $749 for the 64GB version. However, the real bargain is at the 128GB model, which is $799. That's $50 less than the 256GB 8 Plus and the 8 Plus didn't have a 128GB option. I believe that 128GB is that sweet spot for most people. The XR tops out at 256GB at $899.<br />
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<b>FINAL THOUGHTS</b><br />
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For me, the lack of 2x optical zoom is the dealbreaker. I have used that feature so many times over the past year. However, if you take mostly portrait or landscape photos, the XR could be for you. The XR has a decent amount of camera features that are similar to the Xs, especially if you are into taking photo or video selfies. If you need the dual SIM feature, you'll have to get an Xs or XR. Also, if FOMO is kicking in with the Animoji and Memoji, the XR is the lowest cost option. The XR also sports the widest amount of color options in an iPhone.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-33261922209509907312018-03-28T15:29:00.002-10:002018-03-28T15:29:37.970-10:00Why I'm a getting a 2018 iPad (or, Too Cool For School)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySZgkWud82rqdCJNmPWvemPmakXCmLFT4TUnSUjI-y0Ec_tBVPkq1UnPBWCzh-dWYVWjK-PlXc47l7ft08Fd76avvOvDamD1mSS3vDHjGEB-chk4MFDM7xq7frstpazTfZagq/s1600/ipad_9_7_inch_pencil_slider_32718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="1600" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySZgkWud82rqdCJNmPWvemPmakXCmLFT4TUnSUjI-y0Ec_tBVPkq1UnPBWCzh-dWYVWjK-PlXc47l7ft08Fd76avvOvDamD1mSS3vDHjGEB-chk4MFDM7xq7frstpazTfZagq/s640/ipad_9_7_inch_pencil_slider_32718.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Courtesy: Apple</span><br />
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After four years and five months, I have decided to upgrade my 128GB LTE iPad Air. Thank you, educators and students!<br />
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So, I'm getting the sixth-generation iPad, Wi-Fi-only, with 128 GB of storage for $429. I ordered it today (March 28) from Best Buy to take advantage of the $25 Best Buy gift card to offset the cost of an Apple Pencil.<br />
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So, why am I taking the plunge now?<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
<b>Apple Pencil capability</b><br />
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I take more notes now than I ever have. Maybe even more than I did in college. I have been using my iPad to take notes and sometimes I use a stylus. But, it isn't the same as using the Apple Pencil. This feature alone put it over the top for me.<br />
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Also, since I haven't seen an upgrade for more than four years, there will be numerous upgrades across the board, although I'm getting one of the most inexpensive iPads around:<br />
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<b>Touch ID</b><br />
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Touch ID didn't come out until the iPad Air 2 in October 2014. So, I missed it by about a year. I've already had two generations of iPhones with Touch ID, so it will be nice to finally have an iPad I don't have to constantly type in a passcode.<br />
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I also use Apple Pay fairly regularly and it will be nice to have that capability on my iPad as well.<br />
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<b>Processor Upgrade</b><br />
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My iPad Air has a 64-bit A7 processor with an M7 motion co-processor. The A7 is a 1.4 GHz dual-core chip with 1 GB of RAM.<br />
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The 2018 iPad is light years ahead. It has an A10 Fusion chip (but not quite the A10X Fusion in the iPads Pro) with an M10 motion co-processor. The A10 is a 2.34 GHz quad-core chip with 2GB of RAM.<br />
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<a href="https://www.imore.com/ipad-6" target="_blank">iMore's Geekbench 4 benchmarks</a> put the 2018 iPad with a 3254 single-core rating and 5857 multi-core rating.<br />
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Using Geekbench 3 on the iPad Air, it got a 1454 single-core rating with a 2586 multi-core rating.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuYdIFgypAxjPSAHAtL1VgNNBaDFkTdiOkZsbtH1rT62sfYHUQ2PoSc0w4L_ScvZVFUUj7HHwGf965_FfBd2lElX6ZK6JE_2lVDvnfkzvIAWIuh5N56hSXH_XSeexC1DqWFR4/s1600/ipad_9_7_inch_apple_pencil_support_32718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="1142" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuYdIFgypAxjPSAHAtL1VgNNBaDFkTdiOkZsbtH1rT62sfYHUQ2PoSc0w4L_ScvZVFUUj7HHwGf965_FfBd2lElX6ZK6JE_2lVDvnfkzvIAWIuh5N56hSXH_XSeexC1DqWFR4/s640/ipad_9_7_inch_apple_pencil_support_32718.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Courtesy: Apple</span><br />
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<b>Camera</b><br />
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While I probably won't use the iPad for many photos or videos, it's nice to have an upgraded rear camera.<br />
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The iPad Air has a paltry 5.0 MP iSight camera. The 2018 iPad at least has an 8.0 MP iSight camera. They both can do 1080p video recording. They also both have a horrible 1.2 MP front-facing camera. But, I won't do selfies or FaceTime with the iPad.<br />
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<b>Downgrading from LTE to Wi-Fi</b><br />
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Last fall, I decided to kill the iPad's data plan and figured out a workflow for my tablet. So, I'm saving $130 and the money I would've paid in a monthly data plan. I also want a lighter tablet since I take it around with me all the time.<br />
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I can live without a fully laminated display with antireflective coating and powered by ProMotion technology, a P3 wide color display and True Tone technology. I can also live without the Smart Connector, the 12.0 MP rear camera with optical image stabilization and quad-LED True Tone flash as well as 4K video recording, slo-mo support for 1080p at 120 fps, and continuous autofocus during video recordings. Don't need a 7.0 MP front-facing camera as well as four speakers. While the second-generation Touch ID would have been nice, just to have Touch ID on my iPad is good enough.<br />
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For those who have the iPad Air 2, 9.7" iPad Pro, 10.5" iPad Pro, or 12.9" iPad Pro, you would probably NOT want the 2018 iPad. But, for me, it's an upgrade that's long overdue.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-63657969854758836892018-02-17T13:43:00.001-10:002018-02-17T13:43:14.932-10:00My first iPhone failure<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQyNxe1c11o7qEZwRDiO1qWF-aDdN-_KeFar7cFgG7cyPtIz0XWUOFFP_YlQGtyMQTauJCWzd8U-4gfyRcgLcC7wHgWlPuE8xVY70Ih_67vzfQPOfvVRC3pp6OyLwCcogdALX/s1600/iPhone8Plus_and_iPhone8_new_camera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1529" data-original-width="1142" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQyNxe1c11o7qEZwRDiO1qWF-aDdN-_KeFar7cFgG7cyPtIz0XWUOFFP_YlQGtyMQTauJCWzd8U-4gfyRcgLcC7wHgWlPuE8xVY70Ih_67vzfQPOfvVRC3pp6OyLwCcogdALX/s320/iPhone8Plus_and_iPhone8_new_camera.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Courtesy: Apple</span></td></tr>
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After having owned an iPhone for the last 10 years, I finally encountered a problem that left my iPhone 8 Plus dead. Thankfully, it happened in the first three months of having the 8 Plus and it was covered under warranty.<br />
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Every night I usually put my iPhone on the charger so I have a 100% battery every morning. Last Thursday, I woke up and found my iPhone was off. I tried to turn it on using the wake button and it didn't go on. I followed the steps in <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201412" target="_blank">this support article</a> to try and get my iPhone to turn on without going into DFU mode and erasing the whole thing.<br />
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For some reason, I couldn't get the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/apple-store/id375380948?mt%3D8" target="_blank">Apple Store app</a> to make a reservation with an Apple Genius. It kept trying to take me to <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/apple-support/id1130498044?mt=8" target="_blank">Apple Support</a>.<br />
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So, I went to the Ala Moana Center Apple Store and checked in and made a reservation. It took me about an hour from the time the store opened at 9:30 a.m. to get a "new" iPhone 8 Plus. I spent the rest of the day restoring my backup from iCloud. All of my apps downloaded by the evening. I have 214 apps.<br />
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All in all, it was fairly painless to fix the problem. I don't even know exactly what the problem was with my original 8 Plus. But, I don't really have to know. I just needed a phone because I was expecting a call that day.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-67077730837409754392016-04-11T13:16:00.002-10:002016-04-11T13:16:32.927-10:00Finding a sweet spot for the price of the Apple Watch Sport<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3QEIVAS2ee2i-KsBuf7eslQ8jG7hBT9bVBJIqGOXRquS_tfdEHVim59EiKhYZG-NVGsFtg_avb1y_CeN90rOzf6OAADjERbQgknX42WgY3l89M7UxAuUiMVcJy7JSGgAK7Hj/s1600/Watch_Hero_3-Up-PRINT.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3QEIVAS2ee2i-KsBuf7eslQ8jG7hBT9bVBJIqGOXRquS_tfdEHVim59EiKhYZG-NVGsFtg_avb1y_CeN90rOzf6OAADjERbQgknX42WgY3l89M7UxAuUiMVcJy7JSGgAK7Hj/s640/Watch_Hero_3-Up-PRINT.tif" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Courtesy: Apple</span></div>
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Apple is estimated to have sold 10.6 million of its Apple Watch in 2015. That's a lot of wearables. But, the device is nowhere near ubiquitous compared with the iPhone, the iPad or even the Mac. I don't know many people who own and wear the Apple Watch everyday.</div>
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Recently, Apple dropped the price for its Sport models by $50. That's a good start in finding a fiscal sweet spot for the device. But, I think Apple can do more.</div>
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<a name='more'></a>Even with the price drop, Apple's Sport models are $300 for the 38mm and $350 for the 42mm. Those are hardly impulse-buying prices.<br />
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To encourage more sales, my suggestion would be to drop the price of the Apple Watch Sport by $100 if two Sport watches are bought in one transaction. A couple might be able to buy the 38mm and 42mm Sport watches for $550. That would bring the price down to sub-$300 levels for each watch. I feel that could be the Apple Watch Sport's sweet spot. Even, if it is two 42mm watches, the total price would be $600 and that would be exactly $300 each.</div>
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Buying one Apple Watch could be a drag, especially if you don't know anyone else who has one. So, the special emoji, heartbeat and drawing features would go unused since you may not know anyone else who has an Apple Watch. And those that do know someone with an Apple Watch may not want to send a heartbeat to that person. Buying the Apple Watch Sport in pairs, especially for couples, makes sense.</div>
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I'm no market nor financial expert and I don't claim to be. But, my thought here is to make the buy-in for the Apple Watch a little lower and it would also help Apple move the Watch a little faster because people will be buying them in pairs more often.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-53437663531729357392016-03-22T15:49:00.003-10:002016-03-22T15:51:05.354-10:00Back to 4"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5ghVhVm-y371hSHoYybBtTrbf6pT6LJNcZASal4ILF1F1ILkHKMPnZE0t0ZvE3__24fo3xD_R5qjeMfM4UIU9xzHtgscpF7HNJFaVkgIf__vgB_jCX9WgSjVQdshp2_2YPv-/s1600/iPhoneSE-4ColorLineUp-PR_US-EN-PRINT.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5ghVhVm-y371hSHoYybBtTrbf6pT6LJNcZASal4ILF1F1ILkHKMPnZE0t0ZvE3__24fo3xD_R5qjeMfM4UIU9xzHtgscpF7HNJFaVkgIf__vgB_jCX9WgSjVQdshp2_2YPv-/s320/iPhoneSE-4ColorLineUp-PR_US-EN-PRINT.tif" width="288" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo courtesy: Apple</span></b><br />
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Although I'm perfectly fine with my 18-month-old iPhone 6 Plus, I'm recommending the "new" <a href="https://www.apple.com/iphone-se/" target="_blank">iPhone SE</a> to some of my friends who have an iPhone 5s.<br />
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It's basically an iPhone 6s tucked into a 5s minus 3D Touch. In addition to a beefier processor and a much-improved camera, the SE comes with Apple Pay functionality, Live Photos support and a much faster Touch ID experience.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>To lessen the blow of not having 3D Touch for the SE, I told them that they wouldn't miss it because they never had it! And they agreed!<br />
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I went so far as to show one of my friends a video of what 3D Touch does on the iPhone and she said that it's not a must-have feature.<br />
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While me and a lot of iPhone users prefer 4.7-inch or 5.5-inch screens, the iPhone SE is perfect for the <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2016/02/04/mixpanel-4-inch-iphone-stats/" target="_blank">32.22 percent of iPhone users who use a 4-inch screen</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-26194251108700185052014-08-19T13:19:00.000-10:002014-08-19T13:19:57.103-10:00To 4.7" or 5.5"?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-6/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2GadG3a9h2VWau2MdUEPm9yTAosgDW-pzUzLtBvzMTx3JB9zIG5DbuFJnX5MNoXV7MbA0MlCsm3mg89OxzdFzAs2y15cIjXqqmoJVPPN8gKIY6ydx3Mc2GoGM1MtBEGPepzd/s1600/iphone_6_sizes_1000.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
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The rumors on the new iPhone 6 are pointing to two new sizes this fall. The iPhone 5/5s saw the screen size increase from 3.5" to 4". The new screen sizes are supposedly 4.7" and 5.5". With my disdain for extremely large phones (e.g. Galaxy Note, Mega), at one point I was dead set on getting a 4.7" iPhone. But, the rumors have me really thinking about getting the 5.5" version.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
Here are two reasons why I may want an iPhone with a 5.5" screen:<br />
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<ol>
<li><a href="http://9to5mac.com/2014/06/24/kgi-4-7-iphones-camera-may-not-support-optical-image-stabilization-5-5-likely-will/" target="_blank">Optical image stabilization for 5.5" iPhone only</a>: KGI Securities says the 5.5" iPhone is likely to have optical image stabilization while the 4.7" iPhone may not. Optical image stabilization is what gives point-and-shoot cameras the ability to shoot clear photos even if your hand is not completely still. Since I'm really into iPhone photography, this is a big deal for me.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2014/08/15/apparent-5-5-inch-iphone6-battery/" target="_blank">5.5" iPhone could have better battery life than the 4.7"</a>: Photos of a 2,915 mAh battery for the 5.5" iPhone has surfaced. Compare this with a <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2014/08/06/4-7-iphone-6-2100-mah-battery/" target="_blank">possible 1,810-2,100 mAh battery for the 4.7"</a> iPhone. Both batteries are an improvement from the iPhone 5s 1,560 mAh battery and the iPhone 5 1,440 mAh battery.</li>
</ol>
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For me, battery life and picture quality are high on my lists of wants for the new iPhone. If I have to buy the insanely larger iPhone, then I'll do it to get those feature. I hope Apple takes advantage of the larger screen real estate to create a new class of apps that'll work with special features on the 5.5" iPhone, not unlike the iPad-only apps.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-31495229480767872902014-07-15T16:35:00.000-10:002016-03-22T16:43:49.498-10:00IBM chooses Apple for mobile enterprise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0tyaciXqxhzvzzVTK7RP0PFMFX1y6GZYhrI7F6w9MiQ0r6-mgN3onAWfjLCdWlcvRRGN3ANIs9NrsWMYwtm58t9mplZWqE2pDZgH16r2-egjYntmv97a2PW4QaoUP4Pk_yaH/s1600/Apple_IBM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0tyaciXqxhzvzzVTK7RP0PFMFX1y6GZYhrI7F6w9MiQ0r6-mgN3onAWfjLCdWlcvRRGN3ANIs9NrsWMYwtm58t9mplZWqE2pDZgH16r2-egjYntmv97a2PW4QaoUP4Pk_yaH/s1600/Apple_IBM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i>"If for some reason, we make some giant mistakes and IBM wins, my personal feeling is that we are going to enter sort of a computer Dark Ages for about 20 years. Once IBM gains control of a market sector, they almost always stop innovation. They prevent innovation from happening."</i><br />
<br />
<b>- Steve Jobs, 1985 interview with Playboy magazine</b><br />
<br />
Thirty years after the 1984 Super Bowl ad that imagined a bleak future with IBM in control, Apple has formed an exclusive partnership with IBM to bring enterprise solutions to the iPhone and iPad.<br />
<br />
Apple CEO Tim Cook is no stranger to IBM. He was IBM's North American Fulfillment director for its personal computer business for 12 years.<br />
<br />
Apple has worked with IBM before. From 1995 to 2005, Macintosh computers and laptops were built on the PowerPC architecture.<br />
<br />
But, as you can see from the Steve Jobs quote, Apple and IBM have been fierce competitors. Somewhere along the line, Microsoft replaced IBM as Public Enemy #1. In Apple's mobile phone era, Google became a target after purchasing and developing a competing mobile operating system, Android, while then-CEO Eric Schmidt was still on the Apple board. After Samsung scored hits with the Galaxy SII and SIII, Apple focused on the South Korean company.<br />
<br />
IBM announced in 2004 that it would be selling its PC division to Lenovo. While Microsoft, Google and Samsung are still competitors, IBM hasn't been competing in the consumer hardware or software industries for years.<br />
<br />
It's interesting that at a time when Apple is about to introduce at least one new product category, as Tim Cook has promised, that a deal like this can still be done. The iPhone and iPad, without plan or design, took over enterprise as employees brought in their own devices, like myself. Even though none of this was planned by Apple, the Cupertino company is ready to take full advantage of the current situation at the workplace.<br />
<br />
So, when can I replace Outlook at work?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-54739032444048827842014-06-02T15:04:00.000-10:002016-03-22T15:55:21.283-10:00iOS 8 & OSX Yosemite<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSQAaR6tvN0gyX2Cdl6OHl8JugNXRqtPHu_5Z3zYQkiPSNHIz2YwRJkAsxSE7U477_wyEWjJyg11HymTvEdAFJlKFH8-m3_B4tr9KQdlOuZL4if9RJkkjxU0h2D21e_mvOtgd/s1600/Roundel_OSX_Yosemite-PRINT.tif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gj6ktgm3EAIKpA0vq8tkAm2cYNZgbYwmQMqBJ0hiqrDrNEwBG4UTIEH-MT49oj_2rsZSsSTOjDSDWXb991hOjipFiaNt5Wf1MFI2dc8BjM3ezlxLy1B_xAardV0kko9jFQbi/s1600/iPhone5s_iPadMini_PhotosMoments-PRINT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gj6ktgm3EAIKpA0vq8tkAm2cYNZgbYwmQMqBJ0hiqrDrNEwBG4UTIEH-MT49oj_2rsZSsSTOjDSDWXb991hOjipFiaNt5Wf1MFI2dc8BjM3ezlxLy1B_xAardV0kko9jFQbi/s320/iPhone5s_iPadMini_PhotosMoments-PRINT.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="296" /></a><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSQAaR6tvN0gyX2Cdl6OHl8JugNXRqtPHu_5Z3zYQkiPSNHIz2YwRJkAsxSE7U477_wyEWjJyg11HymTvEdAFJlKFH8-m3_B4tr9KQdlOuZL4if9RJkkjxU0h2D21e_mvOtgd/s320/Roundel_OSX_Yosemite-PRINT.tif" width="292" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Where do I start? The keynote at the <a href="https://developer.apple.com/wwdc/" target="_blank">2014 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference</a> is now my favorite among the keynotes in recent years. There were <a href="http://www.cnet.com/news/with-no-amazing-products-due-at-wwdc-apples-tim-cook-feels-the-heat/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">no new hardware announcements</a>. After all, this is a keynote for a software developers conference. I already knew that the <a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/05/30/rumor-split-screen-multitasking-on-ipad-not-on-tap-for-wwdc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">split screen multitasking function rumored for the iPad</a> would not be ready for WWDC. And, still, I think this was the most game changing keynote in a long time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's recap.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.apple.com/ios/ios8/" target="_blank">iOS 8</a></b></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.apple.com/ios/ios8/photos/" target="_blank">Updated Photos app</a></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">iCloud Photo Library - All of your photos and videos are in the cloud as much as you are willing to pay for the cloud storage. As usual, 5GB are free. If you shell out $.99/month you can get an additional 20GB of cloud storage; $3.99/month gets you 200GB. Pricing tiers will be available up to 1TB. </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Apple realizes they can't sell you more devices without giving you relatively inexpensive access to cloud storage. - CW)</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo searching</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Smart adjustments - iOS 8 gives the user access to native photo adjustments like brightness, contrast and exposure, but also makes it easy for the non-expert to lighten/darken photos and other adjustments.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3rd-party filters & editing tools - I believe this will be a <b>game changer</b>. Photo editing apps will eventually be mostly plug-ins for the native photo app. All of your 3rd-party filters and editing functions will be all in one place! Apple won't have a reason to compete with the developers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Time-lapse video - As far as I remember, this wasn't mentioned in the keynote. Time-lapse apps will now need to add more features.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.apple.com/ios/ios8/messages/" target="_blank">Updated Messages app</a></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Voice messaging - Although <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/whatsapp-ceo-angry-imessage-ripoffs-2014-6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Whatsapp is the most vocal whiner</a> on this feature, this feature has been on instant messaging apps for a very long time. Whatsapp did not invent this.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quick videos - It just makes it much easier to send very short videos.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Group messaging features - Thank you! We will no longer be a slave to group messaging. If you don't wish to be part of a group messaging thread, you can now leave! Yay! You can also take people out and name your conversation.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sharing your location - I can see using this a lot. Maybe you don't want to use Find My Friends and just want to say to someone, "I'm here!" It's now much easier to do this.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Attachment browser - If you get pummeled with pictures and videos, it will be much easier to browse them.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Easy sharing of multiple photos, videos - Currently, to share multiple photos and videos, you will have to go to the Photos app and select the pictures and/or videos you want to send in Messages. This basically, skips having to leave the Messages app.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.apple.com/ios/ios8/design/" target="_blank">Functional design</a></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Interactive notifications - iOS takes a page from OSX and will have interactive notifications. It is very helpful on OSX and will make iOS more functional. This will also be open to 3rd-party apps.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Favorites/Recently called widget in multitasking screen - I use Siri to make calls, but if you really want to use the touchscreen, this is a nice way to get to Recents and Favorites. You may be able to bury your phone and/or contacts app in a folder instead of putting it in your dock.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Time-saving features in Mail - This takes a page from Gmail. It's nice and convenient, but we'll have to learn some new gestures. It's also easier to add events in your calendar or people in your contacts.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Safari features in iPhone get ported to the iPad - I never really noticed this was missing from the iPad.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Keyboard versatility - iOS catches up with Android with predictive typing and 3rd-party system-wide keyboards. Can you say "Swype?" This feature will be initially available to 14 countries.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.apple.com/ios/ios8/family-sharing/" target="_blank">Family sharing</a></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Share the same apps, music and other media with up to six family members who are linked to the same credit card without having to share accounts. - This is a long-overdue feature that will really make things easier for kids and adults.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Family Photo Album</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Family Calendar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Find Your Family </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Find Your Family's Devices</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Parental control over app/in-app purchases</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.apple.com/ios/ios8/icloud-drive/" target="_blank">iCloud Drive</a></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Apple's answer to Google Drive and Microsoft's OneDrive. Again this is dependent on how much cloud storage you have, but a very welcome solution to cloud computing.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.apple.com/ios/ios8/health/" target="_blank">Health app</a></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An all-in-one app that brings together the multitude of heath and fitness devices out there. Or, you can call this iWatch, Part 1.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.apple.com/ios/ios8/continuity/" target="_blank">Device continuity</a></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Handoff will let you go seamlessly between your iPhone, iPad and Mac through a number of Apple apps. They're also opening this up for 3rd-party apps.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Make and receive calls on your iPad or Mac through your iPhone.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In addition to iMessage, you will now be able to make and receive SMS and MMS on your iPad and Mac.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Instant Hotspot - An easier way to access the Hotspot feature on your iPhone. This is subject to rules with your carrier.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.apple.com/ios/ios8/spotlight/" target="_blank">Enhanced Spotlight</a></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spotlight gets more useful by going beyond what's on your own device. It will search the Internet and even places like the App Store.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.apple.com/ios/ios8/enterprise/" target="_blank">New Enterprise Features</a></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.apple.com/osx/preview/" target="_blank">OSX Yosemite</a></b></span></div>
<div>
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<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.apple.com/osx/preview/design/" target="_blank">10.10 Redesign</a> - This doesn't really look like iOS 7 but takes enough of those cues to make it more uniform with iOS. It's a flatter design, but it still includes certain design aspects like drop shadows.</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Add widgets to Notification Center</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spotlight is enhanced, similar to iOS, plus the search bar appears in the middle of the screen</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.apple.com/osx/preview/apps/" target="_blank">Updated built-in apps</a></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Streamlined Safari</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pulldown Favorites in the search/address bar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tab View</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spotlight works in search/address bar</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Enhanced Mail</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mail Drop allows attachments up to 5GB per message</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Markup attachments right in Mail</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">iOS 8 features in Messages</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finder</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">iCloud in Finder via iCloud Drive</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AirDrop works between OSX and iOS</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photos in OSX</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Coming in early 2015</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
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</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://developer.apple.com/technologies/" target="_blank">Apple Development</a></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://developer.apple.com/swift/" target="_blank">Swift</a></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A new programming language that works alongside Objective-C and makes it easier for developers</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://developer.apple.com/icloud/" target="_blank">CloudKit</a></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As iCloud features expand for the consumer, it's also opened up to the developer.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://developer.apple.com/xcode/" target="_blank">Xcode 6</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.apple.com/ios/ios8/developer/" target="_blank">New iOS SDK</a></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More than 4,000 news APIs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sharing options</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo editing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Custom Actions</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Notification Center widgets</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Custom keyboards</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Document sharing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Touch ID</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PhotoKit</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Camera API</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CloudKit</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">HealthKit</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">HomeKit</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gaming</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SpriteKit</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SceneKit</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Metal</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That's a pretty dizzying list of new features for all of Apple's major platforms. And, interestingly enough, I think the list of developer changes is what really will radically change the iOS experience.</span><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
The ways Apple is opening up app access to the OS here will change the experience for users more than any single OS feature.<br />
— Jason Snell (@jsnell) <a href="https://twitter.com/jsnell/statuses/473534115493318657">June 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">iOS will be more customizable than ever with the same security that Apple is known for. It seems like this list of features is firmly aimed at catching up with Android and it might even leapfrog it as a functional mobile OS.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jason Snell of MacWorld, PC World and TechHive <a href="https://twitter.com/jsnell/status/473534115493318657" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">said on Twitter</a>, <i>"</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; line-height: 34px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>The ways Apple is opening up app access to the OS here will change the experience for users more than any single OS feature."</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although many will focus on HealthKit (iWatch/3rd-party vendors) and HomeKit (3rd-party vendors), I think the new advances in gaming is very, very exciting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With SpriteKit, SceneKit and Metal, the promise of console gaming is right at our doorstep. This is why the 64-bit A7 was so important. The next generation of iOS devices may have more CPU RAM and that will help bring iOS closer to the consoles and set up the next generation Apple TV.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Between now and the launch of iOS 8 and OSX Yosemite, I'll be looking closer at each feature and what that means for the Apple consumer.</span></div>
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSQAaR6tvN0gyX2Cdl6OHl8JugNXRqtPHu_5Z3zYQkiPSNHIz2YwRJkAsxSE7U477_wyEWjJyg11HymTvEdAFJlKFH8-m3_B4tr9KQdlOuZL4if9RJkkjxU0h2D21e_mvOtgd/s1600/Roundel_OSX_Yosemite-PRINT.tif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-1562660403854891272014-04-05T19:19:00.001-10:002016-03-22T16:00:56.443-10:00Apple WWDC 2014 Logo Hint<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUH-8rgq93PaA9FghKH3PgTcq0Or-VaJ8Lp02hpw_SWyUCr9HPGEuhcKf5WHL8Fg0p-Zjfd8dC4kiVA6Zdr9CnHWXfQP_b3LtaKt9eckNdmRSDj4DOmofjfWpUifh4a7AsdKW/s1600/wwdc14-home-branding.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUH-8rgq93PaA9FghKH3PgTcq0Or-VaJ8Lp02hpw_SWyUCr9HPGEuhcKf5WHL8Fg0p-Zjfd8dC4kiVA6Zdr9CnHWXfQP_b3LtaKt9eckNdmRSDj4DOmofjfWpUifh4a7AsdKW/s1600/wwdc14-home-branding.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm back!<br />
<br />
The last time I blogged here, I got my MacBook Air. I still have that MacBook Air and it's still the most reliable computer that I own. I actually just got a new Asus tower. While 16GB of RAM and 2 TB of onboard HD space are nice, Windows 8.1 has a lot of quirks that I have to get used to. At least Windows has an app store, albeit it doesn't have the variety of apps that Google or Apple have. <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Since the last time I blogged, here's what Apple released:<br />
<ul>
<li>Three iPhones (5/5s/5c)</li>
<li>Two iPads (4th gen./Air)</li>
<li>Two iPad Minis (1st gen./Retina)</li>
<li>One Apple TV (3rd gen. Rev. A)</li>
<li>Two MacBook Pros</li>
<li>One MacBook Air</li>
<li>Two iMacs (each with 21.5"/27" displays)</li>
<li>One Mac Pro</li>
<li>One iPod Touch</li>
<li>One iPod Nano</li>
</ul>
I think that covers it. Anyway, it's good to be back!<br />
<br />
I posted the logo for <a href="https://developer.apple.com/wwdc/" target="_blank">this year's WWDC</a> because I think it's a hint as to what we can expect.<br />
<br />
The pixelated Apple logo with the iOS 7 color scheme reminded me of an article by BGR. It talked about the next iPhone having not only a larger screen, but also a different type of screen technology. It's called the <a href="http://bgr.com/2014/02/24/iphone-6-specs-quantum-dot-display/" target="_blank">Quantum Dot technology</a>.<br />
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BGR says the Quantum Dot technology is already on the Kindle Fire HDX, but Apple's display is expected to deliver a wider color gamut than the HDX. Generally, QD displays require less power, better brightness and a longer life.<br />
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Samsung is one of the major investors of this technology, so you can expect it on mobile phones later this year. Although QD phones are expected by mid-year, BGR says Apple will have its own QD variant for the next iPhone.<br />
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Macworld UK thinks the logo is a <a href="http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/apple/decoding-apples-wwdc-2014-logo-3510157/" target="_blank">foreshadow of a Retina MacBook Air.</a><br />
<br />
Can't wait for the keynote is probably going to be on Monday, June 2 at 7 a.m. HST (10 a.m. PST).<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-81040382414087219082012-07-25T10:11:00.000-10:002012-07-25T10:11:21.425-10:00We have Air...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YPC6mYYO6zkSs9yvsYcWIZoNjBw4roNCjeTmINDRifm-_xhigJW99L0Pq1aPjq3ktvwjr1yyhOEpNcDRd198va3oBqzKL3XpwxurA4VSNFNkIGiMne5kSK_r66ugEbD1BcFC/s1600/11MBA_13MBA_2ComboFamily_PF_Open_Mail_iPhoto_PRINT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YPC6mYYO6zkSs9yvsYcWIZoNjBw4roNCjeTmINDRifm-_xhigJW99L0Pq1aPjq3ktvwjr1yyhOEpNcDRd198va3oBqzKL3XpwxurA4VSNFNkIGiMne5kSK_r66ugEbD1BcFC/s320/11MBA_13MBA_2ComboFamily_PF_Open_Mail_iPhoto_PRINT.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I bought a brand-new MacBook Air in early July, mainly for work. Having an iPhone is great and the iPad is really nice. But, for my work, I need a computer with a mouse for the program I'm using. And I need it to be mobile. And Windows 7 on my desktop has been giving me problems.<br />
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I've always wanted a Mac somewhere in my arsenal and it seemed like a great time to add it. I've resisted a laptop all these years because of the bulk and how heavy it can be. Netbooks are nice but I also want the power to edit video and other advanced features. Software is a little easier to get and sometimes a lot cheaper on the Mac App Store.<br />
<br />
This blog's name is not going to change. I think a number of people do admirably well in the Mac arena and I'm a newbie. But, I do welcome the change. I'm also not in a hurry to upgrade to Mountain Lion. But, I did send in for my free download.<br />
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I'm still a PC guy. I don't think that will ever change. But, I like having another ecosystem to pull from.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Picture courtesy of Apple</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-80540191460435138612011-10-15T15:27:00.001-10:002011-10-16T05:21:32.602-10:00How To Use Photo Stream On Your Desktop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYzPzZIVxAxuSBTC1AwH-bjPJXNkL4oie43_0NR3sG68iiPjTboW7lBTl-kNtDbO6SKqSZGax3xRlwdI8GJadtzXdC_NnAfOcYjQRT9Dzm8_VXEPraXuvcM1WpDvzXMwIDZda/s1600/iPhone4s_US_PF_WHT_PhotoCro.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYzPzZIVxAxuSBTC1AwH-bjPJXNkL4oie43_0NR3sG68iiPjTboW7lBTl-kNtDbO6SKqSZGax3xRlwdI8GJadtzXdC_NnAfOcYjQRT9Dzm8_VXEPraXuvcM1WpDvzXMwIDZda/s400/iPhone4s_US_PF_WHT_PhotoCro.png" width="270" /></a></div>
One of the features of iOS 5 I was really looking forward to was Photo Stream. For years, I've been manually transferring photos from my phone to my computer. Occasionally I'd e-mail them to myself. Maybe even use Dropbox. But, all of those methods feel like there is one or more extra steps to get it done. Also, you don't want your picture to degrade in quality.<br />
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That's where <a href="http://www.apple.com/icloud/features/photo-stream.html">Photo Stream</a> comes in.<br />
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You take a picture on your iPhone 4 and it automatically goes to your iPad, iPod Touch (with internet connection), Apple TV and desktop computer. If you have pictures taken with a camera, you can download them to your iPad or desktop computer and it can be uploaded to your Photo Stream that will be viewable on all of your iDevices. Imagine how much easier it would be to organize all of your vacation pictures!<br />
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It's easy enough to configure the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Apple TV to use Photo Stream. For the most part, it involves going to Settings, going to the iCloud section and turning on Photo Stream. But, there are no apparent instructions to see your Photo Stream on your desktop. It's not at <a href="https://www.icloud.com/">iCloud.com</a>. Here's how to do it:<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
<a href="http://www.gottabemobile.com/">GottaBeMobile</a> did most of the work for me. There is information on the website on how to set up Photo Stream on your Windows PC or your Mac. Here are the links:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/10/12/icloud-photo-stream-on-windows-pc/">How To Get iCloud's Photo Stream Working On A Windows PC</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/10/13/ios-5-how-to-setup-iclouds-photo-stream-on-mac/">iOS 5: How To Setup iCloud's Photo Stream On Mac</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
I have a Windows PC and it worked like a charm. I even copied a link of my Photo Stream folder to my desktop so I can get to it easily. It IS like magic!<br />
<br />
One thing about Photo Stream on a Mac, you need the latest <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/">OS X Lion</a>. That'll cost you $30 but so far I really love the iCloud features, especially Photo Stream.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-66008213203171941482011-10-15T12:36:00.002-10:002011-10-15T12:37:18.778-10:00iPhone 4S Release Day<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSBt2FHjW-vbnFqbHCtCqCIwRCnCJr3eW-KcozxZ09ISMXqWRN2sCtf-ZKapepeh6Lwc92RaJU_yGeWD26GOXV9EUuC5tk8oVnwgaqWjOUis827jMh-vCTMnRTmJ2hWI0gmwY/s1600/4S_BOX01.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSBt2FHjW-vbnFqbHCtCqCIwRCnCJr3eW-KcozxZ09ISMXqWRN2sCtf-ZKapepeh6Lwc92RaJU_yGeWD26GOXV9EUuC5tk8oVnwgaqWjOUis827jMh-vCTMnRTmJ2hWI0gmwY/s320/4S_BOX01.png" width="246" /></a></div>
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Two crazy iPhone days this week! First, most of us <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/updating-to-ios-5-2011-10">encountered trouble updating to iOS 5</a>, although it sounds like I got the better end of the deal on that one. People - you need to BACKUP and then RESTORE that backup!</div>
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Anyway, yesterday was the release of the iPhone 4S. On most release days, there are oodles and oodles of lines waiting for the latest iPhone. At least here in Hawaii, lines were not that bad. Perhaps it's because many pre-ordered for mail delivery and you could get an iPhone at the Apple Store, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, Best Buy, Wal-Mart or Target.</div>
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The hardest part about the 4S release day was actually trying to activate your iPhone 4S. It seems like <a href="http://www.everythingicafe.com/att-responds-to-activation-issues/2011/10/14/">AT&T was the hardest hit</a> since it has the largest base of iPhone users.</div>
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A member in my family ordered the iPhone 4S and I was given the task to make it come alive.</div>
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I was actually one of the lucky ones. I received the iPhone 4S from UPS at around 10:15 a.m. Hawaii time. I know some people received their package in the late afternoon. But, my headstart was all for naught because of the activation problems.</div>
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This was the first iPhone that you didn't have to use iTunes with to activate or activate in a store. And it looks like everyone was taking the route of activating over the air. I just wanted to do it because it's something that was never done before.</div>
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After the my initial failure, my Mom was bugging me to see if I wanted to have lunch with her or if she should come home on the bus. Since I was getting nowhere fast with the 4S activation, I decided to take the 4S with me and try to see if I could activate it on the road.</div>
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So, in between having lunch with my Mom and going to Costco there were many more activation attempts and many more failures. At least I was able to research the problem and I found out it wasn't the iPhone but rather AT&T's servers. At around 1:30 p.m. Hawaii time my activation got through!</div>
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I didn't want to set up too much because I would have to go home and put on a backup anyway. So, I just did enough to get it up and running.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSBt2FHjW-vbnFqbHCtCqCIwRCnCJr3eW-KcozxZ09ISMXqWRN2sCtf-ZKapepeh6Lwc92RaJU_yGeWD26GOXV9EUuC5tk8oVnwgaqWjOUis827jMh-vCTMnRTmJ2hWI0gmwY/s1600/4S_BOX01.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
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<center><embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fjarofclay73%2Falbumid%2F5663832504928324897%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed></center><br />
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I activated it while I was on my way to Costco, so that's where I was able to first use the iPhone 4S. I snapped a few pictures while I was there. The iPhone 4S still cannot take a great photo if you have shaky hands. But, here's an example of some of the photos I took. Not all of them are great but that's probably due to my camera-taking ability. They have not been retouched and use the HDR function in the camera app:<br />
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<center><embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fjarofclay73%2Falbumid%2F5663841671097789889%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed></center><center><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I love how you can now get better <a href="http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/depth-of-field.htm">depth of field</a> than the iPhone 4. To achieve that kind of results, I've had to use an accessory like the <a href="http://jarofclay73.blogspot.com/search?q=olloclip">olloclip</a>.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">My current phone is the iPhone 4. A few days ago I heard about the slight hardware change between the 4 and the 4S and I was able to confirm it after receiving the 4S:</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVMnN5K3flpM0NIqEVKrpnf7hMKYdMNjX0-nEr9jT5eFgvVjcYx2z3dq3NkC75kgkk-TZ_fqBWTJFA0RKYkpyC6apc_HXvtp_Obk93qk72BRcR72FQQkJk7YcM2m04rSy2CKI/s1600/IMG_0202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVMnN5K3flpM0NIqEVKrpnf7hMKYdMNjX0-nEr9jT5eFgvVjcYx2z3dq3NkC75kgkk-TZ_fqBWTJFA0RKYkpyC6apc_HXvtp_Obk93qk72BRcR72FQQkJk7YcM2m04rSy2CKI/s400/IMG_0202.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Okay, I took this picture with my iPad 2 so it's crappy. But it's enough to get my point across. On the left is the AT&T iPhone 4. On the right is the iPhone 4S. Amazingly, the volume control buttons match up perfectly. I found that out after putting the 4S into an iPhone 4 case which has an exact placement for those buttons. But, the mute switch has been moved. That's because there's new gaps in the antenna, similar to the Verizon iPhone 4, that fixed the <a href="http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/06/27/the-iphone-4-death-grip-saga/">death grip issue</a> and improved the cell signal.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Finally, I was able to use Siri a little bit and I like it a lot. However, being in Hawaii, Siri doesn't yet know Hawaiian names or places so that's out of the question. Still, it comes in very handy when it is very hard to type. Here's my favorite Siri response:</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><br />
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<center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-29907371506079370792011-10-13T10:18:00.002-10:002011-10-16T05:06:48.417-10:00iCloud Setup & Wireless Backup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wasn't that a crazy day? The iOS 5 launch was<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/updating-to-ios-5-2011-10"> swamped with problems</a>. Many of us won't forget <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2011/10/12/many-seeing-error-3200-trying-to-upgrade-to-ios-5/">Error 3200</a> anytime soon. But, anyone familiar with OS launch dates know that there is a rush for about a half day after it comes out. I was able to update my iPhone 4 by early afternoon Hawaii time and I updated my iPad in the evening.<br />
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The one thing I've been trying to do is have everything go to the cloud with the new iCloud service. We got a taste of that back in June when Apple enabled us to <a href="http://jarofclay73.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-use-icloud-now.html">sync our apps, music and iBook downloads wirelessly</a>. Plus, it became a lot easier to see our latest app purchases.<br />
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Now, the entire iCloud system has been rolled out. I'll walk you through the setup:<br />
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<a name='more'></a>When you upgraded your device to iOS 5, there was a series of setup screens and a couple of them were iCloud-related:<br />
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So, I chose both to "Use iCloud" and "Back Up to iCloud." I'm totally iCloud committed! But, as I found out, that commitment would be tested.<br />
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To make sure you're using the parts of iCloud you want, go to the Settings app on your iDevice:<br />
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Hit iCloud and you come to this screen:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_jFVVsr7P2IsosfCfHifmUCoER1zv-aoeaAEnpuicLzvnbSicy1ydiYdUxNlPBa_icM2yqEumNYPqbdJ7UH8O6bUVWH8KaYV9F93zD59AIGOwz_smXT8D6-ELvZQYgve4Dxw/s1600/IMG_6536.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_jFVVsr7P2IsosfCfHifmUCoER1zv-aoeaAEnpuicLzvnbSicy1ydiYdUxNlPBa_icM2yqEumNYPqbdJ7UH8O6bUVWH8KaYV9F93zD59AIGOwz_smXT8D6-ELvZQYgve4Dxw/s400/IMG_6536.PNG" width="266" /></a></div>
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At this screen you can enable Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Bookmarks, Notes, Photo Stream, Documents & Data, and Find My iPhone.<br />
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I'm not using the Mail in iCloud because you have to have an @me.com e-mail address. My main e-mail is with Gmail and I'm not about to forward all of my e-mails to a @me.com account. I also use Google Calendar and there's no way to merge the iCloud calendar with my Google Calendar. Obviously, I can access Gmail and Google Calendar elsewhere on the web. The contacts on my iPhone synced successfully with iCloud. To save your Notes, you also need a @me.com e-mail address, so that's out for me as well.<br />
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So, I'm mainly using Contacts, Photo Stream, Find My iPhone and Documents & Data. All of this, especially Photo Stream, will make my life easier.<br />
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You can access your Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Find My iPhone and iWork documents at <a href="https://www.icloud.com/#">iCloud.com</a>. I'll explain in a later article about how to get Photo Stream on your computer.<br />
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Scroll down and you'll find the Storage & Backup section of iCloud. Hit that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkSX0iosCfZCdItm8Ve9q2yi5wzsmlG9yner4mTTe3MNCmfnosY07WWrErYzHeVl6Nn3ZHzzMabxdyx3D0q-4MiR2rlaqxxWXGDFCg2FhE1P3N85tq8X0ORwDxprO1IH1_Wh5/s1600/IMG_6531.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkSX0iosCfZCdItm8Ve9q2yi5wzsmlG9yner4mTTe3MNCmfnosY07WWrErYzHeVl6Nn3ZHzzMabxdyx3D0q-4MiR2rlaqxxWXGDFCg2FhE1P3N85tq8X0ORwDxprO1IH1_Wh5/s400/IMG_6531.PNG" width="266" /></a></div>
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In the Storage & Backup section, you see how much total storage you have, how much you have available and the ability to manage your storage and buy more storage. Every iCloud account comes with 5GB of storage for free. However, I found that if I wanted to backup a nearly-full 32GB iPhone 4 and a nearly-full 64GB iPad 2 I would need more storage than that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5o4q_6n8Ct2zT4rUTw7pMFDpHR3RxktX8jpYLkh0PjragYKGAkV_owfVaEECJM74SLFxGStVVMaiSA9v86upTuTzVEEWHvkRaSfSZmShgL8A52RlAO9G4LJfzAmFSDwdE2WVm/s1600/IMG_6533.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5o4q_6n8Ct2zT4rUTw7pMFDpHR3RxktX8jpYLkh0PjragYKGAkV_owfVaEECJM74SLFxGStVVMaiSA9v86upTuTzVEEWHvkRaSfSZmShgL8A52RlAO9G4LJfzAmFSDwdE2WVm/s400/IMG_6533.PNG" width="266" /></a></div>
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I paid a $40/year for 20GB more. That brings me to a grand total of 25GB in the iCloud. So far, it looks like I'll be good with that. There's also a $100/year for 50GB option but that seems excessive. It also looks like you can get a full refund if you want to downgrade within 15 days of an upgrade or within 45 days after a yearly payment.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsn6I3mYaaZ1fxHlL_CQ5JkorY1iTl4AeTu_hnNdQfO5GpD_GfAaeU9jbLsJofWE9afS1gNWlm_JI-GtoIzdmiRlHoHevtISmBmv0x80wP-CJLzKO7VQhuN11JTHcGo05rDGcr/s1600/IMG_6534.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsn6I3mYaaZ1fxHlL_CQ5JkorY1iTl4AeTu_hnNdQfO5GpD_GfAaeU9jbLsJofWE9afS1gNWlm_JI-GtoIzdmiRlHoHevtISmBmv0x80wP-CJLzKO7VQhuN11JTHcGo05rDGcr/s400/IMG_6534.PNG" width="266" /></a></div>
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Even with the storage upgrade I want to maximize my storage so I hit the Manage Storage option. Here you can decide which apps get backed up and which ones do not. It separates your different iDevices.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB307jdvlw8Lp2DiSjwgt7UUkG-Q4szRBqI5bhk0Sx72EeTH0P42epriOUeHiP-NVhiPTltZdPVXmyas2oQfrHBqj8xWlOkfDYNYpMWGKZgI3R8sqNeyDmzh91xfFAXUlhJ_Ag/s1600/IMG_6535.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB307jdvlw8Lp2DiSjwgt7UUkG-Q4szRBqI5bhk0Sx72EeTH0P42epriOUeHiP-NVhiPTltZdPVXmyas2oQfrHBqj8xWlOkfDYNYpMWGKZgI3R8sqNeyDmzh91xfFAXUlhJ_Ag/s400/IMG_6535.PNG" width="266" /></a></div>
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Clicking on one of your iDevices takes you to a list of apps with data you want backed up. It shows how much data each app is worth. By default, ALL of your apps are ON so I had to go through each app to either turn it off or leave it on. That was a pain. But, my available storage went from 2.8GB to 5.5GB.<br />
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I'm trying to backup my iPhone 4 and iPad 2 wirelessly, but just like being wired it takes a long time. Probably even longer than being wired. My iPad 2 says there is 60 hours remaining. My iPhone 4 says about 5 hours remaining. I haven't fully backed up once yet on either device. It says your iDevice will perform a backup when your iDevice is plugged in, locked and connected to Wi-Fi. I'm not sure if I trust that.<br />
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To make sure you enable your iCloud backup, you have to also go to iTunes:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilY2Gkuz5R8BtPzKRtP69N2NJ40sTv-YflSoGyrNUO2b8J4TlwHxqvZIK1_fsQGpOlc1uCKLaalxJn7XRlr70IQ5BaEOImygBWnpthiWTryGyWo5JuOcgpiStlqBR8pFoLbpw/s1600/backup01_itunes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilY2Gkuz5R8BtPzKRtP69N2NJ40sTv-YflSoGyrNUO2b8J4TlwHxqvZIK1_fsQGpOlc1uCKLaalxJn7XRlr70IQ5BaEOImygBWnpthiWTryGyWo5JuOcgpiStlqBR8pFoLbpw/s640/backup01_itunes.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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When you click on your iDevice icon in iTunes, there will be a new option to "Back up to iCloud." Make sure that is on.<br />
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So far, I'm not sure backing up to the iCloud is worth it because of its slow speed and the amount of storage you need. Hopefully, the iCloud backup will get faster.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">UPDATE: Both my iPhone 4 and iPad 2 have finally backed up to iCloud. Perhaps that first day was just being bombarded by new iOS 5 users. The iPhone was considerably faster to backup. I did the automatic backup: plug it into a power source, make sure it's on Wi-Fi and lock the screen. So, I'm not sure how fast the iPhone backed it up but I would say it would definitely work overnight while you sleep. The iPad 2 took the better part of 24 hours to backup. And that was with me checking it every few hours. I guess that's the downside of having a 64GB iPad.</span><br />
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Leave a comment about what you think about iCloud and any questions you may have.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-6601230121747069882011-10-12T01:36:00.003-10:002011-10-12T12:32:58.395-10:00Getting Ready For iOS 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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iOS 5 is almost upon us. I've heard rumors that it is dropping today at 1:00 p.m. EST. I'll be checking that out.<br />
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<i><b>UPDATE 1: </b>iOS 5 was indeed available at the time predicted above. There's a HUGE rush right now. If you're willing to wait hours for this, go ahead. If not, you can probably wait until you come home from work.</i><br />
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<i><b>UPDATE 2: </b>If you're getting an "Error 3200" or something similar all that means is that Apple's servers are getting pummeled. I did manage to get my iPhone updated to iOS 5 but not without a lot of headache. I actually disabled my firewall and virus protection. I also unplugged all of my USB devices except for my mouse, keyboard and iPhone. I'm not sure if that helped it or I was just lucky to get in. I never had to do that before. Even on an iOS launch day. Later tonight I'll update the iPad.</i><br />
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Here's a list of what you need to do:<br />
<a name='more'></a><b>Update iTunes to 10.5.</b> If you already have iTunes, you can do a software check. In the Windows version, it's: Help > Check For Updates. Or you can download it at <a href="http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1426">this page</a>.<br />
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<li><b>Transfer Purchases and Backup.</b></li>
You need to save a copy of what you have on your iPhone, iPad and/or iPod Touch so you can put it back on when you're finished updating it with iOS 5. To do that, go to the icon of your device in iTunes. Right-click it and there will be a drop down menu. Hit "Transfer Purchases." When that is done, right-click the icon again and hit "Backup." To check if your device has been backed up, in the Windows version go to: Edit > Preferences > Devices. There will be a list of your backups and when they were backed up.
<li><b>Restore As New; Then Restore With Backup.</b> Sometimes you can let iTunes do everything automatically and it all works out for you. Sometimes it doesn't work that smoothly. If iTunes allows you, try to restore your device as a new device with iOS 5. Once that's done, restore the device again this time with your backup. Sometimes doing it in two steps has less problems than doing it in one step. Then again, iTunes may not let you do that. Just keep this in mind if you run into problems.</li>
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Here's a video of a more detailed way to backup everything on your iDevice from Nonstop Honolulu:<br />
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aSwF3LVTRoM" width="560"></iframe></center>
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The <a href="https://www.icloud.com/">iCloud website</a> is also live for everyone. Right now, the only thing I can do is Find My iPhone or iPad since I already have that enabled. You won't be able to enable the rest of iCloud until you have iOS 5 on one of your devices.<br />
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For a rundown of what iOS 5 will do, you can check out my preview article <a href="http://jarofclay73.blogspot.com/2011/08/what-to-expect-from-ios-5.html">here</a>. As I use iOS 5, I'll be writing down my thoughts about each new feature on this blog.<br />
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While you wait for iOS 5, here's a video of the iOS 5 features to whet your appetite:<br />
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dhJKRvzsE5I" width="560"></iframe></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-33634866470695779842011-10-12T00:50:00.002-10:002011-10-12T00:50:54.746-10:00iPhone 4S Benchmarks - Impressive!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I hate to bring up technical benchmarks because the selling point of the iPhone has never been about specifications.<br />
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But, I keep hearing, "specs this," and, "specs that," and, "Why does the iPhone 4S have terrible specs?"<br />
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Well, here's a report that you use when the "spec" army comes to your door. <a href="http://www.anandtech.com/show/4951/iphone-4s-preliminary-benchmarks-800mhz-a5-slightly-slower-gpu-than-ipad-2">Anandtech posted benchmarks for the iPhone 4S</a> compared with the iPhone 4 running iOS 5 and the iPhone 3GS in addition to popular Android smartphones. The results may surprise you.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Let's start with browser benchmarks. A SunSpider Javascript benchmark running the device's stock browser, the iPhone 4S is easily the best smartphone with a score of 2200 (lower is better). Only the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 running Android 3.1 scored better with 2130. That is oddly the only tablet that was benchmarked. The iPad 2 is nowhere to be found in this particular test. The iPhone 4 running iOS 5 (3545) is comparable, yet better, than the benchmark for both versions of the Samsung Galaxy SII. The iPhone 3GS running iOS 5 has a score of 4737, which is still better than the Nexus One running Android 2.3.6 (5375).<br />
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Using the RightWare BrowserMark, the iPhone 4S shot straight to the top of the list with a score of 89567 (higher is better). The Galaxy Tab is not far behind (88526) followed by the Galaxy SII (55144). The iPhone 4 with iOS 5 (51701) drops down to 8th place in this benchmark. The iPhone 3GS (37276) performs admirably besting the iPhone 4 with iOS 4.3 and just under the HTC Thunderbolt and the Nexus S.<br />
<br />
Running some tests, Anandtech belives that the A5 chip in the iPhone 4S is running at 800mhz, slower than the 1Ghz in the iPad 2. This is because the 4S has a much smaller battery than the iPad.<br />
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The GPU in the 4S and iPad 2 smash the benchmarks compared with the Android phones and the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Again, the iPad 2 is better because of its higher clock speed.<br />
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You can check out the<a href="http://www.anandtech.com/show/4951/iphone-4s-preliminary-benchmarks-800mhz-a5-slightly-slower-gpu-than-ipad-2"> full benchmarks at Anandtech</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-15351610709197316902011-10-10T12:04:00.001-10:002011-10-10T17:46:26.227-10:00Facebook for iPad Is In The App Store<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzudDw705YKmHbrpdlNYUKJn31X4Wol5IUc0s7Wu4UH29OY4TknODz7hngvNIJ6IOCW_rg4uzKDi8iNCE9GItayOKRUYnIdfoDMgS0vw869wNSDx9aYYSSxEu7-gPaxI2Wu6k/s1600/blogger-image-1925433396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzudDw705YKmHbrpdlNYUKJn31X4Wol5IUc0s7Wu4UH29OY4TknODz7hngvNIJ6IOCW_rg4uzKDi8iNCE9GItayOKRUYnIdfoDMgS0vw869wNSDx9aYYSSxEu7-gPaxI2Wu6k/s320/blogger-image-1925433396.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The wait is over. The <a href="http://appshopper.com/social-networking/facebook">Facebook app for the iPhone is now a universal app</a> that is optimized for the iPad.</div>
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Knowing the update was coming today, I installed the Facebook iPhone app on my iPad. Getting the iPad-optimized version was just a matter of updating the app.</div>
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You have to log in once with the new app to get it going. Once you're in, it's a great experience.</div>
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It reminds me a lot of <a href="http://appshopper.com/social-networking/facepad-facebook-for-ipad-2">MyPad+</a> with the swiping and sideloading windows. But it also keeps the Facebook look just like <a href="http://appshopper.com/social-networking/friendly-facebook-browser">Friendly Plus</a>.</div>
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I don't think the Facebook app has any special function that the other Facebook iPad apps do not have. But, I'm sure that will change in the future.</div>
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Here's more screenshots from the iPad app:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyP9PJD5nuEazPa6q0Mm2uvqyPfpyeQqTx71KO5v5lb8lode5LxEAzSd5p_RBTvPpPwyfft6Bdo5kvrNWkgGUGr7DUZyv_FoyBaS12Pv_g_xZ2Rw5rZ7wDbNziTHyz-DSbKJ6d/s640/blogger-image-933254052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyP9PJD5nuEazPa6q0Mm2uvqyPfpyeQqTx71KO5v5lb8lode5LxEAzSd5p_RBTvPpPwyfft6Bdo5kvrNWkgGUGr7DUZyv_FoyBaS12Pv_g_xZ2Rw5rZ7wDbNziTHyz-DSbKJ6d/s400/blogger-image-933254052.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-80860426525408631432011-10-09T17:29:00.001-10:002011-10-10T04:09:58.907-10:00iPhone 4S Pre-orders Sell Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFR-rgd7soItilvxZPPHLA1JpqHNmILUkT-GEHXTF7siVF5S3ozBhgqI9IjR-wiMPPIkjahNHK7NaUR79Tsz4EfJo6Xld_e4CvhnkNIUCCTr0B_HbAnuC5oyFbTlilR5iZVstB/s1600/iPhone4s_US_PF_WHT_Reminder.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFR-rgd7soItilvxZPPHLA1JpqHNmILUkT-GEHXTF7siVF5S3ozBhgqI9IjR-wiMPPIkjahNHK7NaUR79Tsz4EfJo6Xld_e4CvhnkNIUCCTr0B_HbAnuC5oyFbTlilR5iZVstB/s400/iPhone4s_US_PF_WHT_Reminder.png" width="270" /></a></div>
The way the world responded to the <a href="http://jarofclay73.blogspot.com/2011/10/iphone-4s-it-is.html">iPhone 4S announcement</a> last Tuesday, you'd think that nobody wanted the newest iPhone.<br />
<br />
Well, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2011-10-08/apple-iphone-pre-orders/50706650/1">all iPhone 4S pre-orders have sold out</a>. <br />
<br />
<b><i>UPDATE 10/10/2011: Apple has announced that <a href="http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2011/10/10iPhone-4S-Pre-Orders-Top-One-Million-in-First-24-Hours.html">iPhone 4S pre-orders topped one million in the first 24 hours</a>. That broke the previous single-day order set by the iPhone 4.</i></b><br />
<br />
What that means is you can't pre-order the iPhone 4S to get it on or around October 14 to be shipped to an address. If you want the iPhone 4S on launch date, your only option now is to stand in line at one of the stores that will be selling it.<br />
<br />
Apple Retail Stores will be open at 8 a.m. to sell the iPhone 4S. Here's a list of the other stores selling the iPhone 4S according to the Apple press release:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>AT&T</li>
<li>Sprint</li>
<li>Verizon Wireless</li>
<li>Select Best Buy, Wal-Mart and Target stores</li>
<li>Select Apple Authorized Resellers</li>
</ul>
<br />
As a buyer of the iPhone 3G and iPhone 4 and having to wait hours in line to get them, I wholeheartedly recommend waiting in line at the Apple Store. In fact, I would try to make a trip to the largest Apple Store in your area because that one will most likely be better stocked. Here in Honolulu, that would be the Ala Moana Center store.<br />
<br />
The carriers seem to sell out VERY quickly. From what I've heard, stores like Wal-Mart sell out just as fast. But on the mainland where there are much more Wal-Marts than Apple Stores, there may be a chance you could get a really short line or no line at all. Still, selection of the model you want may not be good.<br />
<br />
I'm going to check out one of the early lines, probably at Ala Moana. Then, I'll come home and wait for the iPhone 4S that will be going to one of my immediate family members. Yes, I've been charged with setting it up and I'm all too eager to do so.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-9227881520032204402011-10-07T10:52:00.002-10:002011-10-07T10:53:24.889-10:00Sprint Abandoning WiMAX<br />
<br />
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yn6PmUY-aDM" width="560"></iframe></center><center><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Maybe sometimes it's not better to be first. Sprint was the first major wireless company in the U.S. to deploy a 4G network. Unfortunately, it chose the wrong type of technology. It went with WiMAX instead of the speedier LTE network. Today, <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TEC_SPRINT_NETWORK?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-10-07-11-48-21">Sprint announced it will no longer sell WiMAX phones after 2012</a>. Sprint will deploy an LTE network in 2012 that will be as large as the WiMAX network by the end of the year (which is not saying much).</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I'm a Clearwire customer, which uses the same WiMAX network. Sprint is a majority shareholder of Clearwire but does not run the company. I have the iSpot which is supposed to give me 6 Mbps down and 1 Mbps up. It does decent on the uploading. But, I have never gotten 6 down in Hawaii. I got that speed when I went to Washington state and Oregon. In the video above, it says 12 down in Chicago. That may be right. But, I'm not going to Chicago anytime soon.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">All of this comes as Sprint begins pre-orders on the iPhone 4S. So, if you do have a Sprint 4G device, you WILL have to upgrade to an eventual LTE device.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I never believed in WiMAX. I knew LTE was the way to go. I bought the iSpot because it was on sale for $30 and I get unlimited data for $25/month without a contract. LTE hotspots go for at least $50 for the device and $50/month for around 2GB of data. And now Clearwire has an uncertain future. Will Sprint "share" its LTE network with Clearwire?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">It's not always good to be first.</center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-25973553772260260272011-10-06T16:45:00.003-10:002011-10-06T16:47:13.187-10:00Real Racing 2 Gets Multi-Screen Update<a href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/10/06/real_racing_2_first_ios_game_with_4_person_split_big_screen_action_via_airplay.html">Apple Insider</a> is reporting that the Real Racing 2 franchise on the iPhone and iPad is getting a major update next week as iOS 5 is released. You will be able to play with one to three other players in a multi-screen mode:<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Bxj1QuKebdQ" width="560"></iframe></center><center><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">So what do you need to make this happen?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li>You need an <a href="http://www.apple.com/appletv/">Apple TV</a> to wirelessly stream your devices through AirPlay.</li>
<li>You need an iOS device with an A5 processor. Right now, that would be the iPad 2 with iOS 5 or the iPhone 4S. That device needs to host the multi-player, multi-screen game. All other devices just need to have iOS 5.</li>
<li>The latest version of Real Racing 2/Real Racing 2 HD coming out next Wednesday.</li>
<li>A big screen HDTV. I have a 46" Sony. I think any smaller than 40" will feel cramped, especially in four-player mode.</li>
</ul>
</center><center style="text-align: left;">I'm REALLY looking forward to this. I just need to find another person who has Real Racing 2 on iOS.</center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-80342658496255969072011-10-05T15:28:00.001-10:002011-10-12T12:36:53.707-10:00Steve Jobs (2/24/1955 - 10/5/2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This was the final image of Steve Jobs that some of us will remember. His final appearance at an Apple keynote at the Worldwide Developer's Conference 2011.<br />
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He was given a rousing standing ovation. None of us knew back on June 6 that this would be one of his last public appearances.<br />
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Today, <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBIT_JOBS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT">Steve Jobs said goodbye to the world</a>.<br />
<br />
Even if you never bought an Apple product, your life has been somehow affected by his presence on Earth. A computer with a mouse and "windows." Mp3 players. Your touchscreen phone. Tablet computing. Jobs did not invent any of this. But he took each computing paradigm to the next level. We all thought he was crazy most of the time. And then amazed when he was right.<br />
<a name='more'></a>As we remember Steve Jobs, here's a homemade documentary about his life pre-iPhone:<br />
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0MwD-TZ6r9Y" width="420"></iframe></center><center><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">And here's his 2005 Stanford commencement address:</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center>
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UF8uR6Z6KLc" width="420"></iframe></center><center><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
I never bought an Apple product until I bought an iPod Nano circa 2006. Then, I bought an iPhone 3G in July 2008, an iPad in April 2010, an iPhone 4 in June 2010 and an iPad 2 in March 2011.</div>
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Someday I will buy a Mac but not at the expense of my Windows PC.</div>
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As a teen I was an Amiga loyalist. I then turned to the PC by default. And now iOS is my dominant platform aside from Windows. I'm not a PC fanboy. I'm not an Apple fanboy. I pick and choose the different tools I want to use and, hopefully, creates a workflow in my life that is fun, engaging, and productive.</div>
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Thank you Steve Jobs for all of your passion and drive that have gotten us to where we are.</div>
</center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-7443516082164931372011-10-05T06:00:00.000-10:002011-10-12T01:02:01.284-10:00LIVEBLOG: Apple's iPhone AnnouncementThere is no livestream of today's Apple event. I'm not at the iPhone announcement. So why am I doing a liveblog? To basically record my personal reactions to the information about the iPhone, iCloud and iOS 5 as it happens. Keep in mind, some of today's event may deviate to other topics like iPods and the Mac. But, it is called "Let's Talk iPhone." I will try to answer as many questions as possible.<br />
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<br />
<center><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="550px" scrolling="no" src="http://www.coveritlive.com/index2.php/option=com_altcaster/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=4b7fa90757/height=550/width=470" width="470px">&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=4b7fa90757" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;iPhone Announcement&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;</iframe></center><center><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-70490068519971146682011-10-04T14:34:00.003-10:002011-10-05T14:24:52.363-10:00The iPhone 4S It Is<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEop7S7Hdp_pd48MT_zCr5B1OOr98XSqa1llpkEHwtsaoimqvS9fig3B_C_hwSSSKycm1q2Vd_sk_-T-eTfCdBMWaK7g0ihtRS2XmR5b8-EB2Qik3tAQvCRhDxDCPfVLj5abIM/s1600/iPhone4s_3up_Photo_Siri_Spr.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEop7S7Hdp_pd48MT_zCr5B1OOr98XSqa1llpkEHwtsaoimqvS9fig3B_C_hwSSSKycm1q2Vd_sk_-T-eTfCdBMWaK7g0ihtRS2XmR5b8-EB2Qik3tAQvCRhDxDCPfVLj5abIM/s320/iPhone4s_3up_Photo_Siri_Spr.png" width="320" /></a></div>
It looks like an iPhone 4. It feels like an iPhone 4. For most anticipating the iPhone 5, it might as well be an iPhone 4. But it is the <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/">iPhone 4S</a>.<br />
<br />
Was there ever an iPhone 5? If there was, it hardly matters now. People are disappointed they didn't get their mythical iPhone 5. That <a href="http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=14822">teardrop shape</a> is now in the shape of a real teardrop falling from their eyes.<br />
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Really, all of this grumbling is mostly over a cosmetic difference. A larger 4" screen and a slimmer, sexy exterior. I have to admit, I kind of bought into it myself. But, in the past month, I knew it was going to be the iPhone 4S alone because that rumor was the one that wouldn't go away. Plus, iPhone form factors usually survive for a full two years.<br />
<br />
So what do I think about the iPhone 4S?<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
I have admit, the iPhone 4S is really hard to get excited about. <a href="http://jarofclay73.blogspot.com/2011/08/what-to-expect-from-ios-5.html">iOS 5</a> is already bringing a lot of great features for the iPhone 4 and that update is free next Wednesday Why do I need to get an iPhone 4S?<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU39h5yYT4SEwzTn71naPib6SXzHJ0iAcuhy6BOYUk-kPn4ktkN6u_1ipjRDRXmRQ9iJkot7IDjKnXOtFrBgvusT4iAiF-f1VLF3Odw3j2SHtlV-tWgqQIpJ04QztoQ_0d7Blb/s1600/iPhone4s_US_PF_WHT_PhotoCro.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU39h5yYT4SEwzTn71naPib6SXzHJ0iAcuhy6BOYUk-kPn4ktkN6u_1ipjRDRXmRQ9iJkot7IDjKnXOtFrBgvusT4iAiF-f1VLF3Odw3j2SHtlV-tWgqQIpJ04QztoQ_0d7Blb/s320/iPhone4s_US_PF_WHT_PhotoCro.png" width="216" /></a><br />
I believe the feature that will blow everyone away is <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/#siri">Siri</a>.<br />
Apple has taken voice recognition and voice commands on a smartphone to the next level. Check out this video by CNET:<br />
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<br />
Siri is the one feature that I really want to try out. I think that will be a great demo at the Apple Store.<br />
<br />
The camera hardware is getting a better upgrade than I ever imagined. 5MP to 8MP. A fifth lens for better pictures. Better sensor. 1080p video recording. Image stabilization. Plus an improved camera app that comes with editing tools.<br />
<br />
And especially for 3GS users, they will notice a really big performance boost with the A5 dual-core chip. That should last quite a while. I don't forsee smartphones getting into the quad-core chipset just yet.<br />
<br />
If you're an iPhone 3G or 3GS user and need the performance boost or if you're a Sprint customer waiting all this time for an iPhone, I'd say it's time to upgrade to the iPhone 4S. Otherwise, most iPhone 4 users shouldn't feel the need to upgrade unless you REALLY want Siri in your life. Yes, this is an incremental upgrade from the iPhone 4, but I feel it's a better upgrade than the 3GS at the time that was released.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-9412844418980792902011-10-03T10:09:00.001-10:002011-10-03T10:12:23.300-10:00Crazy Sprint, iPhone News<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5akaaoC7hCCHoFPlmaARBXUuMeDt0P9hn5XU97lam51Tz6xYCIkE3gotMV_j571YWt7mMoIkjDAVLxvGH93TP0RcUB0DAT_YnzgvlJvtokuF_-jtf62OmSjC3DsJbFMs5yvK/s1600/sprint_vert_black_4905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5akaaoC7hCCHoFPlmaARBXUuMeDt0P9hn5XU97lam51Tz6xYCIkE3gotMV_j571YWt7mMoIkjDAVLxvGH93TP0RcUB0DAT_YnzgvlJvtokuF_-jtf62OmSjC3DsJbFMs5yvK/s320/sprint_vert_black_4905.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Don't you love wireless companies who do anti-iPhone ads and then clamor for the iPhone? Verizon did it first with its <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoYr8-uG5C0">"iDon't" campaign</a> and then with its <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w83UQkiuNZQ&NR=1">"Pretty" commercial.</a> Then Verizon finally made the deal with Apple to get the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2H-3Gf_fL8">iPhone</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKBebh_3Ub8">iPad</a> and now they brag about their shiny, new Apple products.<br />
<br />
T-Mobile has taken <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pCZHVu2OOU">shots at the iPhone</a>. And now that it is on the verge of a merger with AT&T, <a href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/09/27/t_mobile_wants_iphone_appeases_customers_with_android_alternatives.html">T-Mobile is practically begging Apple for an iPhone</a>.<br />
<br />
And then we have Sprint. Sprint hasn't been as vocal against the iPhone, but its commercials are laced with subtle jabs. In one instance, a review liked the HTC EVO 4G more than the iPhone.<br />
<br />
And it looks like a Sprint iPhone is a done deal. In fact, it looks like <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203405504576603053795839250.html">Sprint will be spending $20 billion over the next four years buying iPhones</a>. It's a desperate move for a company desperate to compete.<br />
<br />
And that's not even the craziest news about Sprint. There's a rumor that we should all take with a grain of salt that the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4S will be unveiled tomorrow but the <a href="http://www.bgr.com/2011/10/03/sprint-guarantees-to-buy-over-20-billion-in-iphones-from-apple-launching-the-iphone-5-exclusively/">iPhone 5 will be exclusive to Sprint with WiMax 4G capability</a>. The iPhone 5 will then be available in the first quarter of 2012 to Verizon and AT&T customers with LTE 4G capability. I have a hard time seeing that kind of favoritism, but it is $20 billion in the bank for Apple. This could piss off a lot of people wanting to upgrade to the iPhone 5 but don't want to leave Verizon or AT&T.<br />
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We'll see tomorrow. If I feel up to it, I'll be liveblogging my comments during the event tomorrow that starts at 10 a.m. PST.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-53555756424656810722011-09-27T06:00:00.002-10:002011-09-27T10:49:40.933-10:00New iPhone Announcement: October 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2TWJj-VS474soGGZ5hIUCgH07JcOvbcsuyKmzqtecUfK9csWfzc4hiQu-zCU5rShYPOxkI07PZpFdeJ8u7hLuWnvbVlYFXEa-fQwkDYh7oAVnrJWMt54pNrX8wzwvTqrtf0F/s1600/eventinvitation01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2TWJj-VS474soGGZ5hIUCgH07JcOvbcsuyKmzqtecUfK9csWfzc4hiQu-zCU5rShYPOxkI07PZpFdeJ8u7hLuWnvbVlYFXEa-fQwkDYh7oAVnrJWMt54pNrX8wzwvTqrtf0F/s1600/eventinvitation01.jpeg" /></a></div>
How about we all stop the iPhone rumors and wait until next week Tuesday to see what the latest iPhone announcement will bring us?<br />
<br />
Yes, this morning <a href="http://www.loopinsight.com/2011/09/27/apple-announces-iphone-5-event-for-oct-4/">Apple started sending out the invitations</a>.<br />
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The graphic is not so subtle: "Let's talk iPhone" is the caption; there is a notification on the phone icon; the calendar icon simply shows the date of the event; the clock icon shows the time; and the map icon shows Apple's Cupertino campus (as the iPhone/iPad icon always does).<br />
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Since I'm not getting the next iPhone, I'm mostly waiting to see when <a href="http://jarofclay73.blogspot.com/2011/09/leaked-iphone-5-design.html">iOS 5 will be released</a>.<br />
<br />
But for many, especially those with the iPhone 3GS who patiently passed by the popular iPhone 4 for this latest model, it is time to upgrade.<br />
<br />
Although at one time it was believed that <a href="http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/06/27/report-apple-is-building-two-iphones-for-september-release/">two iPhones would be released</a> and the <a href="http://jarofclay73.blogspot.com/2011/09/leaked-iphone-5-design.html">iPhone 5 would get a larger screen and a slimmer body</a>, the consensus now is that there will be <a href="http://allthingsd.com/20110926/only-one-new-iphone-this-year-and-it-will-look-a-lot-like-the-iphone-4-says-analyst/">one new iPhone release</a> (as usual) and it will not be a major redesign. This would be a big win for iPhone accessory makers who spent countless time and money to get products on the market. This would also be in line with iPhone history as major redesigns are usually every other year since the iPhone 3G was released.<br />
<br />
Here's more interesting iPhone news as it relates to the new iPhone:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2011/09/27/october-14th-launch-for-iphone-4s5-in-us-uk-france-germany-japan/">October 14th Launch for iPhone 5/4S in US, UK, France, Germany, Japan?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/09/27/facebook_for_ipad_app_may_launch_at_apples_oct_iphone_5_event_report.html">Facebook iPad app may launch at Apple's Oct. iPhone 5 event - report</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2011/09/27/apple-rushing-retail-store-renovations-ahead-of-iphone-5-launch/">Apple Rushing Retail Store Renovations Ahead of iPhone 5 Launch</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/09/26/rumor-iphone-5-to-feature-powerful-assistant-1-gb-of-ram/">Rumor: Next iPhone to feature powerful Assistant, 1 GB of RAM</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.kitv.com/news/29307234/detail.html">iPhone Not Coming To T-Mobile This Year, Exec Says</a></li>
<li><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903327904576526690675657466.html">Sprint To Get iPhone 5</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/08/29/iphone-prototype-n94-leaked-possibly-to-be-an-iphone-4s/">iPhone prototype N94 leaked, possibly to be an iPhone 4S</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bgr.com/2011/08/15/exclusive-4g-lte-iphone-currently-in-carrier-testing/">Exclusive: 4G LTE iPhone currently in carrier testing</a></li>
</ul>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7494714.post-28870948322621748132011-09-15T09:05:00.002-10:002014-07-15T16:39:27.773-10:00Leaked iPhone 5 Design?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVX6yAdpZzTYo3WO8x7G5Tw-DCUY6QYJwEB5bFmJ55OhvmUtFn0kL3awK586urME9OwGMa-wBJiLXGvsq6rq8D3DhxD3HusOK7zjZqJG0yi2G82833FWV964TMtIDCf-PXMy0a/s1600/iPhone5_Gelli_Clear01.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVX6yAdpZzTYo3WO8x7G5Tw-DCUY6QYJwEB5bFmJ55OhvmUtFn0kL3awK586urME9OwGMa-wBJiLXGvsq6rq8D3DhxD3HusOK7zjZqJG0yi2G82833FWV964TMtIDCf-PXMy0a/s320/iPhone5_Gelli_Clear01.png" height="320" width="268" /></a></div>
I've been following iPhone rumors since I decided in May of 2008 that the smartphone I wanted was an iPhone. At that time, the iPhone was in the $399-$499 price range; there was no App Store; pictures were 2MP with no autofocus, flash or HDR; there was no GPS; there was no gyroscope; there was no multitasking (some say there still is none); there were no push notifications - well, you get the picture. The iPhone was in its infancy and although it gained a lot of notoriety, only those with deep pockets could afford one.<br />
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But, in those days, iPhone rumors were, more or less, spot on. I even told an AT&T employee that the iPhone's price would drop into the $199-$299 range and he said, "No way!"<br />
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In my pre-iPhone 3G posts, <a href="http://jarofclay73.blogspot.com/2008/06/awesome-new-cellphones-coming-out-soon.html">I already knew the features of the next iPhone</a>. Since then, iPhone rumors have taken a life of its own. These days, I take each rumor with a grain of salt. But this morning, there <a href="http://www.everythingicafe.com/case-mate-accidentally-leaks-iphone-5-product-line/2011/09/15/">may have been a leak of the real iPhone 5 design</a> that we will eventually see when the product is unveiled in the coming weeks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6esT-Mc4CIFC0Q6KUYjnqvnzm-q9gcj585sTHHyistgALXLStfaOIBz5oDWHF50NsXkLuZHbI6wKmgwEwMmk5tA5F0-aA5itcizhiUki3gSQfQomMUC3h0QqdXceo_93BUwL_/s1600/iPhone5_SafeSkinEmerge02.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6esT-Mc4CIFC0Q6KUYjnqvnzm-q9gcj585sTHHyistgALXLStfaOIBz5oDWHF50NsXkLuZHbI6wKmgwEwMmk5tA5F0-aA5itcizhiUki3gSQfQomMUC3h0QqdXceo_93BUwL_/s320/iPhone5_SafeSkinEmerge02.png" height="253" width="320" /></a></div>
Case-mate put up an interesting <a href="http://www.case-mate.com/iphone-5-4s-cases/">iPhone 5/iPhone 4S page</a>. Rumor has it that there will be up to two iPhones being released this fall with the 5 being the major upgrade and the 4S being the minor upgrade. The 4S will replace the iPhone 4 because it will have a GSM/CDMA chip in it becoming a true world phone. But, those who want to spend a little more for the very best will get the iPhone 5. Now, Case-mate seems to plead the 5th in all of this saying that they're not sure that there will be an iPhone 5 or an iPhone 4S. But, their "inside resources" have the details on the new form factor and launch date. Case-mate goes on to tell us the same information that we have been getting with all of the rumors from the tech blogs, so none of this is really new. But, it's interesting that an iPhone case manufacturer would reiterate tech blog blather.<br />
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What's even more interesting is that the <a href="http://www.bgr.com/2011/09/15/iphone-5-to-have-radical-new-design-according-to-case-mate-images/">Boy Genius Report</a> found actual web pages and images of its forthcoming iPhone 5 cases. Case-mate took down the links to those cases, but I managed to find a few of them still online.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4U5lLNjUazo5a5tA1kBKoTbztn6kSnC6V7WHKA316d5lcoP_0ymGJvb-VbTGz7oBo1RmzD1AWLghjQTRnUddOH-ac7Z9PmiC45tMyc8baHOg-ptG-4UJ8Vv1-g2IIN7o6zJ7/s1600/iPhone5_Gelli_Grey02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4U5lLNjUazo5a5tA1kBKoTbztn6kSnC6V7WHKA316d5lcoP_0ymGJvb-VbTGz7oBo1RmzD1AWLghjQTRnUddOH-ac7Z9PmiC45tMyc8baHOg-ptG-4UJ8Vv1-g2IIN7o6zJ7/s400/iPhone5_Gelli_Grey02.png" height="292" width="400" /></a></div>
The images throughout these articles are screen captures from the Case-mate website. Although MacRumors seems to think that these mockups are <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2011/09/15/case-mate-preps-for-release-of-iphone-5-cases-with-revamped-design/">based on a leaked design document used by Asian manufacturers</a>, the fact that links to these picture have been taken down signals to me some kind of legitimacy and possibly an accidental posting of actual cases that will go on sale.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6SQJ3Rl9_dTAiqldiXOD7nTNLZARFkQLyJ4p2x3HlCRARAldxAoiR1ya1vfsWT4S-_x6LtpgfbXhFPfOlmMCME6qMf3_gKbRQ0qUkV6oK7lScwnA5QhJLSnNqKd1B3mZ38NX/s1600/iPhone5_BarelyThere_picture.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6SQJ3Rl9_dTAiqldiXOD7nTNLZARFkQLyJ4p2x3HlCRARAldxAoiR1ya1vfsWT4S-_x6LtpgfbXhFPfOlmMCME6qMf3_gKbRQ0qUkV6oK7lScwnA5QhJLSnNqKd1B3mZ38NX/s320/iPhone5_BarelyThere_picture.png" height="195" width="320" /></a></div>
If these pictures are the real deal, then it looks like the iPhone 5 will indeed be thinner, have a metal backing, tapered edges, the same positioning of the camera flash, iPad 2-like volume controls, and the mute button on the opposite side of the iPhone.<br />
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Personally, I like this look. It definitely goes hand-in-hand with the latest version of the iPad.<br />
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Just a few days ago, there was a report that the <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2011/09/12/apple-sending-ios-5-to-iphone-assemblers-at-end-of-september-no-sign-of-redesigned-iphone-5/">iPhone 5 would NOT be redesigned</a>. I was even ready to blog that we need to accept the fact that the next iPhone will be a relatively minor upgrade (like the 3GS).<br />
<br />
I'm not getting an iPhone 5. I'll wait until my two year contract is up next year and perhaps by then there will be an LTE iPhone. But for those who are looking to upgrade now, it's looking better and better.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02773703775625809492noreply@blogger.com0