The Future of Wearable Technology

I want Google Glass. I want sneakers that track my steps/speed/elevation. I want a wristwatch that can transmit notifications from my smartphone and transmit my body to another dimension (not really). I want wearable technology to become mainstream. But I also want to be patient.

One of the fastest growing branches of wearable tech is the 'smart-watch.'  In fact, Best Buy has started selling the Pebble Smart-Watch in retail stores.  I have come close on several occasions to pre-ordering this device through the website, but my instincts told me otherwise. Reviews online about Pebble can be summed up by saying "it's a good start."

The Smart Watch Dilemma

www.kickstarter.com -

www.tested.com

Two major issues plague the smart-watch landscape; battery life and software.  There are two schools of thought with the battery quandary.  Companies can use simple black and white displays similar to e-ink, which made the Kindle so wildly popular.  While this saves battery life tremendously and makes the watch user friendly in direct sunlight, it limits the functionality and, in some ways, lowers the quality.  That is the strategy of Pebble.  On the other side of the coin is Sony, who's second generation smart-watch recently announced will have a 1.6 inch multi-touch OLED screen. This approach is a killer for battery life, as it basically forces you to charge your watch when you charge your phone before going to bed.  The upside is a miniature smartphone screen on your wrist which negates the need to check your phone for every notification.

Then there is the software.  It is very easy to connect a smart-watch with a phone through Bluetooth, NFC or WiFi. The challenge lies with the display of information.  Pebble assures it backers that more and more applications on smartphones will be able to work with Pebble smart-watch over the next few months. Meanwhile, Sony's watch is only compatible with Android based phones (Pebble works with both iOS and Android).

hothardware.com 

What the world needs is a stylish, customized watch that works with iOS, Android and Windows Phone (Blackberry is dead in my opinion).  This watch needs to last 5 days on a single charge, to reflect the work week, and the screen should be multi-touch and resemble a smartphone screen while having anti-glare properties. Finally, this perfect watch must be able to communicate with every application on your smartphone and also display information, like caller ID and texts/emails.  And it should also be waterproof, a trend that is catching on quickly in the mobile tech market.

We have not quite reached the pinnacle of smart-watch perfection, but we are moving extremely quickly towards that goal. Apple and Google have the opportunity to get things right and take full control of this budding market.....kinda like with smartphone software. We will have to wait for September/October to see what these juggernauts have in store for us.

Google Glass

gadget-tech.org

In regards to Google Glass......I WANT IT.  The device itself is stylish while drawing just the right amount of attention to your face (at least in my opinion).  While there is always room for improvement on a first generation model, Google Glass is an impressive piece of technology, if it works as advertised.  It feels like something out of Star Trek when you start projecting information onto a miniature screen hovering over your right eye.

My concerns with Google Glass include the camera itself and the connectivity.  Why is no one concerned about the 5 megapixel camera?  There is no reason in the world to include a meager 5MP camera on this device, particularly for the price. If the price is decent (under $500), I can live with the camera. But otherwise, shame on Google for delivering a crappy product.

I also hope the connectivity is rock solid by the time Glass is releases to the public.  I don't want the screen hovering over my eye to be constantly searching for a signal or slowly downloading data. Hopefully, the more we use Google Now, the better the service will become when Glass starts flying off the shelves.

My Prediction

5 years...in 5 years no one will be second guessing smart watches or Google Glass. In 2018, these devices will be as common as smartphones and tablets. They are a natural extension of the evolution of technology which ignited with the internet and blossomed with the smartphone.

My Issue with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2

ehabheikal.net 

About 2 months ago, I purchased a used Galaxy Note 2 from eBay with the intent of falling in love with the 5.5 inch Super AMOLED display and saying goodbye to the iPhone 5 forever.  I do love the Note 2 and I do not regret the purchase for a second, but I can not let go of my iPhone 5. Here's why:

Build Quality:

reviews.cnet.co.uk

Along with the HTC One, the iPhone 5 is one of the most beautifully crafted phones ever. The aluminium casing and the precision laser cut frame make this device a joy to hold.  The same cannot be said for the Galaxy Note 2. Although it feels very good in the hand, despite the all plastic design and the massive size, there is not a feeling of pleasure from handling the device.  The glossy 'hyper-glaze' coating is to blame. I'm not quite sure why Samsung includes this on almost every smartphone these days.  It makes the phone slippery and collects fingerprints like nothing I've ever seen before. But the feel of a phone is not quite enough to sell me one way or the other. The software is even more important.

Software:

techcrunch.com 

I have tried to fall madly in love with Android Jelly Bean. It does some things much better than iOS, such as multitasking, quick settings and widgets. But it's biggest fault is in Google Play.  I just don't see the same quality in the applications compared to what I find in the App Store.  It's no longer a matter of quantity, but it is a matter of quality.  In the struggle between freedom and regulation, Apple and Google fall on opposite ends of the spectrum. Google believes giving more freedom to app developers will bolster creativity and encourage radical new ideas that could be the beginnings of the next 'must-have' application. Apple, on the other hand, believes regulation and oversight lead to more professional, well-conceived apps.  After my experience with both platforms, I am leaning towards the philosophy of Apple.  Fragmentation across hundreds of different smartphones using Android certainly plays a role in translating applications from Google Play to individual devices.  That is the price Google pays to have such a wide reaching grasp on the smartphone market.

www.ibtimes.com 

What I really want is for Apple to introduce a larger iPhone! But the best estimation is 2014 based on Tim Cook's comments from recent interviews.  He publicly admitted that there would need to be a complete overhaul of applications to accommodate larger screen sizes.  I begrudgingly accept this concern, given that some apps designed for iPhone 4 and 4S are still waiting to be updated for iPhone 5.

But Apple really should put an emphasis on increasing screen size before Samsung, LG and Sony saturate the market with 5.5-6.5 inch displays.  Very soon, the lure of a larger screen will start drawing Apple fanatics away from the iPhone 5 and towards almost any other phone being released this year, the vast majority having larger than 4 inch displays with the most advanced Android software available.  iOS 7 may stem the tide for a bit, but I will not get another iPhone until they increase the screen size...and go with a quad-core processor....and Infared communication....and better low light pictures.....

Getting back to the Note 2....The next generation needs to be thinner with a 1080p full HD screen and a better camera (the Note 2 camera is great, but there is always room for improvement).  But most of all, I need to see Android mature to the reliability, smoothness and usability of iOS, particularly with the selection of applications. Many Google lovers will argue vehemently that Jelly Bean is far superior to iOS 6 and even iOS 7.  My personal opinion is that iOS 7 will address many of the shortcomings of past operating systems and push the iPhone to even greater levels of popularity.

Apple and iOS 7 are Back in the Game!

With a plethora of new features announced on June 11 at WWDC, Apple has began to tip the scales back in its favor, after a few months of incredible Android phones hitting the market. iOS 7 is basically EVERYTHING Apple needed to do in the ever-escalating battle against Android.  The next step would be a larger phone.....but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Here is what I really like about iOS 7....then one thing I could do without.

Control Center
THANK YOU! Finally, iPhone users can swipe up from the bottom of the screen and find quick access to 'Airplane Mode,' 'Do Not Disturb,' 'Bluetooth' and even a flashlight. Android users have had this functionality for quite a long time and it has been sorely missed by Apple fans.  Quick and easy access to settings you use everyday has always been important to me. I love the combined notifications and quick setting with Android Jelly Bean, but I am equally happy with separating them into two different gestures in iOS 7.

Multitasking
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Although iOS has technically had multitasking for a while now, it was a complete pain in the 'derriere' to close applications running in the background. Now, following Android's lead, iPhone users can see full page views of all applications currently running and easily close them with a swipe. This still requires double-tapping the home screen, which is not the most fluid gesture (and I become concerned with the home button's long term viability), but it certainly works.

Notification Center
This is a more subtle improvement, but extremely useful.  The Notification Center is now available on the lock screen. This is another example of taking a great idea and making it simpler and more intuitive.  You can also see notifications sorted by 'Today,' 'All,' or 'Missed.' As far as I know, Android doesn't support a sorting feature for your notifications (although I'm sure there's an app for that). For people who prefer a password to unlock their phone, being able to save the extra step to see notifications is time saving.

AirDrop
I was not expecting this, but it makes sense. Samsung Galaxy owners can tap their phones together to quickly transfer photos and information. Now, iPhone owners can do the same...without the touching. Now one friend in your group can take that great photo and everyone can get a copy without waiting for a Facebook upload. The service uses a special wireless signal to communicate between other iPhones in the area. This means you can actually discover friends nearby. You don't have to give them special access to share through AirDrop. It just works.

iTunes Radio
Everyone and their mother has been waiting for iTunes Radio. Nothing here is groundbreaking, but there are a couple of features that make the software stand out. First, it is built directly into the music app. You can listen to a station and quickly buy any song you like from iTunes. That will certainly make the music companies happy. Secondly, you can control how the stations develop. Any song you like can be tagged so that the station finds similar songs to play in the future. And any song you hate can be tagged to never be played again. There have been many times on Pandora where I found a song I never want to hear again. That alone will sway me to iTunes Radio. Finally, assuming iTunes Match (a service for backing up your music) remains the same price, iTunes Radio can be ad-free for $25 a year! That is the best deal in online radio.

Now, the problem
The one glaring issue which many people have brought to the surface is the color scheme of iOS 7. It is very...neon.  I'm just not confident my eyes won't be permanently damaged after staring at this screen for a few days (squinting really, the the 4 inch screen size).  Apple does has time to dim down the color palate. iOS 7 will not be offered to the masses until the fall.  I understand the idea was to make an iOS overhaul to adapt to ever changing consumer needs, but this particular color change will take some getting used to.

Apple to Unveil iOS 7 Very Soon...And It Better Not Be Groundbreaking

Tim Cook uncharacteristically announced recently that the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) this June will be the launch point for the new version of Apple mobile phone software, iOS 7.  Rumors had swirled like a tornado dancing with a hurricane that John Ive....sorry, Sir John Ive, would have a major role in the development of the new iOS, favoring simplicity. Previous iterations were well known for incorporating real-world looking elements, such as a lined paper display for 'Notes' and a felt poker table appearance for 'Game Center.' That will certainly come to a screeching halt very soon, but what other changes or updates can we expect?

I believe many die-hard followers are not optimistic for a major software change. I assume Tim Cook will try to emphasis how amazing the software already is in it's present state, and they want to make it even better (I will bet big Monopoly money that line is spoken at some point in the keynote).  A new look will certainly be welcomed, but drastic changes would be a mistake.

Apple's success with the original iPhone was multi-faceted. First, they had a monopoly on the smartphone market because they basically invented it (at least the modern version we know today). Second, Steve Jobs sold this device as a massive miracle of technology that can fit in your pocket. Third, and most important these days, the software was simple, powerful and intuitive. Every iteration has built upon the success of the original iOS without drastically changing the usability. iOS 7 MUST be more of the same.

Any company's bottom line is to make money. Apple makes a lot of money. They make so much money, the company is keeping literally millions of dollars on their balance sheets as cold hard cash. That being said, to win over consumers, the company needs to target as many demographics as they can.

I would argue the younger population is almost saturated with smartphones by now (15-30 year olds).  Smartphones need to continue to infiltrate the older demographic (say over 30) and the foreign demographic.

Older people can be very hesitant to change anything. That's why our government and the Catholic Church work so slowly. Too many old people in charge. But that's a discussion for another day. Older consumers looking to buy a smartphone want something easy to use that just works. Apple has been preaching that from the beginning and differentiates itself from Android with this philosophy.  Even Microsoft sees the value in simple but powerful software with Windows Phone 8. They were just late to the party.

I really believe only an incredibly small percent of Americans actually need Android powered smartphones. Many technology websites chastise Apple for its restrictive control of the App Store, its unwillingness to adopt NFC and larger screen sizes, and the lack of customization of iOS.  But 99.999% of Americans just want a smartphone that works and is easy to use. They fact that the iPhone 5 has beautiful build quality is the frosting on the cheesecake which has vaulted the iPhone to the most popular smartphone in the USA.

I look forward to the upgrades in iOS 7. While I am currently testing the awesomeness of the Galaxy Note 2, I will keep my iPhone 5 close by until I know exactly what to expect from WWDC.  I don't expect Apple to impress me, but I do expect them to make every iteration better than the last.

My First Day with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2

The smartphone world has been talking non-stop about the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4. While I would love to test both devices, money and two-year contracts forbid me to do so.  I'm a happy iPhone 5 user, except that I'm not quite happy.  I was too intrigued by the massively beautiful screen of the Galaxy Note 2, not to mention its cheaper price point on eBay than some newer smartphones.

Here are some of my first impressions after using the Samsung Galaxy Note 2:

The screen is bright, vibrant, sharp....but it's not the iPhone screen.

Part of me thought I was crazy when I considered purchasing a phone with a lower pixel density than the iPhone 5 (at 326 ppi). Then the reality of a larger screen with heavily saturated colors negated my distress. Despite the 267 ppi and the large screen size, everything displayed on the Note 2 looks sharp and vibrant. Much of that is a result of Samsung's TouchWiz skin over Android 4.1.2, which is an important factor to consider if you ever want to strip down to stock Android.

I have noticed, however, that some app icons look fuzzy and blurred on the Note 2.  That reflects badly on Google Play app developers failing to optimize icons for high definition screens, something that would never happen with the iPhone.

One final note on the screen quality. The iPhone 5 displays more natural colors while the Note 2 displays more vibrant and bright colors. You can change the screen mode on the Note for a more natural display, but then colors look washed out and the lower ppi becomes more apparent. 'Dynamic' mode for the screen makes the display feel (or I suppose look) nearly as sharp as the iPhone.

The app selection is good on Android, but I can't help thinking quantity over quality.

Today, most applications can be found on both Google Play and the Apple App Store. But Android apps are known to be less regulated and, therefore, sometimes inferior.  This is the double edged sword of Android's customization. For the minuscule number of people who know how to root a phone or manipulate the operating system, Android is the ultimate option. Developers fill Google Play with what I consider experimental or highly customized applications.  This lowers the quantity of fully refined apps for the everyday users to enjoy. I prefer Apple in terms of app selection because of heavy control of the App Store and the uniformity of the screen size options for app developers (two sizes compared to....a lot of screen sizes using Android).

Multitasking is SO nice (but necessary?)

Multi-Window and Pop Up Play on the Galaxy Note 2 give the device an incredible amount of flexibility and multi-tasking power. The iPhone 5 can't even come close in this regard.  But is it necessary or really useful? For me, the jury is still out.  I have only used Pop Up Play when I am watching a movie and want to check my text messages or email.  That is definitely useful, but limited because the functionality does not exist for YouTube, where I watch many of my videos. For Multi-Window, I have only used it to see how it works. I have yet to find a scenario where it's actually functional. I'll keep trying.

The point is, unless you know of situations where having two windows open at once is useful for your everyday life, this feature should not sway you away from Apple.

The S Pen is great

Unlike multi-tasking, the S Pen can be useful to anyone for everyday use. It's main selling point for me is the drawing accuracy.  I dare you to try drawing anything with your finger and tell me the S Pen is inferior. But what would you draw? Notes, notes, notes. And these notes are not limited to the S Note application templates. You can draw on any picture you take with the camera. You can draw on the calendar. You can trace out any part of a web page and send it as an email or text message or save it as a note. You can even hand write words and see them translated to text.

Of course, you don't have to use the S Pen at all on the Galaxy Note 2. But you will easily find yourself taking advantage of this little pen's amazing capabilities. And it's much better than those cheap styluses with the rubber tips.

The camera is wonderful (but better?)

Finally, the cameras.  Simply put, you will not miss the iPhone 5's camera, but you won't forget it either. Although both devices have an 8 megapixel shooter with flash, the Note 2 incorporates more software features, like 'Best Face' and 'Low Light' as well as template and filters. You can get many of these features on the iPhone through 3rd party apps, but their quality can be suspect and building simple features into the operating system creates a better and more unified experience.

Still, don't switch over to the Galaxy Note 2 just because of the extra camera features. You can get them on the iPhone with some filtering through the App Store.  Camera quality should not be a reason to chose one smartphone over the other. You can't go wrong no matter what you choose in that regard.

Final Notes (ha ha, funny)

I need more time using the Galaxy Note 2 as my daily driver before I make any final decisions. I don't want to keep two smartphones hanging around when I can get good money selling either one.  Part of me misses my iPhone, but another part of me is really enjoying the Note 2 and sees no reason to switch back. Maybe Apple can blow me away at WWDC in June, but I doubt it. That's a discussion for another day.

Are Smartphones Becoming Future-Proof?

Whenever a new smartphone is announced, everyone immediately looks back to the previous iteration and magically realizes how low-tech and poorly built their once beloved companion has become. It's like we all share an epiphany and slap ourselves for ever thinking our "out dated" phones could keep us happy for the foreseeable future.

Take the iPhone 5.  When I first un-boxed my new iPhone 5 from AT&T, I was dumbfounded by its beautiful design and powerful performance. I looked at my iPhone 4, which had been my companion for 2 full years, and forgot how much it had changed my life and focused only on the negatives; the size, weight, camera and screen.

But every time a new phone is unleashed unto the world, consumers hope that this will be the device they can be happy with for at least 2 years (if not more, to save money).  But the manufacturers and designers want buyers to keep buying new phones, so it seems they rarely attempt to 'future-proof' their devices. Take the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4. These are clearly the best smartphones available (for Android, at least). But they are running Snapdragon 600 processors, which will be outmatched by the Snapdragon 800 processors which begin mass production next month.  And considering the Galaxy S4 has implemented a boatload of new gesture-based features, there will probably need to be a Galaxy S5 to smooth out all the kinks in this new hardware-software combo attack.

However, I also look at the future of mobile technology as a continuous iteration of upgrades where the window for improvement is gradually shrinking, until a break-through in battery, screen or processor technology changes the game. What this means for the near future is that smartphone owners are beginning to have less reason to sell their "out-dated" phone for the "next big thing." If you own a Galaxy S3, a large portion of the software features on the S4 will eventually be ported to your device. The same goes for the Galaxy Note 2. If you own an iPhone 5, the new software features of the upcoming (someday) 5S will surely be given to you as well.

And is there really a noticeable difference between an 8 megapixel camera and a 13 megapixel camera? The only situation I can see is when you show your images on a large TV screen, but how often to people do that?

Yes, the HTC One implemented a complete design change and a revamping of the HTC Sense skin over Android. But what can possibly be better about the HTC One....second generation?

Of course hindsight is 20-20, and maybe a year from now everyone will look back on the Galaxy S4 with disgust, or at least disappointment. But my money's on the Galaxy S5 being so marginally better, that many people will remain loyal to their current 2012-2013 phone, maybe for the first time in their lives.

Samsung, HTC and the Future of Apple

Change is in the air. Yes, that is normally indicative of winter transitioning into spring.  This year, however, change is more powerful and potent in the smartphone world.  Samsung and HTC are beginning an epic battle for Android supremacy led by their super hero flagships, the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4.

Being pushed out of the spotlight (for the first time ever) is the iPhone.  Apple was praised for the release of the iPhone 5 in October. This device was faster, thinner, lighter and bigger (in screen size) than any iPhone before it.  And although it packed a dual core processor when other phones were beginning the quad core attack (ahem, Samsung), the iPhone 5 demonstrated it could be as fast and as powerful as any phone on the market. But that was 2012. Times are changing and Apple needs (although I suppose not desperately) to make the next iPhone on par with the juggernauts of 2013.

Here's what Apple has to contend with right now:

HTC One

What strikes me most about the HTC One is the design similarity to the iPhone 5.  The heavy use of aluminum and glass gives the One a premium feel with a bigger screen and more powerful internal specs compared to the iPhone 5. 

Here's the rundown:
-Display: 4.7 inch, Full HD 1080p, 468 ppi
-Weight: 143g
-Size: 137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3mm
-Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 600, quad core, 1.7 GHz
-RAM:  2 GB
-Storage: 32 GB or 64 GB, no expandable storage
-Battery: 2300 mAh, non-removable

Samsung Galaxy S 4

This is truly a phone on steroids.  Plus, Samsung added a plethora of new features that could be extremely useful in the right situation or just a gimmick.  I like gimmicks.

-Display: 5 inch HD Super AMOLED, 441 ppi

-Weight: 130g

-Size: 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9mm

-Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 600, quad core, 1.9 GHz

-RAM: 2 GB

-Storage: 16, 32, 64 GB, expandable an additional 64 GB

-Battery: 2600 mAh, removable 

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

This phone is steroids on steroids.  This is actually my personal preference, with a massive screen in a thin body and amazing batter life.

-Display: 5.5 inch, 720p HD, 267 ppi

-Weight: 180g
-Size: 151 x 81 x 9.4mm
-Processor: Samsung Exynos quad core, 1.6 GHz
-RAM: 2 GB
-Storage: 16, 32, 64 GB, expandable an additional 64 GB
-Battery: 3100 mAh

Deciphering the information

Let me start by saying there are other smartphones out there. LG will be announcing their own phablet next month, the Optimus G Pro, that promises to have better internal specs than the Galaxy Note 2, but without an S-Pen.  Sony actually has some really good smartphones as well, with the Xperia Z and Xperia ZL.

But for all intensive purposes, HTC and Samsung have the best Android operated phones available.  There are clear differences between each device. Screen size is one. I believe a 5 inch display is the upper limit for normal consumers without freakishly big hands (like mine), although some reviews suggest the Galaxy Note 2 can become comfortable after a few weeks of use.

You should get the HTC One if you....
1) Want a premium feeling device made of high end materials which are inspired by the iPhone 5
2) Want a screen that is not too large
3) Want the best possible screen resolution
4) Do not plan on projecting photos from the device (with a 4 MP camera) on a larger screen

****Point 4 is important. PocketNow.com has a great article about the importance of megapixels. The HTC One has a 4 megapixel camera that uses 'ultrapixels' which primarily allow much more light to enter each photo. This makes the HTC One superior to any other smartphone in terms of low light pictures. However, while these pictures will look great on the smartphone, enlarging the pictures would be a mistake. There are just not enough pixels in the photo to enlarge them for a bigger display.  Pictures will appear grainy/fuzzy on your HD TV. If this is something you do often, the HTC One is NOT for you.

You should get the Samsung Galaxy S4 if you....
1) Like the Samsung Touchwiz skin over Android Jelly Bean
2) Want a large screen with extremely bright colors
3) Want expandable storage and removable battery
4) Like the plethora of new software features like SmartStay and SmartScroll
5) Want a 13 MP camera with a large list of cool features

The S4 may not be made of the premium materials of the HTC One, but the screen and internal specs are enough to distract you from the plastic construction.  My one general worry about the phone are the potential gimmick features that will need the bugs worked out. I have a previous post about my concerns with features like SmartStay,  but I just want to point out these features could be useful to some people some of the time.

You should get the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 if you....
1) Must have the biggest possible smartphone screen
2) Like the idea of the S-Pen for added features
3) Do not need a full 1080p screen
4) Want the best battery life
5) Want to save money on an unlocked phone

With a 720p HD resolution, the Note 2 looks very nice, especially when you consider the size. You will almost certainly notice the difference against the S4, but maybe more in terms of brightness and color saturation than pixel density. I personally see a lot of value in a very large display and I see usefulness for the S-Pen, which lets you take quick notes, preview messages and photo albums and a lot more.  The battery is also massive, giving the Note 2 possible the best battery life in the business. Tests have shown the S4 to last nearly, but not quite as long as the Note 2 in battery comparisons.

Finally, it's important to mention pricing. The Note 2 is selling online for between $450-550 unused and unlocked, while the S4 is going for around $700 or more without a contract. The HTC One, however, is surprisingly going for about $570 on the HTC website unlocked.

Getting back to Apple.....

Tim Cook has recently shed a lot of light on the future of Apple. Around the time of Apple's second quarter report for 2013, Cook publicly said to expect new products and product categories in the fall of 2013.  Sounds like it will be a quiet summer, although Apple will make some software announcements at WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference) in June, including the new iOS 7 and OS X and a music streaming service similar to Pandora.

But for the foreseeable future (end of the summer), Apple will not be tackling Samsung or HTC in the hardware department.  That kinda frustrates me. I am very close to getting a Note 2 to compete for my love with the iPhone 5.  As I have become more tech savvy, I want my smartphone to do more than iOS allows.  Plus, a bigger screen would be great.