First Impressions of iOS 7

dribbble.com

I like it....for what it is...

Let me explain.  iOS 7 brings several new and useful features which Apple products have lacked since the inception of the iPhone in 2007.  Notable among these are "Control Center," notifications, system wide search, multi-tasking, better Siri and better camera and photo apps.  I particularly like a couple of things.

First, control center was a desperately needed addition.  When you swipe up from the bottom of the screen, you can control music playback, volume, Airplane Mode, WiFi, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb, Mute, Brightness, Timer and activate the camera (and a flashlight for the iPhone).  I also really like the new multi-tasking interface, where a double-tap of the home button shows you a list of full screen views of the applications running in the background. You can then swipe up to stop the application. This is SO much better than holding down the icon and trying to tap the little 'x' in the corner. 

hypebeast.com
This is a great summary of the important changes.

But the real change being offered is in the design interface.   Everything about iOS has been visually modified to signify a new chapter in Apple's philosophy for technology, spear-headed by Sir John Ive (Tim Cook is really just the kind southern uncle of the group).  First, the Parallax. No, not the Green Lantern super villain, but Apple's description of the very cool motion of the background against the icons, almost like they are two separate layers. Then, there are the colors. Neon is the only word I can use to describe the color scheme.  Surprisingly, I accepted it much quicker than I thought I would.  The colors blend in very well with the overall design of the software. Apple has been pushing 'colors' extremely hard for the past year or so and this feels like the culmination of their vision for the company. 

For the first few minutes after I downloaded iOS 7 to my iPad 3 (it took 3 hours, but that's what happens on launch day), I immediately had doubts about leaving iPhone for the Galaxy Note 2. 

www.webdesignerdepot.com

Then, the reality of the software kicked in.

Nothing has fundamentally changed.  It looks shiny and new, but there are no major changes to pull me back to Apple. Same screen, (basically) same battery, same price point.

In the end, this is a welcome change to the software and a successful transition to a new identity. But it will not bring back those who, like myself, left the iPhone for devices which could easily last one day on a single charge with a more respectable screen size.

Still, maybe I can have a Galaxy Note 2 and an iPhone 5S.......

Galaxy Gear. Here's what to LOVE and what to HATE.

gadgets.ndtv.com

As I come down from cloud-9 and consider the ramifications of Samsung's announcements, I feel torn right down the middle.  Half of me is waiting in line to order the Galaxy Gear. The other half is disappointed and longing for the Galaxy Gear 2.  Let me start with my dislikes and and end on a positive note......THE GALAXY NOTE 3 (ha, ha).

allthingsd.com -

The disappointments:

One day Battery Life

This is one of the major concerns in the wearable-tech sphere.  How much productivity do you sacrifice for convenience? Apparently, for Samsung, almost none.  With only 25 hours of battery life, the Galaxy Gear will most likely become a 'charge every night device.'  That will not sit well for power-users and technology buffs who expect more life with less battery.  Many early adopters of smart watches have been spoiled by Pebble, which lasts approximately 5-7 days on one charge. However, the extended battery life comes at the extent of functionality. The Galaxy Gear is unquestionably a more powerful and versatile product. Samsung made the conscious choice to sacrifice battery life for performance and features. The perfect smart watch would have no such compromises.

The Camera 

On one hand, no one expected the Gear to have a camera built into the wristband. It will be a useful selling point if the software is functional. The problem is, Samsung shouldn't have launched a wristband camera with just a 1.9 megapixel sensor.  I understand it must have been an engineering challenge to incorporate any camera at all, let alone a battery, flash storage and RAM, in such a small device. And I also understand a bigger camera would have been a drain on battery life and storage on the device. And I also also understand even the best smart phones on the market only carry a 2 megapixel front-facing camera.  

All that being said, if Samsung wanted to surprise us with this feature, I would have been much more impressed if the MP count was a little higher.

Limited Market

Once the Gear is usable with the S3, S4 and Note 2, sales will explode...I think.  Samsung is taking a risk by shunning the masses and only rewarding loyal customers with this smart watch.  Only time will tell (what a great joke) if the Gear can be profitable as well as functional.

What I LOVE:

abcnews.go.com 

The Applications

I am a proponent of a small smartphone screen on my wrist, not just a cursary look at notifications and caller ID. The Gear truly feels like a small smartphone with over 70 applications at launch which are specifically designed for the smart watch. However, it is unclear how independant these applications can be when not paried to the phone. Heck, they may be completely unusable without the Note 3.

The Calling Feature

I should find this gimmicky, but I don't. I think it would be extremely cool (maybe geeky is the right word) to raise my hand to my face to answer a call. As with many Samsung products, real world testing is necessary to see the responsiveness of this feature. I really hope it works well.

www.trustedreviews.com 

The Design

I don't think anyone can argue that Samsung crashed and burned with the design.  The build and materials are high quality, making this device a pioneer in fashionable wearable tech, an industry that will explode when Google, Apple and Microsoft get in the smart-watch game. I can definitely see myself wearing this device everyday.

Verdict

Will I get a Galaxy Gear? Definitely not until I know the Galaxy Note 2 is getting the necessary software upgrade. Even then, I want to see what the technology world thinks of this device, particularly in battery life and application usefulness. But I'll guarantee one thing, I am getting a smart watch as soon as I think the industry has matured. Again....time will tell.

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.