Just prior to the release of MacOS High Sierra, an Ex-NSA employee reveals a vulnerability that allows an unsigned application to reveal your entire keychain, which stores information such as credit card numbers and website passwords. Continue reading Ex-NSA Hacker Reveals Mac OS High Sierra Keychain Vulnerability
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Apple’s iPhone, which has forever changed the way people communicate, work, and play. While the innovation of the device has created an industry worth over $470 Billion, it seems that Apple may no longer be the center of attention.
After the initial announcement of the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, the amount of Google searches for both the Pixel 2 and Galaxy S8 surged around 75%, tailing off at 50%. What this means is the competitor’s phones are now being searched on average 25% more prior to the announcement of this year’s iPhones. Continue reading Pixel 2 and Galaxy S8 web searches surge after announcement of iPhone 8, iPhone X
Previously my iPhone was on iOS 8.3, as keeping the jailbreak on it was nearly mandatory. Putting that behind me, I downloaded the iOS 10 beta and have been enjoying the new features. Although, some apps aren’t working on iOS 10. Continue reading List of Applications that Don’t Work on iOS 10
You’ve almost definitely heard of the selfie stick before, popping up all over the media, even finding public group photo pictures on Facebook and other social networking websites. eLooke has managed to change the game by re-introducing it as a wireless, Bluetooth connectable device. Continue reading eLooke’s ohSnap Pro: A Simple and Wireless Selfie-Stick
Apple’s products are well-known for their products having outstanding battery life, with the obvious exception of the Apple Watch ‘clocking’ in at around 1-2 days. The iPhone 6 has relatively good battery, and the iPhone 6 Plus having very good battery lasting between 1-2 days. Although lately I have been using my phone more often and have noticed that I’d end up with around 10-20% of my battery left by the end of the day. Since I’ve been busy with juggling school, friends and work lately I decided it would be best to try out a new charging case for my iPhone 6.
Continue reading 1byone iPhone 6/6S Battery Charger 3100mAh Case Review
The iPhone is a great phone: it’s easy to use and gets me through the day without any hassle. I used to blindly think that Apple was the only way to go when it came to portable electronics, since everything was so neatly organized into one package, so how could they possibly go wrong with a new piece of wearable technology?
Back in 2013, the Apple Watch was just a rumor, and as far as the general public was concerned it was called the ‘iWatch’. Lately Google has proven themselves pretty worthy with their latest Android software update, Lollipop, otherwise known as ‘Android L’, which bares its teeth with fantastic new features and a materialistic new user interface. With Google’s release of the beautiful new Moto 360 and recent steel version, I became extremely jealous of Android users, including my friend that just recently placed an order for one. But last year, there was no Moto 360, and there was no Apple Watch, and I was getting pretty sick of not having a magical watch sitting on my wrist. So I did what any logical nerdy guy would do: buy what was available to me, the Pebble Smartwatch.
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| Source: Phys.org |
Text, e-mail, and other various push notifications should be the main concern when it comes to a smartwatch. I’ve never told myself I needed anything else, other than maybe some turn-by-turn navigation for when I’m walking through the streets of NYC, which I think is already possible with PebbGPS on iOS. Occasionally I will check in on Foursquare or check the weather on Smartwatch+ in the morning, but really I don’t use many of the apps because there’s simply no need to. Of course developers will come up with some ingenious app ideas and watch faces, for example the Goldeneye 007 or Fallout 3 watchface on the Moto 360, but they’re not really needed, but of course they’re things you can grow attached to. Overall, the trade off is do you want 5-day battery life or do you want an AMOLED touch screen with more app support? I truly feel that the hype of a smartwatch app will die off within a week, and you’ll just be left using it to check time and notifications in the end.
Why haven’t I talked about the Apple Watch yet? Well, because it’s not out yet, and the Moto 360 is the easiest to compare for the basis of what to expect from it. Let’s just throw this out there and really let it simmer in your mind, because this is one of my main points: the Moto 360 is $249, not bad right? The Apple Watch starting price is $389. You can argue that the iPhone is $600+ off contract, that many high-end watches are expensive and that Apple products in general are just very expensive, but this is the FIRST generation Apple Watch. What’s going to happen the year after you just burned $389, spend $389 again on the next generation? Some people definitely don’t have a problem with that, but when you put it into perspective, it is 1.5x more expensive than the Moto 360 and nearly 2x more expensive than the Pebble Steel.
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| Source: TheNextWeb.com |
Maybe it’s unfair to compare it to the Pebble since it doesn’t sport a fancy screen, heartbeat sensor or conductive charger, but the Pebble, Apple Watch and Moto 360 all do basic notifications when it comes down to it. It may seem like the Pebble is “behind” on its place in time, but the truth is that it’s right up to speed with current technologies. It is Apple and Google that are trying to push too far ahead by attempting to release watches with one-day battery life, which will likely never improve since battery technology only progresses as much as the technology within the watch does. So long as smartwatch manufacturers keep thinking that putting the latest technology into their watches is a good idea, battery may extend to two days at best.
By the tone of what I’ve already said, you already know that I’m loving my Pebble, and I do think you should buy one before you think about going out and buying a Moto 360 or Apple Watch. If rumors are any indication of what’s to come with new versions of the Pebble, the modular aspects of the new Pebble will likely be customizable watch bands, body colors, and body shapes (e.g. squared and circular). The Moto and Apple Watch are both beautifully designed watches and definitely blow away the Pebble in terms of functionality outside of notifications, but I just don’t think they are needed, although they are very cool pieces of technology that will change the way we interact with our phones. Once the next-generation of smartwatch arrives, I’m sure my opinion will change, but as for now I’m going to stick with my Pebble.
At Apple’s WWDC conference in Cupertino, California, Apple has released two new iPhone’s, being the iPhone 5S and 5C. The 5S sports a fancy new 64-bit processor, camera and fingerprint scanner, while the 5C is the iPhone 5 in disguise, bearing colorful new designs to choose from and starting at only $99. iOS 7 will also make an official release on the 18th. While that’s all cool and dandy, we didn’t see any rumored new products drop yet, what’s going on?
Apple has recently created innovative products such as the iPad and iPhone in the past few years. Although lately, we’ve been bombarded with some minor gimmicky software and hardware alterations. When you think about it, what has really changed from the iPhone 3GS to the iPhone 5S? Hardware wise, not much has changed other than the body, screen, camera and processor. Apple hasn’t even bothered to move into the field of NFC (Near-Field Communications). We have surely moved forward since iOS 2, but even then, Apple Maps wasn’t exactly a revolutionary step forward in getting from point A to B.
With Apple lagging behind in the creation of new technology, they could soon be beat out by competitors such as Samsung, which has already created their own smartwatch. While I do feel that this watch isn’t very good, at least it’s a start to something bigger. Apple’s supposed television set is also yet to be seen, although it has been said it will arrive later in 2014.
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| Google Glass, photo by Cnet |
The end of the year is going to be an exciting time, with a bunch of new stuff for us to play around with like the new iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S, as well as the possible pubic release of Google Glass by the end of 2013. Although, things have quieted down for Apple, and Forbes has stated that the iWatch may not make it until next year. Uh-oh!
2013 has been a great year so far. We’ve gotten tons of new tablets, smartphones, TV’s, and other fancy electronics to hold us over until 2014. Although undoubtedly, 2014 will be the year of wearable technology. Many of the major tech companies have been rumored or confirmed to be working on their own version of a smartwatch, but it can be assumed that these watches won’t be officially announced until around Q2 2014. That hasn’t stopped small startups like Pebble or GlassUp from taking a shot at making their own wearable tech before the huge market comes pouring in. But now with Apple possibly a step behind in releasing their iWatch, we won’t be able to see what is on the table for us, pointing my full attention straight at Google Glass.
This is not to say that one product may be better than the other. While both Google Glass and Apple’s iWatch will deploy similar functions, they are still two different pieces of technology that relay the information to you in different ways. While both visual, Glass relays the data straight into your eyes, almost like a cyborg when you think about it! A smartwatch will relay the information to you through vibrations and flashing signals on your wrist, which will require more of an effort on your part but definitely won’t attract as much unwanted attention of passers-by. You’re probably wondering why I mention all of this, and it’s pretty simple actually. Glass has been making a lot of buzz in the tech world, and if Google is the first to release their wearable tech, people are going to most likely buy Glass first leaving no room on anyone’s wrist for the iWatch. Not only that, but people will grow accustomed to the way Glass relays information as opposed to the way a smartwatch may relay information. Essentially they are (or at least should end up being close to) the same thing, but I guess in the end it’s just a matter of preference.
Yeah, there are of course some people that would rather wear a watch around their wrist than have expensive plastic attached to their head. Personally, I’m among one of the people that would proudly wear a screen-projecting piece of plastic to my head. Why? Because it may look a bit silly now, but our societies have to adjust to new technology. People will start by jumping to conclusions, wondering as to how why anyone would wear a computer on their head, but over time Glass will become more prevalent in the media and on peoples faces, and they will begin to understand why.
Apple is the most popular tech company in the world, and they have released some of the most intuitive and beautiful looking products known to man. Though recently, they have been lagging behind in innovation, and with rumors of the upcoming “iWatch”, they may be very well turning that around.
While Apple’s smartwatch is just a rumor, it makes a lot of sense as to why Apple would be making one. For one, Apple’s iPod Nano was essentially designed to be worn as a watch, as they sold watch straps right in their store and people even made applications that would add the ability to supply more watch faces. While that is rather weak evidence, the Pebble Smartwatch CEO issued a statement that he “could not comment” on whether or not Apple has been in talks with Pebble. And, well… there’s this too. Still not convinced? Here’s one posted a few weeks ago. Oh and by the way, guess who else is making a smartwatch? You know, just the regulars: Microsoft, Google, Samsung, and LG, each confirmed. What are the chances that Apple isn’t in this group?
With iOS 7 recently announced and Beta 1 already installed on thousands of devices, we know that Apple has decided to make a complete overhaul to their operating system both aesthetically and function wise. Their new Mac Pro also took up an interesting design unlike anything ever made by them. In other words, Apple is finally ready for some change. Over the next year or two they will also most likely be releasing more never before seen products, namely Apple’s supposed iWatch, television set, and more.
Everyone has so many questions: will the watch have an App Store? Will it have on-board memory? A camera? Honestly, nobody can really answer that. But in a logical sense, you can sort of figure out what direction Apple may choose to head in.
I read an article from today about the iWatch from Cult of Mac, and it discusses some of the features that are likely to be present on Apple’s smartwatch. While many of the things the article spoke of made sense, what caught my attention was the whole concept behind how apps will actually make it onto the watch itself. It was not mentioned in the article but I thought, “So how will apps make it onto the watch? Assuming the watch is 8GB, that could fill pretty quickly”. Then I had an idea… Couldn’t Apple simply expand the iOS API and have the apps “streamed” to the watch? Of course to get more functionality than just a simple push notification sent to your watch from an iPhone application, the developer will have to update their app. Regardless, this would save a tremendous amount of battery on the watch since the iPhone would be doing most of the work, and the watch would simply read in the information to be displayed onto the screen as told by the iPhone. The only down side to this method would be the latency between the watch and the phone, which shouldn’t be that bad assuming that the watch isn’t already slow. Apple has been trying to get the battery up to 4-5 days on one charge, so it is likely that they are trying to do something along these lines.
Another thing that I thought would be an interesting feature is the ability to selectively sync custom playlists to the watch. While you’re usually around your phone most of the time anyway, assuming you were in a situation where your phone was out of reach, you can just listen to music on your watch which you haven’t forgotten because it’s stuck to your wrist. I don’t think the device will capitalize on internal storage, as the watch is rather just an extension of the iPhone, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple adds in some sync features too appease to the picky ones.
Samsung, Google and LG may all be making their own kinds of smartwatches, but regardless of how many features Apple’s watch has, it will sync to the iPhone so seamlessly it will put the competitors out of question, simply because the watch will be exclusively designed for the iPhone. While the other watches may have snazzy NFC capabilities and features out of the hands of iOS, I’m hoping that Apple will keep to their ability to make stunning, functional products, and once again keep us on the edge of our seats.
Since my last post about Android and its flaws, it’s been a few years. It was last comparing and contrasting features of iOS 2 and Android’s Gingerbread OS, but a lot has changed over the years and I thought it would be well worth creating another article on why Android still isn’t exactly up to par with iOS, but has definitely made its way further up the food chain.
In one of my earlier posts, I admitted that the Samsung Galaxy S3 was a pretty slick phone, and I’ve definitely considered using it. Although, some things are holding me back with Apple’s groundbreaking iPhone 5. Let’s start with the most obvious, strongest one…
1. The Apple Ecosystem
Nothing will ever come even remotely close to being as good as the Apple ecosystem. All iOS devices work seamlessly with each other a their Mac counterparts, from photos to open Safari tabs to apps. Download an app on the iPad, see it on your iPhone. Reading a book on your phone? The page is saved on your iPad. Took a photo from your iPhone in NYC? All those pictures are already on your Mac. Lost your iPhone, need to make a change in your calendar events? iCloud has got that covered. Because Apple makes all their own product, nothing will ever be as easy as logging into your Apple ID and having everything already set up for you. Android OS may have apps that could mimic some of the functions of iCloud, such as TabCloud to sync tabs from Chrome to Android, but this requires manual installation on all devices being synchronized. Apple’s already got that covered from the second you open that fancy box.
2. Staggered OS Distribution
I think I mentioned this in my other post, but Android OS is still distributed among multiple devices configured with different hardware and modified versions of the OS. For example: HTC may have their signature version of Android featuring HTC Sense weaved into their interface, while the Galaxy S3 has a bunch of Samsung features pushed into their OS (not to mention possibly pre-installed bloatware). Because of the difference in screen sizes, hardware and manufacturer, when an update for Android comes out for a specific phone, it could be months before the update actually comes out. Sure, there’s custom ROMs, but they’re not officially distributed by the carrier nor manufacturer, usually resulting in an unstable, unsupported OS.
As of today, A little less than 50% of Android users STILL have Android’s Gingerbread OS! As of October 2nd 2012, 60% of iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch users have iOS 6 installed. After the release of Google Maps for iOS 6, that number has grown 29%. Take some lessons from Apple, Android (or should I say Google).
3. Samsung, I Raise Your Specs and Give You QUALITY.
Samsung, when will you stop? You fit all these amazing specifications in to one cheap, plastic shell. You even went as far as making a neat little chart with all your useless features next to the iPhone’s features, and decided to leave out the signature iPhone features that make it what it is. A quick search of “Samsung Galaxy S3 Stupid Ad” will give you that ad (direct link for the lazy). Yeah, your phone is pretty cool, I’ll admit that I wouldn’t mind having one, but don’t push it into our face. It makes me want to ignore you for being hotheaded. Samsung, stop being annoying.
Anyway, what I infer by the title of this post is that the iPhone 5 was made with quality in mind: for example, it has aluminum backing, NOT plastic. The back can’t crack now, because it’s no longer made with glass. Sure, the front can crack, but all smartphones nowadays are made with glass, unless it’s a piece of crap. While it doesn’t really make much of any physical difference, iPhone 5’s are not more than a few microns off (a measurement used for measuring bacteria). The only reason I mention this, is because Apple actually tries to ensure physical quality of their product, rather than to brag about how fast it may be or what useless software features it may encompass, such as NFC technology currently only usable between Samsung Galaxy’s or “S-Voice”, the blatant Siri rip off. With Samsung (not so much other manufacturers), it’s a race to see who can get to the newest technology first, so they can capitalize on how “cutting edge” their phones are.
4. iOS is Easy, Controlled, and Compatible.
Yeah, I’ve said some stuff like this in my other post, but it’s still true. iOS is extremely easy to use, and there’s not much of any learning curve at all. My mom, who is unreasonably tech deficient, can work her way around an iPad, but not as easily around her Android tablet or a Windows 7 laptop, simply because they have more features and options than the average person needs. Apple only puts things into iOS that truly matter to give it a user experience that doesn’t leave you guessing, simply because you already know where everything is, and it’s right where you think it would be. In other words, it’s intuitive.
As for the controlled App Store ecosystem, some may see this as a negative, but I’m sure myself that it is most definitely a positive. Apple regulates these apps for quality control, like they do on their iPhone. Sure, some crap flows through the store every once and a while, but Apple can only deny so much. Most of the original content, coded by independent developers, is easy to use and not a mess of a user-interface. Why? Because it costs $100 to get into the development program, so only developers serious about making money will step forward and start developing for the App Store community. I’m not sure if Google Play’s market costs money to get in anymore, but putting a price on the SDK keeps the unskilled developers out, and the good ones in.
Lastly, there’s the issue of compatibility between phones and Android OS version. Apple only has iOS 5 and 6 to worry about, simply because everyone is either on the latest or semi-latest OS. There are also only 5 different screen resolutions developers need to worry about on iOS: iPad retina/non-retina, and iPhone and iPod Touch retina/tall/non-retina; there is no fragmentation. Android has so many damn tablets and smart phones, that the screen resolutions vary slightly between devices which have to be accounted for when applications are being developed. This requires consistent updates by developers. The reason developers would rather port from iOS to Android is because: 1. The applications can be slightly adjusted from the streamlined screen resolutions of iOS, and 2. iOS users are more willing to buy apps from the App Store.
What Will Make Me Want An Android Phone
Google needs to make sure that Android is regulated more, and make sure that all updates are released on-time and in synchronization (or at least within a months range) with all phones. Sure, that may be hard because it’s up to the manufacturer to get it to work correctly with their hardware, but Windows seems to have no problem with different screen resolutions and hardware changes (yes, I’m well aware it’s a desktop OS). Custom ROM developers seem to have no problem getting to it newer Android versions either. Google isn’t the only one that needs to do some work. Manufacturers have to start caring about what goes into their phones, rather than cramming them full of fancy hardware and shipping them off with some gimmicky features. Companies have started to care to some extent, but the manufacturers have to get at Apple’s level and start caring more. I don’t want any company to mimic Apple’s products, I want them to care about their own. Google’s phones and most HTC phones have begun to show some innovation in design and interface, which is a huge jump from what used to be. If it keeps up, Android could surpass the iPhone, I won’t doubt it.
Yes, I know. You’ll probably give me shit for saying some of these things, but I’m going to do it anyway. Apple is certainly a good company with magnificent groundbreaking products, that has changed the way people design and manufacture phones, tablets, laptops, and other electronics. They have given us everything we wanted, and everything we didn’t even know we wanted (thanks, Steve). But with other companies innovating products differently than ever before, is Apple at an impasse?
Many new phones, tablets and laptops have been released over the course of several years, but it wasn’t until recently that my thoughts about Apple has flipped. For starters, Steve Jobs has passed away from pancreatic cancer, which I feel was the beginning of the end of the company. There will no longer be any regulation, as now the CEO to get the opinions of the guy that made the stuff good. More importantly than Steve, other companies are doing things that Apple feels they no longer have to do: innovate.
Companies like Samsung definitely had their bad history of blatantly stealing things from Apple, and still to this day continue to do so. But as much as I hate to admit it, their stuff is getting pretty damn cool, and really damn good. Rumors float round every now and then about the “upcoming Apple Flatscreen TV”, but so far there has been little to no indication that this thing even exists. Samsung, on the other hand, already has these sweet slim TV’s part of the new line of “Smart TV’s”. Honestly, these things are pretty cool, since you can do things like view Netflix videos or watch Hulu, and use remotes with qwerty keyboards on them so you can type things in to search a web browser or use many of the other applications included with the TV. While Apple has technically released new products since 2006 other than the iPhone, they are not exactly things that the average consumer would buy because they already own one (i.e. iPhone 5 instead of iPod Nano), and they are not innovative or different than what can already be found.
Rather than make things “thinner, faster, and smaller” as exemplified by the iPhone 3GS to iPhone 5, Samsung and other companies seems to be doing that and more. First, we have the Samsung Galaxy S3. The first time I saw it, I didn’t want to admit to myself that it was awesome. While the phone is big, it is beautiful, colorful, fast and fun. Sure, it runs Android which I still don’t really like all that much, but I could definitely see myself using it. I don’t know how Samsung grabbed an Apple fanboy’s attention, but they did, and I won’t change my mind. Sure their ads may be obnoxious and narcissistic, but they’re trying to change technology for the better. NFC, near field communication, an RFID-like signal, is something that’s been rumored to have been in the iPhone 4 (and still isn’t!). They also happened to have the Panorama function in the Galaxy S3 before the iPhone 5 was even announced, and it works just as well as the one featured in the iPhone 5. Sure, Apple will always have the upper hand on the closed ecosystem of iCloud and App Store which is what keeps me with the iPhone 5, but Samsung can brew up a concoction whenever they want.
I’m going to stop shedding love to Samsung and move it right over to you, Microsoft. Windows 8 is the greatest thing I have ever seen, not for laptops, but for tablets. It’s exactly what Microsoft needed to do: turn Windows 7 into a very user-friendly interface that can accommodate touch screens. I can’t think of anything better than having all of the apps you want already created for you, because it is still Windows! Right now their tablets are based on ARM architectures, so currently none of the Windows apps will actually work with the Microsoft Surface, but they are easily portable from i5 to ARM. Although, there’s a twist: Microsoft is planning on releasing a Microsoft Surface Pro with an i5, so once Surface Pro is released, all of those applications actually will work on the Surface without any porting needed, just not in the current line up of Windows 8 tablets. I will admit that if Microsoft executed the OS correctly, I can definitely see the Microsoft Surface Pro surpass the iPad. Speaking of the iPad, Microsoft has actually one upped them with Microsoft Surface keyboard cover, essentially a smart cover with a keyboard on it. Why haven’t you thought of that, Apple?
I’m not really smashing Apple much at all, because there isn’t anything wrong with their stuff. The real problem lies in what isn’t there, because they won’t leave their comfort zone. Microsoft has a true OS in their tablets, while Apple chose to port iOS over to a giant screen. Samsung incorporated NFC in their phones and Operating Systems in their TV’s while Apple doesn’t even have the slightest recognition of the existence of one. Honestly, not much has really changed since 2006, because what Apple has been doing is working. They don’t really need to change anything right now, but I’m sure in a few years Samsung, Microsoft, and many other companies will have them out-innovated.
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