BLACKBERRY: Z10 FIRST IMPRESSIONS

BLACKBERRY: Z10 FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers... Are you thinking of getting the BlackBerry Z10? I had a discussion with a friend of mine who is keen to remain true yet is thinking about the forthcoming Galaxy SIV – her handset is up for renewal in April. Being a Samsung fan I advised her to wait... Is this justified? Let’s have a first impressions look...

Are you sitting comfortably?

THE DESIGN
In an earlier blog I stated that the design was unimaginative. However, I have to state that the Z10 does look better in actuality i.e. the aesthetic is more pleasing than the picture. Yet I maintain that the design is somewhat pedestrian; the Z10 looks like the unlikely child of the Nexus 4 and iPhone.

The hard plastic feels quite robust as does the 4.2", four-point multitouch LCD display, 1280 x 768 with a decent resolution at 356dpi.

On the right side there is a volume rocker and the middle part of the rocker serves as the Voice Control application – more on that later.

On top of the phone is the power button.

The battery plate is a mottled rubber-like plastic that stops the handset from being a bar of soap – just!

There are no virtual home, back and menu keys unlike the latest Android handsets. The Z10 is designed for gestures.

THE SCIENCE OF THE HAND: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO... WINK, WINK...
Let me tell you right now – if you don’t know it already – I am quite a burly guy with big burly hands. My hand dwarfed the 130mm x 65.6mm x 9mm phone. Because the interface relies on gestures it felt like trying to get a flame out of a disposable lighter; it took a few attempts to get out of applications. The 4.2” screen felt too small for my hand and my gestures required more screen. But I did manage to get the hang of it.

I have been spoiled by Android – it’s truly an advanced mobile device operating system. Oh, and, of course, spoiled by the larger screen of my Galaxy SII and Note II. Having said that, I still use my rooted Galaxy S that sports a 4” screen and that feels more comfortable than the Z10. I wouldn’t say that’s a disaster. Uh-uh... ...BlackBerry has created something relatively new in terms of interfacing with a mobile operating system; pure gestures. Like anything new it will take some time to get used to.

Therefore, I am inclined to think that the Z10 is suited to the dainty feminine hand. Or the petite male hand – if there is such as thing as a male being petite.

THE OS
The operating system, BlackBerry 10, isn’t bad at all. Again, it feels like BlackBerry have taken bits of iOS and Android and fused them together. The result is a somewhat sluggish beast. It doesn’t have the spring of iOS and the smoothness that is Android 4.1 – it feels in-between.

Apps take a bit of time to launch, the web browser is very, very slow. I clicked on the browser icon and there was a considerable delay before I got the web screen. The search uses Microsoft Bing and Flash is included; just when you thought Flash on the mobile was dead. BB OS 10 is kind of like Gingerbread or Froyo in their days.

Even with WiFi the web pages took ages to download. However, the sites do look good – almost perfect. I like that YouTube video embedded in pages plays directly from the page as opposed to launching the YouTube app!

CAMERA & OTHER APPS
The camera seems quite capable. I didn’t have too much time to spend on it. I will reserve judgement for a more thorough review. From what I saw I would say the 8MP camera is good – a little above average. But we’ll see...

One app that looked quite good was the Storymaker app that creates videos from full HD recorded clips and images.

Like Android, the BB 10 OS is able to multitask. By swiping away an app you can see other apps that have been opened on a ‘home’ or landing page whereby the applications can be closed.

Voice Control seemed ok, again, like Android it allows you to dictate text messages, emails, etc and launch applications. This wasn’t working 100%, so I am hoping to give you the full picture as soon as I am able.

I think Android and iOS have more to offer – certainly more apps in their respective stores. For a comeback it’s a step in the right direction but if you’re going to comeback in this arena you have to make big steps. This feels like a plod around the edge... It has something, but it doesn’t feel like it is going to be enough.    

MY OVERALL OPINION THUS SO FAR
I’m unimpressed. I had thoughts of having this handset as secondary or third phone and I can’t say that I feel the same way now. Should a more thorough test show more speed and that the gestures is a matter of getting familiar with the Z10 it could change my mind again.

I’m scratching my head wondering why the handset didn’t feature a larger contemporary screen. Hmmmm...

Here’s the spec:

Size

130mm x 65.6mm x 9mm

Display

4.2", four-point multitouch LCD display, 1280 x 768 resolution at 356dpi, touch on lens

Software

BlackBerry 10 OS

Memory

2GB RAM, 16GB Flash, hot-swappable Micro SD slot (up to 32GB)

Processor

Dual core 1.5 GHz

Talk time

Up to 10 hours on 3G

Standby time

Up to 305 hours on 3G, up to 316 hours on 2G

Audio playback

Up to 60 hours

Video playback

Up to 11 hours

Camera

8MP rear-facing camera, autofocus, 5x digital zoom, 1080p HD video recording, 2MP front-facing camera, 3x digital zoom, 720p HD video recording

GPS

Assisted, autonomous, and simultaneous

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 4.0 low energy

WiFi

802.11 a/b/g/n enabled, 4G mobile hotspot

Advanced sensors

Assisted, autonomous and simultaneous GPS accelerometer, magnetometer, proximity, gyroscope, ambient light sensor

ALTERNATIVES
The RAZRi and Nexus 4 come to mind as alternatives; these handsets are better in my opinion. Oh, the Acer CloudPhone comes to mind too (Acer CloudPhone review coming soon).

Thank you for reading!

In the meantime please check out the Interactive PDF right here:
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BLACKBERRY: Z10 & Q10, IS IT GAME OVER ALREADY?

Don't the designers take any notice of concept art?

BLACKBERRY: Z10 & Q10,
IS IT GAME OVER ALREADY?

Good afternoon, Synapse Circuit Readers... Oooh, the delights of coffee... Did you see the launch or re-launch of BlackBerry yesterday? Naturally I caught it! What do you think?
Are you the proud owner of a BlackBerry handset? Are you planning to upgrade to the BlackBerry Z10 or the Q10?

SO, IS IT GAME OVER?
To be honest I sincerely hope not. Ok, I didn’t think that the handsets were at the cutting edge of smartphone technology but I think that’s how BlackBerry fans like it.

BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10 Smartphones

They feature 1.5 Ghz dual core processors with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and an expandable memory card slot. They include the latest enhancements in high density pixel and screen technology to display clear, sharp, and incredibly vivid images. Both feature a micro HDMI out port for presentations, and advanced sensors such NFC (near field communications) to support mobile payments and the exchange of information with a tap of the smartphone. They also have a removable battery.

Models of the BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10 will be available from carriers to support their respective 4G LTE or HSPA+ networks, and all the available models include connectivity support for global roaming. The BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10 smartphones will also each come in White and Black.

I think these handsets are perfect for the dedicated BlackBerry user who does not like these massive Android screens. The operating system does look quite interesting – it’s a little like bits of iOS and Android combined; it has potential.

I don’t think too much of the designs. Having said that, I still stick to the possibility of getting one as a secondary or third handset as the prospect of BBM is appealing. BB10 apps could be very interesting indeed.

I like that they have micro HDMI port that I am sure will be used by business folk as a presentation device.

So, for Canada’s and the sake of the many dedicated BB users out there I hope that this is the start of a new seed that will grow into a strong tree in the forest of today’s advanced mobile devices. I am interested in seeing the new Playbook!

WHAT BLACKBERRY ARE DOING RIGHT
It’s funny... In one of my blogs I said that the mobile phone release is very much like how I used to feel about the music charts as a younger man. Music today is so throwaway – at least for me. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Alicia Keys was appointed as the new Global Creative Director,

“Alicia Keys has come to BlackBerry because she believes in the product and technology, and subscribes to our overriding philosophy to ‘Keep Moving’: to empower people through mobile computing and communications,” said BlackBerry President and CEO Thorsten Heins. “We are excited she will be bringing to us her enormous capabilities, as well as a vast network of relationships in the entertainment, social media and business communities, to help shape our brand and grow our business.”

In her new role, Keys will work closely with app developers, content creators, retailers, carriers and the entertainment community to further shape and enhance the BlackBerry 10 platform, and inspire creative use through its remarkable capabilities and functionality.  From music to books, to film, to apps, Keys will lead the charge of enhancing entertainment consumption and distribution, through the power of BlackBerry 10.

That’s a very, very smart move on the part of BlackBerry. Having Keys in that role makes me want to own the Z10 as I feel that this is an historic moment in the mobile devices realm. As you can imagine, I am very, very curious as to what Keys will bring to the table.

Wow! I am a little excited and it’s not an Android device! Woo!

Kudos to BlackBerry’s CEO Thorsten Heins for placing Keys in such an advantageous position.

WHAT BLACKBERRY HASN’T DONE BUT SHOULD HAVE
The only thing that I can criticize BlackBerry for is not being adventurous in the handset designs. I have to say that they look very underwhelming. I do understand that most BlackBerry users have a tendency to be plain, but there could have been a third option that would be experimental in its design. It is as though they haven’t learned from what Android has done and is doing. I am disappointed that they have gone down the Apple route of anti-design.

The third option should have been at least a 4.8” HD screen to show that they are aware of the current handset trends. I think this would have given more of an impact to Keys’ position. Oh, that could have been the magic X10 – ‘X’ is the Roman numeral for 10. That would have been the icing on the cake.

BlackBerry has to consider that many users have gone on the likes of the Galaxy SIII, One X, etc. BlackBerry needs to make deserters think, “Oh, maybe I should have waited a little longer...” Certainly, they need to reposition themselves back into the market with a device that demands attention. They need... Yes, I guess you saw this one coming... They need the ‘X’ factor. They don’t have it.

I would like to get my mitts on those devices to see what they are really about.

Thank you for reading!

In the meantime please check out the Interactive PDF right here:
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GOOGLE: NEXUS 7 II? AND THE FUTURE OF GOOGLE PLAY

GOOGLE: NEXUS 7 II? AND THE FUTURE OF GOOGLE PLAY
Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers... Here I am on my third blog of the day! Did you see the BlackBerry 10 launch? What did you think? My headline was prophetic: Can they (BlackBerry) come back from the RIM?

I am developing a sixth sense for tech... Hmmm...

NEXUS 7 II?
I think it’s time... Time for a new version of the most popular Android tablet, the Nexus 7! It’s almost a year since it has been out and I believe an upgrade is due.

When you think about it, just about every electronics manufacturer – some you have never heard of – are about to or in the process of releasing an Android tablet very shortly! It is said that Samsung are about to drop a few tablets into the swirling cup that is the iffy Android tablet market. Why “iffy”? We’ll get to that in a bit... Yes, Samsung is said to be launching several tablets: Galaxy Note 8 and a new, third generation of their Tab-line: 7”, 8” and 10”. It’s also been rumoured that there will be a couple of Tab 10” Plus versions that will feature a higher screen resolution and probably built in cellular. We’ll see.

The reason why we are going to see a rush of Android tablets is because I am assuming that the manufacturers want to get a look-in ahead of the anticipated Nexus 7 II; I don’t know what naming convention they’ll adapt for the probable Nexus 7 second generation but I am pretty sure that it is coming in May to coincide with the Google I / O convention.

“IFFY”?
The reason why I stated that the Android market is “iffy” is down to the fact that there aren’t many apps that are tablet specific. It appears – on the surface (no pun intended) – the Android tablet is something of a fashion statement, geek accessory or tool! Yes, you can still do some decent productivity with the Android tablet.

Because we have seen the Android handset grow to a spectacular 5” with a full HD resolution I think that the “iffy” is about to be eradicated. Another aspect of “iffy” is that there is so much crap out there in the name of an Android tablet. You can find these cheap tablets almost anywhere – lowbrow (I think that’s what you call them) supermarket chains such as Lidl and Aldi. You can find them in electronic stores such as Maplin going for a “bargain”. I guess once in a while some of those cheap tablets can be reasonably good for the money – usually they are going for around £99 to £150.

THE POSITIVE
What the cheap (and sometimes nasty) tablets have demonstrated is that there is a great need – demand for a reasonably priced tablet. Previously, it was only a few manufacturers putting out Android tablets that were too costly for what they were. It took Google and Asus to break the stranglehold that the iPad had on the tablet market.

And today we have a great tablet in the Archos 9.7" Titanium HD for an example! I am sure that there will be more tablets with excellent spec for the money! I told you, this is the year of the Android tablet. I will get one this year!

NEXUS 7 II SPEC?
What we’ll most likely see is a full HD screen, less bezel (PLEASE!!!!), a camera at the back – possibly 5MP, which is fine and external storage. The CPU will probably be the Snapdragon S4 Pro! What I would like to see is a larger capacity i.e. 32GB instead of 16GB as level entry. Yeah, why not? Look at the idiocy that Apple is coming up with, iPad 4 Maxi (“Maxi”?) with a whopping 128GB of internal storage for the price of a decent desktop or laptop PC! Google has the finance to add some serious onboard storage and a port for external storage too!

I think I must be one of the few – if not only person – who wouldn’t mind having a thicker tablet. Why? I believe that a thicker tablet can hold more vital ports and just as importantly, hold a battery with a higher capacity. I could be wrong, but I think that trying to produce the most thinnest tablet (and handset) could possibly make the devices difficult to produce without fault thus the cost of these things go up!

I do LOVE the plastic / rubberized materials that go into Android premium tablets as it makes them more robust and easier to handle. These things are meant to be used in our everyday lives and not to hang on the wall.

I wonder if Google will produce an 8” tablet too as part of the line-up. They should!

EXTENDED GOOGLE APPS
Do you know what baffles me a little about the Android OS? It’s just how little the I /O events inspire developers to produce recognizable apps like you see on the iPad. Although Google have great widgets / apps in the form of Search, Maps, YouTube, etc they do need to set-up a division that will create key apps in the following categories:

Music production and learning

Video editing

Content making i.e. eBooks that allows users to sell their work. I am surprised that Google haven’t cottoned on to this idea already. I would – if I had the know how – create something like YouTube for people to upload their books, etc. I think it’s a great opportunity to create new writers and for the writers to make money through purchasing of which Google would take a cut.

Come to think about it I don’t know why they don’t create a Music service for independent artists. I have always said that we need an alternative to the music destroying iTunes. Every musician wants to be on iTunes and I think it’s not the place for independent music. Google can so easily create genre based “stations” with the ‘Play Music’ app / widget. Play Techno, Play DubStep and so on. Allow independent record labels to distribute their music!

Productivity! I think we could do with some more productivity apps for business, design, etc.

These I / O events are a waste of time if it is not going to yield in high quality apps! I think Google must start this trend off!

By allowing for independent writers and musicians to create content that users can purchase it would add to Google’s money making power and give the public inexpensive but powerful tablets and handsets! I believe I am right with this way of thinking!

What do you reckon?

Thank you for reading!

In the meantime please check out the Interactive PDF right here:
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BLACKBERRY: CAN IT BOUNCE BACK FROM THE RIM?

Picture from Reuters.

BLACKBERRY: CAN IT BOUNCE BACK FROM THE RIM?

Good afternoon, Synapse Circuit Readers... I am on my second mug of coffee – not that I need a boost as I am pretty animated today!

Are you the proud owner of a BlackBerry handset? Are you planning to upgrade to the BlackBerry 10?

THE COMEBACK KID
As you know, BlackBerry has had more than its fair share of problems. I remember very, very well that I couldn’t communicate with my BlackBerry friends due to a service outage for a period of 24hrs or more... Anyway, I know that my BlackBerry friends were less than impressed. Then there are the problems with the hardware... Buttons becoming stuck for no apparent reason and so on...

From what I have seen of BlackBerry 10 it looks like it is a contender and can stand up against the competition.

THE DEDICATED
Despite the problems I know of many dedicated BlackBerry owners who are sticking with RIM. I understand why... For the most part the BlackBerry is very much a business handset and the people who I know with BlackBerry handsets happen to be in business – mainly self-employed; they have come to rely on push email.

Then there are the teenagers who are fanatics of the BBM!

And so many BB owners love the physical QWERTY keyboard. So, what are they going to do with the BB10 touchscreen?

THE UNFAITHFUL
I don’t see how RIM can get back the unfaithful that have gone on to Samsung and HTC. From watching the BB10 the interface I can see similarities to Android and I think that because the platform is constantly developing it will be hard for RIM to keep up. Android 5, Key Lime Pie is imminent and I somehow can’t see Android users being envious of BB10.

That said, I would love to see BB10 push Google to develop Android the best they can; Google must surpass expectations. I think this is the reason why Android 5 isn’t out as yet. It could very well be that the Google I / O conference in May will reveal Jelly Bean 4.3 with 5 expected to come around August / September.

In any event, the unfaithful BB users have gone on to Samsung and HTC; their premium handsets with the latest version of Android really are the business! As I have said before, Samsung have swayed business users away from not only BlackBerry, but iOS too! So, unless users of Samsung and HTC experience hardware failure I don’t think that they will come back to BB!

THE TECH-JUNKY
What I can see happening is that Android and, possibly, iPhone users would want to have a second handset for certain aspects that is lacking in the respective platforms. BBM is the main app that is most desirable. And there are many people who have more than one handset. Me? I have 6 handsets due to the fact that it wasn’t worth my while exchanging the old models for cash! Oh, that’s 7 handsets if I counted the HTC Hero that hasn’t been switched on for months! Such is the nature of the 24 month contract. By the time the contract is up the handset loses a significant amount of value. However, I keep the handsets in order to root and extend the capabilities with new custom ROMS that will allow for a later version of Android.

Yep, I have been considering getting a Windows 8 handset and even the iPhone! I have been considering getting an iPhone so that I can write more about it but I can’t say that I am very enthusiastic about the idea. I would rather have BB10 over it and over Windows too! There you go! Maybe I will have a BB10 this spring or summer!

Anyway, here’s some news directly from BB...

NEW BLACKBERRY WORLD FOR BLACKBERRY 10 TO INCLUDE EXTENSIVE CATALOGUE OF SONGS, LATEST MOVIES AND TV SHOWS
Unified Multimedia Storefront Will Carry Music and Video Content from All Major Studios, Labels and Broadcasters

Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX:RIM) today announced that the new BlackBerry® World™ storefront (formally BlackBerry App World™) for BlackBerry 10 will offer one of the most robust music and video catalogs in mobile today. The new BlackBerry World will include an extensive catalog of songs as well as movies and TV shows, with most movies coming to the store the same day they are released on DVD, and next day availability of many current TV series. The competitive offering will feature content from all major studios, music labels and top local broadcast networks. Customers will be able to preview tracks and access the content using multiple payment options.*

“Music and video content is an integral part of a rich mobile experience. People want easy and convenient access to their favorite music, movies and TV shows wherever they are,” said Frank Boulben, Chief Marketing Officer at Research In Motion. “RIM is committed to working with content providers to bring the best, most up-to-date content to our customers with BlackBerry 10, and to make it easy for them to get what they want.”

The video download and rental section in BlackBerry World will initially be available in the US, UK and Canada. Varying by region and distributor, customers will have access to movies from the following studios and independents: 20th Century Fox, Entertainment One (eOne), Lionsgate, MGM, National Film Board of Canada, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (US), Starz Digital Media, STUDIOCANAL, The Walt Disney Studios, Universal Pictures (UK), Warner Bros. Customers will also have access to TV shows from the following broadcasters and studios: ABC Studios, BBC Worldwide, CBC/Radio-Canada, CBS, DHX Media, ITV, National Geographic, NBCUniversal (UK), Nelvana, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (US), Starz Digital Media, Twentieth Century Fox Television, Univision Communications Inc, and Warner Bros.

The BlackBerry World storefront’s DRM-free music download section will feature an extensive catalog from all major and independent labels including: 4AD Records, Domino Recording Company, finetunes, Matador Records, [PIAS] Entertainment Group, Rough Trade Records, Sony Music Entertainment, The Orchard, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, XL Recordings and Zebralution. The music section will initially be available in 18 countries: Canada, USA, UK, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Australia, India, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Thank you for reading!

In the meantime please check out the Interactive PDF right here:
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JUDGE KOH: SAMSUNG DID NOT WILFULLY INFRINGE APPLE'S PATENTS. HUH?

JUDGE KOH: SAMSUNG DID NOT WILFULLY INFRINGE APPLE'S PATENTS. HUH?

Good afternoon, Synapse Circuit Readers... I’ve just had a lovely mug of coffee! The Sun is out – even though it’s very windy it’s quite warm!

If you have been enjoying the ringside seat to the Apple vs. Samsung fight then you would have read the above headline.

THE DECISION 
In the latest episode of the Apple vs. Samsung patent war, judge Lucy Koh has decided that Samsung did not infringe Apple's patents wilfully, therefore overturning one element of the jury's ruling from August 2012.

Originally, the jury had determined Samsung's infringement of Apple's patents was wilful in several instances and threatened to triple the $1.05 billion damages granted to Apple. Both Apple and Samsung were unhappy with the verdict: Apple not only asked for increase in damages but wanted to remove Samsung products from US stores, while Samsung, understandably, wanted an entirely new trial.

"To establish objective wilfulness, Apple must prove by clear and convincing evidence that there was an 'objectively high likelihood that its actions constituted infringement of a valid patent'," states Koh in the new ruling.

However, since Samsung managed to prove it believed the infringed patents were invalid, it could not have infringed them wilfully.

On the other hand, the original $1 billion ruling has been upheld and Samsung has been denied motion for a new trial.

Both companies can still appeal certain elements of the ruling, so we probably haven’t heard the last of this ongoing war.

MY OPINION: BLUE GENE
Considering that Apple has had patents invalidated recently the $1.05 billion damages awarded to Apple should also be nullified.

This latest ruling does not make sense because the case can be made that Apple fraudulently claimed patents that it didn’t have any rights to. Also Apple should be fined for wilfully sabotaging the trade of the competition unfairly. Apple couldn’t compete and therefore sought to deride the competition with slanderous comments of technology ownership and theft.

The proof is in the unimaginative iPhone 5. Just look at the iPhone 5 in comparison to the beautiful devices that are the Galaxy SIII and Note II. It’s no wonder that handset vendors in the UK recommend these two Samsung handsets over the iPhone 5.

I think Apple should pay damages for the slander. Apple should also pay a fine for being a bad competitor.

At the very, very least one could say that Apple’s bill for the inadvertent Samsung ads was worth it just for the fact that it showed the world that Samsung is without a doubt superior when it comes to design and the execution of the design.

I really would like for Apple to stop behaving like a spoiled little brat and become competitive with innovation; they owe it to their dedicated fans / users. Jobs and Cook think that they can laugh off and deride the competition but the products speak for themselves.

Verdict: Mistrial.

Thank you for reading!

In the meantime please check out the Interactive PDF right here:
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HTC SENDS INVITES TO THE PRESS FOR THE 19th FEBRUARY AHEAD OF THE MWC!

HTC LAUNCHES A PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE: HTC SENDS INVITES TO THE PRESS FOR THE 19^th FEBRUARY  

Good early hours of the morning, Synapse Circuit Readers... Here I am up with a mug of coffee writing this last blog before I turn in... Turn into Sheldon from ‘The Big Bang Theory’! But such is my enthusiasm for technology – mobile handsets in particular (these days).

Yes, as predicted HTC is launching a press event ahead of the Mobile World Congress, also in February. It looks likely that HTC will be announcing the M7!

GETTING AHEAD
HTC have their work cut out for them as the competition is rife; it’s not about them against Samsung anymore... They have LG, Huawei, Google, Lenovo, Motorola, etc. Just about every Android handset manufacturer are entering new products with a standard consisting of:

5” full HD screen.
13MP camera.
1.5 GHz quad-core processor (at least).
2GB RAM
8 – 16GB onboard storage.

I am hoping that HTC will be able to wow us Android handset fanatics! I think HTC has lately put out some amazing handsets in the One X and One X +.

The HTC M7's rumoured specs have been floating around for quite a while now. But let me take an educated guess...

CPU: I think this is likely to be a 1.6GHz quad-core processor. If they want to excel themselves the processor ought to be 1.8GHz! We’re feeling the need for speed! The M7 is not only competing with the forthcoming SIV, but the Galaxy Note II and Note III later on. Of course there will be others. Thus I believe that HTC would want to ensure that M7 will be one of the fastest handsets out there – if not the fastest.

MEMORY: 2GB RAM and 32GB of storage. That sounds just about right. But I think it would be something if the RAM were 4GB just to stay that one step ahead as most manufacturers of a 5” handset will be almost certain to have 2GB RAM as standard. 32GB could be the new 16GB!

SCREEN: The screen size is likely to be 4.9”, with 1080p HD output and a pixel density of 468! Thus mopping the floor with the iPhone retina and Samsung Super HD AMOLED diplays!

CAMERA: At the front there’ll be a 2MP camera. 13MP at the back; in my opinion the camera has been the weakest element of HTC premium handsets. I am hoping that the pictures will be rich and vivid. Full HD video must be recorded and be able to playback with no stutter whatsoever!

OPERATING SYSTEM: It will likely run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and will look to be able to deliver version 5 as soon as possible – instead of taking months!

PRICING & AVAILABILITY
We’re probably looking at £36 - £40 a month in rental. I am guessing that it will be on the market in March in order to get a chance to do some damage!

I hope HTC does well with the M7 – it could be my next handset! We’ll see...

Thank you for reading!

In the meantime please check out the Interactive PDF right here:
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SAMSUNG ON THE OFFENSIVE (AGAIN): GALAXY EXPRESS

SAMSUNG ON THE OFFENSIVE (AGAIN): GALAXY EXPRESS

Good early evening, Synapse Circuit Readers... I hope that you are keeping warm! Here in London it’s not too bad – it’s starting to warm up a bit!

I can tell you what’s hot right now and that’s Samsung! Samsung has just about every tech media on tenterhooks anticipating the Galaxy SIV and Note III. Samsung’s rivals are releasing their products ahead of the SIV big reveal in order to get a look in... This time around the competition came prepared! However, keen to take advantage of the growing LTE market Samsung has released the Galaxy Express!  

WHOOSH!
Aaah, LTE speed... ...hence ‘Express’. HTC, I hope you are taking notice of the logical naming convention that Samsung deploys for its devices.

Samsung are in there like a shot! In the UK LTE is in its infancy and the costs is rather high. I welcome the fast download speeds but I don’t welcome my cash being downloaded faster than I am able to cope with! A good solution is to produce a budget conscious LTE handset. Again, Samsung aims to pick up the slack left by the more expensive handsets. It just so happens that I am with EE through being on the Orange network and maybe I can upgrade to an affordable LTE package with the Express... We’ll see...

SPECS

Networks:
LTE                 800/900/1800/2600

HSPA+           850/900/2100

EDGE             850/900/1800/1900
Processor: 1.2 GHz dual-core processor

Display: 4.5” WVGA Super AMOLED Plus

OS: Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)

Camera: Main (Rear): 5-megapixel auto focus camera with LED flash

Sub (Front): 1.3-megapixel Camera
Video: Codec: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, VC-1, WMV7, WMV8, WMV9, VP8,

Format: 3GP (MP4), WMV(ASF), AVI, FLV, MKV, WebM

Full HD (1080p) Playback & HD (720p) Recording

Audio: Codec: MP3, Vorbis(OGG), WMA, AAC, ACC＋, eAAC＋, AMR(NB,WB), MIDI, WAV, Flac

Music Player with SoundAlive

3.5mm Ear Jack
Features: Samsung AllShare Play & S Beam
Connectivity: Bluetooth® v 4.0

USB 2.0

WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Hot spot/Wi-Fi Direct

MHL

NFC
Memory: 8GB User memory + 1GB (RAM)

microSD (up to 32GB)

Dimension: 132.2 x 69.1 x 9.3 mm, 139.1 g

Battery: Standard battery, Li-ion 2,000mAh

Hmmm... Good specs... If you are a ‘Tech-Spec-Junky’ you’ll know that the Galaxy Express is the SIII mini with muscles. You can play full HD video but you can only record it at 720p. I guess you can’t have everything.

PRICING & AVAILABILITY
There were no details on price and it is expected to go on the UK market in the first half of this year. Hmmm... I think we’ll see it next month; it’s going to challenge the 5” big guns for those who can do without recording full HD video just to experience LTE!

Or alternatively, it’ll come after the release of the Galaxy SIV which is expected in April. I would guess that’ll be a June release. The price would probably be in the region of £26 on LTE and £20 on 3G.

So, if you are in the market for an inexpensive LTE Android handset then this could be it!

Thank you for reading!

In the meantime please check out the Interactive PDF right here:
Synapse Circuit Dot Com!

APPLE UNVEILS 128GB FOURTH-GEN iPAD!

APPLE UNVEILS 128GB FOURTH-GEN iPAD!

Good afternoon, Synapse Circuit Readers... Thanks a bunch for reading my blogs! I am looking forward to presenting the new magazine format in a few days... It’s getting there! Check out the latest news...
 
128GB FLUXED CAPACITY
Check this out...

Apple unveils 128GB fourth-gen iPad starting at $799 and a cellular-enabled version of the higher capacity iPad costs $929. For real????

Let’s rationalize this out... The price starts at $799... Okay... The cellular-enabled version is $929... Ah-uh... But wouldn’t the money be better spent on a laptop or desktop? I think if I were an Apple Mac fan I would invest that amount of cash into a Macbook or put the money towards a decent Mac computer. Or you can get more mileage out of the Windows PC – yes, even Windows 8. I don’t know why Microsoft doesn’t concentrate on making a fully decent operating system... Windows is flawed but I think the hardware gives me more satisfaction for the money! In other words I can get a more powerful PC than I would if I bought a Mac. But, of course, you like what you like for whatever reasons. Yeah, the PC is more prone to virus and hack attacks but some decent PC protection software can certainly prevent such attacks.

Anyway, I can’t imagine that people would want to pay such prices for an iPad with an additional 64GB (making it 128 in total). Is Cook purposely trying to break Apple beyond repair? I really do not get it. I know that Apple makes a point of manufacturing premium products but I think this time they have gone too far!

A BITTER PILL
I reckon Apple would have been better off in transforming their ultra thin Macbook into a touchscreen device with the full Mac experience. That would be a smarter move. Believe it or not, I do like the look and feel of the iPad but I would be crazy to shell out so much money for it. Apple still thinks they are big wigs to place such a high value on their products; they just can’t get their pricing right. The iPad mini is overpriced and I do believe that they sold more mini products than they did the full 10” device for reasons that I have stated in other blogs.

Ok, let’s say you – as an Apple fanatic – bought one of these 128BG babies does this mean that you’d want to keep it when the fifth generation iPad is released? Hmmm... ...the grass is greener...

...ON THE ANDROID SIDE
Certainly, there are some potentially amazing iPad spec beating tablets coming out this year from many manufacturers including, Archos, Asus, Google and Samsung – to name a few. And aside from Google, the tablets feature a slot for external memory expansion. Apparently, Google thinks that people are too dumb to figure out where the external storage is. That’s a flaw that should be address in Android 5, Key Lime Pie: Android needs a file manager for itself. Yes, you can get some decent file managers on Google Play, but I believe that one should come with Android by default. While Apple is making it hard for people with less money to throw around to obtain their mobile devices, Android makes it possible for anyone to own a tablet. I think Android tablets will take over in the same way it has done with the phone!
I also think that the “quality of apps” issue will become a thing of the past for the following reasons:

1. The proliferation of full HD handsets will have app developers finding it easier to produce apps for the tablet as well.

2. iPad app developers would want to cash in on the dominance of Android. They are trickling in with some apps for the handset and so it is a matter of time before this happens for tablet oriented apps. Again, the full HD handset / phablet will make this possible.

It is said that the reason why many serious developers do not concentrate on Android is because of the piracy. In fact it is quite easy to download some commercially available apps for free illegally! However, I do believe that Android owners would pay for something that had such a high quality to it. I do think that the Android community will respond to great looking and functional apps as seen on the iPad.

What do you reckon? If you are an Android fan what apps would you pay for? Personally, I am looking for music apps. I wish to learn the keyboard and guitar. And my thoughts are on being able to make music on a phone / tablet; I wasn’t thinking of it before until lately. I would pay for good music teaching apps and digital audio workstations.

And I am thinking about purchasing the equivalent to Microsoft Office. For some reason games do not appeal to me – I just don’t care for them. I also like the idea of doing HD movie editing. I can imagine transferring HD footage from my camera to my tablet and edit like I would on the PC.

So far the apps that I have bought have mainly to do with customizing how my phone looks with weather widgets and so on. With my Note II, I feel that I should have the capacity to be productive.

Thank you for reading!

In the meantime please check out the Interactive PDF right here:
Synapse Circuit Dot Com!

PANTECH: VEGA №6

PANTECH: VEGA №6

Good afternoon, Synapse Circuit Readers... It’s such a grey day here in London. I prefer the snow – it reflects light! All this grey is rather discouraging. But, hey, I am healthy (touch wood) and I own some pretty decent tech! Lol! How can I not be cheerful with a Galaxy Note II in my pocket?

I also get to write about exciting tech, be it handsets, software, hardware, etc. Hey, what’s this? Is it a techno-tombstone for a deceased pet? It’s the...
 
...VEGA №6!
Wow! I am loving these massive handsets that are about to be launched in this quarter! I think that these handsets will certainly help bring about a new design of app that can scale beautifully on the tablet!

The Pantech Vega №6 sounds like something out of Futurama or Star Trek! But it looks great! Here are some features:

5.9-inch full HD display with a pixel resolution of 1920 x 1080.
1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor.
13MP rear camera, “comparable to a DSLR”.
2MP front-facing camera.
2GB of RAM.
32GB of internal storage.
MicroSD slot.
3,150 mAh battery
Android 4.1 with Pantech’s own Flux UX user overlay.

Amazing spec, huh? Now is the Vega №6 aimed directly at the Galaxy Note II or the forthcoming Galaxy SIV? It’s hard to say... The spec above is very similar to what is rumoured about the SIV and I do believe in the SIV spec: 4.99” Super AMOLED full HD resolution @ 1920 x 1080 pixels, the new Exynos Octa 5 8-core processor clocked at 1.8GHz! It’s feasible! Oh, the main camera is also 13MP! You can never tell with Samsung. I, for one, was expecting a 12 or 16 megapixel camera on the SIII so I am expecting Samsung to up the ante where the camera is concerned. One can only guess at what the Note III will feature as the Android handset has grown, not only as the leading mobile OS, but physically too! I thought that a “normal” (lol) Android handset would not go beyond 5” – that’s “phablet” territory! But I think the “phablet” is going to be erased from the mobile dictionary of jargon this year. Or its meaning will have certainly changed by the end of 2013. 4.99” and above is the standard now and anything smaller is the “mini”.

Once you go big screen you can’t go back! I am so used to my Galaxy Note II now that I don’t think of it as a “phablet” anymore. I think 6.5” is going to be the only way that the term “phablet” will be appropriate. I wonder who is going to make that... Samsung? It very well could be the case as this is said to be the size of the Note III! I’m up for that! I am a big burly man with big burly man hands! Bring it on!

AVAILABILITY?
I don’t know if the Vega №6 will ever reach Europe; it’s going to be launched in South Korea next month. I should think that if it takes off in South Korea – as I think it will – it’ll come to Europe and the States / Canada. I never heard of Pantech as a mobile manufacturer until a few days ago! This would certainly be the handset to break the Pantech name as a Android handset manufacturer to be reckoned with.

I would love to get hold of one!

Thank you for reading!

In the meantime please check out the Interactive PDF right here:
Synapse Circuit Dot Com!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT: GALAXY SIII RECOMMENDED OVER iPHONE 5 IN RETAIL OUTLETS!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT: GALAXY SIII RECOMMENDED OVER iPHONE 5 IN RETAIL OUTLETS!

Good day, Synapse Circuit Readers... Here in London the snow is all but gone... Melted away! However, it has been pouring down with icy rain! Oh well...

Here’s a bit of news that shouldn’t come as a great surprise...
 
MYSTERY SHOPPING
Yes, I am a self-appointed mystery shopper! Or should that be ‘mystery pest’? Lol! Anyhoo... As you may have come to realize by now, I LOVE mobile phones – Android in particular! Why Android? This answer is just for those who are discovering the differences between the mobile platforms. And believe it or not, I do get asked about 3 or 4 times a week – guaranteed – about what handset to get. Many of my Facebook friends ask the question as they are moving on up from BlackBerry, old Nokia, and other assorted old makes of handset.

Here’s my advice:

Go Android because of the large screens that will enable you better web and media viewing. I would recommend the SIII and Note II first and foremost. The SIII and Note II, to me, is the pinnacle of Android phone technology. Do not get me wrong: I am not a spokesperson for Samsung; it’s just that they happen to be the best phones that I have tested last year. I think the HTC One X + is a good alternative if the SIII and Note II aren’t pleasing for some reason or other... The HTC One X + has come a long way and it’s quite solid. And, of course, the Google / LG Nexus 4 is a very decent handset.
 

One of the many things that I appreciate about Android is sharing; it could be a photo, video clip, etc it’s just a click away. I select a photo, opt to share it and select from my many social networks, cloud storage, communication apps such as WhatApp and so on. I found that sharing on the iPhone is fussier.

I love that there’s a possibility of having either a spare battery and / or a battery extension kit; most of the time the Android handset features a removable battery. You don’t get that for the iPhone. I have warned many people about this one attribute only for my advice to fall on deaf ears. The Apple marketing campaign is very effective for those who do not know too much – if anything – about a smartphone. However, like all batteries they become burned out over a period of time. Overcharging is the main offender; falling asleep with any phone on charge is just begging for the battery to be fried into losing its capacity! So many of my Facebook friends complain that the iPhone battery loses power very, very quickly during the day and on standby!

Oh, most Android handsets have a slot for an external microSD card that will become indispensible for storing pictures and full HD video (where applicable).

WIND-UP MERCHANT
I must drive sales assistants crazy with my endless questions – I really put their knowledge to the test. I remember around 5 years ago more, or a little longer, asking store assistants about the Flash web app only to be told about the camera flash! Lol! Today I ask about things like storage capacity; RAM, CPU, version of operating system software and so on. I am shocked that many assistants don’t know these basic details of popular handsets! What???? Fortunately, most of them had / have the good sense to look the details up on the web! 

But things have changed a great deal. One upon a time these sales assistants would try to sell me an iPhone but today 99% of the sales assistants recommend the following over the iPhone:

Samsung Galaxy SIII and Note II.
HTC One X +
Nexus 4
&
Nokia Lumia 920

The stores are:

Carphone Warehouse
Phones 4U
EE (formerly known as Orange and T-Mobile)
&
Tesco (supermarket chain) Mobile

WONDER
I do wonder how Apple can make great claims of iPhone sales when the general consensus is that the Galaxy SIII rules and Android dominates throughout the world! How?

Thank you for reading!

In the meantime please check out the Interactive PDF right here:
Synapse Circuit Dot Com!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT LISTENS: NEW FORMAT COMING SOON!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT LISTENS: NEW FORMAT COMING SOON!

Good morning, Synapse Circuit Readers... Here I am up in the early hours of the morning writing some more... Did I tell you that I love to write? Lol!

The Tech-World is moving at a lightning pace which is funny because there’s a massive recession going on. Why, it is said that the UK is heading for a triple-dip recession! Gadzooks! How are we going to afford all this beautiful tech, huh? I am sure we’ll figure it out! Maybe someone will come up with an app that will tell this coalition government how to run a country!
 
SYNAPSE CIRCUIT LISTENS
Thank you so much for your input! I have duly noted your constructive critique! I have a better idea of what you want!

As a result I am going to present you with a new format very soon! In the meantime I can say that I will divide the information between the new format (announcement coming soon), blogs that can be accessed standalone here or from the Synapse Circuit homepage. I may put on an occasional Interactive PDF for some tutorials. We’ll see.

It has helped me a lot because my workload should be somewhat lessened! The result is that you’ll be able to absorb my reviews / recommendations more easily and I should be able to get some quality sleep! Lol!

I can hardly wait to show you the new format! The tests are going well!

Thank you for reading!

In the meantime please check out the Interactive PDF right here:
Synapse Circuit Dot Com!

8.27 BILLION PROFIT! CAN $AM$UNG SUSTAIN THIS GROWTH?

$AM$UNG: $52.04 BILLION Q4 2012 EARNINGS. 8.27 BILLION PROFIT! CAN $AM$UNG SUSTAIN THIS GROWTH?

Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers... I hope that you all are well and having a great time with your tech! The one tech that I have neglected is to get a decent coffee filter machine; this instant stuff is horrid! Yuck! So, that’s another one to add to me list! I am also after an Android tablet too and this year I will be spoiled for choice!

Yes, Samsung’s earnings for the quarter of 2012 do not surprise me at all! As I have said, the Galaxy SII is still a strong seller and the beautiful SIII took the market by storm. Now the Galaxy Note II is triumphant success as a design and as a super-intelligent device.

Now you know where the other half or third of Apple’s could have been earnings went to. Ha ha! But 2013 is going to be a very challenging year for Samsung as China is entering the Android arena globally! Can Samsung remain on top?
 
SAMSUNG GALAXY TABLETS
I think it is fair to say that Samsung’s entry into the tablet market was unsuccessful with the Galaxy Tab at the time of release. Also the second wave of the Tab concept, Tab 2, did a little better but was nowhere near the success of Apple. I got the impression that the 10” Tabs did a lot better until Apple litigated it off some shelves. If you have been following the Apple vs. Samsung tablets then you’ll know that UK and other European countries ruled in favour of Samsung saying that the iPad is a higher class of tablet and, of course, this ruling was correct. Sadly, Apple was not gracious in their defeat. They were asked to publish an apology to Samsung on the UK Apple website and they behaved like recalcitrant school children by publishing a mock apology instead. Is that the behaviour of a technically advanced company???? Apple had the opportunity to extend their apologies to Samsung and start the building of bridges but they acted in a way that made them look as though they got spanked in public like you (once) would a toddler throwing a tantrum through not getting his or her way.

What the litigation did was to validate that Samsung’s tablet products were worthy of purchasing. Apple unwittingly created a successful ad campaign for Samsung’s mobile devices. I would imagine that the litigation made people take notice of Samsung all the more; I mean all you have to do is just look at the iPad and the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and see that there is a great difference between the two tablets. Me? I honestly prefer the look of Samsung tablets – I like the widgets just as they appear on the handsets. I find the widgets are a great way to constantly monitor information and are a first point of interaction. The iPad doesn’t feature this. No doubt that the iPad looks great, but the materials are too precious and aren’t durable. I do feel that Apple uses the fact that Samsung and other manufacturers use a combination of plastic and rubber for the body for their tablets as means of propaganda. When I’ve tested the Android tablets I never felt that I had to be overly careful. I do have a preference for the 7” for its portability. I really thought that Jobs’ mockery of the 7” tablet was really dumb. I thought to myself, ‘How can this so called “genius” openly mock the competition when there’s no need? Clearly, it’s about choice. And if people want to buy a 7” Android tablet it’s up to them...’ It was as if Jobs was trying to hypnotise folk against Android and all it did was to draw more attention to it. A bad move for Apple! My initial thought of the Galaxy Tab 7 was that it was great! It was handy for surfing the web, etc. What let it down was the price. I can’t remember how much it was; suffice to say that it was too much for me! Oddly, I wasn’t thinking about the apps. My mindset has it that Android tablets are great for consuming and light work. Today, my view has changed. I think there are great possibilities for productivity with Android tablets.

What also made Samsung a serious contender is the fact that they didn’t give up. They acknowledged their shortcomings and vowed to do better.

Today, the top mobile retail chains are offering a Samsung tablet, Tab 2 7, with a budget handset like the Samsung Galaxy SIII mini on a 24 month contract. It’s a great advertisement for Samsung’s tablets and it’s an ingenious way to get tablets in the hands of those who wouldn’t have otherwise considered it.

TAKE NOTE
In my opinion the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 tablets were really good and underestimated by much of the tech-press / media. The turning point for the tablet came from the Galaxy Note. The Galaxy Note was a brave and truly genius device that served different purposes:

1. It delivered the hybrid between handset and tablet. It picked a bit of slack left by the Tab range of tablets.

2. It showed that Samsung are prepared to innovate. They reinvented where the Dell Streak 5” handset failed. Dell was just too early.

3. The Galaxy Note was a calling card to showcase that Samsung are able to imbue their innovative devices with an unprecedented usability that is lacking by other manufacturers – including Apple!

As a result, Samsung were able to represent the tablet with the Note 10.1! It worked! Samsung aimed the Note 10.1 tablet at productivity and design. Their adverts showed what the Note 10.1 tablet can do in terms of multitasking!

I don’t know how many of these Note 10.1” tablets they have sold, but in my local supermarket there’s always someone on the demo tablets. I wonder if I can find out how many units were sold over the Christmas period. I’ll look into it.

Just from bullying from Apple, Samsung morphed into something that the competition couldn’t conceive. Not even the Dell Streak boasted any usability features. Samsung just said, “There you go, Apple. Let’s see what you have to say about the Galaxy Note!” when they bounced back from litigation. Apple could not respond other than to laugh at the fact that the Note featured the S Pen.

“We have the best way to interface with the tablet... It’s the finger...” announced Jobs at one of the iPad’s press events. C’mon... Lol!

THE GALAXY’S SII & SIII
When I got my Galaxy SII I was, and still am, over the moon with it. I loved the 4.27” screen and the design was a bit of a departure from the SI. It is so smooth compared to the SI. The iPhone wasn’t something for me. One of my inexpensive contracts is up for renewal in April and I was hoping that the SII would have come down in price. Uh-uh! No way! The SII retains its value! I am better off looking at the first Galaxy Note!

I used laugh at the headlines, “iPhone Killer?” when it came to the SII vs. iPhone and I think most people knew that the SII was the winner! It was voted multimedia phone of that year – and quite rightly too! I must have told you before that the SII is in the top 5 handset that was selling over the last 18 months. In some retail outlets I have been told that the SII outsold the iPhone 4 and 4S; it still continues to sell! The good news – if you haven’t rooted your SII – is that it is receiving the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean upgrade. I have rooted mine and waiting for a stable version of the Cyanogen Jelly Bean 4.2 mod! Hopefully it’ll some soon; I think Cyanogen custom ROMs are the best! I am using a 4.1.2 Jelly Bean from Codebox which is very, very good. It is very stable and it shows that the SII is a supreme bit of hardware that can run Jelly Bean in a very satisfactory way! Beautiful!

The SIII did come as a shock to me. I didn’t like the new design at first; I thought the design was a step backwards. However, once I got it in my hand to review it... WOW!!!! I was blown away! It has such great usability features that SIII users are in love with! It took the mobile phone market by storm! It just took over! I was going to get an SIII but went for the Note II instead and I am looking at the Galaxy SIV now.

The SIII just left the iPhone standing choking in the dust.

THE GALAXY SIV
If you are a lover of handsets – especially the Galaxy premium range of handsets then you would have heard or read some rumours that are flying around. It never ceases to amaze me how the thought of a new Galaxy S handset can cause fever pitch excitement months away from its release! Thankfully, it’s near the end of January and so it won’t be long before we can see what the SIV for is about. But will it be called the SIV? Apparently, in Korean culture, the number ‘4’ is said to be unlucky; this could mean that Samsung will announce a new handset convention. I have also understood that Samsung wishes to change its appearance in terms of its logo, etc and this tentatively named SIV could be the start of this change.

Have you seen the advert for Samsung’s products with a flexible display? You ought to YouTube it! It looks spectacular! It makes many of us speculate upon the screen of the forthcoming SIV; will it have the flexible screen? Has the time finally come for the flexible screen?

All that I can tell you is that a Samsung representative told me that I will be blown away by the SIV. I am sure that I will. Obviously, the representative didn’t go into details... But if it had the flexible screen... Oh my goodness! I think the mobile world will just explode!

THE GALAXY NOTE III
Yes, there’s some rumour about the Galaxy Note III that will come later this year. I think that three is the charm for Samsung. The initial release gets people’s imagination fired up. The second has people buying into the product. The third has people buying into in the masses!

A lot is expected from the Galaxy Note III! Again, many – including me – are hoping that the Note IIII will feature the flexible display! The Note III promises to be the pinnacle of the “phablet” mobile device. One of the aspects is said to be a 6.3” screen! This makes me think that this will be possible with the flexible screen. The Note III could be completely without a bezel. We’ll see...

THE COMPETITION
I think it is safe to say that Samsung sits on the top of the Android throne, however this presents many challengers. One of the challengers is Huawei, which has come up leading against HTC and LG. Huawei are hungry! I think they will release a 6.6” handset that will compete directly against the Galaxy Note II and III (when it comes).

And let’s not discount Apple. I can imagine that Cook and friends are going nuts trying to figure out where to go next for the iPhone and iPad. I do think that Apple will have to put out different iPhones: premium and budget. I think there will be two premium iPhones: Standard and Max. The Max version will have the bigger screen – possibly 4.7” or 4.8”. The budget handsets won’t necessarily feature a retina display. Again, there will be two budget iPhones: 4” and 4.7”. But will it be too late? There’s some mileage left in iOS and if the design is right the iPhone can come back in the frame! The next iOS has to offer so much more as Android has outclassed it. Yes, iOS looks pretty but it’s not as functional and borrows heavily from Android’s notification. I don’t know why Google hasn’t sued! But Apple needs to step up!

BlackBerry 10 is forthcoming and the latest rumour is that Lenovo could either be buying RIM outright or just a license to produce BlackBerry handsets. From what I have seen the BlackBerry 10 looks like it could possibly recapture their dwindling market. I know some BlackBerry users have already defected to the Galaxy SIII and SIII mini. I think it will be a struggle for BlackBerry to get the defectors back.

As I have previously stated, there are hungry manufacturers of Android devices looking to assert their products this year. You may be aware of the “leaks” of forthcoming 5” plus handsets from HTC, Huawei, Lenovo, LG, etc. These handsets may be attractive enough to sway Samsung fans... But we’ve seen that with a powerful handset that is HTC One X+ the SIII still came out on top! Any Android competitor has to show something really diverse in its usability. Usability is where Samsung leads. Mark my words; there will be a lot of competitive products this year.

The hardcore Android competition may be the cause of Samsung revealing the SIV earlier than usual.

THE LATEST RUMOURS
It looks like the Galaxy Note 8 is a reality and that it could be appearing at the Mobile World Conference next month! Woo! Another rumour is that Samsung will also release a 7” tablet that will undercut all the leading Android based 7” tablets: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD and the Nook. I don’t have any idea on the spec, but I am quite sure that it will feature an HD screen. I can only hope that there will be an external slot for a microSD or SD card. Then there is a possibility of a range of Tab 3 products: 7”, 8” and 10.1” that may also be revealed at the MWC! It’s quite exciting news if you’re in the market of obtaining a tablet this year.

HOW CAN SAMSUNG STAY ON TOP?
Let’s look at why Samsung is currently on top...

They take risks. I don’t think any other mobile device manufacturers take as many risks as Samsung. For example, they’ve seen how Dell’s Streak bombed and yet they put the Galaxy Note on the market.

They think outside the box and seem to have a vision far into the future. Apple didn’t do much with the iPhone and iPad – the designs are mediocre with a “if it ain’t broke just add to it” philosophy. Samsung, “let’s make it better...”

They are able to present exquisite designs; the Galaxy Note II and SIII are radical... Future Now.

There’s so much functionality in the Note, Note II, Note 10.1 tablet and SIII. It’s the Premium Suite software onboard the Note devices that have wowed technology lovers.

Samsung have become masters of press presentation. Again, compared to Apple, Samsung’s presentations are factual and show off the devices key functions. Sure, there’s a bit of cheese in the form of a video intro but it brings about emotion and the audience form an attachment. This is the device that will help to get the most out of your day! It works! I was truly sad when I had to give the SIII back when I finished the review.

Here’s how they can stay on top...

1. Keep up with the radical designs.

2. Make it so the latest devices can update to the latest version of Android.

3. Keep developing the widgets and TouchWiz. I think the S Voice can get better – it’s not as bad as some tech-media make out. S Voice functions well enough to launch apps, get the latest weather, etc.

4. Keep up with the built-in software to give their handsets that extra functionality.

5. It’s time for Samsung to get a dedicated team of developers together to form their own app store. It surprises me that manufacturers do not take full advantage of Android beyond the operating system. All manufacturers are doing right now is to put out hardware, hardware and hardware. Android users are screaming out for the app quality that iPhone and iPad enjoy. Why aren’t Samsung doing anything here? I would be quicker to purchase apps from a well known brand than anything else.

Let’s say I am swayed by one of Samsung’s competitors, wouldn’t it be ideal for both me and Samsung to purchase the Premium Suite application.

6. Be first to deliver devices with a flexible screen! Samsung showed off some prototype devices with the flexible Youm screen. If they have gone that far then perhaps we should see a device with a Youm display this year! For my sake (and others) let it be on the SIV! Lol!

7. Keep up with the Galaxy Camera! I almost forgot about that... I have yet to review it! It looks very, very promising!

8. I think Samsung should think about their budget range with more depth. These devices need more storage capacity and RAM. It’s pointless to have a budget handset only to find that it can’t store any decent apps!

9. Invite the public to design a future device! I think it would be a fun exercise that could generate a greater audience.

10. Battery power! All these wonderful devices NEED more battery capacity! They could do the following:

a. Create their own extended battery case.

b. Make it so that the back of the device is one big battery.

c. Include a spare in future devices.

Thank you for reading!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT NEW FORMAT
Synapse Circuit Readers! Just to let you know that I am busy working on a new format... Bear with me! I hope to get it up online in time to coincide with the end of this month... In the meantime please check out the Interactive PDF right here:
Synapse Circuit Dot Com!

GOOGLE: TESTING THEIR LTE NETWORK?

GOOGLE: TESTING THEIR LTE NETWORK?

Good early hours of the morning, Synapse Circuit Readers... Are you wondering why the Google Nexus 4 didn’t feature LTE? Are you also wondering about the Glass Project? Are you also wondering why Google have spent a billion on acquiring an office in London – I believe they will be located in Kings Cross... Google are looking to start-up their mobile network.

Let’s see if I can come up with a plausible reasoning...
 
NETWORK GOOGLE
Last year I said that it wouldn’t surprise me if Google were to run their mobile network at some point and it looks as though I could be right. Recent reports say Google have applied for an "experimental radio service" spanning a two-mile radius around its headquarters in the States.

As you know already, Google has its roots firmly planted within the Internet: Search, Maps, YouTube, etc. Therefore Google should be looking to deliver these services the way they see fit and the only way to do this is to be running their own network. It will happen very soon...

I think Google’s desire is to claim a certain LTE bandwith(s) exclusively for them so that they can provide the best service possible! Thus they can get more mileage out of their services. Google is feeling the need for speed!

Google have the financial clout to make this happen all over the world! I think that they will start the service in parts of the USA and definitely in the UK! Google is probably looking at countries where Android is more popular than the iPhone and set-up their networks there.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they had two or three radio services: 3G, LTE and LTE solely for the Glass Project.

WHAT WILL GOOGLE GAIN FROM HAVING ITS OWN NETWORK(S)
Control! I don’t know all the ins and outs of running a network, but if I were Google I would want as much control over how my products are delivered. I would my Search application to deliver results instantaneously!  I would want YouTube to have zer0 buffering and I would be looking to license TV channels through an application similar to YouTube!

Google would want to make the smartphone commonplace by keeping the prices down. Have you seen the cost of a Nexus 4 outside of Google Play? £449.95 for the 16GB version at Carphone Warehouse! That’s increase of £170! So, expect to see Google stores opening up very soon – perhaps towards the end of this year.

I think that’s why Google left LTE off the Nexus 4 – they want to ensure complete compatibility with a uniformed LTE bandwith that their handsets and tablets will be compatible with. It’s going to be a massive undertaking but I think that Google can do it!

Another reason for Google’s own network is for their Glass Project! I don’t think it’s desirable to share radio space with other networks for the Glass Project! Uh-uh! No way! Glass is going to happen and it may revolutionize in the way that Samsung has revolutionized the Android smartphone! I can’t see Google wanting to put Project Glass with any other outlet but its own. Well, not for the first instance. I would imagine that Google would want people to flock to their outlets first and foremost! Of course all this is speculation.

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Did you get that I was hinting at Google becoming a major media player like Virgin? There’s Google TV to come and let’s not forget the Chrome operating system and I can see all these wonderful gadgets working together!

2014
I am guessing that we’ll see the emergence of Google Media in 2014. We may see commercials showcasing Google Media in the fall of this year.

We’ll see! I look forward to being right and to Google running the show exactly how they want it.

Thank you for reading!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT NEW FORMAT
Synapse Circuit Readers! Just to let you know that I am busy working on a new format... Bear with me! I hope to get it up online in time to coincide with the end of this month... In the meantime please check out the Interactive PDF right here: Synapse Circuit Dot Com!

APPLE: $54.4 BILLION BUT THE STOCK CONTINUES TO PLUMMET! WHY?

APPLE: $54.4 BILLION BUT THE STOCK CONTINUES TO PLUMMET!

Hi there, Synapse Circuit Readers... You must be excited at the prospect of owning a Samsung Galaxy SIV! I certainly am! I’ve been trying so hard to not count the days till the big reveal and when it’ll be in the stores! I certainly want to be one of the first wave of journalists to review it! You may be aware that the SIII has sold over 40 million units and still selling! I would imagine that the SIV will do double that...

Hopefully, I will have the new format of Synapse Circuit magazine online fairly soon! I am doing some tests at the moment and it looks promising!

So, why are Apple shares plummeting? Let’s take a look...
 
SAMSUNG GALAXY SII & SIII
Yep, Apple should have made a record $100 billion plus! However, we can see where the other half of that $100 billion went: Samsung Galaxy SII (it’s a great seller to this day) and SIII; HTC One X and variants; Google / LG Nexus 4; Google / Asus Nexus 7; Google / Samsung Nexus 10 and the rest of the up and coming manufacturers – mainly from China – looking to make a name for themselves on the global mobile markets.

As a result of the above investors are certainly disappointed that Apple isn’t sitting comfortably on top of the competition. Uh-uh! Apple is looking shaky right now as far as their mobile products go; the iPhone looks tired and relic of the past.

Yes, yes, we know that current CEO Tim Cook loves to talk the iPhone into a position where they have to justify why it has failed to continue to be innovative. The “Hand Science” ad was, at the very least, embarrassing and painfully stupid. Yes, we know about the map fiasco... We know about the constant litigations: The Tech Wars that was also invented by Star Trek’s William Shatner!

Once upon a time Apple looked invincible and the bolts of their machine just fell off!

WHAT IF STEVE JOBS DIDN’T PASS ON?
Quite simply the company would have taken a massive dive and the shareholders would have pushed Jobs out into the cold for the second time! With all the billions in his pocket Jobs would have lost it all on pursuing this vendetta against Android. The truth is that Jobs was heading for the funny farm. C’mon, Jobs would be an unlikely candidate to be Iron Man because he’d be too busy suing anyone trying to create their own version of the Iron Man suit. So, yes, working conditions for the people in iPhone factory will still be bad. [The fictitious Tony Stark / Iron Man upon learning that his technology was used to oppress people in the Middle East flew out there as Iron Man to emancipate the oppressed people.]

I think that the iPhone screen size wouldn’t have gotten a slight increase. If Google and Samsung were petty they could have filed for a patent of the 4.5” and above screen size! Maybe they have done and that’s why Cook increased the size slightly!

Certainly, the iPad mini wouldn’t have existed. I think that the iPad mini can’t exist alongside the iPad 3 and 4 simply because I know that most people would have gone for the cheaper option because – as far as I know – all the apps in the App Store works on the 7.9” screen as it does on the 10” screen. Duh? My own two retinas can see that! I was pretty impressed by the iPad mini! Cook has reportedly stated that they couldn’t put enough iPad mini products out there. That is an indication that this was at the expense of the 10” iPad as predicted.  

CHEAP ANDROIDS
I’ve read an article that said the reason why Android has dominates and taken over the iPhone is because there are many cheap handsets out there. The article was written in a way to suggest that the Android operating system isn’t advanced as iOS. According to Cook, “iOS 6 – the most advanced mobile operating system in the world...” Not anymore.

Yes, Jobs would have made a mountain over the fact there are different incarnations of Android on different handsets yet at the same time those versions of Android is what’s killing the iPhone. Let me tell you, I own a couple of inexpensive Android handsets, the LG E400 (Gingerbead) and HTC Desire (Froyo) alongside the premium Galaxy SI, SII & Note II the only major difference between premium phones and the inexpensive ones is storage capacity. I can’t hold many apps on the LG and HTC! I use those inexpensive handsets without thinking anything of the different versions of Android. Android just works. Naturally, the latest Jelly Bean is the icing on top of the cake as it were.

The pay as you go market is still an important one as so many people either don’t want to be stuck with a contract or can’t afford to be on one. Android comes to the rescue and can give the PAYG market a taste of owning a smartphone. What you will find is that as these monolithic 5” plus quad core Android handsets take off the PAYG phone would have a spec that is more powerful than the inexpensive handsets of yesteryear. It’s happening right now! Just look at the Nexus 4 on Google Play as an example of an inexpensive smartphone that is close to a high-end PAYG! I think we’d be able to purchase an Android handset from a dispensing machine as you would a can of fizzy! Yeah, that would be a great idea... Imagine your favourite mobile shop having dispensers that can be accessed 24 / 7! WOW!!!! Hey, I invented that! You read it here first! It can work! Seriously, take all the crap £10 phones and recycle the materials, add a decent CPU, storage capacity and touchscreen and you will have the first wave of Android handsets coming in at around £20 - £25! It can be done! It could be even cheaper should the unbreakable screens become a reality.

Hey, why not go one better and have Google phone dispensing machines that aren’t attached to the likes of the mobile shops? I would welcome that than to speak to an idiot salesperson who think he or she can talk nonsense like I don’t know anything about phones! Where am I going with all this? Ok, I’ll tell you...

Apple can always come back strong into the market. What they need to do is change the CEO, because I don’t see how Cook can change the products without looking like a fool. Again, bring in Good Steve (Wozniak) as CEO and start to produce many different iPhones for different people. I am sure that millions of iPhone fans will go for a 5” iPhone. I know so many women who just want a pink phone regardless of the spec, so let’s have different coloured iPhones. I don’t think the current iPhone looks special with its glass and aluminium body. Honestly, I would prefer the SIII over the iPhone 5 any day of the week!

This is a lesson for Apple; produce iPhones made from more durable cheaper materials. Yes, I know many people who like that quality but it comes at the expense of innovation that Android users enjoy! And I know that there are hardcore Apple fans who would buy into Apple no matter what and I am sure that the hardcore will purchase let’s say a 4.5” screen iPhone if it was made of similar materials to the SIII or HTC One X. I have a friend who has an iPhone and she can’t see websites very well on her screen; she has to go on her Mac for the best web experience. I can comfortably view sites on my SI, SII and, of course, the Note II! Apart from not being able to use dropdown menus on some sites, it’s just like being on the computer!

THINK DIFFERNT
Yes, the spelling was done on purpose! I was thinking different. This used to be Apple’s motto which now reads: Think Corporate. I reckon that the next CEO (Wozniak) should build bridges with the likes of Samsung. Apple could make so much more fans and money by allowing other manufacturers to create dual-screen handsets featuring Android on one side and iPhone on the other! It sounds crazy, right? But that’s what I call thinking different!

When I venture out on the streets on the germ warfare that is London Transportation and sit in coffee shops I observe the way in which people are using mobile technology.

Teenagers have a tendency to use the BlackBerry because of the messenger app and a few of them own a cheap Android such as the Galaxy Ace.

Mature adults, 20+ have a tendency to use the latest premium Android handsets i.e. SIII, Note II and One X. They also are inclined to use another handset – the number one being a BlackBerry of some sort. Or instead of Android they have the iPhone 4S with a BlackBerry.

It’s only a matter of time before a manufacturer capitalizes on the market that likes to have more than one phone. As you know, a mobile network can offer cheap or free calls to the same network and how many of our friends aren’t on the same network. You might be thinking Skype, but the connection is often far from perfect when you’re travelling. I know that I would be more inclined to buy a dual-screen operating system phone! I wouldn’t mind having the iPhone as part of that set-up! I think it would be a great thing for Apple to license iOS to go on the devices of other manufacturers; this will give users freedom of choice and still keep their loyalty with Apple! I think HTC, Samsung, LG, Huawei, etc could come up with a better iPhone than Apple!

iMAC-PAD
Y’know, certain Macbooks boast being so thin... Why not make it into a tablet also? Why not phase out the iPad altogether because it is too expensive to keep having to replace each year. Yeah! Why not cancel the 10” iPad in favour of the mini? Yeah! Let the mini become the new iPad standard! I always say, if you’re gonna spend more than £300 on a tablet you ought to be thinking of purchasing a decent laptop or desktop! The market for Mac computers is immense and a tablet Mac computer will go down a treat! It has to be the full Mac computer experience – pretty much like what Microsoft is doing with their tablet PCs. Because the Mac is ahead of the design game – for the most part – it should not be hugely expensive to convert a Macbook into a tablet. I think I have mentioned it before, the cost of the full Windows tablet is over £700!!!! Are you mad? I don’t need to be splashing out on a fully blown Windows tablet! But I think there’s great scope for those in technologically demanding jobs. Here Apple has an opportunity to transform the Macbook and get more users, but keep the costs to a minimal!

All in all I there is scope for Apple to grow; once it has come to terms that it is no longer a leader of mobile technology it’ll have to innovate. Innovate or sink!

Did you know: Google apps are being used by millions of iPhone users? Google Maps, YouTube and Search!

Thank you for reading!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT NEW FORMAT
Synapse Circuit Readers! Just to let you know that I am busy working on a new format... Bear with me! I hope to get it up online in time to coincide with the end of this month... In the meantime please check out the Interactive PDF right here:
Synapse Circuit Dot Com!