SYNAPSE CIRCUIT APPLE TALK 8 THE MEDIA THINKS YOU'RE STUPID

Above: Tim Cook in the Biggest iPhone launch. Biggest rip off???

Above: The Galaxy Note 4. Superior camera, screen, functionality and hardware!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
APPLE TALK 8:
STOP THE PRESS!
APPLE & BIASED MEDIA THINKS WE’RE STUPID!
Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! I hope that all is well with you and yours! I also hope that you are making the most of your wonderfully wondrous technology!

I tell you... ...the Apple biased media is freaky to say the very least! What am I on about? Another Apple attack? Don’t be so quick to judge! Read on...

#Apple #Samsung #Google #SteveJobs #TimCook #iPhone6 #iPhone6Phablet #iPhone6Plus #AppleWatch #GalaxyNote4 #GalaxyAlpha #GalaxyNoteEdge

SAY, WHAT???
Yes, that’s right! You read correctly: Apple and the so called tech-media think that we’re stupid! Yes, you as an iPhone user and us Android users! As a tech journalist I have been following Apple, Samsung, Google, Microsoft, etc. And what has emerged is a strong pattern with regards to any Apple keynote and the launching of new tech such as the latest iPhone models which comes across to me as déjà vu! What do I mean? Glad you asked! I will tell you!

I have observed since the launch of the iPhone 5S – especially - that there was a “record pre-order” only to learn further down the line that actual sales targets were not met. And as a result the value for Apple stock went down. Hmmmm... Maybe, just maybe that the “record pre-orders” were genuine but weren’t fulfilled in the end... Perhaps there was a change of heart for another device... ...The Galaxy Note 3?

This year it’s as though the headlines have been recycled! Yet again there is another “record pre-order” for the iPhone 6 and 6L! It is said that they are on target for 100 million units to be sold at the end of the month! Did I read it right? Really??? Again, I suspect that later on – perhaps early next year – the real figures will be revealed! I can hardly wait! This I have to see! As usual, I am not taken in by such phoney headlines! This is the Apple PR machine kicking into first gear!
DISTURBING?
It is so very disturbing to see how the Apple PR machine works even though I have witnessed it before. However, we must keep our wits about us! Have you noticed that all of a sudden there are “security issues” with Android? Coincidence? I don’t think so! Have you also noticed that Android is constantly “plagued with malware”? What’s funny is that these reports do not list the malware posing as apps! Lol! Whenever there is an iOS vs. Android discussion an iPhone fan boy (it’s usually a boy) brings up the issue of malware and when I ask for specific apps it brings about the end of that discussion and they go on to the next argument. Guys ‘n’ gals: I have 8 Android devices and I have never experienced a malware issue! Three of my Android handsets are rooted and there is no malware (touch wood) in sight!

So, I guess that these “reports” (sic) are meant to scare would be iPhone defectors from defecting! Trust me, if there was malware on my Android devices I will know about it! And, for your information, any mobile device and operating system is open for all sorts of potential nasties in the form of malware, ransomeware, viruses, etc! As long as there is a system to exploit someone or some people will have a go!

Where Android apps are concerned I do like to support developers by making a purchase and I have yet (touch wood) experienced unexplained / unauthorized monies being removed from my account. I can tell you that when people download illegal copies of apps and access “free porn” is when the chances of being opened to privacy and security breaches increases. Yes, some dodgy apps do make it onto the Google Play Store and is removed as soon as it is detected / discovered. Then there are the “free apps” that relies upon “in-app-purchases” as a revenue stream; both Apple and Google have had to refund shocked and angry parents whose children have managed to run up enormous bills without realizing that funds are being removed from Mommy’s and / or Daddy’s of credit / debit cards. The children felt as though they were paying with the equivalent of Monopoly money! So, if anything that’s where or what the actual “malware” is. Some apps are what I call “baitware”! By that (baitware) I mean the app requires some purchases to extend the usability / advanced functions. Nothing necessarily wrong with that business model but it would be so much better if the developers were more upfront; there again some people would give the app a miss!

Please let me know if you have been the victim of malware, ransomeware, etc. But even downloading official freeware on the PC / Mac can lead you to accidentally downloading malware, spyware, etc. I have to reveal that one of the biggest Apple biased tech media out there is CNet! CNet has a site called CNet Downloads and it is crap! The amount of times I have downloaded “freeware” only to discover that it’s trying to take over my browser preferences, etc. It's double standards!

THE APPLE BUSINESS MODEL IN ONE WORD: EXPLOITATION
I read a headline: Cook takes Google’s model apart in a paragraph (or two)! Basically, Tim Cook goes on about the issue of privacy and how Google will scan emails, for example, to find keywords that will deliver appropriate ads straight to the user and how the users are the commodity. But Google never made this a secret! Google have announced its intentions and I don’t mind at all! It’s not as if people are sitting there spying on my email - nobody is reading it word for word! Plus I use Gmail mainly for business communications. Not only that, Edward Snowden cannot return to the USA because he let it be known that Apple, Google and Microsoft have complied with Intelligent Agencies spying on the digital output mobile devices and computers. What did Eric Schmidt say? “If you are doing something that you shouldn't be doing then maybe you shouldn't be doing it...” That’s an indication, to me at least, that we are being spied upon! If I wrote a keyword that is associated with a breach of national / international security within an email, blog, etc then a computer algorithm will flag it for investigation. I can live with that as I would imagine and certainly hope that such flags can prevent horrendous acts of terror! But I am not convinced about anything Tim Cook says regarding privacy; he, at the end of the day, is a salesman and he wants you to buy an iPhone 6 or 6L.

I have summed up Apple’s business model in one word ‘exploitation’. He’s taking you for a mug in that he can put out a couple of lacklustre handsets and make people pay over the odds for them! Hey, if that’s what you want to do... ...no problem! It’s your money! Well, it’s now Apple’s! Ha ha!

APPLE’S RACKET SCIENCE
As you know, what Apple is good at is hijacking the ideas of others and claiming it as its own. It’s done that with the development of iOS and interactive notifications and now bigger screens and NFC payments. Look at all the (thou protesteth too much) unwillingness to give the iPhone a bigger screen with all the “science” behind the decision until now! Look at how contradictory that is! Look at how contradictory to have McDonald’s in its Apple Pay scheme when there is a focus on health! It’s laughable! "Warning: You have consumed 2 Big Macs and the only walking you have done today is to McDonalds..."

It is possible that the Apple Pay NFC payment revolution might just roll off the cliff of technological doom and be a relic of failed technology? There is a reason why NFC payments haven’t exactly taken off! Here in the UK we can touch our handsets on the London Underground to pay for our train fare. Given the fact that there is more chance of dropping the handset or having someone snatching it from your hands it is not very practical. NFC is great for transferring files to others with the capability! I would rather use a cheap bracelet to make payments in that manner than to take out my expensive Galaxy Note Edge (I wish) and risk dropping it or have it stolen!

Then the Apple Racket Science is aided and abetted by these so called tech media... ...oh my goodness... The idiotic reviews that I have seen on the iPhone 6 & 6L in comparison to Samsung handsets beggars belief! It’s madness!

The reviews are so, so stupid it is unreal... In one review the “reviewer” (sic) is stating how the Galaxy Alpha’s metal edge “cuts the users fingers off”! What??? And how “wonderful the iPhone design is” in comparison to the Galaxy Alpha... Uh-uh... “The back of the Galaxy Alpha is made of 80s recycled plastic gadgets...” I am paraphrasing but I am not far off! But nothing can be further from the truth! The fact is that I have held the Galaxy Alpha in my hands and I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised at how good it looked and felt! The reviewer went on to say how much the "battery has improved" with the iPhone 6 and everyone knows that a fresh battery is like a newlywed; give it some time and you will see how the life drains out of it in everyday use! Maybe a "newlywed" was a bad analogy but you get the meaning! Every battery is like that – including that of Android devices! But I know that Samsung handsets feature a removable battery and that is a boon unlike the fixed battery of the iPhone!

Now Steve Wozniak has gotten in on the act by saying that he has "ditched" his “beloved” Android handsets for the bigger screen iPhones! Hahaha! Wow, things must be bad if Apple have to rope in the Good Steve to sell it! The 6L is in danger of failing target sales and Apple are pulling out all the stops to sell a few 6L units and to stop iPhone users from defecting to the Galaxy Note 4. It’s not just about bigger screens...



Above: The Galaxy Note Edge. Do you still think that the 6L is better?

Another reviewer says that even though the iPhone 6L screen is “not as sharp or bright as the LG G3 or the Galaxy Note 4 and Edge it’s still a good screen...” Hahahaha! He or she went on to say, “...the 6L enables me to get work done without resorting to any of the many computers” at his or her disposal. OK, so that tells me that all the hype about the smaller 3.5” and 4” iPhones was exactly that: HYPE!!! I can tell you that as an Android user there are days when I don’t turn on my PC because I am able to get my work done on my Android handsets! The reviewer wasn’t finished...

“The Galaxy Note split screen is just a gimmick; the 6L screen is nice and big which cuts out the need for the iPad...”

WOW!!! Can you believe that nonsense??? The Galaxy Note 3 (and the upcoming 4 and Edge) split screen is far from being a “gimmick”! Imagine cutting out an image from a website and dragging it into the email app and sending it on! Oh, what’s the matter? You can’t imagine it? That’s because you are not using the Galaxy Note! Simple!

But at least the reviewer (hee hee) has had to concede that in "landscape mode it's not as good" and that typing in that mode "is not satisfying"! Admittedly, landscape mode isn't that great on some Android handsets too! Portrait mode is always the best for word processing for example. 

No doubt that you will enjoy the 6L screen and in turn you will be more productive without resorting to a Macbook (or any other computer) and you will probably bypass upgrading your iPad Air this year as a result. Hey! That's an idea! Sell your iPad Air to help pay for the 6L! But the 6L is no match for the Galaxy Note 3 let alone the latest versions, 4 & Edge when it comes to productivity and hardware! The iPhone 6L is outgunned!

What I have gleaned from those, er... ...”reviewers” / propaganda creators is that the Samsung products are superior because they have to play up the iPhone shortfalls and dismiss the great advantages that can be had from the Galaxy Note and Galaxy handsets in general. This is definitely not journalism. They are certainly not words one can take seriously as a consumer.

There is a reason why Apple shares went down in value after the Samsung reveal and that’s because they have put out superior products whether you like it or not!

That’s something to think about!

THANKS FOR READING...
Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

REVIEWS & COMPETITIONS ARE COMING SOON!!! PLEASE STANDBY!!!

Yes, I am well aware that the site is due an update soon! It’s coming...

Synapse Circuit for tech news, opinions, articles, reviews and competitions. You will find interactive PDF magazines, videos and links to free legal software! Check it out at Synapse Circuit dot com

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT APPLE TALK 5 THE EVE

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
APPLE TALK 5: 9/9/14 EVE
Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers. How are you doing? I hope that all is well in your world! Are you all charged up for tomorrow? No doubt if you are an undying Apple / iDevices fan you are frothing at the mouth! If you happen to be one of those “other guys” you are curious! And if you love technology in general you are, like me, very curious about Apple’s big reveal!

What do I think? Hmmmm... I’ll tell you what I think...

#Apple #Samsung #Google #SteveJobs #TimCook #iPhone6 #iPhone6Phablet #iPhone6L #GalaxyNote4 #GalaxyAlpha #GalaxyNoteEdge

DESIGNER BABIES
Unless you live in a hole you would know that Apple have hired yet another design icon in the form of Marc Newson to join Jony Ive’s team. It will be interesting to see what Newson will bring to Apple. So, perhaps we’ll see a little arty documentary video of Newson come tomorrow to introduce the unaffiliated.

I don’t know about you but I think that Apple’s design factor is overrated. <ducks flying objects flung at my head by Apple fanatics> Seriously, I think that other manufacturer designs get overlooked. ASUS, Samsung, LG, HTC, Lenovo / Motorola, Xiaomi and Huawei have created some amazing designs from the standard handset to the tablet and phablet! I look at the iPhone, for example, and I can’t say that I find it a thing of beauty to look at. I look at the Galaxy Note 2 and I can see that a lot of thought has gone into it. This is not to say that Apple / Ive don’t put a lot of thought into their products but I think they are as wonderful as the (biased) tech media makes out. I look at the LG G3 and marvel at it. The iPad is undoubtedly a fine device but the LG G Pad looks wonderful and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S is just a stunning piece of work!

Apple designs are great to begin with until the competition unleash their own devices. Yes, when I first laid eyes on the first ever iPhone I was impressed; I loved the form and the icons within iOS. Then the HTC Hero came out and that was my second touch screen handset upgrading from the LG Viewty KU990 – another iconic handset (I could have been touching the screen with an oversized leather glove it was that bad). HTC has made some of the most fantastic looking handsets in the world from the Hero to the Desire to the One X and now the One M7 / M8. While Samsung handsets have mastered minimalism to great degree from the Galaxy S1 right up to the present Galaxy S5, Note 3 and now Note 4... Oooh, the Galaxy Note Edge is sublime! One can see a design process and progress with Samsung handsets. Let’s face it, whether you like Samsung or hate them they have paved the way for the whole of the large screen industry that accommodates the much talked about iPhone 6L.

Now if those “leaked” photos of the iPhone 6L 5.5” handset are real then I do not see much by the way of a “design” going on (outwardly of course). From what I have seen so far the iPhone 6L and the new standard 4.7” version looked scaled up from the iPhone 5S. I find that quite boring.

iPHONE 6C?
SIZE MATTERS?
Is it possible that we’ll be seeing a 6C version of the iPhone? I’d be surprised just because the 4.7” version will be quite an experiment. It is hard to see / understand where Apple is going with the 4.7” handset considering the once stringent viewpoint that the 3.5 and 4” versions were designed with the thumb to screen ratio (in that it should be easy to reach all four corners of the screen without effort). Will 4.7 inches prove to be too much for the sensible 5S / 5C users? Is Apple catering to market demand or does it feel compelled to follow trends set by Samsung / Android?

And we still don’t know if 5C was a success. Presumably the costs of the 5C and 5S will come down to make them lucrative to those seeking an iPhone bargain!

iPAD AIR 2 / iPAD MINI RETINA 2
There’s a rumour that we’ll be seeing some new iPad models and one model will feature a 13” screen! Gosh! Now considering the iPad market is in decline I wonder if there secret plans to stuff essentially what is the Macbook Air into an iPad! Now would be the time for Apple to pull something more practical out of the bag! We’ve seen that they can take an umbrella stand and turn it into a Mac Pro!

What do you think the future of the iPad could be? Can you envisage a 13” iPad? Do you agree with me that somehow the Macbook Pro should morph into a tablet?

Look at the odd Surface Pro 3 as an example of how a piece of tech can go horribly wrong. The UK ads go along the lines of this, “Surface Pro 3; the tablet that can replace your laptop...” However, the Surface Pro 3 is being advertised with this flimsy looking blue keyboard that it may as well be a laptop! And the cost of the thing??? C’mon... How many billions must Microsoft lose, eh? Microsoft’s best bet is to design a thin laptop and have the keyboard so that it can be folded out the way for when it isn’t needed. There! A Microsoft tablet that works as a laptop because that’s what it is! No messing around with having to invent apps when iPad and Android tablets have a distinct advantage.

And those other guys... Well, if you have been following my articles you will know that the iPad – just like the iPhone – cannot stem the Android flow especially as there are a bunch of tablets coming out with either 3G or 4G built into them! I predicted that we’ll start seeing Android tablets on the streets in ubiquity and it is coming to fruition! I have been documenting this phenomena – when I can – whenever I am out on the streets: Sightings

It’s really interesting to witness the rise of cost effective Android tablets happening around me.

Hey, don’t you think that it’s about time that Apple and other manufacturers should just have 4G in the contraptions by default? Give people a break! And will the new iPad have a better screen than the Galaxy Tab S models? We shall see!

iWATCH? iTICK-TOCK?
Now that we’ve seen a proliferation of Android and Tizen based smartwatches can Apple really surprise us with its own smartwatch? I can’t possibly imagine what Apple can surprise us with where the functionality of a smartwatch is concerned. Yes, it’ll probably take your pulse as you jog, count the steps you’ve made for the day, give you notifications of text messages coming from your iPhone, etc. But that’s nothing that all the Android and Tizen smartwatches released so far cannot do already!

However, Apple can possibly come up with a design that could make the efforts by the competition look pedestrian. It has been said that Apple has invited prominent individuals from the fashion industry to attend the launch later on! We’ll see... I am intrigued!

No doubt that the iWatch or iTick-Tock – whatever it’ll be called – will go down greatly with iPhone and iPad owners looking for a complete set! The downside is that it could very well be that Apple will make this smartwatch too expensive for many. Also, I would imagine that the iWatch may just work with Apple products which could have people ditching Android in favour of. There again it comes down to function and pricing!

SAMSUNG
After the Samsung product launch last week I wonder if Apple can show us something worthy of the word “innovative”. The Galaxy Note Edge is a great innovation that will change how people interface with a touch screen! Already the Apple biased tech media are dismissing the Galaxy Note Edge as “weird” and “typical Samsung excess” as though we weren’t expecting them (Samsung) to release a handset of this nature as it has been on the cards for a while ever since we saw a prototype at the CES. It’s as though the Apple biased media are predicting that Apple will not offer much by the way of innovation but larger versions of its devices and therefore they feel it necessary to play down Samsung’s unique inventions! Will we see an answer to the Gear VR? iVR? Hmmmm... I doubt it!




Samsung have enlisted Swarovski to add a bit of sparkle to the Galaxy Note 4 and Gear S smartwatch. Samsung are pulling out the stops!

That’s something to think about!

THANKS FOR READING...
Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

REVIEWS & COMPETITIONS ARE COMING SOON!!! PLEASE STANDBY!!!

Yes, I am well aware that the site is due an update soon! It’s coming...

Synapse Circuit for tech news, opinions, articles, reviews and competitions. You will find interactive PDF magazines, videos and links to free legal software! Check it out at Synapse Circuit dot com

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT APPLE TALK IN THE CLOUDS

The invite: iCloud users wish you could say more too.

False sense of security: Have you removed your compromising pictures yet?

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
APPLE TALK 5:
UP IN A CLOUD OF SMOKE?
Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! How are you? I hope you had a good day and if your day is still unravelling I hope you will spend that time well! Life is short! Today, I learned that a woman in North London was beheaded by a man that, by all accounts, should have been in a mental health institution. May God rest her soul! And let’s hope this man gets the mental care he needs! Jesus wept!

And to think that some people only have nude photos stored on Apple’s iCloud to worry about!

#Apple #iCloudBreach #StolenCelebrityNudePhotos #Samsung #Google #SteveJobs #TimCook #iPhone6 #iPhone6Phablet #iPhone6L #GalaxyNote4 #GalaxyAlpha #GalaxyNoteEdge

DENIAL?
It couldn’t have happened at a worse time that celebrity nude photos have been stolen from Apple’s iCloud storage facility just days before the iPhone 6 launch! As per usual Apple can only admit so much and puts it down to the users not taking enough preventative measures to circumvent hacks! Apple could have a point there! Some people do not take enough precaution and assume that password protection on their accounts is good enough. However, the fact remains that a bunch of celebrities had their nude photos stolen and quite frankly I couldn’t care less! I had hoped that the Internet would have moved on from “leaked” or “stolen” celebrity nude photos what after Kim Kardashian’s and Paris Hilton’s sex tape that did a good job of promotion thus furthering careers in uselessness. And it’s common knowledge that Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee signed contracts on their “leaked” video! C’mon, who really cares about seeing nude celebrities these days? Okay, it can be sometimes funny to see a wardrobe malfunction such as Britney Spears in her “Southerngate” scandal; if you are going to go commando, insist upon wearing a short dress and exit out of a vehicle in front of paparazzi and the public alike then you might want to consider a strategically placing of the hand over that area or handbag or something. More to the point the celebrity vagina is no different from the non-celebrity one and that’s where the concern lies. Everybody that uses iCloud is in danger of having their privacy breached!

Apple is, in my opinion, crap at PR. They could have used the opportunity to admit that they have found a vulnerability in the iCloud code and are addressing it. But what do they do? Yes, they blame the user. And what does this inspire in the user? Distrust!

It doesn’t help that there’s a movie out staring Cameron Diaz entitled, ‘Sex Tape’ that features the use of Apple products – including cloud storage.

The result is a drop in value of Apple stocks.

Perhaps this will change the nature of the iPhone 6 launch; Cook and co love to launch into an attack on “those other guys” and they will look just stupid if they continued that tradition. I wonder if Apple will bring up the subject of stolen celebrity nude photos from their iCloud...

SAMSUNG: QUADRUPLE EDGE
Wow, Samsung was on top form yesterday! It seems that by adding a real metal edge on the Galaxy Note 4 has pleased those that have been saying that Samsung premium handsets feel “cheap”. Then they delivered the Galaxy Note Edge that looks pretty futuristic and out there thus making it desirable. When I first saw this prototype – I think in 2012 – I wanted it! As a Samsung handset appreciator I feel as though I have been waiting eons for the Galaxy Note Edge! Even though it is a “limited edition” I am sure that will increase the desire all the more! Is the Galaxy Note Edge a gimmick? Uh-uh! I think the Edge Display is very, very useful as a shortcut to the most used apps and I do love the virtual camera shutter button when the camera is launched. Both the Galaxy Note 4 & Edge feature a QHD display that makes it impossible to see any pixels. I couldn’t see any pixels on the Galaxy S4!

If that the Galaxy Note 4 & Edge weren’t enough Samsung showed in more depth the Gear S smartwatch with 3G SIM! Yes, it’s no secret that Samsung have been trying to anticipate the much rumoured iWatch and the Gear S looks very formidable indeed! The only thing it can’t do is make you a cup of coffee in the morning! Lol! It’s tracks your movements in sporting activities, monitors your heart rate, warns you if the UV light becomes a potential danger to the epidermis as well as the usual functions of a watch i.e. telling the time and the setting of alarms. I just love it that we can take calls on it! But I am sure that Samsung isn’t done with the smartwatch yet. I reckon the reason why it uses Tizen as opposed to Android / Android Wear is that Android may be too big for a small device and that Android Wear may not be powerful enough to run other functions. This is just speculation on my part! Anyhoo, I am very curious to see what the iWatch will bring.

iWatch – if it is called that – would probably do the same thing as other smartwatches i.e. monitor health and sports activities; nothing that Android Wear and Samsung Tizen haven’t done already save for maybe a unique Jony Ive design. Obviously, the anticipation is most high amongst the Apple / iPhone fans who have witnessed Apple being piped to the post several times over!

Then Samsung dropped the Videorome looking Gear VR and it looks spectacular! Price depending I think the Gear VR could do very, very well! I am not a game player by any means but I am interested in one!

So, what can Apple bring on the 9 September?

Well, after Samsung’s big day at IFA Berlin Apple shares fell again!

CONCLUSION
Apple falling shares aren’t an indication of the retail marketplace – until a handset or tablet doesn’t sell as anticipated.

Because Apple was first out of the gate with the iPhone and iPad big things are expected of them. I understand the pressure. I understand the feeling of needing to denigrate the competition. Apple could learn a lot from Samsung in that they (Samsung) admitted that they’ve lost ground in the Asian markets; they weren’t happy about the Galaxy S5 sales even though they are respectable and yet they still kept coming with innovation in other areas: Galaxy Tab S, Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge, Gear S and Gear VR!

I am hoping that Apple has eaten some humble pie and has concentrated on innovations in technology rather than innovations in insulting the competition. With the iCloud Nude Stolen Celebrity scandal Apple have had its ass served to itself!

Roll on 9/9/14! Show us what you’ve got!

That’s something to think about!

THANKS FOR READING...

Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

REVIEWS & COMPETITIONS ARE COMING SOON!!! PLEASE STANDBY!!!

Yes, I am well aware that the site is due an update soon! It’s coming...

Synapse Circuit for tech news, opinions, articles, reviews and competitions. You will find interactive PDF magazines, videos and links to free legal software! Check it out at Synapse Circuit dot com

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT APPLE TALK 4 9/9/14

Above: Is this the iPhone 6L?

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
APPLE TALK 4: 9/9/14
Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers. How’s it going? I hope that all is going well! Yesterday showed that there may be a little life yet in UK summertime! Fingers crossed that we have at least a couple of weeks of sunshine to come!

I tell you... Some of the Apple iPhone crowd can be hard-to-the-core when they think they are under attack! Synapse Circuit isn’t interested in upsetting people whether they love Android, iOS, Windows or any other mobile and standard operating system! Synapse Circuit just brings about awareness where the consumer is concerned!

#Apple #Samsung #Google #SteveJobs #TimCook #iPhone6 #iPhone6Phablet #iPhone6L #GalaxyNote4 #GalaxyAlpha

WILL THE iPHONE 6 & 6L BE DOA?It could very well be that you are one of the few planning to upgrade to either the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6L. However, the iPhone 6 PR engine seems to have stalled as the media at large tries to hype the forthcoming sixth incarnation of this seemingly waning device. Popular newspapers on Facebook asks, “Will you be cuing up for an iPhone 6?” and the responses are less than favourable.

Personally, I think the days when people cue up for the iPhone is over – at least where the UK is concerned! Dare I say that in the USA the hysteria for the iPhone still persists? But here in the UK and, I imagine the rest of Europe, the phenomenon that is the iPhone has become hackneyed. I know, I know: You iPhone fans are in love with it and will not be told that the iPhone has fallen behind in terms of design (no matter how many semi-documentaries Jony Ives makes on the subject) and operating system – contrary to what Cook keeps saying about iOS being the “best OpSys in the world...” As with competing technologies there are some attributes to weigh up! Weigh ‘em up to your heart’s content! 

Above: The ASUS ZenFone 6. £249.99 buys you 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, 13MP camera, 2GHz quad-core Intel CPU, 6" screen, microSD slot up to 64GB and DC-HSPA+. No 4G! Still, DC-HSPA+ speeds are pretty good.

You gotta wonder, iPhone fan or not, if Apple have left it too late to make changes to the iPhone. We know that this late change of heart is coming from the ever evolving smartphone marketplace. I also think that Apple – as does its followers – underestimate Android. Many iPhone users have the idea that their handset is not only premium but has “premium features” that put it ahead of Android but they are so wrong. I’ve pointed out that most Android handsets starting from £130 upwards can do just about anything that the iPhone can do! Sure, it may be a different story on the iPad as the quality of apps still has a bit of an edge over Android. But as handsets goes the iPhone is leagues behind the high to premium Android handsets.

What’s more is that I have pointed out that a handset such as the Motorola Moto G 4G (UK) stands up pretty well to the iPhone and it costs a lot less – something in the region of £150! Then you have the Sony M2 handset that costs a mere £199.99! Of course there are compromises to make the aforementioned handsets so cost effective but the average person wouldn’t know or care as they are supported by the Android Play platform. Play is what is most important over the different versions of the Android operating systems and it has been installed on 98% of handsets. Again, this idea of “fragmentation” in Android has been greatly overplayed and misunderstood! 

With the sea of great Android handsets and 3G / 4G enabled tablets will iPhone 6 & 6L drown? The one thing I have noticed is that Apple will not say anything definite on the iPhone 5C; was it as success? Did it cannibalize the 5S in part? Did it cause a bit of market confusion in the section of the public that do not care about Apple product launches?

iPHONE 5C: A FLOP?
“The 5C is just way too expensive for what was sold as a 'budget' iPhone. At the time of its launch I was in the market to upgrade my iPhone 4. The price of the 5C was very disappointing and so I opted for a Google Nexus 4 which worked out at £216 cheaper than a 5C ! Sadly for Apple, my eyes have been opened to the world of Android phones and I can honestly say that I will never buy another iPhone whilst the price of quality Android handsets consistently undercuts the inflated prices charged by Apple...”

The above text comes from a disgruntled iPhone user. Contrary to some iPhone fans I do not sit there rubbing my hands with glee when I see this sort of thing. Such views does give me the indication that my analysis is correct or in the right direction. The fact that this persons “eyes have been opened to the world of Android” solidifies my theory that many iPhone folk live in the iOS ecosystem in ignorance of what can be achieved with an Android handset.

I reckon that many iPhone fans were disappointed with the 5C as they expected a budget handset not too dissimilar to what can be had on the Android platform.

My educated guess says that the 5C was a bit of a flop but Apple is keeping schtum on its figures.

iOS 8: OPENING UP
It’s not all doom and gloom for the iPhone platform as it gets the iOS 8 that owes a lot to Android and that’s not a bad thing in that it’s inevitable that competing technologies will do a Jeet Kune Do, “Take what’s useful and discard what is not...” That’s progress for you! And no, I am not, as an Android user, angry that iOS 8 is getting a bit of an Android injection! I think it’s great that iPhone users will be able to swap out the default keyboard if they so wished. The use of interactive notifications is another great thing! I think the iOS in general isn’t bad at all but, as you know, I still prefer Android over it. Once again, I do not hold anything against iPhone users because of my preferences! It’s all good! And no, it’s not “propaganda” that I draw up some comparisons between the iPhone and mid-range Android handsets such as the aforementioned Moto G 4G and the Xperia M2 – it’s valid! At some point I ought to do a comparison with a superphone but it seems pointless as new handsets are on the way – one of which is the much talked about Galaxy Note 4! Getting back on point...

I think iOS 8 may keep the iPhone going a while yet. The one thing that I appreciate about iOS is that it is smooth and reacts pretty much instantaneously! Let’s hope that the upgrade goes smoothly this time!

How will Android, 5: “L” Lemon Meringue Pie compare I wonder... We’ll see... Watch this space!

SAMSUNG
Of course, an iPhone / iOS article is not the same without mentioning Apple’s rival, Samsung. Recently we’ve seen both sides being denied in the continual Tech War. Samsung’s request has been denied to render a couple of Apple’s patents to do with phone interactions invalid. And Apple has been denied the removal of Samsung products off the shelves (so to speak). Stalemate? Well, from where I am sitting I am still of the opinion that Apple have lost despite some court “victories” and let’s not forget that President Obama vetoed a Samsung victory which would have seen the removal of Apple products. That’s the equivalent of bringing your mom to school to fight your battles. It’s funny how Obama can have the power to veto a move to take Apple products of the shelves but can’t do a thing about the police killing unarmed Afro-Americans. But, hey! Let’s not get political.

In the PR stakes Samsung have proved to be very, very formidable and effective. You can’t deny that Samsung have effectively exploited the notion that iPhone users are “sheeple” to comedic effect. And that “the next big thing is already here" that exploited iPhone fanatics queuing up for the latest incarnation... The Samsung vs. Apple product ads have been quite effective so, what went wrong for Samsung of late?

My continual evaluation and revaluation has it that Samsung has suffered from Design Fatigue that essentially started with the Galaxy S4. The Galaxy S4 is a great handset and a refinement from the GS3 but we didn’t see anything outstanding in terms of design. As I missed out on the GS3 the GS4 was quite new to me but as a follower of smartphone design I felt a little disappointed with the look of the GS4 but I loved the Air Gestures and camera! The GS4 looked like a refinement of the Galaxy Note 2 and when you put the two handsets together the GS4 looks like a Galaxy Note 2 mini only the cameras are different with the GS4 sporting a 16MP camera and the Note 2, 13MP and not forgetting the S Pen. Then when the Galaxy S5 came out I saw it as yet another refinement of the Galaxy Note 3 design; refining designs is not enough to differentiate the Galaxy S from the Galaxy Note despite their respective dimensions. As a result the Galaxy Note looks like the more advanced handset and this has appealed to former iPhone users who are looking for a true premium experience as a device for business and creatives. Even the Galaxy S owners may have skipped the GS5 to wait for the Galaxy Note 4 as its form has evolved into a sleek device that has blasted away its original function as a “phablet”. The Galaxy Note 3 is just an amazing example of design and engineering to get a handset of that size 5.7” to fit comfortably in the hand. This is why I maintain that the 7” 3G / 4G enabled tablet is the new phablet.

Again, Samsung could do with a design shake up as the Galaxy Alpha looks not unlike any of the Galaxy range!

Many former iPhone users have jumped ship to the Galaxy Note 3 and I suspect that this will happen again. I haven’t paid too much attention to the “leaked” spec of the Note 4 but I know that I want one already!

6L: BAD IDEA?
A number of iPhone users have said that the 5.5” 6L version is the wrong direction for Apple to go in. Why would they say that? I would have thought that a big screen is what iPhone user would like! Hmmmm... I guess that some people prefer the hand and thumb factor with the iPhone 4S / 5S. But the 4.7” version is good, right? Big is better, right? Stop those naughty thoughts, you! Lol! I guess not everyone loves those beautiful big screens like I do! Me? I find it hard to believe! But yes, there are so many out there who prefer the small form factor where their handset is concerned and therefore there should be a good uptake of the 4.7”. As for the 5.5” version it remains to be seen; there could be a niche market for it! Is a niche market enough for Apple? Hmmmm... I think Apple needs to win big with both versions of the iPhone. 150 million is still a sizable chunk of the market but in reality it would be ideal for everyone on the planet to own an iPhone!

I am of the opinion that no matter if it’s the 4.7” or 5.5” Apple has done itself no favours with creating a divide: Us and "those other guys..." I reckon if Apple played nicely consumers would feel that it’s cool (for want of a better expression) to have both an iPhone and an Android one. Many people who love technology do! But there are some who despise Apple for being poor sports. Wouldn’t it have been great if Apple sold a $1 billion worth of phones instead of litigating it out of Samsung and getting the president involved? I reckon if Apple dropped the litigation in the US as they have internationally they’d win a lot of people over! If I were Tim Cook I’d tell Samsung sorry for being a bad sport and to forget the $1 billion. Hey, we live in a world of seemingly endless conflict and we could do with harmony in some aspect of our lives and why not start with technology? Yes, we live in an ideal world!



In the meantime I am looking forward to what Apple will reveal on the 9 September, 2014! And I can only hope we don’t witness the usual smoke and mirrors job that they normally do! I am very curious about their iWatch!

That’s something to think about!

THANKS FOR READING...
Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com
REVIEWS & COMPETITIONS ARE COMING SOON!!! PLEASE STANDBY!!!

Yes, I am well aware that the site is due an update soon! It’s coming...

Synapse Circuit for tech news, opinions, articles, reviews and competitions. You will find interactive PDF magazines, videos and links to free legal software! Check it out at Synapse Circuit dot com

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT APPLE TALK THE FALLOUT 2

Above: The iPhone 6C - not!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
APPLE TALK:
THE FALLOUT 2
Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers. How are you? How was your day? Ready for the Bank Holiday Carnival Festivities? Heck! I can’t handle the crowds... If you are still going through your day I hope it’ll finish up on a good Note 4 (hee hee hee) and that you will have a relaxed evening!

Apple Talk Fallout is what usually comes after an Apple Talk article; I tell you I get some interesting to downright mad responses from mainly iPhone users when their beloved handset and iPad gets criticism.

#Apple #Samsung #Google #SteveJobs #TimCook #iPhone6 #iPhone6Phablet #iPhone6L #GalaxyNote4 #GalaxyAlpha #Premium #Nexus6 #AndroidL #AndroidLemonMeringuePie

THEY REALLY BELIEVE
THAT IT’S PREMIUM...
Gosh! I am amazed by this discovery: iPhone / iPad users really think that their handset is a “premium” one! Wow! Initially I was asking about the notion of “premium materials” that make up the iPhone / iPad and the fact that the metal is not as durable as plastic. One guy admitted that he dropped his iPad and it now has a dent in it; typically he sidestepped the issue of vulnerability...

Another guy said something along the lines of the iPhone / iPad being likened to a Rolls Royce and that it may “...not be practical for driving the kids around in the back...” However, the adverts have it that the iPhone / iPad can enable children to be creative... I then stated that the top of the range Android handset can be likened to a Ferrari or Lamborghini super-sports cars and Mr. Rolls Royce was not happy about that analogy and had it in his mind that I was belittling the Apple mobile devices. Nothing of the sort!

What I meant by using the Ferrari as an analogy to describe the top of the range Android handset is that it is made from non-metallic materials that such as plastic that makes the Android handset very practical for everyday use! The Ferrari is made from carbon fibre in contrast to the (as far as I know) metal that makes up the Rolls Royce. So, therefore I conclude that many iPhone / iPad users believe that the impractical materials that have gone in to it / them is money well spent. Cool – if that’s what they are happy with.

The first guy who skipped the issue of vulnerability launched into a massive missive about the “premium service and functionality” that he gets with his iDevices. He also mentions that he can move seamlessly – I am paraphrasing – from the iPhone / iPad to the Mac computer. Well, I have news for you mister...

PREMIUM ANDROID?
Another guy just lost it when I stated that, according to analysts, Android have sold over 1 billion handsets compared to 150 million iPhone units. He said something along the lines of, “You can’t compare 1 billion Android handsets to the iPhone...” and... “...iOS and Android would have been a better comparison, blah, blah, blah...” further still... “You (I) should compare the iPhone to a premium Android handset...” Yawn! Why am I being so blasé? I will tell you if you haven’t figured it out already...

The notion of the “premium” Android, from my observations, pertains more to the specifications and – at a stretch – functionality. To the guy that suggested that I should compare the iPhone to a specific Android equivalent... How about the cheapest quad-core Android handset from Google Motorola? Look...

GENERAL   

2G Network 
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
CDMA 800 / 1900 - CDMA version

3G Network 
HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
HSDPA 850 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - for T-Mobile, AT&T
HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - USA version
CDMA2000 1xEV-DO - CDMA version

4G Network 
LTE 700 / 850 / 1700 / 1900 - USA version

SIM    
Micro-SIM
Announced 2014, May
Status Available. Released 2014, June

BODY           
Dimensions: 129.9 x 65.9 x 11.6 mm (5.11 x 2.59 x 0.46 in)

DISPLAY      
Type IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Size 720 x 1280 pixels, 4.5 inches (326 ppi pixel density)
Multitouch: Yes
Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 3

SOUND        
Alert types: Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones
Loudspeaker: Yes
3.5mm jack: Yes

MEMORY     
Card slot microSD, up to 32 GB
Internal: 8/16 GB, 1 GB RAM

DATA
GPRS: Yes
EDGE: Yes
Speed: HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA; LTE
WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot
Bluetooth v4.0, A2DP, LE

USB  
microUSB v2.0, USB Host

CAMERA      
Primary: 5 MP, 2592 х 1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Features: Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR, panorama
Video: 720p@30fps, stereo sound rec., HDR
Secondary: 1.3 MP

FEATURES 
OS: Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat), upgradable to v4.4.3 (KitKat)
Chipset: Qualcomm MSM8226 Snapdragon 400
CPU: Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7
GPU: Adreno 305
Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity, compass
Messaging: SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM
Browser: HTML5
Radio: FM radio
Java: Yes, via Java MIDP emulator
Colors: White, Black, Moto G Ferrari Edition
SNS integration
Google Drive (50 GB storage)
Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
MP3/AAC+/WAV/Flac player
MP4/H.263/H.264 player
Organizer
Photo viewer/editor
Document viewer
Google Search, Maps, Gmail
YouTube, Google Talk, Picasa
Voice memo/dial
Predictive text input

BATTERY              
Non-removable Li-Ion 2070 mAh battery

C’mon... ...you’re not going make me write out the spec of the iPhone 5S are you? What are you people like? Lol! Incidentally the Motorola G 4G has a variation known as the Ferrari edition. Hee hee... Put that in your pipe!

iPhone 5S

FEATURES 
OS: iOS 7, upgradable to iOS 7.1.2, planned upgrade to iOS 8
Chipset: Apple A7
CPU: Dual-core 1.3 GHz Cyclone (ARM v8-based)
GPU: PowerVR G6430 (quad-core graphics)

The spec is similar but obviously not the same... A main difference is beyond the CPU and operating system is the camera; the camera on the iPhone features an 8MP sensor to the Moto G 5MP that only manages HD video at 720p! Oh, the screen size of the Moto G is bigger by half an inch with a 326ppi pixel density to the iPhone 5S 4” screen with the same pixel density. I almost forgot that the Moto G storage is expandable via microSD whereas the iPhone 5S has fixed storage options starting at 16GB! Now let’s look at the prices of these babies!

Moto G 8GB 4G, £150 vs. iPhone 5S 16GB 4G, £540
Me? I have come to the realization that many Android handsets from £150 to £250 are premium! And dare I say it, the prices are set to fall slightly come 2015 due to the influx of Chinese manufacturers. LG have already announced its new budget L series and the L Bello model boasts a quad-core 1.3GHz processor, 5” 196ppi pixel density and an 8MP camera! Not bad, huh? I wonder how much it will retail at... Under £140?

Make no mistake, many Android handsets are indeed premium and that’s how it is able to dominate and sell over 1 billion units! Handsets such as the Samsung Galaxy S & Note; HTC One M8 and LG G3 are what I would call superphones in that they go all out to give the consumer so much more: DTP quality pictures for printing resulting from great cameras (aside from the HTC One M8 – the pictures are ok but not of the same quality as the Galaxy S, Note and G3! Video recording at 4K (again, with the exception of the One M8) and very useful interface features! Maybe the superphone is a niche market as not everybody needs such hardcore tech! Me? I love all that tech! I want as much tech as possible squeezed into my superphone! Have you seen the Vin Diesel 'XXX' movie and the bit where he tells an uber-nerd technician to, "Put all that (tech and weapons) in there (pointing to a Mustang car - I think)..." That's me with Samsung, LG and any other manufacturer that wants to wow and woo me! I gotta get the Galaxy Note 4! It's not long now...

NEED A PC / MAC?
One can argue that the PC and Mac are essentially the same in what they are capable of. You can make music on a PC; you can make it on a Mac. The same goes for video, DTP, photo editing / manipulation etc. But it is very possible that you may not need either when using the iPhone / iPad or the Android handset / tablet.

I was asked by Mr. Premium Got-A-Dent-In My iDevice, “Is it possible to do use an Android handset or tablet in conjunction with a projector to do presentations...” Of course! There are projectors that allow the Android user to project via Wi-Fi with an app; it’s also possible to use a big flatscreen panel using HDMI and Chromecast and some handsets allows for the Screen Mirroring with or without a dongle. You won’t need the dongle if, for example, you intend on using a Galaxy S or Note with a Samsung smart TV!

Then there is much iteration of apps that can edit Microsoft Office documents – including PowerPoint presentations. Google has them all: Slides, Docs and Sheets! And there are a few apps available only for the tablet that enables the creation of eBooks!

And should you need to transfer files to be completed on the PC or Mac you can! I guess that’s what you’d call premium functionality! I can’t think of any Android handset above the £130 upwards price range that can’t do any of the above! Personally, I haven’t had much time with budget handsets at the low-end of the market. I had a couple that cost £80 at the time and I had to get rid very quickly as I found them too slow and the screen too small!

BREAKTHROUGH
I think I may have made a breakthrough in understanding the iDevice user psychology! They actually think that the Android handset is unable to perform office tasks such as word processing, projecting slides with the aid of a projector / screen-panel for example. You can also edit video; make high quality professional music... I can’t think of anything that I can’t do on a smartphone / superphone! Okay, I concede that the camera quality can vary on an Android handset – you get what you pay for! Lol! But you are still paying less than you would for an iPhone! Once again, I do not see metal as being a premium component of a handset. My beloved Galaxy S2 looks pretty much like it did when I took it out of the box some years ago! I am pretty proud about that! Now my nephew’s iPhone 5S... Ouch! Hee hee...

Anyway, it was good to read the responses from the Apple Talk articles!

I do think that Android 5, Lemon Meringue Pie, is going to be a major breakthrough for the Android industry! While iOS is catching up to Android it will fall behind again this fall! We could be seeing a new Nexus handset, Nexus 6, to usher in Android 5 which, I predict, will the crème de la crème of mobile operating systems! It should be faster, leaner and even more versatile than before! I think it will have manufacturers doing away with heavy user interface overlays for even more responsiveness! Roll on 64-bit Android! The premiums just keep getting higher!

Hey! If you are happy with your iPhone – and I do hope that 6 and 6L is all what you want it to be – that’s brilliant! It’s all good! But some are marginally better! Wink, wink! Ahem, Galaxy Note 4! Ahem! Wink!

That’s something to think about!

THANKS FOR READING...
Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

MORE REVIEWS & COMPETITIONS ARE COMING SOON!!! PLEASE STANDBY!!!

Yes, I am well aware that the site is due an update soon! It’s coming...

Synapse Circuit for tech news, opinions, articles, reviews and competitions. You will find interactive PDF magazines, videos and links to free legal software! Check it out at Synapse Circuit dot com

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT APPLE TALK 3 PREMIUM?

Above: Could this be a new design departure for the iPhone 6?

Above: Are these the iPhone 6 and 6L?

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

APPLE TALK 3
Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers. What’s happening in your wonderful lives? I hope that all is well with you and yours!

Yes, the saga continues with Apple...

#Apple #Samsung #Google #SteveJobs #TimCook #iPadAir #iPhone6 #iPadMini #iPhone6Phablet #GalaxyNote4 #GalaxyAlpha #iPhone6L #GalaxyTabS

IS THE IDEA OF “PREMIUM” REDUNDANT IN TODAY’S MOBILE DEVICE MARKET?
It should be common knowledge to even the most ardent iPhone fan that Apple needs the iPhone 6 to be a success as their market share is constantly being eroded by Android handsets. Through my articles I get a bit of abuse from the Apple disciples and it makes me chuckle a bit because the problem or problems doesn’t lie with me... Uh-uh... The problems lie with Apple itself.

I read and watch opinions / reports from many tech-news sources and the one thing that keeps coming up when talking of the competition i.e. Samsung. And Samsung has responded with the Galaxy Alpha that has been met with mixed reviews. But I like it because of one factor: the non-metallic removable battery cover.

If the iPhone 6 retains the non-removable battery which proves to have a short life then this could have a great impact on its sales. However, I find it strange that tech-journalists (sic) do not make much of an issue regarding Apple’s stance to keep the battery non-removable. I would imagine that this is to retain the “premium” look. I think this is going to be the last time I bring up the subject of “premium” but I feel that I have to address this issue with this article.

Tech-journalists are a funny bunch... ...one minute they claim that the iPhone is a symbol of supreme design (even though I can’t see how this is true) and that is worthy of the word “premium”. I had a friend who always claimed how the expensive materials make her feel that her money is “well spent”. Yet very often she would tell me that her battery is about to go any minute and have to cut video and voice calls short whilst being out and about! I do not get it; when I tease her that she’d be better off with a Samsung handset because she’d be able to swap out the battery for a fully charged spare she is repulsed by the very idea of leaving the Apple nest. Yes, she is also a Mac computer owner and in some respects I understand why she would want to remain faithful to Apple. However, her reasoning does not explain this idea of “premium”.

Inexplicably many tech-journalists marvel at the glass and metal materials that make up the iPhone but surely a “premium” handset is more than the outer materials??? No??? I find it baffling to have read reviews on the Galaxy S range to the present day where it goes something like this:-

“The Samsung Galaxy S5 has the best screen on any handset but the iPhone 5S is the one to get...” Huh??? Why, I even read an issue of ‘What Buy’ magazine on the subject of ‘Best handsets’ and despite the Galaxy S5 having the best screen, best camera, removable battery and power management, etc the iPhone 5S was weighed up as being the best option. What???? This is supposed to be a consumer oriented magazine that gives an objective evaluation on consumer products. Hmmmm... I think you have to be “special” if you can’t work out and evaluate the specifications between the iPhone 5S and the Galaxy S5.

Similarly, tech-journalists that make claims to say the iPhone 5S is better because of the materials alone are lobotomized or receiving gifts from Apple. Tech-journalists must be braindead if they can’t understand that they are holding a premium device that is the Galaxy S5 or Note 3! Seriously, who wants to watch video or view websites on the tiny iPhone 5S screen? Seriously, are you trying to tell me that the Galaxy S and Note range do not feel premium? You gotta be nuts if you think that a handset that consists of 95% screen that is sharper than the retina and sporting a fast quad-core processor, over 1GB RAM and expandable storage via microSD card!

Above: Is this the Samsung Galaxy Note 4?

 As I have said so, so many times... The iPhone and iPad suffers terribly from the metal and glass being unable to absorb the shock of a drop which usually results in scratches, dents and broken glass. What is “premium” about that? I tell you, when I hold my Galaxy S1, 2 & 4 and my Galaxy Note 2 in my hands they do not feel cheap! When I am watching a YouTube video, for example, I do not think to myself, “You know... This video would look so much better if my Galaxy Note 2 if it were made from metal...”

Somebody brought to my attention that 85% of Apple’s sales are devices that cost over $400. And somebody else has responded to my last article on Apple, APPLE TALK 2 WINNING?, by saying that Apple has won the battle against Samsung because its profits are up while at Samsung executives have given their bonuses back because they missed financial targets... OK... Let’s take a real look to see if my understanding meets yours...

Once again, if Apple’s strategy is to sell 150 million iPhones be it the 5S or 5C or combination of then that’s a good thing – obviously! But if Apple wants to sell as many iPhone units as possible then they are trailing behind Android’s over 1 billion sales and counting. Oh, but what I am saying isn’t fair because of the inexpensive Android handsets out there. Surely that’s down to Apple, right? You iPhone fans say you want to pay through the nose for a small handset even though you are delirious at the prospect of a larger screen just because it is made out of metal and glass. So, then you can’t blame that on Android if Apple seeks to serve your needs. You want premium materials and you expect to pay for it. Fine! What’s that got to do with Android handsets being able supply quality inexpensive handsets that are mainly plastic with some great metal handsets from HTC, Huawei and now Samsung! However, I DO NOT want the future Galaxy S and Note to feature metal if it is going to bring the prices up! No, Samsung! No! Ha ha! I would rather pay more for a futuristic design based around the indestructible YOUM screen. Did you see those foldable Samsung designs of the not too distant future?

Imagine a scenario whereby your expensive premium iPhone 5S has stopped working for whatever reason and sadly your warranty has expired before your upgrade is due. Are you going to shell out £569.95 to replace it??? Oh, you will opt for the £449.95 5C? Me? If one of my Galaxy S and Note handsets proved to be too expensive to repair I can either get a second hand one or opt for something like the Motorola Moto G with 4G for around £130 or make do with a low-end LG handset such as the L5 for £99 or something even cheaper while I am waiting to upgrade. Sure, it is likely that if you are under contract you can get the handset repaired for free but this is just to illustrate why Android is so popular and iPhone iOS is not.



Take the beautiful, Sci-Fi looking Aquos Crystal from Sharp as an example that the idea of “premium” is like the proverbial King and his new clothes! Yes, it’s transparent that you are superficial! Ha ha! I am only kidding! You like what you like and you pay for what you like! But if someone offered me an iPhone for free I’d sell it to get the Aquos Crystal maybe an Android tablet with the change!

DID APPLE BEAT SAMSUNG?
I still say a resounding NO!!!! Why? Okay, I will tell you why!

Samsung has done and is doing so much in terms of design and meeting different markets from high-end premium, mid and low-range! What has Apple done? One boring handset! One boring handset that is in desperate need of a redesign! Oh, maybe the iPhone 6 will actually be a design departure! Goody for you, the iPhone fan!

If you are prepared to do more then you have more to lose, no? If you keep playing safe you won’t lose much by the way of finance but a whole lot of adventure and innovation. Who dares wins is good motto!

That’s something to think about!

THANKS FOR READING...
Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

Yes, I am well aware that the site is due an update soon! It’s coming...

Synapse Circuit for tech news, opinions, articles, reviews and competitions. You will find interactive PDF magazines, videos and links to free legal software! Check it out at Synapse Circuit dot com