REALLUSION DEBUTS 3 INNOVATIONS FOR 3D ANIMATION AT SIGGRAPH 2015 SYNAPSE CIRCUIT NEWS

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
NEWS:
REALLUSION DEBUTS 3
INNOVATIONS FOR 3D ANIMATION
AT SIGGRAPH 2015

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! It’s great to see you as always! Yes, it has been quite a while. I’ve just finished lending a hand on a friend’s project and now I am taking a little break to recuperate.

I am a little behind schedule but rest assured that I will catch up with y’all soon!

In the meantime here’s some news...

#Reallusion #iClone6 #3DAnimation #NFTS

Los Angeles, Calif., August 7th, 2015 — Reallusion delivers disruptive innovations in 3D animation during the 42nd annual Siggraph Expo August 11th - 13th. (booth #236) 

See real-time demos of iClone 6 animation, Character Creator and the iClone Live Motion Capture System featuring the Noitom Perception Neuron.

THE PIPELINE
1. iClone 6 Animation Pipeline updates to animate and deliver characters and content for Unity, Unreal & Autodesk Stingray game engines.

2. iClone Character Creator launches an on-demand 3D character designer application to build-up custom characters from scratch with dynamic morphs, ethnicity, aging, skin, conforming cloth, cosmetics and fabrics. Characters are fully rigged and ready for animation and lip-sync in iClone, game engines or other 3D tools.

3. iClone Live Motion Capture System with the revolutionary Perception Neuron enables any size studio to leverage the power of motion capture that disrupts the normal price-tag of mocap.  The iClone Live Motion Capture System imports any character rig and characterizes it to iClone so your motion performance can be seen on any rig, in real-time while you perform.

Reallusion 40 second video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPDxtkHeb8I

iClone 6 Animation Pipeline:
The iClone 6 Animation Pipeline featuring the all new 3DXchange 6 completes the chain to import, animate and export content from iClone to any game engine or 3D application.  iClone 6 has a completely redesigned QT user interface, Nvidia PhysX for soft and rigid body physics, Allegorithmic Substance for dynamic materials and direct access to fine rendering with the IndigoRT render engine.  3DXchange 6 enhancements include new scene preview modes, updated 3D Warehouse compatibility and export capability for FBX and OBJ.  The ability to create, animate and populate your films and games with characters imported or designed and animated with iClone 6 make it possible for indies and pros to quickly generate characters and animations for projects in Unity, Unreal, Autodesk Stingray or 3D applications. 

Game developers using iClone Animation Pipeline & Unity
Indies are Saving time, Winning awards and getting Funding for their games.

* RGBird Games is a two-person game studio that achieved Steam Greenlight in less than 9 days for their game, “Mute”. RGBird uses iClone for 3D character design and animation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91tCyt5sr74

* Pixel Ripped is a game created in Unity for the Oculus Rift and has achieved funding based on their wildly popular prototype.

iClone Character Creator - Dynamic Designer for Human 3D Characters
Reallusion’s latest enhancement to the iClone product family is the Character Creator, a new tool for total character design that generates fully-rigged 3D characters on-the-fly and ready for face, body and lip-sync animation.  Character Creator is a real-time character morph designer to build-up customized body-styles, skin, faces and a conforming cloth wardrobe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpHAHYD81GE

* Part-1 Body Creation and Conforming Cloth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1ifqEy8Akw

The Character Creator provides artists with an area-sensitive body gizmo to easily click-and-drag any body part to intuitively shape characters, as well as an extensive set of slider-based parameters to create a limitless range of character looks.  Characters can also be parametrically aged to transform any character from young to old automatically.  

The conforming cloth creates interchangeable, multi-layer clothing for use on any character while conforming to any body shape.  Add clothing and skin overlays with the aid of the integrated Allegorithmic Substance. 

* Part-2 Dynamic Textures - Ethnicity – Aging
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id4GEx_EoiA

The iClone Character Creator is offered as a plug-in to iClone 6 (early September 2015) and later as a Stand-alone application able to generate 3D characters for any application or game engine that supports FBX.

iClone Live Motion Capture System - Reallusion & Noitom Disrupt Mocap
Reallusion and Noitom, makers of the Perception Neuron mocap suit partner to disrupt motion capture with a solution that enables any size studio or indie to incorporate real-time motion capture into their toolbox.  Live motion capture is unique by letting you actually load your character, perform your mocap on that rig and see your characters perform live in iClone while you simultaneously watch and record your motions captured with the Perception Neuron.  The combination of real-time mocap with your actual character models decrease capture time with the ability to see your characters perform the motions and know when your performance was just right. For example, larger-scale characters like our Warrior, Trenton has a body-style and scale that is different from normal human form; with iClone you can embody your character and record the character’s best performance. 

* Video: iClone Live Motion Capture System 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OZhCcUn--g

Clean-up is minimal with the Perception Neuron and iClone as your capture environment so your motions get where you need them quickly and without the need for extensive editing.  iClone adds the ability to combine motion captured with the Perception Neuron with other motion files by blending and editing via a HumanIK motion layer editor or by masking body parts when live capturing into iClone.  The Perception Neuron and iClone is ultra portable for capturing motion anywhere and supports wifi capturing that lets your motion artist move freely during their performances.  iClone supports any Perception Neuron configuration including the 32 neuron option which is capable of capturing motion from head to toe and all fingers.  iClone and the Perception Neuron mocap suit is accessible mocap and animation for game developers and filmmakers on any budget.

Reallusion Tools Pricing & Siggraph 2015 Show Special:

* iClone 6 PRO
List Price: $199.00 | Show Special: $99.00)

* Animation Pipeline Bundle 3 in 1
(List Price: 797.00 | Show Special: $399.00)

* Pipeline 3 in 1 plus G6 Bundle (G6 Clone Cloth & Morph Pack)
(List Price: $1,125.00 | Show Special: $599.00)

About Reallusion Inc
Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Reallusion is a leading-edge software developer providing cinematic animation tools for PC, Mac and mobile platforms. Reallusion’s pioneering storytelling technology excelling at character animation, facial morphing and voice lip-sync allows fast creation of interactive avatars for 3-D real-time filmmaking and previsualization for professional post-production. Their powerful yet easy-to-use tools make character animation accessible to both Mac and PC users of all skill levels. Reallusion’s development of core technologies and growing base of intellectual property firmly establish the company as power among emerging technology innovators, furthering their graphic and imaging embedded kernels to top-brand device manufacturers worldwide. http://www.reallusion.com/

Thank you so much for reading Synapse Circuit! 

AUSLOGICS RELEASES BOOSTSPEED 8 SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
NEWS
AUSLOGICS RELEASES BOOSTSPEED 8: BRAND-NEW VERSION OF ITS FLAGSHIP OPTIMIZER FOR MS WINDOWS®
VISIT SYNAPSE CIRCUIT DOT COM http://www.synapsecircuit.com
For the best news, reviews and opinions on all things tech visit Synapse Circuit dot com
Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! I hope that all is well and that the weather is treating you wonderfully wherever you may be in this world.

I will be back very soon once I have finished working on a friend’s project! In the meantime check out this optimizer for your Windows PC!

#Auslogics #BootSpeed8 #PCOpitimizer

The long-awaited Auslogics BoostSpeed 8 is finally released to the public, bringing a complete interface redesign with user convenience in mind, Windows® 10 support and new features added.

UK – July 21st, 2015 – An Australian publisher of popular PC optimization tools, Auslogics Software has just released a brand-new major version of its award-winning suite of tools. BoostSpeed 8 comes out the year Microsoft is to release its new operating system, Windows 10, and the program already comes with new OS support.

Being the company’s flagship product, BoostSpeed has been a recommended solution for home and business use for over 7 years. Colleges, schools, government offices, businesses and regular home users have been receiving the benefits of automatic and advanced PC optimization offered by this tool.

Version 8 comes as a result of an extensive effort to analyze user feedback and implement all of the most asked for features. The upgrade includes over 100 improvements throughout the program interface and functionality. The most anticipated feature in this version is the System Advisor tool that returns to the program to check the system for potential improvements and to suggest up to 56 tweaks for better performance. The program appearance can now also be customized with the help of 7 different skins. 

Auslogics has updated each of the 18 tools in the All Tools section. Some of them upgraded with advanced features, such as boot-time defragmentation of locked files in Disk Defrag. The new Live Speedup section now provides more detailed information on real-time resource optimization results. The Startup Manager tool now handles more than just the PC startup by providing a way to disable tasks scheduled for other times.

“We are really excited about releasing the biggest upgrade to date, BoostSpeed version 8. I am positive many of our users will see the features they’ve written us about and will find that this long-anticipated release meets most of their needs and wants,” says Anna Lind, Auslogics PR representative. “Auslogics BoostSpeed has been a user favorite largely because of the balance between its simple interface and advanced functionality, which has been setting it apart from competition. We believe that we were able to keep that balance with this upgrade and even improve on it.”

A free trial version of Auslogics BoostSpeed 8 is available from the publisher’s website at www.auslogics.com/en/software/boost-speed/. Special upgrade pricing is available to current users of older BoostSpeed versions. BoostSpeed 8 is available at £30.99 inc

Company Background:
Founded in 2008 in Sydney, Australia, Auslogics Software publishes a wide range of computer maintenance, optimization and security tools for home and business use. The wide array of software titles produced by Auslogics includes virus and spyware protection, disk defragmentation and cleanup, Windows registry maintenance, Internet connection speedup, file recovery and a lot more.

Software from Auslogics is used by over 15 million people around the globe and is the tool of choice of many IT and computer manufacturing companies, like Sony VAIO or AVG, in the US and other countries. Auslogics is a Microsoft Gold Application Development Partner and an Intel Premier Elite Software Partner.

Auslogics Disk Defrag has been praised as the best disk defragmentation tool on CNET and other online resources, as well as included in the 10 best free software programs of the year list by PC Magazine several years in a row.

More information:

http://www.auslogics.com/en/

Thank you so much for reading Synapse Circuit! 

ANTISOCIAL NETWORKING MEDIA LOBOTOMIZED vs.COSBY SKEPTICS SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

Cosby. Guilty or not guilty? Should the media be allowed to decide?

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
F**K OFF AND DIE!!!
YOU’RE PROBABLY A RAPIST TOO!!!

There goes the neighbourhood...
ANTISOCIAL NETWORKING
MEDIA LOBOTOMIZED vs. COSBY SKEPTICS

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! It’s great to see you as always! Once again, I haven’t abandoned you! I am just helping a friend with his project. I’ve got the know how! Wink, wink!

Besides tech, at the moment, is very quiet to a large degree... There’s not much happening as such... Smartphones are still smartphones and tablets are still hard to swallow... Don’t worry I will be back covering these wondering things and more... Much more!

Tell me, what is it about the Interweb and social networking sites that can sometimes bring out the worst in people, huh?

#BillCosby #Cosby #Media #TheMedia #MediaMonopoly #iDiots

“COSBY ADMITTED THAT HE RAPED THOSE WOMEN...”

READ CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU GO FURTHER:

1. Synapse Circuit / Blue Gene does not condone any sexual misconduct of any nature. Anyone guilty of sexual misdeeds should be punished by law to the fullest extent.

2. Synapse Circuit / Blue Gene do not believe in “different races”. We are one human race. It seems to me that what we often refer to as “race” is skin colour and / or culture. If the human race is to survive we really have to come out of our imprisoned minds.

3. Synapse Circuit / Blue Gene are of the firm belief that one should endeavour to remain dedicated to the truth. Thinking that something is true out of ignorance is still perpetuating lies / falsehood. The truth is exactly what it is. We must tell it and also strive for it.

“F**k off and die!!! You’re probably a rapist too!!!”
While I understand the emotions that comes with the speculation of rape – celebrity or otherwise – there is no excuse for the sentiments as quoted above. No matter how much you or anyone else wants to hurl abuse at someone for not believing in the same thing or things as you do it won’t change what is actually a fact.

The factor in the case of American comedian, Bill Cosby, is that he has not admitted to raping any of the accusers.

Last week I came under fire for pointing the above out... Again, Bill Cosby did not admit to rape. I was involved in a discussion on a social network that became heated when a male and female (who I will keep nameless) were not pleased that my viewpoint differed from theirs.

The male, when he was rumbled for his racism and condescending attitude, decided to have a look through my profile to see what he could find to use to insult me like a big baby. But, hey! Isn’t that what the media does on occasion?

LOBOTOMY BY MASS MEDIA
“What about the Quaaludes? You still haven’t said anything about it...” says the male.

Did you see what happened there? It went from Cosby confessing to rape to “What about the Quaaludes?” So, I didn’t have to look at the article to know that Cosby hadn’t confessed to rape / serial rape. The media created the headline to make it appear to their brainwashed masses that Cosby admitted rape / serial rape. If the man had confessed to raping these women that confession would have likely ended with Cosby being held in police custody or something along those lines... In fact the headlines would have read, “Cosby confession has lead to his arrest...” That headline would have been more appropriate and would make sense if that was what had happened.

Through reading the article I have understood that the use of Quaaludes was recreational. I would imagine that it would be consumed in a similar way to marijuana or cocaine... It appeared and still appears to me that Cosby gave Quaaludes to women in the way one might consume alcohol to chill out before participating in sexual intercourse. Again, Cosby did not state, either himself or through his lawyer, that the Quaaludes were used to knock women unconscious for the purpose of rape. Fact! You may not like me for pointing that fact out but that’s not admitting rape.

Yes, of course I would like to see any man or woman prosecuted for proven sexual misconduct. But the article whereby Cosby has admitted to giving Quaaludes to women is not proof of rape. I am sorry to have had to break it to you if you didn’t know that.

I would imagine that Cosby would use a different drug if he had intended to rape women... That drug is Rohypnol; it has been used by many to incapacitate women as it is often slipped in drinks as it apparently has no taste. Cosby is alleged to have stated that Quaalude was the drug in his era, the 70s. The first time I heard about Quaalude was at the time of Elvis Presley's death as it was one of the many prescription drugs he (Presley) took habitually to the point of abuse.

Anyway, such sensationalist and seemingly malicious headlines can have the effect of the consumers wanting blood! It’s like the time when singer Britney Spears was having a meltdown in public (what with shaving her hair off) and there was a bet about the way in which she would die: suicide in the bathtub as portrayed in one of her music videos; car crash or whatever... The bottom line is that people were expecting her to die and when she didn’t I can imagine that those baying for blood felt let down. The same for the late and great Amy Winehouse – people – me included – was anticipating her death. In fact I told a friend whom I bumped into on my travels that, “Amy will probably be next...” Less than a week later she was gone. God rest her soul. I digress a little... ...you get the point I am making, right? The point is, in short, that the media can implant things in our minds whereby we act in accordance to those headlines. A vast majority of us are eating out of the hands of the media. A lot of us believe in what we're told by the "news" and the media in general. Many people stop thinking for themselves as they get on with the daily routine of life.

To be very clear: I did not want Amy Winehouse to die... I felt that it was going to happen... It's different from wanting it happen.

We read, “Cosby raped ex-amount of women... Get him! He’s dangerous to women!” Many of us won’t question it. And when we do question these headlines we get abused. At least I got abused... Lol! Why some people can't reason things out is peculiar. People see in those headlines what they want to see.

RACISM?
Could it be that the media is hounding Cosby because of his perceived race? Maybe... I mean just look at the reaction to prince Andrew in the UK who was said to have allegedly had sex with a minor in an American state that prohibits sex with a 17 year old. Many people thought that this was okay. Here in the UK the legal age is 16 and there are some that want to lower the age of consent further! Many people here in the UK think it is okay for a mature adult to give a 17 year old alcohol and have sex with them. I personally think that this is wrong for a grown man (or woman) - regardless of status to do that. If the law was broken in an American state then the consequences should meted out. The story has gone cold... Gee, I wonder why?

Again, many people in the UK didn’t think too much - if anything - of a royal consorting with a known paedophile that introduced that young woman (of illegal age in an American state) to Andrew. I find that shocking!

However, with Cosby, people all over the world have already condemned the man without due process. There has been no legal trial but by the mass media.

People want Cosby punished on speculation... Okay, it’s more than speculation... But even so the stories around the accusers seem, to me, sketchy. There is one that sticks in my mind whereby one of the accusers waited a whole year before reporting it to the police. Surely, you’d go to the police straightaway and report it thus getting a toxic screening done to identify any drug used for purpose of subduing to commit rape? I would. The media has only portrayed one side of Cosby situation. Whenever a celebrity supports Cosby and his legacy the coverage is nearly always done in a way to give the impression that the celebrity is deluded. And when a celebrity has had a change of mind – probably due to feeling pressurised – it’s bigger news still to say, “Oh, look! Cosby must be guilty because yet another one of his supporters have withdrawn his or her support...”

I think that what is happening looks very, very strange from a legal standpoint... Cosby is being crucified by the media without any evidence against him. Once again, Cosby has not admitted to sexual misconduct when he allegedly stated (probably through his lawyer) that he gave Quaaludes to women like he would give a glass of wine.

Cosby is a powerful man but because he is perceived as a "black" man by a majority of people he may not be as powerful as his "white" contemporaries. I reckon that it would have been so much easier to have reported Cosby for drugging and raping because of institutional racism; I can see that the police would have come down very hard on him. Maybe executed him on the spot. "Cosby shot dead by the police whilst resisting arrest..."

Ideally, there should be a media lockdown when a celebrity is being accused of something very serious such as rape, etc. I don’t think it is right to have a media witch hunt as the law should count for something. 
Just look at what happened when two celebrities passed away...

1. Michael Jackson’s career was dogged by accusations of paedophilia and when he died nothing more was said other than one child was told to falsely accuse Jackson to extort money from him.

Here’s a video and newspaper article on the Jordy Chandler case.



Suicide?

2. When UK radio and TV personality Jimmy Savile died it came out that the once beloved charity fund raiser was nothing like his persona away from the spotlights. The man, if you can call it that, was into all sorts of sick practises that included child rape and necrophilia.

We do not know the full extent of Savile’s sexual misdeeds that is said to include murder!

SICK, SAD & SHADY
When there is a time for the media to expose real abuse it’s seldom done. Former child actor Corey Feldman revealed how he and fellow former child actor, Corey Haim, were horrifically abused as children in Hollywood. As far as I know nobody in Hollywood has been brought to justice for Feldman’s and Haim’s horrific abuse at the hands of Hollywood major players. Do I see the media pushing for names to be named in the case of Corey Feldman??? Of course not!



Again, why Cosby? I have come to the conclusion that he’s being destroyed because of the colour of his skin.

Let me be clear... If Cosby is guilty then let the law provide evidence. This media crucifixion is no substitute for the law. I know that some women do not report sexual assault for many reasons. But not all women are the same and would react in the same way. As a man with the kind of personality that I possess I believe that I would go to the police as soon as I were able if I had the misfortune to be raped. I can’t really know what I would do until it happens to me (I pray that it does not and I pray it will not happen to you too). Men have been raped... Jesus H. Christ! Boys have been raped in shopping malls and toilets in broad daylight (here in the UK)! That is crazy! I’ve heard and read stories of how a man was raped by a couple of men hiding in the toilets for example. One part of London became a no go area at night for men in particular. That area was Hampstead Heath. Yes, I am going off on a tangent... Bear with me...

The essence of what I am stating is that powerful "white" men who are accused of sexual and other misconducts remain nameless in the media. For example, in the UK there are a multitude of politicians that have been accused of child sexual rape and one instance of murder but nobody knows who they are. Now these child sexual rapes and murders have been going on for a long, long time... There many survivors who have been trying for decades to have these child raping and murdering politicians arrested. But sadly, these "men" (and women) use their statuses to escape punishment and to remain nameless. Some of these scandals also involve celebrities – cherished household names!

This shows me that it is very likely that Cosby is being destroyed on purpose.

SPECULATIONS
I could speculate as to why Cosby is being destroyed in this very public manner but I feel that is best not to. I ask you, whether you believe Cosby is guilty or not, to do your own research as to why it could be that all these accusations is being played out in the public arena like it is. I feel uncomfortable in branding a man a rapist without a proper legal trial. At least with the Jimmy Savile revelations there were actual witnesses that covered up his trail of horrific child rape, the rape of the physically and mentally incapacitated and more! And sticking with the UK it hasn't escaped my attention that a certain UK celebrity has gone very, very quiet. 

I do wonder if Cosby took advantage of women seeking acting jobs in his productions i.e. the dreaded “Casting Couch”. It may surprise you to understand what a cesspit Hollywood can be. In fact the entertainment business is a cesspit period! If you are a parent of a daughter (or son) the following words will chill you to the bone, “I want to be a singer / Popstar...” Or if you are one of those parents that will push your child or children into abusive situations thinking about the money maybe you would be prepared for your child or children to use his / her body / bodies as currency to claim this fame and fortune.

Just listen to what Irish singer, Sinéad O'Connor, has to say about “frisky men” in the music industry. I think she’s putting it mildly. I know from experience that some young women will “do anything” to become famous. As a result these "producers" expect sexual favours in return for the promise of fame and fortune. The operative word is "promise".


Is that what you want for your daughter or son? Would you want them to be sexually harassed just to release a recording? Is it any wonder that some celebrities turn to alcohol and drug abuse as they can't live with what they've done for a career in the entertainment business???

It doesn’t help matters when young women and men willingly offer themselves up in a bid to be famous but they do and will continue to do so. That is the nature of the beast. Are some of the accusers angry because they didn’t advance their careers based on a promise from Cosby? I have no idea.

Beyond that it would be unwise for me to speculate further. The truth always comes out in the end. I just have to wait for the truth – if I ever get to know it in my lifetime. Justice must be served where it is due!

Anyway, calling people names and wishing for them to die isn’t going to bring about that truth. It’s so ironic that dirt throwers do not see that they are acting just like the media.

I will always stand for the truth and I will not be bullied for it and nor should you.

WHAT???? WHO????


Thank you so much for reading Synapse Circuit!

Expect more reviews, news, opinions, competitions and more from Synapse Circuit!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT NEWS THE NATIONAL FILM & TELEVISION SCHOOL TEAM UP WITH REALLUSION ON GAME LAB!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
NEWS:
THE NATIONAL FILM & TELEVISION SCHOOL TEAM UP WITH REALLUSION ON GAME LAB!

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! I hope that you had a great weekend! I also hope that all well in your world and that you’re making the most of your tech!

Here’s some brilliant news if you have been looking for a cost effective way to get into 3D animation and without a media degree!

#Reallusion #iClone6 #3DAnimation #NFTS

NFTS & REALLUSION

UK (July 16th, 2015) — The National Film and Television school has a long history of creating great cinema, TV and recently the next great game-makers! The NFTS campus was originally a famous British movie studio where the first British talkie was filmed, England’s war propaganda films were made and in 1971 became the home of the National Film School.  The school’s accolades include the birthplace of “Wallace and Gromit” animation, 2012 Oscar nominated short, “Head Over Heels”, current TV series “Peppa Pig” and was named by Hollywood Reporter as the #1 International Film School in 2014.

AMAZING?  
As you know I am very familiar with Reallusion and its products... Yes, I am aware that my iClone 6 review is well overdue... It’s coming... In the meantime read more here:
NFTS, RealLusion & Game Lab

I think that Reallusion and especially iClone Pro is super-amazing! The things you can do with 3D animations and stills are bewildering! Moreover, the asking prices for the software is just bewildering! I keep telling you lovely Synapse Circuit Readers that this is the

Pricing & Availability:
iClone6 is now available at Reallusion Online Store in 2 versions for Windows PC.

iClone6 Standard list price: £79.99
iClone6 PRO list price: £159.99
Great value bundle deals: starts from £119 

About Reallusion Inc
Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Reallusion is a leading-edge software developer providing cinematic animation tools for PC, Mac and mobile platforms. Reallusion’s pioneering storytelling technology excelling at character animation, facial morphing and voice lip-sync allows fast creation of interactive avatars for 3-D real-time filmmaking and previsualization for professional post-production. Their powerful yet easy-to-use tools make character animation accessible to both Mac and PC users of all skill levels. Reallusion’s development of core technologies and growing base of intellectual property firmly establish the company as power among emerging technology innovators, furthering their graphic and imaging embedded kernels to top-brand device manufacturers worldwide. http://www.reallusion.com/

Thank you so much for reading Synapse Circuit! 

SAMSUNG GALAXY S2 CM12.1 SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
ROOTING FOR YOU
SAMSUNG GALAXY S2 CM12.1& BOO HOO: NO LOLLIPOP FOR SAMSUNG GALAXY S3 AND NOTE 2

THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S2 GETS A LOLLIPOP FROM CYANOGENMOD...

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! It’s great to see you as always! No! I haven’t abandoned you! At the moment I am taking time out to help a friend with his project! The diversion has come at a opportune time as it’s kinda quiet on the tech front... At a glance I see the same tired ol’ headlines, “Samsung Announces A Loss For The Second Quarter...” “Here’s a phone leak...” C’mon, Synapse Circuit Readers... That’s not news anymore...

You may have heard that Samsung UK have announced that they have no plans on bringing Lollipop to the Galaxy S3 and Note 2. Well, that bit of news comes as no surprise as the aforementioned handsets are long in the tooth – although the Galaxy Note 2 is still a powerhouse of a handset considering its age! As an owner of the Galaxy Note 2 I am not bothered in the slightest as Android just works! There’s always an app and / or launcher – such as Nova – that can bring some elements of the latest Android build / version. Read on...

#CyanogenMod #CM12POINTONE #Samsung #SamsungGalaxyS2

SAMSUNG GALAXY S2 GETS A LOLLIPOP FROM CYANOGENMOD...

If you want to get the latest Android version on your old and beloved handsets then rooting your handset is the only option available to you! I’ve done some articles about rooting before and I recommend that you have a read to see what you are letting yourself in for... Rooting, if you haven’t rooted any of your handsets already, is a mix of panic, rage of frustration and elation!

ROOTING FOR YOUR SYNAPSE CIRCUIT ARTICLES: PART ONE & PART TWO

I can think of many reasons to root and the foremost reasons are as follows:-

1. Your phone is buckling from the weight of a recent update... When I received an Android update for the Galaxy S and S2 I was very happy until the update slowed the handsets down considerably. And when my contracts were up I didn’t sell these handsets on... Uh-uh... I used the opportunity to tinker with them.

2. It goes with point one but if you have no desire to upgrade as you may be waiting for something substantial to come along you want to get maximum usage from your current driver (“driver” = your main or only handset that you use daily).

3. As linked with points 1 and 2, you want to further your knowledge that could lead to you doing your own coding! I haven’t reached that level yet... I want to learn to code at some point but at the moment my hands are full! There’s nothing like that triumphant feeling when you’ve performed a root and flashed (installed) a new custom ROM featuring the latest that Android has to offer.

As I have outlined... Rooting can be a strange game... I’ve rooted a number of handsets over the years:-

HTC Hero – after a few months it packed up! I never bothered to do anything to it again as I had moved on...

HTC Desire – same as the Hero; one minute it was working well and the next... Lol! Never mind...

HTC One X – this one is still going and I use it as my daily personal driver. It has the CyanogenMod version of KitKat on it.

ZTE Blade – after installing a CyanogenMod ROM the performance was still terribly slow and I managed to sell it on (to some sucker). No, I sold it at one of those computer exchange shops!

Motorola RAZRi – I had two of them... One died as it couldn’t hack (no pun intended) the notifications from busy social network apps. One is still working today and it is so slow!

LG L3 – this is a cute dinky handset that died on me after a few months of good functionality. As it was quite underpowered I just didn’t bother with it!

And, of course, my Samsung Galaxy S and S2... The original Galaxy S kinda functions but I reckon that a battery extension kit put an end to innards... I think the battery extension has done something untoward to the circuit board... I could boot it up and it just won’t function as it should. What a pity as it would’ve been nice to preserve it.

The Galaxy S2 is remarkably still going very, very strong! It’s only up until a week ago that I decided to put the unrooted Galaxy S4 in its place... I’m glad I did! Here’s the story...

HITTING THE BRICKED WALL
One morning I woke up to see a notification that I had a CyanogenMod upgrade for my Galaxy S2! I was over the moon as it was a Lollipop update! So, without much thought – if any – I downloaded it and installed it...

Everything was looking sweet until it finished booting and I noticed that the Google Play Store app wasn’t working... Duh! I had forgotten to install the latest GAPP (Google App) and so I went on a bit of wild goose chase to find the appropriate one... I think I must have gone through about 4 or 5 different GAPPS to no avail...

I also noticed that the “SuperUser” icon was no longer in the app tray and it looked as though my Galaxy S2 had become unrooted in the process... Shock! Horror!

Then I tried a few solutions that included flashing a bootloader  - at least that’s what I think I done... And installed / flashed something called “Root Restore” that comes in a ZIP file like the CM12.1custom ROM as does GAPPS.

After about a solid day of trying just about everything that I could think of (in my limited capacity) I decided that it was a good time to use my Galaxy S4 instead and that I would come back to the Galaxy S2 when I wasn’t busy! Sometimes you have to know when to quit! Lucky for me I have a few spare handsets lying around! Tell a lie! I spent a day and a half trying to fix it... The following morning I called quits.

There’s nothing worse than the feeling of having “bricked” your phone... I thought, “Oh, no! I have destroyed my Galaxy S2!” It went from just about working to nothing working at all... I LOVE the Galaxy S2 as the design is great! Rather than to keep getting frustrated to the point where I’d smash it like I did the ASUS Fonepad 7 LTE I put the Galaxy S2 out of sight (out of mind) and concentrated on helping my friend with his project....

HALF-BAKED
One of the most annoying things about rooting is that – in my experience – there hasn’t been a step by step guide on the process on the CyanogenMod website. If it is there I do apologise... In any event the rooting to flashing a custom ROM guides isn’t found on the CyanogenMod website where you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s there! Again, I do apologise if I have overlooked this matter...

Anyway, last night I decided to revisit my botched Galaxy S2 and see if I could find some more information...

FORMAT/SYSTEM
It’s funny how I can forget the process of flashing a new custom Android version once I have become accustomed to downloaded regular updates of one particular CyanogenMod version, CM11 KitKit. I forgot totally that I had performed a ‘Format/System’ command to completely wipe the handset. That right there, ‘Format/System’ is the vital key to successful flashing of Lollipop with the CyanogenMod flavour!

So, if you are just about to bite the bullet and go from CM11 to CM12.1 then do not forget to perform a system format.

If you have messed up then all you have to do is the following:-

Your phone should be able to boot albeit without the Play Store functioning... Download the following:-

The latest version of CM12.1... For the Samsung Galaxy S2 International version you should be able to download it via your phone. If not you just download it onto your PC and transfer the file(s) across to the root folder on the internal drive “SD0”. Here’s the download page: CM12.1

You also need a GAPPS that is going to work with CM12.1. Download it here: GAPPS-5.1

Copy the GAPPS ZIP file to the root folder of your Galaxy S2 along with CM12.1 custom ROM.

The steps are as follows:-

1. After a system format you install the CM12.1 update. You should also “Wipe the cache”. It may not be necessary but that’s what I did.

2. Install the GAPPS in exactly the same way as you did the CM12.1 update. Again, “Wipe the cache” for good measure.

3. Reboot and when you get the message asking to “Fix Root” say “Yes”. And when your Galaxy S2 boots up everything should be working!

Oh, you might want to back everything up before you start the process as explained above. I personally don’t bother as everything is backed up via my Google account and anything important to me is saved to the following:-

Google Drive, microSD card, Dropbox, PC and USB stick – you can’t be too careful!

Anyway, I hope that I have helped you fix your bricked Samsung Galaxy S2! I reckon the system format routine is vital for all makes of phone but be sure to read up on your particular model! I know from experience how drawn out rooting and flashing a custom ROM on HTC handsets can be! I don’t think I want to go there again!  Let’s hope that CyanogenMod will make it easy to update HTC handsets... I think Lollipop will look good on the One X!

Remember: Synapse Circuit is rooting for you! Also there are different custom ROMs out there if you wish to give them a try! Don’t get angry. Don’t smash your phone. Use the Internet to get the answers! The truth is out there!

Thank you so much for reading Synapse Circuit!

Expect more reviews, news, opinions, competitions and more from Synapse Circuit! 

MAGIX SOUNDPOOL 21 DVD COLLECTION REVIEW SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
MAGIX SOUNDPOOL 21 DVD COLLECTION
REVIEW
Available on the Magix website for £29.99

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! It’s great to see you as always! How’s it going? I hope that all is well with you and yours! I also hope that your tech is behaving as it should! Nothing worse than malfunctioning tech when you’re on a roll!

So, you are making some great soundtracks for your mobile phone or action cams? Great! Read on! Are you a budding music producer with decent DAW (digital audio workstation) to hand and need some inspiration? Read on!

#Magix #Soundpool21 #MusicMaker #MovieScore #Video #VideoEditing #MusicMaking #DAW

SOUND OFF 8000
Making musical tracks from sample loops is not as easy as you might like to think; while it is considerably easier than being able to play an instrument making tracks that sound like a musician consciously put them together still takes quite a bit of skill. So, the first start is a set of decent sample loops! Enter Magix yet again with this great sample loop collection on DVD (Collection 21).

First off the best thing about this sample collection is that it is made up of different genres as follows:-

Drum & Bass Vol. 3
Hip Hop Vol. 16
Reggae Vol. 2
Funk Vol. 1
Rock Pop Vol. 9
Techno Vol. 17
Chillout Vol. 9
House Vol. 11
Metal Vol. 3
Movie Score Vol. 12

If, for example, you were to take one of the genres alone from this collection it could set you back anywhere from £10 or considerably more – especially when it’s a set of samples produced by a well known artist or artists. So, from the word “go” you are getting a fantastic and outstanding deal at £29.99.

OK, take a sample collection from Prime Loops for example. Let’s take the genre of Drum ‘n’ Bass to allow me to illustrate the following point... What you typically get from a Prime Loops collection is a set of drum loops that obviously typifies the genre; you get a few drum, bass and synth loops. It’s very sparse! You go for another collection in the same genre you will find that there is not much difference in the loops – the tempo may change a little or some effects are added to the loops. Then there is the FX sounds which amounts to the same blips, bleeps and swelling effects from one collection to another. At that point I find that Magix makes a concerted effort to deliver more sample loops with a creative edge and the FX section goes beyond what is expected. Just the Drum ‘n’ Bass collection contains 104 different FX! WOW! And they aren’t the typical blips, bleeps and swells.

Furthermore, Prime Loops do not give you a building block approach to creating tracks from the loops. If you are lucky, Prime Loops gives you up to four loops of a beat variation and it is up to you to cut and slice those beats up into something else. The more experienced musician is able to reorganize the loops to sound totally different. But on the other hand Magix gives you the beats that you’d want to make anyway and I think this saves more time. Rather than to try and recreate the wheel, you have all the permutations of drum loops, basslines, etc to make a whole track (from a series of elements for a single musical theme). But this is where Magix rule... Instead of giving you one Drum ‘n’ Bass track to recompose you get over 10 different types of Drum ‘n’ Bass loops to the very limited Prime Loop collection or collections! That is phenomenal!

Again, sorry to beat (hee hee) Prime Loops into the ground but with the Magix Soundpool collection in general you get the whole shebang to make music... You get basslines, chord sequences, etc in specific keys! This will save you from trying to come up with the melodic passages because, let’s face it, many “musicians” are happy to produce the expected. However, because there are so many genres in this collection you can create fusions! And let’s say that you are a gifted musician, you can easily play on top of the drum loops or create inspirational melodies to the basslines, chord sequences, etc.

Naturally, you can use this collection to extend any of the Magix Music Maker (such as Movie Score reviewed recently) and Studio DAWs! And it goes without saying that you can use these sample loops with any other DAW at your disposal: REAPER, Samplitude Pro X and Orion Studio to mention a few! Let’s get down to the verdict...

VERDICT
I LOVE this collection as the genres are varied and the Movie Score samples have the ingredients to create the background music for just about any video / movie style or even presentations! Again, what I appreciate is that I can cross-pollinate samples from completely different genres thus creating something a little more exciting than the run of the mill! I also thought that some of the Reggae drum loops were spot on!

But this collection is not quite perfect... I would have liked the drum kits in a one-shot format i.e. the individual components that make up the kit: kick, snare, high hat and so on so that I could, for example, bring them into the Magix BeatBox 2 Plus drum machine and make my own variations. That said it is possible to use the Magix Loop Designer that can be found in the Premium version of Music Maker, load up a drum loop and mutate it out of recognition. Bear in mind that the Loop Designer is fussy and some loops may not be compatible. The more experienced computer musician would use other loop mangling instruments and effects.

And – this is probably just me - I find the Techno and House loops to be a little uninspiring. I feel that Techno and House may have moved on somewhat... There again, in my head “Techno” means something else!

Once again, after taking all the above into consideration I have to give the Magix Soundpool Collection 21 a well deserved Synapse Circuit Platinum! 

Thank you so much for reading Synapse Circuit!

Expect more reviews, news, opinions, competitions and more from Synapse Circuit! 

MAGIX MUSIC MAKER MOVIE SCORE EDITION REVIEW SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
MAGIX MUSIC MAKER MOVIE SCORE EDITION
REVIEW
Available on the Magix website for £24.99

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! Always it is wonderful to see you! Life is great! And I just happen to think that with the aid of technology that life is greater still! I guess you do too otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this!

Hey, I have a project for you! Don’t let your pictures and videos sit in the cloud doing nothing! Although the Google Photos app can take your pictures and videos and make a bigger video out of them but nothing beats having an idea and executing it from start to finish! There’s no doubt that the smartphone has become an integral part of our lives... The cameras on these things are... WOW! It’s time to add a unique soundtrack to compliment your unique video! Can’t play an instrument to save your life? Read on!

#Magix #MusicMaker #MovieScore #Video #VideoEditing

SOUND ADVICE
There’s nothing like watching a talent show to feel completely talentless or, better still, to feel that urge to take up an instrument... Singing lessons? OK, I’ve gone too far... Here’s some great news... While you are learning an instrument you can train your ear while creating a brilliant soundtrack for your video / movie! Yay!

Music Maker Movie Score Edition is, as you’d imagine, cut from the mighty Music Maker Premium (2015 is the current version). The full blown Music Maker 2015 Premium may be overkill if you don’t see yourself as a music producer – but if you did... Anyhoo, if you are a keen videographer or video maker (whatever you want to call yourself) you may want to give Music Maker Movie Score Edition a try... Why? I will fill you in...

GET TONED UP
Come back! Don’t go to the gym! What I mean is that even if you are tone deaf – it’s hard to imagine that people can be – you cannot go wrong with Music Maker Movie Score Edition. Let me tell you how the concept works...

In a nutshell the Music Maker Movie Score Edition comes with over 1500 predefined sample loops that Magix call “Soundpools”. The musical genre covers, yes, movie score type loops i.e. string sections, ominous basses, choirs and so on – practically everything you have ever heard during your cinema attendance over the years. Although the musical loops – with the exception of a few FX – are categorised in key i.e. the C major scale. Don’t ring a bell? Well, when try to place unrelated keys together you are met with a dialogue box that asks if you want to match / compliment the musical loop(s) you’ve added to the available track slots. Oh, the loops are also categorised by tempo! Yes, you can mix different tempos... And you can purchase additional Soundpool collections to expand the usability.

Above: The Music Maker Movie Score Edition with Magix oriented VST instruments such as the Space Pad synth which is not part of the package. See below for the Magix VST instrument listing. 

 If you happen to know a thing or two about music, well you can purchase a keyboard book that tells you all the chords, scales and what keys complement each other, there are some great onboard virtual instruments:-

Soundtrack Percussion

Livid (drums)

Robota (Electronic drum machine)

BeatBox 2 (drum machine with bassline sounds)

The above are awesome instruments that sound fantastic. If you happen to have other Music Maker software installed on your PC it should recognize more Magix specific instruments. And if you don’t have other Magix Music Maker or Studio software installed on your system it is possible to buy some additional instruments from the Magix online store. Awesome! So, yes, you work with MIDI files if you are using the virtual instruments. If you like - Music Maker Movie Score Edition - can be used as sketchpad; export the MIDI file for use in other digital audio workstations. So, initially you don’t have to bring out the big guns (so to speak) to do a movie / video soundtrack.

ALL MIXED UP

Above: The Audio FX Rack; these effects can be applied to any track or a particular sample loop / sound component. 

In addition to the sound loops and virtual instruments there is a great mixer where you can mix up to 64 tracks of audio and less if you add video onto the tracks. There are the wonderful effects that really make your soundtracks sparkle which typical of the Music Maker legacy! There’s a delay, reverb, compressor and 10-band equalizer. If you have ever used the full blown Music Maker Premium version you’ll be familiar with the Mastering Suite; here the Mastering Suite is cut down but not so much that makes the exercise of mixing useless. In fact it’s not called the “Mastering Suite” but the main mixing desk stereo output has a final destination (hee hee) set of effects to enhance the sound:-

Reverb
Delay
10-band equalizer
and the most important effect, in my opinion, is the Compressor!

Above: The virtual mixing desk and Master Audio FX. 

The compressor, if you don’t know, can make for a hard and loud sound without distortion. But I have to say that I don’t miss the full blown Mastering Suite because the sound coming from Music Maker Movie Score Edition is fantastic! Crystal clear! See screenshots for the Audio FX Rack and Master FX.

Above: Here are some additional "essential FX" stomp-boxes that include a guitar amplifier set-up, Vandal SE. There's also a bitcrusher effect unit too.

There’s also some addition stomp-box effects including the special edition Vandal guitar amplifier; yes, it is possible to record external instruments and vocals. The possibilities are vast!

VERDICT
I have to say it: Magix is the reason why you would want to invest in a good PC. Magix produces high calibre software that practically helps to keep the PC alive! Music Maker Movie Score Edition is no exception for the brilliant Magix legacy!

What’s there not to like about Music Maker Movie Score Edition? For the serious video maker it beats using a bunch of the royalty free (and freely available online) music. You can bring either a rough cut or the finished video into the DAW (digital audio workstation) and compose the music directly to the video. Or you can bring in video material and do a very basic edit – you don’t need flashy fades / wipes – and then compose the music!

Here are the video import and export formats:-

AVI                 
MXV              
WMV             
QuickTime

The beauty of Music Maker Movie Score Edition is that if you decide that you like the Magix multimedia ethos you can then purchase higher end software such as Movie Edit Pro or Video Pro X (see the Synapse Circuit Video Pro X7 review by clicking on this text) you are able to transfer between the software.

The price, £24.99, is unbeatable! I have to give Magix Music Maker Movie Score Edition a Synapse Circuit Platinum!
The quality of the results is superb! You can’t go wrong! If you are a serious video maker / producer you will find that Music Maker Movie Score Edition is a must if your goal is to feature unique soundtrack music; from minimal to epic compositions that would make John Barry proud! Think about it... You could pay up to £30 or more for a track lasting 2 minutes! This is an all-round no-brainer: you don’t need to be a musical virtuoso and you don’t need a whole lot of money!

Thank you so much for reading Synapse Circuit!

Expect more reviews, news, opinions, competitions and more from Synapse Circuit! 

TABLET AFTERLIFE SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

Above: The Tesco Hudl 2. Who would have thought that a supermarket giant would put out a pretty decent tablet, huh? I think it puts a lot of manufacturers to shame! You can pick one up for £99 these days! Here's the Synapse Circuit Hudl 2 review: Hudl 2 OK, it's got an Intel chip inside but it seems to do the business (for a change)...

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
IS THE TABLET DREAM OVER?
DOES THE PC STILL RULE?
Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! It’s awesome to see you as always! I thank you so much for reading my articles! And I hope that I have inspired you to take on some tech projects! The world of creativity is at your fingertips! Get stuck in! You will figure it out as you go along; you’ll be glad that you took the first step!

Did you abandon your PC for a tablet and didn’t go back? Do you think that the advent of the “phablet” has killed the tablet? What’s on your mind regarding the tablet? Are you planning on getting one? Read on!

#Tablet #AndroidTablet #iPad #Surface

FRUSTRATED
A couple of weeks ago I threw my ASUS Fonepad 7 LTE tablet across the room out of sheer frustration! I was using Facebook and the experience was sooooooooooooooooooooooooo freakin’ slow that I gave into multiple angerisms and through the air the tablet went! When it landed I was surprised that it was reasonably intact save for minor crack in the screen...

Look, I never expected for the ASUS Fonepad 7 LTE phone / tablet hybrid to replace my PC but to augment it but I never expected that running a rudimentary app that is Facebook would be so freakin’ frustrating. That right there is the problem for the Android tablet. I think so many companies are cutting vital corners in a bid to keep the costs reasonable. As I have said so many times: cutting corners on any device gives an overall negative impression and in the case of Android it has so many manufacturers representing it that I am surprised that Google haven’t pressed specific standards upon them. I have had my tablet for around 18 months or less and already it is obsolete. Before I cracked the screen I could have taken it to one of those computer exchange shops only to be insulted with a crap offer. I will still use the darn thing but no more Facebook (obviously). Despite my experience thus so far with the Android tablet I remain undeterred...
iPAD
Above: Unwanted iPad models. I think Apple should scrap an iOS based iPad in favour of OSX! Don't worry about creating the thinnest tablet in the world... Add the USB C type socket and Apple could be laughing all the way to the bank (again). Anway, from where I am standing the iPad is experiencing a backlash from dissatisfied users. Just look! 

Should I go iPad? Well, no. Why? I am glad you asked... Although the iPad is beautifully crafted and features some great apps I do think that it’s too pricey for what it is and that I may as well get a Macbook or something. Besides I am a PC person with so many darned PCs that I could perhaps create a little PC shop of my own!

App-wise I am not convinced still that the iPad is the best... I’ve said it a thousand times that there is very little that the Android tablet can’t do when comparing the two platforms. And, of course, I can do so much with any one of my Android handsets; the Google equivalent to Microsoft Office suffices. At the moment I am quite content to augment the PCs with my Android handsets and (crap) tablet.

But I would imagine that the iPad is powerful enough to take the place of a computer. We’ll get to the computer in a bit...

For many Apple enthusiasts the iPad mini impacted on the sales of the larger iPad and now the iPhone 6 Plus has practically knocked the final nail into iPad coffin. I have pointed out to you that these computer exchange shops can’t get rid of the iPad models fast enough! The iPad would make a whole lot of sense if it were competitively priced.

THE SURFACE

Above: The Samsung Galaxy Note 4. You're probably wondering why I haven't placed a picture of the Microsoft Surface here... The reason is to illustrate that I find it beneficial to use the Galaxy Note 4 for writing articles in Google Docs, sketching out musical ideas using Soundcamp and Caustic 3 and making notes with S Note that can be exported to PDF! 

I think that the Surface tablet – the pro one – is the pinnacle of the tablet concept. As I have pointed out many times before the tablet PC is a Microsoft concept that was scrapped as it was too expensive then (and now to a certain extent).

I really do not see where Apple is going with multiple operating systems and overpriced tech... Whereas with the Surface I don’t have to mess around with apps but make use of proper software! Yes, I am repeating myself... This is for the benefit of my new readership, so bear with me! The cost of the Surface Pro is quite steep. As a hardcore PC user it makes more sense for me to invest what I would have spent on a Surface Pro on a powerful kickass desktop PC – as much RAM as the motherboard can hold, massive hard drives and so on!

The PC is a solid workhorse that it needs replacing around every 5 years. And if you know what you are doing you can replace components or build a PC from scratch! And the reason why PC sales are in decline is simply because many households only use the PC for web browsing, social networking and emailing; you can do all that on a phone let alone a tablet. Certainly you are able to do word processing with Google Docs on your phone; Google Docs is just one of the productivity apps that negates the need for Microsoft Office with Slides (PowerPoint compatible); Sheets (Excel) and PDF Viewer. With the Google Cloud Print app you can print your documents with compatible printers. Cool!

Also, where I am concerned, I have to ask: Do I really need the power of the Surface tablet on the fly i.e. when I am travelling? Would I be better off with a laptop? And so far I am unable to say that I need a Surface Pro or laptop. The one big issue I have would be the battery life and the possibility of carrying a chunky power cable around with me... No!

ANDROID
Above: The HTC Nexus 9. I do like it... It's a grand looking 64-bit tablet but I think it's a tad too big for me... Why didn't Google do an 8" tablet? 

Yes, for me the Android tablet makes a lot of sense... Why? Well, I am noticing that the apps are getting so much better. I think that app developers are slowly but surely coming around to the Android tablet. I think app developers are afraid of two things:-

1. Apple would stop talking to them if they created Android versions of popular apps.
2. They feel as though the tablet market in general is in decline.

Above: Helio X20! Helio Kitty! I am just looking forward to the announcement of new phablets and tablets this year with powerful 64-bit chips inside. Mediatek looks like it's going to blow Intel mobile devices chips out of the water! The Intel chip inside my ASUS Fonepad is pretty horrific! I am beside myself as the experience is beyond disappointing! 

I, myself, feel that the tablet market in general is in decline but with the right specifications the Android tablet could make a sharp comeback! Android has hit the 64-bit mark and there are quite a few chip making companies looking to gain the upper hand. Enter MediaTek and the Helio™ X20 - the world’s first mobile processor with Tri-Cluster™ CPU architecture and ten processing cores (Deca-core). That bit of news shows me that things are getting better for Android in general – not like it was bad in the first place!

Once again, Samsung seems to be the only manufacturer looking to produce power and quality across the board. Other manufacturers need to follow suit to remain in the game let alone stay competitive. Us Android folk want power (at least to run what I call the base apps: Facebook; Gee Plus; Gmail; YouTube and so on), quality of build – the Fonepad pops to the touch that it feels like I am holding a DVD / Bluray case and affordability. As per usual I don’t mind the Samsung plastic builds just as long as I get the performance and a solid feel like it is with the Galaxy Note 2 and 4.

I think just before Christmas this year we should see some more formidable tablets from Samsung, NVIDIA, Huawei and possibly HTC. I like the Nexus 9 by HTC but I do like the smaller form. I thought that the supermarket chain, Tesco, did well with the 8” Hudl 2 tablet with front-facing speakers. Maybe Hudl 3 will feature a 64-bit CPU / System on Chip this year – that is if Tesco can arise from its financial difficulties at the moment.

Ah, speaking of finance... I think the idea that developers can’t make money from the Android platform is mute as a few months ago it was announced that the Play Store had surpassed the App Store in sales. Although there is piracy on every platform you will find that people will pay for good apps just as long as the price is reasonable. It is also a myth that developers have a hard time with Android as it caters for multiple screen resolutions... I would love to develop apps and may invest in a course at some point... Anyway, let me conclude...

CONCLUSION
Above: The powerful and underrated Samsung Galaxy Tab S! In my opinion it is better than the iPad. Of course, the choice is entirely up to you. I am quite sure that Samsung will release a 64-bit Galaxy Tab S later this year.

For my needs the Android tablet is the most effective way to compute on the go (I often travel at the weekends). It’s not only effective cost-wise but it has an appealing small form factor and I am able to use it as a sketchpad in that I am able to transfer the outputted files into powerful PC programs such as DAW (digital audio workstations), video editors and so on. I can also arrive at a finished article using a phone or tablet.

But I am very sure that the power-apps will come; at the moment the onus is on entertainment i.e. gaming followed by media streaming... Maybe the Android platform suffers a little from the reputation as inexpensive media consuming products... Hmmmm...

I think that the onus lies with the manufacturer to have some decent apps pre-installed that can make use of the power. So far, I see only Samsung making such a great effort with S Note, Video Editor and the remarkable DAW, Soundcamp. Yes, I know... ...it seems as though I am the biggest Samsung fan in the world but I have to give them credit where it is due! Samsung is on the ball!

There are a few things that I would like Samsung to do – seeing as I have a couple of Galaxy Note handsets (2 & 4) – is to enable me to create the following from its SNote application:-

1. Publish to Kindle eBook.
2. Publish to APK including video and audio.
3. Publish to Interactive PDF with video and audio.

FINALLY: IS THE FIRE OUT?
Above: The Google Nexus Player as realized by ASUS. I have to get one! 

I am referring to the Amazon tablets... It appears as though the fire has gone out of the Amazon tablet range. Do you have an Amazon tablet? Is it something you find appealing? I think that the Amazon tablet has lost its fizzle due to a number factor:-

1. Using a forked version of Android is not appealing – at least to me. I feel that Amazon would have been better off embracing Android from the start. As a result I think people are somewhat confused, “What kind of tablet is that?” “Is it Android?” Creating a device to act as a gateway to an online store is not a great idea. It’s pretty much like the cage that Apple has built for iTunes and the App Store. Why close an open ecosystem?

2. The advent of a growth in the smart TV streaming market! Why spend roughly £90 on a tablet to stream media to your TV when you can pay considerably less for something like Google Chromecast, Nexus Player, Roku, Now TV and, of course, Amazon’s own Fire TV stick!?

These smart TV devices could be having an impact on the Android tablet market too – especially as it is viewed by many as an entertainment device. Whenever I see people with a tablet on the street they are usually consuming media such as a video or busy mother’s will give under 11 year olds an Android tablet to keep them occupied.

Again, I have to say it; Samsung is the only manufacturer I can think of that is pushing the use of the tablet beyond an entertainment device. And considering that one of Google’s fortes is advertising I don’t think they are doing a good job in convincing the masses that having an Android tablet is vital. And come to think of it I am not seeing a great amount of advertising on tablets beyond Microsoft’s Surface! I have understood that the Nexus 9 hasn’t been a great success for Google and I reckon it’s because of the size; going from 7” to 9” is a pretty big jump for those who, like me, prefer the small form. Apparently, Google has no plans to release another tablet this year... Gosh! Maybe that is a good thing... Perhaps Google will concentrate on tablet app development and a thoughtful marketing campaign.

As a consumer all I can do is sit and wait for a tablet that’s right for me! What’s your ideal tablet?

Thank you so much for reading Synapse Circuit!

Expect more reviews, news, opinions, competitions and more from Synapse Circuit!