SYNAPSE CIRCUIT SAMSUNG GALAXY S8 AND S8 PLUS

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT 

SAMSUNG GALAXY S8 & S8+ THE THRILL IS GONE...

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! Did you have a good weekend? Have you calmed down over Samsung's great big reveal? Ha ha! Read on!

#Samsung #GalaxyS8 #GalaxyS8+ #Bixby #DEX

POST UNPACKED EVENT SAMSUNG GALAXY S8 & S8+

London, 02 April 2017 The thrill is gone for mobile phone press launches. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the recent Samsung Unboxing Event in New York on the 29 March 2017. But look: Deja vu?

PREMONITION?

Expectations management, that's the nature of the “leaks”. I get it. I understand. But these “leaks” detract from the impact of such a huge press event. Don't you want to be surprised?

The big reveal turned out to be the big confirmation. That said, I was very, very pleased with what Samsung has delivered. The Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus have gone down in history as the best designed smartphones ever! It's one thing to see the pictures and video of these awesome handsets, it's another to have it in your hands!

It's fairly early in the year but it looks like Samsung have won the Smartphone of the Year Awards already! It looks like the iPhone 8 is going to be pretty much the same.

The only point of disappointment, mild disappointment, is the camera setup. I was hoping for a dual camera or something different… But it remains to be seen what the camera app will bring to the table.

ON DISPLAY

By the looks of it, Samsung played it a little cool, a little safe with the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. Nothing overly spectacular in terms of technological advances that ushered in the Galaxy S4. Certainly nothing to tax the battery in the extreme!

The screens are set to 1080p by default and one has to manually switch to 2k. Some people seem to be upset with this default setting. But it makes sense to not have the display set to 2k when it's not needed. No doubt people will have the screen set to 2k all the time as this is what the standards dictate. However, I think it's a great idea to switch to 1080p to save battery consumption. You're not going to notice much of a difference when interacting with social media networks and surfing the web on the 1080p setting. Samsung calls this HD Plus.

I think many Android fans have it in mind that having continuous full on hardware power is best but when that power is doing nothing in the pocket then it's a waste. No doubt switching to 2k will be great for VR and 4k videos.

ALL HANDS ON DeX

If the price is right, I think that DeX will be a winner! Samsung had something similar to DeX in the form of a hub for the Galaxy Note 2 that for discontinued for some reason - possibly it was too advanced for it's time. DeX makes sense in this current era of inexpensive PC 1080p, 2k and 4k monitors.

Samsung have been in partnership with a few developers to take advantage of the version of Android that has been optimised for desktop environment. I would imagine that DeX could speed up the development of Android tablet apps. It's about time!

Should the DeX hub come in at under £200 then I'm sure that consumers will go for it in a big way! Can you believe that right now there are people out there with a Windows XP system that's struggling to be of any use? All such XP folk would need is a decent phone upgrade, the Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus and DeX. Problem solved! Yes, there are a limited range of apps optimized for DeX but that will change over time. I'm going to get DeX as I can envisage hooking it up to my TV setup for an even smarter TV experience.

MY EXPECTATIONS FOR THE GALAXY S8 AND S8 PLUS

It appears that Samsung is aiming the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus models at the average consumer that appreciates high-tech simplified and with sublime aesthetics to match.

There's enough power under the hood to please the hardcore hardware fanatics as the Snapdragon 835 system on a chip is one of the best there is. Samsung's own Exynos chip is practically the same as the 835!

While I don't think the Snapdragon 835 and the Exynos chips will smoke the iPhone A10 (and forthcoming A11), the respective performances won't have you thinking about the iPhone. I never think about the iPhone when using my Android handsets that includes the Galaxy Note 4 and the Galaxy S6 Edge. Premium Android handsets just do what they're meant to.

As a result, I'm expecting an all-round top performer in terms of camera, responsiveness and usability where apps are concerned.

SCANNERS

I'm not on about the 80’s Sci-Fi Horror Thriller. I'm on about the ways in which you can unlock the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus models. You've got the fingerprint reader at the back that has been awkwardly placed next to the camera lens; then there's facial recognition that's been a part of Android for a good while now, and, finally, the iris scanner! In a way I'm surprised that Samsung didn't throw in a voice recognition unlock for good measure!

If you ask me, it looks as though Samsung are trying to outdo the forthcoming iPhone 8 as it is reportedly coming with a facial recognition unlock. And Apple may have worked out how to put a fingerprint reader under the screen!

The Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus were rumoured to come with a fingerprint reader under the screen but once you have an iris scanner would you care for a fingerprint​ scanner under the screen?

The facial recognition unlock could work for specific functions such as DeX. But the safest way to secure the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus models is the iris scanner, followed by the fingerprint reader, and followed by a password.

REASSURANCE

I think that Samsung have played it relatively safe due to the unfortunate issue of the Galaxy Note 7 battery. As I've stated earlier, Samsung has walked a balance between gorgeous futurist aesthetics and superlative technological advancement that can freak out some users. Look, the iPhone is successful because it's simple (and some would argue that it's boring too).

Samsung has managed to achieve the best looking handsets in the world that's married to technological advancement wrapped up in the guise of simplicity. That's not an easy thing to do. Again, what makes Samsung's Galaxy series of premium handsets stand out is the Synapse Circuit “All-Round” factor that other handset manufacturers can seem to match. HTC is a prime example, great designs but the camera is truly lacklustre!

FINALLY… ARE THE GALAXY S8 AND S8 PLUS PERFECT?

Above: The price is right at £779!

I suspect that there will be some that'll say the speaker isn't as loud in comparison to other flagships. But we seldom use our handsets at full blast in public. And when you're at home the volume level is fine. Personally, I'd be more inclined to use a Bluetooth speaker to get more mileage out of music and video. At the same time, I would've loved to have seen Samsung place a set of stereo front facing speakers on one of their flagships!

The placement of the fingerprint reader is not the best; I'm sure users will learn to pick up the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus in a certain way that reduces smudging the camera lens - if they use it.

Is Bixby any good? Think of Bixby as a baby; it relies on people using it on a regular basis for it to learn and, consequently, get better. I'm going to give it a try. I think that the ability to control certain apps and the phone itself via voice commands is a welcome additional functionality. I also think it's a good idea to give it its own hardware button instead of making it activate through a voice command, “Okay, Bixby!” I'm sure that a voice commanded Bixby is in the pipeline. I'm quite sure that a voice activated Bixby could work on the bigger Galaxy Note 8 that features advances in technology to make a voice activated Bixby worthwhile.

I think that the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are pretty darned perfection! I'm after the Plus version!

Review coming soon…

Thank you for reaching!

Synapse Circuit/Blue Gene

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT RELAUNCHING SOON

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT 
RELAUNCHING SOON... 
NEWS
Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers!

It is so wonderful to see you all again after what seems like ages! What can I tell you? Stuff happens and has kept me from doing what I love doing which is write about Tech!

I just want to thank for continuing to read my articles in my absence! THANK YOU!

Whilst I have been away I have had time to rethink! Synapse Circuit will come back stronger!

Watch this space... The official website is being redesigned! I, Blue Gene, Synapse Circuit relaunch very soon!

All the best to you!

Blue Gene / Synapse Circuit

MICROSOFT ANDROID TO WINDOWS 10 CONVERSION SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

Illustration by Blue Gene 2015.

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
MICROSOFT ANDROID TO WINDOWS 10 CONVERSION

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! How goes it? I hope that you are on the up and up! I also hope that the weather is being kind to you! I know parts of Canada are harsh!

What’s up with Microsoft, huh?

#Microsoft #Android #AndroidToWindows10Conversion 

NO, MICROSOFT. NO!



I supposed you’ve caught wind of Microsoft devious plan to convert Android phones into Windows, right? Yes, apparently this is the latest from Microsoft in a bid to stay in the mobile devices market! But somehow I don’t think this is going to fly as most mobile device consumers are buying into a specific operating system i.e. iOS and, of course, Android.

Yes, I know that Microsoft is desperate to stay relevant but I think that this latest idea is pretty silly for the reason mentioned above.

YES, MICROSOFT. YES!



OK, so Microsoft has lost the web browser battle to Chrome, Firefox and Opera. Microsoft has only itself to blame. In fact I can attest to Internet Explorer rendering one of my computer systems inoperable. I had to format and reinstall. I HATE the Microsoft can allow for these stupid discrepancies with its operating system and browser.

Microsoft is also losing the tablet game too; Surface Pro is a great idea but too expensive for most people for it to become ubiquitous. If only more time was spent in developing the Surface and other Windows based tablets with a full version of the Windows operating system instead of the ill-fated RT version... I reckon that Microsoft could have introduced the Surface Pro at a lower price entry. Never mind...

And to be totally honest I think that Microsoft was wrong to buy Nokia; hardly anyone wants a Windows handset. You’d have thought that the problem would be a lack of apps in comparison to iOS and Android respective application outlets, right? No. The problem is that the Windows handset is trying to be like the competition and therefore it is at a distinct disadvantage. Microsoft is primarily a software company and to have such a wealth of experience yet squandering opportunities is such a huge shame.

Microsoft needs to do what it should be doing best and make software! Yes, Microsoft / Satya Nadella; make freaking software!

CULT

What Microsoft has going for it is the unanimous PC that resides in many, many households. It is true that this is slowly changing as many families are switching to the phablet and tablet rather than to buy another PC that will be outdated as soon as it is set-up. Most families these days want to surf the web and play the odd game or two. Gamers are going for consoles. However, there are still many out there that use their PC for productivity such as desktop publishing (written documents, PDF, photos, websites, videos, etc), music making, video editing and so on.

By comparison Apple computing is very much like a cult – a big cult! Hence the clever Apple retail outlets that looks like a cross between a church and a boutique. Microsoft has never needed to create such an impression as there are loads of retail outlets for the Windows PC. Anyone can go to a PC market and pick up parts and assemble a system. Microsoft was too fixated on making huge gains on the Windows operating system or systems if you include the NT version. Microsoft was too comfortable with the success of Windows and ensuring that Internet Explorer was the only web browser people used. As hinted at earlier, Microsoft released the most bug ridden products ever! And it certainly didn’t help when Microsoft kept trying to levy its own technologies for the web; it almost worked as I did get FrontPage – the equivalent of Dreamweaver for making Windows specific websites. How foolish of me! Eventually Microsoft got shot down with trying to monopolize the web and many of its products i.e. FrontPage and the equivalent to Adobe Flash faded into obscurity. It was as if someone got some pliers and removed the fangs from a vampire.

The one thing that Microsoft has got going for it is what they seem to be squandering... Software!

64-BIT ANDROID


If Microsoft is the Windows PC could be history! I think it’s just matter of time before either Chrome OS becomes more powerful and enables a higher standard of productivity than word processing or an Android PC enters the market. There is already an unofficial means of porting Android to Intel and AMD based computers; I am quite sure that Google are working behind the scenes on its own version of Android aimed at breathing a bit of life into outdated Windows based PCs. And I suspect that this Android version will work on the very latest from Intel and AMD.

What Microsoft needs to focus on right now is SOFTWARE! If you look at what Apple has done and continues to do is to buy out top notch productivity software in the areas of music, video and other areas. I am quite surprised that Microsoft hasn’t bought out some key software houses and put some oomph behind them! I can think of a handful of PC specific software houses that could do with being under Microsoft’s wings. I keep hearing of or reading stories that Microsoft is funding the likes of Cyanogen Inc but I am not hearing / reading stories about Microsoft buying up or investing in PC based software houses to keep consumers buying PC!

Microsoft can easily create software for the Android platform that people would want to buy! Again, I keep saying it but all Android needs are just a handful of decent applications that people will want to use again and again. In my opinion there is not much point in having an app store populated with a million apps if the majority of them are crapware. So, instead of trying to recreate the wheel in terms of hardware in the form of a Windows phone Microsoft ought to put out some unbeatable applications for Android. People will pay for good apps. These apps can also output to formats that can be read / understood by Windows. Microsoft can also do this for iOS too!

Similarly Microsoft can create indispensable apps for its Windows handsets to make people want to buy them. Apps that just can’t be had on iOS or Android but I fear that the ship has already sailed and nobody is really interested into owning a Windows handset as Microsoft dropped the ball when it comes to applications for the handset. All Microsoft had to do was say, “Right, gang! Look! We are not going to try and match iOS or Android application stores for quantity. However, we are going to blow them out of the water for quality!” It would have been so difficult for a massive multibillion company that Microsoft is to create app divisions for video, music, graphics, photo and web design applications. Had Microsoft done that I would have had a Windows handset from day one! But no! Microsoft didn’t have a strategy other than to get some device out there to join the pissing contest. That was bloody stupid!

I do think that Microsoft could get a huge amount of consumers if it decided to put some serious applications together for its own mobile platform. Applications can output finished results or be further edited upon the desktop / laptop. As it stands I am not going to convert my Android handsets to Windows. Microsoft really ought to develop quality apps for the Android platform, sell them at a reasonable price and in doing so it could have millions of users finishing off projects that started out on the Android handset on the PC. I am thinking about music and video editing especially. The first port of call for Microsoft is to create a PC font installer for Android; I would love to be able to use PC TrueType fonts on my Android handset without having to resort to rooting. C'mon, Microsoft! Stop messing around and pull your finger out! If I wanted a Windows experience I would resort to a Windows launcher! See screenshot below!



 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!!!

HTC = HATE THE COMPETITION SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

Above: HTC Chief Marketing Officer, Idris Mootee.

 SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
HTC = HATE THE COMPETITION

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! It great to see you as always! I hope you are well and that your tech is functioning without a hitch or glitch! Are you going to add the Apple Watch to your collection of gadgets?

Y’know, I have to admit that I concentrated on Samsung at the recent Mobile World Congress. I intend to catch up on the other contenders in due course and this evening I am going to start with everybody’s favourite, HTC. LMAO!

HTC’s new Chief Marketing Officer Idris Mootee called Samsung "a massive brand and enterprise", but said it “doesn’t stand for anything except for profit”. Here are my thoughts... Read on...

#HTC #IdrisMootee #Samsung #OneM9 #GalaxyS6 #GalaxyS6Edge

MARKETING STRATEGY





Top: HTC One M9 vs. Galaxy S6 Edge (bottom). Even though I would have loved Samsung to have put a set of front-facing stereo speakers on the Galaxy S6 I can't help but be seduced by this out of this world design that is the Galaxy S6 Edge. 

Yes, Idris Mootee is HTC’s new Chief Marketing Officer and he’s come out with a rather bizarre statement as above. Name one electronics manufacturer that is not in business to make a profit and I will be the first in line for a free gadget! If this is part of the marketing strategy to help sell the One M9 then I think Mootee is off to a bad start.

I think most people who love technology are fed up to the back teeth of battles between rival electronic / technological giants. What we want to see is innovative products at a reasonable price. No fighting talk is going to sell a handset (or tablet or smartwatch) if it is lacking in certain areas. And even if I wasn’t a Samsung consumer I can’t agree that it stands for pure profit as some serious hard work went into the design of the Galaxy S6 and especially the S6 Edge! Again, I have watched Samsung pull out all the stops to arrive at what I think are better products despite the non-removable battery and no microSD card slot (I’ve covered that).

Oddly, he has nothing but admiration for Apple...

“I think Apple has been quite successful – not quite, has been very successful, not very, has been super successful – in connecting people to something that’s just an electronic product. They stand for something bigger – bigger than the brand,” gushes Mootee.

To put it quite bluntly: it’s a load of parasite infested crap! I can see how someone in the position of a Chief Marking Officer would admire Apple’s hypnotic evangelicalesque manner in which they market its products but you just have to look up the kilt to see that there’s not much substance there. And you have to admire – to a certain extent – the huge mark-up on Apple products and more importantly – from a sales point of view – that people pay for them!

If you have read my interpretation of the Apple Watch keynote you know what I think of Apple’s products. What? You have it read it? Shame on you! Lol! Here it is: Apple Watch Keynote – a SynapseCircuit observation.

FOLLOWERS vs. LEADERS


Is it safe to say that the bigwigs Apple, Samsung and HTC (put them in your preferred order fan-folk) have pretty much torn up the rule book on marketing playing it as they see it. Apple was reluctant to go beyond a 3.5” screen and they had to succumb to the innovations that Android set – notably Samsung with the Galaxy Note – and come up with the 6 Plus. In the meantime Samsung and HTC developed a signature design for the respective flagships and stuck to it just like Apple has stuck to the iPhone design.

As a result of sticking to a design formula Samsung was seen as stagnant by many with the Galaxy S5 and now HTC are receiving the same criticisms for the One M9 not being radically different this time around. As you know, Samsung took the opportunity to do something about the designs with the “Ground Zero” strategy that has worked for them. You only have to look at LG and Motorola, as two great examples, to see that the Android market is chiefly about radical design as well as the innards that drive the devices.

Seriously, I thought that I would NEVER touch a Motorola handset again after the disappointing RAZRi; I found that after a relatively short while – something like 6 months – that the handset felt rather sluggish. The Kevlar material for the back had started to fry for no reason – it wasn’t as if it was my daily driver. But when the Moto series of handsets came to fruition I just had to get the Second Generation Moto G and, further on down the line, the Moto X inspired Nexus 6! The designs of these handsets are just sublime!

In a nutshell HTC has to radicalize the design of its handsets. By all means keep that beautiful looking front-facing stereo speakers but do something with the rest of the handset. The trouble with the industry – including Apple’s iPhone – is that rumours of a new established handset conjures up budding designers that post up concept art based on the original models that inspired them. In most cases these concept renderings are better than the actual handset. And if HTC (and others) want to keep the consumer sated from a visual point of view it has to forget the idea of a signature design. Will Samsung follow HTC’s and Motorola’s lead and produce a Galaxy Note 5 and / or S7 with front-facing speakers?



Just to reiterate: the Android market is driven by radical design. So, HTC, if you are reading this you can thank me by sending me a handset in the not too distant future! It also should be noted (no pun intended) that all the Android manufacturers have followed Samsung’s lead in producing a “phablet” as an alternative to the Galaxy Note. As I keep saying... Moooo! Oh, the cows have come home! If only I weren’t lactose intolerant... Anyhoo, I have yet to see a phablet that has the functionality of the Galaxy Note (1, 2, 3 and 4). So, these phablets should be dubbed “fanlets” as these king or queen sized handsets appeal to those that appreciate their brands. HTC can say what they want about Samsung’s innovations in TouchWiz but they DO work! Moooo! Ssh, cows! You CAN switch off certain Air and eye tracking functions in TouchWiz. I wonder if Samsung’s forced inhibition had them underplaying the Galaxy S5’s capabilities... I think so! I felt that Samsung’s introduction to the Galaxy S5 was very, very subdued compared to that of the pebble inspired Galaxy S3 launch! Samsung didn’t show off the Air and eye tracking functions in TouchWiz; functionality was played down to push the fingerprint sensor and the water and dust resistance.

This is a lesson for all Android manufacturers: SHOW THE FREAK OFF! Don’t give a crap about getting bad press as the majority of tech-press is iPhone biased – I have proven that! Read this: Digital Clowns – Apple Biased Based Mediathinks you’re an iDiot. At the end of the day the press launch isn’t just for the media... Uh-uh! The press launches is for the fans! They will watch a live stream and make up their own minds. It’s Samsung’s press launches that has gotten me familiar with the handset even before I’ve gotten my hands on it (as a consumer and reviewer). Of course, other manufacturers have piqued my interest too! I want to know if the quality of the ZenFone 2 camera is as ASUS claims! I want to know what 4GB on an Intel based 64-bit handset means!

Instead of making odd statements HTC has to go to town to sell its concepts to the consumer. This brings me to another... Mooo... Bugbear with HTC...

THE (SMARTPHONE) CAMERA


The smartphone camera has taken out the pocket camcorders to the point where I can’t remember a single brand... I have one on the tip of my mind but that’s the whole point: pocket camcorders are history! As smartphone cameras are becoming better in terms of the mega pixel count, lens, flash and software the digital camera market has had to up its game. And, as you know, the quality of the results varies between the handset manufacturers. I have to take my hat off Apple for sticking with 8MP for so long and giving the user quality results each and every time. No, I don’t hate the iPhone or Apple – new readers – if that’s what the consumer likes then that’s his or hers freedom of choice. I just don’t like the ethos coming from it (Apple).

As a Samsung consumer I have found that its cameras in the Galaxy S1 up to the S5 very, very pleasing. I think that the results are better than that of the iPhone; most reviewers appear not to use the different camera modes when comparing to the likes of the iPhone, etc. But in my early days as a reviewer I posted up some stunning – in my humble opinion – pictures and videos from the S2, S3 and S4 online. More to the point I have gotten a number of HTC handsets as a second driver (just so you know, I keep a number of handsets on small contracts so that I can review handsets by removing the SIM from one and into the review unit without any hassle). I had the Hero and coming from the Nokia 95 I didn’t think too much of the camera as I was using a dedicated digital camera.

It took the Galaxy S and S2 to convince me to leave my digital cameras at home! I was and still am stunned by the quality I get from the Samsung Galaxy cameras. Then I got an HTC Desire before reviewing it as I assumed (never assume) that I was going to get a decent camera with it. Uh-uh! NO! The quality of the HTC Desire pictures had more grain in them than Uncle Ben’s or a packet of cereal. I told myself not to go HTC again... However, I didn’t listen to myself and was suckered by the HTC One X advert that had some fashion designer taking a picture of a model through the unusual method of skydiving. The camera was an improvement but the grain was persistent and video was jagged – you’d have thought that I had consumed way too many energy drinks the way the video was jumping. As a result I don’t bother to take important pictures with the One X; I tend to use the One X to update my social networks. If I am going to make an effort to take pleasing photos I bring out my Galaxy S4, Note 2 and Note 4. Sometimes I would use the Moto G Second Generation as that’s surprisingly good and my Nexus 6 which is reasonable when I take the time as I find it less immediate than my Galaxy handsets.

So, even if I wanted a change from Samsung to experience something different HTC is not up there on my list – not even in the top ten! When I heard that HTC put something called “Ultrapixels” that turned out to be 4MP I knew that the quality wasn’t going to be want I wanted. I am not going to get a premium handset that puts out bad quality photos. It is that simple. At the moment I would rather resort to using a pinhole camera – the kind they used to get you to make in school projects – than take a chance on a HTC handset camera.

IN CLOSING: SUBSTANTIATE


Substantiation is the first port of call in marketing; as a manufacturer it is not enough to, let’s say, make a shoe that is made from cardboard and telling the consumer that it is great as long as you don’t wear it in the rain. You have to make sure that your products can compete. And this is what I want to see... Sometimes the verbal exchange can be mildly entertaining but really and truly it comes down to one thing: putting a product(s) that is worthy of being on the marketplace.

I can live with a tried and tested design signature as it has been with the Samsung handsets but if the hardware isn’t up to much I can’t do anything with it. HTC has got to start thinking seriously – if it hasn’t already – about its camera technology. HTC should think about people like me who are loyal to Samsung because of the camera results alone! Forget this stupid bitching about TouchWiz “lag” as it’s not going to kill me if I have to wait a millisecond for an app to launch! But hey, even with the help of CyanogenMod’s custom ROM for the One X it feels like an eternity waiting for an app to launch when I tap an icon. The Galaxy S2 is more fluid in comparison with the equivalent CyanogenMod custom ROM (based on KitKat). HTC must – if it is to survive – deliver an all-round experience.

And when it comes to marketing HTC have got to do better than the incoherent adverts that features Robert Downey Jr. People need to know what the advantages are. Just look at how Samsung sold the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge by showing a low light picture and video result compared to the iPhone 6 Plus: SOLD! People can talk crap about the Galaxy S6 / S6 Edge being an iPhone clone for placing the headphone jack and speaker grille at the bottom but I am having one!

HTC have no one to blame but them for not being able to compete. Good luck to HTC if it doesn’t want to see Xiaomi as a competitor and that its rise to the top of the Chinese market will be short-lived. The proof is in the pudding as they say. If HTC aren’t careful Huawei is there waiting to crack at least the UK market as we get the low and mid range handsets from them. Again, ASUS and the ZenFone 2 and ZenFone Zoom could cause some damage to the HTC market share. HTC might want to join Tim Cook in cloud cuckoo land but at least Apple has created an ecosystem around the Mac computer and iTunes; the iPhone is a gateway to iTunes. HTC has none of that. HTC needs to get some sense! Wink, wink!

Competition only makes the market stronger as manufacturers have to up ante; I hope HTC can make a comeback.

Thank you so much for reading Synapse Circuit!

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ANDROID WISHLIST 2015 SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
ANDROID WISHLIST 2015

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! It’s wonderful to see you as always! I hope that you’re well and making the most of your tech! I also hope that you are wrapped up warm in this chilly period! Don’t catch a cold!

Oooh! It seems that I was right for a change in that NVIDIA has just announced its Shield Read on! It’s a living room device capable of 4K playback and capture at up to 60 fps video including Android TV! The Nvidia Shield can run both local, and streamed games via its Nvidia Grid subscription based game streaming service, up to 1080p at 60fps! At $200 it’s great for gamers (I can’t play games for toffee) and great for media consumers! Would I get one? I am not too sure... I am still waiting on the Google Nexus Player to see what that’s about... I have ideas / wishes / wants for Android this year... Read on!

#Android #Applications #Androidbox #AndroidPC #AndroidTablet

1. ANDROID PERSONAL COMPUTER
Above: My Androidbox which is really an Intel Next Unit of Computing kit. But it could happen!

Let’s face it, the Windows PC is practically on its way out. Essentially my Galaxy Note 4 has a great deal more to it than my current PCs. For a start I can capture 4K video and edit it with the Samsung Movie Editor app whereby I can download many themed movie templates. To edit 4K video on my PCs would require some upgrades! I have been thinking of about bypassing the purchasing of another PC for an Android PC instead.

The truth is that Microsoft is at a crisis point in that it doesn’t know whether it’s coming or going. So many $ Billions wasted on the Windows RT operating system where there was no call for it. Who’d want a tablet with a half baked operating system, huh? So, a bunch of Surface Windows RT slates was wiped clean just like that! I remember speaking to a representative of a well known PC manufacturer about a Windows RT tablet and when he told me how much it cost, £600-odd, my jaw almost hit the floor! I knew it wasn’t going to fly as you may as well be using a decent skinny laptop with a full version of Windows and some real software applications! The Surface Pro is a great idea badly implemented; had Microsoft used the wasted $1.2 Billion on a cost effective means of delivering a decent tablet with the full Windows OS it would have kept them (Microsoft) in the mobile device picture. Apple laughed at the Surface RT & Pro saying that “it didn’t know whether it was a PC or a tablet...” But that’s just it: a tablet IS a personal computer! And that’s where the iPad has stumbled because a) it has yet another operating system to contend with and b) cost-wise it makes more sense to get a Macbook Air rather than get a new iPad each year.

Android, as I have pointed out many times, does not suffer from any of the above; it is not a secondary operating system to a bigger one and there is a great choice for the consumer. I was looking at Intel’s Next Unit of Computing Kit and while I think it’s a great idea it works out to be expensive to get something worthwhile! Bah!

Enter the <insert manufacturer> Androidbox. What is it? Glad you asked... Essentially the Androidbox is a little computer that’s around height of a shoebox and half the length. It features a 3 – 4 USB 3 ports, 3 HDMI ports for TV, computer monitor and auxiliary device such as a Bluray player for example. Then there’s a speaker out that can connect to 2 way or 4 way set-up and microphone. Oh, you have a remote control unit for Android TV and games plus a keyboard and mouse input.

From the Androidbox I am able to cast to any screen with the Chromecast dongle for when I am not using the Androidbox as a computer.

I’d also be able to use Chrome OS when browsing the web and access the Chrome apps.

The CPU within is the NVIDIA Tegra X1 with 6GB RAM, a decent SATA hard drive (500GB) or solid state.

All of the above for around £350? Yes, why not?

2. SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS

Above: Magix Music Maker Premium 2015 for the PC; it could be ported to Android. 

Although the state of Android apps is getting better with some top players developing some powerful applications Google Play is still full of Mickey Mouse apps! What I mean by that is that they are silly apps that have in app purchases to make the application worthwhile. I would rather shell out for all that I need one time! One big player behind some potentially great apps is Magix! Magix are pretty big on the PC front hand have created a couple of decent apps for Android (and iOS) in the form of Movie Edit Touch and Music Maker Jam. I think now that the age of 64-bit Android is here Movie Edit touch should be able to handle 4K video editing. Samsung’s Soundcamp music composition application that can only be, for now, found on the Galaxy Note 4 shows that porting Magix Music Maker app is possible! I would love to see a version of Music Maker for Android. I would also love to see Synapse Audio do a version of Orion Studio for Android too! While we’re still talking about music I would love to see VST instruments and effects ported over to Android; gosh that would be something!

I would also like to see more powerful applications for desktop publishing – including web design. Android should be able to utilize PC fonts without first having to be rooted. It’s time for some decent web design applications; imagine being able to design a website while you’re travelling on a train... Wow!

We need powerful software applications as opposed to these myriad of crap apps that promise a lot and fail to deliver in spectacular fashion.

I feel that we haven’t yet tapped into the awesome power of Android.

3. POWERFUL TABLETS


Above: "The ARCHOS 101 Magnus Plus Plus, by combining it’s ultra-efficient quad-core processor and Full HD IPS screen with 128 GB of storage, this tablet is an HD media and gaming powerhouse. Amazing battery life and a stylish aluminium casing with dual-front speakers puts this tablet at the top of its class." Okay, but where's the 64-bit processor? Why is it running Android KitKat? Hmmmm...

At some point I would like to jettison my PCs. It would be great if I could just install Android OS instead of Windoze – I am sure it is going to happen someday. Hopefully someday soon! Again, I would be able to keep the VST instruments and effects that I have amassed over the years. Well, we can use JPEGs, PNG, GIF, WAV, etc so I do think that porting VST instruments and effects to Android is just a matter of time!

Anyhoo, I am still after a decent tablet and I reckon this is the year! We have seen some sterling efforts from Samsung, ASUS, NVIDIA and Sony – to name a few. And now it’s time to take the tablet beyond the power of the iPad once and for all.

We really should be doing much more with the tablet besides surfing the web, consuming media and social networking. Oh, not to mention making the odd voice and video call every now and then. If I am going to buy a tablet this year it has to be pretty decent one!

I can’t wait to see what Samsung, ASUS, NVIDIA, etc come up with regarding 64-bit tablets. Archos and Acer keep promising to deliver a substantial tablet but end up being a few steps behind – I feel frustrated on their behalf as they have some great ideas but not the power to back them up!

How can I forget Lenovo? I feel that they (Lenovo) have some great designs and features but the CPU doesn’t have the power to make the user interface a smooth experience. And that is the story for many Android tablet manufacturers: not enough processing power and RAM.

C’mon! Let’s have it!

Thank you so much for reading Synapse Circuit!

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

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

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

IVE IS HYPE SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

"And the hype completes the deception..." 

 SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
WADING INTO JONY IVE’S ARGUMENT WITH MOTOROLA

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! How are you? As always I hope that all is well in your world and that your tech is functioning as it should! Are you enjoying the Lollipop upgrade on your Moto G 2014? I certainly am!

Speaking of Motorola... Have you read Jony Ive’s thinly veiled attack upon the Motorola ‘customize it yourself’ concept?

“Their value proposition was, ‘Make it whatever you want. You can choose whatever color you want,” Ive said. “And I believe that’s abdicating your responsibility as a designer.” Jony Ive

Here’s what I think...

#Motorola #RickOsterloh #MotoX #JonyIve #ProjectAra #Design

THOSE GUYS
Huh, huh... Yes, those guys over at Apple love to talk up a good fight and fall short – seriously short – of delivering the goods. The philosophy at Apple is, “Show me the money!” Cook’s syrupy sickly sweet tones are just another way of saying, “Cherching!” <The sound of a cash register> Treat Apple customers mean (by these jacked-up prices) and keep them keen! Yet Apple comes across as a New Age religion heralding the future... It is such an odd thing to see iPhone users lining up outside an Apple store faithfully to receive communion.

The truth is that Apple is a laughing stock in terms of technology and design. I will tell you why in a bit... Hold on!

LEGACY
Once one is labelled a guru one can either be humble and set the standards or feel the need to smite those that dare to sing from another hymnbook. “Me! Me! Worship me!” Another way of looking at Jony Ive’s outburst is that once he is done with Apple or vice versa he’s not going to leave much of a “design” legacy. The truth is that the iPhone is super-bland in its appearance; at best it looks like a device that came from a 1960s Sci-Fi movie or from the 80s Buck Rogers TV series.


Ive is supposed to be a “designer” but the iPhone has stayed practically the same from the first to the latest – just a little elongated! To me that is not what design is about. I think Samsung learned this the hard way with the Galaxy S5. They tried to make a design signature by making minimal changes from the Galaxy S4 to the S5 and, from where I am sitting, it didn’t work out as Samsung envisaged. Again, the LG G3 was able to stand out from the blandness with a great looking design. Yes, HTC did great with the One M series aesthetics but the cameras were a disaster! And, as you know, Motorola put in a sterling effort with the Moto range and when it introduced the front-facing speakers the design went from very good to awesome!

Ive’s comment about Motorola allowing the consumer to choose colours and materials for the back came across as idiotic! The basic Moto X is just gorgeous as it is – I should know as I reviewed it. Being able to specify colours and materials such as leather for the back is being able to personally decorate the cake! Check out here: MotoX 2014 Review.



So, in my most humble opinion, that’s what design is all about... ...it’s about giving people a choice! The base Moto X 2014 is simply awesome and to have the ability to customize it is sublime! If Ive’s take on design is to not give the consumer a choice then why release the iPhone in a couple of different colours? Jony says, “Here’s the bloody iPhone! Take it or take it!”

That’s not a legacy I would be satisfied with if I were called a “design guru”.

ARASTED DEVELOPMENT
Another technological design concept that is going to squash Ive’s iPhone into a tiny footnote (if he’s lucky) is Project Ara! Now if I were a designer I would have wished that I had came up with that concept! Put simply: Project Ara has the capacity to change the smartphone world! No matter how many times Cook and co utters the word “fantastic” in the direction of the iPhone it is never going to take away from the fact that an Ara phone goes beyond superlatives. When Project Ara goes global it will most likely eclipse any smartphone sales record. It just so happens that I have 9 Android handsets and I would want an Ara handset in addition to my Moto G 2014, Nexus 6, Galaxy Note 4, etc.



No, I am not a handset nut! Pardon the technical term... ...I just don’t see the point of reselling old handsets as I am never going to get true value from it. I would rather use the old handsets as experimental units for rooting and installing a custom ROM, etc. It’s always good to have a spare! Wink, wink...

In any event I do think that Ive is overrated as a designer. It’s Android that’s paving the way for design developments as all the OEMs want to differentiate from the other. Also the Android operating system itself allows for OEMs to design handsets (and tablets) that pushes the envelope of what Android can do! I mean the Air Gestures, Multi-Windows and S Pen from Samsung with the Galaxy Note series is just amazing! I love that you can operate the Moto X with voice commands without touching it!



The iPhone is not only bland in appearance but the iOS operating system is uninspired. Ive must know this deep down inside as he – along with Cook and co – keep trying to slate the competition.

APPLE WATCH
Just one look at the Apple Watch design tells me that Ive isn’t much of a designer. The Samsung Gear S and Moto 360 are two fine examples of a smartwatch! All that Apple is doing at the moment is to smooch up to the fashion circles to get consumers to believe that the Apple Watch is a desired fashion item. It’s not!



And this is what I appreciate about the Android (and Tizen) based smartwatches – they sell themselves. The OEMs don’t try to sell you on fashion; they sell you on the functionality. I predict that the Apple Watch is going to stink once users figure out that they’ve been short-changed. The Apple Watch design is so, so bland. I can almost guarantee that the functionality will be hugely disappointing hence the need to hype it as a fashion item. No doubt that the parishioners of the Church of Apple will line up to get one to complete the set. But the other guys have such a great choice in smartwatches! Once again, when it comes to smartwatches it is Android that leads the way in design. Tizen too! As Tizen works with Samsung Android handsets it’s still an Android experience. I do appreciate with the Gear S that I don’t need an additional handset to make call.

VERDICT
Jony Ive is more hype than designer. Apple is good at designing hype. But to be fair, a lot of people buy into hype over substance. Not me!

Thank you so much for reading Synapse Circuit!

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

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

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