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

ASUS 64-BIT FONEPAD 7 SYNAPSE CIRCUIT NEWS

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
ASUS 64-BIT FONEPAD 7 FE375CL 4G LTE
$250

#ASUS #Fonepad7FE375CL #AndroidTablet #Fonepad7ME372CL #Android

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! I hope that you are well and that you’re making the most of your tech!

If you ever wanted an Android tablet I think that 2015 is the best year to get one! Forget what the analysts are saying about tablets on the decline; you will find that it is mainly the iPad in decline. The technology savvy Android consumer has been biding his / her time for a juicy 64-bit tablet! Read on!

THAT’S PROGRESS
The ASUS Fonepad 7 4G LTE ME372CL is what I used to replace a damaged beyond repair Motorola RAZRi handset. As this hybrid tablet and phone goes I am quite happy with the performance but not so happy to learn that I was not able to use the data part of a standard SIM; either I can make calls or just access the Internet with a specific tablet SIM. Boo! What a load of bullsquirt!

Anyway, ASUS has launched the sequel to the Fonepad 7 4G LTE... The 2015 version is a fantastic reworking of the design; the bezels are slimmer, the front-facing speakers appear like razor blades and the quality of the build looks better. The innards are looking good what with a 64-bit Intel Atom CPU running at 1.3GHz, 2GB RAM and 8 / 16 internal storage. Here are the specs in more detail:-

CHIPSET
Intel Atom Z3530 chipset with 1.3 GHz quad-core CPU and PowerVR Series 6 – G6430 GPU

OS
Android 5, Lollipop

SCREEN
7" 1280 x 800 pixel IPS display with 10 finger multi-touch support and anti-fingerprint coating

CONNECTIVITY4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS/A-GPS, GLONASS, and Micro-USB

RAM / MEMORY
2GB of RAM
8 / 16 GB of internal memory
Expansion: microSD card

CAMERA
5MP
2MP front

BATTERY
3,950 mAh

COLOURS
Available in Black and White

It could very well be that the Fonepad 7 FE375CL LTE will feature dual SIM slots. The launch as been for the Taiwanese market and there is no news at the time of writing about the global market. $250 works out to £162 in currency exchange but it could very well be that ASUS will charge something like £199 which is still a good deal.

I have to say that the Fonepad 7 LTE 2015 (FE375CL) does look tempting. And this is what I love about the Android side of mobile devices: I can easily replace the ME372CL model. It is not so easy with the iPad. Okay, fair enough, the iPad is in a different league... ...I appreciate that. However, looking at the Apple App Store I can’t say that I am looking with envy!

The Fonepad 7 LTE 2015 has potential to do well.

FINAL THOUGHT
I think ASUS are off to a good start with its 64-bit Android devices this year. The Fonepad 7 LTE 2015 will run Lollipop out of the box which is another bonus – especially for Android fanatics! So many new Android devices come with KitKat on it with a promise of a future upgrade to Lollipop. No! We want the latest from the start!

I am quite sure that ASUS will release the Fonepad 7 LTE 2015 globally as it gives the consumer a cost effective tablet and phone – if you like phablet devices! I do like the idea of a 7” phablet! It’s just a shame about the SIM situation in that you can’t use the data portion of it. As I’ve pointed out before, the best solution is to have a portable Wi-Fi (Mi-Fi) as and when the data is needed. Or alternatively if you have another handset as the main driver you could set it up as a Wi-Fi hotspot bearing in mind that some networks do not allow this. I believe that there are some apps that will allow you to bypass the network restrictions regarding data sharing.

I would like ASUS to produce a high-end Android tablet as it has great experience in tablet manufacture. ASUS have been making great efforts and it’s paying off!

THANKS FOR READING...

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

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

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

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT WHERE ARE THE POWER ANDROID TABLETS?

Above: The Archos 70 Helium 4G tablet. It is a great idea and it may have it the market too late. Archos tablets always showed great promise and perhaps that this year they can deliver a killer tablet to a critical acclaim that Archos deserves.

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

WHERE ARE THEY – THE POWER ANDROID TABLETS?

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! How are you? How are your tech related projects coming along? Well, I hope that all is well with you and yours!

Are you the owner of an Android tablet? Was it one of those cheap ones from China? Did it make you go iPad? Are you thinking of buying a tablet sometime soon? Read on!

#Android #AndroidTablet #Samsung #ASUS #Archos #MagixMovieEditTouch

WAS IT WORTH IT?
Yes, that’s right! I am talking to you! You, the person that spent good money or no good money on a sub £200 Android tablet! Was it worth it? Well, it is just fortunate for me that my ASUS FonePad 7 LTE is able to make and take calls and run the occasional app (sarcasm – and I know what they say about it, thank you) or two... However, when it comes to running apps that require some CPU power the FonePad 7 LTE transforms (see what I did there) into a very expensive table mat.

If you have been following my articles on Android in particular (yes, I write about other aspects of tech) then you will know that I have been frustrated with the lack of apps for video editing. Well, actually, there is one decent app that I know of that you ought to visit the Google Play Store and install Magix Movie Edit Touch! As you have figured out you will need a decent handset or tablet to make the most of it. Yes, there are some in-app purchases but worth it.



Above: Magix Movie Edit Touch for Android. You will need a decent CPU on your device to make this work! I had no problems with it on my Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Here's the link to the Play Store: Magix Movie Edit Touch
 
YES, IT WAS
Of course it was worth it! Although the ASUS FonePad 7 LTE can be sometimes be likened to using a banana for a hammer there are many apps such as music ones (I don’t play games) that function just fine. I have a phone too – even though I can’t use the data aspect of my SIM. Boo! It’s down to Android why I, and millions of others, have been able to utilize a tablet for consuming media and social networking. It has enabled parents of different backgrounds to entertain their child or children with a cost effective tablet that doesn’t break the bank. It’s great to see children entertaining themselves with the aid of a tablet. An Android tablet to be precise! Again, the iPad and its mini variant have not entered the mainstream; the iPad is not commonplace. And to be honest the Android tablet isn’t quite commonplace either.

Still, I know that many folk purchased an Android tablet in the UK’s first Black Friday!

NO, IT WASN’T
Playing Devil’s advocate I say that the cheap Android tablet is most likely to have given non-technical hopefuls the wrong impression. “I can play some 3D games! Yay!” No! Just like there are standards with the Android handset it is the same with tablets.

Some consumers had to learn the hard way! I must admit that I was taken in by the ASUS promotional blurb regarding the FonePad 7 LTE. I should have known better! Lol! But you do, despite all the promotional text, get what you pay for! The £60 tablet was never really a good idea was it? Still, at least you didn’t waste much money on it!

WHERE ARE THE POWER ANDROID TABLETS?
Over the years we’ve seen some great, great efforts from Samsung and ASUS in terms of aiming for the high standards that the iPad set. The Galaxy Tab S range came so very close. ASUS weren’t far off with the brilliant Nexus 7 tablets. Last year there was a slump in the tablet uptake and that’s because we are just waiting for these powerful 64-bit beasts.

Not only that, we’re waiting for a reasonable price point...

Samsung is at it again with several tablets lined up for this year:-

Galaxy Tab AS – SM-T351
Galaxy Tab AL – SM-T551
Galaxy Tab AS – SM-T350
Galaxy Tab AL – SM-T550
Galaxy Tab AL Plus – SM-P551
Galaxy Tab AL Plus – SM-P550
Galaxy Tab AS Plus – SM-P351
Galaxy Tab AS Plus – SM-P350

All are said to feature a 64-bit processor; I am very curious... I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to purchase a serious tablet and it could be a Galaxy Tab of some sort... ASUS is very quiet on the Android tablet front but are going to try to take a stab at the Windows tablet market with the Transformer Book Chi. Hmmmm... I think ASUS is working on a strategy with regards to its Android tablet or tablets; like Samsung they release many, many Android tablets to the market with varying sizes and CPU capabilities. It wouldn’t surprise me if ASUS made a loss on the myriad of those Android tablets.

What is the purpose of releasing so many Android tablets to the market as it may have a confusing effect upon the consumer? Why don’t manufacturers produce fewer models and up the quality of the entry range which is usually a 7” or 8” tablet? I do think that manufacturers should feature a mobile connection i.e. 4G LTE by default. I think it is such a waste of resources to manufacture tablets without a mobile radio (4G LTE & 3G). Really and truly 3G should be a thing of the past and that 7” 4G / 3G enabled tablets should be treated as a phone; the ASUS FonePad 7 LTE can make and take calls but most annoyingly I can’t access the data plan on my SIM. I would have to purchase a SIM meant for tablets. I think this is a load of crap!

Going back to ASUS... I know I keep harping on about the Zenfone 2 having a 64-bit processor and 4GB RAM for around $200... What can we expect from ASUS regarding its next generation of tablets? I certainly expect be able to utilize the Magix Movie Edit Touch app on one of ASUS’ level entry 64-bit tablet / PhonePad 7 LTE 2015.

IN CLOSING
Right now the tech media is going crazy over the imminent Samsung Galaxy S6 – rightly so. However, the Android tablet situation for this year and beyond looks very enticing indeed. Again, if you are non-technical and think that the “phablet” i.e. the Nexus 6 or the Galaxy Note 4 is a happy medium you need to have a rethink. There are very specific app designed for the tablet and you will not get the full tablet experience with a phablet. I have 3 phablets, Galaxy Note 2, 4 and Nexus 6 you would think that’d be pissed off that I have to buy a tablet (more powerful than the FonePad 7 LTE) but I am not. I am very much looking forward to owning a powerhouse Android tablet.

WHAT ARE THE MANUFACTURERS WAITING FOR?
I am quite surprised that the Android industry hasn’t delivered a knockout blow to the PC industry. I do think that it can happen; PCs seem pretty much redundant today. Look, we’re dealing with 4K video now and to do that on a PC you bought a few years ago you will almost certainly have to replace the graphics card and fit a faster processor – if the motherboard supports such recent components. I find PCs frustrating at times and I welcome a powerhouse tablet that would keep me away from the PC for as long as possible!

The iPad? Well, I can see that Apple doesn’t know what it’s doing... Jobs’ corpse didn’t have time to get cold before an iPad mini was announced and it diluted the 10” iPad market. Then, knowingly, Apple released the iPhone 6 Plus and that seems to have diluted both the iPad and the mini. I also noticed that the Apple App Store doesn’t have a separate department for the iPad. I could be wrong! Anyhoo, the Google Play Store has a growing tablet app department. With Lollipop, a 64-bit processor and 3GB or 4GB of RAM the Android tablet could really take off.

I also think that if the manufacturers concentrated on build quality and reduce all these different models I think they’d be able to produce better products. I shudder to think of all those cheap tablets that the shops can’t shift (until the next UK Black Friday). I think it’s a waste.

The Android market in general is a very changeable one as it just takes one chip manufacturer to develop the next best CPU and you have a killer product – potentially! Look at NVIDIA’s Shield gaming tablet as an example of an ever changing Android, the Tegra K1 processor is already old news and there are a small amount of applications able to utilize the powerful processor.

I ask: where’s Google? What’s Google doing about this? With Apple they make sure that the iPhone and iPad have a set of specific Apple produced apps as a base. Google on the other hand seem to be slacking in the app area. Sure, I know... ...we are blessed with Google Now, Maps, YouTube, Gmail, Docs, Slides, Sheets, etc. But we NEED more! Lots more! Sometimes I think to myself, “Why are you (Google) messing around with Glass and not producing some serious applications for the handset and tablet?” I do wish Google would step-up in the application department. I do respect that they have a lot on its plate but they need to concentrate on cementing the whole Android experience. Could it be that Glass experienced so much negativity because they have so many fingers in different pies? This is why Sundar Pichai has been given the reins of Android, Chrome and Google Apps as CEO Larry Page and Google co-founder, Sergey Brin can continue to explore other projects.

I am hoping that from here on out that Google can deliver a more rounded Android experience and especially where tablets are concerned.

Thank you so much for reading SynapseCircuit!

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

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT GOOGLE PLAY TODAY: IS APPLE APP STORE SO GREAT?

Above: Apple Play Store.
Below: Google App Store.
Do you see the similarities?

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
GOOGLE PLAY TODAY:
IS APPLE APP STORE SO GREAT?

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! How goes it? I hope that all is well with you and yours! Thank you so much for reading my articles last week! Much appreciated!

Today I was some (ongoing) research into the differences between Google Play Store and Apple App Store... Guess what I discovered...

#GooglePlayStore #AppleAppStore #Android #iOS

SIMILARITIES
Looking at both Google Play Store and Apple App Store I can see that they are very similar at a glance. Delving deeper I looked in the category of ‘Productivity’ to see if I could see anything that stood out from either store.

Remarkably, the apps on the App Store didn’t appear to be as advanced as I thought it would be. When it came to word processing, for example, I found that the two stores were equally matched; Docs (Google) and Pages (Apple) both achieve the same goal in producing documents mixing text and images.

As I keep harping on about, the one difference is that when it comes to video editing this is where the App Store has the slight edge in that the iPhone has iMovie preinstalled and there is also version available for purchase that adds more features. Again, the similarities continue with the amount of video editing apps that offer in-app purchases. However, manufacturers like Samsung and HTC have respective video editing apps of their own making that you won’t find within Google Play Store. I can only hope that Google will produce a video editing app at some point soon! It makes sense as they own YouTube!

Each of the stores has an abundance of games (that I don’t have time to play) and the overall category listing is quite similar too! However, Play Store has the edge in ‘Personalization’ apps to give Android a custom look from launchers to keyboards, wallpapers, icon packs, etc. That said, the App Store has the overall edge in terms of app quality. Some Android versions of iOS apps can be lacking in features and this could be down to the developers shifting from another platform; upgrades can bring these anaemic apps up to scratch. It took the Android Facebook app one heck of a long time to get to be as snappy as it is on iOS!

PREDICTIONS
As I have said, 2015 is the year of Android. All the major manufacturers are gearing up to release 64-bit handsets come March and tablets further down the line. As a result I am expecting a leap in the quality of apps. The games on the Android platform are proving to as financially lucrative as games on iOS. I predict that by summer this year Android games will edge out over iOS in terms of sales. I am going to stick my neck out and state that we’ll see many Android developers taking advantage of the 64-bits thus resulting in apps that appear more like computer software. We should be seeing an exponential leap in the quality of Android apps. We’ll get to understand what makes Lollipop so sweet!

And let’s not forget that Samsung has its own app store, Galaxy Apps, which will feature apps specifically for Galaxy handsets. I think that is a good move on Samsung’s part. Galaxy S6 launch is imminent and I am very curious as to what Samsung apps will compliment the hardware. We’ve already got Soundcamp on the Galaxy Note 4 for music composition and compatibility with IK Multimedia products that specializes in music interfaces and apps to assist musical composition. IK Multimedia has done a lot of apps / interfaces for the iPhone and iPad. The future for Android does look very good indeed – at least on the flagship end of the market. I am very interested in what 64-bits will bring to the mid to high-end Android handsets such as the Zenfone 2 from ASUS; will it be able to handle demanding apps with aplomb as you’d expect from the high end handsets? What will these demanding apps mean for non-64-bit handsets such as the Nexus 6 and Galaxy Note 4? Could it be that app developers will have to create 32-bit versions separately? We’ll just have to wait and see! I admit that many of my predictions in the past have been way off! Lol! But the deeper I get in this technological labyrinth the more accurate my predictions have become.

Quality Android apps here we come!

Thank you so much for reading SynapseCircuit!

Watch out for my follow-up on: ANTISOCIALNETWORKING: THE IMMATURITY OF G+ & THE HELLISH SCHIZOID AUTOMATONS...

You may be astonished! Ha ha!

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

A NEW SYNAPSE CIRCUIT WEBSITE IS ON THE WAY! 

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT ANDROID, iOS, MICROSOFT CYANOGENMOD: THE TRUTH!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
ANDROID, iOS, MICROSOFT & CYANOGENMOD: THE TRUTH!

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! How’s it going? It’s pouring down with rain here in London! I hope that all is well with you and yours! I also hope that you are making the most of your tech!

It seems that Google ought to brace itself for the coming attacks on the Android robots! Despite CEO, Larry Page stating that he’s not interested into Tech Wars it seems that the poor chap can’t avoid it no matter what he (and Google) does! Read on!

#Google #Android #Cyanogenmod #Microsoft #iOS #Tizen #OxygenOS #Motorola #Lollipop #OnePlus #OxygenOS

SPIDER-MAN 3
You are probably wondering, “Spider-Man 3??? What’s that got to do with Android, iOS, etc?” Well, right now Android is looking like Spider-Man in the Toby McGuire franchise – the third movie! Android is the Amazing Spider-Man and facing a number of foes: iOS could be Green Goblin; Microsoft – Sandman and Cyanogenmod is very much like Venom! Hahaha! All of a sudden it looks as though Peter Parker (Google) has a brought untold trouble to himself with his alter-ego, Spider-Man (Android). Will Spider-Man’s (Android) enemies reveal his true identity?

It seems to me that many tech “journalists” (sic) are no better than cheap tabloid writers in that they seem to thrive on sensationalism and half-truths! The headlines are so silly that I can’t believe that people would actually put their names and photos to these ridiculous stories! Okay, there is some truth in the apparent animosity towards Google / Android. They (Cyanogenmod) don’t like the control that Google exerts over Android and they would like to develop the Cyanogenmod alternative to Android. Fighting talk, huh? But Google have every right to make certain stipulations with regards to how manufacturers use its operating system. So, why the drama? While you are thinking about it here’s something more to think about...


APPLE: RECORD SALES & PROFITS
Although Apple has made record sales the fact is that it hasn’t made a dent to the Android market! Again, iOS and Android are two different markets! The Android market is substantially bigger than that of iOS and therefore iOS cannot win. There are articles that state the iPhone 6 Plus is eating into the Galaxy Note 4 market but this is unlikely. Why? Glad you asked! I think you will find that the US and European marketplaces are pretty much set in their respective ways: there’s a huge demand for the Galaxy Note 4 and there is also a huge demand for the iPhone 6 Plus! But here’s the trick: iPhone fanatics have been crying out for a bigger screen ever since the first Samsung Galaxy Note! The demand was always there! Some iPhone fanatics may have been forced to go Android i.e. Galaxy Note as Apple back then preferred to release propaganda videos about “Hand Science”... “We found that the thumb can go from here to here and there to there comfortably... The iPhone is build around your hand...” I am paraphrasing but you get the gist! So, I would imagine that there would be quite a surge in the US & European markets for the iPhone 6 Plus. But if you listen to those who have bought themselves an iPhone 6 Plus they are complaining about the state of iOS 8 and that many apps do not yet take advantage of the 1080p screen. Once again (yawn), in London the computer exchange shops are full of iPhone 6 and 6 Plus handsets! Oh, the computer exchange shops have an abundant supply of iPhone 5Cs in many different colours! Could it be that this is happening in Europe and the US – people taking their iPhone 6 and 6 Plus to the computer exchange stores out of disappointment and / or frustration? Maybe!



 It could very well be that the Android folk turning iOS are actually former iPhone users coming back to the fold. I also think that there are a number of technology lovers that have both an iPhone 6 Plus and an Android handset! Why not? But I honestly cannot see dedicated Android people just going over to the iPhone just because of a larger screen size thus abandoning Android. It’s just something I wouldn’t do! Why? Because Apple only makes Android stronger!

Now if you look at where the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is selling well it is in China. China is pretty much untapped territory for Apple and I would imagine that the affluent Chinese market have gone for the latest iPhone models in the way that a country will go mad for having a McDonald’s opening up for the first time! China has a huge population hence the great sales record for Apple! And once the Chinese market catches on with regards to the bugs in iOS 8, the fact that many apps do not scale and that the camera is pretty much lacking in comparison to flagship Android handsets the fascination could well and truly be over already! It could be that Apple has shot itself in the foot with regards to the sales of the next iPhone models! We’ll see!


ANDROID SALES HAVE DIPPED?
I am not surprised that Android sales have dipped and it is for the following reasons:-

1. These cheap and not so cheerful below £90 handsets from the likes of ZTE aren’t really worth the effort. And we all know why, right? C’mon! Add “crap” to the following: CPU, RAM and internal storage. Non-technical people have finally understood that cheap does not mean good!

2. I reckon there were two handsets that were hotly anticipated towards the end of the 2014 and those were the Galaxy Note 4 (three if you include the Galaxy Note Edge variant) and the Nexus 6! We have pretty much seen what the other manufacturers have done and the Galaxy Note 4, Edge and Nexus 6 are what many waited for. As you know I have both the Galaxy Note 4 and the Nexus 6! I was planning on the Galaxy Note Edge but...

3. The Android market is holding out for 64-bit handsets! Yes, I was a tad disappointed that the Galaxy Note 4 and Nexus 6 aren’t sporting 64-bit CPUs but I know that the qualities of these phones are excellent! I, like the rest of the smartphone world, am waiting for the complete lowdown on the Samsung Galaxy S6!

So, don’t believe the hype! 2015 is Android’s year! People say that Android 5 Lollipop is “buggy” but I have yet to come across any issues on my Nexus 6! Touch wood! Lol! But I can imagine that there will be some issues on the masses of Android devices out there! Upgrading to another Android version is not as easy as we would like! I am quite positive that some components of the Android used on Project Ara will be absorbed by the mainstream Android 5 that should translate into Android 6 Mud Pie(?) that should make it even easier to upgrade in the future.



Here’s a link to Motorola’s blog that gives you an insight to the upgrading process: Lollipop Issues

One day my little Moto G 2014 will let me know when I can download and install Lollipop! By then I it is possible that I would have moved on to the LTE version being released in Brazil (it will have Lollipop installed on it) or one of the inexpensive offerings from ASUS such as the Zenfone 2 with a 64-bit CPU!

Come March 2015 we will see a sharp rise in Android handsets!

THE NEXUS 6 IS NO iPHONE 6 PLUS
Thank God for that! Google recently stated that they have trouble meeting the demands for the Nexus 6... Hmmmm... Should I believe that? Let’s see... There are over 1 Billion Android handsets out there and out of that 1 Billion-odd what is the percentage of Nexus 6 users? Whatever that percentage is Lollipop doesn’t seem to have made a blimp on the Android user charts! KitKat still dominates on the majority of handsets out there and even then some of them aren’t the latest version, 4.4.4! But the fact that there are over 1 Billion Android users out there just shows me that the likes of Apple have made way too much over “fragmentation”! The fact is iOS is more fragmented in that iOS 8 run on an iPhone 4S and that those who have installed iOS 8 wished that they hadn’t! You don’t hear Cook and co talking about that issue! Of course not! What matters to Apple is PROFIT!!!! Apple doesn’t care about its workers or the environment and the BBC TV current affairs programme, Panorama, has exposed Cook and co for not being honest! The most honest thing that has come out of Cook’s mouth was his Gay declaration! Instead of the customary rainbow flag Cook is waving a black flag where the environment is concerned...

Watch Canadian documentary on corporations here: The Corporation
Watch the BBC news clip regarding Apple workers in China: Apple Exposed
You will see that nothing has changed from when the documentary was made in 2003 until now. Try and watch the Panorama programme on BBC iPlayer and what Apple does to the environment is shocking to say the least! I can only hope that other manufacturers are proactive in looking after its workforce and the environment! Any manufacturer can have a policy but it is something else to act upon it – practise it!

But going back to the Nexus 6... Of course it is no iPhone 6 Plus! It could very well be that Apple is making out that the demand for the iPhone 6 Plus surpasses that for the superior Nexus 6, Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge just to give the impression that they are winning but they are not (as I have pointed out to you before). I can believe that there is a high demand for the Nexus 6 as it is the best Nexus ever!

1. Lollipop; there are many people out there like myself that want to experience Android as Google envisioned it.

2. The Motorola design surpasses that of the iPhone 6 Plus.

3. There’s a 5.96” quad-HD screen that’s great for everything you do on a phone!

4. The front-facing stereo speakers; they are wonderfully loud and makes video watching a great experience. Listening to music is also a wonderful experience!

5. The 13MP camera is arguably better than that on the iPhone 6 Plus. I say “arguably” because each camera has pros and cons but a strong argument is 4K video recording and playback, 13MP is better than 8MP and when you take the time to take a good photo the Nexus 6 shouldn’t let you down!

See the Synapse Circuit Nexus 6 review if you haven’t already! Here it is: Nexus 6 Review

When the Google Nexus 5 came out it sold out in the UK retail outlets on day one! So, I would imagine that the same phenomenon is happening with the Nexus 6!



SOLD!
There is a reason why Google isn’t interested into being a handset and tablet manufacturer. According to CEO, Larry Page, Google is already thinking beyond the smartphone and tablet. Hence the sale of Motorola to Lenovo! What has to be appreciated is that Google has made the smartphone accessible to just about everyone with the Moto range! This trend is already being continued by ASUS – I am so curious about the 64-bit, 4GB RAM Zenfone 2 at $199!!! Or it could be that ASUS has another configuration for the Zenfone 2 that is $199 that does not feature 4GB of RAM. We’ll see...

Many tech writers / journalists don’t seem to understand that Google is in for the long haul when it comes to making profits. Yes, they have to make the Android operating system the best that they can in order for people to keep using it and to start using it! Android is the pathway to YouTube & Google Ads. Click on my Google Ads! Lol! Just kiddin’! I know that there are some people out there who are concerned about others making money! That’s so sad! Never mind! Anyhoo...

If Google had wanted to sell handsets they would have done so from that start and not made Android open source! Simple!


IN CLOSING: CYANOGENMOD & MICROSOFT
Yes, Microsoft has invested $70 Million in Cyanogenmod’s bid to “take Android away from Google...” but you have only got to look at the situation with Amazon to understand that this is never going to be as straightforward as Cyanogenmod and Microsoft would like! Amazon can’t even give its Fire phone away! It will be interesting to see how Cyanogenmod and Microsoft pans out... If Cyanogenmod manages to succeed in creating its own forked version of Android it may be of interest to tech-heads! I don’t know about you but if I see an advantage in other technologies I will invest in them! A couple of my handsets are running Cyanogenmod and it’s a good alternative to the official Android as I am able to keep these old handsets updated. One of the important features of Cyanogenmod is privacy and their efforts to ensure user privacy may force Google to take issue of privacy in Android more seriously.

Cyanogenmod certainly has its work cut out for them! They haven’t forged an alliance with OnePlus as OnePlus is releasing its own forked Android, Oxygen OS pretty soonish – I think! I am quite sure that Oxygen OS will still rely on Google Play Store! We’ll just have to wait for more information on that!

TIZEN?
If you look at Samsung’s Tizen operating system it shows great promise and can utilize Android apps. So, I am right about Samsung wanting to express itself without Google’s interference. Samsung needs to develop its own innovations and Tizen is the way to do it. It’s obvious that Samsung still wants to work with Google otherwise Samsung wouldn’t have gone to considerable lengths to make Tizen compatible with Google Play Store. If a Tizen handset offered something that I couldn’t get anywhere else I’d buy into it!

The next coming years will certainly be interesting for Google’s Android ecosystem. From where I am sitting, Android looks pretty much unstoppable; 1 Billion-odd Android users is a tough factor to compete with! Microsoft’s motive for backing Cyanogenmod isn’t a good one! Windows handsets haven’t gone mainstream as Microsoft would have liked. And as you know, they produced some Android handsets under Nokia which have discontinued primarily because Microsoft’s own forked Android didn’t work! I had intended to purchase one and install a custom ROM on it! But they are no longer on the market as far as I can see! Microsoft seems to have a lot of money to waste! It’s bizarre watching Microsoft throw money in any direction to be seen as a technological innovator again! Get your HoloLen goggles on! It’s fun for all the family!

We’ll just have to watch to see how it all unravels for Cyanogenmod, Microsoft and Google!

The Future of the Nexus programme...

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

A NEW SYNAPSE CIRCUIT WEBSITE IS ON THE WAY! 

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT THE FUTURE OF THE NEXUS PROGRAMME

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
THE FUTURE OF THE NEXUS PROGRAMME

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! How’s it going? I hope the weather is treating you well! It is freezing as I type! How are you getting on with your tech projects? Please let me know what you’re doing! Perhaps I can write about it!

Don’t you find yourself wondering about the state of Google? Do you think it can collapse under its own weight? Is it possible that they will go by the way of Microsoft? The Nexus 6 seems to be selling very well though!

#Google #Nexus #Silver #Android #64bitAndroid

NEXUS 6
You know my thoughts on the Nexus6 – I have one despite of the niggles that I found with it. I figured out to extend the battery life I’d just had to turn off the Ambient Display setting! All in all I thought that the Nexus 6 was a bold move on Google’s part! It looks great, it is undeniably premium and not that much of a leap from its predecessor, Nexus 5, in terms of price. And it clear that the Nexus 6 is the most technologically advanced in the Nexus handset series thus so far!

Android 5 Lollipop certainly compliments the hardware and was a clincher for me to finally go Nexus! Lollipop is by far the best version of Android and it can only get better!

SILVER
Either the Google Silver line of handsets were set to replace the Nexus line or add another line of Google’s pure Android experience. The idea was that any manufacturer can create a “Silver” premium handset by adhering to Google’s strict guidelines and by the looks of it these handsets were supposed to be the pinnacle with a 64-bit CPU cherry! And because Apple forced 64-bits on Android the transition to from 32-bit was definitely not the smoothest to say the least but it is not the slowest by any means! I think Google and the whole Android industry are coping quite well! The first Sliver Android handset was to come from LG and it was supposed to feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 CPU! Now that the imminent Galaxy S6 has revealed that there could be some heating problems with the Snapdragon 810 this could be the reason why the Silver line of handsets did not materialize (no pun intended on the Lollipop ‘Material’ concept) at the end of 2014. So, plan B turned out to be a massive Moto X 2014! I’ve no real complaints there! The Moto X design amplified for the Nexus 6 is pure sweetness! The Qualcomm Snapdragon 805, 2.7GHz CPU is very fast along with the Adreno 420 GPU handling the graphics it is pure magic! Lollipop features loads of animation as part of the interface user experience feedback which is an area that could cause lag as with older Android versions; there is no lag whatsoever!

The Nexus 6 was designed to not only outclass the iPhone 6 Plus in terms of design but to demonstrate that a 64-bit CPU isn’t everything! It true! The fact that the Nexus 6 (and Galaxy Note 4) aren’t running on a 64-bit CPU was not an issue for me at all!

Still, a Samsung representative did say that they were waiting for Google to deliver a 64-bit Android (around the time of the Galaxy S5 launch – if memory serves) and that makes me wonder why they (Samsung) didn’t have a 64-bit CPU themselves waiting to go! Samsung could have been the one and only Silver handset on the market! As you know, Samsung manufactures chips – notably for Apple! So, I don’t get it! While Samsung is the only company that I know of that can conceptualize a handset / tablet and get it to market so rapidly I would have thought that its Exynos chips would be waiting to dominate the Android world last year! I would imagine that Samsung have already developed its own operating system, Tizen, in 64-bits in anticipation, no?

EQUALITY
Many Apple based tech media sources have it that Android is “fragmented” what with the different versions – it’s not true btw! But are the different 64-bit CPUs from different manufacturers such as Qualcomm (Snapdragon), Intel (Atom), NVIDIA (Tegra) and MediaTek made equally? Oh, not to mention Samsung’s 7420 Exynos processor thrown into the ring! Do the different 64-bit CPUs mean that certain apps won’t be able to function across these different manufacture brand CPUs???? Is this a potential headache for app developers?

Take Android tablets as a prime example of CPU fragmentation in that you ought to know you can’t expect the same performance from a £80 device as one costing over £300! The NVIDIA gaming tablet, Shield, using the Tegra K1 seems to have very few games that can make use of the 64-bit CPU! The K1 CPU also features in the Google Nexus 9 tablet!

2014: THE LAST OF NEXUS?
Could it be that as 64-bit Android takes hold in 2015 it will spell the end for the Nexus line of products? 64-bit enabled Android devices means that consumers will be able to record Ultra-HD 4K (and possibly higher) video it will certainly mean that the Nexus devices cannot come without a microSD slot or two! I don’t think Google can get away with putting out another set of Nexus devices without a microSD card this year! And because of this U-turn Google might just phase out the Nexus line altogether and let the manufacturers deliver handsets and tablets designed for high performance usage with the intended Silver devices.

I think it would be a shame to phase out the Nexus line as the Moto series of handsets could easily be rebranded as Nexus! I would imagine that people would want different sized handsets to suit their tastes and the Nexus branding of the Moto series could hit that consumer sweet spot!

We’ll just have to wait and see what Google will announce this year!

Would you miss the Nexus devices? I think I will because the Nexus concept has been iconic in that Google have allowed the different manufacturers to shine and deliver cost effective devices to the consumer!


MOTOROLA? HTC? AGAIN???
If there is going to be a new Nexus line this year would you want Motorola to do another handset? I would want Motorola to come back and do another handset and perhaps with a removable battery! I can’t say, at this stage, that I would want to see HTC do another tablet! I have understood that HTC will announce new tablets at the Mobile World Congress in March and I am curious about those! But I do feel that Samsung and ASUS makes some formidable tablets and I would want to see them come back for the next Nexus tablet or tablets! Perhaps Google will give NVIDIA a shot at the Nexus tablet! How about Lenovo? Lenovo could create an interesting 64-bit tablet... Who knows what Google will end up doing? I am pretty sure that whatever has been decided that planning started towards the end of last year!

IN CLOSING: LONG LIVE THE NEXUS
I think it would be premature to kill off the Nexus devices as there is a lot of mileage left in it! Maybe the Silver programme has been scrapped!

One more thing... Former Motorola CEO, Dennis Woodside has stated that the reason why there is no fingerprint scanner on the Nexus 6, where the Motorola logo dimple is located, is down to Apple buying up the company that provided the best fingerprint scanning solution. But you know what? We don’t need a fingerprint scanner! I’ve said once, a hundred times and I will say it again:-

A fingerprint scanner might be easier than swiping a pattern to unlock or entering a password but imagine that you have had an exhausting day at a work. You then travel on public transportation; you use your handset to send an email, etc and you fall into a deep sleep as I have seen others do so many times... All a thief would have to do is ease your phone out of your pocket (if you didn’t let it fall out of your hands) and use your finger to unlock it. Simple!

Or you could be asleep at home and your child or significant other can have access to your phone! I find the fingerprint scanner on the iPhone silly for the reasons above. We just don’t need it on Android! Perhaps the fingerprint scanner is designed to add to the data collected on us for the purpose of snooping and what not! We certainly don’t need that!

Can Google end up by the way of Microsoft?

Thank you so much for reading SynapseCircuit!

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

A NEW SYNAPSE CIRCUIT WEBSITE IS ON THE WAY!