SYNAPSE CIRCUIT APPLE TALK 11 KEEP CALM iPHONE 6 AND iPAD AIR

CEX CHANGE: iPhone 6 and Plus.

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
APPLE TALK 11:

APPLE...
...KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON!

What’s going on with Apple? Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! I hope that all is well with you and that you are making great progress with your projects! Send me a link via G+! I am very interested in what you are doing!

Do you know what to make of Apple these days? Me? I am not so sure... I know, I know... ...you as an Apple fanatic is thinking, ‘Let the Apple bashing begin...’ But I can honestly say that I don’t get Apple at all. Here are my latest thoughts on Apple...

#Apple #Samsung #Google #SteveJobs #TimCook #iPhone6 #iPhone6Phablet #iPhone6Plus #AppleWatch #GalaxyNote4 #GalaxyAlpha #GalaxyNoteEdge #GalaxyTabS #Nexus9 #iPadAir2 #iPadMini3

PRETENCE?
As someone who appreciates technology I can see that the latest iPhones aren’t as advanced as expected. As someone who appreciates design I can see that the iPhones aren’t exciting where design is concerned. Believe it or not I am always looking for a reason to buy into other competing technologies outside of Android and I’ve yet to see an iPhone, BlackBerry and Windows handset that make me say, “I must have this!” One of the Nokia Windows handsets almost had me there!

I UNDERSTAND...
Yes, as an Apple fan I expect you to upgrade your iPhone despite the lack of advancement – barring the 64-bit processor – that is prevalent upon the Android platform. C’mon, whether you hate (and ‘hate’ is a strong word) Android and the various manufacturers you have to admit – at least to yourself – that Android handsets and tablets are better designed and the technology is constantly getting better what with 64-bit processors coming to Android devices this year notably the Google Nexus 9 tablet manufactured by HTC! Just looking at the high-end Android devices from Samsung, Motorola, LG, HTC, Huawei, etc you can see instantly that so much work as been put into the design of such great handsets:-

Galaxy Note 4
Nexus 6
Moto X 2014
Ascend Mate 2
G3
One M8

BUT IF YOU HAVEN’T BOUGHT INTO APPLE...
In other words you don’t have a MAC computer and you want to own what is arguably the “best” easy to use smartphone in the world and you’ve opted for the iPhone 6 range. Upon closer inspection you notice some discrepancies that you can’t tolerate and that’s why you’ve gotten rid of it. Discrepancies such as the cheap feel of the build – it doesn’t look or feel “premium” and the problems that have come with iOS 8.

UNPRECEDENTED
These are austere times and we can forget this fact upon the release of a new device. We quickly jump on the bandwagon and it quickly becomes apparent it’s a device one can do without, so it’s ‘Hello pawnshop’! And, of course, we sometimes purchase a device only to discover that it’s a disappointment.



 However, it is unprecedented that there are so many iPhone 6 and Plus models in the Computer Exchange stores in London. A few weeks ago I got a shock to see so many on display! Only days after the iPhone 6 models were available in the Apple stores many of them have ended up in these secondhand / pawn shops!

What’s going on? When I read and watch the reviews on the iPhone 6 models the reviewers seem less than satisfied with the overall experience. Reviewers all seem to be saying that the best improvement is the battery, camera and media consumption on the bigger screen. And when the iPhone 6 Plus is compared to the Galaxy Note 4 many reviewers foolishly state that the multi-screen functions is “difficult” compared to the simplicity of the way the iPhone works. Seriously! What was the point in such reviews? The Galaxy Note 4 is so very easy to operate that you must have had a lobotomy to not be able to figure it out! These so called reviewers mask out the negatives of the iPhone 6 models by creating problems that do not exist with the competition i.e. (the aforementioned) Galaxy Note 4. Sure, when it comes to the quality of the iPhone 6 camera it may still hold its own against the premium Android handsets but in some of the tests that I have seen the reviewer doesn’t appear to have used the camera functions / settings on the competing handsets beyond HDR. Again, the iPhone biased reviewers concentrate on the iPhone 6 and Plus cameras to mask the fact that the competing Android handsets have more to offer all-round! For example, the S Pen on the Galaxy Note 4 makes it one of the most versatile handsets on the planet! The Galaxy Note 4 goes beyond being “big”.

iPAD UP IN THE AIR
Just last week Apple announced the iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3 and the iMac with the 5K Retina display! I can understand why Apple felt the need to whack a whopping 5K on its new iMac because “Retina” had lost its value where the Android premium handsets and tablets are concerned; a 5K screen is one way to try and revive the Retina concept.

The notion of “Retina” on the iPad mini 3 seems like a waste of time as does the iPad Air 2 for the simple fact that the iPad has lost its commercial appeal; people aren’t in a hurry to replace their old iPad models because it’s not necessary. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it! The latest iPads doesn’t bring anything vital to the proceedings! This is one reason why the iPad market is in decline.

Other reasons for the iPad tanking is that it cannot compete with many ranges of Android tablets on the market today – some of which offers 4G LTE at such an affordable price! Some 7” Android 4G / 3G enabled tablets allows you to make and receive phone calls! Gosh!

And for the Apple fanatic, the iPhone 6 Plus will certainly eat into iPad sales! I would imagine that the money saved will go towards the iMac! It makes sense to me!

Then when you look at the overseas emerging markets i.e. Third World countries the iPad just isn’t cost effective and loses out to Chromebooks and cost effective Android tablets!

It remains to be seen if the iPad will find a new lease of life as a business accessory as some of the Android tablets have.

There you go!

That’s something to think about!

THANKS FOR READING...

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

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

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

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

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT APPLE TALK 6 THE GREAT DIVIDE

Above: The iPhone 6 & 6 Plus. Very nice looking!

Above: The Apple Watch.

  SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

APPLE TALK 6: 9/9/14
THE GREAT DIVIDE
Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! I hope that all is well in your world – especially now that Apple has let rip! Are you OK? Are you upset? If only I could send you a box of tissues through cyberspace... Maybe one day through a molecular printer! But in the meantime...

...as predicted by the usual suspects we’ve seen Apple revealing the iPhone 6 4.7”; 6 Plus and the Apple Watch. Perhaps it’s called Apple Watch to take your mind off the idea that you are being watched by your government.

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

DIGITALLY CROWNED
I’ve got to say that the latest iPhone models look better than previous incarnations; well done! Finally, I can see that Apple lives in its own ecosystem – so much so that it doesn’t matter what they do just as long as its ardent fans are happy!

Personally, I couldn’t see anything in the iPhone 6 and Plus that makes me want to go for it. It’s either you’re an iOS or an Android. No doubt there will be quite a number of folk with both iOS and Android devices. It’s all good! Just as long as you’re happy!

Again, as stated in my last article ‘The9/9/2014 Eve’ the new iPhones aren’t what I would call “innovative”, no! All Apple have done here is to catch up to the myriad Android handsets out there. The ‘Plus’ model doesn’t even come close to the Galaxy Note 4 let alone the Note 4 Edge! Unfortunately, Jobs, Cook and co has a tendency to shoot off their mouths and think afterwards. As a result they have boxed themselves into a corner and therefore they couldn’t offer a stylus of a similar nature to the Samsung Galaxy Note S Pen – the 6 Plus functionality seems rudimentary. And, no:  They are not the “best phones you’ve ever seen” but they do look better (as stated earlier)! Yes, I can see them selling a good amount to the dedicated however, if you appreciate technology I think the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus aren’t the best examples of design. I just LOVE the Galaxy Note 4 & Edge; G3 and the Sharp Aquos handset! As you have figured out, I am an Android person and will stay so for the considerable future.

I was shopping and missed the launch but from what I have seen of it I didn’t hear “those other guys” or noticed any Android pie charts. Good! It would have been pointless considering that Android is maintaining its dominance in the USA and the rest of the world. Also, mentioning “those other guys” would only cause Apple fans to take a look at the competition and they might, just might see what they are missing out on.

iOS 8
Yes, you will be pleased to know that iOS 8 is coming to your handset come the 17^th of September! Yay! Let’s hope that the update will go smoothly! Be sure to back up now!

So, if you have an iPhone 5 upwards you are in luck! Anything below the iPhone 5 will not be able to receive the upgrade. Fragmentation? Nah! It’s progress, right? No surprises there other than to know that iOS 8 has borrowed heavily from Android and that’s a good thing! I have always said that technology should be shared! iOS having more Android features isn’t going to make me want to jump ship – well not just yet! Did I hear you gasp? Lol! It’s about technology at the end of the day: either it works for you or it does not.

APPLE WATCH
Hmmmm... The Apple Watch does look quite good – well designed! I like the various straps and I’d go for a metal one! However, for my tastes – I am not talking about the functionality here – I do prefer the Samsung Gear S. Why? I think it’s more suited to me whereas the Apple Watch looks like a watch you’d give to your Mom on Mothering Sunday! I do think that the Apple Watch is more suited to women. Just like the iPhone 5S appeals to women with small hands the Apple Watch may appeal to women (and petite men) with a slender wrist. Therefore the iPhone 6 Plus may keep the men-folk sated and there are 3 different Apple Watches that may appeal to a man. As I predicted... ...well, I predicted a few things:-

1. The Apple Watch would get a mention on the TV news broadcast. While Samsung's brilliant products didn't get a look in! Not to mention the rest of the competition! No fair!

2. Because the competition got a jump on Apple with many smartwatches already on the market the Apple Watch just seems run of the mill. <Ducks flying objects from Apple fans>

3. And due to the fact that the Apple Watch serves, as expected, the iOS / OS X ecosystem it will only sell to the hoards of Apple loyalists.


Above: The ASUS ZenWatch

If I am to be truthful I would say that as far as functionality goes I think that the Gear S (Samsung), ZenWatch (Asus) and Moto 360 (Motorola) is more appealing – especially the Gear S because it has its own 3G SIM! The Apple Watch seems overpriced at $349 for the basic one! Bear in mind that the ZenWatch will sell for $199! OK, it could be down to the fact that I am an Android person as I prefer the way it works but when I try to look objectively I really do not see anything in the Apple Watch whereby I would wish that the competition would implement.

As it stands, I am happy for the Apple fans that have been waiting a long time for this smartwatch! Hurrah!

YES, FU2!
Ha ha! U2 made an appearance at the “keynote” and they gave away a copy of their new album. Hurrah! But seriously...

I don’t know about Pop / Rock Star endorsements at such product launches... I think it’s one way to kill a once illustrious career in music. In fact it reminds me as to how much I HATE iTunes (along with Napster) that, in my most humble opinion, has cheapened music and has made the industry a one trick dead fly and maggot ridden pony. I hate it that independent bands clamour to get their music on bloody iTunes and not on their own websites because they want to be worshiped by the fans and being on iTunes is supposed to be a sign of the artist / band being seen as "established"! I despair... Artists / bands are too lazy to build a website that matches their individual style and sell their own material i.e. homemade CDs and the music in MP3 form. That’s right, Synapse Circuit Readers! I am going to introduce you to some web design software that you can use to sell your music from – if you happen to be a musician!

U2 have lost their credibility and it does make the whole affair look and feel disingenuous. .

SAMSUNG
Whether you love or hate them (I love them) there is no disputing that Samsung had the better showcase:-



Above: The sublime Galaxy Note Edge. This had better be my next handset or else...

The Galaxy Note 4 is an outstanding handset that will win over more Android users.

The Galaxy Note Edge is stunning and innovative!

Gear S is a great looking smartwatch that deserves to do well.

Gear VR is just an amazing gadget that adds to the way in which we consume entertainment.


Above: The Gear S. I think it looks better than the Apple Watch, but that's just me.

Apple’s showing earlier this evening was more about refinement and enlargement than innovation. It could very well be that the value of Apple stocks has taken a little dip again. I would imagine that investors aren’t too pleased with this keynote.

On the other hand, Apple appears to be now concentrating on its devices and ecosystem this time around instead of taking cheap shots at Android. Oh, they took a shot at the camcorder market but I’ve yet to see a smartphone both Android and iPhone that can match the quality of a dedicated camcorder but this can change! By all accounts the iPhone 6 and Galaxy Note 4 cameras look as though they have great potential. As always, it’s the lighting conditions that make all the difference. Both the iPhone 6 Plus and the Galaxy Note 4 features an optical stabilizer that should result in clearer pictures in low lighting and better video recording. The iPhone 6 Plus features an 8MP camera to the Galaxy Note 4 16MP! Those extra 8MP can make all the difference!

CONCLUSION
By far this was Apple’s best ever keynote product launch. It looks like I may be also right about the 6 Plus cannibalizing the iPad as I would imagine that many productivity apps can be done on the 6 Plus screen and if need be transferred to the Mac computer. Not many people want to walk around with a smartphone and a tablet – especially when the tablet relies on Wi-Fi to be able to access the web. The 6 Plus can be viewed as the answer to the Android 3G / 4G enabled 7” tablets / phablets that should go massive this Christmas! It is probably why we didn’t witness a new iPad at this point but I do believe they are coming and with a bit of luck they may prove to be more lucrative financially for those who like to have the complete set: Mac computer, iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad. Come to think of it why sell off your old iPhone 5S / 5C as you will probably get a crap price on it? Why not replace the iPod with your old iPhone? Yeah, why not? At least you have more options!

Is there any point in documenting the iPhone 6 & Plus specifications? I think not and here’s my reasoning...

It is clear to me that iPhone users enjoy the performance of the handset no matter what. iOS is certainly quite a different beast to Android as the latter encompasses many handset designs and specifications. There are a number of Android handsets and tablets going 64-bit this year and it will be interesting to see what that brings to the Android fold and the overall mobile device world. Also quite a bit is dependent upon Android 5: Lemon Meringue Pie as it appears to have been rewritten for optimization and for the 64-bit chip (by many CPU types). The combination of Android 5 and the 64-bit CPU promises to be a game changer. However, because of the great divide (you’re an iOS and I am an Android) such things may not matter. On the whole I am interested in technology and I will be investigating the advantages of Android 5 and the 64-bit CPU vs. iOS 64-bit. Bear in mind that I am not interested into putting down iOS for the sake of it; I am just interested in comparing the platforms. I should look at the Windows phone and the Surface in more detail and with a comparison between Android and iOS.

One of the best things about tonight’s keynote is that Apple may have paved the way for NFC payments as it appears as though they have reinvented payments by this method. We’ll see... I know that NFC payments work well in other European countries but haven’t really taken off here in the UK.

A little lacklustre but better! Good on Apple! I hope that, as an iPhone person, you got what you wanted from this keynote! And remember: Back up your data when upgrading to iOS 8!

That’s something to think about!

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

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

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

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

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT APPLE TALK 4 9/9/14

Above: Is this the iPhone 6L?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

That’s something to think about!

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

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

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

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT APPLE’S PSYCH WAR

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
APPLE’S PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE
Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers. I hope that the weather is treating you well! It is so hot even after a torrent of rain that I sit sweating in front of the computer!

If the two tech God’s aren’t battling in court over patents they are certainly engaging in a psychological battle... Here is the latest...

#Apple #iPhone #iPad #Samsung #GalaxyS5 #GalaxyPrime

PROFITS?
In the past I’ve exposed how Apple’s PR puts a spin on their sales only for a more realistic figure to surface further on down the line. I saw this with the iPhone 5; the reaction from the public (as far as London goes) was not positive contrary to Apple’s smoke ‘n’ mirrors PR machine. I have revealed that smartphone retail outlets in London say that Samsung Galaxy S2, S3 and S4 are the preferred choice over the iPhone 5, 5S and 5C and not forgetting the HTC One M7! Here’s an article I wrote earlier: Is the iPhone finished?

This year I have seen that the Galaxy S5 is dominant over the iPhone 5S / 5C on the streets by a large majority. We know this is because of the larger screens that Samsung, LG, HTC and other manufacturers have to offer. This is why Apple is backtracking on the iPhone’s thumb policy / ethos and will bring out an iPhone 6 with two different screen sizes: 4.7” and 5.5”.

I read a newspaper on Wednesday, 23, July, that states that Apple sold 35.2 million iPhones in the 3 months to June and sales are up by 13%! Now I find that very hard to believe due to the fact that the article (if you can call it that) does not specify if this is the 5S, 5C or a combination of both. I just don’t buy it – pun intended!

GET READY FOR THE LAUNCH
This exaggeration of iPhone sales figures is, I suspect, to gear people up for what promises to be the biggest ever iPhone launch in history! It is rumoured that 80 million iPhone 6 units will be manufactured for the launch in September! WOW!!! But I seriously doubt that. I reckon that half that figure will be manufactured. Oh, it is a little odd that there’s no mention of an iPhone 6 C in the pipeline. Hmmmm... So, how many iPhone 6 5.5” units will be manufactured?

The reality is that Apple has been losing money since the advent of the Thunderbolt connector; this pissed a lot of Apple fans off as it meant that their peripherals were not compatible and they would have to shell out for adaptors. So, all this PR about Apple’s record profits even though the demand for the iPad has gone down is just to get the public geared up for iPhone fever in a bid to recreate the glory days of old whereby fans would line up overnight to be amongst the first to lay hands on the device that came from the iClouds!

The fall in Apple’s mobile devices is attributed to them being so good that people do not see the need to upgrade. Hmmmm... But if iPhone and iPad customers are so satisfied with their products that they do not feel the need to upgrade then how has Apple achieved its record sales? iTunes????

CANNIBALISM
Not wishing to blow my own trumpet – yet again – but I could see how that Apple have trapped themselves with being verbally derisory towards the competition and then stealing their ideas and by the release of “new” devices that are essentially bigger or smaller products of the original. The iPad mini has cannibalized the iPad and I reckon that the iPhone 5C may have eaten greatly into the 5S sales. But we know that Apple are pretty exceptional at putting on more than a brave face on things however on closer inspection you can see that things haven’t been adding up for Apple.

There is a reason why iPhone fans couldn’t enjoy the larger screens that Android and even Windows users are enjoying and it is because a larger iPhone screen will cannibalise the iPad mini! But such is the demand by iPhone users for a bigger screen that they have had to cave in but not before collaborating with IBM to make use of the surplus iPad units to be adopted for use in business – presumably for use as a PDA (personal digital assistant) or make that BDA (business digital assistant).

SAMSUNG
Yes, Apple’s smoke ‘n’ mirrors is really aimed at Samsung; the aim is to make it look like no matter what Samsung achieves that they will never beat Apple when the exact opposite is true. Samsung by the way has reported a loss of profits and I will write about that in another article.

Even talk show host and comedian Conan O’Brien had to poke a bit of fun at Apple’s imminent iPhone 6! Check it out here: Conan O’Brien

There is a lot of truth in that joke and I can imagine that Apple is fuming! Ha ha ha! But you can’t take anything from Samsung as they’ve given the world the Galaxy Note – amongst other great devices - and that’s what this rumoured iPhone 6 5.5” is aimed at! It will be interesting to see how the two devices will square up: iPhone 6 5.5” vs. Galaxy Note 4. The Galaxy Note 4 rumour mill is ramping up and it is predicted that Samsung will have an Unpacked event in the first week of September; probably the 4^th as it is the fourth Note.

Another reason why I am not convinced about Apple’s profit gain is that the article mentioned the operating system as being the best and that’s why iOS devices have such a strong customer loyalty. We know that Android surpasses iOS in use; iOS 8 has borrowed so much from Android and, like I have stated before, it is all good! iPhone and iPad users ought to enjoy what Android has had for years.

Anyhoo! With iPhone and iPad users not upgrading as they are satisfied with current models and consumers turning to Samsung, LG and HTC the question has to be asked again: How is Apple able to report such profits?

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

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

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

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT APPLE HAILS ANDROID

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

APPLE HAILS ANDROID @ WWDC 2014!
Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers. I hope that all is well with you! I also hope that the Sun is out where you are! Over here in London the Sun has come out at last! Yay!

Did you catch the Apple WWDC 2014? What did you think of it?

TRASH TALK?
As predicted Apple did their usual overhyped style of presentation; some of it was good, iOS 8 certainly looks like a great improvement only that Cook and co were hyping attributes that Android users have been taking advantage of for a few years now i.e. interactive notifications, Hey, Siri is OK, Google, widgets, Quick Typing and the ability to use third party keyboards such as SWIFT. It’s no big deal as I have always said that mobile device interactions shouldn’t be a cause for the Tech Wars we’ve been watching. Apple has also tried to encroach upon Samsung’s Galaxy 5 and Gear health applications without previewing any hardware but we know that Apple wearables are coming!

Then there’s all this trash talk against Microsoft and Android... Typically, none of it makes sense and spewing such drivel has marred this year’s WWDC. Naturally, there is nothing at all wrong with competition but if you’re going to use graphs and pie charts you ought to base them on facts.

Yes, Apple is now “cool” again because they have bought the Beats technology from Dr. Dre for $3 Billion. Not! Lol! What will make Apple cool again is innovation. What is definitely not cool is to constantly accuse Google of “stealing” technology and then finally catching up to it in the forthcoming iOS. And speaking of Google...

GOOGLE i / O 2014
Yes, that’s the one we are all looking forward to regardless of loyalty to the Android operating system and devices. You may have already noticed that Google has bought up a lot of technologies and is also at the forefront of wearables i.e. Google Glass & Android Wear. Plus there’s the Ara modular handset for starters! Naturally, a lot of Google users on both Apple and Android devices are very curious as to what Google Apps will bring for each platform and cross-platform capabilities. Many of us are wondering about new Nexus devices and, of course, whether we’ll be seeing a 64-bit Android 5 or 4.5, Lollipop! What enhancements will be added to Chrome the browser and OS? Will Chrome and Android merge in some way? We’ve seen how Apple OX Yosemite and iOS 8 works seamlessly together I think this is where Chrome and Android are heading. The Chrome OS is a great but you can’t install software such as Photoshop, PagePlus, MovieMaker, etc to name some popular PC software. I said that I was going to take a look at Chrome applications and I will very soon and write an article on it. I cannot deny that I am so used to my PC that Chrome as an operating system seems a little alien to me. Watch the Synapse Circuit space for more on Chrome OS and apps!

 Then there’s Android TV and Chromecast... What will happen in that area?

I am also wondering if there will be some advancement for developers such as a visual app creator to empower those that want to create simple HTML5 based apps for the purpose of small business promotions. I would imagine that for serious app developers there will be an improvement upon development programming tools such as Android Studio which is currently still in development; I hope to hear an announcement to say that it is out of beta / preview. I must say that I was a tad disappointed when Google dropped its app builder: App Inventor. However, you may be pleased to know that the App Inventor is with the educational institution MIT and App Inventor 2 is in beta. I must find the time to have a go at creating an app using this facility; it’s looking good!

I am getting pretty excited about Google i / O as they are very much mavericks and you just don’t know what they are going to come up with! Google has a great capacity to amaze and impress. I do appreciate the laidback style of presentation and that Larry Page and co wish to use technology to enable us all. I think that is the difference between Apple and Google: Apple likes to compete with marketing hype talk and Google prefers to let their tech do the talking.

Google i / O starts on June 25 – 26 2014 at the Moscone West Convention Centre in San Francisco.

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

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

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