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iPhone 5: The True User Experience
Firstly, I’d just like to say:
I’M BACK.
Not that it really has any impact on any of you, but I just thought I’d let you know. I’ve just been busy with exams, moving house, planning vacations (you know, the important stuff…), and yes, I know it’s not really an excuse, but I’m gonna use it as one anyway.
So, what I wanted to discuss today was the experience that people are having with their iPhone 5s so far. Please leave comments at the end of this, talking about how you’ve found your new iDevice to handle through it’s initial release period. I’m not just talking about iOS 6 here, I’m talking about the hardware, too, such as the screen resolution, and the ‘noticeable’ speed improvements on the processor.
If you want to see what I’ve found, read more.…
Read MoreCheck Out the New Apple iPod Ad
Posted in All
MEDIA TIME.
Alright, so, here we go.
This is the live blog for Apple’s Sept. 12th Media Event.
Please excuse any lack of creativity. I’m tired. And so are my cats. They’re fighting.
4:30AM:
Still awake. All showered up, snug in my onesie, wrapped in my blanket. This bowl of cereal is so good. So are these V’s. And this Berocca.
USTREAM consists of a music playlist, so far. I just heard Gangnam Style. Awesome.
4:46AM:
Still waiting, with the playlist. I’m just one of 107k viewers. Exciting much?
At the moment, some country song is playing. Probably a classic. I have no idea. I seem to be stuck in some sort of “write-extremely-short-sentences” mode.
5:00AM:
Yep, 5:00AM. We’ve started, and, as of right now, there are 127k viewers. Physical media are being allowed into the arena now, and a livestream is being searched for.
5:07AM:
Seven-million downloads of Mountain Lion OSX. Good topic to open with, I guess. Usually start with statistics like that. Still waiting for actual coverage.
They’re talking about the iPad now, and their sales figures. 84 million to date. The iPad is 91% of all tablet web traffic. Phil Schiller says “I don’t know what these other tablets are doing! They must be in warehouses or store shelves or maybe in peoples’ bottom drawer”.
5:12:
Straight into the iPhone discussion.
“Each and every year we introduce new versions with new features… each time setting the gold standard” – Phil Schiller.
“iPhone 5″ is the confirmed name for the new iPhone.
“[The iPhone 5] is made entirely of glass and aluminium. It’s designed and built to an exacting level of standard unlike anything we, or anything in our industry, have made before” – Phil Schiller
7.6mm thick – 18% thinner than before.
112 grams – 20% lighter than the 4S.
326ppi Retina display, 4-inches. 1136×640 resolution. The iPhone is the same width, but taller.
44% better colour saturation, with full sRGB rendering.
Touch is integrated into the display, so it’s thinner and sharper, with less glare in sunlight.
Wireless is now faster. Accepts 802.11 a/b/g/n networks, and is dual-channeled, up to 150Mbps.
New chip. A6 processor. 2X faster CPU and 2x graphics compared to the A5. This is 22% smaller, and more energy-efficient. Examples given are than Pages is going to launch 2.1x faster than before.
EA Games have made an appearance. Some car-racing game. There are realtime relections in the rear-view mirrors. “Yes, for the first time in Real Racing you can see behind you”.
There’s a two-player race, but it’s asynchronous. Essentially, this is multiplayer racing where both people race at different times. “Time-shifted multiplayer”, it’s called.
5:29AM
Battery-life discussion.
5:30AM
Camera talk. 5-element lens and f/2.4 aperture. Same as the iPhone 4S, essentially, but thinner.
Dynamic low-light mode.
There’s now a sapphire lens crystal cover – durable and clear.
New feature called “Shared Photo Streams”. We all know what that means.
Panorama is officially native, now. Simply swing the phone, and you’ll get a 28 megapixel resulting image. It automatically smooths it all out, even if you shake or wobble a bit.
Video is improved, too. 1080p like the previous, but with better video stabilisation and facial recognition.
The front-facing camera is now 720p.
Facetime now works over cellular networks.
5:36AM:
New audio:
Three microphones now – front, bottom and back. This is for voice recognition and noise cancellation.
There’s a wider spectrum for audio, now, so your voice will sound more natural and clearer. More crisp.
5:38AM:
“The iPhone, from its start, has used the iPod’s connector”.
The connector is, indeed, new. They’re also releasing a bunch of accessories to help converting old docks.
5:41AM:
Now they’re discussing iOS6. The info card of each destination has been partnered with Yelp, as I blogged about earlier. They’re basically showing all the new map features, now that it’s all Google-free.
Safari has a new full-screen, similar to the desktop version. You can share tabs from your desktop to your phone. “iCloud Tabs”.
The new mailbox has a VIP system, where you can mark contacts as VIP, and their mail will go directly to a separate inbox.
Siri updates:
“How did the 49ers do last weekend?” …
Posted in All, iPhone, iPod touch, Other News
September 12th Packed Full of Goodies.
Yep. Apple has even more stuff that they’d like to announce at the September 12th media event. Too bad outlines of details have been made public by external sources already.
Yesterday, Ming-Chi Kuo, with KGI Securities, told the world on Friday that Apple’s fourth quarter of 2012 is going to be full of new releases. Obviously, the core device is the iPhone 5, but these new products are also quite exciting.
In the first half of September, we’re expecting to see the unveiling of a 13-inch Macbook Pro with Retina display, and a 21.5-inch iMac. The second half contains the release of the iPhone 5, along with a new-and-improved iPod Touch.
October is split into two parts, again, where the first half is expected to bring a ‘modified new iPad’, and a new iPod Nano. The latter half brings to light a 27-inch version of the iMac, along with, of course, the iPad Mini.
Evidently, according to Kuo, the reason for the crowded fourth quarter is due to production issues that caused delay in the products – many of them were intended for the second and third quarters.
The main issue with the new iPhone has been the assembly of the device.
As for the iPad Mini, a “very thin panel module” has been the production issue for the device.
The other mobile products (the new iPad, iPod Touch and iPod Nano) all have the new panel technology, and will be newly designed, aesthetically.
The iPod Nano had issues with the wireless chip, however, which has caused its delay, although now it is said that the issue has been resolved. This Wi-Fi chip will allow for wireless syncing.
Of course, the release dates given here are U.S-based – I have no idea when they’re going to be released in New Zealand. But if it’s in true Apple fashion, we should be able to expect them to arrive here a month after.…
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Posted in All, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Other News
Speak Like A Pro App Review: Public Speaking Made Easy
Speak Like a Pro is an App made by New Zealand developers Sush Mobile along with 3CIPS. Speak Like a Pro is available on iPhone, Ipod and iPad.
This is a great App for anyone who needs a bit of practice or improvement when it comes to public speaking or doing presentations.
The App has recordings of four experts speaking, the user is then asked to read the speech. After the user has spoken, the app then analyses the speech and gives feedback as well as a percentage mark.
Sush Mobile and 3CIPS worked closely with some of the best public speakers around including Gabrielle Rogers and Gerry Sont. The result is a very professional and well developed application. Many people have herd of toastmasters, according to idealog this app is “toastmasters 2.0″.
The idealog post talks to Sush Mobile’s managing director Sulabh Sharma.
“It’s no longer enough for mobile apps to be gimmicky or just reproductions of websites. Users are demanding apps that improve their lives and businesses”
This locally made app looks great, although it is missing something. The hardest thing about public speaking is the fact that you have to speak in front of people!
This app is fantastic for people to get those professional tips and to tidy up their speaking techniques but at the end of the day, if you need help speaking in front of people. Go and speak in front of people.
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Posted in All, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch
Facebook iOS App Finally Speeds up
The official Facebook iOS app for iPod, iPhone and iPad has always been painfully slow, especially when connected to WiFi. The last thing you need when killing time on Facebook is for it to be sluggish. At last, it has been improved.
A recent update from Facebook has finally fixed this problem, of course there is a few other extra updates and changes but this is the largest. I am sure most of you Apple device users out there use Facebook on a fairly regular basis, I certainly do. The Facebook App has always been very slow to do the most basic functions, many people use other ‘unofficial’ apps for Facebook like MyPad as a result.
I am not sure why it has taken Facebook so long but I am sure they would have received a lot of negative feedback about the original App. In my last post, I mentioned that Facebook has been sliding downwards on the sharemarket. Perhaps this update is an atempt to restore their reliable reputation and raise their share value. I predict a slight increase in Facebook shares over the next few weeks.
The other visible adjustment that has been made can be seen in this screen shot
from TUAW. The amount of new stories updates live as you scroll through. Clicking on the banner will take you right up to the first new story.
This new update is the biggest from Facebook since the introduction of the Timeline feature. In my opinion it will make Facebook on an iOS device a lot more enjoyable for all users, and it will certainly have positive effects for the company.…
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Posted in All, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch
iPhone looking a little dull? Grab a skin!
We’ve all seen those hardcases that are a single shade of bright pink, or have millions of plastic diamonds stabbing you in the hand whenever you try to pick up your iDevice, but how about actually making your iPhone your own? Recently, I managed to land myself a custom gelaskin for my iPhone, which I absolutely love, and I’m already in the process of buying another one. I figured that I might as well share this with all the readers, and I’ve compiled a list of prices for New Zealand customers.
Gelaskins.com. =====20% off everything until Sunday (EST)=====
Gelaskins provide both skins and hardcases for the iPhone, and skins for practically every other model phone, tablet, laptop, MP3 player, e-book reader and gaming device/controller.
This is where I bought my gelaskin from. I’m in love. It’s not a case, but more like stickers for your phone. Scratch-resistant, non-slip stickers. It feels like you’re holding a naked iPhone, so you don’t feel the heaviness and bulk that a normal hardcase would give. The skin also covers the front and sides of the phone, too, to give full coverage and protection.
You can upload your own photos, crop them, reposition them, and then they will print them for you, and send them your way. If you don’t have your own photo, you can always just choose one of the many designs that they have from a vast range of designers.
The only downside to this is that, if you buy a skin over a hardcase, you need to make sure you don’t drop your device as often. I never really had a problem with dropping my phone, so I feel fairly safe. However, if you’re a bit of a butterfingers, I suggest sticking to a hardcase.
Prices are as at 3:25PM, Saturday, 11 August, 2012.
GelaSkins:
iPhone 4, 4S, 3G, 3 – $14.95 USD $11.96 USD ($14.71 NZD)
All iPads (including 1st Gen) – $29.95 USD $23.96 USD ($29.46 NZD)
All iPods (every generation) - $14.95 USD $11.96 USD ($14.71 NZD)
MacBooks (general 15″, price may vary depending on size) $29.95 USD $23.96 USD ($29.46 NZD)
Hardcase:
iPhone 4, 4S – $34.95 USD $27.96 USD ($34.38 NZD)
iPhone 3G, 3 – $29.95 USD $23.96 USD ($29.46 NZD)
They also provide screen protectors, which come in packs of two, and with a microfibre cloth. If you purchase in a bundle with your GelaSkin, they will give a further 40% off the price of the skin. They also have a tutorial video on how they apply the protectors for a lint-and-bubble-free finish.
All iPod Generations, and iPhones – $12.95 USD $10.36 USD ($12.74 NZD)
The shipping for my skin took about three weeks, which I thought was fairly reasonable, considering that many other online international orders with other companies has taken a lot longer.
As a user of GelaSkins, I’m fairly confident in saying that the protection from the skin lives up to what it has promised, and I don’t feel paranoid about leaving my phone on a rough surface, anymore. The print quality is extremely good, and I feel that the price is quite worth the product. All-in-all, thumbs up from me. Much better than the cheap $2 case stands that clog-up the walkways in our shopping malls, that’s for sure.…
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Posted in All, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch
