The New iPads: Apple Goes All In

Apple.com

Apple just held their annual iPad event last October 22 (23 in the Philippines) and a lot of products have been announced. One of the most interesting ones though are the new iPads. The 4th generation iPad was just a minor incremental update from the 3rd generation because all it added was the A6X processor and the Lightning connector. The iPad mini was a new product in a category that was started by Amazon due to their Kindle Fire tablets and became a success. The main problem was it had a lower resolution screen than its competition at the time (the Kindle Fire HD had a 1280x800 resolution display while the 1st iPad mini only had a 1024x768 resolution display). In their event though, they remvoed those flaws with a bang.

iPad Air

The 9.7-inch iPad started this whole "modern tablet" revolution where you can touch the internet in your hands. After the iPad 2 came out, this tablet never really had a nice thing going for it in terms of design. Sure the 3rd gen iPad added the Retina display, but the weight and thickness had to be sacrificed for that. This year, Apple made the biggest design change since then.

I was surprised at first as to why they named it the iPad Air. Essentially, Apple implemented the iPad mini design to the full-sized iPad. The result is a tablet that's 7.5 mm thin and weighs only 1 pound. You may love them or hate them, but you cannot deny the fact that when it comes to hardware design, Apple's at the top. Despite the tablet losing weight, it gained a lot of power. It has the new A7 chip with 64-bit architecture introduced with the iPhone 5s. Although critics say that 64-bit doesn't really give any improvements until you have at least 4GB RAM, Apple claims that performance is twice as fast as the previous generation. It also has the M7 motion coprocessor which checks the motion sensors in the device without draining much power since it doesn't have to call on the A7 processor. It's also the first iOS device to support MIMO (Multiple In, Multiple Out) technology. This means that there are two antennas inside that give twice the data transfer rate than the previous generation. The iPad Air also has expanded LTE support which means you can use the iPad to its fullest potential in more places. With everything new that was mentioned, the iPad Air still manages to maintain the same 10-hour battery life.

iPad mini with Retina Display

Ever since the mini came out, it became the iPad that everyone wanted. The smaller 7.9-inch screen made it easier to hold in one hand, and yet it still offered the full iPad experience. My gripe with it though was that it had a low resolution screen and it had the A5 processor which is already 2 years old.

Now, they have the iPad mini that everyone wants. It now has the 2048x1536 resolution Retina display. Since the screen is smaller, the pixel density is 326 ppi (higher than the 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX and the new Nexus 7). It also has the same A7 chip found in the iPad Air. Like the 3rd gen iPad though, the tablet is a bit thicker (at 7.5 mm) and a bit heavier (at 0.73 lbs). It isn't really much compared to the huge benefits of a high-resolution display. Despite the display, it still has the same great 10-hour battery that the iPad is known to have.

My Thoughts

Honestly, I'm really confused as to what iPad to get. They both have the same processors. They both have Retina displays. The only difference now is the size and the price. I wasn't really surprised that the iPad mini with Retina display starts at $399 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model. Given all that they put in (A7 chip, Retina display, etc.), the $70 price hike is justifiable. Still, I'm in a bind now as to what I'll get. I love it that the iPad Air is 1 pound, but I love the portability of the mini. I'll figure that out soon. The reason why Apple's putting all the premium on the hardware is because they think that the free software (iWork and iLife are now free) and the robust ecosystem will make you think that the premium is worth it. Let's hope Apple's correct with that.

PC Free..

(In case anyone asks, the speaker above my phone is the JBL Micro Wireless. It has Bluetooth to connect to devices. You can buy

Earlier in the week, I used both my phones instead of my laptop. She had her own laptop but it was broken because the SSD (solid-state drive) stopped working. Being the good brother that I am, I allowed her to use my laptop for her school works. During those days, all I used was my iPhone and my Android phone. I wanna share my experience being PC Free, even for just a few days.

Back in the day, it would be hard for me to do anything without my laptop. I needed it to listen to music, check Facebook and Twitter, post to my blog, and do school work. Nowadays, the smartphone replaced my laptop for most of these tasks. I am able to check my Facebook and Twitter even when I'm in the office, and I am already able to post to my blog from it. A smartphone is one of the best examples of portable gaming (sorry Nintendo and Sony, smartphones are eating up your lunch) and is the best way to pass the time when you're waiting for anything.

With that in mind, I watched a few episodes of Legends of the Hidden Temple in YouTube on my Android phone. One thing I love about Android is that Google services work very well with it. Google may have iOS apps but the integration just isn't there. Too bad Android doesn't have a lot of games going for it and that's why I always turn to the iPhone.

Tech speak aside, I think there are still some things that the smartphone cannot replace such as using productivity software like Office, but tablets may have a chance at this one. Still, I feel that I can do more work with a laptop. If I were asked what the PC will be in a Post-PC era, I would say that the future of the PC is more in the laptop.

Whether you agree with me or not, smartphones have already made a huge impact in our lives and I don't think any wearable technology can beat the innovation that happened in smartphones.

iPhone 5s and 5c Philippine Price Guesstimate for Globe

Apple announced two new iPhones: the 5s and the 5c. I've been thinking of what could be the possible pricing of these two new phones. Then I found these two brochures containing the cashout prices of the 4S and the 5 when getting a postpaid plan from Globe.

This is from the brochure of the 4S:

Plan 999 (Unli Surf):

16GB - P23,976

32GB - P30,299

64GB - P35,299

And this is from the brochure of the 5:

Plan 999 (Unli Surf):

16GB - P19,200

32GB - P23,976

64GB - P30,000

As you can see from the prices, the cashout of the 5 is actually lower than the 4S! If this trend continues to the 5s, we may see the same or even lower cashout prices than this.

Here's my guesstimate for the cashout prices of the 5s:

Plan 999 (Unli Surf):

16GB - P16,800/P19,200

32GB - P19,200/P23,976

64GB - P23,976/P30,000

With that in mind, there's still one more question to be answered: how will the 5c be priced?

If I were Globe and I would want to sell many 5c's, this would be the cashout pricing:

Plan 999 (Unli Surf):

16GB - P2400/P4800

32GB - P7200/P9600

Let me remind you guys that these are merely guesses and I could be wrong. I just wish this is correct and call it a day. Haha.

The Fall Smartphone Frenzy!

BGR.com

This fall has been a crazy one so far because of all those product announcements we're getting. It's like they're trying to drain our wallets even before we acquired the money! I wanna know what you, the readers, are planning to get for the Christmas season. Participate in the polls below and argue in the comments! Haha.

What smartphone are you planning to get?
	Moto X
	Xperia Z1
	Xperia Z Ultra
	Galaxy Note 3
	iPhone 5S
	iPhone 5C
	Lumia 1020
	LG G2
pollcode.com free polls

iPhone 5S: The Forward Thinking Way of Apple's iPhone Fork Road

Apple.com

Apple had their September 10 event, and boy all those leaks were real. There were not one, but two new iPhones announced at this event: the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c. I have a separate post for the 5c, so this is all about the 5s. This one's the typical "S" upgrade to the flagship model that they do a year after they've done a redesign, but this is touted as the biggest one yet.

From the outside, it really looks like an iPhone 5: the aluminum unibody, same thinness and lightness, and the same 4-inch Retina Display. Since this is an "S" upgrade, the usual suspects come out like the better camera, better processor, and a new feature to entice users to purchase. The three things I mentioned are the three core upgrades Apple has with the 5s.

The A7 Processor + M7 Coprocessor - This one's been a staple of the "S" upgrades, but there's this one detail that Apple really touted in the new A7 chip: 64-bit. We've seen the shift from 32-bit to 64-bit in our desktop and laptop computers. Smartphones are basically also computers but in a way smaller form factor. What 64-bit means is that the processor can process more at once, so things like opening an app will be faster. The M7 Coprocessor is a separate chip that is responsible for checking the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass. With this, the A7 chip doesn't need to be fired up when using those three sensors. This allows for a new generation of apps which take advantage of all this.

The Improved iSight Camera - Another staple of the "S" upgrades, the camera has been a big selling point of the iPhone ever since the iPhone 4. In every iteration since then, they've made the iPhone have the best camera on a smartphone and here they go again with significant improvements to it. The camera now has a wider f2.2 aperture meaning more light can go in the camera. It stays at 8 megapixels, but the sensor has 1.5 micron pixels, so more light can be accepted by the sensor. Another big change in the camera is in the flash, which the 5s now has "True Tone" flash. This basically means that there is a dual LED flash: one that's white, the other amber. This means the flash in the 5s would help in taking better pictures rather than make them worse. Other notable features include auto image stabilization and burst mode.

Touch ID - This feature has been long-rumored ever since last year because of Apple's purchase of AuthenTec. The 5s now has a fingerprint sensor that's been conveniently built into the Home button. This may sound subtle, but this means that you would be using this feature most of the time. All you need to do to unlock your phone is to touch (not necessarily press) the Home button! Your purchases from Apple's online stores are confirmed by your fingerprint.

The iPhone 5s is $199 on-contract for 16GB of storage, $299 for 32GB, and $399 for 64GB. I'm not going to go through the rest of the features of this phone since it's just in Apple's website and every other tech site that exists. What do I think of this phone, you might ask? Well, I have a lot to say about that.

My Thoughts

Apple.com

I just got the iPhone 5 and based on past experiences, when you have a non-"S" generation of the iPhone, it's going to be a tough sell to upgrade to the "S" generation because the upgrades are incremental. Don't get me wrong, this is a great smartphone to get. It's just that the jump from the 5 to the 5s for me isn't really that substantial. The camera on the 4S has already been touted as the best smartphone camera which has been improved on the 5 and now again on the 5s. I trust that Apple has done a better job with the camera. The one thing that would make me wanna upgrade or not is Touch ID. If it works as advertised (and not end up like Antennagate), then it would be an incremental but fundamental step to what could happen down the line with the iPhone. I'm sure the A7 will do a good job since the A6 is blazing fast. Until I get my hands on one and try it out, I might just skip this one.

iPhone 5C: The Colorful Way of Apple's iPhone Fork Road

Apple.com

Apple had their September 10 event, and boy all those leaks were real. There were not one, but two new iPhones announced at this event: the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c. I have a separate post for the 5s, so this is all about the 5c. I didn't expect Apple to do this since I was used to the notion that Apple only does one iPhone a year but if they needed to move forward and maintain their dominance, this is one way of testing the waters.

The iPhone 5c is a first for Apple, a test whether they can market a new breed of iPhones. The 5c is basically an iPhone 5 in a new "beautifully, unapologetically plastic" shell. It has the same specs as the iPhone 5: A6 processor, 8MP camera, 4-inch Retina Display, LTE. Its differences from the iPhone 5 are better battery life, better FaceTime HD camera, and more LTE bands than any other smartphone in the world (except the iPhone 5s, which also has the same number of LTE bands as the 5c).

Another difference that matters is that this phone is $99 on-contract for 16GB of storage, and for the first time for a mid-tier device from Apple, $199 for 32GB. The thing is that this costs $549 off-contract. The reason why I'm stating this is because this was supposedly the phone that would be friendly for emerging markets. I'll be explaining more of this in my thoughts of the 5c.

My Thoughts

Apple.com

Honestly, it's a good thing that Apple went back to color. I don't know if this is the right time or it should have been last year. The iPhone 5c takes what's good with the iPhone 5 and made it new by putting it in a new shell and with better battery life. I honestly love the blue one! If I didn't have an iPhone 5, I would seriously consider this. I honestly believe that this is the phone that they will promote heavily. Check Apple's website and tell me which iPhone appears first. The first test of this phone is through the preorders. If they are able to deliver, then this will be another huge win for Apple.

Apple and September 10: What To Expect And Do

Last year, Apple held an event in September to launch the iPhone 5 and I did a post about what to expect. Now we're at that same situation, I'm gonna do it again. Last week, Apple made it official that they will have an event on September 10, 10AM PT (that's September 11, 1AM here in the Philippines). A LOT of rumors have been swirling around as early as June and they're only getting more credible (but not to the point of being official) as the months go by. We won't have to wait much longer, but here's what you need to know and how to prepare for the coming announcement.

What To Expect

iPhone 5S - This one is a no-brainer. After doing the release pattern of releasing an "S" model after a redesign twice, I'd be shocked when they name this something else. Anyway, it is rumored that the iPhone 5S keeps the beautiful design of the 5 and brings internal improvements like a new A7 processor, 12MP camera with dual-LED flash, the fingerprint scanner and a possible 128GB storage option. It is also rumored to have two new colors, GOLD (or Champagne) and GRAPHITE (it's more or less gray). They better have one more thing up its sleeve.

iPhone 5C - I've been doubtful of this at first, but the leaks are just keeping it real. If the rumors are correct, then this phone is a plastic-cased version of the iPhone 5. As you can see above, it will come in COLORS. This is aimed more at emerging markets who cannot afford the high-end iPhone. I just hope that the plastic doesn't feel like Samsung's. Gaaaaaah. Both the 5S and 5C will run iOS 7 out of the box if the rumors are correct.

New/Refreshed iPods - Based on announcements on previous years, new iPods are typically announced alongside the iPhones. Don't know what to expect here except that there will be new ones.

What To Do

DO NOT BUY THE IPHONE 5 YET.
- This has been my warning for each year that a new iPhone is about to come out. Do not buy the one that's out right now unless you really need one. You may end up regretting the purchase if the iPhone 5 gets cheaper.

Essentially, that's it. Save up guys, it's going be another expensive holiday season!

iPhone 5 Review

It's been a long time coming. I've been wanting to write this review for so long but I just couldn't find the right time to do it, until now. I know, I know, the next iPhone's going to be announced next week, but if this phone doesn't get phased out, the iPhone 5 would be a bargain at a lower price point! For reviews from this point on, I'll focus on three things: Hardware, Software, and Ecosystem. Hardware would include Design, Specs, Battery Life, Call Quality, and etc. Software is self-explanatory. Ecosystem is where the media, apps, and cloud services are in consideration. Without further ado, here's the review:

Introduction

The iPhone's been here for a long while. Six years, in fact. A lot has changed since Apple launched their first foray into the mobile industry. I used to bash on Apple because I never believed that touch screen phones would be the next big thing in mobile. Turns out, it was more than just a touch screen phone. It had full internet browsing through Safari, the soul of an iPod, and applications that were built for touch. When the iPhone 3G came out, the App Store arrived. That's when the potential grew a hundredfold as developers could create anything they want the phone to do. Since then, it became a giant money-maker for Apple and led to the creation of another successful device which is the iPad. Like I said, times have changed. Android now dominates more than 2/3 of the smartphone market and Windows Phone is starting to gain some (some may sometimes be an exaggeration) traction. Has Apple maintained the gold standard with the iPhone 5?

Hardware

Apple has yet outdone itself at this department. The major change with the iPhone 5 is that it has a 4-inch screen as opposed to the 3.5-inch screen on the previous models. Despite the bigger screen, Apple managed to dramatically shave off weight from the phone. It weighs 112g, and is 7.6mm thin. When I first held the phone, it felt too light! I couldn't believe that it was this thin and light. I have to put on a case so that the weight would be okay. Another change they made is that the headphone jack is placed in the bottom of the phone. This could come in handy for pulling it out of my pocket and start using it in the right position.

Even though I put a case on the iPhone 5, I would be fine without one since they switched to an aluminum unibody with glass in the top and bottom portion of the back of the phone in order for cellular radios to go in easily. Speaking of that headphone jack earlier, beside it is the Lightning connector. That new connector caused a big debacle to owners of accessories with the 30-pin connector which was used for the previous generations. Good thing that accessory makers reacted as quick as they possibly can so by the time the new one comes out, this would be less of an issue. The good thing with the Lightning connector is that it's reversible so whenever it's dark, I don't need to worry about the position of the cable.

The iPhone's camera has always been praised for consistently taking great photos. This one's no exception and boosts the capability of the iPhone 4S's camera with "better" low-light. I did the quotes because I failed to see what's better because it's still quite dark but not as dark as the 4S's. The camera assembly is covered with Sapphire crystal. I dropped the phone a few times already and nothing really happened to it. Overall, the camera was really as great as they claim it to be. Call quality is really good with the iPhone 5, dropped calls are very rare. I was using a Globe Telecom iPhone 5, so results may vary if you're with another network.

Apple doesn't really compete in the specs department, but they don't fail to impress. Although it may be the "slowest" (in terms of raw performance) phone right now, it was the fastest by last year's standards. It sports a dual-core A6 processor clocked at 1GHz (although its maximum clock speed reaches 1.2-1.3GHz), has 1GB RAM, has 16, 32, and 64GB storage, finally has LTE (and DC-HSDPA for those in Europe) and has a 1442 mAh battery. This phone now requires a Nano-SIM instead of the micro-SIM which is also a hassle, but was done to manage space properly. Now with regards to battery life, it can last from about half a day (with heavy usage on LTE and/or gaming) to a day and a half (light web browsing through 3G, calls, texts, and music playback). It seems decent but I miss those days where phones can last 3-4 days before charging. I hope battery technology gets better because that's what Apple needs. That aside, the phone is blazing fast. Operations on iOS are simply faster, even against the 4S which was already fast enough. It's like the speed never faded when I tried using a Beta version of iOS 7! More about that in the next part.

Software

I'm gonna divide this part into two since I have experience using the iPhone 5 with two versions of the operating system, iOS 6 and a beta version of iOS 7. I won't do a comprehensive look at the iOS 7 part since it is still beta software and bugs are to be expected. I will get back to this review if there are any changes made between the beta and the final version.

iOS 6

Since iOS 6 is built-in to the iPhone 5, this version runs perfectly! All the operations that you do with this are very smooth and blazing fast despite it having a dual-core processor. The new stuff with iOS 6 like Facebook integration and Passbook are nice additions. Siri to me is nice for setting alarms and reminders, sending texts and opening apps when I tend to get lazy but after I got through all that, I got bored a bit. The most disappointing part of iOS 6 though is the new Maps app which Apple made. This was a very big fail in Apple's part since they launched a product that wasn't up to their standards. The software and user interface was good for first-generation software, but lacks a lot of points of interest. And with Google Maps containing a lot more data, it's really hard to surpass that. I never found the user interface to be really ugly, but sometimes I get bored of it because it looks like the OS when it just started. It's still functional, but it needs some change.

iOS 7 Beta

The change I mentioned earlier, is found in iOS 7. What shocked me when I first ran it is that it never lost the smoothness and speed. Despite beta bugs, iOS 7 on the iPhone 5 is still fast enough to operate although the next one would hopefully be faster. The UI has a much needed change and improvements like Control Center and AirDrop make this phone a bigger bargain than it was when it had iOS 6.

Ecosystem

iOS didn't really have a strong ecosystem at the beginning. Apple pushed for web apps the first time around. It did have iTunes early on, but the value proposition wasn't there yet. Then the App Store came and here comes the money for Apple. Thanks to that, it spurned a phenomenon where smartphones have apps that turn them into what they were designed for. If there's one thing that makes people stick to Apple, this is it.

I don't really have a lot to say here except that music, movies, TV shows, and apps are very well integrated that I have no complaints using it. iCloud is good but has flaws in document syncing. iCloud Backup is really a great backup solution for iOS devices and data for each app is retained once restored to a new iPhone. Transferring from one iPhone to another is seamless because of this feature. Photo Stream is another underrated but good feature. Pictures can be stored in the cloud these days but not everyone does that.

Conclusion

APPLE MADE A GREAT PIECE OF HARDWARE IN THIS PHONE. ALL IT NEEDS NOW IS BETTER SOFTWARE.

The iPhone 5 has been a pleasure to use, even for a technologically-inclined person like me. It's because of how well the hardware and software is integrated, and how the ecosystem has great support from developers and users alike. Apple keeps innovating in hardware which is amazing, but they are now lagging behind in software. Sure some parts of the hardware like the battery could use improvements, but the energy should be directed into doing great software because that's where Android is excelling at right now. I am hopeful that iOS 7 can change that, but I wish they could do more than just an overhaul of the user interface. There needs to be something that can wow us again and would really make us buy the next one.

For first-time smartphone owners, the iPhone 5 is a great choice although I would hold off a little longer since Apple's having an event next week and they're unveiling the next iPhone (possibly more than one?). After which, this phone will get cheaper if it stays in the lineup. If you're looking for a high-end smartphone but can't afford one, this would certainly catch your eye even more when the price drops.

iOS 7 for the Long Haul...

I just read this article from a writer at PhoneDog (read it here) about how he's not going back to iOS 6 because iOS 7 feels very familiar but has that much needed facelift. Last July 10th, I decided to go to Beta 3 in the hopes that it would be more usable than previous betas. After using it for days, I wanted to stick with using it. Despite the usual bugs you would find in a beta, Beta 3 proved to be usable for day-to-day use. Most of the apps I use don't crash as often anymore.

Almost a month later and now using Beta 4, they've made some welcome changes like having the subtle arrow that acts as a guide for the user to "Slide to Unlock". The arrows on the lock screen were traded for pill-shaded handles. The animations are faster than ever as we get closer to the final release. I think there will be two more betas before the Golden Master will be released to developers and the final version to all users. Until then, I'm sticking to iOS 7 Beta. Like the writer, I don't wanna go back.

The iOS 7 2-Week Beta Cycle

iOS 7 may be the most significant and most important thing Apple's going for right now. There may be a mixed bag when it comes to the design overhaul, but it may be what iOS needs right now.

That said, even Apple makes mistakes and there may be parts of the user interface that doesn't work well with users. This is why Beta software comes out early for Developers so that they can check out the new OS and make their apps jive with the new UI. When Beta 1 came out the same time iOS 7 was announced on June 10, it was just for the iPhone. 2 weeks later, the iPad got a taste of it in Beta 2. This morning (July 8th in the US), Beta 3 came out this time with more bug fixes and UI tweaks. What does this tell us?

I think Apple's 2-week cycle for Beta releases is good since it can help the developers in tweaking the apps well in preparation for the final release and at the same time, lets Apple improve the OS through immediate feedback from them. If they keep up the pace of the releases, here's the roadmap for iOS 7 Beta Releases:

• Beta 4 - July 22
• Beta 5 - August 5
• Beta 6 - August 19
• Beta 7 (if possible) - September 2

After Beta 6 or 7, they're gonna release a Golden Master to all developers. A week after that, the final version will be out for all users. Having the 2-week Beta cycle will be good since there will be a lot of opportunities to squash a lot of bugs well ahead of the final release. I really hope that Apple will hit the nail on the head with this one, and compelling hardware to come along with it.

A Week with iOS 7.

Coincidentally, Apple released iOS 7 Beta 2 hours after I posted this. I laughed at myself too hard because of this. I did a week with iOS 7 Beta 1, so I hope no one complains about it. Thanks.

I always thought that Apple wasn't really very open when it comes to radical changes. Maybe in the past, they would but only because they were clearly the underdog at the time. Now in 2013, Apple is one of the most successful technology companies in the world. And with Android now dominating the smartphone market, they are now starting to become the underdogs in this space as well. With all that in mind, Apple has announced iOS 7, which is a radical refresh of the "world's most advanced mobile operating system".

Being the geek and Apple fan that I am, I decided to take iOS 7 for a spin for a week. I gotta say that while I generally love the new user interface, there are still quirks (which are NOT bugs) which irked me a bit. I actually installed it before going on this 1 week test drive and had a temporary setback to downgrade before re-updating for the purpose of giving my thoughts on it.

Before going RAGE MODE on me, I would like you to know that I KNOW that it's BETA software so all the bugs I experienced during this test drive did not influence any of my thoughts. I'll do a proper review of iOS 7 once it's out in the Fall. My thoughts are only going to be divided into three parts, here we go.

BEST PART:

CONTROL CENTER

This for me is one of the biggest fundamental changes to iOS, and I'm glad they're finally doing this. I know, I know, you're gonna say "this was in a jailbreak tweak" or "Apple copied from Android". So yeah, they may have copied or this was present in jailbreaks for a long time, but normal people who use iOS devices (unless they see their friends with Android phones) don't really know this but felt the pain of going through the Settings app just to turn off the Wi-Fi. With iOS 7, Control Center is here to save the day! Wi-Fi can be turned on or off by just swiping from the bottom of the screen. You can turn on Airplane Mode, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb, and Orientation lock from here. You can adjust brightness, music controls, and access the flashlight, timer, calculator, and camera from here as well. The good thing about this is that it can be accessed from any screen! A quirk though is that when you type on the keyboard and you do the slide motion to switch from the letters to symbols, Control Center manages to pop up. Hopefully they can fix this quirk by Fall time.



WORST PART:

DESIGN AND GESTURE INCONSISTENCIES

Yes, even though I'm a fan, I can still criticize Apple for stuff I think is stupid. Gestures have inconsistencies in iOS 7. Even though I can swipe from the left in Messages, I can't do that from the Now Playing screen to another screen in the Music app. If they don't really fix this part, there may be a bit of confusion. The design of the top bar is bigger in the lock screen than in the home screen. I have to agree that there are parts in the new OS that may confuse longtime users. A little tutorial should help ease the confusion a bit.

While the typography and translucency look good, they shouldn't do it when the video player appears because it looks like the text and progress bar cannot be seen clearly. Helvetica Neue Ultra Light is good, but they should use it in places where they can make the font bigger. Then, have a bigger weight on those hard-to-read places so that it can be more readable.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

Overall though, I really liked using iOS 7 even though it was in its first Beta. The new user interface should make current owners of iOS devices feel like they're getting a new phone entirely. I wasn't able to test the other features like AirDrop since it requires having the newest devices (even though I ran it on an iPhone 5, I had no one else with newer devices to test it). The Camera took pictures fast and switching through modes was quick thanks to the swipe gestures. They put the grid in the Settings though, so that's a bit inconvenient.

Apple still has time to clean up the interface and add new bells and whistles enough for current users and first-time buyers to once again be attracted to iOS. Hopefully the next-generation iPhone and iPad could help.

Caseless iPhone 5 for a Week.

 

For more than a week that I've had the iPhone 5, it's been protected with a black case. Then I thought that one of the things I loved about this was the design and I really love the back. So I decided, why don't I try this phone without a case for one week? I mean, it's supposed to be designed so that it would be sturdier than the iPhone 4/4S design which was all glass. I really hope this works out.

UPDATE: I suddenly gave up and put the case back on. The reason? I couldn't hear as much from the speakers compared to when a case is there. :(

iPhone 5.

Don't mind the feet. Haha.

The reason why I named the post series "Path to Five" is basically because of this. I really wanted this phone since it was first announced back in September. Ever since, I'd always stare and drool over people who already have it. I'd always tell my parents that I really wanted this, and so my mom promised me that she'll get it for me as a graduation gift. It actually became additional motivation for me since as I said, I REALLY WANT THIS. Now fast forward to last Friday night, I finally got it. I was so happy because it's one of the two things that symbolize the affirmation of my efforts during my college years. I was super duper happy when I finally got my dream phone! Okay, enough with the drama for now. I wanna give you my first impressions of actually using the iPhone 5.

DESIGN & BUILD QUALITY

When I first got it out of the box, it's weight already impressed me. I couldn't really compare the weight of this because the demo units were always stuck with something to hold it in place. The design of the phone is amazing. Never before have I seen Apple do something that's of this level. The chamfers are really nice to look at. It really does look like jewelry. The feel of the phone seems a bit strange even though it looks familiar.

PERFORMANCE

Another thing I noticed after finishing setup is its speed. It was REALLY fast. Apps that seem to crawl when I had multiple apps open in the iPhone 4 open very quickly. Games like The Walking Dead run very smoothly. Not just in apps, website loading in Safari was really fast. Overall, it's insanely fast.

That's it for now. I only got it 2 nights ago! Let me tinker with it longer. This is the final Path to Five post. Thanks for reading through all of them. Click HERE to read them all in one place. :)

The Galaxy S4: Samsung's iPhone 4S.

I've been particularly known by my friends as an Apple fanboy (which I wholeheartedly admit) but that doesn't mean I ignore the rest of the products that are churning out of everyone else's factories. Samsung in particular has come from just another no-name phone manufacturer to the No. 1 phone maker in the world. From their low-end Galaxy Pocket to the Dual SIM Galaxy Grand to the flagship device last year that is the Galaxy S III, Samsung has proven to be synonymous to Android last year.

Riding on the success of the S III, Samsung has launched the Galaxy S4 a while ago (March 14 in the US). At a glance, it looks like the S III but it's actually larger, thinner, and lighter. It has a 5" Full HD Super AMOLED screen, which is what's a trend in recent Android phones like the Sony Xperia Z and the HTC Butterfly (Droid DNA in the US). Depending on where you live, it either has a Samsung Exynos 5 (which has 8 CORES!) or a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor. It has a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front camera. It runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean but with Samsung's TouchWiz on top. Samsung has also put a lot of new features including Air View and Air Gesture, Dual Shot, Drama Shot, and S Health.

Specs aside, this marks a change in Samsung's strategy for their flagship device. Design looks the same while updating the specs? This sounds like what Apple would do! They would do something that the industry calls a "tick-tock" strategy in the annual refresh cycles of the phones. The major redesigns, such as the iPhone 3G, 4 and 5, are the ticks while the incremental updates, such as the 3GS and the 4S, are the tocks. It may sound like it wouldn't work but Apple was able to gain mindshare large enough that they could get away from sticking to one design for 2 years.

The S4 looking like the S III means that Samsung is adopting that same strategy. They are confident enough that sales won't be affected despite the same design. They want to prove to us that they're just as popular as Apple is. They have proven their worth in marketing, so they're here to prove that the strategy works for them. I personally think that since they copied Apple's strategy, I think it will work. Too bad I still hate the design and the specs wowed me but aren't gonna woo me over to them. Yep, still want the iPhone.

iOS Needs A Visual Refresh

iOS 6 launched in September 2012, but still has the same user interface as when the iPhone was first introduced in 2007.

In 2007, Apple launched the iPhone in a world where RIM reigned supreme with their line of Blackberry smartphones. It ushered in a new way of using a phone, with its Capacitive Multi-Touch display and its revolutionary user inteface. It was indeed a great innovation because even though there were touch screen devices before, never has it gone mainstream like the iPhone.

Fast forward to 2012, where Android has now reigned supreme over the iPhone in terms of market share and most high-end Android phones are now on par (if not, better) than the iPhone. Android's UI has dramatically changed since its launch with the T-Mobile G1 (HTC Dream) in 2009. iOS hasn't changed much and still looks the same. It's been increasingly noticeable that iOS is getting STALE. 

For that reason, iOS NEEDS a visual refresh. Apple needs to prove that they can still innovate on the software side. Whether you love them or hate them, you cannot deny the triumph of industrial design that Apple bestows upon the world. The software isn't really telling of what Apple can really do in software right now, especially with Google pulling all the stops in their iOS apps (the UI in the Google Maps iOS app is waaaaay better than the Apple Maps app).

There is a glimmer of hope though, as Jony Ive is now responsible for "Human Interface". That role, along with his current role in Industrial Design means that he could now focus the hardware and the software as a whole and how they could interact to give a great impact to the consumers. Also, they did a major shakeup which resulted in Scott Forstall and John Browett leaving, and many other Apple higher-ups getting the jobs that they left behind.

Apple, you've made the changes you need. Now show us what the "increased collaboration" can do.

iPhone 5 is Officially HERE! First Impressions From A Current iPhone User

An iPhone 5 display unit in a Globe Store in Ayala Center Cebu.

Months after it was released in the US, the iPhone 5 will be available to customers in the Philippines, as well as more than 50 other countries on December 14. 

GLOBE and SMART are currently duking it out for the attention of the customers so that they would buy iPhone 5s from them. Tweets from news sites and telco representatives are reporting on their respective launch parties:

The stage is all set for the #GlobeiPhone5 launch event at new Glorietta. twitter.com/rapplerdotcom/…
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) December 13, 2012

At Dillingers with @smart_kimberly :-) Visit us here! We're really excited for the #SmartiPhone5 launch!! twitter.com/SMART_Tob/stat…
— SMART Tob (@SMART_Tob) December 13, 2012

Here in Cebu City, where I live, I managed to get first-hand experience with the iPhone 5 since it was on display at the Globe Store in Ayala Center Cebu today. I was so ecstatic that I had to try it as soon as I saw it! Remember, these are just first impressions. This means that I only had a few minutes with the phone since it was a display unit in the store. Here we go..

Thin and Light? CERTAINLY.

The first thing I noticed when trying out the iPhone 5 is that it is really lighter! According to Apple, it only weighs 112g. It really feels very light in the hand, that if it wasn't for the thing that holds it to the podium, I might have dropped it. Good thing they went for an aluminum back this time in order for it to be more durable than the 4 and 4S.

 

It is thinner as well, I tried comparing it to my iPhone 4 and there is a noticeable difference at 7.6 mm. I could easily clamp more of the iPhone 5's screen with my hand. The industrial design is simply unmatched by any other manufacturer out there. I was truly amazed by the weight and thinness of this phone.

The 4-Inch Screen

When I saw that the iPhone 5 had a larger screen, it was a mixed bag for me. Although it would be a good thing, I wasn't so sure how the apps that are not updated would work. Good thing Apple decided to put black bars on the sides so that apps would not look weird. On the black model, it isn't obvious as the black bars match very well with the phone so it seems that the phone got taller without the increase in screen size. 

Of course, the apps that take advantage of the new 4-inch screen look amazing. Watching video and listening to music while looking at full album art is nice. While reading articles from tech sites like The Verge, I could read a lot more than I could on the iPhone 4 I have now. It's amazing how even a half-inch screen bump matters. No wonder Android's been doing it ever since.

A6 Processor = (A5 Processor x 2) = (A4 Processor x 4)

It wouldn't be a new iPhone without a speed bump. The iPhone 5 now has a dual-core A6 processor that is clocked at 1GHz (although there are times that it would clock up to 1.3GHz). This equates to more power and better performance and I have to say, it's VERY NOTICEABLE, especially when using it against the iPhone 4. Despite the larger screen, apps web pages load quicker, and Siri responds faster.

LTE is nonexistent (YET)

Unfortunately, the LTE component of the iPhone 5 is inactive here. This is a bit disappointing even though Apple has to test the LTE networks of both Globe and Smart here in the Philippines before activating this. Besides, they haven't launched their LTE networks for smartphones so it doesn't make sense to promote this with LTE unless Globe or Smart surprises us.


Those are my first impressions on the iPhone 5. As an iPhone 4 user, I REALLY WANT THIS PHONE because it makes the one I have really slow. HAHA. This phone is really worth the time and money that it is spent on being made. 

Comment below for suggestions on what I should do with an iPhone 5 OR maybe find me a sponsor for one? :) Just comment below for your opinions. Til then, guys!

How an Irrational Apple-Hater Turned Into an Apple Enthusiast

A lot has changed, but my view for technology has remained the same.

It's been a while since I posted something on this blog. My seemingly never-ending busy schedule has finally ended (at least for now), and I am on my way to finishing college. There are two things that I have to be grateful about: the fact that God, family, and friends have helped me reach where I am now, and the fact that technology is the reason why I'm even posting this.

As you may have noticed about my last few posts, I kept writing about Apple-related stuff. If the Internet actually hit on this, they would do so because they're Apple-haters (or at the very least, people who respect Apple but just doesn't like them). Unless you've been stalking me my whole life, (which I assume no one does because I'm boring when I'm alone) you would not know that I was one of those people.

Before "mobile" was even a thing, I already hated Apple. I hated their closed-system approach and their conceptual philosophy. I even hated the iPhone 3GS! (It was the first iPhone that I was actually aware of at the time.) The reasons as to why I hated them were too shallow. I was an avid Windows user, thus what it meant for me was to hate the other side. (I never really knew Linux at the time. Haha.) Maybe at that time, I forgot that I was able to use an Apple computer before. It was the first iMac, the one with the colors. The one in the house before was a green one. I was still very young at that time and I didn't really know how to use it.

Then in 2010, the iPhone 4 came out, and it arrived sometime in the September-October time frame in Cebu. Globe Telecom was still the only one selling the iPhone officially and they had a booth set up in a shopping mall here. I tried it out, and it was nice. I pondered for a moment after that, and realized as to why I was hating Apple in the first place. I never had a reason to. 

This was the turning point. I wasn't a convert yet, but I was sure I liked the iPhone 4. In the  observation of my surroundings, it was the iPhone that many Filipinos bought at the time. I was completely surprised. I now know that Apple was already at the forefront of mobile devices. 

A proof of my hatred still lingering was my hatred for the iPad. I unabashedly said that it's just "a bigger iPhone". Again, I didn't know why I hated it as long as I did.

Then 2011 came. My mom got an iPhone 4, a WHITE one. It took Apple a long time to produce the white model, which they fixed when they launched the 4S. By that time, I was already engrossed with what Apple's doing. When the 4S came out, I was a bit disappointed and thought about why Apple did such a strategy knowing people expected a new design? I found out about the 2-year cycle when they release a new design then the one after that is just upgraded internals plus new features. I found it interesting as to how it would play out. 37 MILLION iPhones in one quarter. INSANE.

Ever since that day, I became an Apple follower and enthusiast. I now wanted the Apple equivalent of what device I need in my lifestyle (except my laptop though; I like the Mac now, but Windows is still my preference) and it feels different. Right now, not much has changed. I want the iPhone 5 right now simply because I feel that the 4 is slow for me after updating to iOS 6, and that larger screen helps a lot.

Being an Apple enthusiast doesn't mean I agree in everything that Apple does. To those haters who think that iOS is getting old, CONGRATULATIONS! I agree with them because I feel that the more I use it, the more I feel that more of the UI elements are getting old. And the Settings would feel confusing if you weren't used to it already. There are things in Android I want in iOS  like quick settings, or more interaction with notifications. It's the smoothness of the operating system that keeps me from switching until now even though the performance was slower.

There, I said all I can say about my long journey. And to those who'll ask, "Do you hate Android?", I say:

"NO, I JUST DON'T LIKE SAMSUNG."

Keep an eye out for an explanation on why I just don't like Samsung. (I'll get hate just for this last part. I'm sure of it. HAHA.)

Dear Philippines: Do Not Buy an iPhone 4S (Yet)!

Source: technobuffalo.com

As you may have heard and seen now, the iPhone 5 has been released in the US and 30 more countries, with 22 of them just released today. This means that the 2 previous generations of the iPhone has their prices cut off, with the 4S now costs $99 and the 4 is now FREE (based on US prices, on a 2-year contract with a wireless carrier).

It also means that the price of the 4S that the local telcos are pretty inconsistent with the ones in the US. There are even tech-savvy Filipinos who realize this and either shell out tons of cash to get the latest right away or wait for it to arrive here.

It has come to my attention that the telcos are still pushing to sell the 4S at the same price as it was before the iPhone 5 came out and there are people who actually buy it. Sure there are promos to lower that price but not everyone can avail such.

From a fellow Filipino, I advise you to NOT get the 4S until the telcos announce the iPhone 5. If you feel that there isn't much difference, you can just get the 4S at a cheaper price (depends if the telco will still offer it). I sincerely don't want anyone to regret their purchase.

The iPhone 5 is Still A Great Smartphone

apple.com

After months and months of speculation, Apple finally launches the iPhone 5. The thing is, bloggers have been putting out rumors about this product so much that by the time that it was announced, some people were underwhelmed. I can't blame them because all the rumors that pointed to this were true. To be honest, I was really hoping that Tim Cook and Co. would surprise me but unfortunately everything was predictable.

But this doesn't mean that it isn't a great smartphone. It still has iOS, the EASIEST-to-use mobile operating system ever despite the competition heating up with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and Windows Phone 8. And with iOS 6, new features were still introduced like the new Maps application and the Panorama mode. I gotta say though, Apple has to step up in the user interface if it wants the iPhone to last for generations.

Also, two of the biggest features that the iPhone really needed are now here in the iPhone 5, and they're both fours. One is 4G LTE, the fastest cellular network available. This means that you can surf the web, download apps, and stream HD movies with blazing-fast speeds! With the iPhone 5, LTE could go mainstream AND HOPEFULLY, will not slow everyone else's data connection down. The other one is the 4-inch screen, which is a big change in itself since the iPhone has been carrying a 3.5-inch screen since its inception in 2007. Apple obviously understands about the comfort of holding a phone with one hand and just made the phone taller and not wider so that no one will be alienated with holding it.

Apple just wants to make sure that average people would enjoy the iPhone 5 even though there were changes to be made. This phone may not please everyone, but it will be one of the reasons why the smartphone market will continue to grow. 

Apology + New Rules for FIVE-TRIPLE-ZERO

UPDATE: iPhone 5 post is now up!

As you may have noticed, nothing really happened to the FIVE-TRIPLE-ZERO contest. I am DEEPLY SORRY for that. It's not that I don't wanna give stuff away, it's just that I've been busy for the past few months as I was doing my research project with my partner and I didn't want too much distraction. I'm actually lucky to even post this to say my apologies.

That said, I am gonna make it up to you guys by posting the new rules for the said contest:

1) Read the iPhone 5 post - Yes, it's that time again. Instead of posting my impressions on it, I am going to rant about why the iPhone 5 is still a great smartphone despite the underwhelming reactions of 57% of Americans. I'm hoping this will be a good read for you guys.

2) Comment on that post - Not just any random comment, I want a reaction to my post. I don't mind if it's negative to the point that you think I'm just an Apple fanboy or positive in a sense that  it does make sense and they're gonna sell millions of them anyways. I just wanna hear true sentiments guys.

Still deciding on the prize though. If you wanna get a clue to what it may be, go to my Twitter to find out. The deadline would be the end of October.

Sorry for not informing you guys anything. I really hope you understand my situation and will be back to post more once this busy-ness fades away.