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.

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. :(

The iPhone Experience: iPhone 4.

I never really posted a lot of iPhone experience posts. It's hard because I never had a major significant event that involved this. It's actually composed of thousands of little moments that made using this phone very satisfying.

Before getting into this, I'd like to say that I first got this phone with iOS 5 on it and it is locked to work with Globe SIMs. I upgraded to iOS 6 as soon as it came out and some opinions have changed since then. Android has also affected stuff I experienced with this phone since it has grown to be a formidable rival to Apple's platform. So here we go.

The iPhone 4, as Steve Jobs wants it to, "just works". Sure it may be almost 3 years old and two successors already exist after it that are better than this, but I never once complained about its overall usability. Even in 2013 where flagship phones already come out as early as February like the HTC One, the Xperia Z, and the Galaxy S4, I was never swayed from using this phone.

APPS

Apps in particular are one of the reasons why I never swayed away to an Android phone. There are games which are non-existent on competing mobile platforms like The Walking Dead or Infinity Blade. Even though popular apps like Flipboard and Path are already on Android, Tweetbot is still only on iOS. Here is my latest home screen, which right off the bat has a lot of apps. Three of the apps on this page of my home screen are iOS only. I know it's not much, but developers usually innovate in user interfaces of third-party apps. Until there is major shakeup with iOS devices that would sway them away, iOS is THE platform to develop for FIRST.

I can't really say that I have favorite apps because I like each one for different reasons. I use Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Flipboard, and The Verge more often though. My experience with each app vary though. There are times when it would slow down or crash but not all the time. Maybe that's because some of these apps are already taking advantage of the iPhone 5's power. I was getting concerned with how apps are storing stuff on my phone. Is there any way that we could remove just the data of the app but not the app itself? I found this pretty annoying when I have limited amount of space left because Facebook and Instagram store way too much data.

BATTERY LIFE

Battery life decreases over time in every phone. The iPhone 4 is no exception, but it decreases slowly. After almost a year having it, it still lasts for at least a day. Apps and games are the ones that kill this easily. The more graphics-intensive the app is, the faster my battery goes down. Cellular data clearly does not help the situation. There were times where I had to set my phone on Airplane Mode so that it doesn't consume battery while the screen was off. I just wish that Apple would just have a bigger battery on future phones.

iOS

Since I've been through three iterations of iOS, the mobile operating system that powers the iPhone, iPad, and the iPod touch, I could definitely say that Apple needs to change it up a bit. Not that it doesn't work at all because it's still as functional as it can be. There are just some parts at which I already got annoyed and wishing that Apple would implement an easier way to do such things. For example, the Settings app (shown in the right) is still clunky and there are things that could be integrated into a shortcut menu where you can toggle stuff on or off. My favorite feature of the OS though is Do Not Disturb. Even though glitches came to it when 2013 struck, it works like a charm. I can set a schedule as to the times that it will go on and off. When it's on, it really works. The only way I'll know when they're there is when I turn the screen on. Despite that, it's best for Apple to change the user interface and functionality of iOS. I'm sure it'll never be the same after Jony Ive will now be in charge of Human Interface. Having high hopes for iOS 7!

FINAL THOUGHTS

All in all, I love having the iPhone 4. The design is still good despite the glass back, and there are still reasons for me to stick with it except that I want my phone to be faster. I've always wanted the latest and greatest and although this isn't it, I would still love to keep it. iOS needs to change (especially in UI) but they should maintain the quality of apps that are churning out in the App Store. If Apple still rests on their laurels, Samsung might just win this war altogether. As for my next phone? Well, you'll figure it out. Maybe you will, even before Path to Five is over. :)

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!

What's on My Homescreen?: More Apple Apps

Here I am again with another post on "What's on My Homescreen?" where as the title suggests, shows what's on my homescreen lately. Today, I will focus on apps from Apple. This will be shorter than usual since there are only a handful in this part wherein I downloaded from the App Store, whereas the rest are built-in apps that I don't need to talk about. Without wasting more time than I already have, here they are:






iMovie


It's basically a video editing app for people who don't like complications while editing a video. I haven't used this much though because I have yet to find a reason to use this. Hopefully it'll come soon. ^_^


It has a nice interface and Apple really developed this in order for people to like this.


This costs $4.99 on the App Store.


Find My iPhone & Find My Friends


Essentially, these are apps that search for iPhones, whether your searching for your own phone, or you find other people using iPhones. There's also a feature in Find My Friends where you can set a temporary appearance in the radar of your friends who also use this app. Both are FREE on the App Store.

iPhoto


Another product from Apple, iPhoto was released in conjunction with the new iPad. It is aimed for consumers to feel the same ease-of-use that they know from iMovie in photos. It has lots of cool editing and sharing features. The textures of the themes look cool. I just hope they'd add more sharing functionality and more designs.


It's also $4.99 on the App Store.




Holy Bible


When I feel down in the dumps, I seldom read quotes from the Bible. FREE on the App Store.

iBooks


I don't read books that much, but when I do, it's either a friend recommended it to me, or I read e-books from iBooks. It's an easy way to read e-books on an iPhone. Enough said. I also use this to read PDFs too. This is FREE on the App Store.


That's it. Next time, it's my social apps that will be featured next. 'Til next time guys!

What's on My Homescreen?: Most Used Apps

I decided to start off how I use my iPhone by showing you guys what my homescreen looks like, which is right up there. Before I made this post, I used to have more folders but then I realized how tiring it is to make a few more taps just to get to my favorite apps. What I did is to put it back the way I wanted it to be, with minor changes. This will be spread throughout several posts that I will be doing this week before school arrives to haunt me again. YAY. (sarcasm) After which, I will be reading several of my favorite sites for Apple's main event in June which is the World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC for short). 


Without further ado, let's start with my most used apps.


The "Spotlight" Bar: Music, Phone, Messages, and App Store


I specifically put these in the bar for good reasons: it's an iPhone so of course it has a Phone, I receive text messages from time to time, I listen to music a lot, and I frequently check on updates for apps I own. Simple enough.


The Facebook Folder

I know, I know. You're wondering why I download these Facebook apps. It's either because my connections are very much alive within Facebook or I simply download them to test their sturdiness as apps. Of all of them though, my favorite is still Facebook Messenger. Although, their Camera app is already showing promise despite the fact they bought Instagram. Still, Facebook's main app is SUPER SLOW. Loading it makes me wait like FOREVER. They better improve it because the transition to mobile feels like inevitable to me.


Twitter - I never would have gotten more addicted to Twitter if it weren't for iOS, since I started my Twitter addiction through my iPod touch.

Apple Apps: Safari, Reminders, Camera, Photos, Videos and Calculator


Honestly, I use these more than the rest of the apps after this. Safari for web browsing, Reminders keeps me updated with things-to-do (helps me a lot), Camera, Photos, and Videos for pictures and video, and Calculator for easy computations with some stuff.


Instagram - I used this before, but it seemed kinda boring. Then, the news that Android's gonna get it blew my mind. So I decided to try this again last April. I use it regularly since then. Good thing I have used it before exclusivity was lost. Whew! (No offense, Android people. I enjoy your company now!)

Flashlight - Because you never know when brownout strikes at home. 'Nuff said.


Homescreen Websites: The Verge and TechnoBuffalo


These sites have been my first source for tech news whenever I get home from OJT. This is where I find out whether the Galaxy S III actually sucks or if the new iPhone really gets a 4" screen. There are more sites I go to for more tech, but these are the first.


Flipboard - I used to read articles by using the Reader functionality in Safari, then I watched an episode of App Judgment of Revision3 and found Flipboard, a way to read articles like a newspaper. There are dedicated sections for News, Technology, even for the social networking sites I'm on, if connected to the app.

Pocket - I was reading in Flipboard for some time now, when I saw a random article about Read It Later being reworked from the ground up. It is now known as Pocket, an app that saves things that you want to read or watch later on your iPhone. This actually saves time in my part because I want to read things without any disturbance of ads and all. It's good that this exists. ^^


BatteryDoctor - I sometimes worry that the battery drains too much, so I downloaded this app and so far it has given me an accurate summary of the battery's performance.


Speedtest - This is my main speed tester to see how fast Globe's signal can be. It's effective at most cases. I will rant about Globe's speed in a separate video.


That's it for the most used apps for my iPhone. Stay tuned as I swipe the screen for more of "What's on My Homescreen?"

The iPhone Experience: Introduction

For the next few weeks, I will be posting about my experiences with my recently acquired gadget and one of the hottest smartphones ever, the iPhone. I'm currently holding an iPhone 4 and it's been swell. I've been thinking left and right whether I should be doing this, but I will because I need help from you, the readers. I wanna ask you for suggestions on what I should focus on so that I will give you my unbiased thoughts on that. The first few posts though, will be based on my initial thoughts on it. Just comment down below. Thanks!