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Month: March 2018

  • Smartphone Spotlight: Galaxy Note 9

    Smartphone Spotlight: Galaxy Note 9

    The 128GB Galaxy Note 9 can be purchased through carriers including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless and Xfinity, along with Best Buy, Costco, Sam’s Club, Straight Talk Wireless, Target, Walmart, Samsung.com and the ShopSamsung app.

    The Great

    • Slamtastic Screen
    • Instalike worthy camera
    • Adequate long battery
    • Interesting new S-Pen tricks
    • All the Specs needed

    The Conclusion

    The Galaxy Note 9 is Samsung’s Ultimate cry for tech geek attention. It has all the specs, a gigantic, magnificent, Fortnite worthy screen, a Bluetooth-powered S Pen, and a headphone jack… you know just all the essentials on the checklist for the kind of Android user that Samsung is targeting with a Note update. It’s a Phablets lover’s dream come true!

    I’m sure we all remember the note 7 scandle, but that is all history for the Galaxy Note brand. That was two years ago, this is the Note 9 we are talking about today.

    Galaxy Note 9 puts powerful technology in the hands of the tech geeks and gamers who demand more powerful and more screen from their smartphones. It certainly boast Innovative features and design make it the only phone to keep up with the next generation of users. Yes the rumors we have been telling you are true. Packed with a huge battery, a massive screen, and a powerful stylus, the Note 9 has more of everything than any other phone on the US market.

    How does it look and feel

    It’s large, I mean this phone is obscenely large. And when you put it in a case, it will become a liability. This is not a one-handed phone for any but the largest hands. Samsung moved the fingerprint sensor so no longer will the Note 9 fit into Note 8 case. On the bright side no more inadvertently smudging the camera lens.

    The Galaxy Note 9 has a 6.4-inch quad HD Super AMOLED curved screen, and USB-C and standard headphone jacks, it is IP68 Waterproof. We have been through this, the checklist of required wants and needs are covered. Not only that but it is stunning, think Charlene Theron on the red carpet elegant.

    No 5g on The Galaxy Note 9

    We have talked about 5G coming next year, Don’t get hung up on that; it will be another year before 5G is widespread and before chipset makers work out the power-management kinks that come with new wireless data systems. Yes write that down you are hearing it here first. Next year’s Note 10 will be 5G. Wanna wait that long? Anyways, The existing X20 modem get speeds up to 700Mbps with the right carrier setup, showing there’s still plenty of room in 4G. That’ll do, That’ll do just fine.

    Sounds and Stuff

    The Note 9 brings the S9+’s dual speakers to the Note line. The two speakers are by the earpiece, and along the bottom. Compared to the previous Note 8’s single bottom speaker, the speakers here aren’t much louder but clarity and treble are off the charts. Outside of the iPhone X I don’t think I have heard a better device speaker.

    The Biggest Difference

    The Galaxy Note 9’s biggest upgrade is its enhanced and gargantuan 4,000mAh battery hit it with a 10-hour battery test video. Yes you know the one where I leave it on the10 hour loop of He-Man singing 4 non blondes “what’s going on”. Results, 13% left, astounding. This leads me into projecting screen-on battery life out to 12 and half hours. That Destroys all other flagship smartphone on the market. The battery is significantly larger than the one in the Galaxy S9+ (3,500mAh, 10+ hours), the Galaxy Note 8 (3,300mAh, 6 hours), or the Galaxy Note 5 (3,020mAh, 8 hours and 30 minutes).

    Quick Speck Look

    • Graphics Mali-G72 MP18
    • Processor Octa core (2.7 GHz, Quad core, M3 Mongoose + 1.7 GHz, Quad core, Cortex A55)
    • Architecture 64 bit
    • Ram 6 GB
    • Audio Features Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus
    • Display Type Super AMOLED
    • Aspect Ratio 18.5:9
    • Screen Size 6.4 inches (16.26 cm)
    • Screen Resolution 1440 x 2960 pixel

    The Final Thought

    If this thing doesn’t explode in our face we have a monster here. The screen alone will improve your Fortnite results instantly giving you an unfair advantage over any other player on a regular smartphone. It’s the battery though, it’s just too good to be true. Add in their shaky past and it’s something to be weary off.


  • Google’s Wear OS Watch Previewed.

    Google’s Wear OS Watch Previewed.

    Weeks after Google changed the name from Android Wear to Wear Os, a developer preview for Wear OS is out. One of the major changes that the preview brings to Android wearables is it’s efforts to preserve battery life. Until now, Wear OS, had no battery consumption patterns or give the user ability to manual preserve the battery. However, that’s all soon to change with the upcoming update.

    Image result for google wear os

    The New News.

    Google unveiled the first preview of its new Wear OS wearables which is set to replace the Android Wear brand mentioned earlier this month. Along with preserving device battery life, the re-brand also brings the software in line with the new functions of Android P, the newest update to Google’s MOS, coming in later 2018. Other major changes include restricted Wi-Fi while the watch is not connected to any Bluetooth device. The new update also features Limited background activity along with Low-power mode. With the Wear OS, the background activity of apps will be restricted. In its developers’ blog, Google explains, “To improve power, apps will no longer be allowed to run in the background unless the watch is on the charger.” This is all an effort to increase and extend the battery life a little longer.

    Image result for google wear os

    Having cell/data connection or Bluetooth switched on over extended period can also lower the battery on smartwatches. After the new update, Wear OS will automatically turn off Bluetooth, WiFi, and cellular connection when users are not wearing the smartwatch. The watch is programmed to know when it is not being worn by the consumer and will automatically shutdown after a short period. Google has not specified the exact time lapse before the feature kicks in, but we can probably assume within a few minutes or less.  The Wear OS will restrict smartwatches from immediately switching on WiFi connection after Bluetooth is switched off by users. It will connect to WiFi only if users want to or when it is being charged. This is actually a great little feature to further assist the lazy consumer or the one who forgets to be attentive to such things.

    The Summary.

    Google will release the finalized version of the Wear OS in the fourth quarter of 2018 and hopefully all the kinks and issues can be resolved by then. Im interested to see exactly how user friendly can get the software. Who knows, could be a real home run for the company on this ambitious new endeavor.

  • 3 Reasons to Update your iPad and 3 Reason to Not

    3 Reasons to Update your iPad and 3 Reason to Not

    So we have all heard and see the reviews of the new iPad. its great, its a new ipad, we get it.  The real question is should you update yours, its it the viable option for anyone looking for a good tablet at a reasonable price? Here are the 3 reason you want the new iPad and the 3 reason you don’t really need it.

     

         

    1. The Processor, A11

    Apple has updated teh processor in its new 9.7 inch ipad. The  A10 Fusion chip inside the new iPad provides a lot of horsepower for multitasking, playing games and running augmented-reality apps. Power for the slew of Augmented reality games and apps coming out is a necessity. This will be big and an ipad or mobile phone with out the power will be a liability. This reason alone makes this iPad a need. If you’re going to be editing video with the iPad, you’ll be glad to know it can churn through clips with ease. It transcoded a 4K clip in just 57 seconds. need

         2. Apple Pencil makes a big difference

    The Apple Pencil is a worthwhile accessory for taking notes, drawing or marking up documents. It provides remarkable precision without lag, as well as both tilt sensitivity and pressure sensitivity. All of Apple’s iWork apps have been updated to support the Apple Pencil, including Pages, which has a handy new Smart Annotation feature. Its only $99 for schools.

     

         3. Camera And Battery

    The 8-megapixel camera on the back of the 9.7-inch iPad captures sharper-looking photos and smooth 1080p video, which makes it a valuable tool for anyone working on multimedia projects. The Battery has been vastly improves to  lasted just over 10 hours.

     

     

    So why would I pass on this less expensive iPad? There are some things you should consider, its not all gravy with the new iPad.

    1. The Design

    its the same old, same old looking iPad. No real physical improvements in 3 years now. its not thinner, lighter or more elegant. They even stuck with the home button instead on making the iPhone X jump in design. pass.

     

    2. All the New Accessories

    Toys, gadgets, features and functions all come with a hefty price. The pencil alone is $99, add in the keyboard and iPad Smart Cover you are adding another $150. The $299 price has us all excited but here they come with the add-ons. You’re gonna get add-ons. Oh yeah and the Keyboard wont even work with the new iPad… pass

    3 The Display

    Another big miss on the new iPad is the display. We are stuck with the same LED, it would have made all the sense to go to an OLED like the iPhone X. Instead they just left it alone, no enhancement to the screen at all.  pass..

     

    The Final Thought

    I love the power, I probably wont use the pen.. I mean its cheap enough but Im not rushing to pick one up. I’m just not moved and I need to be moved.

  • RED the Smartphone

    RED the Smartphone

    In 2017, the cinema camera making company RED announced it was working a smarthphone with a holographic screen Consumers were unsure what this meant until September 2017. Essentially, the phone would provide a 3D viewing experience on screen, projecting things like buildings and landscapes in an interactive map. A user could essentially take a virtual tour via the phone screen, looking around, above, behind, or in-between various objects.

    The RED smart phone is currently available for pre-order, for the fairly hefty price tag of $1,195. No official release date has been announced, but the company says its Hydrogen One smartphone will ship this summer.  Jim Jannard, RED’s CEO and founder, gave the update in January.  RED says that the Hydrogen One phone is still months away from being released. But it does at least have a timeline: the phone is supposed to enter mass production and then ship sometime this summer.

    What Is It?

    There have been a few basic details about the phone around since last July, and Jannard has now revealed a few more: it’ll run a Snapdragon 835 processor (Jannard writes that it’s an “835x,” which doesn’t currently exist, so it’s unclear if that’s a typo or some upcoming variant), have a dual SIM slot, and include a 4,500mAh battery, which is relatively huge. (The Note 8, for comparison, has a 3,300mAh battery.) The downside to this phone being released a full year after it was announced is that, while the 835 is a top-of-the-line chip, it’ll be succeeded by the Snapdragon 845 by the time the Hydrogen One actually makes it to market. That’s not necessarily a huge deal, but for a phone this expensive, it’s not great, either.

     

     

    This 4V — or ‘four view’ — tech is what makes the Hydrogen One exciting on paper. With it, the phone can handle normal 2D media, stereo 3D, augmented reality, virtual reality and augmented reality, without additional glasses or headsets. The company hasn’t been forthcoming in explaining how this will work, although it did offer a slightly bemusing description in its update: “The 4V files match the pixel resolution of a traditional 2D file, which is great for downloading. The resolution perception is just different. The horizontal resolution of 2D is now split into depth layers. It gives a completely different feeling. All the pixels are there… but instead of ‘looking at’ a pic, you are immersed in the image. It is quite spectacular.” RED is best known for its high-spec camera,  so if it pulls this off, it certainly will be quite spectacular. At least both skeptics and supporters will only have to wait a few months to find out.

     

    The Final Thought

    Alot of anticipation, hesitation, and skepticism are surrounding the. good be peaches, could be lunch meat we wont know till this summer. Ill with hold any true judgement until then, stay tuned.

  • Hands On the New iPad

    Hands On the New iPad

    If the computer were invented today, what would it look like? It would be powerful enough for any task. So mobile you could take it everywhere. And so intuitive you could use it any way you wanted — with touch, a keyboard, or even a pencil.1 In other words, it wouldn’t really be a “computer.” It would be the new iPad.

     

    The Great

    • Fast A10 Fusion performance
    • Works with Apple Pencil
    • Fun augmented-reality apps
    • Good battery life

    The Not

    • Thick bezels
    • Apple Pencil
    • keyboard and cover at additional cost

    The Conclusion

    The new 9.7-inch iPad provides plenty of power, long battery life and Apple Pencil support, all for a really great price. What are you waiting for..? Go update.

     

    The iPad still packs a sharp, 9.7-inch display into a compact and lightweight aluminum package. But the overall aesthetic is a bit tired in an age of shrinking bezels on phones; the thick black border around the screen feels somewhat antiquated even for the iPad’s relatively low price. The budget iPad from 2017 has been updated – Apple says it’s an iPad for education, but it’s actually a really impressive tablet for the general user who wants to get a great experience – and having the Apple Pencil support on there as well is great

     

    The Design

    The  design feels solid, and I didn’t feel that much strain when holding the device up to browse the web, check my email and play with AR apps for long stretches. The iPad weighs a very manageable 1.03 pounds for the Wi-Fi version (the LTE model weighs 1.05 pounds), and it measures just 0.29 inches thick.

    The trusty old Home button sits beneath the screen to handle Touch ID for logging in, and there’s a Lightning connector on the bottom for charging and a headphone jack up top

    The 9.7-inch display on the iPad packs 2048 x 1536 pixels, so it’s plenty sharp for watching movies, playing games and working on reports. It’s also bright and colorful; as I watched the trailer for Avengers: Infinity War on this panel, I could make out individual wisps of the Scarlet Witch’s red hair dappled in sunlight, and the details of her leather jacket didn’t get lost in the shadows.

     

    The Pencil

    The main feature of the new iPad is the fact that it’s Apple Pencil-compatible, something that’s not been seen since the launch of the iPad Pro range. Apple’s entry-level iPad now supports Apple Pencil, which means you can use the $99 accessory to draw, take notes and interact with a growing number of Pencil-enabled apps. This is the first ‘normal’ tablet from Apple to take advantage of the accessory, and it’s designed to give students a chance to ditch the notepad and use only the iPad for class.

    A tool so precise that Disney animators use it, the Apple Pencil felt completely natural to use in my testing. Writing with it will be hard to actually input though, and that’s partly down to the fact that most people have forgotten how to actually write words down, and partly because the feel of the screen under the Apple Pencil still feels too slippery to write properly.

    If you slow down it’s not too bad, but you can’t note-take as fast as with a pen and notepad.

     

    The Final Thought

    With a power upgrade and the support for the pencil all at a cheaper price whats not to like. The ipad is already best in class, there are tablets then there is the iPad. Speaking as someone who worked the front retail lines in the mobile universe, you cant give tablets away but everyone wants an iPad.

     

  • iPhone X vs Galaxy S9 Plus

    It seems like smartphones are always improving and new versions are constantly coming out.

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    There are so many options out there and it can be hard to decide on which one is really the best. Below is a comparison of the two most popular smartphone brand’s latest and greatest, Apple iPhone X and Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.

    Apple iPhone X: $999+

    iPhone is always a top pick when it comes to smartphones. The latest version is a creation to celebrate iPhone’s tenth anniversary. It is almost a whole new phone, not to mention the most expensive phone  ever on the market to date. The major difference everyone is intrigued about in this exclusive new phone, is that Apple has taken away the home button and switched to a face identification feature. Rather than a touch identification to unlock your iPhone, this phone will use a 3D face map to identify you and unlock your phone.

    A few more things to note about this phone:

    • The front and back are glass- so you will definitely want to invest in a protective case.
    • This iPhone supports wireless charging.
    • Like all previous iPhones, the iPhone X also comes with a single nano-SIM card slot.
    • The camera placement is vertical rather than horizontal. Both camera sensors get optical image stabilization.
    • There is not a headphone jack, so wireless headphones or an adaptor would be needed.
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    Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus: $839.99+

    Another popular choice when it comes to choosing a smartphone, the Galaxy S9 Plus has some great updates. It is pretty similar to last year’s S8 Plus…but the main improvements are the cameras and the large screen. The camera take quality photos thanks to the low-light and noise-defeating powers that take this smartphone to the next level. Not only is the new screen bigger, the curved display now takes up 90% of the front of the phone.

    A few more things to note about this phone:

    • The fingerprint sensor has been better-placed and now is aligned in the center on the back of the phone.
    • Wireless charging is an option with this glass phone.
    • This phone features face unlock and iris scanning.
    • Lack of a headphone jack is not an issue with this phone, plug them in!
    • The stereo speakers on this phone are outstanding and loud.
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    The Bottom Line

    It all boils down to pricing and preference seeing as both phones have very similar new features. Both phones have a facial identification feature, wireless charging is an option, outstanding cameras and loud, quality speakers. The main differences are the iPhone no longer has a touch identification and you are not able to plug in your headphones directly to the phone. Whichever phone you choose, you’ll be sure to love your new smartphone!

  • Roku Streaming Stick Plus: Yay or Nay?

    Roku Streaming Stick Plus: Yay or Nay?

    We all know how pricey television services have become, which is why many people are opting out and choosing streaming services instead.  Who can blame them considering how much money you can save in return? Today’s generation has taken interest in using streaming services instead. Roku is among the most popular! 

    The Roku has especially been a strong leader in the streaming box market since it has the capability to support literally every streaming service you can think of – such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon.  The latest version is the Streaming Stick Plus, which runs for about $70. Not too much has changed with the stick vs the prior version, but let’s review the good and the not so good.

     

    The Good

    • Easy installation, just plug it in!
    • Remote can control the TV power and volume- win, win! 
    • 4K HDR video
    • Dolby Atmos Audio- the best of the best! 
    • Voice search available- no more trying to figure out what content is in which app!

     

    The Not So Good

    • The actual stick itself is a bit lengthy.  Depending on your TV location, you may need an HDMI adaptor for it to fit correctly.
    • Lack of Dolby Vision support
    • The format of apps hasn’t changed much since Roku first came out.  This may be a good thing depending on how you look at it. (It is very user friendly this way!)

     

    The Bottom Line

    If you’re considering transitioning to using streaming services, you should absolutely go for the Roku Streaming Stick Plus. The good far outweighs the bad and being able to save a little money is always a plus!

  • Space Grey Accessories are Available Now From Apple

    Space Grey Accessories are Available Now From Apple

    Previously Apple issues its black out accessories options only with the top of the line iMac Pro. As stunning as they are the space gray Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse that debuted alongside the iMac Pro couldn’t be purchased separately. Well for all of us bored with the elegant white the day has finally come.

    The added charge for the darker color of each device is $20, putting both the Magic Keyboard and Trackpad at $149 compared to their usual $129 price. The Magic Mouse is $99 (regularly $79 in white). All of the space gray products are shipping this week and will likely arrive in your local Apple store in standalone form very soon, as well.

    This may seem trivial but options are options and us mac boys take what we can get for our small slivers of customization. Apple has likely just made its aesthetic-obsessed Mac fans very, very happy, with the wireless Magic Mouse 2, Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2 in its Space Gray color going up for sale on their own. Although I would bet big that they will sell out fairly quickly

    Im sure you remember the sales posting on eBay, with this space grey set going to for up to $1000 in some bids. Id like to think that all those people that purchased those aftermarket are kicking them selves now, but we all know money isnt that much a thing to some of them.

    On a down note the company’s wireless keyboard is still silver-only. Come on Apple, really? I guess Apples attitude is best reflected in an old Rolling Stones song. You cant always get what you want, but if you try some times you can get the space grey Trackpad you need.

  • Low Cost iPad for Students, Gracias Apple

    Low Cost iPad for Students, Gracias Apple

    Big news everybody, Apple has introduced a new 9.7-inch iPad. It supports the Apple Pencil, which means students will be able to take notes, draw and more on a growing array of apps. Starting at $329 ($299 for schools), the 1-pound iPad has an A10 processor that offers faster speeds than Apple’s previous generation slate. At $299 there is no reason any student would buy a different tablet.

    The new 9.7-inch iPad closely resembling the existing iPad Pro It’ll feature 10 hour battery life and LTE support along with an 8-megapixel HD camera, 9.7-inch Retina display, and the same Apple A10 Fusion chip that powers the iPhone 7. They have added a  new dedicated apps for schools, starting with the new Apple School Manager tool that will allow education admins the abilities to manage everything. Apple also teased software features such as smart annotations to help teachers mark up papers, and augmented reality support which will “enable new ways to learn.

    Apple also revealed a series of apps for the classroom, such as Schoolwork, and a progress tool called Apple Teacher, allowing users to see what other teachers are working on in the classroom. Meanwhile, its new ClassKit platform allows developers to create puzzles, tests and lesson plans for students.

     

    The new iPad works with the Apple Pencil to support art projects — similar to what comes packaged with the higher-end iPad Pro tablet. “Instead of dissecting frogs … students can dissect frogs with Apple Pencil,” Apple executive Greg “Joz” Joswiak told attendees. This should solve the age old debate and the students holding out in science class once and for all.

    What Did Tim Have to Say

    Tim Cook took to the stage to discuss Apple’s focus on education, saying: “At Apple we care deeply about education because we love kids and we love teachers”.

    Cook said education has been a big part of who Apple is for 40 years. “We had a unique insight into how technology could inspire kids to unleash their creative genius. And we believed that technology could help teachers deliver a unique and personalised learning experience to all kids. We’ve never stopped believe this, and we’ve never stopped working on it.”

    He added: “We know our products can help bring out the creative genius in every kid”.

    In fact, ”Macs and iPads are used throughout schools by students for everything from music to language arts and even advanced robotics”.

     

    The Final Thought

    All in all this is an exciting announcement and should pay dividend in our school systems for years to come. At $299 a vast majority of america can afford to make this jump to better learning. This could be the start to the overhaul our school systems need.

  • Elon and Boring Co. is at it Again, This Time Its Legos

    Elon and Boring Co. is at it Again, This Time Its Legos

    He’s So Cool

    Elon Musk is out again peddling a new one of a kind merchandise from the Boring Co, which is proving to be anything but boring. He took to twitter earlier to tease at the new must have useless gag gift.  First there was the hat, then the ‘not a flamethrower,’ and now Musk has said that the company will produce and sell large, “lifesize” interlocking bricks created using rock collected while the company’s boring machines dig out tunnels under the earth.

     

    What better way to get rid of the organic waste? turn it in to legos. Apparently these will be “super strong,” but with their middles hollowed out to make them lighter and easier to actually move around and use.

    In his tweet Musk states “New Boring Company merch coming soon. Life size LEGO-like interlocking bricks made from tunneling rock that you can use to create sculptures & buildings. Rated for California seismic loads, so super strong, but bored in the middle, like an aircraft wing spar, so not heavy.” He has already stated that the first kit will be  an ancient Egypt motif, according to Musk, which would provide the parts necessary for putting together iconic Eqyptian archaeological wonders like the pyramids, the Sphinx, and the Temple of Horus.

    What Can We Build

    He has not commented on the actual size yet, Im hopping life size or 1/8th scale ? Who wouldn’t want to build a 9 foot Sphinx in there back yard out of Elon Musk’s rock that his tunnel-creating machines excavate from the ground, it would look great next to fire pit and be a real conversation piece, not to mention the HOA fines you would incur… it be worth it just to see Doris’s smug judgmental face.. I digress

    The Boring Company has been drilling holes beneath the headquarters of his rocket company, SpaceX, in LA, as it looks to build a network of underground tunnels for commuters to get around town. All that tunneling leads to excess rock, and you’ve got to do something with it, apparently.

    The Final Thought

    We know it, He has said it, Elon Musk has been chatting about this for a while. He has always wanted find ways to recycle the bedrock it will be removing from its tunnels, with an emphasis on turning them usable bricks.  Musk actually used the term “LEGO-like” when describing the building blocks idea on Twitter. Id worry about legal back lash on anyone else, But Musk can stare off any such litigious suites with a sly inquisitive glance. Yeah hes cool, and he is with out a doubt the “Worlds Most Interesting Man”.