Samsung Galaxy S5

Posted on by Zack Chia

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I know this should have come much earlier. But the concise article from The Verge gave more insights to the upcoming Samsung S5. We see how important and convenient smart phones are to our social behaviors and remains perpetually integral in our daily routines. Samsung’s S4 had previously drove it’s offering to the stratosphere, leaving little room for its next innovation. While many might think that way, it might not be true. Im an iPhone user but occasionally, I would check out Samsung’s offerings. While there is little adjustment to the facade, the new innovation, S5, boosts a huge repertoire of new functions to woo you over. If being avant garde and living on the edge of technology is something up your alley, then this might just be the phone for you.

We now have a fingerprint scanner as well as several important features like an Android back button and capacitive keys. And I see how the tech giant is trying to move into the health segment by improving its gadgets to incorporate more personalized functions that aims to monitor your health progress. Atop of that, the S5 has attempted to built more functions around its home button too. These include tying up with merchants like Paypal making purchases through fingerprint scanning. Definitely a smartphone worth waiting for isn’t it?

Android KitKat

Posted on by Zack Chia

I have always toyed with the idea of instilling cross marketing techniques where we market one product using the a different approach, an approach which we would typically use for another. That way, it makes the product more desirable as we are giving it twice it’s current appeal. This commercial by Christopher Catlin, Chief Breaks Officer of KitKat, talks about their Kit Kat chocolates in a very emotional and relatable manner. I love the way he puts his thoughts and how he expresses with so much verve and passion. However, he did it with a twist. He made the product sound so technical, so digitalize and so geeky at certain point. Ah, yes. Afterall, he is introducing the Android KitKat. Everything seems to fall in place so well now. Brilliant word and product play here.

Mega cool

Posted on by Zack Chia

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What you are seeing here is the Galaxy Mega 6.3. Samsung’s biggest mobile phone device so far. The phone is due to be launch this month in US. With great impressive specs like a 6.3 inch display and a 1.7GHz dual-core processor, a 8 megapixel camera as well as the new Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, this is one amazing tech to own. Not forgetting the cool Samsung user interface as well. This phone comes in black and white options. Check out this new phone from Samsung. Will it be an effort to counter offer what Apple is brewing right now?

Voice functions hits WhatsApp

Posted on by Zack Chia

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It makes sense to be in the competition by matching up with the key offerings of your competitors. With chat/messaging apps like WeChat already incorporating voice messaging features, it is no surprise that the hugely popular WhatsApp is offering the feature albeit it can be said to be a tad late in taking this step. WhatsApp can be found on several platforms which includes  Android, the iPhone, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, and Symbian. As it has announced that it has currently 300 million monthly active users, WhatsApp shall start to have updates on their apps that would effectively allow users to use the feature to send voice memos across to one another. The function allow users to activate their voice function records a snippet of the audio and send it across to their contact. In this case, the users can then receive and reply to the audio, text, videos or photos. However, it is reported that WhatsApp is actually successful in their photo sharing feature instead. As I am also a regular user of WhatsApp, this function does add some extra flavor to the app but not a significant feature though. WhatsApp users out there, what are your thoughts?

325 MILLION PHOTOS SHARED EACH DAY

Google Nexus 7

Posted on by Zack Chia

There has been a lot of hype lately since Google announced their newer version of their flagship tablet, the Nexus 7. We see the recent launch of tv commercials as well as published articles. Turns out that Google’s second version of the device is looking right set to exceed expectations of its predecessor set. It already has the newest version of Android, 4.3 Jelly Bean installed, not to mention, the looks to kill as well. You can see from this promotional video how the little boy survives from one phase in life to another with the help of his little digital buddy. It can be argued that humans are getting more dependent on digital devices, but the aid of technology is one that would improve and innovate our daily lives. Already we are seeing how a mom could interact with her son and how the tablet could help the boy complete his goal of public speaking. Well, for a start the device seems very promising. Now, how would the  Google Nexus 7 perform when you compare it with it’s competitiors on the market right now? Pitting against the likes of Apple’s iPad Mini or Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 3 7.0? Check out the table below for a nice illustration of specs and compare for the one which might best suit you.

iPad Mini

iPadMini

 Galaxy Tab 3 (7-inch)

GalaxyTab

 Nexus 7

Nexus7
Size 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.3 (in) 7.4 x 4.37 x 0.39 (in) 7.9 x 4.5 x 0.3 (in)
Weight 11 oz 11 oz 11 oz
Screen 7.9-inch LCD 7-inch LCD 7-inch LCD
Resolution 1024×768 pixels 1024×600 pixels 1920×1200 pixels
OS iOS 6 Android 4.2 with TouchWiz UI Android 4.3
Storage 16GB 8GB 16/32GB
SD Card Slot No Yes No
Processor Dual-core A5 1.2GHz dual-core 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro
RAM 512MB 1GB 2GB
Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, 4G LTE Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, 4G LTE, NFC
Camera Front 1.2MP, Rear 5MP Front 1.3MP, Rear 3MP Front 2.1MP, Rear 5MP
Bluetooth Yes, version 4.0 Yes, version 4.0 Yes, version 4.0
Battery 4,440mAh 4,000mAh 4,000mAh
Charger Lightning connector Micro USB Micro USB
Marketplace Apple App Store Google Play Store Google Play Store
Price $330+ $200+ $230+
Availability Verizon, AT&T, Sprint N/A AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon

Apple acquires HopStop

Posted on by Zack Chia

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Ever since I started using IOS Maps, I have gotten myself lost a couple of times and that stopped me from using the unreliable app. While Google maps remain one of the best navigational apps around, Apple is slowly making efforts to improve their own IOS Maps and tweaks to enhance it’s experience. I guess one of the few imperative measures of a successful navigational app is the reliability and user experience. Apple is reportedly buying HopStop, a transit navigation app. This would likely boost their current Maps app for IOS with an offering that it lacks when compared to Google Maps. As HopStop offerings public transit directions in well over 500 cities around the world, it also have options for both IOS and Android. These days it is essential to have both database and technology to be highly sought after. Apple has confirmed that it will be purchasing HopStop but would not elaborate further. At the same time, it is also reported that Apple will be purchasing Locationary, a crowd-sourced location data company. All these acquisitions shall improve and enhance the capability of it’s app. Sometimes you just got to get the right people for the right job and leave it to them to deliver that result. I must say I am giving Apple respect on their effort to make up for their mistakes and their foresight to make pragmatic business acquisitions  Seems like Tim Cook is well on his way to fulfill his promise after his apology a while ago for the bad Maps experience.

Facebook home everywhere

Posted on by Zack Chia

 

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Looks like we can now have Facebook Home readily available on more than just the proposed list of Smartphones that Facebook originally intend Home to be installed. According to an article on Mashable, Android fans can now have Home on Android 4.0 or higher. Good to know that Facebook actually has plans to open their net to greater target group and get more people to download and use their product. While it is vital to remember who your audiences are, it is also extremely crucial understanding their restrictions. Which in this case is the lack of users currently possessing the device to support Home. So for now, users who don’t have an HTC One X, HTC One, HTC First, Galaxy S III or Galaxy Note II can still enjoy having the app on their phone but on a sideload basis. And, it would still work on your phone albeit there will be a message indicating that Home might not be running at it’s full performance.

The article also indicates that Facebook Home works on Nexus 4 and concludes after some testing that it is possible that every phone that is running a compatible version of Android will be able to install Home. Personally, I do not own an Android phone but I would be more than curious to test out Home and see what it really has to offer.

Viber not dead

Posted on by Zack Chia

viber-1

 

Some of you may have used Viber before and got frustrated. Well I am not surprised if you did. My experience with the app is that the connection is somewhat laggy and often or not, calls are dropped. Now Viber has just got itself a boost and upgraded its services to desktop. The new Viber 3.0 is available on iOS and Android. Fortunately it is also launched on desktop for both PC and Mac. It is now competing with Skype and features video calls as well. I would try the app and see if it has improved on it’s connection.

Google NOW

Posted on by Zack Chia

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As the name implies, you get what you need like… NOW. A great technology that Google has came up with and is now available for download. This app packed a lot of great capabilities so much so, making your phone an absolute personal assistant. What Google NOW does is that it gives you information and data pertaining to anticipatory actions that  you might be planning to take depending on your location, time or activity. It sure sounds rather creepy, but I assure you that this might just come in handy on your next road trip, business trips or even a great night out with your partner.

You just arrived at the airport awaiting for your flight and you probably could have use another app or browse through the flight’s digital screens in the airport to check your timing. Then you realize before you had to do anything, Google NOW’s cards might just informed you that your flight had just been delayed. Thus, saving you time and leaving you mentally prepared for a nice breakfast in the meantime. Best of all, as you scroll through the series of cards, it will prompt you with great information and data that might just influence your next decision. Knowing that flight is delayed it prompts you for a nice breakfast at one of the nicer cafes around. And the third card probably showed you your boarding pass information.

The great thing about the app is that it works silently in the background subtlety, not disturbing you. Therefore, not interrupting your mobile routines. One of the factors for a great utility app of this nature is no doubt it’s respect for privacy as well as it’s non-disprutive nature. People hate to be interrupted by ads, moving banners or even pushed messaging. It’s like your two year old pestering you while you read your favorite book.

I like how Google is investing it’s time on learning and helping it’s users through their life activities making daily routines less mundane and more effective. It has successfully integrate both technology and experience. Comparatively, I would like to see how Apple would like to counter propose users with something better. I am considering an iOS to Android switch.

Apple, show us what you have got. Otherwise, I would safely deduce that Google is unrivaled when it comes to cutting-edge technology beyond great hardware and superb design.