No Photoshop back then...

Halloween Nightmare for an iPhone.

It was the worst nightmare the iPhone had ever had. Even worse than Apple Maps!!!

iPhone 5 Fail!

The screen may be larger, but its still awkward and silly. It makes for an easy target though.

My questions is what sorts of fun things can we mock about the 5S? Android use to be the butt of the joke. Windows Phone is still the butt of the joke, but I thought Apple was all about innovation?!?! I really would love to see the old innovative Apple come back!

Why Steve Woznik is My Tech Hero & Why He Should Be Your Too

Steve Wozniak is like Santa Clause, except Santa wishes he was that cool. No seriously, Wozniak, or The Woz, is such an awesome guy I would invite him to my birthday party even though I've never met him. Here's why. Despite the fact that he hitched his proverbial horse to the Apple cart (pun intended), the Woz is so very chill about different techs and OS's co-existing. Over the years since I've gotten into tech I have heard one major voice that has talked about how great each tech is and how they build off of each other. That was the Woz. While other major "inventors/innovators" such as Steve Jobs mutter threats about going nuclear on the competition, the Woz has consistently said what he likes and dislike about each OS and the celebrates the fact that both exist.

The Woz is essentially like George Takei when George step in between two major stars of the Star Trek and Star Wars genres when they were having you pissing match over which was better. George essentially said its all good. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. He then pointed out the true enemy which is Twilight and its fans. The Woz is essentially try to do the same thing. While Wozniak prefers iOS devices over Android, he still enjoys both because each offers a different take on what personal electronics make.
What I think the Woz has failed to do is point out the true enemy to Android and iOS fans. The true enemy is Patent Trolls. Sadly this enemy has taken root in companies such as Apple and Samsung. The real losers when Patent Trolling happens is us, the end users. If this behavior is allowed to continue the end result will be stagnation in electronics and technology. Apple paved the way with user interface. Google paved the way with availability of smartphones and improved notifications and user control. Both companies have borrowed ideas from each other. The most notable borrowing which has happened is with Apple's release of iOS 6, which borrowed ideas from Android's notification and integration features. Is this bad? NO! Its good! The over all user experience for Apple users has improved. Does this mean I'd go iPhone over Android? No. I've bought into the ecosystem of Android AND I feel like I have more freedom. But that doesn't mean I can't be friends with Apple users. That doesn't mean I have to be a hater. When I trash on any company it is because of patent trolls. If you were to ask me which is better, Android or iOS, I would say Android. I freely admit I am biased. But that does not mean I cannot point how what iOS does better than Android. Heck, there were things WebOS did better than either and that OS is essentially dead because HP screwed up royally. The message of this entire rant is this, the reason I think Steve Wozniak is cooler than Steve Jobs and Bill Gates or any other heavy hitter in tech is because he has talked the talk and walked the walk of a true blue techy. He loves innovation. He loves creativity. He isn't a snob who doesn't want the "little people" to have what he has. He promotes ideas, knowingly or not, that will make the world better. That is why when it comes to tech, despite the fact that I don't agree with him in all things or even because of it, Steve Wozniak is my Tech hero.

For more information on Steve Wozniak's stand on the OS battles, check out this article by the Android Authority.

George Takei (Sulu) in his now famous request for peace between Star Wars and Star Trek fans:

Down with Twilight!!!

Reflections on Apple v. Samsung Trial

What with the verdict of the trial being very much in the favor of Apple, it seems that Samsung (and by connection Android) has lost a major battle last week. But the issue isn't so easily defined. As a Android fanboy, I am rather surprised with myself on how I can step back and have a looksy at what is happening and what this means.

First, it is clear to me that BOTH Apple and Samsung have actively and repeatedly infringed on patents that each holds. The validity of those patents are, in some cases, questionable. But that is really a question of whether the system is broken or not. It is VERY clear to me that the system is broken. Having participated in the application process for several patents I can tell you that it is long, drawn out, and is more about bring money into a governmental agency than protecting the rights of the inventor. In the case of Apple and Samsung I have seen ample evidence that both are more interested in "knocking out the competition" rather than protecting intellectual property rights. If anyone thinks that this conclusion in court is the end you have another thing coming. This is likely to drag out for a very long time. The fact that the jury was very much slanted towards Apple rather than doing as the South Korean Judge did and smack both upside the head just means that life for Android and iOS users is going to become rougher for US residents at least.

And that leads to my second point, this ruling can be taken one of two ways. Either this will make life worse for consumers or better. It could really go either way and since I don't have a crystal ball I really can't tell you which. Either this case will set a precedent of enforcing a monopoly through the courts, or it could result in an expansion of innovation that is greater than we have already seen. My big issue with Apple fanboys is that they claim that Samsung did no innovation and "stole" everything from Apple. That is crap. Just like its crap to say Apple hasn't "stolen" anything from Samsung or Android. The competition that Android, and by connection Samsung, brought to the table has made both operating systems better in both the long and short run. To claim that Apple (or Google) has an exclusive on the ideas and innovations that have come about is as ridiculous as claiming that Ford should have had exclusivity on making cars back in the day. Competition improves the market place. The fact of the matter is that Steve Jobs, and by connection Apple, has it in for Android simply because the creators dared to challenge the Apple ecosystem. And ecosystem that was intentionally limiting until recent years. The main reason Android has so much power is because Apple refused to deal with anyone other than one wireless carrier per country. While I am not sure of the other carriers in other nations, I can tell you that having worked for AT&T in the past, it did more harm than good for AT&T and its users to have the iPhone as an exclusive. Let's be clear here, I am not an AT&T spokes person, I just was the poor smuck who handled the customer service calls on poor coverage and crappy service etc. By Apple refusing to deal, the other carriers realized that Android was the next big thing. And Apple is still doing the same when it comes to T-mobile. If Apple really wanted to be supreme in Smart Devices, they should have been available on all carriers and services as soon as they could. In either case, my point still stands. Apple may have started down a road of innovation, but Google made it better and by doing so made Apple's product better as well.

Finally, the ruling was in many ways very fishy. The fact that evidence such as previously existing ideas and images that far proceeded the iPhone and iPad were disallowed as evidence. The fact that Steve Job's statements of wanting to go nuclear on Android. The fact that there is very much a bias in the public's eyes all make me question the validity of the ruling and the use of a jury. As an example, the other day I was having a conversation with a friend. He told me to get out my iPhone and search something. He knows I don't have an iPhone so I corrected him. His response, "Same difference..." The problem we see here is that there isn't. iPhone is a brand. If he had said, "Get out your smartphone," or to use an older term since he was older, "Get out your PDA," then there would be no need for correction. Smart devices have been around much longer that the iPhone. Apple just made them hip and trendy. Personally, I think that the case should be retried. I think if there is a jury, it should be a jury of unbiased experts. I think that in reality that both parties have intentionally wronged the other. I think this entire thing was really one big farce. In the end all I see coming out of these trials is increased cost for the consumers. I see a failure in our patent system. I see that in the end no one wins and everyone, include innovation, loses.

Shut the *bleep* Up About the iPhone 5 Already!

This little rant was in my head for a while so I figured I may as well get it out. The iPhone 5 isn't even out yet and already people are working themselves up in yet another frenzy over it. The sad part to me is that as the device goes, the iPhone name has been behind on the game since the iPhone 4. Sure its a really nice UI. Sure it broke boundries and really revitialized the industry. But if we were basing the device on what it did we would all be using Palm Pilots right now. Or I would be driving a Chevy. My point is let's judge the next iPhone on what it delivers. As things go I was emensly underwhelmed with the announcement of iOS 6. It is a great improvement for sure, but when even Windows Phone 7 users have the fuction that iOS 6 brings you have to ask yourself if it really is as cutting edge as Apple Fanboys claim it is. I personally love how competition makes things better for me as a consumer, and yet it still annoys me to no end when people are foaming at the mouth over something that isn't even announced yet and also promises to be as underwhelming as the iPhone 4, 4S and iOS 6. I'm the wait and see sort.

Dear Apple, Regarding iOS 6

I have heard you were saying your operating system is the "most advanced" mobile operating system, but I think you are mistaken. Let's go over the things added by iOS 6 and how they are old news for your top competitor, Android.

1) Facebook Integration

Well, you see, this particular functionality is available for Android. While currently the latest version of Android is 4.0, the most popular version in use is Android 2.3. Guess what guys, this feature and many others have been available since 2.0. So that nice little explanation about how iOS is better because it's not "fragmented" is negated. So in your Facebook Apple!

2) A new share screen.

See above. Nothing new here. In fact, the integration for the app or network of your choice is phenomenal.

3) Spotlight tweak, find apps easier because they can get hard to find on those different home screens

Well, with Android you can set any app to any home screen that you want. Rather than being dictated to by the all mighty Apple as to where you're app icons are, you can organize them as you wish. Add to that the fact that you can add widgets to you home screens and this iOS update is a huge snore fest! By the way, for those who are not aware of what a widget is. It is something that delivers information without the user needing to open up an application. Examples of these are weather, calender and reminders.

4) Reminders improvement

All of the features added with this update are already available through Android or through free applications such as Tasker or on(X). These apps also add automation, geofencing and more to Android without any problems.

5) Call rejection options. Reject with text message

These are called quick responses in Android. This has been available since Android 2.2.

6) New Siri functionality

You know. Siri is probably the only thing that really impresses me from iOS 5 or 6. It has improved. But the thing is that Siri is one of those things that I look at and think, "I'd use it a few times and forget about it." It's all shiny, no function for me. Here is why. The voice recognition function in Android kicks some serious but. A friend and I had a quick draw on dictating a text. My 1 1/2 year old Samsung Epic 4G against is iPhone 4S. I won. Each. And. Every. Time. In noisy environments. In quiet environments. Why do I need the voice recognition to talk back to me. I'm not Raj from the Big Bang Theory. I don't need to be deluded into thinking my phone is a person.

7) Cloud Tabs

The ability to open bookmarks from your computer on your phone... Wow! I wish someone else has thought of that! (Sarcasm) Seriously. OLD NEWS! You can do this with Chrome for Android, Firefox for Android, Dolphin and the default browser on Android.

8) Game Center Update

The ability to share your score with Game Center. Meh. I don't want to share my scores. Even if I did, most Android games have that ability built in. SNORE!

9) Photo Stream

Share photos through iCloud... Yah, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box.net and more. These guys have had this feature for a long time. I can share photos publicly or send personal links easily. Also, my Google Plus account auto backs up my pictures to a private folder which I can then make public at will.

10) Facetime on 3G

 Yah, I can do that with Skype, Tango, Ustream and ooVoo all have had this option available for a while. Oh, and these options aren't limit to just Apple products. You can communicate with anyone. These apps named are free and cross platform. I've been able to do this with my old Epic 4G since I've had it. That phone game running Android 2.1 and has since been updated to Android 2.3.3.

I am sure I missed some stuff, but I suppose my point is made. Android is currently the most advanced mobile OS that is currently on the market. This may not always be the case, but...

Clarification

Now don't get me wrong Apple (and Apple fans). I'm happy to see that you've added these functionalities so your users have a better experience, but please don't go acting like these things weren't "borrowed" from Android. Me personally, I love Android, but I am happy there are other options in the market. Competition makes the market better for consumers. But that's the sad thing Apple. You are using the courts around the world to try and kill competition. This pisses me off. Stick to innovation. You use to be good at it. If you can't keep up with the competition then do what RIM is doing, go away. But if you can delude yourself into think that the end user is better off with just iPhones in the market, you need to put down that weed you've been smoking and get clean.

Sincerely,

Not Impressed


P.S.

This youtube review, Wicked4u2c does a great break down on Android for you to see how these feature are really old news for Android. This reviewer is amazing. I suggest you follow him.

Elphi Smart Plug: Life at Your Fingertips

This smart plug allows you to control your appliances from a distance. Consider this the natural evolution of the clap-on clap-off device. Using your Android or iPhone you can monitor and control power going to electronics in your home. Set devices on timers or control them at will with ease. It also has power monitoring abilities. This is great for energy conservation minded folks. But the thing is, this project needs your help. For $89 or more pledge you get in on a device that will become common place in the near future. The higher amounts you pledge the more plugs you get. Check out the project. As of the writing of this post there is 15 days left to the project and they haven't made goal yet. Join the Kickstarter project to make this dream a reality!

SensorDrone: A Make Your Phone Do More

The advent of the smart phone has done a lot. Starting with IBM, the smart phone has evolved into micro computers that can do more, faster than devices of the past. 

 Enter the SensorDrone. This little jewel makes it so you can measure things your phone would not be able to on its own. For $175, you can jump on board for a device that allows you to measure 

Be it Android or iPhone, if the application is enabled to connect to the SensorDrone then you can use it.

The device has an air, temperature and light sensor built into it. Additionally, there is an expansion post built into it. 

If you are interested in getting a sensor like this, you can get this device for just $175. When this hits the retail stores, you'll pay $199 for it. Click here to join the Kickstarter project. 

Kickstarter Project: Une Bobine

You know those times when you have a great idea and you wish you had the funds to make it happen? Well, it seems that Kickstarter is the place to make that happen. In this case, the idea is a cable for iPhone or any phone that uses the micro-usb port (Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone, etc.) that is rigid enough to make the device stand up. The best bit, if you donate $25 to the Kickstarter project in the next 53 hours you get the Une Bobine including world wide shipping. Not bad.

The cable comes in 4 options, two for microUSB and two for iPhone's connector. Each type of connector comes in 12 inches and 24 inches. If you donate the $25 you get the option of which ever type of connector and length. Here is the link to the project.

The below video focuses on the iPhone side of things, but this gadget works just as good with any phone using micro USB if you choose that option. Enjoy!