Bendable Screen Brought to You by Samsung

Just this early September, Apple has launched its newest addition to its collection of iPhones, the 5s and the 5c. The 5c is considered—for some reasons—the replacement of its predecessor, the iPhone 5. Apparently, the cost for producing a phone covered in colorful polycarbonate plastic is cheaper than opting for a lighter, aluminum casing, which exudes elegance.

Meanwhile, the 5s has replaced the iPhone 5 as Apple’s flagship phone. The newer handset is packed with a number of innovative features, with the fingerprint sensor being the breakthrough cream of the crop feature. Bluntly, the truth of the matter is, the fingerprint scanning technology is not the “latest” technology there is. It already existed decades ago in some known and widely used biometric systems. What consumers are really waiting and yearning for is a novel technology that has the wow factor.

Last January of this year, Samsung has showed off its prototype products with a flexible screen and a display that extends from the side of a device. It’s just a matter of time till the tech giant makes the innovative technology available on the market. According to D.J. Lee, Samsung’s mobile business head of strategic marketing, “We plan to introduce a smartphone with a curved display in South Korea in October.”

However, although the new-found technology is promising, mass producing the parts cheaply will seem to take more time as the tech firms that will support the flexible display technology have yet to figure out how to lower its production cost. Furthermore, there are still a bit more developments to be done in order to produce display panels that can be as thin as a sheet and highly resistant from heat.

We may see the bendable screen as a cutting edge technology for handheld devices today, but perhaps some of us may wonder, “What is it really for?” Well, for starters, once the flexible screen is fully materialized, it will be virtually “unbreakable.” Additionally, the lighter, thinner plastic-based display is presumed to utilize less energy than the current displays. This could serve as a supplementary yet temporary solution to the complaints of mobile consumers regarding a short battery life of their handheld devices.

A more potential development of the bendable technology might just be beneficial for the next generation of gadgets—the wearable devices. Because of the display’s flexible nature, it can be wrapped around a person’s wrist. Also, the relatively thin make of the display will allow for more space to add in other components to produce a more powerful device. Anyway, October is fast approaching; let us just wait and see if the talked-about flexible display will really come into reality on commercially-available smartphones as said. With technology, the possibilities are endless.

iPhone 4 is Better Off Without iOS 7

It has always been a tradition for the smartphone giant Apple to keep its goods to the company alone. One might even say they are a lot like BlackBerry at that particular facet because both had something original that no other tech giant possessed and held close for quite a period of time. And for this reason, every time Apple launches its latest operating system after testing the software on their newest flagship, it does the same experimentation with their previous versions.

It is still remains a question what makes people grab onto Apple like it is the last fruit in the tree, but it is common knowledge that Apple adds only but a little to their flagship devices. If anything, there’s only but a slight tweak in the capabilities of the OS and a couple of built-in apps that enhances the smartphone experience. Nevertheless, there’s just something about Apple that distinguishes it from all other mobile phones, and it might not be the operating software after all. Why? Well, its latest iOS 7 has been nothing but amazing for the iPhone 5, 5S, and 5C users. Will it be the same for its latter versions, like maybe the iPhone 4?

Before the release of iOS 7, Apple raised the flags for its iOS 6 that boasts two exceptional built-in apps, allowed for retrieving essential documents like loyalty cards, admission tickets, and etcetera through its Passbook app, and an upgraded personal assistant in the form of Siri that enabled reservations and give updates on your favourite social networking sites and detailed reviews on movies and sports. These are just but a few of its features.

As tradition, this iOS version was experimented on the oldest iPhone flagship, the iPhone 3GS, that supported the operating system. With no derogatory, iPhone 3GS was able to run the previously mentioned features that only the iOS 6 owned then. Apple users with the 3GS in hand became happy.

Now we’ve been introduced to the iOS 7, with its revamped user interface and notable improvements to the operating system’s overall functionality. This time, the iOS 7 can support versions iPhone 4 to the latest flagship devices – iPhone 5S and 5C – and then iPod Touch (5^th generation), iPad 2, iPad (3^rd and 4^th generation), and the iPad Mini. To continue the tradition, the iOS 7 was tested on the iPhone 4 and here’s what was disclosed:

1.       Some of the best features of the iOS 7 are inaccessible to the iPhone 4. It’s either the hardware or the system-on-chip that holds back the precious device from delivering these features to the highest grade. The iPhone 4 just isn’t cut out for them. These features will include:

·         3D Flyover (Maps)

·         Panorama mode/Filters in the Camera

·         AirPlay Mirroring

·         Siri

·         AirDrop

·         Graphical effects (translucency effects, live wallpapers, and the parallax effect on the Home screen)

2.       The hardware integrated to the iPhone 4 is weaker and slower than the A5, A6, and A7. This is also the reason why the graphical effects are dismissed with the iPhone 4. Nevertheless, the updated apps, Control Center, security updates, APIs, and other technologies are available.

3.       Applications run with the iOS 7 are approximately a second and a half slower for the iPhone 4. This is due to the long-duration animations that iOS 7 utilizes.

4.       As for the battery life, there is a slight decrease in the duration-about eleven minutes or so-but unnoticeable all the same. Better ready a portable charger to refresh those lost eleven minutes.

In conclusion, installing the iOS 7 to your iPhone 4 might not be a good idea after all especially when you’re after the quick-paced processing power Apple’s operating systems are known for. I could suggest you get yourself an iPhone 5 or any of the newest flagship smartphones if you so wish to acquaint yourself with the iOS 7. Laters!

Google’s Project Loon Aims Internet Access for Everyone

We can attest to the fact that none of these innovations that we take part of will be present without the internet. With it, access to information has been made convenient by just a click on your PC or tap on your tablet or smartphone. Let me ask you this: can you even imagine your life without access to the internet? I doubt.

Moving on, you and I are lucky enough that we have an access to the internet. However, some, as a matter of fact, take this privilege for granted. In reality, only a few people across the globe have an internet access. According to Google, “Two out of three people on earth don’t have access to the web.” It’s such an irony, considering the vast scope of the internet, yet access to it isn’t that widespread to this very day. There are quite a number of issues on why people on some parts of the world can’t be provided with internet access, and the biggest roadblock is due to geographical transmission issues. It’s either providers find it too impractical to establish a fiber-optic based internet to sparse population or land forms block wireless signals.

Good news because Google has a plan, and the solution lies on its “Project Loon.” The concept is actually simple yet clever; Google will be providing internet access by means of balloons. The project is made possible by sending out helium-filled balloons into the stratosphere, a layer of the atmosphere about 10 km above the earth’s surface. The altitude on where the balloons will stay is twice as high where airplanes fly; hence, cases of collision won’t be a problem. The winds are constant in the stratosphere ensuring that the balloons don’t roam about aimlessly to other areas or in space.

An array of solar panels will be attached below the balloon to power and charge the equipment. A wireless network will be established by the other balloons floating nearby in the stratosphere that will be connected to a base station on the ground, which is connected to the internet. People who want to connect to the balloon internet will just need to install a specialized Loon receiving antenna, and that’s about it. It can offer an internet connection of speeds up to the normal 3G internet or faster. Every balloon contains a parachute on top, which can be deployed for maintenance or if ever a repair is warranted.

And this we ask, “What does Google get in return for this extensive project?” Well, with more and more people being able to get connected, sooner or later, they will be clicking on the Google ads.

As of now, tests have already been conducted. Balloons have been deployed in certain areas in New Zealand, Africa, and California, USA. The first person in New Zealand to get access to the internet via Project Loon is a farmer. He is just one of the 50 locals in that area who signed up for the project they know so little of.

In this time when a lot of people are looking forward for the iPhone 5S to be available on the shelves of tech stores or listed on online mobile stores, a lot of people still don’t have an idea of what the internet is. This is just one of the evidences of the discrepancy of technology’s influence. And so, once this project realizes its full potential and operates in a full scale, more and more people will be joining us, having access to the internet and one another.

It’s About to BOX Out the Office

Everybody who is acquainted with Microsoft Office has been reliant on its outstanding file editing capabilities on various needs by the common user. May it be for procuring documents, generating reports for business statements, or creating presentations for a product or software launching, Microsoft Office takes the lead to provide all these with ease rendering it the leading patron for file editing software. Though it is proprietary in nature, consumers still vies for its user-friendly features that other file editing software made complicated. However, the tables might turn this time around and leave Microsoft with yet another exceptional competitor. 

Called the Box Notes, this is Aaron Levie’s version of a file editing software. The files are the ones stored up on cloud where they are kept secured with all the necessary defenses. This cloud file storage is termed “Box,” hence the name Box Notes. Websites have shared their objective points through articles which of course, sparked the world into a debate – people that include critics and your usual social crowd and some commentators in online mobile stores for reasons I don’t know, have given their own set of opinions regarding the topic at hand and they beg to disagree.

Their arguments? Read on.

1.       It’s an app. Box Notes is much like an app to Box as Evernote is to Android and iOS devices. Sure enough, it supplies the conventional text editing operations that Office has been delivering for centuries now. But because it acts like an app, it lacks other important aspects making it less than appealing if an individual is after outright editing of his digital files on the go. People will still go for what was familiar and easy. Indulging into a new software such as Box Notes is a sudden change of routine, (yes, routine as that’s what Microsoft Office is to a lot of people to this time) and can be a little staggering to move from one software to another.

2.       It’s not free. Not everything comes as a handout especially when it is something as elegant as Box cloud storage. Just as Box Notes is an integrated functionality to the digital file sharer, expect that it would take a load off your pockets to lodge it for utilization. After all, top security for your digital files doesn’t come without a price.

3.       It has few features. Box Notes is basically a simple text editor. To the expert eyes, it may appear as if it is Notepad, only it’s web-based. As of now, it could only provide simple editing features like the paragraph and text orientation. Then again, with the innovative minds engineering it, it may get a whole lot better than Notepad and maybe even Office itself. Who knows, right?

Box Notes is an asset to Box cloud storage facility, as much as a charger is to practically every gadget available. No one can deny that. Sooner than later, it might be for the rest of the world as well. But let’s not jump into any conclusion just yet. Whatever the future holds for the company, good or bad, I’m quite sure Box Notes has its own way of sweeping off the crowd like Microsoft Office and Google Docs had when the stage was theirs to take.