Loading ...Archive: January, 2010
Why you don’t want an Apple iPad!
10 reasons to skip the iPad this year
On Wednesday, Jan 27 – Steve Jobs unveiled Apple’s new device the iTampon, I mean the iPad (sorry bad joke and it has been overdone) with alot of hoopla and media attention that no one does better than Apple. When the iPhone came out it was truly revolutionary – it changed the cell phone game but this device, the iPad is not likely to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor.
Why not? Well for one the smartphone market was (and still is) taking off and Apple entered the game late after RIM had demonstrated that the cell phone market was going to Smartphones in a big way. But the iPad is not a smartphone it’s a tablet PC or Apple’s iTablet. And tablet PCs have been around for more than a decade already and it hasn’t caught on. So Apple is attempting to drive a new category. What that category is – is not clear. I’ve heard – it’s not a smartphone and it’s not an eBook – so its a Smartbook. I’ve heard that it is in the netbook category and I’ve also heard of course that it’s in the tablet category. Whichever category it’s in, this is more niche that mass.
All You Need to Know About the Apple iPad
It’s the iPad, not iTablet
After much anticipation Apple has launched its long-awaited iPad, yes I said iPad (no jokes please). There are many blogs discussing the new iPad, here you will find everything you would care to know about Apple’s newest device. Our sources tell us that the Apple iPad will be available in Canada in late June or early July 2010. The iPad is a cross between an iTouch and a Laptop. It is not as functional as a Laptop, and a little more advanced then the iTouch. Surfing the web, sending/receiving emails, playing games, listening to music, reading eBooks and using many of the Apps that are available for both the iPhone and iTouch will be more enjoyable on the iPads 9.7 inch screen. The weight of the iPad is 1.5 lbs, a little heavier than the Kindle or Amazon’s eReader. It is only 1.3cm thick with a large black border framing the screen. Read the rest of this entry »
10 Blackberry Apps you can’t live without!
My Favourite Blackberry Apps
Any blackberry aficionado will tell you that in order to really get the true value of a blackberry you have to load applications. It’s simply a must! The blackberry app portal is growing daily with lots of cool apps from free to paid applications that would enhance your cell phone or smartphone experience. This list represents my favourite applications and includes some must haves.
Before I begin, in order to benefit from blackberry apps you should have blackberry app world installed on your phone. This is the easiest way to get find, download and use these applications.
One other point to note is that these applications leverage your data service on your device so it’s important to understand how much data your need so you don’t end up paying too much in the process.
HTC Maple (HTC Snap) Review
HTC Maple or HTC Snap – What’s the difference?
When I heard about the HTC Maple it looked very familiar to me. It looked a lot like the HTC Snap and it looks a bit like the Blackberry Bold!! What’s also interesting is that it has a very Canadian like name…the Maple. Given these similarities I wanted to find out more about this device just out of sheer curiosity.
Well it turns out that my hunch was correct, the HTC Maple is the pure GSM version of the HTC Snap (the snap also has GSM capabilities) with some minor differences. It’s slightly longer, but has all the similar features of the Snap. To learn more about the HTC Maple matched up against its cousin, the HTC Snap see the table below for key information about the differences.
More Eye Candy from LG with the New Chocolate BL40
LG Chocolate BL40 Cell phone Review
Before you test your taste buds, read on to see if LG’s latest Black Label cell phone, the New Chocolate BL40, lives up to the high quality standard of some of the past devices like the Shine and the Secret. Take your pick, the New Chocolate is available in the keypad-toting slider or the full touch screen with both handsets running LG’s S-class user interface.
The BL40 is not here just for the unique look but the quality feel of the user interface as well. The user interface and touch screen input is very smooth and sensitive, and commands are easily entered with the lightest of touches. Also, with the support for gesture controls, you can access menus by drawing simple icons on a touch pad and set up each of your frequently used menu items to be accessed by one of the twelve gesture icons stored in the handset.
The iPhone for Business?
Is the iPhone ready for the Corporate world?
The iPhone is fast, intuitive, and great for all types of consumers, including enterprise. It is built to Apple’s highest standards, making it extremely reliable. It is easy to use; in fact, it is so easy to use that Apple only provides a basic instruction manual. Users figure things out by “playing” with the iPhone and they are pleasantly surprised when they learn something new. This process is a major factor to the iPhone’s success. It allows people to explore and share what they find; making the iPhone experience one of seemingly infinite discovery.
Canadians got into the iPhone game a little late, but we have been making up for it, with hundreds of thousands of iPhones in market and all three of the major carriers now brandishing this device. Many have argued that the iPhone increases productivity by providing the user with tools that allow them to quickly access data, applications, and to expand the phone to their personal and businesses needs. Surfing the web on the iPhone is a breeze, with the best portable web browser on the market, websites look and feel the same way as surfing on a desktop or laptop, you can even have multiple web pages open at the same time. Another great feature is that you do not need to manually switch applications when surfing the web or making a call. If you are on a site and there is a telephone number or address – you simply touch either the number or the address and the iPhone will ask if you would like to call the number or Google maps pops up instantly.
There are thousands of Apps for both consumers and business users. iPhones are being used more and more as “mini” laptops and the days of carrying multiple devices are gone. The iPhone is an all-in-one device, replacing everything from a basic cell phone to a GPS. Corporate users can even use the iPhone as a remote control to advance their slides in a presentation. The iPhone is also perfect for conference calling, you can have up to 6 people on a conference at any given time, and you can even speak privately to a single party while the others remain on the call with each other. The first iPhones were mainly marketed to individuals, but with new software upgrades including “push-based” e-mail, Wi-Fi with WPA2/802.1x support and tools to enforce security policies, contact management and calendar info; additional support for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and two-factor authentication, certificates and identities, you will surely see more businesses using the iPhone. Other security features include wiping the device completely if compromised. In March of 2008, Gartner – a leading market research firm, changed its stance against using the iPhone in an enterprise situation a vote of confidence for Apple.
So, the iPhone is in many respects ready for corporate life, however, there are a few cons.
- Sending emails or texts will not be as quick, compared to a Blackberry or any other Smart phone with a full QWERTY keyboard.
- The learning curve and level of efficiency for some business professionals, especially users that are use to the Blackberry, can be a little steep.
- The wireless carriers have reported that iPhone subscribers use five times (5x) more data bandwidth than Blackberry users. Blackberry’s compression standards for transferring data over the wireless network are favoured by the carriers; real costs that someone has to pay for.
For many business decision makers the real deciding factor, despite the bells and whistles, is that none of the service providers in Canada have budget friendly corporate plans for the iPhone. Many of the iPhone rates and plans are far more expensive when compared to Blackberry plans and for many that is a deal buster. With an app for this and an app for that is the iPhone really ready for your corporate environment, we’ll let you decide.
If you are in the market for corporate devices, whatever you decide, please share your comments and or experience with us. Also, on the topic of productivity, is an iPhone user really more productive? What do you think?
Google’s Nexus strategy – what is it?
We all know Google as the lead of the search market and online advertising. This is its bread and butter.
But recently Google unveiled a new Smartphone called Nexus One – a rather impressive device that threatens to rival the iPhones and Blackberries of the world. With a 1GHz processor it packs enough punch to rival most desktop computers in the market. But the big question I have is why would Google enter the cell phone hardware market?
The New LG Bliss
LG Bliss
Like a flower just about to bloom, a pleasant scent while walking through the room. A lovely quote to start the day, laughter and fun not only at work but also at play. The LG Bliss is a good balance of attractive and functional characteristics that we’ve grown to appreciate with our touch screen phones.
A 3 inch screen with solid graphics that can be customized 4 ways lets you know that this is my phone. They provide shortcuts to your everyday functions, like contacts, multi media use and messaging.
Did I mention text messaging capabilities? Unlike other phones that provide one form of text messaging or IM, like the the Qwerty keyboard, or ABC texting found on most flip phones, the Bliss has the virtual Qwerty, virtual ABC but also a really cool letter recognition that allows you to hand write your messages for those of us who can still write. It does lack the auto correct feature but who makes mistakes typing anyway. Read the rest of this entry »
The Nexus One
Definition of Nexus - the means of connection between things linked in series.
So, what is this Nexus One? Rumour, hype, myth or legend? This phone is currently not available but is causing a buzz not heard since the Apple iPhone in 2007. Its being tested by Google employees and strikes similarities to the Apple iPhone, but will this be considered another iPhone killer?
