Category: Android

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Posted in Android, Apple

Sorry Fandroids, But The iCult Is Real

Posted on by Darnell Clayton

If there is something that has always perplexed me about Americans (myself included) is the fixation on using Apple designed devices.

Image Credit: Gwendal Le Bec, image discovered on Slate.

Although Android surpasses Apple in the number of devices uses globally, iPhone is considered the gold standard when it comes to younger generations.

American teens and twenty-somethings are so entranced by Apple that they feel they would be shunned by society if they ditch the iPhone. This doesn’t just allow Apple to sell more iPhones, it also enables them to sell more of other products.

Apple ships 26 iPads, 17 Apple Watches, and 35 pairs of AirPods for every 100 iPhones. In contrast, Samsung sells fewer than 11 tablets, 6 smartwatches, and 6 earbuds for every 100 phones.

Apple has a close-knitted ecosystem and pairing Apple devices with other products leads to a sub-optimal user experience.

Phone Arena

The article further goes on to explain iMessage as the reason, but that is absurd as there are numerous messenger services available (on iOS/iPadOS & Android) that rival iMessage.

I think the issue boils down to the device & apps “simply working” & the fact that many celebrities use iPhones & are seen “in the wild” with them.

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Posted in Android, Google, Mobile, Technology

No Google Universal Translator Love For Non-Pixel Android Phones‽

Posted on by Darnell Clayton

Google finished unveiling a suite of updated products including Google home mini, Pixelbook, Pixel Phone 2.0 & Pixel Buds.

Hardware wise none of their products are impressive (as they boast yesteryear specs), but software wise Google has jumped past rivals due to one pony trick that Apple can not easily mimick.

Auto translate via Pixel Buds is as close as the world will get to a universal translator & it impressively supports 40 languages!

However instead of sharing this Greek fire with the Android brethren & sistren, Google has sadly wisely restricted this killer feature for Pixel lovers in order to boost sales of their flagship device.

Get real-time translation with Google Translate. Just touch and hold the right earbud to activate the Google Assistant on your Pixel.1 […]

¹The Google Assistant on Google Pixel Buds is only available on Android and requires an Assistant-enabled Android device and data connection. Data rates may apply. For available Assistant languages and minimum requirements go to g.co/pixelbuds/help. Requires a Google Account for full access to features. Google Translate on Google Pixel Buds is only available on Pixel. (Google Store, emphasis mine)

This Google exclusive restriction will enrage Android manufacturers who are desperate to come up with a unicorn feature to convince iFolks (like me) to defect away from Apple.

However auto translation may inspire Apple & manufacturers to take artificial intelligence seriously as Google will probably share their one trick pony with the rest of the Made by Google family in the near future.

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Posted in Android, Apple, Apple Watch, Google, Technology

Out: Apple Watch, In: Neptune Hub‽ 

Posted on by Darnell Clayton

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The last time I was excited about wrist wear was when I discovered that the Leatherman Tread was courting Apple Watch!

http://youtu.be/tHZix18zVAE

Neptune Hub allows you to make calls, send messages, stay connected with your social networks, track fitness stats, and much more, all directly on your wrist – all on its own. (Neptune Hub Indiegogo Page)

Here is a more indepth video sans the promo hype:

Honestly though I could see myself wearing the Neptune Hub over an Apple Watch for 5 reasons:

  1. Larger screen (so I can actually see apps)
  2. Built in 3G/LTE radio (so it can operate independently of a smart phone)
  3. 64 GB of internal storage
  4. Running a full mobile OS (not a dumbed down wrist version)
  5. Real video calling from my wrist! (Yes, I am a Trekie!!)

The Neptune Hub is running Android 5.0, although I assume they will upgrade to 6.0 when Google unveils it to the world. 

Its GSM friendly so (in theory) it should work on AT&T & T-Mobile networks (Verizon & Sprint are out of luck sadly). 

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They plan to ship devices out by February of 2016, although there is no word on whether they will parter with GSM telecoms via leasing plans (as Neptune Hub is selling for $899 off contract). 

My only major concern is battery life as having this last less than a day would be a deal breaker for me (as it only boasts 1,000 mAH).

Exit Question: Is Apple working on something similar‽ After all good artists copy while great artists steal…

Discovered via: Engadget

Image Credits: Neptune Hub Indiegogo Page

Posted in Android, Apple, FBI, Google, Politics, Privacy, Technology, USA

Loud iWhining And gRanting Coming From…The FBI‽

Posted on by Darnell Clayton
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Image Via EverythingNew

Sometimes I wonder if my government understands the concept of liberty beyond the barrel of a gun.

Cue the bureaucratic rant…

“Today at FBI headquarters, director James Comey told reporters he was concerned by the move. “I like and believe very much that we should have to obtain a warrant from an independent judge to be able to take the content of anyone’s closet or their smart phone,” Comey said. “The notion that someone would market a closet that could never be opened — even if it involves a case involving a child kidnapper and a court order — to me does not make any sense.” (via The Verge)“

Since the FBI can not beat/coerce confessions of the accused due to the 5th amendment, they prefer Americans too ignorant to secure their private devices (which consumers pay a hefty fee for!) to lack the adequate protection needed to keep hackers at bay.

In essence the FBI’s interests do not align with iLovers & gConsumers everywhere, not to mention constitutional rights to privacy (which is sadly becoming endangered in the western world).

But all is not lost for our federal overlords–after all we are merely surfs who serve at their pleasure.

Since Google & Apple are securing smart devices by default, this means that FBI will have to rely upon black hat hackers (who do not work for cheap) or build expensive super computers (assuming the NSA has not built them already).

With the treasury printing money faster than trees can create oxygen, I’m sure my Federal overlords will soon boast the resources to find new exploits to use against smart devices–all in the name of security & Justice for all!

Posted in Android, Blackberry, iOS, Windows Phone

If Android And iOS Were Gardens…

Posted on by Darnell Clayton

Whenever people ask me which mobile iOS is better I always ask them what is it that they’re looking for.

If the person is the “happy-go-lucky-goes-into-meltdown-over-glitches” type then I recommend iOS.

If they are the “analytical-deep-thought-must-customize-everything” type then I recommend Android.

But what about other platforms like Blackberry, Firefox OS, Windows Phone, Tizen, etcetera?

To me the major difference between all the platforms is this:

iOS: A walled garden where you can play and have fun without fear of anything deadly biting or stinging you. (like New Zealand)

Android: A wild jungle providing you the resources to build an extravagant fortress, as long as you a kid the deadly creatures seeking to devour you. (translation: viruses)

Windows Phone: An ugly walled garden with semi-ugly plants.

Blackberry: A walled garden with one wall broken. You can haul in stuff from the jungle but it may clash with the domestic wildlife. (Translation: side loading Android apps like Instagram is possible but not pretty)

Firefox OS: A walled garden where everything dies every evening. (Translation: web apps only work when there is signal)

Tizen: An abandoned garden.

So those are my thoughts about each mobile OS via allegory. Did I leave anything out?

Image Credit: Daderot via Wikipedia

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Posted in Android, Blogger, Google, iOS, Markdown, Mobile

Dear Google, Please Save Blogger

Posted on by Darnell Clayton

No, the Google overlords are not pondering shutting down blogger.

Rather they have focused their undivided attention upon Google+ (especially on mobile).

Since we live in a “Post PC era” and Google has an official blogger app (which I’m using) I thought I might add a few suggestions.

Markdown Support: Notice I said Markdown support instead of HTML (the latter which you can use if you know the code).

Markdown would make it easier to write posts on the go as well as satisfy über geeks like me.

Although WYSIWYG HTML editor would be fantastic, unless done properly it will simply overcrowd the screen, adding unnecessary complexity (not to mention make the contents of the post look ugly).

Also use Google+ version of Markdown for italics and bold instead of the original by Daring Fireball as the former is much easier to use.

User Friendly Image Placement Pretty much “borrow” from what BlogPress is doing.

YouTube Capture Integration This would make video blogging very fun upon Blogger again.

That’s it for now, although as of today I’m back upon Blogger.

And no I still haven’t abandoned Tumblr! 😛

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