All posts by Dexter Johnson

Technology, style, fitness and health. http://dexjohnspc.com , http://topnotchmalestyletips.com and listen to the Whaddup Tech Podcast http://bit.ly/WhaddupTech
Multimedia, Social Networking, Technology, Video, YouTube

YouTube Comments have changed, now get over it!

There have been countless users of YouTube complaining since last week about the new integration of Google+ within the site.  I suppose that many users do not understand that this only making the site better and certainly adding more of a community aspect.  Yes, people should be held accountable for the things that they post online — just as you are held accountable for the things that you say and do in reality.  The new comment system is not bad it is just an incremental change that happens in tech.  People learn to accept change and move on.  I was one who didn’t like the Microsoft XBox at first, until I gave it a chance.

That is the thing that is missing here, users see the change and instead of giving it an honest try — immediately write it off.  See a video below:

However, for those that understand how YouTube works; they see it’s usefulness (in addition, notifications went out that YouTube was changing how they did comments.)  See an excerpt from TWiT’s This Week in YouTube Ep. 30:


Is it a bad change?  No.  Yet, some have difficult times dealing with change — when in reality it is more streamlined and efficient.

This is something that we all saw coming as +Google is working towards integrating all of their services, which is an excellent thing.  Which is odd because people complain and say they aren’t integrated enough!

Bottom line:  Get over it!  If you hate the new integrated Google+ comments in YouTube — leave the site, that is always an option.  As a creator (TopNotch Male Style Tips) I welcome the change and I hope that my community does as well.

Mobile Operating Systems, Technology

Fingerprint Scanners

iPhone 5S, HTC One Max and surely many more to come are just a few devices that are implementing this “new” fingerprint scanning technology.  The iPhone, for example, uses the technology to unlock the devices and for purchases among a few reasons.  However, how practical and how broad can this technology be stretched?  Will it get to the point where people are getting snatched to use their thumbs?

I believe that this technology is a good step-forward — as with any advance.  However, I still believe that nothing will surpass the traditional pin or password unlock in terms of security and practicality.

fingerprint

Another thing to note is that with the resent uproar of NSA “spying”, some technologists fear this may be yet another way for the government to collect information on it’s citizens.

[Video courtesy of CNET]

Bottom line: Congratulations, we have new technology within our smartphones; however, I do not believe that this is groundbreaking in terms of security, the password still reigns supreme.

Mobile Operating Systems, Operating Systems, Technology

Nexus 5

Google fans unite!  Rather, pure-Android fans unite.  Whether you love the Nexus brand or not — it is always great to see another monumental device along with the latest version of Andriod be released around this time of the year.  As a Nexus 4 owner, I am excited for the new features of Android 4.4 (KitKat) as well as the new hardware found on the Nexus 5.

Nexus devices show the market what Android is all about, that is without the skins, colorful overlays and played transitions.  This is stock Android at it’s finest.  Typically OEM skins can slow down your device and leave the user with a poor experience, which in turn leads them to blame the OS, not the OEM.  When in fact you can pick up a Nexus device and always have a wonderful experience.

Nowadays, Android is stable, mature and bold and the software isn’t an issue unless it really brings the device down (Samsung’s TouchWiz, which could be vastly improved if it weren’t for the useless features baked in).  The thing that any Nexus device will not have is extra unwanted bloat, be it from the carrier, OEM or vendor — giving the end user an incredible experience directly from Google.

NEXUS-5

I am ready for the Nexus 5; the next pinnacle of the Android experience.

Operating Systems, Technology

Obama vetoes a Samsung win?

Politicians and technology…..the two should never be used in the same sentence.  Why?  Because typically, politicians are completely oblivious to things in the technology world.  Now, President Obama is known for being a technological president (he carried a Blackberry) and I salute him for that.  However, taking a court win from Samsung to let Apple get suing companies behooves me.

obama_iphoneEssentially, the president vetoed an import ban that was given to Samsung regarding a few Apple devices (iPhone 4S, iPad1 and iPad2).  This win for Samsung has came after Apple began the patent war on anything that is non-Apple.

Is this a loss to Android?  No.  Samsung?  No.  But, due to this turnaround the tech giant lost $1 billion of it’s worth in market value.

Bottom line:  Politicians….please stick to making laws and making the country better.  This isn’t your lane.

 

 

Technology

Verizon could owe Apple

What happens when you don’t sell as many iPhones as Apple would like for you to?  You could owe the Cupertino company some money!  Or at least that is true when it comes to the top wireless carrier in the United States.  I understand that contracts exist between entities of all types from car manufacturers and car lots from PC manufacturers and retailers — they are unavoidable.  Apparently, Verizon “agreed a deal to sell at least US$23.5 billion worth of iPhones in 2013” [Source: http://www.cellular-news.com/story/60982.php ].

Is it particularly Verizon’s fault that it did not sell as many devices as it would have liked?  Yes and no.  Perhaps marketing was not on their side; better yet, maybe iPhones just aren’t selling as well as they used to?  Let’s examine the statistics here, when Apple first released it’s famed iPhone everybody wanted it.  Some left their current carrier to join AT&T because that is the only service that offered the device.  Then, Verizon followed suit and agreed to sell the iPhone 4 — millions were sold.  However, let us take a look at the marketshare for iOS devices and Android devices:

marketshare_mobileAs it is quite easy to tell (perhaps after enlarging the picture) Android is in the lead and isn’t relinquishing hold.  There simply are not enough iPhones in the market.  The gift of Android is that there is simply a device for everyone.

Bottom line: Contracts sometimes are harsh, word of advice to Verizon look at the market before signing another deal with Apple.