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
Mobile Operating Systems, Technology

Ready for the Galaxy S IV?

With the latest iteration of the Galaxy line slated to be introduced the mobile technology world is clamouring with rumors left and right. The Samsung Galaxy S III is and was certainly a great device.  One that brought about innovation and a lot more eyes onto the Android platform and you should expect the next iteration to do the same thing.

Samsung, although they stray from stock Android, they usually do so and bring about applications and tweaks that bring the best out of Android.  For example, the apps that are included with the Galaxy Note truly make it a remarkable experience and the same trickles down to the Galaxy S line of devices.

Bottom line:  The Samsung Galaxy S IV will be another defining device of the year.  It’s predecessor stemmed innovation in the market and nothing less should be expected from this device.

Technology

Unlocking now ILLEGAL?

Guess what technologists?  Unlocking your device — that’s right — your device that you paid for, is officially illegal.  When will all of this legislation end over a device that we pay for?

First, an enormous objection was made when we began to root and jailbreak devices.  Now, the same is happening for unlocking a device if you would like to move to another carrier.  More legislation does not help consumers; it does nothing more than hurt the market by denying the customer the right to do as they please with a device that they paid for.

iphone-tips-unlock-iphone-editedIt is understandable that the carriers subsidize these phones so that in turn we pay for using their network (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint or other).  However, if these networks and services are not up to par in various ways, then why do they deserve to keep customers?  Let’s get the facts straight, if you wish to leave a 2-year standardized wireless contract you will pay a cancellation fee — is that not enough.  Now, you will be forced to jump through hoops to unlock a device that is legally yours.  On the other hand, the DMCA states that there is enough choice in the market now that it shouldn’t matter whether you can unlock or not.  It appears at the end of your contract you can ask the carrier to unlock it for you — if they don’t, should you take it into your own hands?

Bottom line:  This is about principal.

Mobile Operating Systems, Technology

Apple Cuts Orders for iPhone 5 Parts

Apple is losing grip. In addition, to the stock price of the company going down, orders for iPhone LCD screens and other parts are also down. So, with Apple potentially producing less iPhones to sell that means that other manufacturers could be able to capture more marketshare. Who could step up to the plate?

For starters, Samsung has already proven itself as a worthy adversary as the now leading smartphone maker in threw world. Why? Samsung is truly innovate, Apple took a winning recipe and tried to copy and paste it too much. At this point, the iPhone is looking old and tired in a market that is full of phones that differentiate themselves from the competition. Samsung has released potentially the best smartphone of 2012, the Samsung Galaxy S III, packing unbelievable specs, a fantastic display and running the finest mobile operating system, Android. In addition, let us not forget about the phone that made it OK to carry a huge device in your pocket, the Samsung Galaxy Note.

iPhone-Parts

Other manufacturers are releasing compelling devices by the droves making Apple iPhone look simpler by the day.

Bottom line: The market wants innovate products that have not looked the same since 2007 — Apple’s tried and true is apparently telling a fib.

Multimedia

Google TV Review

At this point there are more cord-cutters than ever and there are now more options of retrieving media via the web.  With options such as Roku, Boxee, Apple TV and others what makes a device with Google TV installed so special? There are two basic avenues to getting Google TV, either you can purchase a TV with it installed or you can get a set top box with it installed and hook it up to a non-internet enabled TV.

Typically the Google TV experience that I have seen and witnessed is pretty vanilla and straight-forward.  The latest devices are running Android 3.2 and hopefully will be seeing an update soon.

Setup.  Setup of Google TV is simple, just as easy as you would setup a new Android device with signing in to your Google account and restoring apps — this is no different.  In addition, Google TV not only works alone, it works with your existing cable connection and HDTV.  That is right.  Not only can you benefit from just having this set top box alone, which is a viable option, adding cable just makes your experience better by actually being able to search content from your service provider, searching and still watching your favorite shows using PIP and more.

Day-to-Day Usage.  Using this player is just like using a Roku or Boxee Box device; however, the caveat is that these devices lack a customizable operating system beneath or “flow” from one to another; plus there is no full-featured Google Chrome.  Google TV devices come with the Google Play Store, which allows you to download any app compatible to your device.  That is includes Netflix, Flixster, YouTube (more on that later) and more.  Android on a TV is unlike anything that you’ve ever experienced — simply amazing.  Not only is the transition from app to app fluid and simple, the controls on the remote mimic Android on mobile devices, as they should. google-tv-remote

Apps.  To start, there are over 700K apps available on the Google Play Store for your devices; however, for this device, there are only a few thousand available.  Now, it is arguable how many apps do you really need for a TV?  Mainly, you need media consumption apps — not Cut the Rope or Angry Birds.  The apps that are available make this an extremely functional device and once you have it in your living room it’ll be there to stay.  YouTube on the Google TV is simply put, the richest YouTube experience on a TV – period. YT_GoogleTVFrom the ability to stream every video in your subscription box, the user has full control to give ratings and also view video information; all in excellent HD resoltion.  Netflix is no slacker here either — the UI is far greater than the experience on the Roku player.  It is not like the content increases, but the manner in which Netflix for Google TV delivers it is the key.  Also, Google Play Music and Movies are available, which just makes this box even more “Googley” so all of that music that you have uploaded and those movies that you have purchased are at your fingertips for the first time on your TV.

Just the above four apps alone make this device worth the $175 that you can purchase it for; Target even had it for $129.

Bottom line:  If you are a Google-centric person a Google TV is a no-brainer, especially the model I chose — Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV — buy [HERE]

sony_googletv

Social Networking

Is Online Privacy a Thing of the Past?

With our data being pinched at by every company under the sun, many just assume that there is no such thing as privacy on the internet anymore.

Is this over-generalized statement true?

Yes and no. There is privacy to be had online, the key to obtaining it is to not use the web or interact on social media. That means no Twitter, Facebook or Instagram for you. Not only can you not use social media, how would you like to stop using cloud services such as Dropbox or your favorite and arguably the best email service, GMail.  If you fret about privacy — online is NOT where you want to be.

However, at the price of disclosing information about yourself to certain trusted services, which typically force you to agree to the terms of the service, you get to use the service for free.  Examples include every Google service, every social network, any online shopping destination and more.  However, web services collecting information about you and your data (surfing habits, email, articles in your email and more) only make your experience better. How? Instead of getting ads that do not relate to you, you can have ads served that actually make you want to click or entice you to try a new product that you’ve been looking for. In addition, if you’re in the Google ecosystem user your shipping information can be pulled from GMail so that you can track your packages easier, your emails can be monitored for spam or Google Now can tell your how far you are from work and let you know how light or heavy the traffic is. Now those are details that you should want to know! Just think, by you providing a little bit of your data you get a great user experience in return. So, why the bellyaching?

privacy1

Bottom line: Unless you want to lose free and convenient services on the internet, you might want to think twice about complaining.