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

Smoked by Windows Phone; Smoked by Galaxy Nexus

Microsoft has been hosting the Smoked by Windows Phone Challenge where the company is challenging that WP7 is faster than competing smartphones at everyday tasks.  The challenge is hosted at participating Microsoft stores and winners can get a variety of prizes.  In many cases that are posted by Microsoft the WP7 platform comes out victorious; of course.  However, one brave opponent garnering a Samsung Galaxy Nexus running Android 4.0 won.  How so?  The task was to show weather from two different cities at the same time at the fastest rate.  See example video below:

However, in this case for the weather showcase the Windows Phone was already setup to have two live tiles pulling weather information so by default it would’ve won; however, our friend with the Galaxy Nexus was prepared.  The Android competitor had the screen lock disabled and two weather widgets by default which caused him to win and create a small uproar.  The winner was even offered a phone and a laptop.  Read more [HERE].

Bottom line:  I am a fan of WP7, but this just shows that setting things up in your favor do not always constitute a win.

Mobile Operating Systems, Technology

WiFi Tethering and Carriers

WiFi Tethering, carriers offer it but they charge those that use it.  True, tethering is a service; however, when the data you are using has ALREADY been paid for, it makes less and less sense.  Our smartphones can do great things — one of those is to become a mobile hotspot in a time of need.

Many early free tethering apps required you to root your Android or iOS device; however, FoxFi has caused a recent storm for Android users by bringing this convenient app to a variety of devices and let’s not mention the apps for iOS that allow the same option once jailbroken such as MyWi.

As long as there are users that believe that tethering should be part of their monthly data allowance there will be apps that allow it.  I have never understood why you have to add the mobile hotspot to your data plan in order to use the ability that your device has without it.

Bottom line:  Carriers, please wake up.  We will tether…for FREE.

Social Networking, Technology

Death of Print Media

It is 2012 and for some reason people still insist on killing trees.  How is it possible for a media centric society that believes that everything should be at their fingertips continue to use paper?

Print items that are slowly fading away:

  • Encyclopedias
  • Traditional Office Forms
  • Applications
  • Books
  • Newspapers
  • Magazines

As a society, we need to accept that paper has lost the prominence it once had; besides there are so many issues surrounding paper:

  • Loss of integrity (getting ripped, soiled, etc.)
  • Not secure (anyone can sign a document for someone — electronic links can be embedded with users email addresses to ensure credibility)
  • Costly
  • Takes up valuable space

Bottom line:  Paper is going the way of the dodo bird; fact.  Now, let’s move on.

Mobile Operating Systems, Operating Systems, Technology

Will Windows 8 tablets do well?

Microsoft is really pushing that Windows 8 will truly unite their platform across all devices and really give it a consistent look.  However, the biggest issues are how well will Windows 8 tablets (slates) do and how will the OS fair on the desktop.  Honestly, there shouldn’t be another OS that is better fitted for the enterprise than Windows 8.  Sure there is a learning curve; but that SAME learning curve is there when one would hand an executive an iPad.

Things that could really work in Microsoft’s favor:

  1. Unified across devices
  2. Able to support many Windows applications; not just 500,000 apps
  3. Windows tablets will provide more accessibility via USB input etc.
  4. Multiple arenas for running applications (Metro or Windows desktop)

Bottom line:  If Windows 8 turns out to be truly portable and is not overly expensive on a tablet this could potentially be a shifting in the tides.

Mobile Operating Systems, Operating Systems, Software, Technology

Specs; do they still matter in 2012?

Single core processors, dual-core, quad-core, six-core…retina display, HD display, polished aluminum — all of these specifications and more are the things that entice us gadget lovers to lose our minds and buy; yet again.  Yet in recent years most tablets, PCs, and other electronic devices work decently as they should and the question, “Do specs still matter?” still comes to mind.  For example, the Asus Transformer Prime is a quad-core lightning fast Ice-Cream Sandwich running monster of a tablet; yet does it have to be quad-core for it to run as it should?  Or are we just being sold on specs and the dream that it might run a litter faster?

Personally, I am a fan of Android; however, when it comes to seamless integration of an OS and the hardware Apple has it down to an art form.  Why?  Simple, the OS is tailored for the hardware, so that user experience is almost second to none.  On the other hand, and Android OEM must take stock Android and tailor it to fit their needs and this could potentially cause inconsistencies across the market.  So, what do hardware manufacturers do?  They beef up the spec sheet.  This could almost be sort of a fail-safe — think about it.  If the software isn’t exactly what it should be — the superior hardware of the tablet will make up for it.  Is this a good assumption?  I think so.

Bottom line:  The year is 2012; almost everything that reputable hardware manufacturers such as Samsung, Apple, Motorola, LG, and more release is an actual decent product.  In addition, if you use it the way it was intended to be used, the product should continue to run smoothly for some time.  There will continue to be some differences between iOS and Android as they continue to grow — important notes about Android devices are that they mirror the PC more because the OS is built for true multitasking — this is why they need to be more powerful than the Apple counterparts.

Choose whichever side meets your needs; although there must be power in these devices for a reason.