Category Archives: Software

Mobile Operating Systems, Software, Technology

Forget your carrier; get Sidecar

Voice over IP is evolving with an excellent gem of an app called Sidecar, which is available for Android and iOS devices.
Call quality as you might expect is not better than that of you carrier by any means. On the other hand, it is very good for a Wi-Fi connection; in fact there is an option to increase the quality of the audio, which will use more data. Reviews for the application for Android have came together to form a solid 3.7, which says that although the app is good there is room for improvement.

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Aside from calling, users can share video, short messages, and more.

Bottom line: This app is a must have and it really shows the future that is in the palm of technology’s hand. Sidecar will only get better; be that early adopter.

Operating Systems, Software, Technology

Galaxy Tab 2 — 7.0

When you think of low-priced Android powered tablets one thought comes to mind as an immediate success: Amazon Kindle Fire.  Now, Samsung is on board and they have created a 7 inch version of the Galaxy Tab that will go on sale for $249.  However, with this low price point will users pay in the end for a device that will become quickly outdated?  See specs below:

  • 7″ capacitive touchscreen
  • Dual-core 1 GHz processor
  • Android 4.0
  • 8 GB on-board storage

Hopefully this device will cause a stir in the low-end tablet market, the Kindle Fire is an excellent alternative to the iPad but Amazon has almost over-processed their custom version of Android.  Samsung has kept the important features of Android 4.0 present by not over-skinning and this may be a key selling point.

Bottom line:  Android tablets are getting better and with specs at this price point; who can resist?  Although the processor is just 1 GHz except Ice-Cream Sandwich to run smoothly.

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.

Mobile Operating Systems, Software, Technology

OnLive is NOT Right; Proves tablets are NOT laptop-killers

Microsoft has finally decided to put it’s corporate foot down with OnLive.  This app gives iPad and Android tablets the ability to access a virtual Windows 7 desktop that has access to the Microsoft Office suite and a fully functional browser.  The Redmond company has expressed that this service is NOT properly licensed and it would be unfair to let OnLive continue down this path when there are other companies who virtualize Windows but actually pay for the copies.

This is certainly the right approach that Microsoft is taking and many might wonder what took them so long.  Many Microsoft fans are definitely opposed to this because Apple would cringe if OSX was ever to run virtually on any device without an aluminum case.

Read more HERE

Bottom line:  OnLive, putting a virtual Windows operating system on tablets is a great idea; however, if you want to do so pay licensing fees like everyone else.  On the other hand, if these tablets are so powerful and potential “laptop-killers” shouldn’t they be able to provide the appropriate functionality out of the box?

Mobile Operating Systems, Operating Systems, Software, Technology

The “new” iPad thoughts

People hate to admit it; however, when you provide such a build up for something great and you get less that what was expected; you’re always let down.  Honestly, it seems that Apple has been letting me down lately.  First, I am not an Apple fan; however, I am a huge fan of technology and it’s progress.  Yet, it seems like Apple loves to release a product that is seemingly the same as the previous generation, add a few new features, and sell it at full price.

Notable features that are in the new iPad are it’s beautiful retina display, 4G (something that many believed Apple would never adopt), and improved quad-core graphics processing (not the actual device CPU).  It is certainly safe to say that the next iPhone will have 4G capabilities as well.  While some might scoff at the fact that this product looks exactly the same as the previous model the iPad is still at the forefront of the tablet market until someone decides they’ve had enough.

Contenders for the crown:

  1. Asus Transformer Prime
  2. Acer Iconia Tab
  3. Samsung Galaxy Tab
  4. Upcoming Windows 8 tablets (will bring power and a small form factor to your hands)

Bottom line:  We might have been disappointed at the fact that the product looked the same; however they did improve the specs.  Let us see how the rest of the market reacts.