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Another day, Another Phone…

Let’s be honest. Phone tech is booming! And by that, I mean the phones themselves but everything else that is going on and around mobile phones .

In the past few weeks – I’ve share with you the iPhone 11, the new Google headset and more recently, Windows Surface Duo. In the past, I’ve shared the Samsung foldable screen phone… and many more.

Now, whilst I don’t want to turn this blog into a mobile phone type of blog – because I’d like to think I talk about other things – both Tech and Lean related…. I had to share the below with you!

It’s the new Samsung Galaxy 11. Coming out Feb 2020.

It’s rumoured to be shipped with a colossal 108MP rear-facing camera with a five-times optical zoom and a spectrometer for measuring everything from how dehydrated you are to how many calories are in an apple. It could even have a sliding screen.

But what’s more – is that the docking station that may come with it – that provides you with holographic type of messages and information!

Samsung is working on an exciting new docking station for the Samsung Galaxy S11 that can take the handset’s notifications and project them into thin air in the form of what the company refers to as an “aerial” image.

In a nutshell, there’s a mirror and a retro-reflective element baked into the docking station – aimed just the right angle to draw light from the handset’s curved screen and create the hologram – as well as a wireless charging element.

Now, I’ve described it as a docking station – but there may be also a case, that has similar features as the docking station and shows the holographic type images.

There’s also the sliding screen that’s being spoken about – and much more.

Looks like the whole mobile phone game is beginning to hot up again!

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Bal's Friday Thought

Bal’s Friday Thought…

We’re all learning, we’re all struggling at times… the key thing is, we keep climbing. Why?

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Folding heck… who’d have thought it?

You may recall – I blogged recently about the Samsung folding phone. That’s right – a phone, that folds and has a screen, that folds! – Brilliant technology innovation – however, they’ve struggled because the screen was cracking and there were other issues.

Well… hot on their heels are Microsoft who’ve tag teamed with Google!

That’s right. You heard it right. Windows have teamed up with Google to release the Microsoft Surface Duo Phone!

Getting back into phones won’t be easy. There are really only three companies who sell devices in huge numbers and make any money from their smartphones — Samsung, Huawei and Apple.

In the second quarter, 22% of smartphones shipped in the world were made by Samsung, 17% by Huawei and 11% by Apple, according to Strategy Analytics.

However – teaming up with Google, seems like a bit of a master-stroke from Microsoft. Personally – I think it’ll do well, because it has alot of offer. Alot of businesses and organisations are Windows based. Alot are using the whole Office 365 suite of tools. And we’re all mobile and want to do things on the move.

What do you think about the Surface Duo? – will it be a success?….

Introducing the Surface Duo…

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Finsta…

You know I’m a big fan of social media – you can catch me on Twitter (@balbansal)… and you can catch me on Instagram (@mrbalbansal).

Now… I’ll be honest, what you see is what you get on Instagram. That is my life – the food, the football.. the fun. However, it’s not like that for everyone. There’s many people out there that want one profile for Instagram – so the world can see, and then another which is more…. real life. Therefore, let me introduce you to, Finsta.

Bal, is this a new app?

Nope – it’s still Instagram. But let me explain it to you –

A finsta is a secondary, usually private, Instagram account where users are more lax in deciding what they post. It’s a private space that might be more personally authentic and is shared with close friends. This is a contrast to someone’s main account, which might have more heavily curated content.

Content is King. We know the content brings the likes, the users, the audience. And it’s that content then may help a business, an individual, an organization grow – and gain more followers.

But what we’re realising is – there’s many people who want to be connected to their close friends and family and just be honest…

So… by opening a second account – having it private, you can accept invites from those whom you’re close to.

For example…

Everyone wants to look good on Social Media. Everyone wants a good reputation and we know the advantages and gains you can have from large following on Instagram (and other social media platforms).

Not saying this is something you should be doing – but just be aware… and it’s one for educating people… everything you see on Instagram, isn’t always what it seems.

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Bal's Friday Thought

Bal’s Friday Thought…

Ever sat and thought… that’s impossible?

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Find your inner Pichai

When I was at Kodak, I remember my Sensei saying to me –

“Bal, you must first understand – then to be understood”.

Mark Chamberlain

Reflecting – absolutely true. How can you relay a message or work on something if you don’t fully get it. I’ve kept that close to my heart. Yes – the world is a fast moving place, but I always try to understand, break it down and then to share that in simple ways.

There’s so much I don’t know. But then on the other hand – there is so much I’m learning.

And recently – I read an article about the Google CEO Sundar Pichai, on how he was interviewed for a VP position in Google back in 2004.

Basically, Pichai said the interviewers asked him what he thought of Gmail. There was just one problem: Google had just announced the email service that very same day, on April 1st. “I thought it was an April Fool’s Day joke.”

He responded by saying he couldn’t answer the question because he hadn’t been able to use the product. “It was only in the fourth interview when someone asked, ‘Have you seen Gmail?’ I said no. So he actually showed it to me. And then the fifth interviewer asked, ‘What do you think of Gmail?’ And I was able to start answering it then,” 

So why am I sharing this – well… couple of reasons,

  1. If you don’t know – you don’t know. Be honest. Just tell people, if you don’t know something – you don’t know it. And why you don’t know it.
  2. Don’t make things up -don’t try to bullsh*t your way through. You’ll eventually get caught at some point.
  3. Show intellectual honesty – it’s not about scoring points. It’s about being honest. And showing that you’re open to learn and make decisions.
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178yrs… and that’s it!

You must have heard it in the news this morning – Thomas Cook has collapsed.

Mr Thomas Cook founded the business in Leicestershire in 1841 it was for more local excursions…. with this as the first poster for the first excursion!

It’s been a roller coaster of a ride for the company which had such humble beginnings.

I’m not going to take you through the history – but the biggest problem has been, the management not waking up and reacting too late to the Digital World.

As on expert on this morning’s radio put it…

It’s an Analogue Company competing in a Digital World.

Why is it so analogue? they’ve got a website haven’t they?

Firstly, they were late to the game. When they saw everyone else with websites and apps – they were late. Then on top, they were still (until recently!) relying on their shops.

They have 500+ shops around the country. Each one of those needs to pay rent. The problem was, the money they were generating was not enough to pay the rent. So the money was coming from elsewhere. Which means, they had a business model which was not working.

The worse thing is – the management a few years ago decided to expand their shop network… this was during a time, when more and more people were going on-line to book their holidays!

Then you have the low-cost airlines. They’ve come on board and offering package deals – which are very good. And the packages being offered… Thomas Cook was still offering the ‘Fly and Flop’, where you fly and then just sit/rest by a beach or resort. People’s habits have changed – people want to explore, walk around, do tours/visits, etc…

It’s sad to see that the company couldn’t embrace the Digital World. They should’ve expanded their online and digital presence.

With this in mind – I’m helping organisations to Get Digital! – To ensure they’re embracing the Digital World… and don’t end up like Thomas Cook! If you’d like more information – get in touch… you can email me, you can reply to this blog, you can find me on Twitter… there’s various ways you can get hold of me.

It’s a real shame… and a very sad story, to see this great company (which it once was)… start with such a great idea… for it to ignore the Digital World.

So, from the first poster… to the last hand out from Thomas Cook…

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Bal's Friday Thought

Bal’s Friday Thought…

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and now for Google’s Event

That’s right – you just had the Apple Event, where they showed off a number of products, including their new iPhone 11… but also coming up..

October 15th see’s Google show a few new things Made by them.

Now, they’ve introduced a number of new products – mainly hardware – over the past few years which have done surprisingly well – such as the Pixel phone.

Now, they are going to announce the Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, and other devices, including a Pixelbook 2 and new Google Home speakers.

Now Google are really upping the stakes – they released a video showing gesture motion! That’s right – you can wave your hand in front of the screen to allow a reactive motion to take place.

I have this in my car – and in the next week or so, will take a video and show you how it works and why I love it…. and also at times, hate it!

For those who didn’t see the video by Google… here it is, Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/KnRbXWojW7c

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Monday Motivation

Monday Motivation

I’m not sure why everyone dreads Monday… Ok, yes – it’s the day after your restful weekend – yes, it’s first day back to work… yes, it’s the first of five days before you can sleep in or do something that you want to…

But does it have to be like that? – would be interesting to see how many people whom read this love their Mondays! –

Actually – you should love everyday… even Monday’s! – Do something that you love… will change your perspective on the first day of the week….