Tag: Mobile

Categories
Uncategorized

iOS14

So…. iOS14 is out for Apple users!

For those who haven’t used it or been able to test it – now is the time for you to download and install on your mobile and iPad devices! Now – I will apologize to the many readers who are on Android – I will try to share some Android updates, but as I’m many things Apple…. I just had to write up about this!

Now there’s a lot of great features that are available. My daughter has been able to…

  1. Add Widgets – (according to her – it makes it look nicer!) Practically, it helps you get the information you want, quicker.
  2. Added Steve – Steve is a dinosaur game – which you can play whilst on the homes screen (a 2D dinosaur running game) – reminds me a lot like Snake…
  3. Personalising the phone to make it a Tangled theme… now instead of writing about this, here’s a photo of it…

Obviously – with point 3, you can have it to any Theme you want – more so… I think there’s a lot more flexibility with what you can do.

Now, there’s a lot of practical features also… best explained in this video…. Enjoy!

Oh… and don’t forget to download Steve. I’ll pass your thanks onto my daughter.

Categories
Uncategorized

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…

Categories
Uncategorized

Let me unfold my phone…

You may recall…. that recently, I wrote and shared about Samsung’s folding phone.

Well.. guess what. That’s right, Huawei have released their folding phone!

After 3 years of development, they presented the Huawei Mate X

Now… the interesting thing is – it’s better than the Samsung!

How’s that Bal? –

Well, firstly – it closes completely flat. Something the Samsung doesn’t.. (Mate X is 11mm compared to Samsung’s 17mm)

Secondly, it’s slightly bigger than the Samsung phone… 8inches when unfolded and 6.8in when closed (that’s the larger model).

Thirdly – it’s 5G ready.

So… who else will be developing foldable phones?

I’m sure Apple, Google and other makers will be looking at how customers react. The biggest issue at the moment (in my opinion) is the cost.

They’re not cheap.

In fact. They’re expensive. Mate X is around £2,000 – and will go on sale in the middle of this year.

There will be people who buy this – and why not. It’s a tablet. It’s a phone. It potentially replaces two of your devices into one. And I think it could catch on. I can see, in the future, this technology being more readily available and most importantly, more people buying it.

Would I buy one? – only if you could flip it out like the old Motorola Flip phones! – don’t know what they are… I’ll let you google it.

Categories
Uncategorized

Ella, Ella, eh… eh….eh…

A few years ago, I was on the phone to a friend, who is running a startup.

We were talking about various things, and he asked me how the weather is. I said, the weather looks ok – but I’m not sure because I haven’t been outside.

Then I suggested, wouldn’t it be a good idea to have an app that didn’t just tell you the weather but also suggested what to wear!

Anyhow… we didn’t do anything. Like most of the idea’s we discussed that day, we just parked it.

Fast forward a year or two later. And there I am, on the trusted laptop… and look what pops up!

That’s right- someone, somewhere (else in the world) had the same idea… but only went and developed it!

Brella – your personal weather app!

It not only tells you the weather – but tells you what to wear! One less thing I have to do!!

Yes Matt! – put your jeans and t-shirt on… the weather is good!!

Now for me – in London – it’d be, Bal… take an umbrella!

The point of this is, not app – though that it is a great idea, and I’m glad someone did develop it – but the whole point about, if you have an idea… DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Yes, I did use Caps Lock. Yes, I am shouting at you. Yes, I am making a point.

We all have ideas. But doing something about them – that’s what seperates the successful ones from the not so successful ones.

Now – whilst I’m a little upset I didn’t develop it… I’m ok with it.

Why Bal? – you could’ve made millions.

Not always about the money. But yes, I could’ve made a ‘few bob’, however, I’m already working on plenty of other ideas, have items in pilot stages and supporting other startups and companies.

Whilst having an idea – and working on it – stick to it. Don’t start a million and one things… and not finish anything off. Working on a handful – and finish them!

So, if you’d like to read more about the Brella app – have a read of this.. it’s by the developer. Great read… hope it inspires you….

https://medium.com/@mattbarker016/designing-brella-my-first-ios-app-852a53e04788

Categories
Uncategorized

Fold your phone away…

I used to have the Nokia mobile phones. Never ventured with other brands. But admittely I did like the Motorola Flip – a friend of mine used to have it, and I used to love, ‘flipping’ it close – when i’d finished a call.

What a classic. Available in different colours too….. 

How times have changes. Let’s be honest. It’s all got a bit boring…

Don’t get me wrong… I love my Apple iPhone. It’s lovely. But however, that novelty factor that we used to have of sliding, folding, etc… had all gone.

Sliding Bal? – you used to have a phone like that?

Yes – the banana phone, as it was known.

Anyway…. those times might be coming back… Samsung, leading the way.

They’ve designed and bought to life a foldable screen!

What Bal?! A screen that folds?!!!

Yes! Samsung have designed new screen materials, including a flexible OLED layer and backplane, that are then layered beneath an ultra thin polarizer, a new shock-absorbent film, and a more durable (and flexible) polymer cover window on top. And to hold everything together. Clever huh?

What does all this mean? – well…

It’s a phone that you can fold!! – How awesome is that?! I’d buy it just for the novelty factor.

Now… couple of things here, 1) Samsung are doing some great research and bringing to life some fantastic products… 2) We may get some exciting phones again… and 3) What does it mean for Apple?

Samsung haven’t revealed much else – in terms of pricing and availability.

What we do know it’ll be available somewhere in mid-2019. And it’ll be the most expensive phone available.

Categories
Uncategorized

Hotels…. why am I still using a card key?

Most of you may know, I travel a lot.

Quite a bit. On planes, through security and immigration. Taxi (usually Uber, mytaxi or Lyft) and to the hotel.

Now, usually… the process of travel is getting a lot easier. I don’t need a ‘paper’ boarding pass… it’s all on my mobile phone. In fact… (not showing off) but I’ve even used my watch!

Uber or mytaxi is also very easy. In fact… up to the point of reaching the hotel, if I didn’t want to… I wouldn’t have to speak to anyone, nor would I need to show any form of payment nor would I need anything to hold (like a receipt or card of some sort).

You know where I’m going with this… why are hotels behind the trend?!

When are hotels going to start rolling out… at high speed and on a large scale… mobile phone door unlocking and entry?

We’ve seen the technology. We know it exists. So why is it taking so long?

Even in some hotels… having to queue up at reception desk… to let them know I’m here… honestly?! – how is it that, Canada know I’ve entered their country by me being able so do all the necessary work via kiosks and computers… but when I’m at the hotel, I need to queue and wait!

Ok, there’s mobile check in now being more readily available at hotels…

But once again… the whole process is not being looked at. The whole process from end to end. From the moment, I need a hotel… to the moment I check out.

We all talk about an integrated world we live in. How more and more ‘things’ are connected. Why aren’t hotels more connected?

Ok… we can’t do everything at once, but there can be improvement steps.

Progress over Perfection.

Why not have some services available via mobile phone. Why not use QR codes. Why not use iBeacons. Why not just do something to make the process a little easier…

Yes – this post has been a bit of a moan. But I also see it as an opportunity.

Opportunity for us to a) think about what we do… and are we looking at the end to end process…. and b) whichever industry we are in, are we really connected? – are we really taking advantage of the various API’s that are available out there… and truly being ‘connected’ and serving our customer the best we can.

By the way… not sure what API’s are? –

noun

COMPUTING
  1. a set of functions and procedures that allow the creation of applications which access the features or data of an operating system, application, or other service.

Watch out for my next blog post… with an IT Architect who’ll explain this a little more…

Categories
Uncategorized

Heated Seats… what a luxury!

This morning, I had the opportunity to review some of the latest news stories from over the past few days on BBC Radio Nottingham.

One of the news stories were about ‘autonomous vehicles’, and how they’ll be introduced in a few years benefiting disabled and the elderly.

Firstly, this time-line is tooooo soon. Yes – we have much of the technology available in the Tesla cars, and some other manufacturers are testing, but I feel, it won’t be that easy with the small, winding, countryside roads we have here in the UK. On long motorways, yes – great idea.

Then there was a story about the iPhone X… and how I referred to my recent blog post, if you should buy one of not… (I’m still leaning to the BMW 328 with beige interior). And reading a recent article, there was a great argument over why you should stick with your iPhone 6S… i’ll have to find it and share it with you. Yes the latest phones are quicker, and have better cameras, and a lot more tech packed into them, but are you really going to use Augmented Reality on a daily basis? – no, didn’t think so.

But then… if you’re taking alot of photo’s for your Instagram account, then good idea to upgrade, but saying that, photo’s on the iPhone 6S aren’t too bad… (@mrbalbansal on Instagram).

There were a few other stories, but we touched on the one (not so tech related), about some of the recent inappropriate behavior that’s been taking place in Westminster… people touching people which is unacceptable. I’m in total agreement, that there’s boundaries and lines you do not cross. I also believe you should state it very clearly if you a) do not agree with certain behaviors and actions and b) if someone has acted in-appropriately, you let them know immediately and if it carries on, inform someone who can ensure the corrective action is taken.

But with all these stories coming out, we spoke about… when do you know it’s okay to hug… or do you just give a handshake? –

Do men think twice now, before hugging or putting their arm around someone? – what if a lady acts inappropriately to a young male… and why haven’t we heard of those stories?

Well… I could’ve shared more detail and the other stories, but I think it’s only fair that you go visit BBC Radio Nottingham, and find Mark’s morning show for the 6th October and have a listen… hope you enjoy it!

Oh… but what about the heated seats Bal? – ah yes.. the heated seats…. well, you’ll just have to listen.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05k34w7

Categories
Uncategorized

iPhone X… Should I buy one, Bal?

That, is a great question.

Should I buy an iPhone X?

Before I answer that… you may recall my blog post about the comparison of the new iPhone X and how it was the same price as a BMW 3-series with beige interior. Obviously, I wasn’t comparing apples to apples…

So, back to the question – should you buy one?

Well, it depends on a number of factors. Main one being, do you really need it?

There’s plenty of reviewers out there – who review. And they’re the ones that would compare it against existing iPhone models, old iPhone models, and non-iPhone models. I also encourage folk to look at these reviews before making an informed decision.

The problem here is – whilst i’m sat in a very cloudy and fairly cold, London… I’ve not been able to get my hands on the latest iPhone X. Therefore, unable to conduct a review and share it with you on this blog. But that’s ok… that’s absolutely fine, because my friends at The Verge… were able to review and make a little video for you…

 

So, back to the question… should you buy one?

Really goes back to the point of, do you really need it? – with all it’s functionality and capabilities… do you need all of them? – if the answer is Yes – then go ahead, and buy one. If the answer is, not really.. then look at the iPhone 8… which i’m sure will serve all your current needs.

And I say that, because technology is advancing and so are needs of the customer. Take Augmented Reality for example, it’s come leaps and bounds in recent years… so much so, it’s in the hands of everyday folk, like you and me…. knowing what to do with it, is another thing.