Thursday, September 10, 2015

That Apple Thingy called a Pencil™

If you pay attention to all things tech, you must've heard of Apple's event yesterday where several shiny, new but overtly overpriced devices were unveiled. Most of them had an "S" suffix to their names (as in iPhone 6S), to soften the expectations of those who were on the lookout for what used to be Apple's wow factor. It meant it was going to be a lot more of the same, but I'm sure you're already aware. And you also might be aware of a new one too. They called this the Apple Pencil™. Yea?

It's nothing novel. As has been the case with the iPhone manufacturer for some years now, it's simply Apple playing catch-up with offerings from the Android ecosystem. There's been stylii from a host of OEMs using Android, the most popular being the stylus included in the largely successful Samsung Galaxy Note series (now in it's 5th iteration).

But there's something mildly discombobulating about said Pencil™. This befuddlement (like some other moves that that tech company has made to copy others it had previously sued for copying it) has to do with its founder. Or, more precisely, with views publicly expressed by Apple's eclectic founder and esteemed visionary, the late Steve Jobs.

Before we get to the Pencil™, it's beneficial to the point here to take two previous examples that solidify this position. The initial size of the iPhone which it stubbornly refused to increase for years even with Android devices growing in screen real estate is the first one. The refusal was hinged on what they claimed was the ideal size for one-handed phone use. Jobs was at the forefront of that decision. Nothing was going to change it. Not even the desire of Apple's sincerest fans for a bigger-screened phone to enjoy.

The second example was Jobs' flat out condemnation of a mini tablet. Laughing off Samsung's 7-inched device, Jobs declared that tablet size category DOA - Dead On Arrival. Not many will want it, saying nothing of buying it. And everyone and their monkey knew Jobs had an unnerving talent for seeing into tech future.

Now, zoom past Jobs' death and the dawn of reality on the Apple management. What do you see?

One, the jump to 5+ inch devices in the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6+. Talk about trying to catch up fast. And the iPad Mini is presently making cash for the tech giant already. Some claim Jobs wouldn't be resting in peace.

As if that wasn't enough of a slap, nay two slaps already, on their founder's ascetic cheeks, we now have the Pencil™. If you've been following my buildup to this point, you'd have guessed Jobs had something to say about that as well, yea? I mean, why else would I have brought in discombobulation, otherwise, no? Well, you're right. He did. And right also, it wasn't positive.

Let's go verbatim.

“We’re gonna use a stylus? No. Who wants a stylus? You have to get them, and (you have to) put them away. Yuk! Nobody wants a stylus.” And he finished saying, “We’re gonna use the best pointing device in the world […] we’re gonna use our fingers." Elsewhere, he's quoted to have quipped, "If you see a stylus, they blew it!"

Will you say Apple blew this? I'd leave that to you. But, while we admittedly can state that there's a lot more today that can necessitate bigger screens, tablet minis and the stylii enough to get Apple into reversal of several rules of thumb, it mustn't be forgotten that most of these comments were specifically targeted at disparaging Android and the speed with which it was no longer trying to compete but defining the path of progress for mobile tech.

It is that path that Apple is not just aping but is seen to be obviously copying albeit giving it a different name and repackaged slant. Wouldn't be that difficult to figure out, yea? Well, not for some who unreservedly belong to that flock of sheep that just trots along with the rest. Regardless.

Welcome to the fray, APPLE PENCIL™. Wish you well.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

"Pick Your Choose"

Like the title? It's "make a choice" in local parlance. *insert laugh* Now, to the meat of the gist.

Do you ever feel inundated by the avalanche of shiny new avant garde smartphones that seem to lure you with one charming feature or the other? Even though you've only just bought that brand-new smartphone you've been eyeing for longer than you can remember? Yea. No bi only you. We plenty. It's the consequence of mobile tech that's jumping forward here and there without giving people much time to relax and enjoy their tear-rubber devices before a new slew of products hit the stands.

Sorry.

What to do? The idea is to decide what feature one wants and prefers, then go buy the device that has the best or one of the best of that feature (or features). If you do that, you'd remain pleased no matter what other devices come out with other tempting and mouthwatering features that aren't suited to your preference (no matter how glittery those other tempting new features are).

I, for instance decided on a huge battery as my preference and at a diminutive pocket friendly price. And that's what I got. Plus fast-charging thrown into the mix as a bonus. So, I see other devices and admire them from a distance without hating on my device cos I'm happy with what I got. Every once in a while I see people outside with power packs, I see people afraid to use their devices for long periods so as to conserve battery, I see some going out with extra batteries so that they can swap when one packs up on them while they're outside and far from a charging port, I see those whose phones have died as a result of exhausted batteries, I see all sorts. And these are the biggest phones around (compared to my Chinco phone). Galaxies, iPhones, Xperias, LGs, name them.

What use is a top smartphone when it's dying of battery shortage, or worse, when it's dead at a time you need it most? So, while others are saving battery, swapping battery, managing battery, helping battery with power banks, I'm out there with them playing games, browsing, watching videos and throwing everything I can at my phone and the battery is keeping up.

After a full day of wicked usage, I still get home with 20% left which, if I don't plug overnight, can still take me to at least midday the next day. The best part? With 20 mins plug-in, that 20% jumps to 70. And I can take that out for another full day.

So, you can see what I mean. I'm a power user and I need to have a device that suits that usage (without tearing a bleeding hole in my small pockets). Yes, I sometimes have to deal with perceptive software lags here and the but that is my preference and whatever else I see doesn't attract me because it doesn't fit that bill. I might admire it and love the tech, but I have my choices and I stick with them.

What are yours? Find out. Pick the device that suits those preferences and at a price range you can comfortably afford. Then, smile at these nouveau attractive products being churned out at an alarming pace. But without the urge to splurge on them. It's one of the many advantages of the Android ecosystem. And the current competition in mobile technology with Windows and BlackBerry all providing offerings that keep us from going bankrupt with Apple.