April 24, 2013

Op-Ed: Rant (cont.)

By ympnow

Yesterday, Apple released its earnings report for the March quarter. Did they announce an iWatch? No. Did they announce an iTV? No.

But analysts trotted out their favorite imaginary Apple product. The iDon’t-Give-A-Rat’s-What-Your-Report-Says-I’m-Gonna-Paint-It-Red.

I sincerely believe that you could take the last five Apple earnings calls, string them together and release them as a series for Shark Week on the Discovery Channel.

Definitely, compared to recent earnings reports, it was a mixed bag. But while the rest of the industry was tanking, Apple managed to earn $9.5b. I wish that I had brought in 0.01% that much personally last quarter. I could stop writing rants about adle-brained analysts!

Apple sold more iPhones than this quarter a year ago. They also practically double the number of iPads in the same time frame! They did sell less laptops. 2% less. The industry’s sales on average in the double digits. In this economy, to me at least, that’s a win. At worst, a wash.

But, as expected, analysts trotted out their own Reality Distortion Field. Ignore the bigger picture and treat Apple as journalistic chum.

Apple announced that the iTunes Store raked in $4b. They announced a massive share buy back. And, I haven’t found this verified elsewhere, I believe that they announced that they increased sales of the iMac. If so, you’ve overcome two obstacles – slow economy and selling a desktop computer IN A MOBILE SOCIETY!

I’ll bet you any amount of money that at this very moment Steve Balmer’s wishing that he could drum up such a disastrous quarter.

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April 2, 2013

Two Monitors are Better Than One

By ympnow

Product: AirDisplay v1.8
Author: Avatron
Requirements: If you can run the Mac App Store, you can run the Air Display app. Both 32-Bit & 64-Bit systems are supported.; Your computer and iOS device must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Price: $9.99
Test Rig: Mid 2010 MBP, 8GB, 240GB SSD; iPad (3rd generation)

It’s time once again for one of my favorite one-trick ponies. I’m willing to bet that many of you know of and use this app. But I can’t rest until I make sure that EVERYBODY knows of its existence.

“Use your iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac or Windows PC as a second (or third) monitor with no messy cables or wires … Use your finger to draw directly on the screen … Try it with a calculator app, painting tool, or music control surface! … [It] works in both landscape and portrait configurations. Just rotate your screen, and it automatically reconfigures.”

I use it as a second monitor to my desktop to star palettes when performing editing or graphics work. Still, I know of others that use it successfully as a second monitor with their laptop while on the road.

And they call this über-app AirDisplay.

THE JUICE

AirDisplay is platform agnostic: it comes in all flavors (iOS, Android and Windows). What’s really useful is that even though you’re using a Mac as your source computer, you can pair it with, say, a Windows’ monitor r an Android phone!

AirPlay is simple to set up. Purchase and download the drivers. Install one in your host computer. This will show up in your System Preferences. Turn it on. Then install the other drivers in the devices that you would like to pair the host computer with.

Once everything is installed, you can go back to your host computer and place your second monitor wherever it suits your needs. As an example; I like to use my iPad to hold palettes when video editing or working on graphics, leaving the entire host screen for my canvas. For me, the iPad is best situated to the right of my main screen.

The beauty of this configuration is that you cad rag your cursor, windows, et al., across both screens. You can see how this would be an absolute boon while business traveling!

THE PULP

If you read the reviews, you’ll find that many people complain of a lag time. As I use the arrangement for palettes primarily, I can’t really address this issue All I can say is that I have noticed no lag time using it primarily for my palettes.

So, apparently, YMMV.

As for installation, it’s a breeze. Once installed, you switch on AirDisplay in System Preferences and drag your second monitor to where you would like it in relation to the host computer.

THE RIND

In my configuration, I haven’t noticed a lag issue but apparently others have.

SUMMARY

AirDisplay is a godsend for those who need two monitors while on the road. And, as I pointed out earlier, it can be a valuable asset in your home system.

Or if you’re real fortunate, you can use your iPad as your third monitor.

RATING

9 out of 10
© 2013 Frank Petrie

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March 3, 2013

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

By ympnow

Product: AudioGlove

Manufacturer: AudioGlove.Net <audioglove.net>

Requirements: iPhone (various)

Price: 3G, 3GS $10.00; 4, 4S $35.00; 5 $40.00

Test Rig: iPhone 4S

AudioGlove

Hello. My name is Frank. And I am a podcast hoarder.

I probably collect about 40 hours of podcasts a week, both video and audio. I capture my video podcasts on my iPad with iCatcher. And I use Apple’s podcast app to corral all of my audio podcasts on my iPhone.

Now, if I’m in a coffee shop or somewhere else in public I tend to use my EarPods to listen to a podcast. But when I’m at home, I like to just hear them in the open air. Problem: the speakers face away from you. So, you loose volume and lots of it.

So I found someone who created a little shell to attach to your iPad, that cups the speaker and redirects the sound towards you. Needless to say, the sound is about twice as loud.

But what about my iPhone? There’s no such device. Until now.

“The AudioGlove is a polycarbonate protective case that also features an acoustically engineered retractable waveguide chamber that “naturally” amplifies the sound coming to and from the iPhone. This patented Natural Sound Amplification™ technology requires no batteries, headphones, cords or docks.”

Okay. Let’s give a listen.

THE JUICE

AudioGlove is extremely simple. It’s a two piece case. You insert your iPhone into the top half of the case, making sure that the camera lens/power button/sound/mute buttons are correctly lined up. Once done with that, you slide on the bottom half of the case until it snaps into place.

Once on and opened, you will notice a decidedly louder iPhone. Not only does it purportedly increase the phone’s volume by a reported 12db (it sounds like more, actually), but it also helps reduce your microphone’s background noise when making phone calls (or converse with Siri, if thats your thing).

THE PULP

I found the AudioGlove quite snug when trying to place it on my iPhone 4S. I’m not the most nimble person, but this was difficult to the point that I thought that I was going to break the case.

I did find that the more that I opened and closed the case, the easier it moved, however. Perhaps, it’ll grow easier with time. Placing some Vaseline on the case would undoubtedly make it glide smoothly but I’m not putting Vaseline near my iPhone! 

It is easy to recharge your iPhone with the case in the open position. There’s more than enough room to put in your 30-pin charger. The designer wisely put an opening in the bottom of the case for the chargers cord to go through, as well.

And when you close the shell to carry your iPhone about, there are openings in the case directly above the speakers, so you can still hear alerts and ringtones when your AudioGlove is closed.

THE RIND

It doesn’t come with a stand. If I’m lying in bed and listening to a podcast before I go to sleep, that’s no problem. But if I’m sitting at my desk typing and I want to listen to a podcast, the problem is that if I have to lay my iPhone on it’s back, redirecting the sound up towards the ceiling. It’s definitely still louder, but it defeats the very problem that the device is designed to solve.

Yes, I could go out and find a stand for my iPhone. But now I’m looking at a second purchase to make the initial purchase work as designed. And I’ve already paid $35.00USD. And at that price, I feel that a stand should be included, without a doubt.

SUMMARY

AudioGlove does exactly what it promises to do and does it impressively well. It’s a very simple design and it is very well though out. Pragmatic design always makes me smile; it means that someone is actually thinking.

But at this price, not having a stand is to me a possible deal breaker.

So, if the lack of a stand is not a deal breaker for you, go for it. But if it is, it’s back to the EarPods.

RATING: 3 out of 5

©2013 Frank Petrie

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February 12, 2013

And What of iTunes?

By ympnow

During the Jurassic era (technologically speaking), Apple released iTunes, an app where you could find all of your media located in one spot. A great app at the time. But it has definitely outlived its effectiveness.

There is now up to a plethora of podcatchers, out  on the market now. There’s Downcast, my favorite – iCatcher, not to mention Miro and dozens of others. So, you can pretty much jettison the podcast listing in the sidebar

Even Apple has acknowledge this fact. Witness it’s halfhearted attempt with the iOS app, Podcasts.

Apple is so busy shoehorning media into iTunes, that now any video that you load into iTunes not bought from the iTunes store, is deposited into a folder entitled ‘Home Videos.’ Hardly intuitive. Not something that you would expect from a technology leading company.

And I have adapted my workflow to route all of my media. All my audio podcasts go to the Apple Podcast app on my iPhone 4S (a simple app for simple needs). All of my video apps go onto my iPad via iCatcher.

This year, if Apple really wants to make those doomsaying analysts look truly like idiots (redundancy), they need to break up the iTunes Store. And soon. It’s turned into an electronic Costco run wild (redundancy #2).

First, I would keep the iTunes Store but I would limit it to all material solely connected to music ((music, music documentaries, music videos and announcements for AppleTV concerts).

Second, I would place all visual media in the iVideo Store (I hate to use the “i,” but the branding is already in place).  This would be your one stop for movies, videos and all news regarding AppleTV.

Third, obviously the iBook Store. That’s self-explanatory, I know.

Lastly, and already in existence, the App Store. Joined soon, hopefully, by a section dedicated to apps created expressly for the AppleTV. Or, better yet, have ATV apps only show up on your ATV, just as iOS apps are only displayed on your mobile devices.

This is only a logical evolution. As purchases at the iTunes Store keep growing and Apple keeps garnering more customers, the electronic parking lot can no longer handle the overflow.

Sir Ives, I know that your priority is rethinking the OSs. But if you could please have some of your minions start brain-storming ways to improve our shopping experience at the Apple iMall, we’d all be much obliged.

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January 30, 2013

I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore

By ympnow

Okay, it’s started simply enough. Apple has lost it’s “cool” factor. Then it was Apple is no longer innovative. Then the analysts started piling on (my friend reminds me that you can’t spell analyst without ‘anal’). But now this takes the cake.

This is an actual headline that I found on Zite this morning:

This is how Planet of the Apes starts: Orangutans getting iPads

This begs the question who is slinging the feces now?

Okay. I get it. The Great American pastime. Set up a corporation, build it up in the public’s mind, and knock it down. We did it with both IBM and Microsoft. And since Apple is now the 800 pound gorilla in the room, it’s our turn. I’ve got it.

But when analysts start pronouncing the new BlackBerry Z10 as “innovative,” that’s where I draw the line. It’s simply an iPhone 5 knock off with a keyboard. Period. BB Users will probably pick it up but they’re like Apple fanboys. They’re staying with their favorite  product.

But as far as innovative, are you kidding me? And while I’m on the subject of innovation, just how many times a week does Apple have to invent a new wheel? I mean seriously?

Has our attention span grown so short that we have to have something shiny and new dangled in front of our face every so many days?

Have we all lost touch with reality? Have we all turned into Steve Ballmer?

Here’s the skinny folks (and this coming from a doughy guy). Innovation only occurs every so many years, sometimes decades. What does occur regularly is evolution. Let me repeat that: evolution.

And now were confusing a change of features as innovation. Case in point: the Samsung II. In this world, we regularly Skype people on the other side of this paltry orb. We don’t have to be near each other. Yet, we’re now celebrating that we can exchange files on the Samsung II if two people are in the same space and can touch phones? Really?

We’ve become spoiled little children with the attention span of a cinderblock! Heck, I’m willing to bet that you can’t even use 10% of the power of the phone that you have in your hand right this minute!

So, wake up dear friends. Learn to use what you already own!  Start shopping for stuff that actually does what you need it to do and not the flavor of the month.

Sheesh.

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January 22, 2013

I Saw Sparqs [ZaggSparqs 6000]

By ympnow

Product: ZAGGsparq 6000

ZAGGlogo

Author: ZAGG

Requirements: AC Outlet; USB2 wire(s)

Price: $99.99

Test Rig: 2010 MBP 13-inch, OS X 10.8.2, 8GB RAM, 240GB SSD

ZAGGsparq

Because I mainly write articles and reviews for a living, I tend to do most of my work down at the coffee shop. So as a result, my iPad is pretty much my go to device. Although I do use my iPhone quite often for news/weather/communications. And actually, the rundown of power can catch me unawares.

Anyone who’s patronized a coffee shop in the last five years knows of the fierce competition involved in vying for a position near a wall outlet. That’s why I purchased Zagg’s Sparq.

“The ZAGGsparq is the most convenient and stylish portable backup battery available. Built-in prongs allow the ZAGGsparq to double as a wall charger, and eliminates the need for an extra power adapter to keep your digital life running. The ZAGGsparq provides between 1 and 4 charges for a typical handheld device, and ZAGG’s 2.1A output for ultra-fast charging (on select ZAGGsparq models) is up to four times faster than a standard USB charger.”

Let the plebes jockey for a space. I have work to do.

THE JUICE

If you can plug in an Airportt Express, congratulations! You have conquered the learning curve for the ZAGGsparq. That’s all there is to it. There is a row of Blue LEDs that line the top of the charger to let you know that the charger is charging. There are two USB 2.0 ports on the side of the 6000, which practically all USBs (unless it’s something proprietary).  As you’re charging your ZAGGsparq, plug in your iPhone, Touch and/or iPad to juice them up as you charge the ZAGGsparq.

I think that it’s safe to say that it’s more difficult to operate a sneaker.

THE PULP

I haven’t had the available time to test if I can really get four charges out of this unit. (The reason that I went with the 6000, is that I received a ZAGG newsletter with a window of opportunity where I could purchase the 6000 for 50% off! That most definitely caught my attention!)

It’s solidly constructed and feels like it could easily withstand traveling in back packs.

THE RIND

I find it disconcerting that the row of blue LEDs go out about ten seconds after you remove the charger from the outlet, plug in your device, turn it on and begin charging. With the LEDs off, you have no way of knowing if your actually charging your mobile device or have it plugged into a dead charger. It doesn’t affect the rapid charge, luckily. It’s quite fast.

It’s nothing that ZAGG can do. It’s just the nature of the beast. The 6000 is one more piece of kit to carry about. Then again, I can think of several times that this would have saved my bacon … Errr, file.

SUMMARY

This is a nice, compact tool that I will most definitely make room for in my travel kit. And if they’d fix the LED situation during charging, ZAGGsparq would be a 10 out of 10.

Irregardless, I’d still recommend this to friends. Particularly if they’d like to buy me a spare.

RATING: 4 out of 5

©2013 Frank Petrie/ympnow.com

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January 17, 2013

The Bad Penny Returns

By ympnow

The famous story goes that Steve Jobs, then chief at Apple Computer, asked John Sculley if he wanted to change the world or spend the rest of his life selling sugar water. Sculley would eventually force Jobs out in 1985, oversee a large period of growth for Apple and then ultimately be ousted himself in 1993 after sales began to dwindle, until the computer company became a technological footnote. So, who better to discuss Apple’s future iPhone plans (analyst’s latest guessing game) than the Candyman himself.

Apple execs have repeatedly said that the company was not preparing a low-cost iPhone. But the Shanghai Evening News, published a report all the same, only to later backpedal after Phil Schiller flat-out denied the story. You can still feel the breezes as far away as Honolulu.

“There’s only 4 percent penetration of smartphones in India at this time against almost 50 percent in the United States,” he said. “As people start to adopt these products in emerging markets … there’s bound to be new price points. That requires really re-thinking the whole supply chain and how you price and how you make money.”

Remember, this is the CEO who eventually led Apple to manufacturing over 9,347 different models of the Mac. That number may not be precise, but you get my point anyway.

Apple has never really chased market share. To be honest, they have always successfully pursued margins. All the while still leading the computer world in innovation. (And now that I think of it, doesn’t the iPad smart cover “click”?)

What has the former CEO been up to since his ouster? Well, he’s dabbled in several start ups. But according to Wikipedia, “Sculley has been noted privately by many American business leaders as a “CEO Most Likely To Fail” after his string of failures since leaving Pepsico.” This is whose ‘insights’ analysts site to bolster there baseless opinions.

The most unfortunate thing is that we listen to these analysts who validate themselves by simply finding someone who will lend credence to their story. And it has gotten to the point that they’re not only playing with our heads but also with our economy.

Be fair, Apple users and some media did bad mouth Microsoft when they were the 800 pound gorilla in the room. We now have that title and all these potshots aimed at Apple simply come with the territory.

But to listen to analysts and fanboys alike claim that Apple is no longer innovating (particularly at a pace fast enough to suit their technological lust (ergo, Apple’s failing) is purely absurd. Their separation from reality reminds me of that line from that old (reduancy) SNL skit where William Shatner chastises a Star Trek fan by asking. “You, … have you ever kissed a girl?”

I think that a few people need a date. 

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