Everyone I know that uses an iPhone has told me that Siri is, at best, a fun party trick, and at worst, completely useless. If you were sold on your latest iPhone by the promises Zooey Deschanel or Martin Scorsese failed to deliver, then you may find solace in a competitive offering from Google. Voice search is now embedded in Google’s recently updated and free iOS search app, allowing you to ask natural language questions and (hopefully) receive audible answers powered by Google’s vast databases.
What this means for you:
If you are one of those people who don’t mind addressing their smartphones like they were animate objects, (you know who you are!) then this app is worth a try. Android users with the Jelly Bean operating system on their devices (Nexus users and some specific late-model Android phones) have been enjoying Google’s voice-driven search capabilities for several months, with generally favorable reviews as compared to Apple’s Siri. It’s free – all you have to lose is some time (and possibly your dignity).
Just a week after the debut of Windows 8, Microsoft held a press event in San Francisco, CA to announce the arrival of the latest version of its smartphone platform, dubbed Windows Phone 8. Timed to coincide with (and possibly to even eclipse) Google’s canceled East-coast press event, Microsoft instead had to fight for media attention with Hurricane Sandy. As a distant fourth place competitor, Microsoft has struggled to gain a toe hold in the smartphone race, facing daunting leads from Apple and Google, and even trailing the flagging RIM Blackberry platform.
What this means for you:
Unless you are a true-blue Microsoft fanatic, you more than likely already own a smartphone that gets the job done. There is a distinct possibility for Microsoft to overtake RIM’s Blackberry platform as the corporate phone of choice, but many enterprises have already opened their iron curtains for iPhones and Android devices. Gaining RIM’s share of the pie will only put them in 3rd place, and as such, integration into corporate environments will still take a backseat to solidifying usage of the dominant platforms. Most adopters of this platform will either be disatisfied technophiles looking for something fresh and different from iOS and Android, or corporate technologists investigating the platforms ability to integrate with existing Microsoft infrastructure. Microsoft’s primary hurdle in getting people to buy Windows phone remains in the lackluster app development landscape, which continues to be dominated by iPhone. Many of the most popular apps aren’t available yet for Windows Phone 8, and their arrival (if they come at all) will likely lag iOS and Android versions by months. If your primary smartphone usage is focused on making calls, checking email, and sharing pictures with your phone, Windows Phone 8 will get the job done, but if you like apps and don’t consider yourself an “early adopter”, give the platform at least another 6 months before weighing a change in platforms.
As anticipated, Apple announced the much-rumoured iPad Mini in a press conference on Tuesday in San Jose, CA. Measuring 7.9″ diagonally, the new tablet is just slightly larger than Amazon’s Kindle Fire, Google’s Nexus 7 and several other Android-based models that have preceded the Mini by as much as a year. Former CEO Steve Jobs was known for his contempt of the 7″ form-factor, but as Apple’s dominance of the tablet space has eroded over the past year, the Cupertino technology company has decided to field a 7″ horse in the race in an attempt to regain some lost ground. Wall Street, however voted its ambivalence to the move by selling off Apple shares moments after the announcement, dropping shares by as much as $20 in the days trading, citing the Mini as evidence that Apple has lost sight of what people really want, which is less choices, not more. Shareholders may have also been disgruntled by the announcement of a new revision of the latest iPad model featuring the new, compact data connector and a faster processor, “obsoleting” it’s 3rd generation iPad after only 7 months.
What this means for you:
If you’ve held out this long on buying an iPad, it probably wasn’t because it was “too big.” Most folks who did think the 10″ iPad was too big have already bought a 7″ Kindle, Fire or Android-based tablet and are more than likely firmly embedded in that devices ecosystem. Many tech-heavy households are also likely to have an iPad as well, so adding another tablet to the mix is probably not in the cards for the majority of consumers. Corporate buyers who were already reluctant to invest in iPads aren’t any more likely to buy a 7″ version, and instead will be watching the arrival of Microsoft’s Surface tablet very closely, as should you if you’ve not already made your tablet investment. If, somehow, you’ve managed to not buy any sort of tablet device, and find your smartphone is just a bit too small for reading or casual video watching, the iPad Mini may be a gentle gateway into the world of tablet computing. The 7″ form-factor is very portable and bag friendly, and big enough for personal entertainment, especially in crowded places such as planes, buses and the backseats of cars. Keep in mind: if you are used to the weight of the black and white Kindles that Apple’s new Mini is heavier, not only physically, but will also weigh twice as much on your wallet.
Numerous leaks on the internet have all but confirmed the imminent arrival of a 7-inch version of Apple’s wildly popular iPad. Expected to be announced on October 23, 2012, sightings around the internet put the new tablet starting at anywhere from $250 to $320 for a wifi-only version. Substantial rumors also point to a 3G/4G version as well, putting it an advantage over wifi-only, 7-inch Android-based tablets like Google’s Nexus 7 and Amazon’s Kindle Fire.
What this means for you:
If you are one of the few people on the planet that doesn’t already own an iPad, and don’t because of the size/weight of the current 10-inch tablet, the “iPad Mini” may be worth a look. However, 7-inch screens have many limitations when it comes to browsing the web and working in business applications – your screen real estate is literally half of what you can normally see on even the first generation iPad. Seven-inch tablets have found a very comfortable niche as e-readers, casual gaming devices, and fit remarkably well into over-stuffed carryons for frequent travelers. Expect some transition troubles for your popular iPad apps as they resize the display resolution for the 7-inch screen, and the possibility of paying for a new, “mini”-version of the same app you probably already own.
Microsoft has confirmed the arrival of its new tablet, dubbed “Surface” via press-only invitations to a launch event happening on October 25. Following the conclusion of the event, the tablets will actually be available for sale at Midnight PST via Microsoft’s website as well as the actual brick and mortar retail stores – 27 locations in the US as of this writing. The new tablet will be running Microsoft’s new operating system, Windows 8, and will come with a keyboard integrated into the built-in cover. Pricing is still not definite, but most analysts think the tablets will range in price from $500-800, making them slightly pricier than the current tablet champ, the Apple iPad.
What this means for you:
If you’ve been waiting for a “Windows” tablet with bated breath because your business is firmly entrenched in the Microsoft camp, or your IT department is slow to incorporate the beloved iPad into their technology implementations, I wouldn’t hold your breath that the arrival of Surface will change that timetable in the immediate future. Windows 8 is still very much untested in the corporate IT space, and the business world at large will be predictably slow in adopting it, as most businesses are only just starting to adopt Windows 7. Tablets, like laptops before them, represent a difficult challenge to most IT departments in terms of managing both the hardware as well as the data on them because of their highly mobile form-factor.
The arrival of a “Windows” tablet may allow for a more corporate style of tablet usage, with the underlying expectation that because the tablet is based around Microsoft technology, that it will be easier to manage from a corporate perspective and able to leverage existing investments in MS platforms. If you are the adventurous type and don’t already own an iPad or Android-based tablet, the Surface may be worth investigating, but don’t expect a robust app choice until (and if) the device can carve a niche into the existing tablet marketplace.
![128px-Apple-logo[1].png](https://c2techs.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/128px-Apple-logo[1]-460x260_c.png "128px-Apple-logo[1].png")
Since its release last month, Apple has been fielding numerous complaints about wifi issues on the new iPhone 5. It’s not uncommon for manufacturers to sit tight during the first wave of complaints to see if there is any merit to them, or if they are just a combination of user-error and settling-in that always appears in new product launches. New customers were complaining of poor performance during the initial weeks of the iPhone 5’s arrival, and now that the first month’s bills are rolling in, these same customers have uncovered what looks to be a serious bug on the Verizon version of the the iPhone 5: instead of using an existing wifi connection to deliver data to the phone, iOS 6 (the operating system powering the iPhone 5) will instead continue to use the cellular connection, chewing up the monthly data allotment at an alarming rate.
Apple admitted the existence of the bug through a software update released on September 30, and Verizon has stated that no one will be charged for “unwarranted data usage” that might have occurred from this bug.
What this means for you:
If you’ve recently purchased an iPhone 5 or have upgraded your older iPhone 4 to iOS 6, and Verizon is your carrier, keep a close eye on your data usage and look for any unusual spikes in your monthly usage average. Reports are mixed as to whether this problem affects any other model other than the iPhone 5. Watch for the alert to patch your phone, and accept the update as soon as you see it. To check your cellular data usage on your iPhone: Settings->General->Usage->Cellular Usage.
![maps_gallery_1[1].jpg](https://c2techs.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/maps_gallery_1[1]-460x260_c.jpg "maps_gallery_1[1].jpg")
It would seem that Apple’s new Maps application introduced with iOS 6 on Sept 19 has had a bit of a rough start. As one might expect, the technology media rakes in the clicks with glee when the industry’s golden child stumbles, and reports are already coming in of the new app’s misguided attempts at navigation. Gizmodo’s Kyle Wagner reminds Apple fans that comparing the new app to the reigning heavyweight champ, Google Maps, is perhaps not the fair, given Google has had years to amass and refine the billions of points of data that are required to present an accurrate picture of our world.
Given this, critics still rightly point out that Apple’s open feud with Google in other areas (namely Android vs. iPhone and Siri vs. Google Now) has amounted to Apple taking out its frustration on its customers by replacing the highly functional Google Maps with it’s own, still very beta, version of Maps.
What this means to you:
If you rely heavily on your iPhone for navigation, you can continue using Google Maps as a native app as long as you don’t upgrade to iOS 6. If you’ve bought an iPhone 5, you can use Google Maps through the phone’s browser, though it’s definitely a lot less elegant and usable in this fashion. It may be many months, if not years, before Apple’s Map app can match Google turn for turn, and let’s face it, Google isn’t standing still at this point. It’s unclear whether Google will create an app store version of it’s Maps application for future download on the iPhone, and even less clear whether it will even make it through Apple’s strict and sometimes arbitrary approval process.
CORRECTION: iOS 6 will work on iPhones from the 3GS version up. Thanks to Dave McAdams for catching that!
Apple will begin pushing the iOS6 update to its mobile device platforms on Wednesday, September 19, 2012. Along with the expected performance improvements and bug fixes, there are a handful of features that may of interest to Apple users who are not purchasing an iPhone 5.
Here are the most important changes:
- Google Maps will be replaced by Apple’s own Maps application
- Passbook is a brand new Apple app that they intend to replace paper ticketing for things like travel, movies, loyalty cards and more
- Facebook is now integrated into most of Apple’s native applications
- Siri’s search capabilities have been expanded to include things like sports scores, movie times, restaurant reservations and launching apps. It will also work on the latest iPad and the iPhone 4s, but not on older mobile devices.
- You can sync your Safari tabs between your mobile device and desktop Macs via iCloud.
- You can share photo streams with other iOS 6 users, as well as stream your photos to your Apple TV.
- Facetime can now be used on cellular networks, not just wifi.
What this mean to you:
If you are using an Apple mobile device that is NOT an iPhone 5, 4s 3GS or newer, or the 3rd generation iPad, then there’s nothing you need to worry about, as iOS 6 is not available for your device. However, if you do have a qualifying device, the upgrade will come in “over the air” if you already have iOS 5 installed. You will need to upgrade your iTunes software to version 10.7 if you plan on plugging your device into your computer. Before you upgrade, make sure you backup all of your important data (contacts, music, photos, etc.) as upgrades can go wrong, and if they do, it usually means wiping your device in order to restore it to functionality. Wiping = erasing all your personal data = disaster without a proper backup. If you rely on your phone as a critical business tool, including some 3rd-party apps, you may want to wait until you have some business downtime, just in case the upgrade goes sideways, or causes problems with your apps.
Apple announced their much anticipated iPhone 5 smartphone today, confirming that it was indeed the same design as has been appearing in leaked photos throughout the run-up to today’s launch. It goes on pre-sale via the Apple store on September 15, 2012, starting at $199 for the 16GB model, up to $399 for the 64GB version, most likely with a 1 or 2 year contract. Pre-orders will ship the following Friday, September 22.
What This Means to You:
The new iPhone 5 is lighter, thinner and larger than the previous model, the iPhone 4s, (which will now be available for the discounted price of $99). It has a faster CPU, a larger screen (with numerous technical improvements), a better front and back camera, but most importantly, it has a new hardware connector, dubbed “Lightning” that is 80% smaller than the current 40-pin connector that has been in use for years.
It’s probable that the larger case manufacturers have had early access to prototypes of the new iPhone, so you can expect at least a handful of cases will be available for purchase around the time the iPhone 5 ships, but Apple doesn’t anticipate Lightning-compatible accessories to be available until Christmas 2012. Until then, an adapter is available that will allow you to connect iPhone 5’s to “legacy” 40-pin accessories. Keep in mind that the adapter by itself will probably render dock-style accessories unusable with an iPhone 5, as it looks rather large and flimsy.
(Image courtesy of www.gdgt.com)
Once the darling of the business world, RIM’s BlackBerry phone platform has seen a continous erosion of its dominance in the corporate world since Apple’s iPhone first arrived on the scene in 2007. Two recent articles in PC World and CNET underline RIM’s continuing struggle to remain relevant in an iPhone/Android world.
According to those that have seen it, RIM’s impending release of version 10 of the BlackBerry OS will put the company’s phones on par with its competition, but at the cost of incompatibility with the existing Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES) infrastructure installed in just about every business that supports them.
On top of this huge stumbling block, retailers are pulling back their commitments to BlackBerries, according to one analyst, signaling a general lack of confidence in the strength of the platform and brand.
What this means for you:
If your company has standardized on BlackBerries for its employees and you have a decent investment in technology and resources to support it, you should have nothing to worry about in the short term, but should closely evaluate future spending to support this platform. Your 2-5 year plan should look into expanding your communication network to include the other smartphone platforms, if they aren’t already in use in your enterprise. The BlackBerry platform still has numerous strengths, mostly in the area of asset managment, security and reliability, but the older devices lack modern appeal and versatility. Today’s modern employee, especially the younger generations, view their phones as an extension of both their professional and personal lives, and the continued lack of innovation on the platform has eroded their credibility, utility and appeal across the board.
While it’s possible that RIM may work a miracle and come back from the brink of extinction, I rate their chances as highly unlikely.