iPhone iOS 6 beta

Early this month, July, 2012, a co-worker showed us all the new iPhone iOS 6 Beta and... it was awesome! Or was it not only awesome, but also differently new? Okay, it was and still is both. The programmers, developers, and designers over at Apple have been busy over the last year since iOS 5. Here are a few of my favorite things:
1. Contrast - the screen colors changed - the layout is different
2. Sharing - love the new sharing screen which allows one to post to not only Twitter, but also Facebook, Mail, Message, Photo Stream, Assign to Contact, Print, Copy, and Use as Wallpaper. All nine of these options now appear on the same screen.
3. Mail - there are new features, and graphics in the "Mail" app.
   a. refresh graphic - way cool
   b. VIP folders
   c. Multiple signatures - I have literally been waiting for this features for years. Now you can add a unique signature for each account on your iPhone or iPad.
  d. Setting - they moved the "Bluetooth" menu to third place from the top within the same "Settings" Menu
  e. Do Not Disturb - for the past four years since my iPhone 3 back in 2008 almost each night before bed I would place my iPhone in "Airplane Mode" to avoid e-mail sounds, or just in case a customer decided to call me - no more! This new feature of "Don Not Disturb" automatically sets your phone into a silent mode with not sounds or even ringing during predetermined hours. Also, if you are about enter a meeting or setup into a movie you can quickly slide the mode on and it quickly activates.

4. Phone application
    a. Reply with Message - when new call comes into your phone you have the choice to ignore it with and quick text message and then the call goes to voice-mail
    b. Remind Me Later - if you don't feel like sending them a text you also have the option to setup a reminder. "In 1 hour" "When I leave" "When I get home"

5. Photo - in addition to new features and better camera software there were enhancements to the entire "Photo Stream". You can now create your own album, add the photo you like, name it, and then share with friends or even make it public! 6. App Store - in suite of the Google Play app store Apple chose to adopt the wonderful method of no longer prompting you for your Apple ID password when all you wanted to do is update an app already purchased so, now they just update with one click! Moreover, the interface for the App Store has a new look and feel. The organization is more intuitive and the layout is easier to read. And yes, you may also choose to "Share" about any app via Mail, Message, Twitter, Facebook, or Copy Link.

More details to come about the Apple iOS 6 beta 3...

iPhone against Android April, 2012

iPhone against Android


Last month was quite the month for cell phone technology... after using an AT&T Demo iPhone 4S I, well, I liked it, okay, I loved using that iPhone 4S. Here is what brought me back to the iOS:
1. battery life
2. screen clarity and brightness
3. no app crashes or random OS reboots
4. camera
5. iTunes integration and "The Cloud" back-up
6. iMessage free unlimited texting to other iPhones
7. smaller screen, the Galaxy Nexus was too large for most pockets, and to take with me while running or hiking
8. screen clarity while outside
9. stop watch and timer apps built into the iOS, and they simply work each, and every time
10. Apps - I discovered over the past year while experimenting the following Android devices (AT&T InFuse, Galaxy S, Verizon Bionic, Verizon Galaxy Nexus, Droid RAZR) that the Apple Store Apps are of better quality than the Google Market or Amazon.com Apps. They are pretty close for many apps; however, overall Apple is more efficient in the Quality Assurance testing of app prior to selling them to the unknowing, not nerdy public.
11. integration with my Apple ID and Safari features






What do I miss about the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS?
1. the ability to change just about anything
2. quick dial and quick message shortcuts on the desktop
3. a few of the book apps
4. Google integration
5. haptic feedback (where the screen vibrates on touch)
6. swift keyboard
7. multi-tasking
8. the back button with the opportunity to easily hide the keyboard when on websites

iOS update shows and give 4G speeds via AT&T

Test Date: Mar 8, 2012 9:32

Connection Type: Cellular

Server: Casper, WY

Download: 8.32 Mbps

Upload: 1.56 Mbps

Ping: 370 ms

External IP: 166.147.76.38

Internal IP: 10.16.30.87

Latitude: 40.3015

Longitude: -111.6666

Screen shot taken this morning minutes after upgrading to Apple's new iOS 5.1 on an iPhone 4S using the new AT&T 4G network:

A detailed image for this result can be found here:

http://www.speedtest.net/iphone/220861059.png

Ookla operates Speedtest.net using a massive global infrastructure to minimize the impact of Internet congestion and latency. With millions of tests performed every day across hundreds of servers, Speedtest.net is the ultimate resource for bandwidth testing and related information. Visit it on your computer today to find out why.

Google Music authorization

During the year of 2011 I went through a few too many Android devices... this was a good thing! It was great to tryout so many phones (Samsung Infuse, Galaxy S Captivate, DROID Bionic) until I finally arrived at my favorite, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.  However, going through four mobiles in six months had one side effect. Google Music blocks your account from authorizing more than ten devices. On the bright side, this is twice as many as Apple allows. 


Fix:
http://support.google.com/androidmarket/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1230356


Login to Google Music, click on the settings gear logo in the top right-hand corner, choose "Music Settings", and then look over the "MANAGE MY DEVICES" section. If you don't recognize any of the devices in your list, click on the "Deauthorize" button. If you no longer own the device- I suggest doing the same.


Best of luck, and a friendly reminder to check Google's music store via https://market.android.com each day for their free song.

Customer Service with Verizon

Well, well, well... time changes many things as does experience. Having worked in customer service position with four companies it takes a toll on one's emotions, and patience. Verizon had, and still has great customer services. I was having trouble with my new Galaxy Nexus smartphone these past few weeks. Mostly directed to either battery or...? Verizon is shipping me a replacement Nexus and I'll have it by tomorrow! No shipping costs, and free overnight shipping.  They even went as far as to offer me a replace DROID phone if my phone completely stopped working.  Way to go Verizon!

Alarm feature via voice command

My co-worker friend, we'll call him... "Ben" just informed me of a very cool feature! There is no on-board countdown timer or stopwatch on the Android OS version 2, 3, or 4.0. However, on the new Galaxy Nexus if you can start a countdown via voice command.
Step 1: turn on your nexus phone
Step 2: click on the mic icon
Step 3: speak the phrase "set timer 19 minutes"
The screen updates, and an alarm is automatically created for 19 minutes from the time you spoke the command, click the "OK" button and your quasi countdown timer/alarm is enabled!

Galaxy Nexus Experiences

It happened... FINALLY! Samsung, Google, and Verizon were able to get all their ducks in a row and they released the Galaxy Nexus last year, 2011, mid December. On Thursday, December 15th, 2011 I ventured off to the local Verizon Store and purchased one! My neighbor had picked up his earlier that evening and was raving about all the new features, the new Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS 4.0) operating system, the bright, large screen, and how fast the phone was in using all of it's mobility!


Galaxy Nexus 12-2011 - "The Purchase"
I must say, I need to write this... 


The First Crash


Where are my pictures?
Picasa Error Message Window: "An error has occurred while attempting to import. Either the source is unavailable or the destination is full or read only. (1)"

Troubleshooting done was I restarted my computer, restarted the phone, tried different computers, and all without success. Windows Vista doesn't like the new Google phone, or the drives are yet not compatible.