Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Operator of the Year
This isn't a tech related post, but I thought it was worth sharing the skill of this operator!
Feel free to comment below and share with your friends on facebook etc
Feel free to comment below and share with your friends on facebook etc
Sunday, June 27, 2010
iPhone 4 review
Pros:Faster and more responsive.
Amazing battery life (over 30 hours on our tests)
Excellent screen (retina display).
Smaller Size.
Apple's version of multitasking.
Cons:
Does not support flash.
Cons:
Does not support flash.
Non-standard sim card.
With the new iPhone comes multitasking. iOS4 implements Apple's take on multitasking, where you can open new apps then return to already opened apps seamlessly. It works by backgrounding opened apps, allowing only the primary processes to run, while giving full attention to the app in the foreground. eg. you can now run an im conversation, while checking your email, while downloading an app from the app store.
The new iPhone is snappier than its older brother the iPhone 3gs, thanks to the A4 chip (the same used in its bigger cousin, the iPad). Also thanks to the new "Retina Display" all this "snappiness" can be appreciated on the best screen I personally have ever seen on a mobile device. The new screens packs in more pixels on the same size screen as previous models. Not to mention the glass is said to be stronger that that of the previous models as well.
Totally redesigned?
The design of this model is alot different than that of the 3gs and 3g model. Its been totally redesigned, made up of three parts, two pieces of smooth, strengthened glass, and a stainless steel band which wraps around the sides, top, and bottom of the phone resulting in a clean effect. Apple has added little details, like altered volume buttons, and notches in that metal band which serve to improve radio connections. The phone is noticeably thinner than the 3GS at .37 inches compared to .48 inches, but it weighs the same 4.8 ounces, making the whole package seem tighter and denser. Buttons on it are now more clicker as well. The new design makes older models seem cheap in comparison.
Apple has finally listened to its customers by including a usable 5mp camera with LED flash to the back also capable of capturing HD video. Apple also includes the iMovie app which is capable of editing videos on the fly. To the front is a vga camera adjusted to be able to capture your face for the new video calling feature (Face Time) which allows your to see other iPhone 4 users over a wifi connection.
The new phone comes with the new iOS 4 as previously mentions. This adds multitasking, wallpapers and folders as well.
Here is a break down to how Apple accomplishes multitasking on the new OS.
- Fast app switching: You know how you can leave off in Mail halfway through writing a response and go back to exactly where you were? Well that happens everywhere now. When you leave the app, you go back in exactly the same place. And it happens quickly. Fast app switching is essentially like toggling between "paused" applications. This combined with Apple's new app switcher (double tap the home button to bring up your most recently used apps) destroys that annoying iPhone feeling of going in and out and in and out. It just doesn't exist anymore, provided all your apps are up to date, which is going to take some time. It's amazing how much this single feature counts -- it's definitely one of the prime movers here, and it's so simple it's stupid. I would have liked to see options for "favorite" apps or some way to prioritize what you're switching to, but once you get used to this system -- which just puts whatever you've used most recently to the far left -- it makes some sense.
- Task completion: Basically, task completion lets an app do its thing even if you leave it. So if you're uploading or downloading a picture in Evernote or Dropbox, or saving an article in theNew York Times app, even if you navigate away, the job is done when you get back to the app. This accounts for a lot of what we think of as multitasking. Most of your apps are just idling -- it's only when you interact with them that it counts. Its not clear the boundaries for this API, though it seems to leave a lot of room for creative use. To be honest, that kind of behavior is one thing alot of people thought we wouldn't see in iOS 4, and here it is. Hopefully Twitter app devs and other instant messaging clients will utilize the API in a similar manner.
- Background audio and VoIP: These two are straightforward. The first allows for music playing apps to keep their stream running in the background (and even gives them little widget controls in the app switcher), and the second allows VoIP connections to stay active. That means you can stay on a Skype call and go check your mail, but it also means that the VoIP connection will be aware of incoming calls when you're not actively using an app. Additionally, this API can be used to allow for recording even if you exit an app, as demonstrated effectively in the new version of Evernote.
- Background GPS: Basically, GPS apps can keep running in the background... for obvious reasons. This one will drain your battery if you're not docked -- but who's using a GPS app and not plugging that thing in? Regardless, this will keep your navigation software afloat if you have to take a call, and apparently will let GPS-centric apps like FourSquare check in even if you're not running it in the foreground.
Apple combines these heavy hitters with more familiar tricks, like push notifications, to excellent effect. I know that the hardcore users will cry foul because a lot of this doesn't amount to "true" multitasking, but I also know that often solutions to problems come in different colors. Apple found a way in iOS 4 to solve a pretty good amount of its major problems in this department, and so far its very promising. If it's only going to get better from here, I won't mind coming along for the ride. But it better only get better, Apple.
Battery life is incredible! The new device, thanks to the new design, now includes a larger battery. It now lasts close to 40 hours in casual use! (taking and receiving calls, looking at video, listening to music, emails, chatting and downloading new apps).
In conclusion, the iPhone 4 is one of the best smart phones on the market thus far. I won't say its the best (that's a matter of personal opinion) but it is the best iPhone Apple has released yet, addressing most if not all of the concerns of their fans.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Apple's iPad...is it a good choice or not?
Pros:
Surprisingly fast and responsive.
More convenient to use that a laptop.
Can be used with iPhone/iTouch apps (1000's).
Amazing battery life (over 10 hours on our tests)
Excellent screen (clarity and size).
Alot of apps available.
Cons:
No multi-tasking.
Does not support flash.
No usb.
No SD Card expansion.
No webcam.
The first thing you may notice about the new device is its large display! (9.7-inch, 1024 x 768, capacitive, multitouch LED-backlit display) There is also the signature "home" button on the face of the device, a volume rocker on the side, headphones and power/sleep button to the top, a screen position lock, the standard 30 pin connector and a speaker to the bottom. The device has some "heft", at 1.5 pounds, but is still comfortable to hang onto at most angles. Considering the computing power of the tablet, a thickness that tops out at half an inch is pretty impressive, too.
In terms of the specs, it contains a 1GHz A4 system-on-a-chip -- a single Cortex A8 core coupled with a PowerVR SGX GPU. Ram has not yet been revealed, but that's just a matter of time before someone open's theirs. There is onboard wifi(802.11a/b/g/n) bluetooth 2.0, a digital compass, an accelerometer, microphone, and ambient light sensor. The 3G model adds UMTS / HSDPA data along with an AGPS chip. As mentioned above, there is lack of expandability i.e no usb support, or sd support, although the company offers both of these as an accessory as a means to transfer photos and video onto the device. Also there is lack of a webcam, so no video calling via ichat or skype :( Another downside is where apple chose to put the headphone jack....to the top...... I won't comment on this....but............
As you may already know, the OS is the same as on the iPhone. For those out there who want a simple, easy to use device without complications, this is the OS for you... it's built on the same operating system, a derivation of OS X for mobile devices. Apple has added extra features to the OS to take advantage of the iPad's large display, however. (below was taken from engadget.com's site)
The downside to this brilliant OS as mentioned before is the lack of real multitasking, therefore you can't run multiple apps in the background as you would on your laptop. Its either you are on MSN chatting with a friend or you are not. Some may not mind this, but personally I do. Another major downside to the device is the lack of adobe's flash support, so that limits web browsing, since over 90% of websites include flash in one form or the other. The browser would have been flawless if it won't for this lack of flash.
So is it a good buy? Well that's totally up to what you want it for. If you just need a device for browsing facebook, checking email, chatting with friends, and generally light work then this is the device for you! On the other hand, if you need to do multitasking, chatting with friends, while checking email, while watching an online movie then the best option for you at the moment is a regular laptop. Again, its totally up to you. My opinion is its build to do what it was designed for perfectly!
Surprisingly fast and responsive.
More convenient to use that a laptop.
Can be used with iPhone/iTouch apps (1000's).
Amazing battery life (over 10 hours on our tests)
Excellent screen (clarity and size).
Alot of apps available.
Cons:
No multi-tasking.
Does not support flash.
No usb.
No SD Card expansion.
No webcam.
The first thing you may notice about the new device is its large display! (9.7-inch, 1024 x 768, capacitive, multitouch LED-backlit display) There is also the signature "home" button on the face of the device, a volume rocker on the side, headphones and power/sleep button to the top, a screen position lock, the standard 30 pin connector and a speaker to the bottom. The device has some "heft", at 1.5 pounds, but is still comfortable to hang onto at most angles. Considering the computing power of the tablet, a thickness that tops out at half an inch is pretty impressive, too.
In terms of the specs, it contains a 1GHz A4 system-on-a-chip -- a single Cortex A8 core coupled with a PowerVR SGX GPU. Ram has not yet been revealed, but that's just a matter of time before someone open's theirs. There is onboard wifi(802.11a/b/g/n) bluetooth 2.0, a digital compass, an accelerometer, microphone, and ambient light sensor. The 3G model adds UMTS / HSDPA data along with an AGPS chip. As mentioned above, there is lack of expandability i.e no usb support, or sd support, although the company offers both of these as an accessory as a means to transfer photos and video onto the device. Also there is lack of a webcam, so no video calling via ichat or skype :( Another downside is where apple chose to put the headphone jack....to the top...... I won't comment on this....but............
As you may already know, the OS is the same as on the iPhone. For those out there who want a simple, easy to use device without complications, this is the OS for you... it's built on the same operating system, a derivation of OS X for mobile devices. Apple has added extra features to the OS to take advantage of the iPad's large display, however. (below was taken from engadget.com's site)
- Pop-overs (modals): Windows which pop up and hover above the content you're interacting with, used to excellent effect within the iPod app for displaying track listings when you touch an album, or getting information on books or music to purchase in the iBookstore and iTunes. These modals have their own navigation and points of interaction separate from the main content you're working with.
- Split screens: Exactly what it sounds like. Apple is using all that big real estate to break up what would have been multiple pages on an iPhone, dividing up the content into segments of the same screen. In the mail app, that means you can look at the list of your emails while keeping a message in view, or keep your multi-page work in Keynote available to you even when editing (think how Preview handles a folder of images).
- Tap-and-hold: Now, this is present in some places on the iPhone, but Apple has really expanded its use with the iPad, offering lots of situations where a long press gets you deeper, contextual interactivity and functionality. We're big fans of this gesture on other devices (hello, Android), and it's nice to see Apple putting it to better use within the iPad's UI. We hope this trend continues throughout the company's mobile OSs.
- Contextual menus: While tap-and-hold gets you some options for context-specific menus, the iPad interface is littered with other single tap buttons that pop open those same kind of options. The shift certainly seems to be towards these transient menus as opposed to paging through screens like we're used to on the iPhone.
- Toolbar drop-downs: Apple hammered on toolbar items with previous iterations of the iPhone OS, but on the iPad, toolbars aren't just links to deeper pages -- they're self-contained menus, often with lots of levels and options for tweaking the work you're doing. They are literally all over the iPad.
- Tabs (or Cover Flow) everywhere: You know how Safari handles multiple pages? Well that behavior is used throughout the iPad to navigate through files or lists of options. In Safari, as in other apps, the content is presented as a grid, while elsewhere it's a scrollable list akin to Mobile Safari's present use (or webOS cards).
- Nearly full-sized virtual keyboards: In portrait mode, we were able to tap out some messages using our thumbs, but we mostly did single finger typing. On the other hand, the landscape keyboard is big and totally usable. In fact, we were surprised at how quickly and accurately we could bang out emails on it.
The downside to this brilliant OS as mentioned before is the lack of real multitasking, therefore you can't run multiple apps in the background as you would on your laptop. Its either you are on MSN chatting with a friend or you are not. Some may not mind this, but personally I do. Another major downside to the device is the lack of adobe's flash support, so that limits web browsing, since over 90% of websites include flash in one form or the other. The browser would have been flawless if it won't for this lack of flash.
So is it a good buy? Well that's totally up to what you want it for. If you just need a device for browsing facebook, checking email, chatting with friends, and generally light work then this is the device for you! On the other hand, if you need to do multitasking, chatting with friends, while checking email, while watching an online movie then the best option for you at the moment is a regular laptop. Again, its totally up to you. My opinion is its build to do what it was designed for perfectly!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Affordable Security? Tstt's Blink Vigilance....
I'm an official rep for Tstt's Blink Vigilance Alarm Monitoring Service. I get alot of people asking me what the service is about, so here goes!
At Blink Vigilance we have a comprehensive network of dedicated Alarm Monitoring Centers backed by highly trained professionals operating powerful state of the art equipment. Trust us to help deter trouble in and around your home and provide you and your family with assurance and peace of mind.
The alarm system is fully wireless system (meaning no wires are run within the premises) gsm enabled, fully supervised (meaning its monitored by us). It comes with a central control panel, with integrated keypad and siren. There are also wireless devices such as magnetic contacts(used to secure doors and windows) and motion sensors which come with all packages. Additional sensors can be added as well, eg. smoke detectors, temperature monitors, water level detectors, as well as medical alerts, which can be added on to any package you choose.
The packages are:
Bronze, $199, protects 2 points of entry 24 hours/day.
Silver, $299, protects 3 points of entry 24 hours/day.
Gold, $499, protects 5 main points of entry 24 hours/day.
Once an alarm is triggered, the siren goes off at the location, and after a predetermined amount of time which can't be mentioned here for security purposes, the system sends an alert to our central monitoring center. From there a trained rep would proceed to make calls to emergency contacts, such as family or private security firms to verify everything is alright, if you are not reachable, this will then be taken as an emergency and help would be sent over to you immediately.
If you happen to have any questions I may have not answered or would like to sign up, feel free to send me an email at: dtittil@tstt.co.tt along with a contact number and I will be happy to assist, as well as I can add those unanswered questions here to make the blog post more complete!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
How to Invite ALL Facebook Friends to a Group, Event or Page
After being frustrated by selecting my FB friends individually I went on a little search and found that you could cheat the system by inserting a little javascript to make it happen! Here is how to do it:
- Go to your Event, Group or page and click “Invite People”.
- Once the page has loaded you should see all of your friends, but they are not selected.
- At this point, copy and paste the javascript code below into your Web browser’s address bar, then hit “Enter”.
- If all goes well, it selects all of your friends!
javascript:elms=document.getElementById('friends').getElementsByTagName('li');for(var fid in elms){if(typeof elms[fid] === 'object'){fs.click(elms[fid]);}This shorter code should work as well! javascript:fs.select_all();
Or use this:
javascript:elms=document.getEle
Or use this:
javascript:elms=document.getEle
wuz yuh pin?
So everyone these days has a blackberry..... do you? With bmobile and digicel subsidizing the cost on most models via post paid packages, these devices are affordable to almost anyone these days.
(click any of the images above to purchase unlocked)
Now "D Trini Tech Blog" won't go into technical reviews for these devices because almost everyone these days has one! So why not give comments below as to what you think about yours? Why not even post your pin so others can add you? Not a berry person? Tell us why!
(click any of the images above to purchase unlocked)
Now "D Trini Tech Blog" won't go into technical reviews for these devices because almost everyone these days has one! So why not give comments below as to what you think about yours? Why not even post your pin so others can add you? Not a berry person? Tell us why!
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