"An iPod, A Phone, and An Internet Communicator...This Is One Device"
When Steve Jobs said these words...the world of technology was forever cahnged. On January 9th, 2007 Steve Jobs and the people of Apple, introduced the first iPhone. When announcing this device at 2007's Macworld coference, Steve Jobs broke it down into its three base components, saying it was "an iPod, a phone, and an internet communicator."
Ten Years Later: The World of Technology, Forever Changed
Now, the iPhone is so much more than what it was introduced to be. It has also paved the way for other companied to follow and push this form of mobile technology even further. For many, their smartphone is their primary source for information, how they communicate and interact with friends and family, and their main method of consuming media. This all started with the iPhone.
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First Time For Everything
It looks like the pressure is on, over at Apple. The Cupertino based company has reported its first dip in iPhone sales the products initial release in 2006. This is also the first dip in Apple's sales since 2003. iPhone sales have dropped 16 percent, this quarter, compared to the same quarter last year. Overall sales dropped by 13 percent, down to $50.6 billion. In China alone, iPhone sales plummeted 26 percent. This is no surprise, considering the increase in foreign phone companies offering powerful devices, at much lower prices. No Signs of Getting Better? According to Toni Sacconaghi, an analyst at the Bernstein brokerage firm, "there's no question that Apple's best days are behind it. The company grew at astronomical rates, and it's now so big that its ability to grow at those rates doesn't exist anymore." According to forecasts of the current quarter, things are not looking up for Apple. Projected revenue for this quarter is expected to go from $41 billion to $43 billion. This is a lot lower than what Wall Street was expecting. Will things get better for Apple? When? According to Tim Cook, this drop in sales is due to the regular two-year product cycle of the iPhone. Tim Cook went on to say, "If you look at our installed base of iPhones today versus two years ago, it's increased 80 percent." For some time now, rumors had been circulating about Apple's March, 2016 event. It seemed like we were getting more and more info on Apple's latest devices on a daily basis. So much so, that the event seemed almost unnecessary. But, as always, nothing is "confirmed" until Apple says it is. Well, today all of those rumors were finally confirmed. As many were expecting, we saw the "all new" iPhone SE and and The New [9.7-inch] iPad Pro. iPhone SE The iPhone SE is Apple's solution to bringing back the 4-inch smartphone. This was one of the rumors that was a toss-up. There were sources stating that the SE would be a "smaller, thicker iPhone 6s", and then there were those saying it would be " a revamped iPhone 5s". Unfortunately, the latter has turned out to be true. The iPhone SE takes [most] of the specs from the iPhone 6s, and puts them in an iPhone 5s casing. It seems like the only thing that the iPhone SE didn't inherit from the iPhone 6s is the 3D Touch display. For me, the biggest "issues" I have with the iPhone SE are;
The New iPad Pro
Along with the iPhone SE, Apple also announced a smaller version of last years powerhouse tablet, the iPad Pro. This new iPad (still just iPad Pro) takes all of the power of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and puts it in a 9.7-inch housing. The 9.7-inch iPad even comes complete with the 4 stereo speakers, smart connector, and Apple Pencil Support. The smaller iPad Pro even comes equipped with something that its larger sibling doesn't. The 9.7-inch iPad Pro has a "True Tone Display". This means that the iPad Pro display will adjust the lighting of the display in response to the lighting of the environment, similarly to the way paper does when it reflects different light. Another big upgrade that the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is the camera. The new iPad features the 12-megapixel iSight Camera found on the iPhone 6s/6s Plus. The one downside (for some) is that with the new camera, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro also inherited the infamous camera bump found on the latest iPhones. I personally prefer the size of the 9.7-inch iPads over the size of the pro. I think that it's a much more practical size for those that aren't looking to use the iPad as a laptop replacement. My only complaint with the new iPad Pro (which might end up not being a problem at all) is the True Tone Display. After seeing this feature demoed I am willing to test it, but I'm not thrilled about it. So, as long as that feature gives you the option to turn it off, all is good. What do you think about Apple's "new" devices? Are they necessary? Has Sony just confirmed that the iPhone 7 Plus will feature dual-camera? According to Sony, their dual-lens camera technology will make its way into devices from "major smartphone players" in the year 2016. This information was shared by Kenchiro Yoshida, Sony's CFO, during the company's Q3 earnings call. Although, Sony cameras are used by numerous smartphone manufacturers, it is probably safe to say that Apple is the biggest. When asked, Yoshida would not specify which companies would be executing this technology. Thoughts Now, I do think that these dual-lens systems are great, and offer some great features to smartphones. For example; the ability to adjust focus after taking a photo, or the versatility of having the two different lens types. I do also think that there is one very small downside to having a dual-lens camera on your smartphone. This downside will not be an issue for many smartphone photographers. This issue I'm referring to is external lenses, or lack there of. If the iPhone 7 does feature a dual-lens camera, things like the Olloclip, Moments lens, and iOgrapher become irrelevant. Now, obviously without getting our hands on this new iPhone, there is no way of knowing if the features that the dual-lens system adds will be worth the trade. What do you think? Do you think that an iPhone with two rear-facing cameras is a good idea? Why? Why not?
Things Known, and Things Unexpected Today's Apple Event came to a close earlier today. As expected, we saw some things we already knew were coming--the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, iPad Pro, etc--but we also saw a couple things we weren't expecting to see--Apple Pencil, iPad Pro Keyboard Cover. Apple Watch Yes, that is correct. Apple added to the existing Apple Watch Family. They newest additions are Gold and Rose Gold colored Apple Watch Sport. Both of these new colors are priced the same as the original Sport selections, $349 and $399. Apple also unveiled a new "premium" Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Hermes. Unlike the Apple Watch Edition, this watch isn't premium due to the watch itself. The premium aspect of the Apple Watch Hermes is the bands, which are "handmade by Hermes artisans". Other than the bands, the watch itself is the regular Apple Watch. there are three variations of the Apple Watch Hermes; Single-Tour is a standard looking watch strap priced at $1100, Double-Tour features a band that wraps around your wrist twice priced at $1250, and the Cuff priced at $1500. Each of these band styles come in various colors. These watches also feature a custom watch face inspired by Hermes. iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus As rumors have long been suggesting, this years iPhones are indeed the "s" models of last year's iPhones. These phones, do look identical to their predecessors from last year. The differences to this year's iPhones are almost entirely on the inside. In terms of what's different; Apple upgraded the iPhones' processors, cameras, and screens. The processors on the new iPhones is the A9 chip. It's Apple's third-generation processor with a 64-bit architecture. In terms of CPU performance, the A9 is 70 percent faster than the A8; and in terms of GPU performance, it is about 90 percent faster. The rear camera in the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus is now a 12 megapixel camera. It features Apple's advanced pixel technology. This years iPhones also feature the ability to capture "Live Photos". This feature is essentially, creating GIFs with your iPhone. With Live Photos your phone captures a 12-megapixel image as well as the seconds right before and right after the image. Another addition to the camera of the new iPhones is the ability to shoot 4K video. Now you can shoot video in 4K and zoom in on your recordings. Apple also incorporated optical image stabilization to video recording, for smoother shots. When it comes to the screen, Apple decided to keep the same resolutions as last years phones. The change that they did make to the screens is adding 3D Touch. It is unclear why Apple decided to go with calling the technology on the new iPhone displays 3D Touch instead of Force Touch. Even though it has a different name, it is essentially the same technology. Depending on what app you are accessing, different presses perform different tasks. For example, while holding down on the camera icon, you are given the options of taking a photo, recording slo-mo, taking a selfie, or recording standard video. Apple TV Revived It's been almost 3 years since the Apple TV got an update. It will depend on the users, if this iteration will have been worth the wait. One of the biggest updates to the Apple TV is the addition of Siri. Now, to find something to watch you just have to ask Siri. If you want to narrow down your search, you can even do that, just tell Siri how to narrow down the results and she will do it. Based on the demonstration Apple did, Siri does this fairly quickly. Another change is the new Siri Remote. Instead of a D-Pad, the Siri Remote features a glass touch surface that allows you to interact with your new Apple TV in a similar way as to many of your other smart devices. Possibly the biggest change to Apple TV has to be the software. Now, rather than just being a box that used your iOS device, or a few applications, to stream content, it is on the road to becoming a well rounded device all on its own. The new Apple TV features a very clean and simple user interface, as well as its own App Store. In all honesty, after seeing Apple's demonstration of the new device, the relationship between tvOS (the Apple TV's new operating system) and iOS is not unlike the relationship between Stock Android and say a skinned version like TouchWiz. The tvOS has many features similar to iOS, just with a different overall look to it. The iPad Pro...and More Yes, the rumors were true. Apple, earlier today, announced the iPad Pro. The newest member of the iPad family features a 12.9-inch Retina Display. The iPad Pro is powered by Apple's all new A9X chip. This chip features a 1.8 times faster CPU and 2 times faster GPU, compared to the iPad Air 2. The resolution on the iPad Pro is 2732-by-2048. It also features an 8-megapixel iSight camera, capable of filming 1080p at 30 fps and slo-mo at 120 fps. The iPad Pro also comes equipped with 4 built-in stereo speakers. It is estimated that the iPad Pro has a 10 hour battery life. Along with the new iPad Pro, Apple also unveiled a couple of new accessories to go along with it. They Smart Keyboard and the Apple Pen, they are the accessories that enable the iPad Pro to accomplish a lot more than on its own. They also make the iPad Pro seem vaguely similar to another device. The Smart Keyboard is just as it sounds, when talking about an iPad accessory. It is an iPad Smart Cover with a built-in keyboard. The Smart Keyboard is a full-sized keyboard covered in a water resistant material. It also doesn't add much thickness to the iPad Pro, coming in at just 4mm thin. The Smart Keyboard also features a wide range of shortcuts that can be accessed, both through the keyboard and on-screen. The Apple Pencil is a stylus made specifically for the iPad Pro. This stylus allows you to change the thickness of your lines just by applying more or less pressure. The Pencil also features tilt sensors, these calculate the orientation of the stylus and allow you to create shading effects. The Apple Pencil has an estimated battery life of 12 hours, but if and when you do run out of battery, the stylus has a removable cap on the end that exposes a lightning connector. This will let you plug in your Pencil directly into the iPad Pro, for a quick charge. 15 seconds of charging gives about 30 minutes of use. There is no doubt, there are many people that will be very excited to get their hands on all of these new Apple devices. What about you?
The time is FINALLY upon us! Apple has sent out the invitations, announcing that their next big event of the year will be held on September 9th. This event will host the unveiling of this years iPhone(s). The next iPhones are but confirmed to get upgraded processors, RAM, cameras, and displays; all wrapped in an almost identical (if not slightly thicker) casing. In terms of what else Apple has in store for their latest event; it is being suggested that Apple will unveil the all new, all bigger iPad Pro. It is also possible that Apple will announce a long overdue update to Apple TV. If you want to try and find anymore information about the event, try asking Siri. She has been hard at work trying to come up with new (non) answers. Apple will be streaming their event live. If you are interested in watching, here are the requirements:
Requirements: Live streaming uses Apple’s HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology. HLS requires an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with Safari on iOS 7.0 or later, a Mac with Safari 6.0.5 or later on OS X v10.8.5 or later, or a PC with Edge on Windows 10. Streaming via Apple TV requires a second- or third-generation Apple TV with software 6.2 or later. The Apple event begins at 10 A.M. PDT. Be sure to stay tuned to find out what Apple has to offer next month. We see it every year. Countless rumors talking about what's going to be included in the next iPhone. This year, is no different. There have been talks of this years iPhone getting the expected processor upgrade, along with a few additional changes. These changes have included; an additional gigabyte of RAM, a Force Touch display, a better shell (no more BendGate), and an improved camera. iPhone 6s Camera The camera is what we are talking about today. According to a report, from Apple's supply chain "Apple is currently ordering suppliers to produce five-element lenses for the iPhone 6s that are designed to work with a 12-megapixel camera sensor." The concept of Apple upgrading the current 8-megapixel camera to a newer 12-megapixel camera, definitely is not something we haven't heard before. This has been suggested for at least a few months now. But, this report does seem to add some support to that claim. As with all rumors, even those with some support behind them, they should be taken lightly. This wouldn't be the first time that a "confirmed" rumor turned out to be false. There is no doubt that the 12-megapixel camera would be welcome on the new iPhone, especially when you take into consideration the fact that Apple hasn't upgraded the 8-megapixel sensor since the iPhone 4S. Now, don't get me wrong. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus do take great photos, but that doesn't mean they couldn't take better photos.
What do you guys think? Is the camera on the new iPhone "confirmed"? This review is going to be a bit different...for me. This is going to be my first app review. I hope it helps, I am going to break this review into three different parts; Installation & Setup, Features, Gameplay & Final Thoughts. Okay, let's get into it.
Installation & Setup The process of installing GBA4iOS 2.0 is extremely simple. The first thing you will need to do is go to GBA4iOSapp.com, you will need to start the download on the current date. As soon as your download begins, you simply go to your iOS devices settings and change your date back to February 18th, 2014 or earlier. Once your download finishes, just open up the app and then you can change your date back to the current date. After you have installed the app, can begin installing games. Simply press the "+" in the top right corner of your screen and begin searching for ROMs. GBA4iOS 2.0 is only compatible with iOS 7.0 and higher. Features -Redesigned for iOS 7 -GBA4iOS 2.0 offers a more sleek, updated look to match the iOS 7 update. -Support for iPad -Compatible with Gameboy Advance and Gameboy Color games The update to GBA4iOS now allows it to support GBA and GBC games. I am currently not sure if it also supports classic Gameboy games. I will be sure to update, when I find new information. -iOS 7 controllers supported This has to be one of my favorite features in GBA4iOS. My only issue with the previous version, was that holding my phone in portrait mode the buttons feel mashed together and in landscape mode the controller skin took up too much space and the gameplay "screen" seemed too small. With the added support of MFi controller, I am able to connect my MOGA Ace Power controller and play for long periods of time without having my fingers feel crammed together. -Event Distribution I'll be honest, when I first read this feature I wasn't to sure about what it meant. It is, however, self explanatory. From time to time Riley Testut (the genius Developer behind GBA4iOS), will enable certain events for Pokemon games; such as the abilities to obtain special items or receive rare Pokemon. While some events do have time limits, it seems like occasionally there will be events distributed, that have no expiration date. If you would like to insure that you stay up to date on new events and all thing GBA4iOS, follow Riley Testut on Twitter @rileytestut. -Cheats I have not tried using any cheats at this time, but I will be sure to update once I try it. GBA games on GBA4iOS support GameShark v3, Action Replay, and Code Breaker cheats. GBC games support GameShark and Game Genie cheats. -Dropbox Sync (extremely useful) This feature is extremely useful. It works easily and seamlessly with GBA4iOS. I have found the Dropbox Sync feature helpful for when I've had to delete the app and reinstall later, or I accidentally delete one of my games; I don't have start all over again (perfect for Pokemon). -Sustain button (perfect when playing Pokemon) This feature, though extremely simple in terms of it application, is definitely a great addition. I have found myself mainly using this feature while playing Pokemon (is anyone seeing a pattern here?). This feature basically holds down one button of your choosing. For example, while playing Pokemon Emerald I have it set to hold down "B", so the trainer is constantly running. This does make it a bit easier when using the touchscreen controls. -Custom Controller skins Another great feature added to GBA4iOS is the ability to download and even create different controller skins. To download more skins, you simply go to GBA4iOSkins and there you can go through several different style categories and choose whichever ones you would like to download and they are added to your skin library, in the GBA4iOS app. Gameplay After you have installed your ROMs and have them stored in GBA4iOS, starting to play them is extremely easy. You just choose the game and it starts up just like the original handheld console. Playing games on the updated version GBA4iOS is much better than the previous version. In the previous version, there used to be some games that would tend to crash or sometimes even, not load. In the updated version I have not had any issues with any of the same games that had issues before. My favorite games to play on GBA4iOS are; Pokemon Emerald, Dr. Mario, Donkey Kong, and Galaga (through Namco Museum). Currently, I am only playing those games because those have been the ones that work the best with my MOGA controller. This is due to the fact that there does seem to be some delay, in the response between the controller and the game. These small "issues" don't worry me at all. This is due to the fact that another feature has been added to GBA4iOS. That feature is, the ability to add future updates to GBA4iOS. The first updated version of GBA4iOS was released in February, with the 2.0 version; currently (April 2014) GBA4iOS is on version 2.0.2. I think that the team that developed GBA4iOS 2.0 is full some amazing talent. I can't wait for future updates and new features. |
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