Talking Tech w/ Alex Ep. 1: No More HP Slate

Recently there’s been so much news to cover in the actively changing world of technology. Well, I’m starting a new video series where you can see and hear about the big headlines in high definition, with a bit of humor on the side. Today we covered the iPad 3G launch, the HTC Droid Incredible, iPhone 4G Rumors, and the HP Slate is no more.

Recently Apple has finally launched their iPad models that have 3G in the United States. AT&T will be the carrier of this reveloutionary device. Data plans on AT&T start at $14.99 per month which will buy you 250 mega bytes of data. You can also buy the unlimited data plan for $29.99 per month. Prices for the iPad are as follow

16 GB $629 32 GB $729 64 GB $829

Now, to the HTC Droid Incredible:

Tech Specs: Processor 1 GHz Qualcomm Snap Dragon Processor  OS: Android 2.1 Carrier: Verizon Wireless Camera: 8 Mega Pixels Display: 3.2 inches and full on screen qwerty keyboard

Recently HP came out and said they will not be launching the HP Slate anytime soon. They said that Windows 7 is not a tablet Operating System. But, you could factor in another reason, which would be HP purchasing Palm for $1.2 billion.

Well, I can’t write everything that I said in my video so, if you want to know more about what I said, please take a look at the video.

Website

iPhone OS 4.0

Hey guys I know it has been awhile since my last post. I have just been really busy with everything but today I am really excited to share with you iPhone OS 4.0 and my thoughts on it. Yes, I know this was released yesterday but I had some previous jobs I had to do. So here it is.

First I will go over the 4 major new features that were gone over in the keynote because I just don't have time to write about all 100 new features. The first new feature I will go over is multitasking. This is a real big addition to the iPhone OS. One reason for this is because their biggest competitors have been able to multitask on their devices for a long time. Apple claims that they haven't had it on their platform until now because they wanted to wait until they had it just right. What they mean by this is not only the interface of it but while using multitasking you wont kill your battery or lose a lot of the phones power. Multitasking will let the customer play music from other apps while they go into another app. For example a user could be listening to their Pandora account and then close out of it and go into another app and the music wouldn't stop like it use to. Another way to use multitasking is by using VOIP or Voice over IP. This is like taking a skype call and then closing out and staying on the call and being able to go play a game. This is a real big thing for many people. The next big feature that was added is folders. Folders will let the user put all the apps they want in one place. With a simple drop one app on top of another app you will be making folders. You will even be able to name the folders. For those of you that ran out of space because you could only have 180 apps on your device you will now be able to have 2,160 apps with these new folders. The next big feature that was added is an even better mail app. With this new mail app you will be able to have multiple exchange accounts hooked up to the same device. You will also have the option to show all your email accounts in one big inbox so you don't have to keep switching back and fourth between the different inbox. Other parts of the new mail app include being able to open attachments in third party apps, organizing messages by thread, and switching between inbox faster. The last major feature that they showed off was iBooks. Now yes iBooks was released with the iPad but now Apple has brought that same app, book store, and all the other books you have bought to the iPhone and iPod Touch. You can even do this while listening to music. One other cool new thing they talked about and showed but didn't go into much detail was about being able to change you home screen background. You now will be able to have what ever picture you want as your background and it doesn't have to stay black. At the keynote that also went over a new thing called iAD and Enterprise. They also went over the fact that there is now over 1,500 new APIs for developers to use and make their apps do what we just talked about. iAD in a quick little description is Apples new way to put ads in developers apps so that they can keep them free and still make money.It is a really cool and interactive way to put ads in apps. Enterprise is for companies. This will let companies easily deploy many iPhones through out their company. This will also let them make and distribute apps just for their company very easily to every one. A cool new thing about that for them is that they wont even need to plug in their phones and sync the apps they will be able to do it wireless. Now here is the catch this is a direct quote for apple.com " Phone OS 4 will work with iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, and the second- and third-generation iPod touch this summer, and with iPad in the fall. Not all features are compatible with all devices. For example, multitasking is available only with iPhone 3GS and the third-generation iPod touch (32GB and 64GB models from late 2009)."

Now for my feelings and impressions about the new iPhone OS. Over all I am very happy about all the new features and will love to have them on my iPod Touch. The only downfall is that I wont be able to multitask on it because I have the 2nd Generation. This disappoints me very much because this is something that I have been looking forward to for a long time. Now if we put that aside I am extremely happy. I will be able to set one of my own pictures as the background and these new folders will let my organize my minimal app collection. I will also be able to merge my inbox and for me this isn't the biggest thing because I really only get mail in one inbox but when I do get mail from the other mail box I wont have to spend the time to switch to it. Another feature that was talked about but I wont be using is the feature of being able to have multiple exchange accounts. The first and the biggest reason is that I don't even have one exchange account so this doesn't effect me. Now for the iBooks app. I'm not the biggest reader and for that I rarely read at all. When I do read it is in school and during school I cant pull out my iPod and claim to be reading so I most likely won't be using this app but if for some reason I do decide to download a book and read it using this app from what I know the experience will be great. Over all as you can tell I am very happy with the turn out of iPhone OS 4.0 and can't wait to use it this summer.

iPhone OS 4.0 will be available this summer for the iPhone and iPod Touch and then later this fall for the iPad. There is no price that it will be going for at the time. For more information on iPhone OS 4.0 go to http://www.apple.com/iphone/preview-iphone-os/. You can also download the keynote or watch it one apple.com for more information and demos of everything talked about.

For more of my work go to http://applman02-appleworld.blogspot.com/. Thanks.

iPad Wi-Fi Issues?

Recently it has become apparent that new iPad owners have started to complain about connectivity issues surrounding their recently purchased iPads. This was a concern held by many before the iPad's release, and now as the forums fill up, could this be the major downfall of the beautiful all aluminium backing of the iPad?

Perhaps.

The obvious resolution to this problem is the iPad 3G version set to hit the shops later this month, being that the 3G version incorporates a plastic backing at the top to allow for 3G connectivity, this could increase wifi-connectivity, therefore resolving any issues. However I'm not sure that this is what current iPad owners want to hear. Many have speculated that Apple may quietly release a software update for the device to address the issue, and let's hope so!

This could indeed be a lesson to Apple about connectivity issues, however it is highly unlikely that Apple didn't rigorously test the iPad before it's release, and so I suspect that this could just be down to a software issue.

What is also interesting though, is that new owners are required to connect the device to iTunes before it's first use, could this perhaps hint as towards a quiet software update? Maybe, maybe not.

Lastly could the forthcoming iPhone OS 4.0 solve these issues? Given that the iPad OS is based on a newer version of the OS than the iPhone, it could be the case that Apple is just working around the bugs, and has scheduled a conference regarding this update so soon, so that it is able to get the software out to all the affected devices to stop the many frustrated owners.

What's your opinion on the subject? Are you an iPad owner, and if so have you experienced any issues like those mentioned above? If so, let me know your thoughts, I'd be interested to know if this, widespread, issue is one of unbearable conditions.

My Long Wait For The iPad

The iPad obviously came out April 3, 2010, now dubbed iPad Day and over 300,00 people purchased them at Apple Store nation wide. I was not one of the lucky 300,000, why? To start, I am a huge Apple fan, not to be mistaken as a fan boy, because I have many issues with Apple yet still love them. Now, Apple products are high on the pricing list which I have no issue with minus the fact that my wallet is being emptied, the iPad however is quite cheap in my opinion. I could easily purchase a 32GB iPad with no 3G, but I didn’t because I am planning on purchasing the iPhone 4G or whatever Apple names it. I will be waiting till September, or next April to get an iPad that is quite the long wait. It may be rewarding though, by the time I get an iPad there will be a camera, and many more since it will be the second generation model and it will be much more faster despite it’s already blazing speed. I have a friend who has an insider at Apple who says that the iPad 64GB model may come down to $499 sometime this year. So, waiting is a good thing, only issue is the torture of hearing and watching people play with the amazing apps, spend hours on the toilet and all the other wonderful things the Magic Pad can bring!

iPad Unboxing

Like the rest of the world, Saturday April 3rd was all about the iPad for me. I was one of the people who woke up early just to make sure I'd be able to pre-order at 8:30 A.M. So after weeks of waiting, I was more than excited to unbox my iPad, for a couple of reasons...

1. Obviously, I was excited about getting the iPad.

2. It was the launch of my new Technology channel on youtube, TechTrove, which I had been planing for awhile.

Below is my first ever unboxing. I hope you enjoy!