The Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 KitKat

I've raved about Nexus devices before in previous posts

this blog post is no different.

any phone that takes my eyes off my stellar Samsung Galaxy Note 2, has to be something worth looking at. 

and that's just what I've done!

I'm going to skip to the end real quick.....

i want one. 

lol

   now i am not very familiar with the Nexus 4, and after all the reviews I've read, apparently i didn't miss much. Even the nexus devices that were out before then, were kinda....mid-ranged...get-you-through type of devices. However, The Nexus 5, i believe, is the first Nexus device to break the cycle of being ignored for Google's line of devices.

lets get to the important stuff first.

Price..

normally i leave this for the end, you know, to sell you on it. but ill get to the selling part later.

the price on this beauty is only $349, right out the play store....

mind you, this is an unlocked device, loosely meaning that you can go to ANY carrier (minus Verizon, those meanies) for literally half.

most (unlocked) phones will cost you full retail price... and even on low-mid spec ranged devices you are looking at or 'round about $600, with the high end being at or around $800.

ill just let that sit there for a moment.....

now on to the other stuff...

What does it do!?

that's the main question right.

well this baby is equipped with the latest and greatest version of android

4.4 KitKat! oh yeah!

and that's just for starters

the phone itself is actually not that spectacular when it comes to specifications.
 it has be the trend, i guess you could say, to have the high specs on a phone to convince people that its worth keeping a device for 2 or more years and not feel bad  and broke about upgrading every 6-10 months. (yeah...that so works these days lol)
   The Nexus 5 and its developers, however, are not putting the weight on the hardware this go-around. Google has its sights set on software, and application improvement, and since KitKat can run on the most basic of devices just as well as the high spec ones, i find google's methods to fit the category under "definitely a different way of doing things"

ill list the specs here

Nexus 5 Specifications/Features

• 4.95inch 1920x1080 display (445 ppi ((pixels per inch))
• Snapdragon 800, 2.26Ghz processor (right up there with the note 2 and 3)
• Wireless Charging Available (additional purchase necessary lol)
• Gorilla Glass 3
• 1.3 mp camera (front-facing) 8mp (rear-facing) + OIS (optical image stabilization.
• 2300 mAh battery (similar to Galaxy SIII)
• 4g capable (unlike the nexus 4, from what i hear)
• 2gb Ram
• KitKat (Naturally)

Speaking of which, lets talk about it....

KitKat

KitKat brings a range of practical upgrades to the already popular android operating system.

1. for example, caller id.....

when someone or some business calls you, (remember this is always depending on your carrier as well) your phone does a Google image search for that business or establishment and presents you that image as said establishment or business is calling you.

not a big deal you say?

it is for me. i like when developers pay attention to the details.
speaking of which lets go through a few in Android 4.4 KitKat



          2. Google Now

i don't know if any of you are familiar with the Moto X. but, one of its endearing qualities was that Google Now was always listening, you could simply say  "OK Google" and a search would begin, even if the screen was off, or you were across the room...it was ALWAYS listening.

now with the Nexus 5 and KitKat, they have took the creepy out of Google Now. Its still voice activated, however, it can only be accessed when the phone screen is on and on the home screen. to initiate a vocal search, simply say, "Ok Google". cool right! right.



         3. Google Hangout/Sms Integration

now all of your contact information is in one place, and not three, like i am currently dealing with. texts and email information, in one application, threads and all. i suppose I'm really amazed that this hasn't happened before now, but there it is. lol



         4. Emoji!!!

its about time. those apple fanboys/girls have been throwing this little piece of heaven in our faces for years now. and even with Android Jellybean allowing us to finally see those long elusive symbols, we still did not have the ability to create them ourselves. well that fact is no more! with KitKat, we are free to Emoji!

here is a list of the other features of KitKat..

• Full Screen Album Art (Home Screen)
• Full Screen Application (reading, movies, easy access to notifications without leaving the app.)
• Speedier Multitasking
• Cloud Printing (wherever wifi printing is allowed)
• Low Powered audio playback (60 hours on most devices)

Needless to say, I'm really excited to grab the Nexus 5, YES! that's what i said! 

I'm leaving the note 2 world for the stock android google experience! 

oh and p.s. if you feel like donating to the cause......well....it would be much obliged. lol jk.....not really......yeah jk lol

(0.0) <---- serious face

These have been your technological announcements for Thursday, November 21st, 2013. Please govern yourselves accordingly. 

Remember! 

I could always use suggestions and comments! 

Also!

Remember to connect with me via social media (see "Connect With Me" blog post)

Until Next Time.......

AwkwardlyNormal

Connect With Me!!

i accept all questions. now whether i answer them or not, its a different story lol 

just kidding

not really.

sorry, not sorry

Connect with me over the holidays! let me know what you bought, and what was bought for you! I like hearing that kind of stuff blame it on the child in me! 

www.facebook.com/MatthewMachiavelli 

www.twitter.com/awkwardlynormal

instagram = awkwardlynormal

Google+ = Matthew Rischer

Black Friday Madness

Last Year, as some of you know, I was a sales associate at Best Buy during the holiday season. Being in that line of work, you witness a plethora of situations and my heart went out to a lot of people. The majority of customers responded in emotion, most commonly anger, because the item that the customer was searching for was either out of stock everywhere, or on a shipping hold due to delays in the mailing system.

 these kinds of examples are the only reason I do not participate in.....

Black Friday Madness

In the world of technology, you should expect this.

i mean just think about it for a second.

you walk in a store looking for the hottest item out on sale right now, on Black Friday, and they tell you, "its out of stock" and not just at that particular store you are in. but all across your state...and other states..

naturally, you are upset. 

but here is the thing.

that item that was on "sale"....

it was on sale almost 1.5 month(s) before the sales paper advertisement.

that's right....i said it.

Now, of course, items like televisions and some specific tablets will go on a special sale for a ridiculously low price, but those will be gone..20 minutes after midnight leading in to Black Friday,..I've seen it. people are crazy quick!

I too used to believe that Black Friday was the opportune time to grab that item Ive been eyeing all year, but i was so far from right, it was almost unbelievable.

With that being said here are some tips to avoid disappointing that special someone on Christmas morning.

START TODAY......

like right now!

Pre-ordering NOW will guarantee your item if you just have to have it before Christmas Day 

and if the item you seek isn't as popular as you initially thought.....

Wait till New Years Day...

when most people are off-work and returning their gifts for something that they really want.

I've seen people return perfectly perfect iPads because they were the wrong color.....

yes...that's a thing..

Like Ive said in a previous blog, spend your Black Friday at home this year, recovering from being a glutton on Thanksgiving. Put some time in with the ones you care for, and let the Gifts you give only be an extension of your emotions towards them. 

and it doesn't hurt if the gifts are exactly what they want....because you were smart!

and shopped for them early! XD

These have been your technological announcements for Thursday November 7, 2013

Please Govern yourselves accordingly

Thanks for Stopping By!

Remember! I can Always use suggestions and topics for future posts!

Comments don't hurt either

Until Next Time..

AwkwardlyNormal

Whats on Your Christmas List?

  Below are some listed devices that i believe would make excellent gifts for the tech specific people in your lives! NO this isn't my personal list! LOL but nevertheless, i hope you are itching to get out there and shop as much as I am.  

Enjoy!

• Phones

Galaxy Note 3! 

   The premier phone of the year! 95% of the worlds population would be so happy to unwrap this on Christmas morning, or some time thereafter (which ill talk about in a minute). Ive done a review on the Note 3 and all of its specifications shortly after the phone was announced by Samsung! 

check that out here ~~> (http://awkwardlynormal.blogspot.com/2013/09/samsung-unpacked-2013_5.html)

   

   Nevertheless, it would make a great present, and with the specials and sales already poking their heads out, NOW is the time to grab one, if you are considering it a Gift for somebody...or.....yourself.....lol.  ((disclaimer : prices vary by carrier))

Nexus 5 (a Google device)

    It seems like this device comes sliding in at just the right time! While the Note 3 is the premier phone of the year, The Nexus 5 is one of the most Anticipated Devices of 2013/2014. With so many leaks preceding its launch, Google has managed to NOT disappoint Nexus fans, while, at the same time, managing to grasp the attention of various users looking for an upgrade. 

   I've also done a review on Google Devices as a company product ( it is not a nexus 5 review, but that's coming!) 

you can check that out here ~~~> (http://awkwardlynormal.blogspot.com/2013/10/google-devices.html)

    

    in any event, the Nexus 5 is an unlocked, pure stock Android device which has been guaranteed to receive the latest android updates. (or at least for 18 months, but that's another blog lol) Plus it comes in at $349 for a 16gb, and $399 for the 32gb variation. Yes....an unlocked phone (meaning you can go to any carrier, EXCEPT Verizon...for now) starting at just $349.... yeah you cant beat those kinds of choices. would definitely make an awesome gift!

The iPhone 5s/c

    Yeah I know, iKnow.... you are surprised to see this phone here, but let me explain myself..... And this is just my opinion

The majority of apple product users like said product because its easy to use, and the quality is more than great. Even though Apple has failed when it comes to keeping up, they have managed to provide a consistent product since the creation of the very first iPhone. The 5s of course is the luxury model, and the 5c is the cheaper plastic variant, aimed mostly at adolescents and the elderly (we know its the truth, if you say it or not lol) ((prices also vary by carrier))

and , naturally, ive done a review on the iPhone as well

 take a look here ~~> (http://awkwardlynormal.blogspot.com/2013/09/apple-keynote-september-2013.html)

• Computers/Laptops/Chromebooks

i always want to leave this category empty because...well...

when it comes to laptops, desktops and other mobile devices, you really get what you pay for. Yes there are sales all around for low to mid ranged devices, but you are really looking at about 2-3 years of use out of said device. so when picking something like this a gift, the higher quality, the more usage you will get out of it, and the more you will pay, initially. 

Check out the Google Play Store for their chromebook selection, 

  and if you want to know what a chromebook actually is check out my blog about them here ~~> (http://awkwardlynormal.blogspot.com/2013/09/chromebooks-are-they-really-worth-it.html)

• Tablets

In this category, i am only recommending three different brands. 

    

    1.  Samsung (Note 10.1 ((2014 edition)), and Note (8inch) along with the Galaxy Tab 3 8, and 10.1 inch variants.

    

    2. The Google Nexus 7 ($229), and the Nexus 10 Tablet ($399)

     These tablets are supported by their mother companies, and have been promised to be equipped with the android and experience that we all deserve, now... you can take your chances with other brands, but I suggest these. you cant go wrong. 

    3. The Apple iPad Air ($499) and iPad Mini ($399)

    Yes, yet again the iProducts have made the list. The New iPad Air is simply impressive, the iPad mini is marginal for a tablet but still...Apple has proved that they remain a threat in the tablet department.

 Head over to Apple.com , Samsung.com and the Google Play Store for their tablets and shipping estimates.

• Bluetooth Speakers

      I would have never thought of this on my own, but a bluetooth speaker would make an awesome gift.  One in particular that i like, is the mini jawbone speaker for $179 at Target (don't know how long that's gonna last but still...) 

    Here is a list of Target's bluetooth speaker collection , I'm using Target because that is the BEST place to get these kinds of accessories! 

(http://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=bluetooth+speakers&category=0%7CAll%7Cmatchallpartial%7Call+categories&lnk=snav_sbox_bluetooth+speakers)

• Dongles

The Chromecast! 

    

   Its popularity speaks for it self. but just in case you haven't heard of it... The Chromecast is a device that hooks up to your smart television (via usb) and links your phone or tablet with your television! The device makes streaming from Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, and Google Play Movies, seamless and Uncomplicated.

Plus...its only $35....yep

   the perfect gift for that person who just might have everything I've listed above except this! a good tech gift with out the high tech price! (its only compatible with android at the moment!) 

again, head on over to the Google Play Store for more information! 

• Cell Phone Accessories (phone cases, earphones, wallet cases, stylus')

       Sometimes the little things add up! personally, i am a huge fan of phone cases. being an owner of a galaxy note 2, and having people comment on how large my phone is, i find it necessary to dress it up sometimes to make it stand out even more. i mean....i paid for it and all...why not? right? 

     When it comes to cellphone accessories Best Buy is your best bet! granted, they do not have everything in the world, but they do have the best deals on these things. 

     Phone cases are tricky though. so if you have an older phone like my ol Note 2, Ebay and Amazon will become your friend, when searching for a gift for that someone!....or again....yourself! XD

• Black Friday Foolishness

i implore you.... please don't get involved in this!

   Working at Best Buy during Black Friday was a nightmare...for employees and customers. 

I'm going to give you some meaningful advice...

Start Shopping Now.....

you aren't saving as much money as you think. 

and you wont have to worry about these stores running out of stock on the item you were waiting to go on sale.

Stay Home on Black Friday. Relax, and don't shop at all! 

I'm doing just that this year.

These have been your technological announcements for November 2, 2013

please govern yourselves accordingly

remember to comment and share! 

and don't forget to come back and check on me! 

i could always use comments and suggestions!

Until Next Time

AwkwardlyNormal

Are these Early Upgrade Programs Legit?

many of you have been asking me to explain these new early upgrade programs. 

and naturally i'm glad to do so.

the most common question i receive is....

is this a scam?

the answer is No.....

before i do the math let me explain this.

in the world of technology....you get what you pay for!  yes, there are great deals out there, and these deals either cost you at the beginning...or at the end...bottom line is...they cost.

if you want to have the ability to upgrade every year, you are going to have to pay for it. OR keep with your two-year contract like most others.

so if you want to floss like a baws (boss)...you gotta pay the cost!.....

word.....

yeah i could have been a rapper.....

so lets get right to the math

now these upgrade programs differ from carrier to carrier, along with the math. i'm just using examples, so please keep in mind that these aren't official prices!

I'm going to be using a Samsung Galaxy S4 as my example purchase on a early upgrade program with AT&T

• AT&T. 

    with this company, (depending on your credit score of course), to purchase a Samsung Galaxy S4, there would be NO down payment required (in store), and you would proceed to pay  and estimated $27 to $32 monthly for 20 months (depending on how much the phone costs in store at the moment)
32 (example monthly cost) x 20 (months) = $540...Plus the cost of the phone service.

   So the average monthly cost for AT&T phone service is about $110 before taxes for a single line...taxes run about or around $11 extra....so that's about $121 monthly.
 in 20 months time the service is costing me about $2420.
now lets add the monthly installment for the phone itself which is $540.
it all equals $2960..

seems like a scam huh.

...Wait...

(and i made this mistake on PURPOSE)

..i thought with the early upgrade program, you get to upgrade every year instead of every 20 months!..

if you made that statement you are absolutely correct...

so lets redo this math...

      32(monthly costs) x 12(months via annual upgrade program) = $384
and naturally the cost of the service itself remains the same only on a 12 month scale
$121 (monthly service cost for a single line) x 12 (months) = $1452

all equaling a grand total of $1836...

think its still a scam.....

yes or no?

i say no..again.....

and here is why.....

       before these early upgrade programs existed....some companies like Verizon, for example, were allowing upgrades to take place for customers every 20 months, instead of every 24 months like the customers standard contract demanded, of course we all know when its time for your upgrade, you are allowed to purchase a new phone for a discounted price, and a 2 year extension to your contract. now what began to happen for Verizon, and what i think is the reason they stopped doing this, the company began to realize they were losing money.

think about it

(the following is an estimation!!)

      3 years ago. a Motorola droid phone costs about $549 retail
now the cost of service was about $100 (after taxes).
now i want you to realize that paying for the service and paying for the phone is NOT the same...the service provider pays retail for phones from the manufacturer (most likely at a deal but that's besides the point lol ). so lets look at the math

ill use Verizon as an example...

• Verizon Pays Motorola $549 for a Droid phone

• Verizon sells the phone to me (on a new contract deal) for $149 (holiday sale)

with a bout a $110 monthly service plan, (with an option to upgrade in 20 months)

• 18 or 19 months i get an advertisement from Verizon, to upgrade my phone (at full discounted price) and extend my contract 2 more years (with the same option to upgrade again in 20 months)

lets work

• Verizon pays $549

• I Pay Verizon $149 + 110(monthly service) x 20(months)

what i paid for the phone = $149

what i paid for service in 18 months = $1980

       now considering that Verizon payed Motorola full retail ($549 for just one phone)
lets take that away from what they received from me in services.....

1980-549=$1431

...looks okay huh....well not for the accounting department at Verizon Headquarters.

now  i said Verizon was losing money....

think of it like this....would you rather make $1980 every two years (18-24 month scale) or..$1836 every 10 months. and that's just in services.

     with the upgrade program Verizon has implemented they now make (off one person) about $2500 in 20 months in services PLUS the retail price of the phone....like a Galaxy Note 3 , which is about $750-$800, lets say $800 for a grand total of $3300..

the company makes more money....

the customer gets what they want, when they want it.....(annually of course)

Everyone wins..

Supposedly

but hey don't just take my word for it, feel free to do your own investigation, i cant turn up any scams, because i understand business, profit, and good ol' fashioned staying power.

maybe that's just me...

these have been your technological announcements for Monday October 28th, 2013

please govern yourselves accordingly.

remember i can always use suggestions and topics.

thanks for coming by and also remember to come back

Until Next Time....

AwkwardlyNormal

New Ipads!! and Other Stuff....

yes its that time of year that new iPads are announced. 

as you are aware, in my previous apple subject blogs..i've been less than impressed with the infamous company and their recent exploits. however.....with this recent presentation, i must admit. apple has managed to capture my attention once again.

lets start with the obvious

(these iPads DO NOT come with the fingerprint scanner)

The iPad Air (5th Generation)

       i'm going to give you the short version. its the same as the 4th generation iPad, except with the same A7 processor and 64bit chip that currently runs the iPhone5s, and it weights exactly 1 pound (for those who believe your iPad is too fat...). this new iPad also comes with the same retina display.

still no expandable memory.... but i digress.....

The iPad Mini.....now with retina display

         this is one of the products that caught my attention, given that i've played with the original iPad mini soon after its release, i was disappointed in the fact that it did not come with retina display on the first model. but now i can throw that complaint away, because this mini display is a complete beast like the ipad air, sporting a 2048x1536 resolution display, well above 1080p standards these days. this is a good move by apple, its showing,me at least, that they are still paying attention to the way things are going. maybe that's just me...they still have a long way to go and a short time to get there....also my opinion...

The iPad 2...

     yes that old bat is still kicking, being that it was so popular with users, even after the 3rd and 4th generation were released, i can completely understand why apple has kept it around.. bottom line...it makes money....more than other models...for the customers its cheaper than the best one out there

ill say it now and ill say it again.....

the one thing that is holding apple back in the tablet industry is their prices....

but that's another blog....be sure you come back for that one

The New Macbooks!

now its time to be impressed. 

       i have to admit....as an android user, connoisseur, and all around supporter, i have given apple an extremely hard time over their mobile device selection, and i do not apologize for it. it just seemed to be that they just couldn't keep up with the competition...

now...when it comes to laptops....and you are going to read this right...coming from an android user.....

APPLE REMAINS KING

revel in this statement.....go ahead....ill wait....

       

       the new macbook pro (13 and 15in) really needs no introduction, despite the one i gave regardless, and if you have owned one before you already know that the specifications really don't matter, and you already know that these laptops are worth the pretty penny you are most likely going to pay with that tax return next year anyway....

The Mac Pro

     again i could argue with you guys all day....but when it comes to desktop computers...there is nothing to report....Its better than good....you get what you pay for....honestly...

and trust me....if you want it....you are gonna pay!

maybe even your first born.....

but anyway

     but what really made my heart flutter was the company's software that was recently made to be free for all users!

      applications such as iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, Pages (for Word Processing), Numbers (for Spreadsheets), and Keynote (for presentations) are all now free for all users. no tricks, no gimmicks....supposedly.....

i mean who doesn't like free?

exactly.....

now to the nitty gritty....

you guessed it.....

wait for it

Prices

• The Old Faithful iPad 2 remains at $399 ( 16bg Wifi Version)
• The New iPad Air busts through the door at $499 (16 gb Wifi Version)
• The iPad Mini with Retina Display is also $399, with the original iPad mini still hangs around at $299
• The MacBook Pro 13in is $1299, cheaper than its predecessor...not that it matters much, The 15in variant $1999, also cheaper than its predecessor...again.....not that it matters much....
• The Mac Pro (desktop) comes in at a whopping $2999, definitely taking the cake for the desktop category...but...you wont be disappointed...broke maybe...but not disappointed 

    as much as i don't like to eat my words....i must fix myself a plate...i said that apple is going to go under.....but it definitely looks like someone is paying attention and taking steps to remain in business...and i have to keep this in mind...apple has branches in all forms of mobile technology, as well as domestic tech...phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. no company is perfect, and it takes money for things to happen. and naturally the competition can dampen these attempts to rise to success..

     with that being said, i'm going to lay off on the criticism on apple....for a while...

like every other company, there are trying to completely run the business, and i'm quite sure that the late Steve Jobs may not be happy with the company's current strides, he would most definitely be proud....

so i'm only going to say this once...

good job apple...

...............

these have been your technological announcements for Thursday October 24th, 2013

please govern yourselves accordingly

remember to comment and share..

i could always use suggestions, and i'm open to answering questions about anything you are interested in

until next time

thanks for stopping by

don't let this be your last time

AwkwardlyNormal

Google Devices!

otherwise known as nexus devices(phones/tablets).

       a lot of people are unaware about these devices and its quite understandable.

these phones aren't very impressive, as far as specifications go, but they have their advantages.

          one of these advantages, and possibly the most important, is the fact that these devices get android firmware updates directly from google!!!

         yes..you read that right! none of that waiting for updates to be approved with your specific carrier....no additional bloatware..no foreseeable bugs or defaults.....just a pure stock android experience straight from the top-dogs themselves. these updates come whenever google is ready for them to.

lets dive deeper into this shall we....

        for example, android 4.4 kitkat is rumored to be out October 15, 2013, alongside the new Nexus 5 device from google. when this update is released....all google nexus devices... (phones and tablets) will receive this update on that day

.......while other devices are waiting to get caught up to android 4.3 jellybean.....

        now, to get the purest of pure android experiences these devices are not carrier based.. (anymore). thanks to The Google Play Store, all nexus devices can be purchased from Google themselves. now these devices are unlocked...so which carrier you choose is entirely up to you!

           if you want a Google Nexus device the Nexus 4 (3g) is just $199 (but currently out of stock, being this close to the nexus 5 launch im not surprised at all) before that it was $299. it sold well along side the nexus 7 and 10 for a good while until phones like the note 2, Galaxy S4, and HTC One stepped on the scene.

       Speaking of the Galaxy S4 and HTC One.....

        these phone models have been adopted by Google and given the same pure android technology that the other Nexus Devices have. they may cost you a pretty penny in the Play Store,  but they are definitely guaranteed to give you the latest and greatest experience that android and Google have to offer. these phone models are also unlocked and are usable with any carrier.

what is there to worry about?

       if you just look at what is stated above,  you would think to your self..this is a pretty good deal, however.....

       with every seemingly good deal out there. there are some drawbacks as well.

first of which is the price...the galaxy S4 and Htc One are $649.

• yes, these phones are unlocked.
• yes, you have free choice or carriers.
• yes, even prepaid services are available
• yes, these phones have the latest and greatest specifications for 2013
• yes, these phones are very popular with consumers.

     but will these facts remain the same in 2016?....in 2015?...or even early 2014?

the answer is no. they will ? most certainly not.

      with technology growing like it is. buying an unlocked phone like this and paying full retail price for it seems....moot..to say the least. especially for those who like to participate in purchasing the newest and most impressive handsets out there....

now this just my thinking....

          I believe Google should try their hand in the Cell Phone Carrier Business....like Verizon and At&t...if Google were to become their own carrier, they could provide phones and tablets with stock android on a regular upgrading service. 

     possibly adding some incentives to sweeten the deal. a lot of people (mostly tech heads like myself ) complain about the specifications of their phone because of carrier bloatware (carrier specific applications on your phone that cannot be removed unless you do some serious hacking), and most people don't care because there aren't many other choices out there...if there were...people would flock uncontrollably to such variety...

October 15 is going to be a very promising day for android and Google.

Android 4.4 KitKat is sure to be a welcome update for android users.

im sure the new Nexus 5 will be a force in the technological world.

or Not...

time will tell

these have been your technological announcements for Thursday October 10, 2013. please govern yourselves accordingly. 

I could always use suggestions and topics

feel free to leave comments!

until next time

awkwardlynormal

Galaxy Note 3!!

For those of you that are interested in the Galaxy Note 3, its getting close to that release date!

At&t Subscribers : you are looking at $299 for 2-year contract or you can choose their early upgrade program...with no money up front and $35 added to your monthly bill.. Preorders ship tomorrow. they will be available in store Oct 4th!

Verizon Subscribers : you are also looking at $299 for a 2 year contract Or $29.31 added to your monthly bill via early upgrade program. pre orders ship out Oct 10th. in store availability is not yet listed

Sprint Subscribers : you are looking at $349 for a 2 year contract. OR. $17.45 (estimated not confirmed) added to your monthly bill with no down payment. Launch Date set for October 4th.

T-Mobile Subscribers : you are looking at $299 for a 2 year contract Or $21 added to your monthly bill. in store availability set for Oct 2nd.

Now, Radioshack, Sams Club, Best Buy and walmart are mot likely going to offer exclusive deals so check them out as well if you are lookng for more options.

These have been your technological announcements. Please govern yourselves accordingly.....

Chromebooks!!! Are They Really Worth It?

"Chromebook is ,essentially,  a slightly larger android-based tablet with a physical keyboard" 

     thats what I used to say when I worked for best buy during this past holiday season. 

     as the chromebook continues to retain its popularity. im inclined to stick to my statement. 

        for those who aren't familiar, the chromebook is a google product that provided a mid-spec ranged device that was comparable to the macbook air in size but tremendously easier on the wallet. currently....Samsung,  Hewlett Packard,  and Acer are the current hardware providers for these devices.
      I,  myself, have a samsung chomebook., and ever since the untimely, however foreseen , death of my motorola xoom familiy edition (death by getting stepped on) my chromebook has been a welcomed replacement to a tablet that I hardly used anyway.  when my tablet was alive, I simply used it for emails, a few games here and there, but mostly netflix. lol with that being said the transition for me wasn't very hard.

      I use my chromebook for my blogs, since I find it so much easier to type via physical keyboard rather that the on screen counterpart.

 

So whats the big difference you say?

       well other than the gigantic price gap, the specs pose a significant difference, i suppose. for example the samsung chromebook has a dual core processor (as seen in most older tablet devices, and no its not terribly slow) and is equipped with a 16gb solid state hard-drive (for quick boot-up and saving). which makes it a more than adequate substitute for a tablet, or even a laptop.

        it boots up in less than 30 seconds and as soon as  you type in your password, you are good to go. and there are no moving parts inside so overheating is not an issue.

       now, as with any device, everything has a drawback, missing feature or ability that other devices have.

        now with chromebooks,  you cannot install external programs, iTunes (and other programs that require installation)  for example, cannot be installed on one of these devices, instead google has provided an application store specifically for chromebooks to give you more of an exclusive experience with applications. games are available offline however.

        another "con" or drawback about the chromebooks is that there is no cd/dvd rom drive. so no burning cd's or watching hard copy movies...

the final drawback about the chromebooks is that EVERYTHING is done ONLINE, there is little to no activity that can be accomplished without an internet connection. 

           The Greatest "Pro" about these chromebook style devices is the price!

     My samsung chromebook only cost me $268 (after taxes) much less expensive than the apple alternative, and some android tablets, which, for me, was a deal breaker.

       There are many variations of chromebooks out now, ranging from $199 to $1299. low to high end of course. So head on over to the Google Play Store, and check them all out and see if a chromebook could be a replacement device for you as it was for me, or a quality gift for that college student, relative or close friend! with Christmas coming up. i cant imagine many that would be disappointed with a gift like this.  

well, these have been your technological announcements for Thursday September 26, 2013

please govern yourselves accordingly

remember to comment and leave suggestions!

i could always use topics.

until next time

AwkwardlyNormal

Google Project Loon

would you believe me if i told you that almost half the world does not have access to the internet.

what if i told you that google intends to provide internet of the entire world..

yes i said "over"

, and i said the "entire world"!

google has invented the idea to attach internet broadcast devices to...wait for it.....balloons! thats right balloons!

    these balloons will be strategically launched into the stratosphere, well above air traffic and weather conditions.  however they will be steered into the right direction by the wind currents that encompass the earth, the stratosphere is quite useful in that way..

i suppose the big question is, whats the point?

with an antenna on top of your home or place of business (possibly car, in the near future) you can receive a signal from these balloons and have a faster, more reliable source of internet, rather than depending on "sometimey" carriers, that may or may not be truly reliable as they claim! but now, more about the balloons! lol

now these balloons will be in proximity to more balloons, so that they can continue  to transmit a strong and seamless internet experience ( a netflix users dream!) 

i can hear your thoughts now, 

what if the balloon goes down? 

what if they run into a plane?

how many are already up there? 

how are they powered?

will they stay up there forever?

well, if a balloon is compromised, they are equipped with a parachute and a foam base to allow for safe retrieval, so don't plan on stealing one if it falls in your back yard by mistake..google WILL find you. lol

as mentioned earlier, the balloons are twice as high as all air traffic, wildlife and all dangerous weather conditions

currently 30 of these balloons are already in operation above new zealand's south island, these balloons were launched in june of 2013.

these balloons are towing little boxes that transmit the internet signal to an antenna receiver, these boxes are also equipped with solar energy collectors, and because of the balloons height, they have unlimited access to the suns rays to store energy in batteries that allow for night time operation

now these balloons are said to last for 100+ days at a time, (im assuming they are systematically replaced in manner that leaves some coverage in the sky while the cavalry is being sent in.)

i am also going to go ahead and assume that google is prioritizing Project Loon devices to areas that are not yet endowed with internet service like america is currently enjoying. and no, Project Loon has not reached the united states yet, but if it does.....

it would definitely mean trouble for popular domestic internet carriers, possibly even mobile technology. Google Project Loon could very well change the way we use the internet, the way we connect with others, even the way we socialize. 

can you imagine having wifi access every where you go? like everywhere? continuous access to the internet. all the time.....in every spot on the planet. 

its definitely alot to think about. 

maybe it wont become this crucial, maybe project loon will fail in its infancy. 

but if it succeeds......

well check it out for yourselves

http://www.google.com/loon/

well thats all if have for today

these have been your technological announcements for thursday september 19 2013 (sorry im a day late)

please govern yourselves accordingly! 

dont forget to leave comments and suggestions

i can always use more topics, even though i should be good until christmas lol

Until Next Time

AwkwardlyNormal

Has the Apple finally fallen from the tree? You tell me!

    apple has managed to suffer a major decline in their mobile phone market shares, ironically enough, this decline presented itself almost immediately after the WWDC announcement of the iphone 5c and 5s.
 
    i must say my comments on the matter maybe a little biased. i am now, and will forever be an android fan and connoisseur. google's products have been my friend for about 5 years now, more than ever.

i , personally and like most others, was very underwhelmed with apple's wwdc event. after watching samsung's unpacked event, (which i covered in a previous blog post) samsung succeeded in making me want to purchase/upgrade a newer device, and then some. i must say i expected more from apple, a company that has been behind in technology for some time now. i suppose i could blame the management, but i honestly dont believe its all their fault.

most people would blame the loss of Steve Jobs, to explain the recent lack of innovative and game-changing effects on technology that apple was once known for.

i place the blame on slothfulness on apple's part. its not that apple has not been as innovative, its simply that they have been late in doing so. samsung, motorola, even htc, have managed to see the pattern in what apple has done, coming up with new features, new applications, and these companies have managed to take advantage of these things that have been proven to change the way we as people look at mobile technology.

i cant tell you what i foresee for apple.inc. simply put, they have failed to keep up. and if they refuse to be daring in this ever-growing technological world, i honestly believe that the legend company's legacy will be lost in the history archives.

this has been your tech announcements for monday sept 16,2013

please govern yourselves accordingly.

until next time!

AwkwardlyNormal

please leave comments and suggestions!

i can always use topics too! 

Apple Keynote (September) 2013

I suppose this is officially a tech blog! lol since i cant find much else to talk about...hehe.

Apple Keynote (September) 2013

    today apple. inc revealed alot of....minor changes and upgrades to their arsenal of products.

   I must say, after watching Samsung's Unpacked Event, this keynote by apple was...not very impressive, but maybe thats what they were going for. in any event, enough of my opinion, lets get to the tech!

• Apple iPhone 5s

yes its finally here, the much anticipated 5s has arrived with some upgrades to make it qualify as a flagship product from apple. 

   the iphone 5 is rocking and a7 processor chip, a 64bit chip (which is not on any other phone to date) this incredibly fast processor chip allows for seamless operations between your favorite applications with lag time or stalling, it is said that this particular chip allows for an extremely detailed gaming and media viewing experience. the a7 chip on the iphone 5s is approximately 40x faster than the a6 chip on its predecessor the iphone 5.

    now i dont know if apple wants to stick it to samsung and other companies that are making phones with larger screens or what, but apple is sticking to their guns with their 4 inch retina display. (now, how you will be able to tell if that a7 chip is good of graphics with such a small screen, ill never know, but anyway)  moving on....

    the iphone 5s also comes with a m7 chip, this chip (mainly used for workout applications) will be able to tell if you are walking, or running, if you are tracking your exercise with an app. the chip will also be able to tell if you are driving (most likely to cooperate quickly with gps applications, searches (ect)

   on to the camera....with some improvements like burst shot and a new flash module ( to allow the right amount of flash in different lighting areas) the infamous iSight Camera still impresses the majority of camera phone users, now this iSight camera allows for 1080p recording and even slow motion video, capturing moments at 120fps (frames per second), translation.....thats really good..lol . the iphone 5s' front facing camera is a 1.2mp model..

   other than that, this iphone has all the other features you would expect to see from an apple device!......oh wait......there's one more thing! (hehe)

FINGERPRINT SECURITY. yes you read that right, the iPhone 5s has a fingerprint scanner on the home button, virtually doing away with passwords all-together, weather or not there is an secondary way to unlock the phone remains to be seen.

  so yes fellas, no more having to worry about your girl sneaking through your phone, unless of course you allow her fingerprint to be saved as a user as well....then....well...yeah...

  ladies, i dont really know how tricky you all can be with hiding stuff in your phones, if you do at all. lol 

the iPhone 5s comes in 3 colors, white (silver) black and a polished gold.

lets go to the next item shall we...

• iPhone 5C

   the plastic iphone, now with aluminum! (thats my creativity apple! dont you steal that! lol). 

    this iphone  (5c) is going to remind you of the 3gs, at least it did that for me when i saw it debuted. 

     this is the promised, low cost device, i believe its targeted consumers are children and young adults, more so to younger children.

     now dont sell it short just yet, its still rocking apple's famous a6 processor chip, so its still fast and guarantees the speed and reliability of a solid apple product.

     as for the hardware, everything is the same, just minus the fingerprint scanner and the additional m7 chip. 

   So whats the big difference you ask? the price! instead of the familiar $199 sticker we are so used to seeing, the iphone 5c is only $99. yes, you read that right as well...just $99. apple is smarter that they let on, its a perfect holiday gift, perfect for college and high school students to lead in the new year with, inexpensive and familiar, you cant go wrong with that. can you? 

  the iphone 5c comes in 5 different colors and has an array of cases ($39 per case) for appearance customization. a lot more options than usual. this is becoming a popular trend with newer phones.

now..... shall we talk about siri?

• Siri 

siri now has the option to speak in a man's voice....

ill just let that sink in.

okay lets keep going

   small modifications have been made to the infamous personal assistant known as siri. 

 new updates allow for siri to search in some social media websites/applications, like twitter and most likely facebook, 

  so if you want to catch up on who's beefing on twitter, siri can help you with that..

siri has been guaranteed to be more useful in the not to distant future with communication with your car's bluetooth system, but those updates haven't been discussed thoroughly yet, so ill leave your minds to wonder! lol

• iOS7

the most anticipated update for android products, im sorry.....i meant apple products (-.-) lol just kidding 

apple's website can give you a tour, of these features, i would explain it, but they did so much work putting that feature tour together, its quite nice actually, so head on over and check that out! 

• Pricing and Availability

Okay the iphone 5s and 5c will be available for purchase on the 20th of september, pre-orders are starting at different times for all major carriers, so check out those various carrier websites for more information on that pre-order thing!

iOS7 is said to be available for download on the 18th of September, just in time for the new devices! good planning there apple!

now the prices

 the iphone 5c = $99  (16gb) , $199 (32gb)

                             

                                   and 

 the iphone 5s = $199 (16gb) , $299 (32gb)

the iphone 4s is now free! on all carriers!, how ever the iphone 5 has be phased out, (it was only a year old device) so anyone that has an iphone 5, i dont know what to tell ya, upgrade, sell, or keep it as a souvenir? perhaps? maybe?........no? okay lol

well thats all i have for the apple keynote (september) 2013 event!

i hope you all enjoyed what i did talk about! 

i have to say that im forever #teamandroid but i dont want to leave out any news or advances in technology! no matter where they come from!

Leave Comments down below, and let me know what you think!

Suggestions are welcome!

this has been your "Tech-Head Announcements" 

please govern yourselves accordingly!  

until next time! 

AwkwardlyNormal

Samsung Unpacked 2013

my first blog post! 

this one will be a "tech-head" blog post! these posts will be replacing my "tech alerts" that i've been doing on facebook!

a few things you all should know, i like lowercase letters, i tend to ramble, and i am a tech nerd. 

shall we continue?

Samsung Unpacked 2013

 the samsung event took place this past wednesday (9-4-2013) in berlin, and samsung has announced quite a few promise no products and upgrades for samsung users! all of which are the galaxy note 3, the galaxy gear, and the galaxy note 10.1 (tablet). so lets get started

• Samsung's Galaxy Note 3

the highly anticipated galaxy note 3 has been one of the most talked about device for quite some time now, and now that the specs on this flagship device have been confirmed by samsung, it most certainly does not dissapoint!

   the first feature i immediately noticed is the leather-like (its actually plastic) back cover, im just wondering how it will hold up when it comes to the heat that the phone creates during extensive and detailed use, i suppose that will be determined later on. now on to the specs! the galaxy note 3 is rocking 3gb of ram, that famous large 3200 mAh battery, a taller but not wider 5.9 in screen (1080p resolution), and a well anticipated 13mp camera (that supports 4k video recording!).

      samsung has also decided to upgrade the features on the s pen, so people can start using it i suppose. with new features like, air command, action memo, and scrapbook (which is perfect for screen captures, in my opinion), the s pen is guaranteed to gain some more attention from note 3 users.

   multi-tasking on the note 3 has been improved, allowing 2 applications to run at the same time, even if they are the same application. another feature that i am particularly interested in is the draw up windows feature, which encourages you to draw a vertical rectangle on the screen, thus opening a small app window with a selection of a few multi-tasking applications to allow seamless operation without ever leaving your primary application that you have open at that moment!. nice huh

   okay, remember group play? the galaxy s4 application that allows you to link up with other s4's and play the same song in stereo? well guess what, we can now do this with video, multi-vision on the note 3 allows for the same video to be played over multiple devices while they are side-by-side to create a larger screen viewing experience. 

the note 3 also comes in 8 colors! not just black and white anymore, due to customization becoming a more important feature these days. there are also 6 additional metallic colors for those who like to be shiny, like myself. the flip covers also have more variety, coming in 10 different colors for the note 3. 

the note 3 is suspected to be on sale as soon as late september, early october!

• Samsung Galaxy Gear

this next product is one that im so geeked over. the galaxy gear is samsung's variant of a smartwatch. this smartwatch with a 1.63 inch touchscreen amoled display, 4gb of storage and 512mb of ram, the galaxy gear is definitely an impressive piece of technology. giving quick access to calls, text messages, emails and some social media notifications. 

   however the defining qualities of this smart watch is the 1.9mp camera, located on the outward facing wrist strap! yes thats right! a CAMERA on a smart watch, allowing for quick "spyshots' as i like to call them, (i see alot of funny things in church, this would be perfect for me instead of using my phone!

  the galaxy gear also has a built in microphone and speaker allowing for voice calls to be made and received all from the galaxy gear smartwatch, without ever touching your phone. yeah....thats right! you want one too huh.. i understand. the microphone has other uses as well allowing you to use s voice (samsung's SIRI variant) to set reminders, set alarms, initiate internet searches and things like that.

 the final defining quality of this device is the battery life.....25+ hours of continued operation! with phone batteries going for all day usage now-a-days, you shouldn't have a problem with charging for a full day, possibly two. especially combined with the battery of the note 3's 3200 mAh battery.

   the galaxy gear comes in 6 colors or flavors as the presented quoted it

the galaxy gear is expected to be ready for sale at the moment the note 3 goes on for sale!

• Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 edition)

to put this simply, the galaxy note 10.1 (2014 edition) is a larger version of the note 3, similar features, increased resolution, multi-tasking, and all around solid operating device

• Upgrades! 

samsung let this little fact slip during the announcement event, upgrades are coming to the galaxy note 2, galaxy s3 and s4 to be compatible with galaxy gear, samsung is throwing in some other anticipated features.

these upgrades are coming this october, most likely to coincide with the release of these new devices! good job samsung!

• Price!

i can only speculate what these items will cost 

so here it goes

Galaxy Note 3 = $299

Galaxy Gear Smartwatch = $299

Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 edition) =$499

given samsung's pricing history this is the closest i can come to with how much these devices will cost!

and thats it for this blog post!

this has been the "tech head" blog post, these are coming once a week, or when more tech news becomes available!

leave your comments and suggestions below!

i can always use feedback!

!