The Best Tech of 2014!

Welcome back to another installment of...

  Now that 2014 has reached its expected end, it would be fitting for us to take a look back and see what this past year had to offer us, in terms of technological advancement, of course.

Lets start off with the Good stuff, shall we?

The Nexus 6 & 9! 

Nexus 6 (above), Nexus 9 (below)

                After the release of the nexus 5 (smartphone) and the nexus 7 (tablet) in 2013, the fans of the popular device line had long awaited the arrival of a current model nexus from a different manufacturer. LG and ASUS were in charge of last years models, and they sold an adequate amount of units. But now, HTC and Motorola has taken their turn at making both a smartphone and tablet for the Nexus series. With the nexus 6's 5.96 inch 2560x1440p resolution, 13mp camera and 3220 mAh battery... It would seem that Motorola remembered every detail that a phablet should entail (based on public opinion, and sales from the One M8) , with an added bonus of front facing speakers. I mean who doesn't love those?

                The Nexus 9 is basically a larger version of the smartphone variant (naturally), meaning that if you bought both devices, navigating them would be a breeze, plus what makes the nexus name so popular, are the updates, straight from google, and good for at least 2 years. (Currently running lollipop/Android 5.0)

The Nexus 6 and 9 are both on my (Matthew's) christmas list, just in case anyone was wondering.

I kinda figured someone would care.....

moving on.....

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus

           You can call Apple Inc. copycats, hypocrites or just a bunch of plain ol'  followers, but you must admit, the iPhone is better now, that it has ever been. I've reviewed the 6 and 6 Plus in a separate blog already but I will say this, the 6 plus (my personal daily driver) has impressed me! and that isn't an easy task to accomplish. The battery life is exquisite, the screen resolution, while not Quad HD, still provides a premium experience, and the build quality ( with an all metal design ), put iPhone 6 and 6 plus, at the top of my list of devices that are a must have for the last quarter of 2014.

The Pebble Smartwatch

Disclaimer : Let me just say that I'm not just putting these devices on my list, solely because I own some of them, But because they are just amazing devices of this year!

            The Pebble Smartwatch has been awarded best smartwatch of 2014 in most tech award categories. Yes, that means that the Pebble won over the Moto 360, ASUS Zen Watch, Sony smartwatch, and the Samsung Galaxy gear, all of which are more "technologically advanced" than the pebble. But what makes this device more popular than the rest?

• The Price
• Availability
• Cross-Platform Usage (meaning compatible with Apple Products as well as Android Devices)
• Look and Feel (Build Quality)
• Steel Variant
• Battery Life (up to 7 days between charges)

          Of course with a price point of $79-$99 (depending on what sale is going on at the moment), the Pebble suffers some lack of fancy tech that you get on other watches, like a touchscreen for example, or a high resolution, pixel dense multi-color display. However I find that the physical buttons on the device make me feel like more of a spy when I'm using it, and the retro look makes it very easy not to compare it to other devices, its in a class of its own.. So, there's that.

These three devices (well 4 if you count the nexus 9) are, in my opinion..the best tech of 2014!!In spite of everything else that has been released throughout the year, these devices have managed to stir up the most conversation, debate, controversy, and general buzz in the tech world during their respective debuts. Sure other tech could go on my list, like the Galaxy Note 4, great device, or the One+, equally great, the Moto X 2014, or even the HTC One M8, all wonderful pieces of tech, but they pale in comparison, not on a specifications sheet, but in popularity. 

And of course you know that's what technology is really about, 

popularity.....

In any event

These have been your technological announcements for Wednesday December 10th, 2014 

Please govern yourselves accordingly

Clash of the Tech Titans (Samsung vs. Apple vs. Motorola)

I have a problem. A problem that I haven't had in a very long time.

For the first time in about 6 years....

i don't know what phone i want..

September seems to be the magic month for new phones and accessories, and for a good reason...the holidays...

what better way to prepare to close out the year (as a business) than to release a new product that everyone (all the nerds like myself) has been anticipating since January....it gives us all time to settle into the "take my money now" mindset.. and it keeps the businesses in the black...or green, or blue or whatever is the good money making color....(lol i know its black....i think).

with that being said we have a few highly anticipated devices supposedly being announced in September (Hopefully released for sale by October/November). Those devices are the infamous iPhone 6 (4.7), the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, and the equally infamous Motorola 360 smartwatch (equipped with Android Wear which i will talk about in a separate blog post)

Even though this post is created before the official announcement of these devices, I'm going to deliver to you the most relevant of rumors that have the most validity. I wouldn't dare deliver information that I KNOW isn't true. 

Lets get in to it then shall we...

First up we have the iPhone 6.....

What's to be Expected? 

      well...we know for certain that the screen size WILL be the 4.7 and 5.5 inch options. we (I lol) also have confirmed that there will be different tiers of the iPhone just like before with the 5s and 5c. The lesser will mostly likely not come with the more expensive and highly famed Sapphire Glass...

speaking of which it seems that this Sapphire Glass is apple's new famous gimmick (everyone has them). Since one of the leading problems with iPhones, just so happens to be with the delicate glass on both the front and back of the phone. This Sapphire glass is highly bendable, extremely hard to scratch and very easy to keep clean, so you have that to look forward to... 

as far as the software side goes...apple did hint on something at WWDC a few months back, they mentioned a feature that allows you to remove yourself from group text messages... now i have to admit...that is a feature that i'm really looking forward to...like seriously..

Next we have the Samsung Galaxy Note 4....

So Whats New?

Well....there are alot of rumors going around about the Note 4 having a metal body, a quad HD display, an even more boss of a battery, stronger glass, a better camera

However...while these features have been confirmed, no one knows what else the phone will do...

Now i can guess (because sometimes i can be right...sometimes) that there will be a fingerprint scanner, and i can also guess that there will be a heart rate monitor for fitness applications, but those features have not been confirmed either....

Other than whats posted above, i cant confirm or deny any other features that the phone may or may not have.

That says a lot for Samsung. if you have unreliable leaked information, then that means you have a (for the most part) secure company. sure some details may slip out, but are they full details or just a piece of that is to come in september... 

Needless to say that Samsung's Note line hasn't disappointing us in a very very long time and i earnestly believe that the Note 4 will follow in those precise footsteps. 

Finally we have The Motorola 360 (Smartwatch)

What's This?

         Now i cant speak for anyone else, but this has to be the one device that I want over everything else I've seen this year. I have the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, and when it was released, it shared the spotlight with the Galaxy Gear and later the Gear 2 (Neo and Fit), and even further down the line the Gear Live, all of which didn't go over very well. LG even stepped out there with their G Watch, which was kind of hit and miss...more miss than hit. Motorola seems to have taken their time and created a product that ALOT of people want. 

we want a smartwatch that....

• ...has a great multi-day battery
• ...equipped with a great easy-to-read display
• ...comes with software that can be customized
• ...comes with hardware (wrist straps) that can be customized
• ...easily pairs with your android (soon to be apple) device(s)
• ...looks really expensive and unnecessarily cool and nerdy 

that last bit was for me.....

    But with that being said the Moto 360, as its being referred to, has promised all of these qualities and more. We wont know the "more" part until after the launch event coming up soon, but don't worry ill keep you posted. Ill make it my life's responsibility to do just that *side-eye*

Rumor has it that its starting off at $249....and they are going to get it from me....

with this, yes, i have the "Take My Money Now" syndrome..

don't judge me...

i know you are already but...

don't...

In Any Event

these have been your technological annoucnements for Monday August 18, 2014

 (its been a while huh).

Please Govern Yourselves Accordingly

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