So do you own an iPhone? Did you ever pay hundred of dollars for an app? Also, here’s another question: Do you have to pay $5 a week for an app? It may not seem like much, but it adds up. That’s why Apple cracks down on iPhone scammers.
But paying for Apps, especially that much, seem to be going out of style. However, there are still complaints from customers and computer repair experts. They talk about ‘dark patterns’. That means tricking users into buying and using apps and sections of apps they really don’t need. They they can get you to pay for things you don’t intend to pay for.
One app is…or should I say…was Scanner App. Yes, it worked and did what it was supposed to do. However, it costs $4 a week. That adds up to around $20 a month and $220 a year. Now, I say was because the Scanner App no longer exists. That’s because Apple cracks down on iPhone scammers. Others who do this same thing are going. The ironic thing: Apple is the one enabled it. Back in late 2016, they let paying Apps charge subscribers fees, instead of paying one lump sum. When you think of it, people are happier to pay for that.
However, Apple isn’t the only one exposing this. Last year, publications like Mashable and Forbes, called out apps that charge as much as $99 a week. Times are changing. As of right now, only 15% of all apps are the ones you have to pay for. As for me, I only get the free apps. So do many customers from our computer service shop. When I see an app in which I have to pay a fee, then red flags go up. Especially, when they pay a certain amount a week. What do you think of paid apps and do you think the crack down is a good thing?
So many of us know Pocket as the ‘article app. In fact, some of us in computer repair call it ‘the media app’. That’s because it gives and manages your Internet news articles. It’s now growing up because Pocket’s app reads for you.
So you find an article. But you don’t have time to read it right now and save it in Pocket to read later. But now, Pocket’s app reads for you. However, you have to get Pocket’s latest app, the Pocket 7.0. With this, you can listen to your favorite articles, news, and other audio things without even looking at your smartphone. How does this work?
All you have to do is tap ‘Listen’. Then, listen to spoken versions of your articles. Are you tired of voice technology sounding like robots? Then Pocket 7.0 will accommodate you. Because it add what they call ‘a more human voice’. This way, it actually feels like a human being, not a computer, is reading you your articles. The Pocket 7.0 also includes less clutter on your view. It also has new fonts and texts and lights, so you can read in the dark. The Pocket 7.0 is available on Android and Apple devices. You can also get it on your desktop.
I think this would be a good app for Pocket users. But I do have a few quite a few questions. What will this human voice sound like? Or will there be different versions of voices for people to choose from? With the way IT support is going, they can do that now. Imagine driving in your car listening to your favorite articles in 7.0 instead of looking at them. You learn a lot faster, and of course, it’s never safe to drive and look at your device. Unfortunately, some people still have to learn that the hard way. Will you be getting the Pocket 7.0 app?
So the Apple vs Android/Google rivalry is probably the most famous business rivalry since Pepsi vs Coke. However, from our computer repair experience, some people take that a little too seriously. But one You Tube channel shows that. In fact, this You Tube channel exploits smartphone rivalry.
The You Tuber’s name is Jonathan Morrison. First, he took selfies with what he said was a Google Pixel 2. Then, he revealed the lie. He really took the pictures with an Apple iPhone XS. Morrison is a popular You Tube tech/IT service reviewer with over 2.5 million subscribers. But he used his platform to teach a lesson: Don’t give into the smartphone loyalty hype.
Some people call what he did trolling his own audience. But Morrison made a statement that explains his actions. “Don’t let a preconceived notion or headline skew your judgment…” he said. He said this because when he said his Google took the pictures, Google/Droid fans rejoiced. Then you had Apple apps booing and hissing. This is the point he’s trying to prove. This isn’t the first time he’s been through this. It probably won’t be his last either. Because for eight years, Morrison played peacemaker of sorts between Android fans and Apple fans. Oh, there are also the Samsung fans, the Boost Mobile fans, etc, but we’re focusing on Apple and Android/Google.
I’ll give you my personal experience. My first smartphone was an Apple. But years later, an incident happened. Then I needed a battery. The battery was so expensive that I switched to an Android phone. I’ve been an Android customer ever since. But that’s just me. I’m sure there are people who have powerful testimonies as Apple fans. I’m kind of glad this You Tube channel exploits smartphone rivalry. Because we take this rivalry even more seriously even than the Pepsi vs Coke rivalry ever did. Are you still on anybody’s side?
So it goes without saying. Kids today are a lot smarter than we were some 30 years ago. We can thank computer repair and technology for that. But sometimes it feels like they’re too smart for their own good. Kids infiltrate Apple’s screen control system.
Apple’s screen control system’s goal is to limit how much time kids and teens have on Apple devices. But kids are finding new ways to get around that, and/or hack the system all together. The youngest one to do this is only seven? years old! All he did was uninstall apps, then reinstall them again. Another kid, 13, changed dates and times on his device. That way, he manipulated how much downtime his parents set for him.
This new ‘screen time’ feature came out with iOS 12, because it came out just a few weeks ago. However, the 7-year-old confessed he went to the App store, downloads a formally installed game through the cloud. It works. Meanwhile, the 13-year-old changed the old time to unlimited time. All he did was go to settings and change date and time. This even impressed the parents themselves. This is already getting around like wildfire. Somebody posted about this on Reddit. I’m not sure if it was the parents, kids or who started the conversation. But it’s already getting over 500 comments and have no signs of slowing down.
I saw that this system is only a few weeks ago. So it sounds like Apple has some kinks to iron out. But what else do I often say? Hackers are getting smarter and smarter. So are kids getting smarter with technology. Let’s look at the 13-year-old. He was born between 2004-05. This means he can’t ever remember a time before smartphones and social media. The 7-year-old obviously can’t. So when they’re and raised into this world, then of course they’re going to know more about hacking then we ever did. I myself was amazed when a 13-year-old kid came into our computer service shop. Not only did he diagnose his own issue, but virtually fixed it, too, with a little bit of our help, of course. What do think of this next generation of tech whiz kids?
So a couple of weeks ago, Apple introduced a new group of iPhones. The two biggest ones was the iPhone XS Max and the iPhone XS. Though it’s more expensive, iPhone XS Max wins sell race. But why?
So in polls and pre-sales, the iPhone XS Max seems to be somewhat more popular than the iPhone XS. In fact, it seems to be way more popular. One MacRumors blogger says The Max phones are selling 3 to 1, maybe even 4 to 1, what the XS regulars are selling. The gold and space gray are the most popular colors. The 256GB is the most popular size.
But did you get a 512GB or planning to get one? Well, they’re in short supply because of NAND Flash. And only Samsung can ship that, well, with accuracy. Also, the Max is especially popular in Asia. They expect the XS Max only to increase by the year’s end because they expect Asia to eat these iPhones up. This is just in time for the holiday season. Keep in mind the iPhone XS Max cost $1,099. This makes it the most expensive iPhone of all-time. The iPhone XS only cost $999. However, the iPhone XS Max wins sell race. But why?
Many say it’s because of the 6.5 inch OLED screen. The XS regular gives you only a 5.8 screen. That may not sound like much, but most iPhone users will tell you that means a huge difference. Those who use iPhones in our computer service shop will tell you that. However, there may less of an IT service reason and or of economic reason. According to many statistics, the US economy is doing better than it has in a long time. Furthermore, economies in China, India and Israel are booming. Okay, China may be hit because of the tariffs. What this means is more disposable income. So when people have more, they tend to want to buy up. Is that what is happening?
So guess what? It’s Apple’s favorite time a year, and once again, it sounds like they delivered. Apple announces new iPhones: Class of 2018.
So the three iPhones they announced are the XS, XR, and XS Max. We’ll startp with the XS, what they call the normal one. This normal one will cost you at least $999. Your storage options are 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB. In fact, all three of those models come with these three storage options. Obviously, only the 64GB will cost you the lowest one. But the XS comes with a thin 5.5 inch screen, and a 12 megapixel camera. The XS is waterproof? for up to two meters deep and come in silver, gold and space grey. You can start pre-ordering on September 14. They will be available in stores starting September 21.
Then there are the XR and XS Max. The XS Max is the high end. It has most of the same IT support XS does. But this one is a little bigger…and more expensive. The price will start at $1,099. It too will start pre-orders on Sept. 14 and will begin on Sept. 21. Then there is the iPhone XR. This is the low end of the three new iPhones. This cost will start at $749. This one is much cheaper because it comes with fewer pixels and no HDR (high dynamic range) display. It has one 12 MP camera. It can only go one meter under water. The iPhone XR won’t take pre-orders until October 19. Gee, I wonder why they would do that.
If I were an Apple guy, which I am not, I would wait for the iPhone XR. I know many who come in our computer service shop, they swear by Apple. That’s part of the reason I’m writing this. Plus, Apple is losing ground on that stock market, just after making it to a trillion dollars. So Apple announces new iPhones. Will it bring up stocks?
