So recently, you probably told a speaker to do something or look up something for you. If this is you, then you’re not alone. Smart speakers are on the rise.
So this is according to Adobe Analytics’ stats. They say that nearly a third of all consumers own smart speakers. Keep in mind that number was just 28% from January 2018 (it’s 32% now). Furthermore, they expect the smart speaker to be one of the hottest selling item of the 2018 holiday season. In fact, they say nearly half of all smartphone owners plan on getting a second one. Then, 23% plan on buying one for someone else. And another 23% plan on getting a first one before the? year is over.
The two most common uses for these are to check the weather and ask to play music. The next popular uses for these smart speakers are fun questions, online searches and checking the news. Less people use them to make a call (wow, you don’t even have to dial a number anymore). However, very few use such speakers for shopping. But you can do that if you want. What isn’t clear is which brand consumers use the most. But here is what’s clear: Smart speakers are on the rise.
In fact, sometimes in our Boston computer service shop, people ask us which smart speaker is best. Personally, I don’t have one and don’t plan on getting one. But this is a trend that we in IT support can’t ignore. Plus, they’re affordable, well…kinda, sorta. You can find one for as little lower than $50. But many will cost you over $300. Look, I hate talking about the holiday shopping season in September. I think it’s way too early. However, you know it’s coming, and I do believe smart speakers will be the big tech trend of the year. What’s your bet?
So, do you know about the folding smartphone? Well, here is a small example. But now, Samsung, who talked a good game for years about this, might be showing up. The Samsung folding smartphone: Is it a likelihood?
So keep in mind much of this is ‘he said, she said’ speculation. I don’t particularly like doing articles like this, but it’s a slow tech news day around here. However, Samsung Mobile CEO DJ Koh says it’s time to deliver. He also hints the delivery could come in November 2018. This conference will take place in San Francisco, CA, in the heart of IT service land, Silicon Valley.
But here is why I say ‘speculation’. Because Koh didn’t talk about how the Samsung folding smartphone will work. He gave a little about the thought process and ensures this project will have the utmost functionality. In fact, Koh hints that his company won’t rest until customers say, “Wow. This is the reason Samsung made it”. He said he’s going to change Samsung’s approach to the ‘mid-tier’ smartphone market. They’re targeting millenials and gen-zers (gen-z means those born after 1999) who can’t afford the high end smartphones. Could this be a clue of what the Samsung folding smartphone will cost?
If it is, then that will be the only clue they give us. We don’t know what hardware or software features this will have. We don’t know about apps, AI, or facial recognition it might or might not offer. In fact, we don’t even know what the price is. But when Koh talks about this folding smartphone, he wants to target younger people. That could be a clue in price, a clue in IT support, or maybe both. But we do know some people want this phone. And they’ve been wanting it for years. How much longer will they wait? The Samsung Galaxy smartphone: Is it a likelihood?
So just because Apple is a trillion dollar company doesn’t mean they can rest easy. On the contrary. Because Huawei surpasses Apple in sales and numbers.
So according to analytics company Gartner, Huawei surpasses Apple in global smartphone numbers. This is really true for Q2 2018. If you don’t know, then Suawei is a Chinese smartphone maker that is gaining momentum. Here is an example: Last year at this time, Apple beat Huawei in sales 12.9 to 9.8 percent. I refer to how much of the smartphone sales pie each company got. But this quarter 2018, Huawei got 13.3 percent of the pie. This is while Apple only got 11.9 percent.
Furthermore, Huawei sold over 49 million smartphones this quarter. This is while Apple sold less than 45 million. This is while Huawei faces more competition not from the world, but from rising Chinese IT service companies. Also, smartphone sales are generally glowing down all over the world. Samsung, the world’s biggest smartphone maker, saw their numbers go down. One Auawei leader says innovative features and covering large populations helps the growth. He also says their Honor devices are helping sales. Their Honor smartphones alone are selling in over 70 countries. Then add their P20, which rivals Apple’s IPhone X.
Meanwhile, sales for IPhone X are down. Maybe because it’s $1,000, while the P20 is only $800. Or maybe it’s because the Apple iPhone X makes you use facial recognition for your password. I don’t know if P20 makes you do that, but I doubt it. Even in our computer service shop, customers complain about Apple products for either being too expensive or complicated. I know a few people who have a Huawei smartphone. Believe? it or not, I don’t know of many complaints. Like I said, I don’t know of many people who own a Huawei, but those who do, they don’t complain. Should this be a wake up call for Apple’s iPhone department?
But first, here is how it works. This service will be for Amazon Prime customers only. The two test stores will be in Virginia Beach, VA and Sacramento, CA.? Sorry to my Boston computer service shop customers. But fret not. Because within a year, Amazon wants to extend this service to Whole Foods’ across America. You pick out your groceries with Amazon Prime. Then wait about an hour. After that, you go to your nearest Whole Foods and an employee will bring your groceries to your car window. If your grocery bill is over $35, then it’s free. But if it’s under $35, then they will add a $1.99 fee.
However, if you can’t wait an hour, then for an extra $4.99, they will expedite the process to 30 minutes. The pick up services are available during their hours: 8am to 10pm. So far, the service is embraced by those who have small children, and would rather not chase after them in grocery store aisles. Then say see the candy aisle or snack aisle and say, “Can we get? Let us have. Gimme that.”. This way, the parent or child doesn’t leave their car. It’s also popular with people who don’t even have time to go grocery shopping. Keep in mind many Americans are busier than ever, so that means less and less people do have time to go grocery shopping.
Which is really sad. IT support has to come to the point where they pick out our groceries for us then deliver it to us. Sorry, but I won’t be asking for this service. I actually like going to the store and getting things to my liking. What if they pick up the wrong thing? What if the grocers never get your order right? Amazon begins grocery pickup at Whole Foods. Will you sign up?
So you have an Android device. You also have a long wait somewhere. Then you turn on Netflix, you get problems, to the point you have to cram whole seasons of your favorite shows. They want to fix that. Netflix and Androids: A better combination.
Because Netflix now launches ‘smart downloads’ for Droids. If you already saw an episode, then it will erase that episode so you can see the next one. In fact, it replaces the old episode with the next, new and fresh one. This prevents you from watching the same episode over and over. This also prevents you from filling up your device with unnecessary data.
These kinds of downloads could help make the Netflix and Androids experience easier to maintain. So obviously, you need to get the Netflix app on your Droid first. But after that, you have to be connected to a WiFi system. If you’re not, then the feature won’t work. They do this to keep you from adding too much to your phone and keep your data in check. Believe me, data on any phone, no matter how big and expensive, can add up real quick. It is not clear if Netflix will do the same to Apple and Windows devices and products. At least, it’s not yet clear.
But what if you want to watch the same episodes over and over? When I’m in our Boston computer service shop, there are certain Twilight Zone episodes I like to watch over and over. Our computer repair experts are the same way about other shows. You can switch off this feature anytime. But that’s something to wrestle with. I’m glad the relationship between Netflix and Androids is getting better. But should I accept this smart download feature to save space on my phone? Or should I just save up my favorite episodes and seasons?
So let me be clear. This is not a guarantee. If these releases don’t happen, then don’t call our computer service shop with your angry questions. However, Apple writers predict they’ll release iPhones in colors like orange, red and blue. These phones will also have facial recognition and edge to edge screens. This is just what Apple users expect. But keep in mind no Apple iPhone comes in orange or blue, at least not recent ones. And the only time Apple released a red phone is to promote worthy causes, like fighting AIDS/HIV in Africa.
These new phones will probably cost $650-$750. That’s considerably less than what the iPhone X costed upon it’s release: $1,000. There will be at least two versions of this potential new phone. One is an OLED 6.5 inch. The other will be 6.1 LCD phone. These phones should have many of the other SIM capabilities. But we can tell you the LCD phone won’t come with dual camera system. From what I gathered so far, this is the only setback. But these will be higher end iPhones.
Let’s just say Apple releases inexpensive and colorful iPhones. If they pull this off, then we can expect them to come out in fall 2018. It just might happen. Because I saw pictures of leaked photos of a gold version. For years, Apple customers called on their brand to sell cheaper versions of high end smartphones. They also called on them to sell more colorful ones. Now, they might get their with. If these phones are a go, then experts say we can expect a banner Q4 2018 for Apple. Some even say they can sell 70 million of them before the clock strikes 2019. How do you feel about these less expensive and colorful iPhones?
