Aren’t Google Glasses supposed to be the big technological breakthrough of the 2010s? Couldn’t this compare to the Internet, or the smartphone? According to most critics and users, apparently not.
Security measures are mediocre at best. ?While I don’t have these glasses myself, I’ve read and heard this may as well be a hacker’s dream. They’re going to cost you $1,500, if you qualify. Those who are lucky to get them, you must abide by a bunch of rules, or they will cut them off without refund. Critics say battery?life is?five hours, but some users say it’s less than three hours. Other users said it gives them?literal headaches. ?It’s so close to your face you can’t help but feel that burden. If you give them a voice command, it may or may not obey you. Other infrequencies include?bad response to messages,?needing a smartphone to use them, and the difficulties to take them off.
So let’s break this down. You?have to pay a lot to get them if you qualify, and the strict rules. That reminds me of this club where they only let a few people in, and those who did get in?got hit with a $30 cover charge and 5 drink minimum, and?they won’t let you dance with strangers. The short?battery life is going to?be really bad for?people walking around. These headaches are lawsuits waiting for?to happen. I know Google Glass is in it’s infancy, but from the looks of things, they better grow up real quick! Do you still want to get this so called technological breakthrough?
And you though mudslinging was just in politics. Or maybe the success of new Samsung Galaxy?S4 got to their heads. But they’re launching a scathing attack on?Apple ‘s iPhone.
There’s a commercial out suggesting only the cool and hip use Samsung Galaxy 4 while only the old and the square use iPhone. Lately, Samsung has worked ceaselessly to be the cool popular kid on the block. After a brief hiatus from this image setting, they’re back at it. This commercial takes place at a high school graduation party, and the kids are celebrating with their Galaxy S4. Their parents, still using their iPhones, realize how behind the times they are. These kids aren’t shy about rubbing it in either. Since you can use Galaxy 4 as a remote control, I’m surprised they didn’t use it to check out their favorite reality TV shows.
We shouldn’t be surprised at this attack. A few months ago, Apple launched a massive boasting attack when competitors like Samsung. They even posted a website showing how good they are. But Galaxy S4 better look out: somebody’s going to be cooler and more popular than you one day. You know Apple will come fighting back. How will they do so?
I thought they were already there. But one of the biggest phone and wireless?companies of today, T-Mobile, is joining the U.S.?stock market.
As of 10:30 today, T-Mobile’s stocks are at?$16.54 a share. This comes in the wake of buying out their formal rival, Metro PCS Communication. Forgive me: the?newly integrated company is called T-Mobile USA.?The shares started at $16 a pop at 9:30 this morning, so within an hour, the increase is starting. T-Mobile is the 4th biggest US wireless company, serving around 40 million customers. I used to be one of them (long story, don’t ask). This recent restructure has given T-Mobile USA more airwave power. This and their stock debut will likely make it an ever increasing force against the top three competitors: Verizon, AT&T and Sprint.
So what’s to make of this new venture? First off, it’s about time! Had they gone on the market years earlier, maybe they would be in the top 3. Hopefully, they can knock off Sprint (whoops! Did I say that?)! You can thank their parent company, Deutsche Telekom?for that one. I just hope T-Moblie USA doesn’t have a stock slide. Remember how excited Facebook was about going on the stock? Look at how fast those stocks fell. Apple stocks fell 40% since September 2012. On paper, I think it’s wise T-Mobile take this gamble. But is it? Does T-Mobile has what it takes to survive big bad Wall St.?
The battle between Apple and Android has been going on for a while now. But I think it was the release of Samsung Galaxy?3 is what gave Android and it’s allies the edge. The numbers don’t lie. But what about the Samsung Galaxy 4?
They have very big shoes to fill. In fact, some call Galaxy 3 the greatest smartphone device of all time. But it looks like they’re giving it the honest try: 1080p 5-inch display, 2GB of LPDDR3 RAM, and 9.88 watt hour battery. The feel of Galaxy 4 is different. It’s thicker and has more of a square texture. It’s all plastic, so if you’re passionate about the plastic vs. metal debate, take that into consideration. The cover is a lot better than the SG3. It unlocks the phone and a ‘no lock passcode’ is set.
Now let’s look at the software. It runs on Android 4.2.2. This notification panel has more option and features. All the applications use Air View. It’s multi-window use is perfect for today’s multi-tasking, which so many of us are doing these days. It’s speed and power is just as good, if not better. My favorite feature is the camera. One pet peeve about picture taking is when you have the perfect setting, then a stranger walks behind you as you snap the picture. With Samsung Galaxy 4’s camera, you can erase that stranger. They’re other cool camera features I don’t have time to get into here.
Like I said, I’m not sure if the Galaxy 4 will or can pass the Galaxy 3, but they’re putting forth the effort. I think the SG3 has the better look, but I’d get the Galaxy 4 for the speed and camera alone. I haven’t heard much about price yet, also a concern to me and I’m sure many Americans out there. Will you be in line for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy 4?
Can you believe the year is over 1/4 over? I’ve been reporting a bit about Q1 (the first quarter of 2013) sales this week. Now let’s see which devices had the?best?2013 starts.
10. LG Optimus G: It’s 4.7 inches and 2 GB of pure power! A few months ago, it was ranked America’s best smartphone.
9.? HTC One: Any phone that can be used as a remote control, sign me up!
7. Blackberry Z 10: For the writing impaired, the keyboard will virtually do the typing for you!
6. Google Nexus 4: That Google mapping navigated me in a lost city; and possibly out of?a crime-ridden part of the city!
5. HTC Windows 8X: On my desktop, Window 8 is a boil on the neck! But on this smartphone, it’s smooth as butter. Coincidence? I think not.
4. Nokia Lumia 920: Another Windows phone, this?one?does everything and in style. I?read one critic say, “This is not a toy.”
3. Samsung Galaxy Note 2: It’s carried by all 4 big phone companies (AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon) and gets lots of well deserved praise for it’s?pen use, CPU core, and lengthy battery life.
2. Samsung Galaxy S 3: If I listed all the ways this phone saves time, this posting would go on all day and night.
1. Apple iPhone 5: As of late, this is Apple’s biggest accomplishment. This may be their only accomplishment so far this year. What it lacks in mapping skills it makes up for in looks, camera, and pocket ability. And of course there’s the name Apple!
If you think I missed any smartphones, let me hear from you!
Do you have Google Glasses? Do you plan to buy Google Glasses? You better keep them to yourself. Google forbids reselling, or even loaning?your glasses.??If you do, you’ll be sorry.
According to their service terms, if your glasses are resold or borrowed, they can cut off your device and all access. You will not be entitled to a refund. Can they do this? You bet! Believe it or not, when you buy any computer related device, you’re more like renting the software. So the company from where you purchased the device (whether it be Google, Apple, Android) owns most of the rights to that software. When you purchase Google Glasses, it’s registered under your Google account. So when you trade your merchandise, you can be tracked.
Buying these glasses isn’t like buying a loaf of bread at the grocery?store. It isn’t even like getting a laptop at the computer store. You have to qualify. How does one do that? Under the Google Glass Explores Program, if you post a pro-Google flattering comment under any social media site, then you might qualify to pay at least $1,500 for these glasses. And then there was that poor man who tried to Ebay his glasses.
What’s to make of this? Let’s say Google does very well with the glasses. Let’s say they do so well they lower the price and sell these to the masses, still forbidding the resale and lending of the glasses. Now all other companies see this and adopt the same policy of all their devices, from smartphones to tablets, even low cost cell phones. Now, in this New Order of things, if you loan out your device, no matter what the reason, that device can be shut off at anytime.?And in 21st century America, it’s more important than ever to be wired, and now you have no access to being wired. Do you see my concern?of where this may lead??So is it even worth getting Google Glasses at all?
