Samsung Galaxy Zoom ad

I love iphoneography and am hoping the next Google Nexus and iPhone 5s push the limits of smartphone photography. Samsung not wanted to leave a gap in its product offerings has married a Samsung Galaxy S4 mini and a 16 megapixel point & shoot camera.

Meet the Samsung Zoom

 

Samsung will release a Galaxy S4 with LTE-Advanced

Samsung's Galaxy S4 has been an incredible success and the electronics giant is always looking for new markets it can dominate. JK Shin, their fearless leader, has now decided it wants to be the first cell phone manufacturer to launch an LTE-Advanced mobile phone.
In simple terms, an LTE-Advanced capable device talking to an LTE-Advanced tower perform twice as fast as "normal" LTE. Samsung will meet this target by releasing a new variant of the Samsung Galaxy S4 leveraging Qualcomm's new chipset (eschewing the in-house Exynos).
Source: Reuters

Comparing icons in IOS 6 and 7

 Everyone seemed to agree that IOS 7 needed a major design overhaul and last weeks WWDC presentation definitely delivered an updated user interface.

The first change most users will "see" when they finally upgrade to IOS 7 later this year (likely September), will be an entirely new set of redesigned app icons.

To get you started, here are some IOS 6 / IOS 7 icons for your consideration

 

Source:  Cult of Mac

World meet the Motorola Moto X Android smartphone

 Ever since Google acquired Motorola, tech analysts and customers alike have been waiting for the new breed of Google inspired Motorola Android smartphones.

What makes the new Motorola Moto X so special? Dennis Woodside, Motorola's CEO, said it best "“We know when it’s in your pocket, we know when it’s in your hand, it’s going to know when you want to take a picture and fire up the cameras… The device will know when you’re in the car and it’s moving at 60mph and you’ll interact with it differently, more safely.”

If Motorola uses the sensor data properly, it could dramatically extend battery life and become and incredible extension to the predictive Google Now.


Now known leaker, evleaks, tweets some of the specs of this upcoming device

 

 

 Remember to take all rumors with plenty of salt. 2 weeks ago, the rumor was that the device would have a Tegra 4, 16 megapixel camera and a full HD screen.

We know the new Moto X will be released sometime this summer (in the USA at least) so stay tuned.

iPhone 5s will come in white, black and .... gold

In the land of chocolate and unicorns, the next iPhone will also come in gold (or so predicts Japanese iPhone site macotakara.) 
I think this is a pie in the sky rumor but hey why not have a good laugh?

4 characteristics of super learners

Back in the day, you went to school to learn a skill and then performed your skill for the next 40 years. Times have changed and anyone working today knows you never stop learning. As a guy who started in IT as a technical specialist, it seems I was asked to pick up new skills every week.

Over the years, this drive for constant learning became a way of life which I keep until today.  As a business leader, I try to instill this same desire in all of my employees but some complain that they are “bad learners”. Some complain that they have never been good at learning new skills so it caused me to ask my self “what makes a good learner?”

Contrary to popular lore, anyone can train themselves to be a good and efficient learner if they master the following skills:

Curiosity

Curiosity is critical. You must develop a sense of wonder and a sense of curiosity.  

When I learned speed reading, one of the first skills I had to develop was curiosity. I learned that without a genuine curiosity, your sub-conscious will help you learn easier and faster.  

Why do you want to learn the skill? What about this skill is most important to you? How will this skill or knowledge positively impact your life?

Learning is an ongoing process

Too many people rush to get to the end rather than using the learning journey to improve themselves. Learning is an ongoing process and you will “never be done learning”. Using this approach, find the traits, skills or patterns that will ultimately lead to the desired end result and practice each one (one by one).

Learning is an ongoing process and this approach will allow you to break it down into manageable and measurable chunks. Always keep improving. 

Teach it

Find opportunities to teach the skill you are acquiring to others. Research shows that teaching a skill has an incredibly positive effect on your ability to assimilate and master a new skill or knowledge.

Teach it even if you feel your skills isn't 100% yet.

Live it

To really master new knowledge or a skill, you have to apply this to often. A good example of this is a student that spends 2 high school years learning Spanish and then never uses it. A couple of years later, you probably would have “lost” this knowledge.

If you are learning a language, find a language support group where you can periodically chat with native speakers. If you are learning a new technical skill that is not part of your day to day job, do a side project to use it.

Refresh your knowledge

I strongly recommend that you take notes using (the brain compatible) mind mapping technique. This is a great way to learn a new skill. If you re-open your notes many years later, you will realize how quickly it will refresh your knowledge and bring it almost all back with minimal effort.

There are dozens of sites explaining mind mapping but the only one you should pay any attention to is the books or sites from its original creator, Tony Buzan. 

Videotron offers unlimited talk/text + 6GB of data

As a Quebecer, I am always complaining about the lack of real competition of wireless services so I love seeing carriers compete. Videotron has come to the plate with a pretty competitive offering (limited time of course) for existing Videotron customers. 
The plan includes:
  • unlimited Canada and US calling
  • Unlimited SMS and MMS to anywhere in Canada
  • CallerID
  • Voicemail
  • Call Waiting
  • Conference calling
  • 6 GB of data
  • 5 hours of illico mobile for the first year

See plan details here.

iPhone with 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch screens coming

As unbelievable as this may seem to most tech reviewers, Reuters is reporting that Apple may release 2 new iPhone form factors next year in the phablet range.
The justification is that this will allow them to more completely compete with their new arch rival , Samsung. Reuters does mention that
“they constantly change product specifications almost to the final moment, so you’re not really sure whether this is the final prototype.”
Reuters is "confirming" that Apple will release the expected iPhone 5s in black and white with fingerprint authentication. Apple is also toying with a possible $99 low cost unit for emerging economies with a plastic shell in 5-6 colours. 
Apple. as expected, refused to comment.

Nokia's "Zoom Reinvented" taking place July 11

 

Nokia will be holding an event July 11 2013 in NY City. Most pundits agree that Nokia will show its new (much leaked) EOS smartphone with the 41 megapixel PureView sensor. Other rumors about this device are 1280x768 pixel screen, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.

Now that Samsung announced its Galaxy S4 zoom (basically a Galaxy S4 mini with a 16 megapixel 10x zoom camera built in), Nokia will really have to up its game to win traction.

 

HP to sell Google Apps to small and medium business'

Now that HP seems to have stabilized its business and it will be sticking with the small and medium business market, it seems to be looking for new ways to generate revenue. AllThingsD is reporting that HP will start selling Google Apps to this market. 

"HP has become a Google Apps reseller and will package management tools with its PCs, printers and other IT gear. One extra thing that HP brings to the table is some management software that will simplify setup."

It seems Apple will wrap the "standard" Google offering with its hardware, software and services to deliver a distinctive service. This is another attack by the sultant of search against Microsoft's Office offering.

Related Article:

The CBC Chooses Google Apps Over Microsoft 365

 

Toilet paper wedding dress

Nothing says love like a beautiful new wedding dress [designed with toilet paper].  The 9th annual Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest just completed in which designers used Charmin toilet paper along with glue, paper, tape, needle and thread.

Is this "Out of the box" thinking?

You can read the info and see more pictures here.

 

 

 

Google has bought Waze

Google has finally confirmed that it has acquired Waze on its blog. This confirms one of the most persistent rumours we have been seeing for the last 4 months. The blog post confirms that the Waze team will stay as is in Israel and that Google will work to incorporate many of Waze's "cool" tech into it's Google Maps product.

We don't have a confirmation about the cost of the acquisition yet but the rumors are pinning it in the 1B$ range.

THOR: Son of Asgard Free (usually $3)

You can download it from iTunes here.

Manufacturer description:

"Son of Asgard features stunning HD graphics optimized for Retina Displays that bring Asgard and Thor to life. Step into the role of Thor in this epic 3D action game. Asgard is under siege from forces both inside and outside its walls. Wield the great hammer Mjolnir as you battle rampaging foes to protect the kingdom and the nine worlds. "

 

 

Plants Vs Zombies for IOS Free for a limited time

 

Get the incredibly addictive and fun IOS game  Plants vs Zombies free using this special promo link

 

 

Audiofly AF-33 In-Ear Headphones Review

Who is Audiofly?

The website says Audiofly is an Australian company that is comprised of musicians trying to deliver the best possible headphones to consumers. 

The headphones

Audiofly sent me a pair of AF-33 (AF33) headphones for testing and review. As always, I only commit to testing and writing the review. My reviews are always honest and impartial. 

The testing process

I consider myself an audiophile and own over a dozen in ear monitor (IEM) style headphones and a handful of over the ear large headphones. For this test, I decided to compare the AF-33 to the following headphones:

For the audio source, I use:

  • iphone 4s
  • Nexus 7
  • Cowon iAudio 7

Audio Formats

  • I used MP3 music in formats of (kbit/s) 128, 192, 320
  • on the iPhone I tested with ALAC (Apple Lossless Codec)
  • on the cowon I tested in FLAC

Audio Tracks

Before I even test with actual music, I first test the headphones with special sound files built for:

  • Test track #1 - test for frequency response
  • Test track #2 - dynamic range testing
  • Test track #3 - deep bass test
  • Test track #4,5,6,7 - testing wiring for left and right sound + center and twisted

I then use high quality 3d holographic audio tracks from NatureSpace to test the 3d generation qualities of the headphones. For this test, I used Ice Wind, Infinite Shore, Night at lake unknown.

Last but not least, I use different songs to "see" how music is reproduced. For this test, I used:

  • Dark Side of the Moon
  • J.S. Bach - Partita No.2 in D minor BWV 1004
  • Toto - Africa
  • Yeke Yeke - Mori Kante
  • K'naan - Wavin Flag
  • Shakira - Waka Waka

None of these headphones require a headphone amp so none were used.

As recommended in the manual, I first used a burn-in process to "prepare" the headphones. For this test, I used an app called Burn in tools to prep the headphones. I ran 120 minute cycles and let the headphones rest 60 minutes in between cycles. I completed 40 hours of burn-in.

The results

I was surprised at the sound quality these sub $35 headphones produced. Overall, they are decent producing average but clean sound. The Triple-Fi are my go to reference when comparing in-ear-monitors because they offer a clean neutral canvas. 

The AF-33 performed very well on all my first round test tracks. The center and twister tracks were the ones where I found the headphone lacking. In the center test, the 3D sound should "feel like" it is coming from the center of my head wereas it pulled noticeably more to the left hand side.

The twisted 3D track should take the sound from he left side, to the center then to the right and back. When I say left or right, I am not talking about the sound coming from one earphone or the other but rather it should feel like the sound is moving fluidly in 3d space around me. This too showed the weakness of the headphone and it was unable to reproduce this tough 3D effect with any level of credibility.

Lows : These are not bass heavy headphones (which I like). They have clean low reproduction with very little distortion. The lows were cleanly separated from the mid and high tones. I found the low reproduction average and was wanting just a little more oumph...

Mids: The mids are clean too with very little bleed from the lows. I did find that the low and highs overwhelmed the mids a little but the mids were still clear. I found the mids relatively thin and sometimes a little "canny"

Highs:  I was surprised at the quality of the highs. They were fairly clean, well separated from the other tones with good detail. As I expected (and similar to other headphones in this range) the highs were a little too bright and a little too loud compared to the mids and lows.

As described earlier in the test section, the headphones failed the center and twist tests which are basic 3D sound reproduction tests (most headphones in this price range fail these tests). It is no surprise therefore that the headphones were not able to properly reproduce the 3d holographic sounds from the NatureSpace recordings. As I sit there and close my eyes, the location of the various 3D sounds wasn't clear and this is due to the limited soundstage provided by these headphones. Instrument imaging is good with clean separation but within a limited soundstage. 

After all my testing, the sound quality is average with a slightly unateral tone and very tin like feeling.

Using 128 or higher quality tracks yielded the same reproduction (FLAC, ALAC, 192 or 320 music didn't provide additional reproduction benefits beyond the base 128 kbits track.)

Build Quality

The build quality is nothing to write home about and they compare to the other competitors in this price range. For the price, I find the Zagg Smartbuds much more solid. 
The audio cable is thin. The earbud plastic casing feels light and cheap.
Overall I would say the build quality is average for this category of headphone.

Conclusion

So what's my verdict? These are better than any stock headphones provided with any device. They were also better than the skullcandy headphones and slightly better than the Monoprice ones but nothing to write home about. If you are looking for a "not too expensive" set of headphones that will deliver "good enough" sound then this is a good buy. If your expectations are higher, you will likely be disapointed. This is certainly not for the audiophile. 
The provided medium headphone tip fit nicely and held the headphone fairly well. Because of the type of type, the shape of the tip, the material and the way it is only slightly in the ear canal, it doesn't provide any important level of noise isolation. 

Pictures

 

 

 

 

 

Mac App ColorStrokes free for a limited time

MacPhun has announced that it is giving away free copies of their mac photo editing app, ColorStrokes for Mac. This freebie is being made available to celebrate the launch of MacPhun's new online store.
What is ColorStrokes?
It is a simple all that allows users to
  • color palette - Smart Brush lets you add new tones to the image and play with colors the way you want
  • enhancements - Variety of additional editing tools let you adjust lights, add special effects, vignette and more

Download the free app here.

NSA is using Google, Facebook, Apple, Youtube, Dropbox to spy on users

The Guardian broke one of the biggest most important stories ever. It reported that the NSA has been collecting huge amounts of user data from internet giants such as Google, Apple, Skype, Yahoo, AOL and Youtube. The Guardian alleges that plans are in place to add Dropbox to the list of data providers. To be clear, all this collection seems to be done without a court order and performed with direct access to the servers of these companies.
Based on a document authenticated by the Guardian, the NSA was secretly storing and analyzing search history, emails, file transfers, chats, stored documents, voice calls and more. In a shocking revelation, the Guardian says:
"The document claims "collection directly from the servers" of major US service providers."
Even though the document seems to insinuate that company executives were aware of the PRISM program, all of them have come out denying any involvement. At first glance, it seems like
project was targeting non US people or companies or Americans exchanging with these non-Americans
The law allows for the targeting of any customers of participating firms who live outside the US, or those Americans whose communications include people outside the US.

 

Couche Tard now offers Pizza & Spaghetti slushies

Quebec's most prolific corner store chain (Couche Tart) has decided to release 2 unbelievably weird slushie flavours of pizza and spaghetti. 

Slushies are a liquidy mix of flavoured iced consumed as a refreshment by many youths during Quebec's hot and humid summer days. 

NOKIA LUMIA EOS PureView 40 MegaPixel Lens Shutter Action

The leak source of other Nokia EOS PureView camera leaks is now back with a limited video showing only a snapshot of the mechanical shutter. 

Here is hoping this is an actual Nokia product and not some fake wish based video.

Nokia EOS Windows Super phone leaks

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the most important use of my smartphone is as an always on me camera. So I get very excited when a manufacturer (or rumor) announced a revolutionary camera in a mass market consumer smartphone. 

What you are looking at is the rumored upcoming Nokia Smartphone with the unbelievably wonderful PureView 41 megapixel sensor. From what we know, this is the next generation smartphone super-camera that follows the PureView 808. In addition to the wonderful sensor, it seems it may come with a Xenon flash, come in a polycarbonate body, have a 4.5" OLED screen )1280x768), wireless charging and 32 GB of internal memory.

Rumors are pointing to a summer release so stay tuned. 

After having seen dozens of "leaked photos" and info from "trusted unnamed insiders", I see only one negative... It's based on Windows phone which is much more limited than IOS or Android (phone functionality, availability of apps and 3rd party accessories).

these latest photos come from the Vizileaks twitter account.

If windows phone improves and Nokia delivers this amazing piece of machinery, Microsoft may be able to attract some IOS and Android defectors.