When I switched from the iPhone 4s to the iPhone 5c, the display size was somewhat altered with the 3.5 to 4.0 inch display change. It's not as comfortable as I would hope. I was reasonably happy with the smaller display. Putting another row of icons on the display wasn't my priority.
We're expected to believe that the iPhone 6 will have two sizes, such as 4.7 inch for a typical model, and a 5.5 or 5.7 inch phablet-sized model.
I know that some people have larger hands and yes, typing with thumbs can be a problem. It's especially a problem with Android-based devices, as I've found with the LG Optimus S, 2012 Google Nexus 7, and 2013 Nexus 7. You'd think on a high resolution, larger-display device that the keyboard would be spacious, but it is still a bit cramped, though better with 4.4.x than with 4.1.x.
Apparently, displays are becoming less expensive somehow, as we reach for intense densities. Otherwise, how can they afford to put such displays in smaller hand-held devices such as phones? Phone carriers aren't going to accept more subsidies/discounts degrading their profits. Besides, in some parts of the world, people have no subsidies at all. Often, their contract (or lack-of-contract) deals are better than those in the U.S.A. or Canada.
Of course, with a larger display, efficient or otherwise, more battery power will be required. Since the case is bigger to hold the display, that automatically provides some thin real estate in which to add batteries.
If the display requires more power than the current displays, of course, it will need more battery capacity just to stay even with the current phones. Hopefully, they've found some magic beans, errr, magic screens.
My first color display-using phone required too much recharging. So did my first 3G phone, and thankfully, the iPhone 5c chipset for LTE seems a bit more thrifty than the previous chipset in the iPhone 4s, although in 3G mode, it seems to quickly drain because of poor connectivity, tower or phone-related.
When I see reviews about an airport, they often mention electrical outlets. Isn't it sad that we're so tied to hand-held devices that we need to find outlets?
I'm not sure of the actual sizes, but it seems obvious that Apple will put together some bigger devices, perhaps, as they did with the MacBook Pro--three sizes, to compete with the larger Android-based devices. I'm just not sure I'll be ready for them.
Update 2014.05.08: I saw something the other day suggesting that tablet sales have dropped a lot, in favor of phablets. If that's the case, then, Apple should be targeting the space with both 4.x and 5.x devices. I'm still becoming acclimated to the 4 inch display. I think it is good but a bit on the large size. Other hands will disagree. As long as the pixel density is similarly tight, I will be fine with a larger phone when I switch. I can't imagine having a phone with a display larger than 4.5 inches but things may happen and I'll have to go with the crowd.
Update 2014.12.17: 4.7 and 5.5 inches for these two. I got an iPhone 6 at the smaller of the two sizes and it's not quite comfortable. I moved to the 4 inch iPhone 5c fairly easily from the iPhone 4s, and to that from the second generation iPod touch.
As far as I'm concerned, a phablet wouldn't work for me, nor would a tablet that of 5.5 inches. It's both too big and not big enough.
Showing posts with label Optimus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Optimus. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Friday, December 6, 2013
Will a Chinese company's smartphone be your next?
CNBC was mentioning the other day that they believe Chinese smartphone makers will start making inroads with markets outside China. South America is supposedly a growing area of sales for them.
Xiaomi, ZTE, BLU, Oppo, Huawei, and others are out there, although I've only handled BLU and ZTE equipment so far. Oppo is known for its higher end DVD and Blu-Ray players, along with some odd-named phones like Find.
A lot of these phones use MediaTek processors, which I've been lead to believe were so terrible that the phones were unusable, but that was not my experience. A BLU Studio phablet I used early in the year was good and much cheaper than the unlocked version of the Samsung phablet (bigger than a phone, smaller than a tablet) it was copying.
Having had experience with the LG Optimus One variant Optimus S, it's just a matter of finding the correct storage/RAM/processor combination. I know that companies have to work from a cost standpoint, but how much does a bad report (or millions of them) cost?
As has been my experience, developing a product only using a checklist doesn't produce a product people really want to use. You have to make it work smoothly, and assure that the rough edges aren't there, or at least, they don't annoy. Right now, I'm still annoyed by both iOS and Android. I'd like to see Firefox OS but being in its infancy, I know that I couldn't be happy, unless I lowered my expectations of what a phone should be. Phones based on Firefox OS are being sold in countries that are especially price conscious.
Of course, if you're in a price sensitive area, a checklist may be all that's necessary. Having the luxury of luxury may not be possible, nor would be taking the time to sort the phone's software properly. I have my doubts about whether Apple or Google properly test their software, so maybe, it doesn't matter how much the operating system is worth if no one cares to do the job correctly.
Along with BLU products, I've handled a couple ZTE products and use one of them for two weeks. They were sufficient and just as capable as similar devices, but with a lower quality build, unlike BLU products.
At this moment, the only Chinese brand I've seen on the market, Haier, has been selling refrigerators, although they make a variety of products.
I know that other products are coming. I doubt I'll be on the leading edge for them. I eat Korean food, but I've barely warmed to Korean electronics. I'm trusting of food from Taiwan and Hong Kong, but not Mainland China. Of course, a lot of products I have were likely made in Mainland China, under the supervision of a company elsewhere in the world. I have no doubt that, like the Japanese factories of the 1950s, that China's current labor force will become better.
It took quite a while for Japanese products to be great, and similarly as long for South Korea's products. It will be a while for China's products, even though they're making products every day for people all over the world. Twenty or thirty years into the future, we'll likely see plenty of Chinese names in regular use outside of China.
Update 2014.01.29: According to the numbers this week, Xiaomi has been doing a number on Samsung in China. Samsung is probably feeling a lot of pressure in the midrange, especially since that's where this Chinese makers' phones reside and where Apple's iPhone 5c is placed, since it's finally on the world's largest carrier, which happens to be in China.
Chinese companies are still trying to market their phones in the U.S.A. but the government is skeptical about their governmental ties and isn't likely to approve any of them for purchase, and they clearly don't want the networking equipment installed anywhere. Of course, who would spy on the American people besides the NSA? :-D The Chinese government seems skeptical of using Cisco products in China, conversely.
Of course, if you're in a price sensitive area, a checklist may be all that's necessary. Having the luxury of luxury may not be possible, nor would be taking the time to sort the phone's software properly. I have my doubts about whether Apple or Google properly test their software, so maybe, it doesn't matter how much the operating system is worth if no one cares to do the job correctly.
Along with BLU products, I've handled a couple ZTE products and use one of them for two weeks. They were sufficient and just as capable as similar devices, but with a lower quality build, unlike BLU products.
At this moment, the only Chinese brand I've seen on the market, Haier, has been selling refrigerators, although they make a variety of products.
I know that other products are coming. I doubt I'll be on the leading edge for them. I eat Korean food, but I've barely warmed to Korean electronics. I'm trusting of food from Taiwan and Hong Kong, but not Mainland China. Of course, a lot of products I have were likely made in Mainland China, under the supervision of a company elsewhere in the world. I have no doubt that, like the Japanese factories of the 1950s, that China's current labor force will become better.
It took quite a while for Japanese products to be great, and similarly as long for South Korea's products. It will be a while for China's products, even though they're making products every day for people all over the world. Twenty or thirty years into the future, we'll likely see plenty of Chinese names in regular use outside of China.
Update 2014.01.29: According to the numbers this week, Xiaomi has been doing a number on Samsung in China. Samsung is probably feeling a lot of pressure in the midrange, especially since that's where this Chinese makers' phones reside and where Apple's iPhone 5c is placed, since it's finally on the world's largest carrier, which happens to be in China.
Chinese companies are still trying to market their phones in the U.S.A. but the government is skeptical about their governmental ties and isn't likely to approve any of them for purchase, and they clearly don't want the networking equipment installed anywhere. Of course, who would spy on the American people besides the NSA? :-D The Chinese government seems skeptical of using Cisco products in China, conversely.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Android usage shows upgrades, switch; BlackBerry on the ropes
I noticed that this chart still shows quite a few Android users in versions 2.3.3 - 2.3.7 (API 10, was it?) but 2.3 - 2.3.2 are gone.
Just to see the progress, here is the final calendar quarter of 2013.
It makes me think that the LG Optimus One and Optimus 2 are still around in many variants since those had so little storage that they couldn't be updated. They were also not very powerful, but they were inexpensive and people who could only afford a feature phone could suddenly afford a smart phone.
Notice that Honeycomb, version 3.2 is still there. Apparently, there were quite a few US$100 tablets that couldn't be upgraded but are still in use.
Update 2013.11.27: I've read recently that they re-worked Kit Kat to be less demanding of resources, i.e. to get rid of the reason phones are still using Gingerbread/version 2.3.x. It isn't likely to put Kit Kat on LG Optimus One variants but possibly the Optimus 2, which is still being sold.
I also saw today where the deal for BlackBerry/RIM fell apart and there doesn't seem to be a saviour of the company. That drove a sell-off of the stock, sending the price down about 20% lower. They also replaced the CEO. (I suspect that they'll be saying that choosing him was an error in Heinsight. Yes, that's mine, and stop groaning.)
I would think that Apple, Google, and Microsoft are looking to buy the remains of the company when it's too far gone to save.
Google doesn't care about real-time execution since it chose a Java-related runtime architecture, but Apple could really use something a bit better and BlackBerry owns the QNX operating system, which was always quite a stunner with its fast (operating system) message passing system. Anything to fix the performance issues in the Darwin/(Mac) OS X kernel would be good. (Sure, it's easy to make the slop less apparent with faster processing but it's still sloppy.)
Apparently, the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) has been downloaded quite a lot, but people don't know what to do with it once they have it. Duh. You should be able to contact someone on CNBC as they're saying that "You'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands." That's CrackBerry, and most of the users have been gone since about 2009 when they realized there were alternatives.
It'll be sad to see them gone from the market. I wish they had taken Apple's entry into the mobile phone space seriously. Obviously, Nokia had a similar take on being unbeatable and it cost them plenty.
Just to see the progress, here is the final calendar quarter of 2013.
It makes me think that the LG Optimus One and Optimus 2 are still around in many variants since those had so little storage that they couldn't be updated. They were also not very powerful, but they were inexpensive and people who could only afford a feature phone could suddenly afford a smart phone.
Notice that Honeycomb, version 3.2 is still there. Apparently, there were quite a few US$100 tablets that couldn't be upgraded but are still in use.
Update 2013.11.27: I've read recently that they re-worked Kit Kat to be less demanding of resources, i.e. to get rid of the reason phones are still using Gingerbread/version 2.3.x. It isn't likely to put Kit Kat on LG Optimus One variants but possibly the Optimus 2, which is still being sold.
I also saw today where the deal for BlackBerry/RIM fell apart and there doesn't seem to be a saviour of the company. That drove a sell-off of the stock, sending the price down about 20% lower. They also replaced the CEO. (I suspect that they'll be saying that choosing him was an error in Heinsight. Yes, that's mine, and stop groaning.)
I would think that Apple, Google, and Microsoft are looking to buy the remains of the company when it's too far gone to save.
Google doesn't care about real-time execution since it chose a Java-related runtime architecture, but Apple could really use something a bit better and BlackBerry owns the QNX operating system, which was always quite a stunner with its fast (operating system) message passing system. Anything to fix the performance issues in the Darwin/(Mac) OS X kernel would be good. (Sure, it's easy to make the slop less apparent with faster processing but it's still sloppy.)
Apparently, the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) has been downloaded quite a lot, but people don't know what to do with it once they have it. Duh. You should be able to contact someone on CNBC as they're saying that "You'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands." That's CrackBerry, and most of the users have been gone since about 2009 when they realized there were alternatives.
It'll be sad to see them gone from the market. I wish they had taken Apple's entry into the mobile phone space seriously. Obviously, Nokia had a similar take on being unbeatable and it cost them plenty.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Thinking: iPhone 5(s|c) or LG G2 or HTC One or LG Optimus G
I'm still thinking about a new phone. Next month, will be the end of my two year contract. I've been eligible to trade up since July. One thing that keeps me thinking is service, billing, and support.
When I was looking for a mobile hotspot I tried AT&T, Verizon, and finally, decided on Sprint. Why?
AT&T billing--they charged me for data when the device was being shipped
Verizon service--they had the worst service where I live now
Sprint--it wasn't as bad as Verizon, and I'd been a customer since 2000
Given that Softbank put a lot of money into Sprint, the LTE rollout should be accelerating, if that's even possible. Also, decommissioning Nextel's network frees up the lower 800 MHz band, plus the 2.5 GHz band will be freed from WiMAX as they replace WiMAX in areas where it's already running. WiMAX has worked fine for me, and LTE shows promise.
Sprint has started pre-orders for the LG G2, the successor to the LG Optimus G, a phone I really liked. At a resolution of 1280x768, it was quite capable of showing video clearly. Since the G2 has a resolution of 1920x1200 (or is it 1080?), it can show media in full HD resolution, which is awesome in a handheld device. They've also added the Google Nexus 5 to their pre-orders. It's based on the G2 but with various differences. I like that it will have priority and a straight path to system updates. I just wish that Sprint were selling a 32 GB version. The 32 GB G2 is US$50 more at US$199.99 with 2 year contract and the 16 GB Nexus 5 is US$149.99. They're US$100.00 cheaper for new customers.
LG has tried to fix Android to work better for their customers, as has HTC and Samsung and even Motorola made some laughter with their attempt. Having tried the original Nexus 7 tablet, I'm not sure that Android can be fixed, and that's why I'm hesitant to return, having had 3 Android-based products that really didn't work well for me.
Apple is not without their problems. They want you to like what they like, as with Mercedes-Benz years ago, but guess what? Mercedes-Benz changed. Apple won't. They know better than we do about what we want.
The best thing about Apple is that I know that an app will work for me. If I'm on a newer operating system on a device with reasonable RAM, an app will work. My iPhone 4S, and previously my second generation iPod touch, proves that to me every day.
I've been watching developers struggle with 64-bit apps on the iPhone 5s. I'd probably avoid it, unless there is a point where the mess is resolved. However, the supplies are constrained and I probably couldn't find one until the new year.
The iPhone 5c felt great, worked quickly, and was better and faster than my current phone, plus it has LTE capabilities. Since it's almost completely an iPhone 5, the technology has been worked out. It would be good to have LTE data speeds (where available, disclaimers apply) although I suspect that LTE will be bogged down by all the people switching at once.
I'm still not sure about the HTC One. I really like the style and the fact that there are two speakers on the front, but I really dislike the fact that the company might not survive. Who will provide me with software updates, if the company is gone? Unfortunately, no matter how many colors they have available, I think people know about a sinking boat and are ready to look somewhere else.
Service, software, and more keep me thinking. I'll probably let my contract run out, something I've not done since 2002. I used my Star Tac for a total of 4 years, 2 of which were without contract. Two years after I replaced it, it still was able to power on. If I went a couple of days without charging a current phone, I bet it would be completely dead. Of course, software-wise, my iPhone 4S would be completely dead by 2015.
Update 2013.10.30: I've really been giving the iPhone 5c more thought. It's priced nicely for what's basically year old hardware with extra LTE bands thrown into it. Besides that, I don't need to learn all new quirks and foibles, as I would with LG or HTC Android-based phones, which work differently. That's not to say that I've decided, but it does push me in a certain direction. The HTC One has a lot going for it and so does the LG G2.
One thing may delay my decision: cases. I checked four different stores for a Ballistic or Otterbox case for the iPhone 5c and found none. You can order them through the manufacturers' web sites, and Otterbox has a pick your combination selection, but I need to coordinate that carefully. No case, no phone.
Update 2014.11.14: One year later or so, the iPhone 5c has been good. The HTC One M7 has been replaced with the M8, both of which are brilliant. I've also had a 2013 Nexus 7 tablet from about the same time and I don't regret not having an Android-based phone. The operating system needs work, even at version 4.4.4, though I find iOS 7 and 8 to be rough also. It feels as though it will be 30 years before things will be really good. Of course, if Google and Apple actually tested their operating systems with real people, they'd be surprised at how much they'd find to improve.
LG has changed a lot with the G2 being the basic platform for the Nexus 5. Overall, they feel like a company that you can trust. The G3 is quite amazing, but as with Samsung, promoting a device through a power-hungry display seems a problem.
When I was looking for a mobile hotspot I tried AT&T, Verizon, and finally, decided on Sprint. Why?
AT&T billing--they charged me for data when the device was being shipped
Verizon service--they had the worst service where I live now
Sprint--it wasn't as bad as Verizon, and I'd been a customer since 2000
Given that Softbank put a lot of money into Sprint, the LTE rollout should be accelerating, if that's even possible. Also, decommissioning Nextel's network frees up the lower 800 MHz band, plus the 2.5 GHz band will be freed from WiMAX as they replace WiMAX in areas where it's already running. WiMAX has worked fine for me, and LTE shows promise.
Sprint has started pre-orders for the LG G2, the successor to the LG Optimus G, a phone I really liked. At a resolution of 1280x768, it was quite capable of showing video clearly. Since the G2 has a resolution of 1920x1200 (or is it 1080?), it can show media in full HD resolution, which is awesome in a handheld device. They've also added the Google Nexus 5 to their pre-orders. It's based on the G2 but with various differences. I like that it will have priority and a straight path to system updates. I just wish that Sprint were selling a 32 GB version. The 32 GB G2 is US$50 more at US$199.99 with 2 year contract and the 16 GB Nexus 5 is US$149.99. They're US$100.00 cheaper for new customers.
LG has tried to fix Android to work better for their customers, as has HTC and Samsung and even Motorola made some laughter with their attempt. Having tried the original Nexus 7 tablet, I'm not sure that Android can be fixed, and that's why I'm hesitant to return, having had 3 Android-based products that really didn't work well for me.
Apple is not without their problems. They want you to like what they like, as with Mercedes-Benz years ago, but guess what? Mercedes-Benz changed. Apple won't. They know better than we do about what we want.
The best thing about Apple is that I know that an app will work for me. If I'm on a newer operating system on a device with reasonable RAM, an app will work. My iPhone 4S, and previously my second generation iPod touch, proves that to me every day.
I've been watching developers struggle with 64-bit apps on the iPhone 5s. I'd probably avoid it, unless there is a point where the mess is resolved. However, the supplies are constrained and I probably couldn't find one until the new year.
The iPhone 5c felt great, worked quickly, and was better and faster than my current phone, plus it has LTE capabilities. Since it's almost completely an iPhone 5, the technology has been worked out. It would be good to have LTE data speeds (where available, disclaimers apply) although I suspect that LTE will be bogged down by all the people switching at once.
I'm still not sure about the HTC One. I really like the style and the fact that there are two speakers on the front, but I really dislike the fact that the company might not survive. Who will provide me with software updates, if the company is gone? Unfortunately, no matter how many colors they have available, I think people know about a sinking boat and are ready to look somewhere else.
Service, software, and more keep me thinking. I'll probably let my contract run out, something I've not done since 2002. I used my Star Tac for a total of 4 years, 2 of which were without contract. Two years after I replaced it, it still was able to power on. If I went a couple of days without charging a current phone, I bet it would be completely dead. Of course, software-wise, my iPhone 4S would be completely dead by 2015.
Update 2013.10.30: I've really been giving the iPhone 5c more thought. It's priced nicely for what's basically year old hardware with extra LTE bands thrown into it. Besides that, I don't need to learn all new quirks and foibles, as I would with LG or HTC Android-based phones, which work differently. That's not to say that I've decided, but it does push me in a certain direction. The HTC One has a lot going for it and so does the LG G2.
One thing may delay my decision: cases. I checked four different stores for a Ballistic or Otterbox case for the iPhone 5c and found none. You can order them through the manufacturers' web sites, and Otterbox has a pick your combination selection, but I need to coordinate that carefully. No case, no phone.
Update 2014.11.14: One year later or so, the iPhone 5c has been good. The HTC One M7 has been replaced with the M8, both of which are brilliant. I've also had a 2013 Nexus 7 tablet from about the same time and I don't regret not having an Android-based phone. The operating system needs work, even at version 4.4.4, though I find iOS 7 and 8 to be rough also. It feels as though it will be 30 years before things will be really good. Of course, if Google and Apple actually tested their operating systems with real people, they'd be surprised at how much they'd find to improve.
LG has changed a lot with the G2 being the basic platform for the Nexus 5. Overall, they feel like a company that you can trust. The G3 is quite amazing, but as with Samsung, promoting a device through a power-hungry display seems a problem.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Apple's stock price on the downslide, re-evaluated
If you've read my entries on stock pricing, you might remember how I talk about stock "anal"ysts. They can't follow trends. They can't follow forecasts. They don't notice the run-up in Apple stock price prior to an announcement and the sell-off after the announcement. However, they know everything there is to know.
Apparently, the new iPhone 5c has caused Apple to be on the way out of business. It's too expensive for emerging markets, and it's likely too expensive to make. So, three of the world's finest stock brokerages/investment firms have downgraded Apple, after which the stock price dropped due to a sell-off. (Update: As of the end of October, the stock price has rebounded and Apple has sold too many of the iPhone 5s and not as many of the 5c but they are re-working production to help with the demand.)
Could Apple go out of business because of one product? It's not likely. I think they learned their lesson with the Cube. Those were hard times and yet, they didn't go out of business. They just threw away some money and frustrated some people.
Is the iPhone 5c too expensive? (If you have to ask, you can't afford it?)
I've only seen the unlocked price for T-Mobile and that was the 32 GB version for US$649. That seems US$50 too high, compared to other phones selling on-contract for US$199. Is T-Mobile in an emerging market? No, and we don't know the pricing for every country, do we?
I don't expect that everyone in the world will be buying a premium phone, and while cheaper than the iPhone 5 or 5s, the 5c is still a premium phone. At the lowest level, it has 16 GB of storage, most of that is usable by the user. Compare that to a free Android phone that maybe contain anywhere from 512 MB to 2 GB of storage, and may only have 170 MB available to the user. I recall this quite well from my LG Optimus S, which wasn't free at the time and gave me frequent messages about a lack of available storage. The original 8 GB Google Nexus 7 tablet was infamously short on usable space.
So, will someone who can barely afford to eat buy an iPhone 5c? I wouldn't think so. Food is important. Will someone with a good job who already eats well and lives cheaply buy an iPhone 5c? I'd bet they'll take a serious look at it, along with a look at some inexpensive Android-based phones.
Can someone who eats well, owns whatever they want, and manipulates people into buying stocks that they may not want understand how the rest of us live? I doubt it. Of course, they could eat snails because they like them, and the poor could eat snails because those are available. Maybe, the rich really do understand the dirt poor. That was sarcasm, if you didn't notice.
How Apple will survive is anyone's guess. More innovation would be good, and for me, more bug fixing. Being conservative on popular products isn't a great way to handle things, but I don't see a bunch of people dropping Apple products. Those who like Google and Android are there already, and the undecided will search and try things. I'd like to try the LG (Optimus) G2 or Google Nexus 5, but after my Nexus 7 "fun" and my LG Optimus S, I'm not sure I can live with a broken phone.
Update 2014.12.11: Apple has recently had all-time record stock prices. This week, they're falling, but the company is still doing well. It seems that they're still the company in the world with the largest valuation--on paper anyway.
I got one of the new iPhone 6 models with 64GB of storage. I can understand why it is popular. I'm still finding it a pain to switch but it's better than switching to another company's phone. I like Android but my 2013 Nexus 7 tablet hasn't been incredible, with version 4.3.x, 4.4.x, or 5.0.x. The operating system is getting better but it's still a bit like a product in its infancy, unfortunately. You'd hope that it would be more mature. It's probably a lack of real-world testing. Apple does very little real-world testing, but it's a bit more than what Google does.
I wonder what will happen with the Apple Watch. I suspect that will really cause the stock price to drop. The good thing is that they don't need agreements with anyone else to make it work, a la Apple TV. By that time, Apple Pay should be firmly entrenched. I haven't used it yet. I don't trust iOS 8.1.1 completely and I know that 8.2 is in the beta process, and of course, there will be an 8.2.1.
I'm guessing that Apple Pay will help offset Apple Watch.
Apparently, the new iPhone 5c has caused Apple to be on the way out of business. It's too expensive for emerging markets, and it's likely too expensive to make. So, three of the world's finest stock brokerages/investment firms have downgraded Apple, after which the stock price dropped due to a sell-off. (Update: As of the end of October, the stock price has rebounded and Apple has sold too many of the iPhone 5s and not as many of the 5c but they are re-working production to help with the demand.)
Could Apple go out of business because of one product? It's not likely. I think they learned their lesson with the Cube. Those were hard times and yet, they didn't go out of business. They just threw away some money and frustrated some people.
Is the iPhone 5c too expensive? (If you have to ask, you can't afford it?)
I've only seen the unlocked price for T-Mobile and that was the 32 GB version for US$649. That seems US$50 too high, compared to other phones selling on-contract for US$199. Is T-Mobile in an emerging market? No, and we don't know the pricing for every country, do we?
I don't expect that everyone in the world will be buying a premium phone, and while cheaper than the iPhone 5 or 5s, the 5c is still a premium phone. At the lowest level, it has 16 GB of storage, most of that is usable by the user. Compare that to a free Android phone that maybe contain anywhere from 512 MB to 2 GB of storage, and may only have 170 MB available to the user. I recall this quite well from my LG Optimus S, which wasn't free at the time and gave me frequent messages about a lack of available storage. The original 8 GB Google Nexus 7 tablet was infamously short on usable space.
So, will someone who can barely afford to eat buy an iPhone 5c? I wouldn't think so. Food is important. Will someone with a good job who already eats well and lives cheaply buy an iPhone 5c? I'd bet they'll take a serious look at it, along with a look at some inexpensive Android-based phones.
Can someone who eats well, owns whatever they want, and manipulates people into buying stocks that they may not want understand how the rest of us live? I doubt it. Of course, they could eat snails because they like them, and the poor could eat snails because those are available. Maybe, the rich really do understand the dirt poor. That was sarcasm, if you didn't notice.
How Apple will survive is anyone's guess. More innovation would be good, and for me, more bug fixing. Being conservative on popular products isn't a great way to handle things, but I don't see a bunch of people dropping Apple products. Those who like Google and Android are there already, and the undecided will search and try things. I'd like to try the LG (Optimus) G2 or Google Nexus 5, but after my Nexus 7 "fun" and my LG Optimus S, I'm not sure I can live with a broken phone.
Update 2014.12.11: Apple has recently had all-time record stock prices. This week, they're falling, but the company is still doing well. It seems that they're still the company in the world with the largest valuation--on paper anyway.
I got one of the new iPhone 6 models with 64GB of storage. I can understand why it is popular. I'm still finding it a pain to switch but it's better than switching to another company's phone. I like Android but my 2013 Nexus 7 tablet hasn't been incredible, with version 4.3.x, 4.4.x, or 5.0.x. The operating system is getting better but it's still a bit like a product in its infancy, unfortunately. You'd hope that it would be more mature. It's probably a lack of real-world testing. Apple does very little real-world testing, but it's a bit more than what Google does.
I wonder what will happen with the Apple Watch. I suspect that will really cause the stock price to drop. The good thing is that they don't need agreements with anyone else to make it work, a la Apple TV. By that time, Apple Pay should be firmly entrenched. I haven't used it yet. I don't trust iOS 8.1.1 completely and I know that 8.2 is in the beta process, and of course, there will be an 8.2.1.
I'm guessing that Apple Pay will help offset Apple Watch.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Google is not the salvation of humanity
There are so many fanatics on all sides. I understand enthusiasm but fanaticism really hurts everyone.
I continue to see how Google has virtually saved humanity by offering their products for free and not asking anything in return. It amuses me.
Google put together Chrome for one good reason--to sell services. Yes, you can use it to view web pages but they really want your business to work through Chrome to make documents and spreadsheets and whatnot through their web-based applications. Services are cash-worthy, as is advertising. Google is a business, not a philanthropy.
I still remember how Google were turning dissidents over to the Chinese government, as were Yahoo! I suppose those actions will always remind me that some people favour business over life any day. I'm not an activist but I value people's lives.
Google often engages up-and-coming developers in their "Summer of Code". It's good for the community, but they also get free help and new ideas. Since they engender the trust of so many, they help themselves to code which would otherwise cost them money to create. That also saves them human resources to work on projects which do bring money to the company.
If there is one positive thing Google has done, it's done something to erode Microsoft's grip on the world. It currently appears that Android is displacing Windows as the sloppy operating system that is widely used--what I used to call the 65% solution. (Microsoft's developers spent 100% of their time working on 65% of the problem, leaving people to fend for themselves and work through the problems.) Android's problems are rather widely known and developers attempt to work through them, supporting device after device incrementally because the hardware abstraction isn't very good. Pity the poor developer struggling with the angry customers because their software doesn't work on some device.
I really thought that Android 4.x would be a great fix for the mess, but apparently, it isn't. What's more, Android versions 2.3.3-2.3.7 is still in use by a rather large group of active users. I suspect the LG Optimus One (and now 2) and variants were quite the success, given that the price was about the same as a high end feature phone.
I'd love for businesses to become the salvation of humanity but I suspect that they will not because they're--businesses.
I continue to see how Google has virtually saved humanity by offering their products for free and not asking anything in return. It amuses me.
Google put together Chrome for one good reason--to sell services. Yes, you can use it to view web pages but they really want your business to work through Chrome to make documents and spreadsheets and whatnot through their web-based applications. Services are cash-worthy, as is advertising. Google is a business, not a philanthropy.
I still remember how Google were turning dissidents over to the Chinese government, as were Yahoo! I suppose those actions will always remind me that some people favour business over life any day. I'm not an activist but I value people's lives.
Google often engages up-and-coming developers in their "Summer of Code". It's good for the community, but they also get free help and new ideas. Since they engender the trust of so many, they help themselves to code which would otherwise cost them money to create. That also saves them human resources to work on projects which do bring money to the company.
If there is one positive thing Google has done, it's done something to erode Microsoft's grip on the world. It currently appears that Android is displacing Windows as the sloppy operating system that is widely used--what I used to call the 65% solution. (Microsoft's developers spent 100% of their time working on 65% of the problem, leaving people to fend for themselves and work through the problems.) Android's problems are rather widely known and developers attempt to work through them, supporting device after device incrementally because the hardware abstraction isn't very good. Pity the poor developer struggling with the angry customers because their software doesn't work on some device.
I really thought that Android 4.x would be a great fix for the mess, but apparently, it isn't. What's more, Android versions 2.3.3-2.3.7 is still in use by a rather large group of active users. I suspect the LG Optimus One (and now 2) and variants were quite the success, given that the price was about the same as a high end feature phone.
I'd love for businesses to become the salvation of humanity but I suspect that they will not because they're--businesses.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Choosing a phone by repair cost
The first day of July this year, I can get a new phone at discount. I may not jump on that opportunity right away. I have an iPhone 4S and Applecare + doesn't expire until the 24 months are up, which should be finished around October.
In the last few months, I've been associated with a computer and phone repair shop. I help them with some odd iPhone/iPod touch and Mac problems.
The phone technician is impressive. Apple will sometime say that an iPad or iPhone can't be repaired but he repairs them. I believe what they really mean is that it's not worth their time. What I've read is that they replace the product right away and then send it to a designated repair facility. Often, those repairs end up with the product being returned in worse shape than the shape in which it was received. This also applies to Apple computer repair.
I was having a problem with the backlight of a late 2004 Apple PowerBook. I discussed the problem with the owner of the shop, who does the computer repair. We agreed that it was the backlight. When I checked it 2008, an Apple retailer gave me a guesstimate of US$400, because they would replace the whole rear panel, as Apple does, which includes the backlight.
The owner of this local shop quoted me a price of something like US$90 for labour + US$20 for the part, and he would order an extra part or two, just to have it. Being that it was late 2012, Apple didn't even have parts available, so getting the whole panel would have required a deal on eBay for a used part, even a whole computer. I believe that soldering the new backlight in place took minimal time. It was the disassembly and re-assembly that took the most time.
So it is with phones. They have a large display, one or more slabs of batteries, and a tiny circuit board. Often, they're held together with a lot of glue, which makes disassembly almost impossible. Certain generations of the iPod touch are a pain and the Samsung Galaxy S III is nearly impossible. (This just in--the Galaxy S 4 is apparently just the opposite.) If you damage the display on the Samsung GS3, and you don't have at least US$300 for the display, you're in trouble. Replacing the display could be a mess because of all the glue and the tight fit.
On the other hand, I see iPhone 4, 4S and 5 repaired regularly although the iPhone 5 isn't nearly as fragile. It's fairly simple to take those three phones apart, as long as you remember where you put the extra pieces. One of the biggest problems they see is that someone decided to help their friend avoid a major repair cost and forget to finish the job, which in turn, costs more time and energy--and diagnostic and repair costs.
I'm fairly shocked that Apple made it easy to service the phones. I needed to replace the battery in my 4th generation iPod (the original white model with the monochrome display) and I couldn't open it. That's rather different with the 4200rpm hard drive, but the case was not meant to be opened by just anyone. I've been replacing computer parts since the time of the original IBM PC in 1981, so I have a clue, but I don't mess with miniature parts.
This brings me back to the thought of a new phone. These high resolution and large displays cost a lot of money to replace. I was considering the LG Optimus G with the 1280x800 (or is it 1280x768?) display. Now, they've announced the Optimus G Pro with the 1920x1080 display that's even larger. Even if the phone is US$299 with a contract, the display replacement might be US$400 or more. Obviously, if you're paying US$10 per month insurance, it's not a bad thing at all. I suspect Asurion will charge more than US$10 per month for such a phone. It's good to know that Apple only charge US$99 for two years. My buddy replaced the display on an Optimus G a few days ago, and he said that there was so much adhesive that it took a lot of time to remove the shards of glass before he could install anything.
I think I'll hold onto my phone another year and see what happens. After all, I know someone who can repair it quickly.
In the last few months, I've been associated with a computer and phone repair shop. I help them with some odd iPhone/iPod touch and Mac problems.
The phone technician is impressive. Apple will sometime say that an iPad or iPhone can't be repaired but he repairs them. I believe what they really mean is that it's not worth their time. What I've read is that they replace the product right away and then send it to a designated repair facility. Often, those repairs end up with the product being returned in worse shape than the shape in which it was received. This also applies to Apple computer repair.
I was having a problem with the backlight of a late 2004 Apple PowerBook. I discussed the problem with the owner of the shop, who does the computer repair. We agreed that it was the backlight. When I checked it 2008, an Apple retailer gave me a guesstimate of US$400, because they would replace the whole rear panel, as Apple does, which includes the backlight.
The owner of this local shop quoted me a price of something like US$90 for labour + US$20 for the part, and he would order an extra part or two, just to have it. Being that it was late 2012, Apple didn't even have parts available, so getting the whole panel would have required a deal on eBay for a used part, even a whole computer. I believe that soldering the new backlight in place took minimal time. It was the disassembly and re-assembly that took the most time.
So it is with phones. They have a large display, one or more slabs of batteries, and a tiny circuit board. Often, they're held together with a lot of glue, which makes disassembly almost impossible. Certain generations of the iPod touch are a pain and the Samsung Galaxy S III is nearly impossible. (This just in--the Galaxy S 4 is apparently just the opposite.) If you damage the display on the Samsung GS3, and you don't have at least US$300 for the display, you're in trouble. Replacing the display could be a mess because of all the glue and the tight fit.
On the other hand, I see iPhone 4, 4S and 5 repaired regularly although the iPhone 5 isn't nearly as fragile. It's fairly simple to take those three phones apart, as long as you remember where you put the extra pieces. One of the biggest problems they see is that someone decided to help their friend avoid a major repair cost and forget to finish the job, which in turn, costs more time and energy--and diagnostic and repair costs.
I'm fairly shocked that Apple made it easy to service the phones. I needed to replace the battery in my 4th generation iPod (the original white model with the monochrome display) and I couldn't open it. That's rather different with the 4200rpm hard drive, but the case was not meant to be opened by just anyone. I've been replacing computer parts since the time of the original IBM PC in 1981, so I have a clue, but I don't mess with miniature parts.
This brings me back to the thought of a new phone. These high resolution and large displays cost a lot of money to replace. I was considering the LG Optimus G with the 1280x800 (or is it 1280x768?) display. Now, they've announced the Optimus G Pro with the 1920x1080 display that's even larger. Even if the phone is US$299 with a contract, the display replacement might be US$400 or more. Obviously, if you're paying US$10 per month insurance, it's not a bad thing at all. I suspect Asurion will charge more than US$10 per month for such a phone. It's good to know that Apple only charge US$99 for two years. My buddy replaced the display on an Optimus G a few days ago, and he said that there was so much adhesive that it took a lot of time to remove the shards of glass before he could install anything.
I think I'll hold onto my phone another year and see what happens. After all, I know someone who can repair it quickly.
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