Editorial

Time to Catch Up, Apple.

iPhone 5. I hope people out there are disappointed by this lackluster device, because I am.

I’m not an Apple guy by any means, but I was actually hoping for a well spec’d phone from them this time. Not to say that the specs of the new iPhone 5 aren’t good, I’m just saying that it’s nothing new or impressive.

The two biggest upgrades to the iPhone are 4G LTE and the 4 inch screen. Apple will probably go as far to say that they are the pioneers of 4G technology, when they aren’t. Of course, now many more people will know about 4G LTE, considering that the technology is now on an Apple iPhone. Then there will be the people (especially those on AT&T) questioning how it is different from HSPA+, called 4G on the AT&T iPhone 4S. On Android devices running HSPA+ it is titled as such, or H+.

The 4 inch screen is lacking as well, and it isn’t even HD. It’s a 4 inch screen! Most phones are of 4.5 inches to 5.2 inches, with 4.8 being the average “sweet spot.” This iteration is a 16:9, a widescreen Retina Display. Of course, the pixel density is stellar, something I actually can complement an iPhone about. But it still isn’t HD. Apple is going to continue with its Retina display.

They added Facebook sync in iOS 6, so now all Facebook contacts will be on the phone if desired. Guess what? Android did that. From the start. Another thing Apple has blatantly stolen from Android is the notification pull down from iOS 5. Catch up, Apple.

They’ve used the same camera as the iPhone 4S, just with a newer, thinner, more durable cover. Improvement, but won’t change the fact that the iPhone will produce blurry images and pretty much work like a brick in low light situations. Even so, this overshadowed the brilliant Nokia PureView Camera on the Nokia Lumia 920, a gorgeously designed phone with a simple and clean user interface on Windows 8.

The processor it’s running is the Apple A6 chip. A dual core CPU with quad core graphics, essentially making the media experience smooth. But internationally, there are Android phones running quad core CPU’s along with quad core GPU’s. Apple is behind a bit on this one.

Apple decided to get rid of Google Maps in favor of their own native Maps. The native Maps app has a fly-over feature, essentially mimicking Google’s Street View and Building View. Oh, and the biggest thing improved for the iPhone’s maps? It now has turn-by-turn navigation! Isn’t that a surprise, the Maps application has features that Google Maps and Google Earth have had nearly from the get-go! Oh, Apple, catching up.

Siri has also had some updating, and now it copies the Google Now, Android 4.1’s native voice actions app. Siri can now tell sports scores and allow you to make reservations on the go.

But perhaps one of the most talked about things is the new dock connector, misleadingly called the Lightning dock connector. For one, the Lightning cable is only a USB 3.0 cable. Most iMacs are at USB 4.0, making for insanely fast data transfers. Also, people with all the speaker accessories will now need to buy special adapters so their new iPhone 5’s will be able to fit on the dock! A question asked moreover about this new dock is why didn’t Apple just go with the industry standard MicroUSB? The world may never know.

With all the similarities to Android phones, why isn’t Apple the company getting sued?

Point is, Apple is merely evolving the iPhone brand, but in the process making it less innovative, and less… Different.

Exciting, isn’t it? Apple is the one having to play catch up in the technology world.

Will you be waiting in line to buy the iPhone 5? Or will you wait for it to cool down to get it? Maybe you’ll wait for the inevitable launch of the iPhone 5S? How about switching to an Android 4.0 device or a Windows 8 device?

Time for a laugh.

Moving on with the world.

Technology runs rampant, but schools refuse to accept it for the pure old-school opinion that electronic devices are distractors.

However, think about it. You can do your homework on Microsoft Word or maybe Google Docs and have it immediately ready on your smartphone.

Music assists many with concentration. Artists are an example of students that really rely on music for the inspiration.

I see how people can be distracted, but completely removing them from the environment? That’s just wrong!

The world is advancing, and schools need to get with the times. Let kids have their fun.

Never Forgotten

I was planning on writing a recollection post, what I remembered during this day 11 years ago. We all know what happened, we all remember. It’s really hard to forget, something so unthinkable happening so close.

My thoughts are still with those that perished, to those that tried to help, and to those that fought.

Iconic Image of FDNY raising the American flag at Ground Zero.

And even though this happened 10 days after, it is still a vivid memory, a sign of hope, the first step to trying to move forward after that tragic day.

I found this site while looking for the photo up on top. Very moving images that were captured during that time. It might be disturbing, so please proceed at your discretion.

http://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/tag/911/

And lastly, the photo below, I took earlier today, from my desk. It’s my view from my office. The Freedom Tower, being erected. We only moved into this office a month ago, and the company I work for wasn’t around yet then, but I can only Imagine, if I had been sitting there at that spot 11 years ago. Actually, I cannot imagine what it may be like.

Freedom Tower

Bye bye G4, Bye Bye

I’m not quite sure if this is sad news or not, but I’ve read from various sources that G4 will be dissolved, and rebranded by parent company NBC Universal. From what i’ve read, they will want to focus more on the male GQ type thing (I really don’t know what that means), and still keep the “tech savvy roots”. I think, when G4 first started about a decade ago, it was just that, like a Maxim on TV. I’ve been watching G4 before it was even G4. Back in the TechTV day’s mostly. But most of the shows from TechTV got dumped with the exception of X-Play. They did bring out their own original programming like Cheat, (which somehow got replaced with Cheaters), and Arena, but those soon bit the bullet too. The only other long time running program they have is Attack of the Show.

Most of their program lineup really just consists of Cops, Cheaters, and Movies that Don’s Suck. They will play Ninja Warrior on occasion. AOTS hasn’t been the same since Olivia Munn left, don’t get me wrong, Candace Bailey is hot in her own right, but I think Olivia Munn just has a certain X-Factor about her. With the recent departure of Kevin Pereira, I was sort of concerned with where the show was headed. His departure came not long after Adam Sessler’s sudden departure from X-Play. Practically 2 staples, and 2 faces of the G4 suddenly gone, in the back of my head, it made me question what the future of the shows, or even the stations was going to be.

After that fall out over the summer, I found myself not catching up to X-Play and AOTS. It was just not the same without Sess, and KP. I still did DVR it, but I just never bothered to watch it that night. As it stands I’m still in the July shows for both.

Now with this news of NBC Universal rebranding the channel, I’m not quite sure X-Play or AOTS will still be in the mix. I’m gonna be honest though, X-Play has sucked a bit in the last year or so. It was just not the same anymore, even more so with Adam gone.
I don’t know if i’m even going to miss the channel being gone if i’m honest.

http://gamerant.com/g4-video-game-channel-dead/

One of Olivia Munn’s highlights at AOTS

Back to school. Ugh.

It’s that time of year again here in good ole NY State. Probably most of the US, but… Well… Yeah. So.
Back to school time. Really not my favorite time of the year. It’s stressful. All the parents are rushing to Staples to grab the supplies, clogging the highways to finally rid their houses of their college-bound sons and/or daughters. Meanwhile, the non-veteran students are frantically jogging to class, trying to make a good first impression.
What shocks me about this time of year is that many high school freshmen don’t realize that it is a chance to reinvent themselves. Change your image for the better. Forget the peer pressure and be you. And high school is the perfect place to express yourself! There are bound to be at least tens of kids with the same interest. If you don’t mix in well with a group of kids, who cares? Be that universal guy. Attack all sides of life, people.
I’ve never been a normal kid. I’ve always been weirder and more unusual than most. I’m one of those universal guys. I can mix in with the likes of anyone. There’s no reason to be afraid of tackling new horizons.
Oh, you’re not afraid of making friends? You’re terrified of the workload? Trust me, everyone is. I’m taking a college level course this year. It hasn’t even been a whole week of school yet, and I’m already feeling overwhelmed by the curriculum. But it isn’t a reason to not accept the challenge. It’s a way to better yourself.
Do you have your own thoughts on back to school season? Do you have any advice for the incoming freshies and new students? Leave some comments down below and make sure to like this post!

Weekend wrap-up

So we wrap up the first week (sort of) or our new blog. It’s still pretty much unshaped, but Cheesecake and I spoke over the weekend, and had a brainstorm on things to come. Hopefully, soon enough, we can shape this up, and gain our own identity. Just to wrap up what went on w/ myself this weekend, much food was consumed, much beer was enjoyed, and also much love was had. Spending time with the people I care most about is what makes us go about our lives, and I am fortunate enough to have spent all weekend doing so.

And as an added bonus, I saw 2 great movies this weekend, The Bourne Legacy (our own take coming up soon), and The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo. (also our own take coming soon).

I will try to shy away from writing too many reviews as there are too much of that already, but if and when we do it, it will be in a different sort of style that won’t dive into too many boring details.

Let’s put this week behind us, and start a-new. Everyday we wake up should be a blessing, and no matter how crappy things can get for you, someone else out there has it even crappier.

BTW, what did everyone think of the closing ceremonies for the Olympics? Great to see the Spice Girls, and whatever is left of Oasis make an appearance. And some of the 80’s hits that were played were awesome (Pet Shop Boys costumes were great!) One Direction just didn’t do it for me, though. Also loved how the stage looked like the Union Jack.

Spice Girls Olympic closing ceremonies performance (amazing how they still look freakin’ awesome).
*Cheesecake’s note: I apologize for the poor quality of the video, the original video was taken down by the user. What a Debbie Downer.