Gadgetstag:www.execdigital.com,2011-06-28:/gadgets//512013-01-28T22:27:30ZExec DigitalMovable Type Pro 5.04B&O BeoPlay A9 Speakers. Just Wow! tag:www.execdigital.com,2013:/gadgets//51.5530172013-01-28T20:46:59Z2013-01-28T22:27:30ZBeauty and the beats! BeoPlay A9s by Bang & Olufsen set new standard for stylish speakersAbigail Phillipshttp://www.businessrevieweurope.eu/authors/abigail-phillips/index.htmlFollow @AbbyPhillips89
Bang & Olufsen hits the nail on the head every time it launches a new product, and the BeoPlay A9 speakers create no exception. Designed by Øivind Alexander Slaatto, the BeoPlay speakers are so beautifully crafted that you want to keep them on display like a piece of artwork, rather than hide them away in the corner.
Attention To Detail
The speaker itself is one large disk, held on a tripod of wooden legs and it looks as fab from the back as it does from the front, you can also hang it on the wall. Every detail has been considered and the finest materials have been used. Part of the design, is its lack of buttons and controls. To turn on the speakers, and adjust the volume, simply swipe your hand along the top of the speaker - it's minimalism at its best.
Just Add Music
The A9 is a complete stereo system in one, so won’t require extra amplifiers, speakers or cables, which could ruin the look. All you need is a phone, a tablet or a music player that streams music through Apple Airplay or the open streaming standard DLNA.
And when you're buying a speaker, looks are important, but so too is the sound quality. Rest assured, the BeoPlay A9 boasts incredible, clear and crisp sound quality and adjusts to its settings to make sure the sound is projected perfectly.
How Its Made
Wondering how much the BeoPlay A9 will set you back? For $2,699.00 you can experience the A9 in your own home. For more information, visit the Bang & Olufsen website.
]]>
Futuristic Minesweeper is Simple and Geniustag:www.execdigital.com,2012:/gadgets//51.5517802012-12-01T13:54:56Z2012-12-01T00:27:26ZThe new minesweeper by refugee Massoud Hassani is a lightweight, inexpensive alternative to traditional minesweepersJamie Robinson
The process of diffusing a bomb or mine is one of the most nerve-wracking efforts a human being can undergo - and failure at such carries a heavy price. As such, scientists are constantly exploring ways to diffuse bombs without direct human interaction, with drones, other explosives and more. Now, a former refugee who knows first-hand what's at stake has created an innovative minesweeper.
The Mine Kafon is a rolling sphere with several "legs" that extend from a central point. These legs roll and can trigger - and therefore detonate - hidden mines within the ground. The Mine Kafon is simple in technological terms, but nearly perfect from a design perspective, according to CNN.
This ball of legs rolls around powered by the wind, shockingly light at 70 kilograms, and even more shockingly inexpensive, at $40 each. Minesweeper designer Massoud Hassani designed the Mine Kafon with a basic GPS tracking device that measures the path taken by the Kafon as it rumbles around with the wind.
The U.N. estimates there are more than 100 million mines scattered throughout the globe, in more than 70 countries. Standard practice for mine diffusion utilizes mine-clearing experts, which is exceptionally expensive.
Hassani himself grew up in Afghanistan, where his father was killed by rocket fire during the 1980s. Hassani and his family fled the country and he would eventually attend design school. He is now seeking $100,000 to mass produce the Mine Kafon, and will be showcased at the New York Museum of Modern Art next year.
]]>
intelliPaper Releases Paper USB drivetag:www.execdigital.com,2012:/gadgets//51.5515342012-11-21T18:31:00Z2012-11-21T19:59:18ZintelliPaper is a portable, wireless way to store information for marketing purposes, contact info and promoting a brand via a thumb drive made of paperJamie RobinsonintelliPaper recently launched the world's first paper USB project on indiegogo, seeking funding in the amount of $300,000 to promote and expand the project. In addition to other paper information products, the paper jump drive stands to revolutionize the way portable information is sent.
The self-proclaimed "coolest USB drive ever," is wireless and disposable, made of bendable paper stock with USB storage that can be sent and attached to virtually any paper project. Users insert the intelliPaper thumb drive into laptops and other devices with USB readers, which prompts the device to either open a browser to a specified website or insert contact info to the computer.
According to intelliPaper's website, each product, which varies from postcard to card mailer to ticket to handout to business card, is made out of patented intelligent paper with electronic components embedded in the paper. The paper is light, portable, bendable and infinitely more cost efficient than regular jump drives. intelliPaper has partnered with Action Printers to print several of its initial offerings.
intelliPaper allows users to receive links to information and digital information through a simple, lightweight letter or card. Postcards, for example, come with a perforated edge from which the user detaches the USB paper section. Currently, the thumb drives are only available for corporate marketing with pre-loaded data. CEO Andrew DePaula says the collaboration partnership with idea-launching Website indiegogo will help "make intelliPaper's thumb drives available to customers at a lower cost and with more features." Contributors to the project receive varying samplings of intelliPaper products, some as little as $1 each.
Launched on Nov. 18, this paper USB project has only raised $285 at press time, although the Internet is abuzz with talk of this unique and interesting way to share information.
]]>
Nokia Windows Phone 8 Announced from Verizon Wirelesstag:www.execdigital.com,2012:/gadgets//51.5508912012-10-29T16:32:18Z2012-10-29T20:39:54ZVerizon has announced its first Windows 8 phone, the Lumia 822 Windows smartphone, and the company is hopeful the phone can redeem slumps in smartphone sales Jamie Robinson
On Oct. 29, 2012, Verizon Wireless announced the newest addition to its smartphone lineup - the Nokia Lumia 822, a Windows Phone 8. Nokia is the second-largest maker of phones in the world, although reports show the Finnish company has declined in smartphone sales in the second half of 2012, according to research firm IDC.
Verizon boasts the largest 4G LTE network of any provider, the Lumia 822 is built to work with high-speed data connection, offering turn-by-turn navigation, an 8 megapixel camera and unlimited music streaming, according to Nokia. Nokia and Verizon have partnered with several companies to offer the advanced services.
Optics from Carl Zeiss provided the 8-megapixel camera as well as a front-facing camera for video calls. The camera works in correlation with Cinemagraph so users can create GIFs out of their photos and videos, as well as Creative Studio, which adds creative effects to photos taken on the phone.
Nokia Drive+ is the voice navigation system that has preloaded maps and can work even without data connection. The Lumia is able to charge without the use of a power cord, featuring an "exchangeable shell design" sold separately, according to Lumia.
An event today in San Francisco will launch the Lumia 822, and the partnership is an important one for Nokia. With numbers dwindling for smartphone sales, the partnership with Microsoft is an important one to establish the brand as a real competitor with Apple and other smartphone brands. The previous release of the Windows Phone 7 was unsuccessful, much like the Windows 7 computer operating software, and the new Windows Phone 8 is expected to redeem Nokia's brand.
]]>
5 Travel Apps for Your Business Tripstag:www.execdigital.com,2012:/gadgets//51.5506512012-10-18T18:48:02Z2012-10-18T19:19:17ZThese smartphone apps are bound to enhance your business travel experience in the best ways everHeather Rushworthhttp://www.wdmgroup.com/talent/heather-rushworth/Written by Sohaib Siddique
The past few years has seen a dramatic increase in the use of smartphones. It’s next to impossible for a business man to organise himself without one. Smartphones do everything from helping us organise day-to-day activities to giving last-minute flight details. The dependence on these devices has resulted in a flurry of business apps created for different purposes. Here are my top five.
FlightTrack
Nothing tops the frustration of flight delays, weather difficulties, and gate changes. FlightTrack will help you manage all of this information in one app. Covering over 1,400 airlines and 3,000 airports, the app will give you real-time updates on everything related to your flight. No matter where you are, FlightTrack will have your back and your trip covered!
Packing Pro
Scratch what I said before. Forgetting your USB with a presentation beats the flight delays and changes. It’s the worst feeling when you realise you’ve forgotten important documents and files. Packing Pro helps you created and edit packing lists while discovering new ideas. This is perfect for a job that has you travelling week in week out to help you avoid mix-ups. It also suggests new ideas and gives you customised lists. Input your trip details such as the weather, length of stay, and number of people and the app will generate a list perfect for you.
TripIt
It’s only human to lose booking references. No one can memorise endless digits of numbers, anyway. TripIt helps you with this by organising all your reference numbers into one place. Whether it’s hotel bookings, flight conformations, or car hires, this app has you covered. It also syncs your smartphone’s calendar with the data to notify you of important dates. You’ll find yourself carrying less paper, too.
Picksie
We all have to eat and drink—it can’t be business all day every day, can it? Picksie will help you find a nearby spot to grab a bite to eat. Post-meeting lattes are a great way to unwind and release some stress. The app will look up your current location and date and find something suited to you. It looks at your search history and finds places that will satisfy your taste buds. Is it raining outside? Don’t worry, Picksie won’t recommend any outdoor activities. A smart app for a smartphone.
TripLingo
You’re not going to be speaking a foreign language in hours, but TripLingo will help you get by. The app gives you common phrases and words that will do the job. You can select from an endless list of languages and choose whether you want to make it formal or informal. Tailor it to your needs, whether you want to be funny, enjoy a night out, or have a gluten allergy.
Author Bio
Sohaib spends much of his time traveling and writing for HotelClub, a website that has deals for London hotels and more. When he isn’t on a business trip, you’ll find him fulfilling his crave of adventure around Europe.
]]>
How Apple Has Changed Without Steve Jobstag:www.execdigital.com,2012:/gadgets//51.5505732012-10-15T18:04:55Z2012-10-16T18:53:57ZSteve Jobs changed the world by making technology easier to use than ever, so has Apple continued to uphold his legacy as a genius innovator? Heather Rushworthhttp://www.wdmgroup.com/talent/heather-rushworth/Read this article in the gorgeous splendor of our digital magazine
October 5th, marked a year since Steve Jobs’ death and his contribution to making technology accessible to the masses continues to improve the lives of everyday people across the world. However, has Apple as a company changed since Jobs’ passing?
The Wondrous World of Retina
One of the greatest ways in which Apple is staying true to Jobs’ goals is through their inclusion of Retina technology into all of their new gadgets.
A few months ago, Apple announced their new line up of gadgets, software and the upgraded Pro at the WWDC conference in San Francisco, California including their new operating software ‘Mountain Lion.’ However, it is the Macbook Pro that garnered the most chatter among tech fans. Enriched with the visually-intoxicating Retina display, the screen is the highest resolution display the company has ever put into a notebook. The resolution is marked at 28800 x 1800 and boasts over five million pixels – three million more than an HDTV.
This makes the laptop’s graphics so sharp and detailed that they should evoke verifiable gasps from the user, as the clarity of the images make them as beautiful as visible life. The company also claims that typography on the screen is sharper than the printed page, which should make perusing the internet, reading books and creating word documents a total pleasure while guaranteeing no eye strain. The clarity of the screen is matched by the powerful graphic NVIDA chips installed on the Pro.
The power specs of the laptop are incredible as well; designed with an ‘all flash architecture’ the laptop is not only the most powerful laptop the company has ever manufactured, but the fastest. The flash technology allows the laptop to deliver data up to four times faster, while only taking up ten percent of the overall space of a traditional hard drive.
This flashdrive and the removal of the Ethernet and FireWire ports make the new Macbook Pro 15 inch substantially lighter than the old version, but not as light as the Macbook Air. Also, the luxury laptop will not be light on the wallet. Marked at $2,199 the new Macbook is expensive, but many fans and experts would argue its visual holiness is worth every penny.
The iPhone’s Newest Evolution
Another gadget released after Jobs’ passing is the iPhone 5, which was released last month to mixed reviews. The new iPhone 5 has a much larger four inch screen making videos and media ultimately more watchable. The screen size has a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels and is made of the company’s luxurious Retina display technology which has wowed customers on the new Macbook Pro and iPads.
However, while the new iPhone has an upgraded A6 processing chip, up from A5 – it also has a smaller SIM card making it harder for users to swap their cards from their iPhone 4. While the shrinking of all these elements makes the technology appear ‘slimmer’ it also limits a user’s freedom.
This seems to be a trend with Apple after Steve Jobs. Their new Macbook is an undeniable beauty, but they also minimized the internal components of the luxury laptop, even going so far as to surge them together, making it ultimately impossible for the user to upgrade their RAM and memory without going through Apple.
Basically, the company is offering us enhanced looks in exchange for their increased Monopoly and mono-control over their devices. Much like their dismissal of YouTube from their stock applications in hopes of increasing video sales on iTunes, the company often compromises user liberty for higher profit margins.
However, Jobs himself was a tech-geek who strived to maintain the freedom of the user’s experience. Such desperate moves to control the user’s purchasing options seem to indicate a lack of confidence in their creativity as a brand after Steve Jobs. In many ways, Apple has become more and more blatant about stealing the product ideas of competitors. For instance, the new size of the iPhone 5 is strikingly similar to the Android HTC – their biggest smartphone competitor.
It seems like Apple’s new commitment to following consumer trends, instead of setting them, is a major divergence from the interface-trailblazing company who won our loyalty in the first place.
Unlike Apple’s new tendency to please consumer trends, Steve Jobs could care less about pleasing people. What drove Jobs was his tenacity to follow his own vision - he knew what he liked, and what he hated. He was the driving force behind the iPod, iPhone, and iPad, he held very strong beliefs on what consumers wanted in a tablet, and what they didn’t.
For instance, when the Kindle Fire, and the other smaller screened tablets hit the market, he scoffed at their limited usability saying such devices were not ‘sufficient to create great tablet apps’ and would be ‘dead on arrival.’ He even test used a Kindle Fire and this is what he had to say, “The most striking observation from testing the Fire is that everything is much too small on the screen, leading to frequent tap errors and accidental activation. You haven’t seen the fat-finger problem in its full glory until you’ve watched users struggle to touch things on the Fire.”
He even went as far to call Amazon’s efforts at making such a miniscule device a borderline conspiracy, “If I were given to conspiracy theories, I’d say that Amazon deliberately designed a poor web browsing user experience to keep Fire users from shopping on competing sites. Amazon’s own built-in shopping app has great usability, so they clearly know how to design for the tablet.”
However, rumors are swelling that Apple is set to release a mini version of the iPad, currently coined the iPad Nano, and the iPad Mini. Speculation suggests the miniature version would boast a screen between seven and eight inches, offer users premium transportability, as well as a discounted price. However, what does this all say about Apple’s future as a brand? While Apple notoriously derived inspiration from competitors, this seems to mark a brash move to compete with the Google Nexus Tablet, which could indicate Apple sees them as a real threat to their empire.
However, the iPad Mini could actually hit those markets that the bulkier iPad can’t quite nudge itself into, including the education market, which is looking for more affordable tablets for digital education books. The iPad Mini is rumored to be released in October 2012 with a price tag of approximately $250-$299, and its release could mark the beginning of Apple’s inevitable departure from Jobs’ mono-managed vision.
STAYING RELEVANT
In the end, it is Jobs’ commitment to staying relevant that made Apple such an indestructible force in the gadget world. So as long as Apple keeps its finger on consumers’ desires, while also trailblazing simpler interfaces so children and grandparents alike can participate in the joy of technology, then they are bound to please the original vision of their famous founding visionary.
VIDEO: The New iPAD
]]>
iPad Mini to be Released Oct. 17th, Reveals an Insidertag:www.execdigital.com,2012:/gadgets//51.5380232012-10-01T16:38:43Z2012-10-01T18:18:19ZA major Apple investor revealed he has heard from 'multiple sources' that the iPad Mini will debut on Oct. 17thHeather Rushworthhttp://www.wdmgroup.com/talent/heather-rushworth/
Apple fans have been anticipating an iPad Mini release for months now. However, finally, a legitimate source has come forward and announced that ‘multiple sources’ say that the iPad Mini will definitely hit the markets on October 17th.
While Steve Jobs was against the idea of a tablet with a screen size any smaller than the first-edition iPad
- Apple may be all for it. Many experts speculate the company will launch a miniature version of their hit device at a lower cost to consumers. Such product deviation could hint at Apple’s motives to stay in step with their competitors. While the Kindle Fire offered much smaller screen space, it did overwhelmingly well in the marketplace, mostly due to its $199 price tag.
The iPad Mini’s price tag will be competitive with devices such as the Samsung Galaxy tablet and the Kindle Fire, and many experts are predicting it will hit the $200-$300 range.
However, it seems like Amazon may be anticipating the release of Apple’s mini tablet, as the price of the Fire has recently dropped fifty dollars from $199 to $150. Such cost depletion makes Amazon’s device absolutely attainable for the masses, whereas a $300 iPad Mini will still be out of many people’s budget-range.
I am interested to see how successful Apple’s mini tablet would be, considering the Kindle Fire’s uniquely literary niche, and ultra-affordable pricing.
]]>
iPhone 5: Worst iPhone Ever?tag:www.execdigital.com,2012:/gadgets//51.5250472012-09-25T17:02:40Z2012-09-25T17:36:37ZThe iPhone 5's hyper-scratchability and costly repair delays have many consumers regretting they ever purchased the luxury phoneHeather Rushworthhttp://www.wdmgroup.com/talent/heather-rushworth/
The iPhone 5’s recent release was one of the company’s most successful and lucrative launches ever. Apple sold over 5 million iPhone 5s in the opening weekend alone, outselling the iPhone 4 by one million units.
Some analysts had predicted the phone would sell anywhere from 6-10 million units, and they are all ‘boo-hoo’ over their perceived ‘failure’ of their biggest iPhone launch ever. We think analysts, Apple and its shareholders should be the last ones to whine or complain over ‘lack-luster performance.’
The consumer is the real sucker in this Apple doesn’t fall far from the suckage-tree relationship.
The biggest issue those who prematurely-purchased an iPhone 5 have is the phone’s extreme sensitivity to scratches. Disgruntled consumers note that their new smartphones receive significant scratches on the body by merely setting it on top of a counter, or on their laptop, or by taking it out of the box. This is an apparent side-effect of having a phone made ENTIRELY OF GLASS. All snarky ‘those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’ commentary aside, glass is perhaps the stupidest material to use when aiming to make a durable every-day device.
While the superficial annoyance of scratches is well, err, annoying, it is nothing compared to the price of having to actually repair these damages. Yes, Apple’s biggest downfall with the iPhone 5 is their delay in fixing damaged iPhones which currently has a three month turn-around timeframe. Users not wanting to wait so long for repairs are forced to pay a $200 premium to expedite the services.
$200 may not seem like a huge chunk of change for the wealthy, but when tacked onto the iPhone 5's $800 plus asking price, such a service truly seems like an arm and a leg.
All in all, be careful of consumer hype. For those of you looking to purchase an iPhone 5 I would wait until January when prices are sure to plummet after holiday consumerism maxes out sales. Also, Apple should have proper repair infrastructure in place then, or they are sure to lose their more money-conscious clientele.
]]>
Sold-out iPhone 5 selling for $1,600 on eBay! Why?tag:www.execdigital.com,2012:/gadgets//51.5140652012-09-19T19:52:20Z2012-09-20T20:24:33ZApple fans are paying a metaphoric arm and leg for the sold-out iPhone 5 on popular bidding site Ebay, is this just another case of consumer insanity? Heather Rushworthhttp://www.wdmgroup.com/talent/heather-rushworth/Apple, the king of marketing savvy, has yet again shocked the masses into paying ungodly amounts of money for their limited, newly-released gadget. The iPhone 5 which was released last week in limited numbers, sold its cap of 2 million phones in its initial day on the market.
Fans of the famous tech company who lost their shot at owning the most recently updated smartphone are so desperate for the glitzy gadget that they are shelling out over $1,600 on popular bidding site eBay to secure their own iPhone 5.
While the idea of tech-happy consumers hemorrhaging huge chunks of their hard-earned cash to buy an item that’s value will plummet in a matter of weeks is shocking to me, what is more appalling is Apple’s market listing price of the iPhone 5.
Opening day sales of the iPhone priced the 64GB model at $849. In comparison, this price would buy you two refurbished iPad 2s, a new iPad 3 or three Dell desktop computers.
Or a 4 inch, wildly over hyped cell phone.
I think the luckiest people in this situation are certainly those opening-day buyers who only purchased the gadgets with hopes of an inflated resale. If they were to hold out a mere two months, they will still get their cherished iPhone 5 and have $1,300 in profit.
Even fifty shares of Apple’s stocks don’t return those sort of immediate dividends.
My advice: avoid the hype, invest only in technology you believe will substantially increase your productivity and quality of life, and purchase when the timing is the most affordable and if possible –lucrative- to your financial interests.
VIDEO: Official iPhone 5 Trailer
]]>
The Panasonic TH-152UX1: The Million Dollar 3D TVtag:www.execdigital.com,2012:/gadgets//51.5024772012-09-17T07:00:37Z2012-09-13T18:43:00ZThe Panosonic TH- 1TH-152UX1 is our second luxury 3D TV pick in Exec Digital's picks for best LCD HD 3DTVsHeather Rushworthhttp://www.wdmgroup.com/talent/heather-rushworth/Read our full 3D TV article in the September issue of Exec Digital
It is undeniable that Panasonic’s 152 inch screen television is amazing and absolutely ritzy, but does it offer a million dollars worth of value? That is exactly how much this bad boy will cost you, with a price tag of a million dollars, this premier TV displays content in 4096 x 2160 resolution. Utilizing 4K2K technology, this set offers four times as many pixels as a standard high-definition set.
While the television set now holds the record for the world’s largest, what would keep a buyer from purchasing it over a home theater, perhaps even an Imax dome at that price? Well the secret is in its ability to show such ideal pixilation while delivering individualized 3D quality, to any viewer in the room. Also, the 17:9 ration of the television is the same as those used in cinemas, so movies played on the screen will appear exactly as they were intended to.
First shown at the Consumer Electronics show, the TV set is now available at Harrods as part of their new high-end, extreme luxury goods line-up. So for those of you with draw bridges as doors who can actually fit the TV in their castle, the Panasonic wonder tube is nothing short of legendary.
]]>
Best 3D TVs Ever: Sharp Elite Pro 70 - 605FDtag:www.execdigital.com,2012:/gadgets//51.5024762012-09-13T16:39:37Z2012-09-13T18:33:20ZSharp's Elite Pro is our first luxury 3D TV pick in Exec Digital's picks for best LCD HD 3DTVsHeather Rushworthhttp://www.wdmgroup.com/talent/heather-rushworth/Read our full 3D TV article in the September issue of Exec Digital
Priced at approximately $6,500, Sharp’s most exclusive TV ever is changing the way rich people watch TV for good. Not satisfied with merely making LCD sets with glorious pixel displays, Sharp electronics decided to reinvent the television set all together, repackaging their endeavors as the simply and chicly named ‘Elite’ brand.
Sharp’s glorious invention comes in sixty and seventy inch versions, but it is the seventy inch version we prefer, simply because, well, it is bigger, and big things are more impressive than small things. All caveman rationality aside, the LCD- HD- 3DTV set will wow you regardless of the specs you choose. It even includes stylish 3D glasses that are more akin to designer Raybans than the archaic blue and red cardboard spectacles of yesteryear.
It is no surprise that Sharp is stoked out of their mind about their new product considering the following statement, “For years, the name Elite has been synonymous with the industry’s reference standard for the perfect television picture. Blacks so deep, they disappear into the bezel. Whites so bright, they burn your retina. And what will seem like an infinite range of colors in between, thanks to the addition of yellow pixels to the standard RGP others are so content with.”
Whites so bright they will burn our retinas? I am assuming the company is speaking poetical about the picture quality of their set, because if not, they are up against some livid customer lawsuits.
Indeed Elite by Sharp is making no reservations in their proud esteem over their new technology, adding this to their description of the line, “It will make other televisions on the market today seem old and unrefined. It will once again become the standard by which all televisions are judged.”
Well if highfalutin bragging rights are what you are after, then look no further than Sharp’s new line Elite to satisfy all your 3D viewing needs.
Sharp Elite PRO- 60X5FD Review CNET
]]>
iPhone 5 Released Today: Everything You Need to Knowtag:www.execdigital.com,2012:/gadgets//51.4992602012-09-12T16:06:20Z2012-09-13T00:12:08ZApple to release their iPhone 5 and IOS 6 platform today - Rumors suggest they may even launch the much anticipated iPad Mini Heather Rushworthhttp://www.wdmgroup.com/talent/heather-rushworth/
Apple has built their reputation on consistently wowing customers with superior upgrades to their already coveted products. The iPhone 5 release has garnered much anticipation from Apple fans, as the fifth edition phone is said to boast a much improved interface. Apple has announced an event to be held today in San Francisco that will unveil the phone, and afterwards will offer customers their first shot at preordering the phone before its set September 21st release date.
So what does the iPhone 5 have, that iPhone 4s did not? In particular, the new iPhone 5 will have a much larger screen making videos and media more watchable. The screen size has a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels and is made of the company’s luxurious Retina display technology which has wowed customers on the new Macbook Pro and iPads.
However, while the new iPhone has an upgraded A6 processing chip, up from A5 – it also has a smaller SIM card making it harder for users to swap their cards from their iPhone 4. While the shrinking of all these elements makes the technology appear ‘slimmer’ it also limits a user’s freedom.
This seems to be a trend with Apple. Their new Macbook is an undeniable beauty, but they also minimized the internal components of the luxury laptop, even going so far as to surge them together, making it ultimately impossible for the user to upgrade their RAM and memory without going through Apple.
Basically, the company is offering us enhanced looks in exchange for their increased Monopoly and mono-control over their devices. Much like their dismissal of YouTube from their gadgets in hopes of increasing video sales on iTunes, the company often compromises user liberty for higher profit margarines.
I have said before that I am also sick of Apple’s incessant release and upgrading of new products, as they often withhold technology they have already developed to keep up with their steady profit model.
I have been an Android user and iPhone user, and while the iPhone boasts a longer battery life, it can’t compare to the absolute freedom to upload, program and store data that Android offers its users.
All in all, in many ways Apple has become more and more blatant about stealing the product ideas of competitors. The new size of the iPhone 5 is very similar to the Android HTC – their biggest smartphone competitor.
Also, their projected release of the iPad Mini is an answer to the Kindle Fire’s success as a smaller sized tablet. However, when Steve Jobs was around he scoffed at the Kindle Fire’s miniscule size saying, “The most striking observation from testing the Fire is that everything is much too small on the screen, leading to frequent tap errors and accidental activation. You haven’t seen the fat-finger problem in its full glory until you’ve watched users struggle to touch things on the Fire.”
It seems like Apple’s new commitment to following consumer trends, instead of setting them, is a major divergence from the interface-trailblazing company who won our loyalty in the first place.
]]>
BMW Releases Ultimate Gaming Mousetag:www.execdigital.com,2012:/gadgets//51.4780132012-08-31T17:14:37Z2012-08-31T21:46:27ZGamers everywhere will go gaga for perhaps the greatest gaming mouse ever released. Best Part? It looks like a Tron supercarHeather Rushworthhttp://www.wdmgroup.com/talent/heather-rushworth/Gamers everywhere will rejoice in BMW’s new high-tech mouse –the Level 10 M Mouse- which is being referred to as the ‘supercar’ of mice. The luxury car maker collaborated with some of the most genius tech-designers on the planet ‘DesignworksUSA to come up with the elite mouse, which is constructed out of aluminum typically used in aerospace engineering.
The luxury mouse is totally programmable, making it the honed computer gamer's best friend in terms of streamlined playing. BMW described this ability in a press release, “[It] is capable of using the most comprehensive software application to customize settings based on user’s needs,” said the company, “The Mouse has 2 regular keys on top and 5 additional keys at the side. Each key is programmable by software application.”
The options for more control and an enhanced gaming experience are endless. The mouse comes with a total of 11 programmable command keys available on the mouse, and it can switch between 5 gaming profiles during play. It also has 7 different customizable lighting effects to personify the individual gamers’ moods.
However one of the great edges the Level 10 M Mouse offers is the air-through ventilation system which ensures hand sweat does not accumulate on the mouse causing disruption. Also the mouse’s axis in unbelievably flexible, “The Mouse is divided into lower and top parts which seem to float over the base. This part which is also the essential steering element of the mouse can be adjusted in regards to height and angle. The 3D dimensional character of the mouse provides for new and highly sufficient axis movements in various directions and makes the mouse fit as many gamers’ preferences as possible,” says the company.
Simply put: sweaty palms no longer have to cost the gamer valuable focus and maneuvering abilities, awesome aesthetics will inspire gamers to get back in the game, and an elite technology puts even average players at an overwhelming advantage.
Win.
]]>
iPad 3 vs iPad 2- is the luxury upgrade worth the cash?tag:www.execdigital.com,2012:/gadgets//51.4599972012-08-22T16:45:49Z2012-08-23T15:17:02ZThe new iPad 3 is touted as 'the best iPad ever.' Duh, glad to know it didn't get worse, but is the upgrade worth the dough?Heather Rushworthhttp://www.wdmgroup.com/talent/heather-rushworth/Apple claims its new iPad 3 is ‘the best iPad ever’ and that its flurry of amenities include ‘the best display ever on a mobile device’ and that its design is ‘resolutionary’ and that overall the tablet is, well, ‘It’s brilliant. In every sense of the word.’
While Apple’s hype of the product is grand and thrilling, does the actual product live up to the bevy of hyperboles bestowed on the gadget?
Well for starters, the Retina display is something entirely unique to the visual technology market. If you have not seen Apple’s new Retina display products which include the new 15 inch Macbook Pro, go check them out – your Retina’s will be BLOWN.
If you are a buyer who appreciates superior visual indulgence, then the Retina display on the iPad 3 is bound to bring you supreme satisfaction. Also, the new iPad’s camera is an amazing upgrade in comparison to the iPad 2. Jumping from .7 mega pixel/5 mega pixels the new iPad’s camera is over four times clearer and powerful than its predecessor, it also offers over a million more pixels than a standard HD television.
This display makes working on the new iPad absolutely exhilarating, and I believe it must be much better on the health of the eye because your eye can rest and take in the realistic image naturally without having to strain.
The iPad third generation also has a ‘dictation only’ version of Siri, and the capacity to connect to a 4G network. However it is a tad heftier than the iPad 2 weighing a hundredth of a pound more…geesh, what a fatty.
All in all the iPad 3 is totally amazing and worth the money, however I am kind of growing tired of Apple’s current system of releasing a new fancy gadget every couple of months, and thus leaving their loyal legions of fans dually satisfied and unsatisfied. I did not have my Macbook Pro 13 inch more than a week before the iPad 2 came out leaving my now dinosaur laptop in the archaic past. I question how long we will all continue to remain enthusiastic about products that are engineered to outdo themselves every six months. Especially considering these are not petty purchases, a grand every six months over a lifetime could be equated to a child’s college tuition.
That being said, go ahead and call me a hypocrite sucker, because I am going to buy the iPad 3 today. Its elite specifications are just too glorious to ignore!
]]>
BMW's Remote Control App: Elite Smart Vehicle Controltag:www.execdigital.com,2012:/gadgets//51.4571732012-08-01T17:25:21Z2012-08-01T19:56:04ZBMW's remote control app offers premier smart car capabilities, offering the luxury driver complete controlHeather Rushworthhttp://www.wdmgroup.com/talent/heather-rushworth/BMW is a brand known for offering their drivers superior control over their driving experiences, mostly because of the company's smart use of technology to increase the driving experience.
The luxury car company’s new remote access app for the smartphone is such a measure. The app allows the driver to access functionalities including turning on lights, locking car doors, and sounding the security alarm from the convenience of a smartphone, and at great distances.
A press release from the company listed these functions of the application:
-“Remote Door Lock & Unlock” allows the car to be locked and unlocked from a smartphone.
-“Climate Control” makes it possible to control the interior temperature by adjusting the auxiliary ventilation and heating settings, and programming the systems by timer.
- With “Horn Blow” for sounding the horn and “Flash Light” for briefly switching on the exterior lights, users can trigger acoustic and visual signals to help them find their vehicle in crowded car parks, for instance.
-If the car is out of sight and hearing distance but within a radius of up to 1.5 km, the “Vehicle Finder” function is able to display a map on the smartphone screen showing the way to the vehicle’s location. This function is only available when the ignition is switched off, thereby making it impossible to track the vehicle’s movements.
-Finally, using Google Local Search, users are able to import points of interest (POIs) from their smartphone into the vehicle’s navigation system via the message list.
The company says this about adopting the Android platform for the application, “By extending our My BMW Remote app to Android devices as well, we are responding to the recent rapid spread of this operating system,” explains Dr Eckhard Steinmeier, Head of BMW ConnectedDrive. “Google Android is the fastest-growing software platform for smartphones and tablets, so we are now delighted to be able to offer our customers the remote app functions on this operating system, too.”
Looks like those drivers wary to park in high-risk neighborhoods can rest easy, as a routine car honks and lights can be scheduled from afar.
