Samsung’s New Smartphone/Tablet: The Note Lightning
My friend had recently posted a link to popular tech blog Gizmodo, discussing Samsung’s newest addition to the world of smartphones, the Note Lightning. Now, upon reading this article (which will be posted here), it seems as though the tech giant either A) didn’t take a strong, steady look at healthy and successful competition, or B) just wanted to get something new off the production lines and into retail stores.
The Galaxy Note Lightning is, well, a bit physically confusing if anything. It has a large screen — larger than most bigger phones — but is still small enough to the point where calling it a “phone” is somewhat reasonable. Granted, it does sport a super AMOLED HD screen…but it doesn’t rely exclusively on touch — at least by your fingers. Remember back in the day of the Palm, where you needed a stylus to use it? Well apparently Samsung though it would be a smart (and frankly daring) idea to bring it back into STYLE! Yes, pun intended. However, this is 2012, and this stylus does more than just touch and click on the screen. Well, actually, the only other function is the ability to take a screen capture of what you’re doing…sorry, but I’m just too excited about that. /sarcasm.
Playstation Vita Sales Not Strong in Japan
I’ve been a fan of portable gaming ever since my first gameboy color, we had some good times together. I have owned several handheld multimedia devices, from Nokia’s first attempt at such a device, the NGAGE, which most people had more fun pretending to be an electronic taco than a cell phone/gaming device, to Sony’s first PSP, which I received as a Bar Mitzvah gift. I don’t think it’s terribly difficult to determine the victor of the two devices.
The original PSP was (and frankly remains to be) a fantastic device. It might not have had the highest specs, the most internal RAM or fastest CPU speed (although these could be tweaked via firmware hacks), but it was excellent at a few things: delivering almost every type of content and content format in a way that was easily experienced by the user, and in the palm of their hand with fantastic battery life. For its time, it played games better than any other handheld devices you could buy, and for a price that was just right for many people; your wallet might yell at you, but it would thank you later.
Oh, My! What Nice Features You Have…
Almost everybody has a smart phone by now. Whether it be 3G, 4G, iPhone, Android, AutoBot; they are all amazing machines. And the reasons why people have them are abundant: Internet surfing capabilities, pristine picture and video resolution, and style points for being an up-to-date technology consumer.
With Christmas coming up, many smart phones will likely be found laying in unopened boxes wrapped in colorful paper.
However, there are still people who are afraid. The cost, and the required purchase of a data plan along with a smart phone just scares them. They still have a regular phone, able to call and text, but with none of the prestige. But they still have hope.
There is an alternative option for people who want a smart phone, but don’t want to mess with the extra monthly data charges. Look no further than the new iPod Touch.
Surf’s Up
No more carrying around a book bag laden with notebooks for every class, the new Boogie Board is here. The Boogie Board Rip is an LCD Writing Tablet with a paper like writing surface that allows the user to write down notes, images, reminders, etc., via a Stylus writing pen. According to their website, the Improv Electronics eWriter has the ability to save written work as files and then later transfer them to a computer. Weighing in at 11.5 ounces – almost half the weight of the iPad – with a 9.5-inch LCD screen, the tablet has a numerous amount of accessories for customization and a smaller 8.5-inch version that clips easily into a binder.
The iPhone Suave and Swag
After suffering the devastating loss of my Crackberry to some unsurprising, and seemingly predestined, water damage… I stood in the AT&T store at a crossroad. Setting my feelings aside, I hesitantly converted the iPhone 4 (prior to the release of the iPhone 4S). My reservations about the iPhone quickly vanished.
To ensure this bad boy would be protected, I invested in the most durable phone cover and case on the market: the Otter Box.
The shock absorbing, polycarbonate exterior was created to be resilient enough for even outdoor professionals. Better yet, the Otter Box has proven its durability in the most threatening of college conditions.
Apple Everything and iOS 5
The switch to the iPhone wasn’t all that foreign since I am an avid user of Apple products and my MacBook Pro. In conjunction with the release of the iPhone 4S, the iOS 5 software-update was available for existing iPhone carriers. My favorite new feature, since applying the iOS 5 update, is the notification center.
Social Netwoking Site for Online Tutoring Prepares to Launch Beta Release
TutorUniverse.net is a social learning platform that connects teachers and students from all around the world. Composed of three major components: free market for student and tutor matchmaking, social networking platform for leveraging group collaboration, and an integrated marketplace for buying and selling educational products and services.
Initially inspired by founders, Thomas Hornbeck, Hung Tran, John Garber, and Jim Cremer while working as teaching assistants in the Computer Science department at The University of Iowa, they discovered there were few tools currently available to help students in more advanced subjects of their field; and little specialized help available outside of class.
They realized many schools across the country are finding themselves on tighter budgets with increasing student enrollments than there are faculty or office hours to meet all their students’ needs. The solution was simple: to develop an integrated learning platform that could potentially offer both students and tutors a flexible place for them to learn and teach more efficiently and at greater convenience.
Chrome OS & Why It Could Be Useful
You might be asking “What are these new Chromebooks that have hit the market lately??” I’ll tell you-Google has now launched their own operating system called “Chrome OS” and its exactly what it sounds like, their web browser “chrome” as an operating system. Forget all those use less programs on a PC or mac that take up unnecessary space, the chromebook uses only a web browser and media player.
What I Like About Google +
Google has just launched their new social network called Google Plus. Google+ offers some cool features and I wanted to share some of my first impressions.
- Circles: The way you can organize friends is impressive with their simple drag and drop feature. It also lets you share information more effectively by only sharing to certain circles.
- Hangout: Although I haven’t video chatted yet, I think that Google’s video chat application is a going to be a big success when more people are joined. Google hangout allows you to talk with up to 10 people and also has a sweet camera switching feature that changes to who is talking. This can be great for socializing, collaborating or group projects.
- +1 button: The plus one feature is going to be great tool to utilize when saving links you like searching Google. It will also be a strong way to see what your friends like when the site grows.
