PEDES3ANTECH

While waiting for my iPhone 5 in the mail, I decided to make use of my Galaxy Note 2 for one last experiment. I decided to install Facebook Home on my Galaxy Note 2 and check it out.  Facebook Home is seen by many as a strategic move from Facebook to enter the mobile market. Over the years, Facebook has seen a huge movement in user engagement towards mobile channels rather than the traditional desktop/laptop model. This user evolution has caused panic to some of its investors as Facebook initially looked unprepared for this movement. It had no way of capturing user behaviour thru mobile and also had no way of pushing advertising to its mobile site. It started to feel like Facebook was struggling to keep up with its market. Users were viewing Mobile as the future while Facebook was looking at it as a dead-end.  The launch of Facebook Home is seen by many as the answer to Facebook's Mobile challenge. There were rumours initially that Facebook was going to launch its ow...

Today, I have given up on Android and regret having made the decision to switch to it from iOS in the first place. I am not supposed to post anything new in this blog until I got back home from my vacation but the recent turn of events is just too frustrating not to share.  Ever since I used my first iPhone, I have always relied on my smartphone as my main camera during vacation trips. I felt that with the significant improvements in smartphone camera quality carrying a dedicated digital point and shoot camera became unnecessary. When I switched from my iPhone to the Galaxy Note 2, I expected the Note 2 to functions as my main/ day to day camera as well. I went on this trip with my Galaxy Note 2 prepped for heavy picture taking and video recording. The Note 2 only came with 16GB of internal memory so I decided to buy an external micro SD card (32GB) to make sure I had enough memory to store all the pictures and videos I planned to take. Everything was set. I was even ...

Battle of the screen size. Mobile devices seem to be getting bigger in every iteration. Manufacturers have been obsessed with making their phones bigger, faster and more battery efficient. The consumers also seem to be accepting this change with open arms and pockets. A lot of the major product announcements lately have showcased phones with displays between 4.5-5 inches. These sizes were considered ridiculous just 5 years ago when phones seemed to get smaller. The advancements in graphic interface, touch screen technology and our growing need to be connected, people have seen the benefits- albeit- need of having more screen real-estate. This combination of processing power and the need to be productive where ever and when ever has fuelled the growth of what we now fondly call "phablets". Gone were the days when our phones were only meant for calling and texting- now our devices can truly be called smart-phones and to me the demand we exert on the devices has lead to it...

At the beginning of the new year, I posted a blog about my 2013 to do/try list (see post here ). Today I am proud to say that I am able to check off one item in the list- Try an Android Smartphone.  I have been using the Samsung Galaxy Note II for the last couple of weeks now after giving up my iPhone 4S. I did not post a blog about it right away to make sure my assessment is not biased. I had to make sure I gave myself enough time to learn and understand the OS. I had used an iPhone for over 3 years before getting the Note 2 so I had to make sure I get rid of any expectations based on what I was used to getting with iOS. It was not easy but after around 3 weeks I am fairly confident I gave Android a fair chance so here is my assessment.  Hardware Design and Feel. The Galaxy Note II is huge but highly functional even for someone with small hands like myself. The feel of the material however still has a plasticky feel w/c to me diminishes its high-end value ...

It's that month again where everyone is talking about love. The malls are full of Valentines day promos and restaurants are offering up "romantic" and "unforgettable" dinner for two. Everyone is stressing out about what gift to give their significant other, what dress to wear on the date and even what to eat. Blogs are being written about Valentines gift ideas, how to act during a date, blah blah blah. ****If you want to impress your girlfriend or wife this Valentine check out this great Valentines gift suggestion that is sure to blow her away courtesy of Zales- link* *** On the other side of the spectrum, singles are starting their own boycot of this purely consumeristic man-made celebration of love on a random date of a random month. But since it seems like everyone is talking about love, I am compeled to write something about it, this however will talk more about how technology can help keep relationships alive in the modern world.  I will be talki...