Apple iOS 6 Preview

When I go onto my laptop into Safari, the Apple website is the first thing that normally pops up. Unfortunately I almost always never look at it when it first pops up because I am more than likely looking for something on the internet. This time, I stopped and looked at the website. The thing that caught my eye was the iOS 6 Preview. Now I have known for some weeks now that iOS 6 is going to be coming out sometime in the fall, but I never paid much attention to what specifically was changing or updating. As I am reading over everything, I started to get excited. Not at the fact that these were incredibly AMAZING updates, but because these updates seem like they will improve functionality tremendously!

One of the features that I'm anticipating is the updated Maps. I am SSSOOO glad that I will finally be able to get AUDIBLE turn-by-turn navigation to where I am going. For all the android users, I know they could care less because Google Maps Navigation has been doing that for some time now. And to be quite honest with you, I have been using Mapquest which provides audible navigation quite well. Another feature that I think will be used quite frequently will be the Facebook integration. iOS 5 allowed us to integrate our pictures, locations, and contacts through Twitter. Now that facebook has been added to the list, it will just make using our Apple products that more interesting and cool.

One feature I think I personally could care less about would be the updated Siri (sorry Siri). As much as  I would love to say that she has made my life more simple by having her in my life, that statement just  wouldn't be true. I have tried using Siri in my everyday life, and I find that she is really effective at only making calls and sending message at BEST! 

Overall, I think that if the iPhone 5 comes out sometime this year (fingers crossed), since I'm not eligible for an upgrade anytime soon, iOS 6 will allow me the time to just wait until my upgrade date.

For more info on the iOS 6 preview, check it out here:

http://www.apple.com/ios/ios6/

The Quest For a Mommy Friendly Smartphone

For the people who like my facebook page Nicki's Tech Talk, they know I have been looking for a smartphone for my mom. She currently has Verizon and has been using a Samsung Alias for about the last two years. She likes her phone, but she has really been driving home that she needs something that is a little more user friendly in terms of her e-mails being received. I suggested that she start looking into what she might like, but that was kind of a lost cause since she has NO IDEA what she likes. I decided to take her to the Verizon Wireless store so she could see what was out there and what she could actually use. She INSTANTLY walked up to the iPhone! I almost felt like pulling her away because she KNOWS she has no idea how to work an iPhone.

My plan was to start her off with a touch screen android phone with physical buttons since she has that with her Alias. I pointed her in the direction of the Motorola Droid 4. She used it for all of 5 minutes just to figure out how to setup the e-mail and quickly moved on. She then saw the Razr Maxx which I didn't mind because it would have the battery life she would appreciate, the screen was big enough, and it was thin enough where she wouldn't mind. She tried to call me and said it felt like holding a thin brick to her face. After I laughed HYSTERICALLY, she walked over to a little smartphone called the LG Lucid. I really didn't know too much about it, but I said, go for it. She liked the size of it, she liked how the phone sounded and felt when she made a call on it. She then stumbled onto the alarm on the phone. We started to set the alarm and it had a feature to change the snooze time duration. She INSTANTLY started glowing! That feature made her so happy that she was ready to get the phone right then and there.

Just for shits and giggles, I asked her to play with the iPhone 4S, and she definitely liked how the touchscreen performed. She was having a little trouble with the Android keyboard, but when I explained that she could download another keyboard from the android market, she kind of glazed over...lol!

All in all I think it is a toss up between the LG Lucid and the iPhone 4S. I think I may have to side on the Lucid just because I don't think he's quite ready for an iPhone. Plus she should start off small and then work her way up to the big boys. Let me know your thoughts and opinions by either leaving a comment on the blog or by liking my Facebook page and voting on my poll question for which phone she should get. Feel free to add your suggestions!

Asus Transformer Tablet Mix-Up

My aunt is in the market for a tablet, and she asked me about a month or so ago what I thought she should get. I told her she should consider either an iPad 2, or an Asus Transformer Prime. Since she wanted and Android tablet, the Transformer Prime it was since it had the latest Android operating system (Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich). When she brought it up to me again yesterday, I was so excited. To my surprise, I call around to a bunch of different stores to make sure they are in stock, and low and behold I can't find not ONE Transformer Prime.

I take to the internet of course and find out that a new Asus Transformer tablet had been released as of 4/29/12. It pretty much replaced the Transformer Prime (less the Prime of course) with a few new tweaks (better wifi and sleeker design for example). I think all in all, my auntie will be VERY pleased with this tablet! And I hope she lets me play with it first...lol!

Gorilla Glass

With the emergence of all these new electronic devices, there is one thing that I have been hearing on a consistent basis which is Gorilla Glass. Naturally by it's name I assumed that it was some kind of durable glass being used on phones, but I looked into it more in detail. From what I have read, this is the new age in more strong, durable glass. It is a really thin glass used on most laptops, smartphones, and even tv's. I think that if it can withstand major scratches and nicks, and last longer than standard glass, I am all for it. And since I am know for dropping my phone and cracking my glass, this gorilla glass is right on time!

To check if your device has Gorilla Glass, click here:

http://www.corninggorillaglass.com/products-with-gorilla/full-products-list

The Best Galaxy For Me

Ok so since I have seen and used this Samsung Galaxy Note, I can't seem to stop thinking about it. And all I keep thinking is "This thing is just SSOO BIG"! I have been seeing all the commercials about how this is supposed to be a hybrid between a phone and a tablet, but I just can't wrap my brain around that. I see a huge phone that makes it more difficult for me to do things with because of the size.

With all that being said, I think that the next best thing FOR ME (because I know anybody reading this would think I'm crazy not to go with the newest phone) would be the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket. It pretty much has 98% of the features the Note has (less the obvious screen size and S-Pen), and I still get the perks of having a large size screen without compromising the fact that I still am using a phone.

So now my next mission is to get one, play with it for about a month and see how it stacks up to my iPhone 4S. I got an idea on which one will come out on top for me!

Galaxy Note vs Galaxy S II Skyrocket

"BE NOTEWORTHY"

Today I got to see a demonstration going on in the King of Prussia Mall for the Samsung Galaxy Note. It allowed the public to ask questions and play with the phone more in detail. Naturally when I saw it I almost couldn't contain myself because I had SSOO many questions. In addition to playing with the phone more in detail, I got to ask important questions about the battery life, sound quality, and of course how the phone holds up to everyday use. I played around with the very basic features of the phone (i.e making calls, taking pictures, surfing the web, and downloading), and I must say I was impressed. The phone just did everything very well. I don't know that there was anything about the phone that I didn't like. 

Oh the one thing I can think of that I just couldn't stand is the SIZE! The thing is GINORMOUS! I know it is supposed to bridge the gap between a smartphone and a tablet, but my goodness! It was very awkward just holding the thing. And something as simple as trying to dial a telephone number on it was just uncomfortable. I would guess that if I were to use this phone I would just get adjusted to the size and deal with it. I have not quite gotten there yet. 

The one thing that completely sold me on this phone was the camera. I like taking pictures of myself (don't judge me...lol) and the 2-megapixel front facing camera was simply AMAZING! So naturally the 8-megapixel back camera is wonderful. I know it is very vein of me to have something like the camera be the deciding factor on whether or not I would use a phone, but it's the truth. Of course all the other features just make it that more appealing.

Now I do feel there are some things that I probably would never use like the S-Pen. It's really cool in the sense that you can pretty much write anything on the screen of the phone no matter what it is. That would be something cute for when a child needs to be preoccupied, or if you are drawing a self portrait, but other than that I doubt I would have a use for it! 

All in all this thing is great and if you have the opportunity to play around with it or even purchase it, go for it! You have my seal of approval! ;-)

The "Be Noteworthy" Demonstration in King of Prussia Mall

Smart Studio Recording Studio iPhone App

So I don't know what I was looking at, but I think I was on twitter or facebook when this app caught my eye. I don't know why but I clicked on this link and it was for an app in the App Store called Smart Studio Recording Studio. I think I have mixed views on this app. From what I have read, you can make beats and even create lyrics and everything for $9.99. From my experience, people who actually make beats use really intricate programs (i.e Pro Tools, or Logic). Since my boyfriend is a producer, I think I will have him test it out and see how it stacks up to the real thing. If it really does allow you to create studio quality music, this will be a really good app especially for the artist/producers who like to create on the fly and can use their iPhone or iPad. And you can't beat the price! I'm just a little leery as to making a song on something as small as an iPhone. Then again, I don't make music...lol! The jury is still out, but I will keep you guys posted.