Who would of thought just a few short years ago that we would see such an explosion of personal devices designed to keep us in touch with our friends, play games, check the weather, search for a cafe, shop for clothes, read a magazine, or even order a Pizza?
Windows is a bit of a late starter in the Smart Phone scene, but from all reports are determined to make their presence felt in a big way around the world. Partnering with Nokia, one of the true giants in mobile phones, we will see a range of Windows based handsets in Australia targeting the business user, and the social network scene. Evidence of this is the introduction of the new Pizza Hut "App" designed to make Pizza ordering a breeze. Complete with the ability to save Pizza preferences and one touch saved ordering, you can specify a delivery time, and in a future version will also be able to watch the count down to delivery.
I hear you say, "how ridiculous" but have you ever been sitting at home on a Friday night and decide Pizza would be a good idea? Then the ensuing arguments about who will call the order through, who is having what Pizza, do we want garlic bread? Selecting your Pizza on an "App" all of a sudden seems like a good idea. No awkward conversations with some Pizza delivery boy that really hates answering the phone, no need to scribble out the order on a scrap of paper, and best of all, no arguments about who calls the order through. With the prolific use of smart phones today, everyone is ready to order Pizza !
There are more rumours doing the rounds again about the imminent release of the iPhone 5. At least that is what we all think it may be called, but given Apple's latest label for the iPad 3, actually referring to it as "The New iPad" it is a little more difficult to know what they might name the new iPhone.
The latest talk is around Apple placing substantial orders for 4" displays with their suppliers of screens. Naturally this indicates the new iPhone will offer a larger 4" display, up from the 3.5" used since the iPhone was first introduced back in 2007.
Given end users are using their mobile phones for more than making calls and SMS, and are taking advantage of the "Apps" available for social media and games, watching videos and photography with the higher specced cameras included in todays smart phones.... it only seems right that the next iPhone boasts a larger display. Especially to stay current with the latest crop of large screen displays from manufacturers such as Samsung, HTC, Sony and even the chinese brands
Who knows? The iPhone may even sport a Retina display like the new iPad, to help Apple push their Smart Phone ahead of the pack again. This could well be a smart ploy by Apple, given that Samsung Smart Phones now outsell the Apple iPhone.
Whatever Apple does with the new iPhone, we can be sure this next device will be the step up Apple fans have been waiting for, after being some-what disappointed with the minor upgrades of the iPhone4S.
Maybe the iPhone 4 will move to Pre-paid as well with the release of a new iPhone later this year. Although I am sure the price will be high for Pre-Paid, there is a market out there willing to pay a premium for Apple products.
Time will tell. Are you an Apple fan? Do you have an iPhone?
A couple of weeks ago I loaded the new Android operating system on to my Samsung Galaxy S2.
Named as Icecream Sandwich...Google insist on having these strange names for their Android versions... this version 4.03 is designed for the latest crop of handsets and tablets running Android.
The main things I have noticed, as far as improvements are concerend are related to multi tasking. The phone generally runs smoother, and switches between applications swiftly and effectively.
It takes a little bit of time to recognise some of the changes as you delve deeper in to the day to day use of a smart phone. There has been upgrades to the Email client, using my work Exchange account, and it took me a couple of days to figure out some of the improvements. It's now easier to attach a file to an email, and like a desk top PC, I can attach any file on my phone, or I can take a photo and share that easily. Speaking of photos, renaming, cropping, rotating and editing photos is much easier. The Galaxy S2 takes great 8MP photos by the way, and I love the panorama shooting mode. (See photo of the Hiroshima Peace Park below)
The menu system has been changed slightly, and I have found the settings are easier to find and adjust. Things like accessing the the data usage menu, and being able to set data limits and warnings are great, given that a Smart phone can easily use a lot of data if you are not mindful of this. Power saving features have improved, and I am getting about 30% more from my battery life, which is fantastic!
If you are considering a Smart phone, or looking to upgrade one, I recommend the Samsung Galaxy S2 as one of the most user friendly and highly specced phones on the market today, and now with the upgrade to ANDROID 4.0, it's even better. As a matter of fact, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus that is being heavily promoted as the first ANDROID 4.0 phone on the Australian market is actually an older phone with lower features, so now that the Galaxy S2 has been given this upgrade... it's definitely my choice.
Well, it's now official. At least according to a Canadian survey reported by the Vancouver Sun. They state that 62 percent of Android users are likely to have sex on the first date, compared to 57percent of iPhone users and 48 percent of Blackberry users.
Does this mean Android users are sexier then iPhone users? Or does it actually mean that iPhone users are more loyal people less likely to change partners or phones.
We can read all sorts of things into such a survey, and many of the posts I have read do just that.
Mind you, the survey was conducted interviewing 1,000 users on "match.com"... so I reckon these people are more likely to be a little more promiscuous then if the survey was interviewing 1,000 members of "LinkedIn" or similar.
You can be the judge... are you sexier because you have a "Smart Phone"
Google's Nexus phone has been a long time coming to the shores of Australia.
Produced by Samsung, and known in OZ as the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, this smart phone is pitched at the high level consumer looking for the best of the best.
What makes this phone special are two key features that set it apart from all other smartphones in the market today.
1. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is the first phone in Australia to come loaded with the much anticipated Android Icecream Sandwich opertaing system. This new OS is the pinacle of Google's popular system for smart phones bringing a better consumer experience, faster speeds and improved muti-tasking. Everything the high end user needs.
2. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is also the first SmartPhone in Australia to sport a "Near Field Communication" (NFC) chip. This brings a whole new technology to SmartPhones, allowing you to use your Galaxy Nexus as your credit card, paying for items at wave and pay outlets, which are becoming more prevalent in the Australian market.
You can read more about this technology in an earlier post of mine here.
It seems that Social Networking is not just about staying in touch with your friends or family, but is turning into an effective way to meet new people without the stress of introductions. Young and old alike are starting to embrace the benefits of "breaking the ice" over a first meeting by using social networking to initiate a conversation and get to know someone prior to meeting in person.
I watched an episode of Modern Family last night where the 13 year old daughter was "dating" using SMS, and had not really had a personal conversation with the boy she liked. Taking this one step further now are many social networking Apps designed for people to use location based introductions. Known as Geolocation phone applications, these APPS use a smart phones GPS to allow users to locate and meet strangers (new friends) based on their local vicinity.
There are a number of APPS designed for meeting people. Some of the APPS are targeted at specific groups of people, while others cover a broader spectrum. Some of the more popular APPS are Blendr, Grindr, Roamz and FourSquare.
Why are such APPS finding a strong following, when there is an inherent risk associated with people misrepresenting themselves? It seems people are willing to take that risk to find friends in a society that is busier, time poor and believe it or not, somewhat less sociable.
It may all seem a little strange to most of us over the age of say 23, but the younger generation see nothing wrong with using their smart phones and social networking to form friendships and relationships. I guess the Smart Phone APPS are simply and extension of internet dating sites, but with a more immediate result based on location. After all, they can find one and other on a Smart Phone APP, then meet in person almost immediately and make decisions about how to take the friendship from there. It's a bit like 'speed dating" in just about any social location or environment.
Not for me, but if that's the way society is heading, then it is not all that bad.
I was lucky enough to spend 10 days in Japan recently. In fact this was my second trip to Japan. The first time was a skiing holiday, and I have to say, the powder skiing in Japan is as good as they say.
So, this time in Japan was for my Nephews wedding. He and his fiance are both Australian and live here in Australia but have had the opportunity to work in Japan for a few months and obviously love it. That's why about 40 family and friends made the trek to Japan for their tradional Japanese style wedding. What an experience!
Naturally, I couldn't help myself and had to check out the mobile phone scene in Japan. The first thing that struck me whilst travelling on the excellent Japanese rail system was that just about all the younger generation are glued to their mobile phones, staring at the screen sending text, surfing the web, watching film clips, or something. The next thing I noticed was the considerable lack of the Apple iPhone. Honestly, I think I saw about 4, and I saw thousands of Mobiles whilst on the train, bus or even on the street.
So I decided that this needed further investigation. I went to the 2 main Mobile Carriers in Japan, JP DoCoMo and Softbank to check out their range and offers. This was no easy task, as I have next to no Japanese language skills and the very polite and attentive sales staff at these shops had about as much English. The above photos are taken from a very comprehensive catalogue I picked up and show typical handsets on offer. Flip and slide phones are very popular, as is Android based Smart Phones. No iPhone in the catalogue, although one store had a sign out the front stating the iPhone was available on a 24 month contract for 6000 YEN per month (about AU$85). Smart phones are the rage, and Android leads in Japan. There are many brands available, including the popular ones we know like Motorola, HTC, LG and Samsung, but there are also plenty of very good looking smart phones from Sharp, Pantech, Toshiba, and Casio.
What about Prepaid? Well, this is interesting. Unlike Australia, or Hong Kong, Canada, USA, UK, etc, Japan has a distinct lack of Prepaid. Softbank offers one handset for 1050 YEN (AU$150) outright with no credit, and credit is another 600 YEN (AU$85). That was about the only Prepaid Mobile I could find. Only available in a phone shop and credit could only be bought there as well from what I could gather. There was certainly no convenience shops, or the equivalent of a newsagency, etc selling any type of Prepaid Mobile.
When I arrived in Japan I thought I would do the same thing I did in Hong Kong recently, and pick up a Prepaid WiFi to allow me internet access whilst there. Guess what? There is no Prepaid Wifi in Japan! They do offer a Pocket WiFi on 4G. This is very fast at 42 Mps (6 x times our current speed) but is only available on a 24 month contract for 6000 YEN per month (AU$85)
Seems to me there could be a great opportunity for Prepaid Mobile in Japan, but I am sure many others have considered this and there must be a reason that Prepaid is not popular. Maybe the carriers have more than they need on contracts and with 2 major carriers and some 127 million people, I am sure they are doing just fine.
On a good note, the mobile service in Japan proved to be very good whilst roaming, and data speeds were excellent. There are a number of Free WiFi spots to be found and the mobile carriers offer their customers WiFi access just about everywhere, including on public transport.
If you have been to another country and would like to share your expereince, then please do so. I would love to hear about other countries Mobile carriers, service and offers.
Android outsells iOS in Australia It's official Googles Android operating system for smart phones now surpasses sales of Apples' iOS operating system for the iPhone in Australia, making Android the most commonly used Smart Phone operating system around the world.
For almost 12 months, Android has out sold iOS in Europe and America, but last week finally made the cut to overtake iOS in Australia.
Local Telco's are selling many different branded Android handsets from the likes of Motorola, Samsung, Huawei, Sony Ericsson, LG and many others, both on Post Paid and Pre Paid.
The cost benefits are part reason for Android outselling iOS as is the fact that multiple manufacturers have embraced the open operating system from Google.
Another interesting fact is, 1 in 2 handsets sold in Australia are now Smart Phones with internet access. This used to be an area reserved for the business market, but all consumers are wanting the benefits of smart "connected" mobiles.
If you haven't tried one of the new smart phones, then maybe it's time you upgraded your handset to one of many Android powered Smart Phones available today.
Prices have plummeted in recent months and you can now pick up a great bargain on Prepaid for as little as $79 rrp.
My suggestion would be that if you are thinking of buying an Android powered smart phone, buy one that runs Android Operating System 2.2 (Froyo) or above for the best user experience.
I love technology and all the things it can do for us in this day and age. Those that know me know that I am always embracing new technologies, whether I need it or not.... BUT ! I can't help but be a bit careful about the latest announcement from Google that they are running their Google Wallet in San Francisco and New York City as test markets. What is Google Wallet I hear you say?
This is what is termed as NFC (Near Field Communication) payment systems for smart phones. Essentially, you will be able to have all your credit card details and personal information stored on your mobile smart phone using an App. Just like you can simply "flash" your chipped credit card at a retailer now and the payment is deducted quickly and automatically, NFC via a mobile wallet will take this even further giving the consumer control over a number of credit cards or accounts. This clever technology will eventually mean there will be no reason to carry a wallet full of credit cards or cash, and once again the humble mobile phone becomes even more entwined and entangled into our lives. No doubt it will be a short period of time before NFC payments is a reality world wide, and I am sure the younger generation will see many advantages have having the one device (their smart phone) doing absolutely everything for them. Google isn't the only one developing Apps and NFC for payments, as Apple is also rumoured to be developing the same type of technology for their popular iPhone. Naturally, smartphone hardware needs to be capable of NFC, and so far there are only one or two devices able to use NFC, but it won't take long.
What do you think about NFC payments, and eliminating the need for a wallet full of cards and cash? Will we also carry our ID in our smartphones? No need for a driver's licence?
PersonalIy I don’t like idea of the Google wallet. If you leave it on what’s to stop someone going around bumping into people with a scanner in their pocket? Like a virtual pick pocket. Not for me. I went to Coles last night and swiped my debit card and
didn’t have to put in my pin for the purchase! Not very secure. They have just implemented and new thing with purchases under a certain amount no pin or sgnature is required.
iPhone 3GS available on Prepaid
Apple's iPhone 3GS is now available on Optus Prepaid!
This may be the previous model (prior to iPhone 4) but by updating the software operating system from the Apple web site (via iTunes) you can have a state of the art "Smart Phone" that gives you that Apple iPhone satisfaction without the hassle of a 24 month contract.
Great value for a great phone from Optus Prepaid and Apple.
Great news, James! You've got no idea how many people I've had through over the past year asking about iPhone 3GS on prepaid. Now I can finally tell them.
Who would of thought just a few short years ago that we would see such an explosion of personal devices designed to keep us in touch with our friends, play games, check the weather, search for a cafe, shop for clothes, read a magazine, or even order a Pizza?
The menu system has been changed slightly, and I have found the settings are easier to find and adjust. Things like accessing the the data usage menu, and being able to set data limits and warnings are great, given that a Smart phone can easily use a lot of data if you are not mindful of this. Power saving features have improved, and I am getting about 30% more from my battery life, which is fantastic!
Well, it's now official. At least according to a Canadian survey reported by the Vancouver Sun. They state that 62 percent of Android users are likely to have sex on the first date, compared to 57percent of iPhone users and 48 percent of Blackberry users. 
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