smartphone

“Hello” iPhone – The evolution over 10 years

By Paul B. Kaiser on June 29, 2017

The TV commercial for the iPhone only had one word in the ad – “Hello.” It would be the pinnacle of accomplishment that Steve Jobs had worked his whole life towards. He drove this innovation smart and tough. The association with AT&T was bold, but a neccisity to make the iPhone an exclusive toy. The iPhone became so popular and it put Blackberry out of business, changed the way we listen to music and ultimately built the house of Apple – the new Apple campus.

TV commercial for the first iPhone – “Hello”

10 years ago today, the tech, phone, and consumer industry changed forever. The iPhone was shipped and in the hands of the consumer. I had the Palm Treo which seemed so magical, but then the iPhone came out and I felt like I had the oldest tech around. It had a full touch screen! No need for buttons – yikes.

As we near the debut of the new iPhone in September of 2017, the 10 year mark which is today, June 29th, 2017, we are is reminded just how much we love our phones. We have spent billions of dollars and created an empire. Ironically, I have never owned an iPhone, but I love Apple, and I love everything they do for technology and consumerism. I feel compelled to write about the iPhone because it was an invention, not just a phone. I thought I’d let the pictures, videos and charts tell the story.

Steve Jobs made the announcement just 6 months previous to the launch, and the promise of a tech revolution looked real. He stated that…

“Every once in a while a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything … One is very fortunate if you get to work on just one of these in your career. Apple’s been very fortunate. It’s been able to introduce a few of these into the world.”

The evolution of the iPhone (minus the iphone 7)

iPhone 1 – 2007

iPhone 2 – 2008

iPhone 3- 2009

iPhone 4 – 2011

iPhone 5 – 2013

iPhone 6 – 2014

iPhone 7 – 2016

iPhone Fun Facts

Here are some Interesting Facts about this iPhone:

iPhone started as a Tablet Project, but when the Apple employees came up with an iPad design with a virtual keyboard, Steve Jobs thought that they can apply this technology to a phone and this is how, iPhone came into existence.
Exclusive rights for selling the first iPhone were Turned Down by Verizon – (LOL)
Apple, when looking for a carrier partner to sell the first iPhone insisted that the device will only carry the Apple’s Logo and not that of the carrier.
The App Store by Apple was the first online space that offered downloading an app legally.
All the iPhones in the iPhone advertisements show the time 9:41. This is the time when Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone in 2007.
While Samsung and Apple are the biggest rivals, but not everyone knows that Samsung makes the processors for iPhones.
In 2007, iPhone was awarded as the “Invention of the Year” by Times Magazine.
In 2012, Apple sold 340,000 iPhones per day. A whopping 125 Million iPhones for the year.
Apple’s iPhone has higher sales as compared to everything being sold under the label “Microsoft”.
Apple’s iPhone in Brazil is Twice More Expensive than in the USA.

Shoot great video with your phone

By Paul B. Kaiser on June 21, 2017

Learn how to shoot great video with your smartphone.

The average consumer takes pictures and shoots video on their smartphone, not an expensive camera. Whether it’s a iPhone or Android, this is what people have with them and “a good picture is the one you take.” Most people know the basics when it comes to still photography, but when it comes to shooting video, it seems all rules go out the window. Here are some basic tips to start with when shooting with your phone.

1. Use a tripod (if possible)

The newest iPhones have built-in optical image stabilization, which makes shooting decent handheld footage fairly easy. But no matter how steady your hands are, nothing beats using a good old-fashioned tripod.

2. Shoot horizontal, not upright

In order to watch your video at full size on a monitor or TV screen, keep your smartphone horizontal when you are recording. Shooting a video clip with your phone upright doesn’t seem like an issue at the time because you’re watching it on a device with a vertical screen, but as soon as you want to play the video anywhere else, your clip will be fighting for space with two black bars on either side of the screen.

3. Concentrate on keeping it smooth and steady

Your smartphone is small and light, so it can float while your walking or talking. The key thing is to use both hands, and lock your elbows into your body for extra stability.

4. Think about composition (a little bit)

This is a tip for any type of photography. Good shots have one thing in common. Your eye is drawn to a subject matter in the picture. Place objects one-third in from the sides, with people’s eyes one-third down from the top.

5. Don’t shoot into the light

The bad news is you wont see faces and you’ll get a silhouetted image. The good news is you might get a nice, but unexpected silhouette.

Light can make your whole shot wonderful and it can make the worst video to look at. Working with available light is the trick. No FLASH, unless your in a cave – and even then I would try. If you want to shoot better video, you need to know how to work with the available light and use it to your advantage. If some parts of the shot are looking too bright or too dark, get into the habit of changing your position and finding another angle which allows you to still achieve the shot you wanted, but you’ve got the light working for you not against you.

6. Record 3 seconds beforehand after the action and shots should be 5 seconds minimum

If you’re going to edit your videos then this is a hard fastened rule. You need extra time on both sides to to edits and transitions. If you’re just shooting and showing the video to friends then don’t worry so much.

7. Manually set exposure and focus (more advanced, but a good tip)

Not all smartphone apps do this, but try pressing and holding on an area of the screen to activate the AE/AF Lock function. With a smartphone, the most important is the AE (Auto Exposure) Lock because you don’t want the smartphone to keep changing the exposure while you’re filming. Manually setting the focus is great when you want to get close to an object, and you need to tell the camera to focus on a particular area.

If you want to get a nice camera app for free get this one for iOS and this one for Android.

8. Get your microphone close to your subject (which means the phone

A general rule for clear audio is to get your microphone as close to your subject as possible. But that means you ned to get the phone close which may or may not be an option. Microphones on cameras pretty much suck so don’t expect a miracle.

If your’e really into getting the audio you can buy some inexpensive microphones that will do a better job. Check them out on Amazon.

9. Share your videos

Show people what your’e doing with video. See their reactions. Have fun!

Some examples of good video and a comparison of iPhone and Android – Believe me each phone shoots good video.

Tips to Get Started with your Google Pixel

By Paul B. Kaiser on February 7, 2017

Pixel devices accounted for 12.3 per cent of phone activations with Verizon, the device’s initial wireless carrier in the US, according to Wave7 research. Verizon has not been able to keep up with the demand and has been sending VR headsets out to customers waiting for their Pixel phones.

Wave7 data estimated that Google shipped 552,000 Pixel phones in the fourth quarter. “The demand for the Pixel phones has exceeded our expectations, which is exciting to see,” Google spokeswoman Iska Saric said. As more and more folks are purchasing the Google Pixel, it is quickly becoming one of the most popular Android phones. It looks as though they will sell about 1 million units by the end of this first quarter. So I thought a few tips and tricks would be in order for those new owners coming on board. These are not brain surgeon tips but Android Nougat 7.1 is a bit different, and these videos may help you through the love and anguish of a new Pixel.

You can watch these videos on your tablet or computer, but they are fit perfectly for your smartphone.

Tip # 1: Getting started with your Google Pixel

Here’s just about everything you need to know about your new Pixel in a few short minutes.

Tip 2: Creating a Wifi Hotspot with your Pixel

Share Wi-Fi with your other devices. Your Pixel can handle that. Learn how to quickly turn your Pixel into a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Tip 3: Using the fingerprint sensor to unlock your phone

Not only does Pixel Imprint let you quickly unlock your Pixel using just your fingerprint, it also authorizes purchases, and signs you into apps, as well.

Tip 4: Using the battery saver

Sometimes a phone charger is not in our immediate vicinity, so when you need to squeeze a little more juice out of your Pixel, a simple settings adjustment comes in handy. Also check out the data saver in settings too.

Choose your inner Pixel.

Google has new gadgets. And they’re affordable.

By Paul B. Kaiser on October 4, 2016

See the 2 hour event in 10 minutes. Video below

Google made new gadgets – check them out. See today’s announcements.

Pixel Phones

Google’s new smartphones, the Pixel and Pixel XL, are the first handsets to be designed and engineered in-house by the company.

The Pixel devices are available in three colors and are available for preorder immediately. Google is flaunting the phones’ improved camera and embedded intelligent assistant.

Daydream View

They announced its smartphone virtual reality platform, Daydream. Google has revealed its Daydream View headset, a head-mounted viewer designed to work with compatible smartphones. The Daydream View is made of soft fabric that the company claims makes it more comfortable to wear. DayDream View launches in November for $79 – wow!

Chromecast Ultra

Google is releasing a new version of its Chromecast streaming dongle that can stream 4K video. The upcoming Chromecast Ultra will cost $69 when it launches in November. Google says it’s nearly twice as fast as Google’s older Chromecast.

Google Home

Google Home, the smart speaker Google announced in May, will cost $129 and ships on Nov. 4, the company announced Tuesday. Google shared details about how Home will work and which types of apps and gadgets it will be compatible with. It supports streaming services like Spotify and Pandora, and can function as a hub for intelligent home gadgets.

Google Assistant

They also shared its vision for the Google Assistant, which CEO Sundar Pichai described as being everybody’s “personal Google.”

Google Assistant ties together various Google services like Search, Maps, and Translate, among others. It’s available in new Google products like the Pixel phones, Home, and the Allo messaging app which launched last month.

The condensed video version

New Motorola Moto Z @ Verizon

By Paul B. Kaiser on July 31, 2016

Just held the new Moto Z and it feels fresh and very cool to the touch. It has detachable backs that are personalized and act as battery backups.

These slim phones have no headphone jacks either.

The moto Z phones are thin and light. Look forward to more investigation.

Check them out.

The unboxing video is here.

New Tricks with Old Technology at Mobile World Congress

By Paul B. Kaiser on February 19, 2016

The Mobile World Congress (MWC) held in Barcelona starts this weekend and the new phones make their entrance for the year. Not expected to be a stellar year in breakthroughs, the manufacturers are digging deep to make little improvements look like magical technology. It could be we have reached our peak in smartphone technology. There will be some cool enhancements but no major shifts. Let’s take a look at the big guys.

LG G5 is ON for Launch

The new LG G5 will be announced in its flagship smartphone line. It will have an always-on display, like smartwatches. They will play nice with some new touch-enabled flip cases. LG’s mobile division posted the GIF below on Twitter but didn’t say to much. We only know the flagship phone will have a screen that is literally always on.

Huawei Dual-Boot Tablet

Rumor also has it Huawei is planning a Windows/Android dual-boot hybrid tablet. It’s an idea we’ve seen and heard of before, though previous attempts by other companies were gashed by stringent policies from Microsoft and Google. ASUS tried launching a similar tablet and because of the licensing issues it never launched. Let’s see if Huawei somehow found a loophole to make it happen.

Samsung S7 and S7 Edge

Samsung will launch the next phones in their line. The Galaxy S7 will not sport a different look but it will have a few new tricks. The Galaxy S7 will have a retina scanner and a MicroSD card slot. If the retina scanner actually works and is reliable, maybe passwords will be a bad dream. In true Samsung spirit they will launch some “Apple-like” features: its own version of 3D touch and Live Photos.

You can now pre-order at Best Buy.

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