Here Is the Software That Can Save Your Business in a Pinch

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

While the giant, hydra-headed monster known as business moves slowly, the actual work of business happens fast, extremely fast. Just ask BlackBerry: a company that ruled the smartphone roost in the beginning. They thought they had a long time to sit on their lead. They never saw Apple coming. The iPhone struck so fast that even once it got here, they didn’t really see it. Now, they’re dead.

BlackBerry (known at the time as RIM) could have used a bit of help with technology that could have saved them in a pinch. And they are not the only cautionary tale from which we can learn. From the outside, business moves at a glacial pace. From the inside, it moves at the speed of light.

While most businesses will never have to face what RIM did, there comes a time when every business is confronted with a situation that might have left them paralyzed were it not for recent technological developments. Here is a handful that just might help your business in a pinch:

A Custom Event App

Doing a corporate event the old-fashioned way is just flushing money down the old-fashioned corporate toilet. If you find yourself responsible for making event arrangements, you probably know how important it is to have a branded, custom-made app. What you may not realize is how few people inside your company could actually pull that off.

You will find companies like Cvent exist to make custom app development possible for those businesses without the internal resources to manage it for themselves. There are lots of moving parts to getting the most out of your corporate event. For starters, an event app gives you higher engagement from the participants, and better analytics to track the effectiveness of your corporate spend.

Corporate events are some of the best corporate dollars you can spend, but only if you do it right. Doing it right means providing what most companies can’t: a custom app for a more immersive and productive experience. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to commission your app. But it is great to know that it is there for the save when you need it.

Relocating

The same tech that helps consumers move on short notice can be leveraged for companies when they have to relocate. When moving a business, a thousand things can go wrong. There are small things like finding the packing supplies you need at a reasonable price, to the big things like having to find a different moving company at the last minute.

Setting up the office at the new location is also a part of the moving adventure. There will be special cables that are lost or damaged. You won’t be able to start your servers without them. And you can’t get them from your local retailer. How many days can you afford to go without restarting your server?

Between local search on mobile, and 24/7/365 online retailers that can get you any conceivable part the next business day, businesses are saved on a daily basis.

Document Markup and Signing Apps

The fax machine was really great at one thing: Receiving a document that you could fill out, sign, and send back. The last thing you wanted to do was depend on mail and parcel services to move documents from one place to the other. If you didn’t have access to a fax on both ends of the deal, you would likely lose the deal. That is probably the main impetus for courier services.

Today, neither fax nor couriers are necessary for those tasks. We can just use sign and markup apps to scan documents, fill them out, include a real signature, and send them on their way. It takes longer to sign a document than it does to send it anywhere in the world.

Sometimes moving at the speed of business means crawling at a snails pace. And other times, it means zipping along at light speed. When it’s the latter, don’t get left behind. Use custom event apps, apps to help with relocation, and document signing apps. The next time your small business is in a pinch, just remember, there’s an app for that.

Would love to hear from you in the comments!

*by andreascy*

Self-Driving Cars of the Imminent and Distant Future

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Sadly, the flying car is still the domain of science fiction. On the bright side, self-driving cars are not only feasible, they're already here. In fact, Google's self-driving cars have logged more than 1.5 million miles of trouble-free driving (clearly those miles don't include a recent incident with a public bus), and can currently be found in California, Texas, Washington, and Arizona. Google is so confident in its self-driving technology that the company makes it easy for the public to follow along with monthly reports. 

Eventually, the lessons learned – and the technology that is developed – will find its way throughout the industry. The gist of this continued development is plain to see; before long, autonomous cars will be an everyday reality. Just as smartphones and texting have transformed the world around us in just a few short years, it's entirely feasible that autonomous car technology could do the same.

But like any technology that is destined to cause a paradigm shift in the way we interact with each other and the world around us, there are still many questions left unanswered and puzzles ready to be solved. The technology may be ready, but are we? Are you willing to strap your toddler into a baby seat and then let the computer do the driving? The self-driving cars of the future are likely to evolve as we evolve with them.

The Promise of the Autonomous Car: A Personal Chauffeur

The ultimate expression of the self-driving car is likely yet to be determined. However, most people probably envision self-driving cars as mobile versions of robotic butlers. Available at our every beck and call, there for us when we need it, and able to take us anywhere we want, leaving the passengers to their own devices. Imagine if your car could drop you off in front of a busy downtown restaurant and then drive around or find its own parking space, only to come and pick you up when your meal was done. Well, that sounds terrific, but we're not there yet!

At the moment, self-driving applications (those that are commercially available, anyway; we're not counting Google's self-driving car) are limited to semi-autonomous auto pilot programs. Though far from being truly autonomous, they are helping both driver and engineer come to terms with what vehicle autonomy really is. Tesla offers auto pilot on its Model S and Model X electric cars, and manufacturers like Volvo and Mercedes-Benz offer or are developing similar technologies. These technologies allow vehicles to maintain speed, steer themselves, alert drivers to potential hazards, and even park themselves. If that much can already be accomplished, perhaps the autonomous personal chauffeur isn't too far away!

Self-driving Taxi Fleets Will Provide Cars on Demand

But the question must be asked: if cars become truly autonomous, do we even need to own them? Companies like Uber, Tesla, Apple and Google think there could be a future in the shared car (as well as autonomous public transportation). Fleets of autonomous cars could be the next natural evolutionary step of a concept already practiced by companies like ZipCar, Car2Go, and Paris and London's electric share car programs. Rather than own cars, why note hire them, on demand? With a smartphone in every pocket, it's easy to see how such a program could work.

Obviously, such autonomous fleets would have to be quite large if everyone gave up on car ownership in the coming decades, but it isn't hard to imagine punching in a request on one's smartphone and having a self-driving car arrive 10 minutes later to take you to your destination. Once you get there, leave the car, close the door, and be on your way. As with Uber and Lyft's current pay structure, you would be billed automatically and that would be that. You wouldn't have to worry about car insurance or even a driver's license. Nor would you have to worry about parking. For all but the most diehard gear heads, it's an attractive idea.

But What of the Obstacles?

Self-driving cars are close. As software, hardware, and technology companies like Qualcomm continue to work on vehicle applications for mobile processors, autonomous cars will continue to become more and more advanced. In fact, the odds are good that at some point in the near future, your car could be the "smartest" thing you own. But there's still much to be determined before your car drives you to work, and not the other way around.

One of the most obvious questions is who should be responsible in the event an autonomous car is involved in a crash. Volvo has already stated that it will take full responsibility in any accident involving one of its self-driving cars, but will other manufacturers follow along? And what of vehicle insurance? If your car is driving you, and not you it, should you still be obligated to purchase and maintain car insurance? Insurance companies are certain to lobby for this, but is it fair or logical? Finally, at what point can an autonomous car be trusted completely? In other words, how far away are we from being able to sit in the back seat of our car on the way to work (rather than having to babysit the wheel and pedals in the off chance the car loses control)? Taking this concept one step further, will cars in the future have steering wheels? At what point do human interfaces in cars become a liability rather than a benefit?

These questions are mostly rhetorical, of course. There is no clear answer. But we will, collectively, need to figure out the answers to these questions and more before autonomous cars become commonplace. In this case, it might not be prudent to jump into the deep end and learn to swim - better to ease into it. The future does show promise though, there can be no denying that. We are on the cusp of one of the biggest milestones in personal transportation since the original automobile was introduced over a century ago. Exciting, to say the least.

RELATED: Cars Of Tomorrow - 3 Technological Advances That Will Change Driving

Any questions? Write me a comment below!

*by andreascy*

Spotify vs Apple Music; Where Does the Scale Lean?

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

If you are one of those people who cannot live a day without listening to music, chances are that you have done so via a popular streaming music platform. As of late, the two main contenders in the arena seem to be Apple Music and Spotify. 

These streaming services are the present and future of music industry. Each has its own unique advantages; but which one will surpass the other?

Spotify

Spotify is a platform that uses streaming as its means of media acquisition. Streaming is quickly becoming the dominant choice among media consumers. It doesn’t eat up memory on the device, new music is refreshed to the package, and playlists are sharable among friends, and the world, if you wish. Gone are the days of entering a password every time you make a purchase.

Soundtracks and compilation albums have been proven money makers in the music industry. Think of the playlist as a graduated version of the variety CD. These shared playlists benefit the user and composer alike. Every time and artist’s song is played, they get paid for it. Likewise, the user gets to enjoy the music at a fraction of the price, had they downloaded it.

Apple Music

Apple Music has been the dominating force when it comes to media downloads. You have the option to download a single song or an entire album from the 45 million in the iTunes Library, 15 million of which are unavailable to stream though. Also you have the option to get the digital art if you miss the old school days of CD booklets.

Apple has about 1 billion registered users on its network as well as a reputation for continued longevity. Despite iTunes’ staying power, Apple has seen a decline in downloaded albums and songs in 2015 by 16% in nominal terms, according to music industry analyst Mark Mulligan at Canadian Music Week in Toronto. This decline is expected to increase between 25% and 30% this year, nevertheless, iTunes music downloads are still estimated to be worth $600 million in 2019. Does the decline in sales spell the end of iTunes as Apple is preparing an aggressive two-year termination timetable for iTunes store?

Spotify vs Apple Music: the Clash

With music crossing over to the digital, the industry is poised to offer better quality, at a competitive rate. One of the major down sides to having music so readily accessible is that the sound quality suffers a bit. Even on the newest devices the compression technology doesn’t offer the same fidelity and listening quality that a CD does. Although the idea of streaming is still catching on, eventually the growth will plateau. This will give the music industry the chance to introduce ‘premium packages’ in which they can charge a slightly higher fee, for better sound quality. This may seem a tad on the greedy side, but compare this to the days when you were forced to pay $13-$17 dollars for one song, and maybe a few others you might like. When the two are seen side by side, streaming seems like a much more agreeable option.

1. Subscription Plan:

When comparing the subscription prices, Spotify and Apple Music have similar competitive packages. For example if you decide to go with either Spotify Premium or Apple Music Membership, the cost is $9.99 a month (with a 3-month free trial on both platforms), or you can sign up to a Family Plan for $14.99 a month, for up to 6 different people. Most people opt for the $9.99 option, so the actual cost is $120 a year, but that’s still pretty good. Apple Music also offers a Student Membership for $4.99 a month, which is quite cheap considering its benefits.

Another advantage that Spotify has is that you can listen to an entire album the day of its release, rather than just samples. A major downside to this service is that it doesn’t have all songs available. That ends up being true with both services because even Apple Music has a few bands that you won’t be able find in its libraries.

2. Compatibility:

In terms of beating the competition in providing digital services, one major factor comes down to compatibility issues. Spotify adhering to this concern, is compatible with a number of devices and even supports older versions of iOS. It also has native clients for Windows, Android and Linux. A strong advantage, Spotify’s web player will work almost on any operating system. 

Apple on the other hand, has taken a leap of faith by working on different operating systems, including Android. However, it is still not possible for users of older iOS devices to enjoy Apple Music, as it is not supported on iOS 8.4 or less. In addition, Apple Music has the disadvantage of not working on a web player and needs iTunes to play on a desktop. Practically, it is therefore inconvenient to play Apple Music for example when you are not using your own computer and have to install iTunes.

3. Sound Quality:

Music is all about the sound quality, right? Both Spotify and Apple Music bring decent audio quality to your ears. Spotify premium offers an adjustable rate with extreme quality as it calls it reaching a peak at 320 kbps Ogg, whereas Apple Music uses 256 kbps ACC. Hearing the experts’ viewpoint on the matter, findings from a listening study conducted by CNET comparing Spotify and Apple Music audio quality, it seems that Spotify wins this battle over their rivals.

4. Music Discovery:

This list of examining the pros and cons of each music streaming service, would not have been complete without looking into the discovery features of each platform. 

Spotify has a number of options to find songs and artists or albums. Spotify’s “Discover” feature is perhaps not as effective, and does not recommend playlists but only artists, albums and individual tracks. However, its more recent addition “Discover Weekly” is a great way to browse new releases, as it offers a custom playlist of up to 2 hours of the hottest hits each week according to your preferences. There is also the “Now section”, a smart feature which recommends songs based on the time of day and day of the week using a grid instead of Microsoft’s hip tiles. 

Their competitors, Apple Music shares a similar feature with the “For you” screen, a cool layout offering a mosaic of music suggestions inspired by Windows Phone’s live tiles. The feature allows you to find playlists, individual tracks and artists though it might take a bit longer to incorporate your preferences to know what suits you. There is also its “New” section which indicates suggestions of what other Apple Music users are listening to, and current playlists to enhance your music experience. 

Spotify has a “Browse” section serving for similar purposes, yet it seems to have a more user friendly interface with top lists, genres and moods, as well as news.

5. Free Music:

Spotify is an exclusive streaming music service provider of free in-demand music. Users can enjoy any song or album for free, although intermittent ads subsidize the streaming. This free service feature has been heavily criticized by artists who claim that there is little gain money-wise. Nonetheless, Spotify claims that their free service prevents piracy and artists do get compensated through Spotify. 

On the other end of the scale, although the impression is that Apple Music does not allow users to listen to songs for free, the reality is that Apple Music is available for free, including the Beats 1 station. This feature is available although interfered by advertising and you can enjoy up to 6 songs per hour. 

6. Voice Control:

As far as apps is concerned, perhaps not surprisingly, Apple has the upper hand. On iOS for instance, only Apple can use Siri with apps, a feature that has been integrated into Apple Music. This digital assistant can handle requests like playing songs, albums or artists, and even locate and play the top playlists from a given year. 

Spotify on the other hand, does not offer this type voice control or digital helper. You can enhance your overall Spotify experience with third-party apps like Vela, yet they are not integrated into iOS.

Conclusion

It’s tempting to look for a winner-looser situation when it comes to rivalry services or software. 

The above comparison, was not meant to be exhaustive. In a perfect world we would just be able to combine the services, and then use it as we saw fit. Some songs that you like may not be on Spotify, and likewise, Apple Music may not have the songs you’re looking for either. There are people who use both services and cherry picking the features they like. People like the convenience of access to songs on the go, as well as being able to download and save them once in a while. Both services have their advantages and disadvantages. Who knows? Maybe soon the companies will merge and then we can enjoy all the benefits. 

Until that happens, the answer to the question of which is better, Spotify or Apple Music, boils down to personal preference. If you like owning your music and having the files physically on your computer, Apple Music is the way to go. If you don’t want to be hindered by computer memory loss and have access to a ton of songs at any time and virtually from any device with decent sound quality and different discover music options, then check out Spotify.

COULD BE OF INTEREST: Best Apps for Music Lovers

We're always around if you have any questions or suggestions. 

*by andreascy*

The History of Voice Recognition Software

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

As you listen to your credit card company's automated phone voice asking you to describe your reason for calling, you probably don't care how the system originated. Why should you? The technology is ubiquitous these days. 

Concerning most technological innovations, the average person simply wants to use them. The newer the toy, the more they want to quickly avail themselves of its promised joy. For commercial entities, it's reduced to how much will the newfangled device contribute to a favorable bottom line.

Stepping Stones

The versatility in speech-recognition devices may be modern, but certain inventive thinkers in Austria, Russia and England were giving form to the concept of mechanical speaking machines as early as the eighteenth century.

For the purpose of voice recognition via electronic equipment, scientists experimenting at Bell Laboratories developed an electronic speech analyzer called a Vocoder in 1928. Homer W. Dudley, the lead scientist, further developed the Vocoder into an electronic synthesizer operated through a keyboard and dubbed it the Voder. Exhibitors from Bell demonstrated the device at the 1939 New York World's Fair. 

The rudiments of modern techniques for speech perception and recognition lay in a talking machine called the Pattern Playback. Built by Franklin S. Cooper and his collaborators at Haskins Laboratories in the late 1940s, the Playback could produce speech sounds from their frequency spectrum. 

The 1950s to the late 1970s saw the creation of the first formant synthesizer, the articulatory synthesizer and concatenative synthesis. These advancements permitted the phonetic quality of vowels to be determined, a major step. Additionally, continuous speech recognition -- eliminating the requirement to pause between words -- began during this period.

In 1988, Apple Computer produced a futuristic video in which the practical application of speech with computers was envisioned. Set for realization in the early 21st century, it defined the ideas of a Speech User Interface and a Multimodal User Interface joined with the representation of intelligent voice-enabled agents.

One underlying contribution to voice recognition not to be overlooked is the Hidden Markov Model. Actually developed in the late 1960s, the HMM permitted researchers to unite diverse sources including language, syntax and acoustics into one probable model. While the technique wasn't sophisticated enough to encompass a wide range of human language characteristics, it did serve as the dominant speech-recognition algorithm during the 1980s. 

Stumbling Blocks

During most of the 20th century, the success of voice recognition researchers was hampered by unsubstantial computing power. Consider that the best available time-sharing system from 1964 to 1983 was the Digital Equipment Corporation's PDP-10, a 36-bit mainframe computer. Still, the system's interactive capability was highly advantageous toward the scientists' goals. The 1990s began to see some of those goals bear fruit.

Listen for It

Technological capabilities became more versatile. Computers were gaining in popularity with the consumer public. Manufacturers were trying to outdo each other in offering faster systems. A monumental development in speech recognition came from Carnegie Mellon University in 1992. Under the leadership of Xuedong Huang, a CMU research team created the SPHINX-11 system. Not only was the system capable of a 5,000 word speaker-independent recognition, it also boasted a mere five percent error rate.

During the 1990s, the first commercially successful speech recognition programs were also introduced. The typical system's vocabulary was more expansive than that of the average human. Dragon Systems was a leading technology with its multiple professional dragon products. It became Nuance via Scansoft's purchase in 2005. Initially, Apple licensed software from Nuance to give voice to its digital assistant Siri.

SEE ALSO: How to Easily Edit and Rename Voice Recordings in iOS

Advanced voice recognition is now commonplace in diverse channels. Its usage is a reality of the 21st century.

*by andreascy*

The Battle between Windows, Chromebook and Mac

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Hi friends! We are friends by now, right? If you haven't before, I would be grateful if you follow our page on Twitter. Please share with others. 

Chances are that you’re already quite familiar with all the options that the technological world provides us when it comes to computers and their operating system.

In stores, you have a choice between 3 operating systems: OS X by Apple, Chrome OS by search engine giant Google, and Windows from former software monopoly Microsoft. Each OS has their own pros and cons, and when choosing the right fit for you, there are a few things to consider for each one of them. 

Windows

Everyone has probably used a Windows computer at least once in their life. Windows is still the most popular operating system out there, used by companies, governments, and individuals worldwide. Because of its huge user base, Windows has an advantage over the other OS’s, as almost all software on the internet is made for Windows. Another pro of Windows is its usability. Just about everyone is able to use a Windows computer. A final pro is that you have a wide variety of choices when it comes to the computer that runs the OS. 

But on the con side, Windows needs a lot of extras when it comes to security. Its big user base makes it a target for hackers, and it’s incredibly easy to get a virus when surfing the web. Physically, Windows computers are quite heavy when you compare them to Chromebooks and MacBooks. Finally, most of the best working Windows computers are above the $400 mark. This doesn’t exactly make it the most affordable computer out there.

Chromebooks

When comparing Chromebooks and Chrome OS with that of the big guys (Windows and Apple), Google’s computer is still in diapers. Nevertheless, it is growing rapidly in popularity. Chrome OS is based entirely around Google’s web server, Chrome, and this is both a gift and a curse. It’s a gift in that everything goes directly into the cloud, making it impossible for you to lose files even when something happens to the computer itself. Another reason it’s a gift is its usability. Even your grandmother could handle a Chromebook! It’s nowhere near as frustrating as using a Windows computer can be for the older generation. A Chromebook is also highly affordable, with most computers sold at under $400. The screen quality is way better than that of a MacBook. 

However, as I mentioned before, the way the Chrome OS runs is also a curse. You are unable to download any software or hardware onto your Chromebook, and while you are able to make a lot of apps available offline, it definitely can be a pain in the ass. Another definite con of the Chromebook is that you can’t fully download Skype. If you want to use Skype, you have to make do with the IM+ messenger, which comes without the option for video calls. For those of you who can’t live without video calls, there is the option of Hangouts, Google’s very own version of Skype. Google Hangouts comes with a few extras, like free group calls and the ability to draw on the person you’re calling with. 

MacBooks

When Apple decided to make the MacBook Air, they were aiming for something portable and high performance, with a great design and usability. An Apple MacBook is often the first choice for designers, graphic artists, and anyone else who has made it their job to bring you high quality media. All of your files, pictures, etc. get stored into iCloud, which makes it incredibly easy to transfer a file from one device to another. MacBooks are lightweight, which makes them great for travel or just moving about at home. 

The biggest con of MacBooks is their price. Apple has always been about the exclusive feel that you get from their products, and the MacBook Air is the perfect example of this. Prices range from $800 to $3000. So, is it worth the price? Yes, it can be. Contrary to popular belief, Mac OS X is not immune to viruses. The threat just isn’t as big, because like stated before, most hackers focus on Windows computers. Just as with Apple’s other products (like the iPhone and the iPod), it is nearly impossible to make any changes to the MacBook itself, which can be a little impractical when it comes to having to change the battery or upgrading the internal storage space. 

So which one is the best?

That is up to you to decide. Don’t mind a computer that’s completely based around internet and Google? Then the Chromebook will be a great choice for you. Are you a gamer, or do you like to mess around a bit? Then the obvious choice for you is a Windows laptop. A designer or artist? The MacBook is your perfect match.

*by andreascy*

8 Reasons to Buy the iPhone 5c

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

A few weeks ago the Spotify app stopped working on my old phone, a Samsung Galaxy Ace. The phone itself was just too old to support the new flashy Spotify app. 

On it's own that would have been alright, but to me it just added to the long list of annoyances I had with limited space on top of the list. 

So it was time for an upgrade, and what phone offers a better upgrade than an iPhone right? I had to choose between the iPhone 4s, the iPhone 5c and the iPhone 5s. Tough choice, but eventually, after camping out in the phone store for about two hours and nearly driving the staff insane I chose the iPhone 5c. Here are eight reasons why i bought this phone and why you should too: 

1. Add Some Color In Your Life 

It’s probably the first thing you notice when you see the iPhone 5c. The colors are amazing and pop out, especially when you compare them to the limited colors of the iPhone 4s and iPhone 5s. The iPhone 5c comes in white, green, blue, pink and yellow with the familiar black front. 

Personally I strongly believe in the theory that colors have an influence on our emotions and focus, which is why I choose blue. Blue helps you focus and relax, and it keeps you awake. It’s also my favorite color. 

2. It’s The Biggest Out Of The Three Versions

Okay, so the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c have about the same screen sizes at 4 inch (the total height between the two only differentiates by 0.03 inch). 

But when you compare that to the 3.5 inch screen of the iPhone 4s the difference is big, especially in the land of smartphones. 

3. The screen is beautiful

Recently I got addicted to Suits, a series about a bunch of attorneys from a big law firm in New York. I highly recommend you watch it, especially on this phone. 

The 4-inch Retina display with a 1136 by 640 resolutions lets both colors and details pop out more than in many HD TVs. 

4. The material it’s made off makes it less likely for the screen to crack 

I am a serious klutz. I think I dropped my old phone over a million times and to be really honest, all those horror stories about the screen of iPhones cracking after falling once make me shiver. That was the number one reason why I got an iPhone after so long. 

Turns out that plastic buffers the fall way better than metal ever will, which is kind for your screen as well. Even so, it might be a great idea to get a case when you decide to buy the iPhone 5c. As with all iPhones there is a huge variety of cases you can choose from. 

5. The iOS 7 

A big difference between the iPhone 4s and the iPhone 5c and 5s is that the latter two run on iOS 7, Apple’s newest operating system. 

iOS 7 brings a lot of changes along with it like:

● Beautifully and more minimalistic icons for apps

● A new and better Siri, with integrated Wikipedia and different voices that can be male or female.

● Control center, where you have quick access to turning things like your WiFi ON and OFF. It made the switch from Android to iPhone a whole lot easier, knowing I can change my settings just as easily. 

● Airdrop, which is Bluetooth made better. 

6. Make better pictures 

The iPhone 5c has a better front camera than the iPhone 5 and thanks to iOS 7 the camera works better, too. 

You can change filters, sizes and make a panorama picture with just a tap. The pictures are amazing quality, even if the subject moves or your hand is a little shaky. 

7. It’s faster than most phones

Compared to the iPhone 5c my old phone was a tractor. Everything runs smoothly and I don’t have to wait for website pages to load or for apps to finally load any images. Of course this links back to iOS 7 again, but for those of us used to slow phones, having a phone actually run quickly is like a breath of fresh air. 

8. It’s cheaper than most iPhones

Apple is a brand that likes to give an exclusive and special feel to their products and if there is one thing that screams exclusive it’s high prices. Apple knows this, and sadly your wallet does, too. The iPhone 5c is priced slightly lower than normal iPhones and especially the 8 gig version is a good pick when you are low on cash.

SEE ALSO: How to Easily Edit and Rename Voice Recordings in iOS

Every week I send out a Newsletter with new articles and exclusive content for readers. It's basically my way of keeping in touch with you and letting you know what's going on. Subscribe to stay connected! And if you'd be so kind, please join the conversation and leave a LIKE if you agree. Everyone here values what you have to say.

*by andreascy* 

Why Curved Screens are the Next Innovative Trend

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Between televisions, smartphones, tablets and laptops, most consumer electronics share one distinguishing characteristic: their flat, rectangular displays. It looks like technology is changing that though with a newer trend called curved screens. 

Unlike previous similar wavy displays that featured a contoured glass over a flat display, these new devices and electronics actually use an innovated curved display that offers a variety of benefits from being more ergonomic to improving the multimedia experience.

About Curved Screen Technology

Deemed the new flat screen, curved technology using displays based on OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) technology, which has made it simpler for manufacturers to enhance or improve two-dimensional screens. Curved screens, which are flat panels that are bent after the fact are also flexible, which means they can be bent with a certain amount of pressure. 

Curved screens are made possible because of a newer flexible glass called Willow, which is manufactured by Corning. It is about as thin as a piece of paper and is chemically coated to enhance transparency and conduct electricity. The thinner the glass, the more curvature you can get. The OLED displays are placed on this type of glass. Televisions with these types of curved and flexible screens can bend on demand by using a remote control. 

Samsung was one of the first to market both televisions and smartphones with the curved screen technology. In 2013, the Samsung Galaxy Round, which is a tablet/smartphone hybrid, was released with its concave screen. The telecommunications giant also introduced a 55-inch OLED TV, which not only had a stunning picture with its 4,500mm curvature radius, but an almost $10,000 price tag to go with it. LG also came out with a 55-inch OLED television, which has a 5,000mm curvature radius.

Besides the Galaxy Round, the LG G Flex from T-Mobile also uses the curved screen technology. Because the curved screen contours to your face, the design reduces the distance between your mouth and the microphone, thus enhancing voice quality. The OLED display also provides a bright, vivid panoramic experience and reduces the glare. In addition to these two devices, it is also rumored that the Apple iPhone 6 is designed to use the same concave screen technology.

Benefits of Curved Screen Technology

Curved screen technology will take some getting used to, especially as more manufacturers create products with it. However, there are several benefits to using it:

- More ergonomic: Phones with curved screens fit more comfortably in your hand.

- Improved multimedia experience: Similar to an iMax experience, the curved screen enhances multimedia viewing by negating the distortion of the screen’s edges and create an image that is perceived as flat. 

- Increased battery life: The LG G Flex has a “tap to life” function that allows users to tap twice on the phone to wake it up instead of picking it up and turning it on. It also has a 3500mAh battery, which produced a longer life than typical smartphone batteries.

Wave of the Future or Just a Gimmick?

Curved screens may just seem like a marketing gimmick, especially when it comes to televisions, since mounting and viewing may require extra attention. However, researchers strongly believe that curved screen displays are the next innovative trend in electronics.

YOU MIGHT LIKE: The Future Is Now: Self-Healing Phones Hit the Market

Smartphones with curved screens offer reduced glossiness typically found in flat displays, and improve screen privacy. That, coupled with the subtle concave of the screen, has opened up the doors to improving on this technology for other products and for future generations.

*by andreascy*

How to Change Your IPhone Wallpaper

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

IPhone is a palmtop smartphone which has combined the camera phone, personal digital assistant, and media player and wireless communication equipment. It was published by Steve Jobs in Mac world on January 9th in 2007 and listed on the stock market on June 29th in 2007.

IPhone is a 4 frequency channels GSM mobile phone. It supports EDGE and 802.11 b/g wireless Internet access, and also supports email, mobile phone, SMS, Internet and other wireless communication services. At 6 p.m. of June 29, 2007, the first generation of iPhone was published in USA. On July 11, 2008, iPhone 3G was published by Apple Inc. At 1 a.m. of June 8, 2010, Jobs introduced iPhone 4. Then on October 5, 2011, iPhone 4S was released. And In the morning of September 12th, 2012, iPhone 5 was published.

ITunes is an application program of digital media player. It's a free application program available for Mac and PC users. On it, you can manage and play your digital music and videos. It was launched by Apple Inc. on January 10th, 2001 at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco. It can automatically download your purchased software applications on all your devices and computers. It is also your virtual store which can meet all your entertainment needs at anytime and anywhere.

ITunes can manage the content of digital media player on the popular Apple computer, iPod, iPhone and so on through an interface. Additionally, iTunes can be connected to the iTunes Store to download the purchased digital music, music videos, TV shows, iPod games, all kinds of Podcasts and films.

You can do many things with iPhone and iTunes. Now some fresh iPhone users still don’t know how to change iPhone wallpapers with iTunes. So today I will explain how to do it with iTunes. The steps are very easy.

1. Download a wallpaper. Then put it in a new folder on the desktop.

2. Connect your iPhone to computer. Then run the iTunes. Select your device on the left menu bar. Then click on the Photo option which is on the top of the right interface.

3. Check the Sync Photo and Selected folder options. Then click Select folder on the drop-down menu and select the new folder in which you put the wallpaper in the pops up dialog window.

4. Click Apply to start Sync.

5. When the above steps finished, this wallpaper is on your iPhone. Then please go to the home screen and click on Setting, choose Brightness & Wallpaper.

6. In the Brightness & Wallpaper, tap on Wallpaper.

7. Then you will see all the photos in your iPhone. Select the photo you download just now and click Set.

8. Then you will be remained to Set Lock Screen, Set Home Screen or Set Both. You can choose anyone of them.

9. Now your iPhone wallpaper is changed.

Please be careful when you synchronize photos with iTunes as photos always get lost easily under such operations.

READ ALSO: 8 Reasons to Buy the iPhone 5c

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*by andreascy*