iBrittBlair

I Want a Mac for the Software

There are those who know more about technology than I who are appalled by Apple’s high prices and monopoly in the tech world. There are also those who don’t know much about tech but still don’t see any real reason to get an Apple computer. When some of my tech friends ask me why I want a Mac or start to go into preaching mode about how you can get a PC with better specs for less money, I have to bring up the software. 

I want Mac OS X. I am in love with the simplistic design, libraries for documents and photos, the menu bar, and the built-in software. Macs don’t come with bloatware, in my opinion, because the software that’s pre-installed will be of use to me. I have tried to find comparable products in Windows and Linux to the iLife suite and have yet to have any luck. I really want to get my You Tube channel going and am usually deemed the media person at family gatherings so having iMovie and iPhoto will be fantastic. I never thought I would use Garage Band until I learned that some people started podcasting with Garage Band and that is something else I would like to get started. The next big thing for me is the iWork suite. The suite (consisting of Pages, Keynote, and Numbers) is less expensive than buying the full version of Microsoft Office and, though this amazes some people, I prefer the use and feel of iWork over MS Office. Another perk is with Mountain Lion, to be released in July 2012, in which you can stream your desktop to your Apple TV, not to mention having iCloud integrated.

To be fair, Picasa from Google is a great piece of software for organizing, editing, sharing, etc. photos but the newest version is only available on Windows and not Linux. There are some great video editing programs for Linux such as Avidemux (also available on Windows) and Open Shot Video Editor but there are slim pickings for Windows in this category, especially if you count the pathetic Windows Movie Maker. The only thing that isn’t worth comparing is the dock on OS X because you can download a great dock like Rocket Dock for Windows and there are all sorts of customizations for Linux. 

Since Linux and OS X both run off the UNIX kernel, there are similarities in use. I have Ubuntu 12.04 running alongside Windows 7 Home Premium and prefer Ubuntu over Windows any day because of the more Mac-like experience (menu bar, unity/dock, simplistic, better customization) but there are obvious downsides if you’re more Apple-minded like not having iTunes or iCloud integration and not having a good photo program like iPhoto. 

I’m sure there are loads of people who would disagree with me but I like the software, I like that the track pad on all the Macs work really well including gestures, and I like the design. One day, I’ll get my 13-inch MacBook Air (256 GB SSD, 2.0 Ghz processor, and 8 GB RAM, if anyone’s interested) and I’ll stop griping about my software woes. Until then, I just wanted to defend my position on the matter.

Apptastic: Sincerely Ink

The company Sincerely Inc. has several very cool apps that are especially great for people who like prints of their photos. This particular app, Ink, is about cards. It’s definitely the number one competitor to Apple’s Cards app but is available on Android as well. The app even seems to update on its own for new holidays. I like the UI and the designs better than that of the Cards app from Apple and I like that you don’t have to use photos if you don’t want to for some of the cards. I’m finding apps like this helpful now that I can’t make the three-hour trip to visit my parents when I would like. This way I can at least give them something and it’s something I’ve spent time on with a personal message and photo.

The process for getting a card ready is crazy-simple. There are featured cards on the main screen but you can also look by category. Currently there are quite a few different cards in each category, with some cards that cost a little more because you’re donating to a charity with your purchase. From birthdays to birth announcements, Thank You cards to wedding announcements, this app tries to cover just about everything. The newest update right now is for Memorial Day here in the U.S. but I’m looking forward to seeing the offerings for Father’s Day next month. The cost for the non-charity cards are reasonable to any store you’d go to these days (prices start at $1.99 and include postage). If you’re busy, unable to get out, or want to personalize your cards more with photos from your device or other accounts then this app is a must-have.

Some more card options

Finally, here are the other great options from Sincerely Inc. When I can upgrade my phone to the new iPhone later this year, I definitely plan on downloading Postagram. It uses photos you capture from the app, your Instagram photos, photos from your camera roll, or Facebook to send a postcard to someone. The person can even pop the photo itself out of the postcard when they get it. You can type a small personal message that it will add your profile photo to, and the whole thing with postage is only $0.99. They have a cute video for the app on the website and I can’t wait to use it for traveling one day. 

Go check this company’s apps out! They’re free!

Apple Users Show Elitism in Instagram

I saw this new post on Instagram about signing up to receive news when the new Instagram for Android can be downloaded. I thought, “Wow, they’re finally doing it then. I guess that’s cool.” I took a gander at some of the comments on the post and was flabbergasted by the amount of negative ones. Some points of view I can understand and, sadly, share. Others are just really sad to see actually written anywhere.

For those who (somehow) don’t know, Instagram is an iOS app for photo sharing. This is one of the original photo filter apps but it’s also so much more. Admittedly, I’ve become a bit of an addict. You can capture, add filters and tilt-shift effects (or not if you want), and share photos on the Instagram network, which is quite large. Not only that, you can share the photos to tumblr, Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, etc. at the same time as sharing to Instagram itself. Many celebrities use the app in addition to actual photographers who use professional DSLR cameras and then put their photos onto the app from whatever iOS device they own. 

For quite some time, the company has talked of developing an Android app because it would only help them gain more users and recognition. For them, once the app is made, it’s a win-win. Apparently, for many of its current users on the iOS app, this is not the case. I saw an array of comments from ambivalence to joy to sheer hate concerning not only the opening to Android users but toward Android users themselves. I was actually in shock when reading some of these. There are probably tons more comments at this point but of the 60 that I read, 62% are either against or vehemently against Android users having access to Instagram while only 23% think it’s great. The rest either had irrelevant comments or remarked about Blackberry. 

Once I thought about it, I understand one of the points made: Android has some platform-only apps so iOS should keep some of its own too. Since Instagram started on iOS, why not just keep it there so it can be a special experience for those who choose that platform? The ones that didn’t make sense to me talked about the awful cameras on Android devices and that allowing photos from those kind of phones would lessen the quality of the photos on the app and the experience as a whole. This seems a little absurd to me since there is a good and surprising number of Instagram users who don’t use iPhones to take their photos. I, myself, am an example of this as I use my Samsung Galaxy S Captivate to capture my photos and then get those photos from Dropbox in order to post them on Instagram from my iPod Touch and many have said they do this same thing either with an iPod Touch or iPad. I do have to admit that one of the smaller reasons I plan to upgrade to an iPhone next is Instagram.

Some of the other comments were just horrible. The essence of the comments that leaned toward the elitist side of things was that by making this business move, Instagram is letting in the riff-raff (sp?). There were actually a couple of comments on the post that said, “There goes the neighborhood”. I am not even kidding. Many also said that they will just delete their accounts because more people would be in “the club”.

As much as I want some of my Android friends to use Instagram because I love it so much, I don’t know if I want to agree with the app expanding to Android. To me, snobbery aside, the personality types of iPhone owners and Android phone owners are just different. Some do want to truly use the app to take great photos or just follow those who do. Some may abuse the app or misuse it and it could turn into Facebook to the point that it’s just visual noise. However, I do question how/why some of the photos on the Popular page in the app got there when it’s sometimes just overly-made-up girls, self-portrait-via-bathroom-mirror shots, guys flexing their abs or arm muscles, or “duck face” photos. That being said, I guess I’m still on the fence with this one. I definitely see both of the valid sides of the “issue” and, even though I am a fan of Apple’s software and hardware and greatly appreciate their ecosystem being fully-formed, I think the people who act like the iPhone is a gift from the divine and dismiss the people who have other devices as peasants should get that large partially-eaten apple out of their asses.

Mobile AwesomeSauce in 2012

I recently read an article on one of the most addictive sites on the internet (I know, there are many), Life Hacker, in which they are telling people who can upgrade their phones right now to actually wait it out a few months. This is a stance they don’t normally take but I agree with them based on the announcements out of CES and Mobile World Congress this year. Aside from those doozies, there are Samsung Galaxy S III and iPhone 5 rumors abound as we get closer to both phones’ releases. 

There are actually great phones coming to each carrier for once. In the next few months, AT&T will get a friggin’ sweet, and first of its kind, Nokia 4G LTE Windows Phone (the Lumia 900 that comes in a sexy blue color) in addition to the much-anticipated HTC One X that will be running not only the newest version of HTC Sense (their Android skin) but also Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the gate. Speaking of the new HTC One line, T-Mobile is getting the HTC One S, the middle-of-the-road but still fantastic smartphone. Sprint will be getting the Samsung Galaxy Nexus soon and is rumored to be getting a CDMA version of the HTC One X. Finally, Verizon will be getting the new Motorola Droid 4 with its slide-out keyboard for those who want it. 

The best news for mobile in 2012 is that all the new phones released for the U.S. will be 4G LTE devices. Even though Sprint started out with its own version of 4G and T-Mobile is still pushing a not-quite-4G version out there and wanting everyone to believe it’s the best of the best, the consensus among carriers now seems to be LTE. Verizon has the largest 4G network, with AT&T right behind and Sprint will be starting their LTE soon. This year is great for those ready to upgrade their phones, especially if you’re a die-hard Samsung or Apple fan and have the patience necessary for their respective big announcements. 

The New iPad and Apple TV Available 16 March

The world shut down today (well, the tech world) as Apple announced the new iPad, the new Apple TV set-top box, and iPhoto for iOS.

At this point, sadly, most of the predictions that were made about what the new iPad would bring came true except a few: there is still a physical home button, its name is just “the new iPad” for some reason instead of “iPad 3” or “iPad HD”, and there’s no design change aside from the fact that it’s a smidge thicker than the iPad 2. The general consensus in the tech community seems to be the same as it was with the iPhone 4S in 2011: If you have the previous model then you don’t need to upgrade but if you have the original model or none at all, then go for the new one if you want. The new iPad has a ridiculously amazing display (2048 x 1536 resolution and 3.1 Million Pixels), a rear-facing camera that compares to the iPhone 4, 4G LTE compatibility with AT&T and Verizon in the U.S., faster processor, and a powerful battery (the same 10 hours but handling more computing power).

Everything else in the device is pretty much comparable to the iPad 2. Speaking of which, the 16GB (wifi-only) iPad 2 is $100 less than the new iPad of the same type that comes in at $499. I still want an iPad and would be tempted, when I can afford such a device at all, to get the new one but I feel like I would rather go for a deal than the new features because they aren’t features that matter as much to me. I’m sure the screen’s gorgeous but it’s not a highlight for me. The back camera will probably rarely, if ever, be used by me and I’m really just disappointed that the front-facing camera (Face Time and Skype, anyone?) didn’t get updated. I don’t play intensive games on my devices so the processing power doesn’t seem like a major feature to me either. All in all, I may just end up getting a refurbished iPad 2.

The Apple TV update was the news I was waiting for after hearing the rumors days earlier. I’ve had this $99 device on my wishlist for months and it keeps getting more and more functional with iOS updates and now the update to the device itself. The user interface on the device has changed to a more intuitive layout but doesn’t still resemble iOS. Hook this incredibly small box into your HDTV with an HDMI cable and then plug it into a power source. Once you do this you can access your purchased TV shows, music, and movies on the TV; wireless stream your iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) device to the TV; browse your Photo Stream; use apps like Netflix, You Tube, Vimeo, Wall Street Journal, and sports apps on the TV; and rent movies and TV shows in addition to watching upcoming movie trailers through the new Apple Movie Trailers. I’ve even heard of some people taking their Apple TV box with them for presentations and using the wireless mirroring feature on their iPad to give presentations to a TV. I think anyone who has an Apple device needs to get this thing, especially if you don’t have cable or are just trying to cut the cord. The biggest feature of the new Apple TV update? You can now stream video and photos with 1080p HD.

Finally, today marked the launch of the third iLife app to iOS devices: iPhoto. The video looks spectacular and it makes organizing your photos super easy. One thing to note here is, this app will only work on iPad or iPhone. I purchased the app ($4.99) only to find out that your iOS device has to have a digital compass, which my 4th generation iPod Touch does not. So there’s that.

Hopefully the iPhone 5 and iOS 6 will blow our minds later this year and the rumors won’t destroy the surprises that Apple tries to deliver. The next big Apple event is their World Wide Developers Conference in June and then their event in September/October, at which the next iPhone is expected to be announced. To find out all there is to know or see these devices in action just go to Apple’s website or check out Cnet for reviews and hands-on videos.

The Search for a Real Portable Computer

This was a post from my original blog. I’m currently switching from Blogger to Tumblr and will port over a few posts, starting with this one.

Ultrabooks, Netbooks, MacBook Airs, and my hunt for something that’s truly portable

I am on a constant search for the perfect portable computer. My current computer is an ASUS laptop that measures 16 inches diagonally. It’s a behemoth. At some point, I’d like to use this laptop as a desktop but before that can happen I need to save the money, or just come into some money, for the perfect portable computer. Here are some options that I’ve looked at and why.

Apple: MacBook Air 11”, 128 GB SSD, 2 GB RAM

This computer remains one of the best-rated on many tech sites, including my favorite Cnet. Feel however you want about the operating system, the device itself is perfect for portability, though the new OS does have some spiffy features. I’ve played with the 11” model, which at first sounds like it would be way too small to do anything productive on, and I was pleasantly surprised. The main reasons for wanting this besides the size and OS features are the thinness, the ports, and the backlit keyboard (starting with the Summer 2011 model). I still need to save up the money because this baby runs you about $1,000 after tax. If that number sounds low for the specs I listed, it’s because I plan on buying this refurbished through Apple’s refurb section of their online store. The specs are still amazing, the device is still great, and I can get a discount just because it was basically sent back and fixed. Win!

Samsung (Google): Chromebook

I’ve seen many mixed reviews about this computer mostly concerning its practicality. The idea behind this device is instant-everything and cloud storage. To me, this seems like the most productive portable computer I’ve seen. It’s essentially the chrome browser from Google as an operating system. If you’ve used Google Chrome, you know the wide array of apps, extensions, and themes. If you think about it, then, it seems feasible for this browser to be its own OS. The downside is using it when you’re not on Wi-fi. I can’t recall a time when I’m on my computer when I’m not on a Wifi connection, though. If I need to do basic internet tasks or look at media while not on Wi-fi, I have a smartphone. Also, because I already use cloud storage heavily (Dropbox, Google Docs, Picasa Web Albums, Google Music, Amazon Cloud Drive, etc.), I feel that a computer that is solely based on using the internet and Google’s services works for me. With the device itself though, there is no backlit keyboard and that is potentially a deal-breaker for me. It’s also a bit thicker than the MacBook Air. This is a no-frills, Google-centric, Internet-only (aside from web apps that are available offline), 12-inch computer at $350. I’m intrigued to see if a new design may come out in the future but no matter what this remains a strong contender for me. One last disappointment is it isn’t sold at a physical retail location, which makes it hard to get a feel for the device before buying it.

HP: Folio 13

This is a highly-rated ultrabook that is just slightly heavier than the MacBook Air. It has the addition of an ethernet port and a USB 3.0 port. For some reason, there is no backlit keyboard (no idea why that seems to be left out by so many manufacturers). It is still a nice, portable 13 inches though. Overall, the design makes it MacBook-like with a few add-ons and one subtraction in the form of the backlit keyboard. Hopefully there will be new ultrabooks coming out throughout the course of 2012 and will be able to come out of the gate with Windows 8 before the year’s over. This one at least seems like a viable option at this point.

ASUS: Transformer Prime tablet (2012)

I’m aware that this is a tablet and tablets are not the same as computers. The enticing thing about this is the fact that it works. There are fantastic productivity apps, a great interface especially with the new Android Ice Cream Sandwich update, and the nifty docking keyboard that gives even more features. This is an affordable, computer-like option that does the basics I would like to be able to do on the go. I really want this tablet no matter what, especially after playing with the previous generation that my boyfriend owns, but it remains to be seen whether or not it could be used as an ultrabook type of replacement. Granted, I want numerous devices just because I want them. But if I’m spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a device, it’s going to be functional. This tablet, especially if the dock is purchased with it, would be very portable and functional and is only $500 for the wifi-only 32GB version. That makes it a good possibility for me.