Products & Gadgets

Why I chose iPhone over Android

After two years of use and dropping it on concrete floors on several occasions my iPhone 3GS was experiencing problems so I recently upgraded to the iPhone 4S.

I considered an Android based phone however there were several factors that convinced me that sticking with Apple was the best choice for my situation.

1. Like most iPhone owners I have quite a few apps. Some of which (like my navigational and nautical) are not cheap. While I could have likely replaced them, it would have added substantially to my upgrade cost.
2. While I’ve resisted up until now, I’m seriously considering buying an iPad2. The ability to have the same apps on both devices is attractive.
3. Hardware interfaces into my audio system on my bike and in my car will only work with the Apple devices. While I could have just used an audio jack, I would have lost my remote display and control capabilities.

These factors were so compelling that I didn’t give much serious consideration to the Android option.

So far I like the phone. While it has a faster processor, I haven’t really noticed much difference in performance. The SIRI functionality has potential. While it’s the best speech recognition interface I’ve encountered it still needs work.

The developers’ of SIRI do have a sense of humour. After several failed attempts at dictating an email, I told SIRI that it was really f’ing stupid. It responded with “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that”.

Toshiba Announces Fast Charging Battery

A few weeks ago, Toshiba issued a press release announcing a new battery that can be charged to 90% of its full capacity in just five minutes. This announcement is relevant to IP Communications since battery capacity, charge/discharge rates, weight, safety are all factors that can affect the design of IP Communication devices and the associated applications.

I also like the positive implications it could have for alternative energy products (an area of great interest to me). The ability to recharge a battery-operated car in just a few minutes, for example, could potentially remove an important barrier to the practicality of their mass adoption.

TiVo Now Available in Canada

TiVo’s Website confirms that the highly popular television recording device is now available in Canada. The device is available across Canada with the exception of Quebec. Retailers include Best Buy, London Drugs, The Brick and Future Shop. The recorder will set you back $199.00 plus a $12.95 per month subscription fee. The fact that some consumers are willing to pay $155.00 / year for what amounts to be a fancy VCR, illustrates a fundamental shift in expectations related to media delivery.

Increasingly, consumers are demanding custom content delivered according to their specific schedule preferences. While a complete transformation will take some time, the paradigm of couch potatoes being passively fed a stream of content that is dictated by broadcasters is coming to an end.

Increasingly, consumers are selecting their media content from alternative sources. Podcasts, Video URL’s and traditional broadcasts can now be captured and played back at the viewer’s convenience and on multiple devices. More and more consumers are willing to sacrifice screen size and video resolution and will elect to watch video on devices that are inferior to large format HD, if the content is customized to their specific interests and schedules

This trend will continue to accelerate. TVersity and  Orb are excellent examples of new products that will entrench the concept of viewing any content on any device at any time.

The television broadcast industry is about to experience a major transformation. They join the ranks of the Telecom, Recording and Motion Picture Industry, all of which are attempting to redefine themselves. They are all part of an unstoppable trend enabled by new technology.

The fact is, that consumer demand will ultimately prevail. The defensive strategies we have observed to date are doomed to failure. The entrenched industry leaders must adapt, or they will die.

Rick McCharles
Telecom Consultant, Toronto
RIC Services