Eriktronica Electronics

Through The Looking Glass: What You’ll See Through Google’s Glasses »

I’ve spent a little over three weeks with Google Glass, and I’ve noted that the utility aspect of the device is strong, but the fun isn’t there yet. It feels a lot like the original iPhone did, before it had the App Store.

In this video, we discuss some of the quick assumptions about Glass, warranted or otherwise, and give you a look through the eyes of the device in action. Stepping outside, pulling up an address, replying to an email and listening to the latest NYTimes headlines is a pretty seamless experience. Google calls the technology “calm,” since it doesn’t require you to pull a device out of your pocket, unlock a screen or tap any buttons.

The power of Glass will be unleashed once developers start building apps that consumers will love. Until then, have a look at some of the things I’ve been doing since I got the device. For those following along, I hope to have my recipe app available soon. It’s been a fun learning experience for me.

Apple responds Apple iPad mini's $329 pricing »

After Apple unveiled their new iPad Mini, many began to question the comparatively steep $329 price tag for an entry level model. Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD and the Google Nexus 7 come in at $199, so you can get a sense on where consumers will be focused when making their tablet purchasing decisions this holiday season.In a Interview with Reuters, Apple’s Phil Schiller quickly released a statement defending the iPad mini’s pricing, arguing that its higher quality warrants pricing it above its rivals. Schiller stated that the iPad Mini display comes in at 7.9 inches, offering higher quality and more real state than other tablets.

“The iPad is far and away the most successful product in its category. The most affordable product we’ve made so far was $399 and people were choosing that over those devices,” Schiller said.

“And now you can get a device that’s even more affordable at $329 in this great new form, and I think a lot of customers are going to be very excited about that,” Schiller said.

Despite the pricing, I think Apple will see huge sales of the iPad mini this holiday season. And with Apple’s successful iOS ecosystem, many consumers looking to buy a new tablet will consider the advantages of the user-friendly iOS experience.

Apple starts taking orders for the new model on Friday, with shipments arriving November 2nd. Wall Street analysts are predicting Apple could sell about 5 million to a 10 million iPad Minis before the end of the year.

Apple iPad mini Vs iPad 4 Vs iPad 2 »

The iPad mini, announced by Apple earlier to day in front of a packed crowd in San Jose, means there are now three different iPads on the market for consumers to choose from. Whilst the scaled-down slate hasn’t throw up too many surprises – tying in with the rumors and speculation of the past few months – it does now present prospective consumers with even more to consider before making a purchase, so in this particular post, we’ll run down some of the key features of each.

The iPad 2, which has been around for nearly 20 months now, is still a decent runner in spite of its age. Packing in a variation of the dual-core, A5 processor – the same as the new iPad mini – it offers enough power for users to enjoy high-end gaming without any lag. Its 9.7-inch display spans 1024-by-768, offering a reasonable 132 pixels per inch, or ppi, and so if you’re looking for a large screen and a cheap price in an Apple tablet, the iPad 2 is the one to go with.

The new iPad with Retina display measures the same size as its predecessor, but is slightly heavier thanks to its advanced hardware. The powerful Apple A5X processor allowed for quad-core graphics, but having been bumped up with the A6X SoC, it’s now twice as the one released in March, and with a beautiful Retina display to boot, it certainly is a joy to behold. The iPad mini, which we’ll come to in a moment, may have been the highlight of today’s announcement to many, but the third-gen iPad has been well and truly upgraded with the kind of features one might have expected early next year.

As well as the eye-watering processor speed, it also features the Lightning dock connector, improved Wi-Fi, LTE support for Europe/Asia, and HD FaceTime. So much for the menial changes we previously anticipated.

The iPad mini starts at $329 for the 16GB version, and although it’s not as high-end as the new Retina iPad – not by any stretch of the imagination – it’s got enough about it to sell in high numbers. As with the A6X-powered slate, it offers the possibility of 3G or 4G LTE, and with an iPad 2 resolution on a smaller scale, it sits in between its two larger cousins in terms of display sharpness.

So, if you’re looking for a large tablet for basic tasks, go with the iPad 2. If you’re looking for a fully-fledged, power-rich iPad experience, go with the new iPad, and if you want something in between – portable, light, and nippy – the iPad mini would seem the sensible option.

Here’s a comparison chart from Apple themselves which compares the iPad mini, iPad 2 and iPad 4 together. But, choose wisely!

Social Media Checklist: 12 Things To Ask Yourself Before You Tweet »

Social media managers have definitely been known to get themselves into hot water. For example, during a presidential debate, KitchenAid made a very insulting joke at President Obama’s expense, due to an employee who tweeted from the company account rather than a personal account. This certainly isn’t the first time a rogue tweet has made the news, and I’m sure it won’t be the last either.

Whether you’re tweeting on behalf of your employer or just tweeting from your personal account, what you say matters. Your tweets reflect on you and everyone who chooses to interact with you, including family members, co-workers and employers, and friends. So it doesn’t really matter if the tweet in my example came from KitchenAid’s account or the user’s personal account. It was still something the person should have thought twice about tweeting.

You can’t really erase something you’ve said online. People are quick to take screenshots, so just because you delete something in one place doesn’t mean it isn’t out there. And yes, digital blacklists do exist, so a single tweet can cause you to lose sponsorship deals, employment opportunities, and even friends.

So before you tweet, here are ten things to ask yourself:

Am I tweeting from the right account?
Does my tweet fit within my (or my company’s) brand online?
Am I too emotional right now? (If you don’t know, wait three hours and see if you still feel like sending the tweet!)
Would I be okay with my mother/grandmother/role model reading this tweet?
Will I be okay with my children (or future children or nieces/nephews/whatever) seeing this tweet when they Google me someday?
If a potential employer reads this tweet, will I miss out on job opportunities?
Is the tweet clear or could it be confusing for some people? (This is especially important when using sarcasm or making a joke.)
Are the links in the tweet working?
Does my language (cursing or otherwise) reflect my personality and represent me well?
Is tweeting a reply publicly the right choice or would a DM be better?
Have I made my tweet short enough for others to retweet?
Have I used hashtags when relevant so others can find my tweet?

Apple iPhone Newsblog: Report claims iPhone 5 already accounts for 3% of web traffic »

A recent report from ad network Chitika indicates iPhone 5 users are connecting to the web more than any other smartphone.The Chitika study found that since it launched on September 24, the iPhone 5 has rapidly risen through the ranks, and now singlehandedly accounts for three per cent of web traffic from mobile phones.When combined with previous iOS devices, Apple’s ecosystem contributes to 46 per cent of all mobile web traffic. That’s a significant lead over its nearest rivals, Samsung, which accounts for a total of just 17 per cent.

Samsung vs Apple continues

It’s not just the iPhone 5 performing well though. Chitika claims that the Galaxy S3 from Samsung, launched back in May this year, currently accounts for two per cent of mobile web traffic.

While there’s a huge difference between Apple and Samsung, it has also become obvious that the Korean giant has become the leading Android handset maker, with all other mobile devices accounting for just 37 per cent of traffic combined.

Chitika conducted the study by conducting a user agent analysis on “millions of mobile ad impressions, spanning a 7-day time frame from October 3rd through October 9th, 2012”.

While there is debate about how reliable information garnered through ad impressions is as a tool for measuring web traffic, it does reinforce the idea that the current smartphone marketplace is becoming a two horse race.

iPad Mini: 12 Models Are Launching Next Week !! »

Black and white versions of a list of 24 iPad mini SKUs (stock keeping units) have been visible on the web, showing that Apple has set up what is basically a line of 12 various models with storage capacities ranging between 8GB and 64GB. An photo of the “presumed ‘iPad mini’ product SKUs” has been published via AppleInsider based on information secured from people who are familiar with Apple’s product stock… 24 separate device models are the full list… In any event, when the Black vs White distinction is taken into account, the list only shows 12 clearly distinct models, from a technical standpoint.Three distinctions labeled as “GOOD,” “BETTER,” and “BEST” which, according to the source, could point to Wi-Fi-only, 3G, and 4G LTE models, respectively… An 8GB version is expected to launch next week with a $249/€192 price tag.An Apple media event (October 23) is said to be hosted at the company’s 1 Infinite Loop headquarters in the Town Hall auditorium… Tim Cook and his troops are anticipated to seize to the stage to disclose not only the iPad mini, but also a slew of much-needed new Macintosh upgrades.

Apple iPhone Newsblog: Alleged iPad mini numbers show 24 models »

iDB yesterday informed you about a possible price points for the iPad mini discovered in the system of a German retailer. Today, we bring you a full list of alleged iPad mini part numbers, showing 24 different models based on price, color and storage capacity. Most telling of all, it appears Apple will offer the device in WiFi, 3G and 4G LTE configurations…

These part numbers published by AppleInsider suggest four stock-keeping units (SKU) that likely represent four storage capacities. From the leaked price list mentioned earlier we can safely assume that the iPad mini will come in 8, 16, 32 and 64 gigabyte varieties, labeled as P101, P103, P105 and P107.
Each storage option will be available in two colors (likely black & slate and satin & silver, just like the iPhone 5), each in WiFi-only and WiFi + Cellular options, amounting to a total of 24 different SKUs.

Also, this:

Each of the four different product descriptions also come with three different distinctions: “GOOD,” “BETTER,” and “BEST,” which could signify Wi-Fi-only, 3G, and 4G LTE models, respectively. Each model is also available in “A” and “B” variants, which likely identify color options of black and white.

Unfortunately, the list reveals nothing in way of possible prices. The blogosphere thinks the entry-level 8GB WiFi iPad mini will start at either $199 or $249, a $50 premium over Google’s 8GB Nexus 7 tablet.
All will be known next Tuesday, when Apple is believed to be holding a media event to launch the smaller iPad, in addition to new iMacs, Mac minis and a 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display. The AppleInsider report states that Apple will begin selling new iMacs a day after the keynote.
In the meantime, Microsoft has released a teaser ad for its upcoming Surface tablet, scheduled to hit Microsoft Stores on October 26 alongside Windows 8. The Surface should start at $499 for the entry-level model with 32 gigabytes of storage.

Stay away from these iPhone“Danger” zones ! »

Ever dropped your iPhone in the toilet or cracked the screen after a kitchen table slip or thrown your phone in the washing machine, you’re part of the 51% of Apple owners who are accident-prone at home.

The most common iPhone mishaps occur in the kitchen, living room, bathroom, driveway and bedroom, according to Square tradesDevice Danger Zone Survey.

The tech protection plans provider estimates Americans have spent more than $5.9 billion on broken iPhone damages since Apple’s smartphone debut in 2007. In the last year, a recent study by Square trade also shows 30% of iPhones have incurred damage. Accidents happen at a rate 10 times higher than loss or theft.
Here’s a breakdown of how iPhone damages occur at home:

Apple iPhone Newsblog: This Week in App and Apple News »

Apple iPhone Newsblog: Install iOS 6 Siri On iPhone 4 And iPod touch »

When iOS 5 was launched with the iPhone 4S during the last quarter of 2012; one of the most notable and popular feature was Siri, the virtual digital assistant. Siri was extremely well-received but also spun some arguments as to why Apple only bundled the software on the iPhone 4S and not on older iOS devices. Step forward the jailbreak scene with a number of Siri GUI ports as well as the setting up of proxy servers that allowed older generation devices to connect to Siri.

We’ve moved on a little since then and with iOS 6 now officially out in the wild, we are seeing some dramatic improvements to Siri. Apple has made the assistant more intelligent, allowing it to interact with various third-party services to provide business, restaurant and sports information. Furthermore, Siri has gone beyond the iPhone 4S and is now a part of the third-gen iPad, fifth-gen iPod touch and the iPhone 5. That still doesn’t answer the calls of those who want Siri but are still using an older A4-powered device such as the iPhone 4. This method of getting Siri up and running from Cydia on iOS 6 requires a jailbreak on older A4 based devices.