Android and Google

I am switching side to Android. Although I don't really like it's software architecture (it easily lags so I assume the inside is quite convoluted), it is the most customisable mobile OS around now. And with the Galaxy Note software, I believe it has the capability to surpass all mobile OS as the smartest OS. Lumia 920 has the hardware, the super sensitive touchscreen, but WP8 (if it is like what is described around the net) fails to utilise it to the maximum. Even Windows Mobile 6 supports this touchscreen better (I remember my Samsung Omnia 2, hahaha).

Well, anyway, I have a piece of note to Google, especially the Android department. I just want to say, take a move, quickly. Patent a UI asap, at least the main UI not the customised UI like HTC Sense or TouchWiz UI. Why?

Apparently, it is quite undeniable that Android UI currently borrows a bit too much from iOS UI. The thing is not that it is bad. However, if all the players in the market now patent their UI, Google is losing its choices. Apple has taken the lead with sliding pages to the left and to the right. Microsoft taking the panning up and down in WP8. And apparently, Microsoft is taking ANOTHER UI of panning left and right through Windows 8 (the start screen). Sliding pages up and down is not that beautiful (since panning is taken by WP8). Now that RIM is coming up with BB 10, if it does take another kind of UI, Google loses another choice. My take? Come up with a new UI that is very simple. Hahaha. I can't think of anything else. I have one in mind, but not so easy to use.

Stress

Yeah, sorry about my ranting on and on and on, but I find a lot of junk around me going on. I was not in my full capabilities to write, so yeah, of course the matter won't be focused, especially that it involves my opinion. My two writings before this were not objective, but very subjective. Well, you can agree, you may not agree. Whatever. I just want to voice my inner grudge about those bullsh*t.

Oh, and sorry for my inactivity in updating Billy and Bully and the other models. I am a freshman now and I have quite a lot to do. Will try to update whenever I got something new.

Cheers :DD

Checking-Phone Disorder and the Isolation

In Singapore, many people refer to their smartphone when they have nothing to do, bored, in an awkward moment, and so on. Yes, even just checking the phone: unlock, look at home screen, nothing new, lock. I am sure many do not check their kids that way: I am not doing anything, is my kid okay, he is good, check again later. I can't say I am not one of them, especially that I don't have a watch, I keep referring to my phone to know the time. I also refer to my phone 'in case' I miss a notification. Which, yeah, even when I am with my peers, I refer to my phone too often. In case nothing new, I open Twitter. What the hell. I am trying to stop now, but it is hard.

Why is it the trend going this way, at least in Singapore? Well, I don't want to get sued, but I am pretty sure the trend started since iPhone. What did iPhone changes? Not only the new app list, the App Store, the simplicity, blah blah blah. Before iPhone, the smartphone world was dominated by Symbian. So let's check what has changed since then. Firstly, no more file sharing (meh). Yes. Last time I interacted with my friends on their phone. "Wow, new photos of BoA. Send it to me!!! My bluetooth is on!!! Before class starts, quickly!!". Have you ever done that with iPhone? No... iPhone uses data plan. No need for such stone age shit like bluetooth. Just search on Safari, because you ain't got any file sharing system.

Yeah, damn right. Look from the Internet by yourself. Last time I remembered playing games together (Explode Arena, anyone?) on the phones. Yes, we had troubles connecting, especially the lag on the latter part of the games. But isn't that part of the fun? Now, you play through High Score Board. Even when you are next to each other. Some games do encourage interaction in multiplayer, like Fruit Ninja, Gravity Guy, Blokus, and so on. But what about the others, like Tiny Tower, Monster Life, and so on?

Fine, let us be back to the present when things are changing. We have rising popularity on NFC adoption to share files physically instead of just-Google-it-and-you-will-find-it (well, mostly the sharing by NFC is boasted by Samsung Galaxy S III ads). But yeah, at least there are supporters of NFC around now, with Nokia and HTC joining the ranks. Apple? Well, they still want the Internet way and cloud way, so yeah, no need for the least of physical interaction like NFC.

Some of you may disagree that what I write is not true for all. Well, I am a geek, so I keep going back to technology even when I at the same time interact with others face-to-face. It is now no longer a separate entity from you. What I am talking here is that the current wave of technology attached to us isolate us from each other, unlike before when even to connect through technology, we need the actual interaction.

App Store that is full of junk

Recently, I attended a workshop preview on making mobile apps for iOS and Android. Well, from there, I found out the reason there are a lot of junk in the App Store (and probably Google Play since I don't have an Android device yet). The workshop trains people to use the ready-to-make developing software, resulting in many similar application or application with little effort put in it beside the content. Of course, content is one of the most important part of any apps, but that never means that the apps should be made only to cover the core of the content. The content itself is not required to be revolutionary. Just taking what is already available in other media, put into apps.

Yes, that was the message of the day. You want fast cash? Get something on books or physical games that is interesting or was used often, make it into an app using the ready-to-make developing software, put into App Store, done. No need to put so much effort on the assets or the other aspects of the apps.The cash may not be much, but yes, that was also the message of the day.

New Smartphone Concept: Capacitive Side Panel

I have written this post on 8th July 2012, but as on the terms in Invent with Nokia of 4 months period before sharing the idea, I scheduled this post to be published on 16th September (I submitted my idea on 16th May).

I had an idea about smartphone for gaming. What smartphones lacked are (or were, whichever more valid at the time of reading) trigger buttons. You can have many buttons on the screen or the device, like Xperia Play, but you need to have the trigger button as well (in Xperia Play as well). My idea was not accepted by Nokia but I will share it anyway.

My idea was to make a phone which side buttons are made of capacitive panel, as the likes of windows button in most Windows Phone 7.5. The volume buttons, the camera shutter button, and an extra convenience button if you like. The power button would still be hardware button because if the phone freeze and unibody design or whatever design disables taking out battery, you could still try the power button.

Unlocking could be done in N9 way, double tapping the screen. Of course, if you want extra security, a single tap followed with a pattern would be good, such as with letters. If the device fails to read, then a lock password would be asked as an added security measure or if you have problems unlocking with gesture at times.

Focusing camera is done with holding the shutter panel. When you want to shoot, press the screen. So, the position of your right hand fingers would be index on shutter panel and thumb on screen.

Volume could be adjusted with pressing the panels or possibly by swiping the panel up or down.

For gaming, the shutter panel and the volume panel can be switched into L and R button. Of course, if the device side is completely made of capacitive panel, you could just divide the panel into two so pressing it could be near the edge for convenience sake. Even better, the volume panel and shutter panel positions are made adjustable with such full capacitive side.

Why did I share it with Nokia?

Firstly enough, I am (or was, if I decide to change side) a fan of Windows Phone OS. With Nokia having most handsets of WP around me, I picked it up. Also, knowing Nokia had an agreement with Microsoft, the idea could be implemented easily. This would garner gamers to WP and Nokia could earn more money (not sure if it can save itself) if it owns the patent and Microsoft decides to put it into all WP devices (thus, HTC, Samsung and so on need to pay Nokia).

Secondly, I was formerly a Nokia fan when Symbian was dominating the world and Explode Arena being the popular game among my friend.

Anyway, that is my idea. I know the implementation would not be easy since adding capacitive panels on the side could add a bulk into the device. If you have bendable touchscreen (which was being tried by many OEMs), you could have a phone with its screen going to the side, bent, becoming the capacitive panel as well. I am not sure if it is a possibility but it is another crazy idea.

Synaptics Tech behind Lumia 920 and 820

For those who are curious like me how could the touchscreen arena of resistive and capacitive becomes something shown in Lumia 920 and 820 (Super Sensitive Touch as they call it) which can detect both skin and other materials, here are the links about it:

Synaptics

GSMArena Blog

#switchtolumia

I believe tomorrow's tech news will be full of Nokia's new Lumias. Some key points:

- Lumia 920 has a great camera technology for photography and videography

- Wireless charging

- Lumia 920 has two modes, capacitive and non-capacitive screen modes, meaning you could use it even if you put gloves on

- Lumia 920 has a gamma correcting screen meaning better sunlight eligibility

- Faster screen refreshment rate meaning better view and more responsive to touch

- Can remove people from pictures (such as photobombers... Well, not that extreme but yeah, strangers)

- Curved glass on Lumia 920

- Lumia 820 can change shell for those fashionista

- NFC

- MicroSD slot

Best question asked in Q&A session: ‎"What does Nokia think of Samsung stealing Nokia's Thunder at IFA by announcing Windows Phone 8 devices? Nokia replies: anyone can go on stage and present a device, but Nokia is presenting the first fully-functioning WP8 device today (crowd laughs)" - from: live.ubergizmo.com