News - Android Official Blog -

What is 25? What so Special about 25? Why am I blogging about 25?

Here is why….

Whether you’re looking for directions, checking email or sharing a picture with friends, apps are now an indispensable part of life. And if you’re using Android, it all starts with Google Play, home to 675,000 apps and games. That’s a lot of choice. We’ve now crossed 25 billion downloads from Google Play, and to celebrate we’re offering some great discounts for the next five days.

Every day you’ll be able to choose from a collection of apps from some of the world’s top developers including Gameloft, Electronic Arts, Rovio, runtastic, Full Fat and more. And all for just 25 cents. We’ll also be offering some special collections like 25 movies you must own, 25 banned books, 25 albums that changed the world and our 25 top selling magazines, all at special prices. Visit Google Play a little later today to check them out.

Twenty-five billion is more than twice the distance, in miles, that the Voyager 1 spacecraft has travelled since its launch 35 years ago. It’s the amount of time, in minutes, that have passed since some of our earliest ancestors began to set foot in Europe. And now, thanks to all of you, it’s a Google Play milestone. We look forward to the next 25 billion.

Posted by Jamie Rosenberg, Director, Digital Content

An article from Android Official Blog. For Android Smartphone users, pay a visit to your Google Play Store for OFFERS for the Apps / Games / Other Collections during the next few days. According to the blog, all apps will be sell at USD25cents each! 

cheers...

New Product Review - Apotop Wi-Reader

A picture tells a thousand words…. but what about a movie? Today's product preview are going to be shared using videos. Let the videos tell you how great this device is! 

Introducing APOTOP WI-READER DW09. The best connectivity solution you ever need for your iPAD! 

A brief intro on what is Apotop Wi-Reader 

Don't get it? Doesn't matter. Here's another clip.

So, able to understand it now? 

The Apotop Wi-Reader is a device that are design to solve the common problem of an iPad user. A lot of times when we stays in a hotel, they do not provide in-room wifi but a LAN connection. As iPad do not have a LAN connector, most of the times we will end up in the lobby surfing instead of using it in the room. Now with Apotop Wi-Reader, you will be able to use it as a router by connecting the LAN cable to your Apotop Wi-Reader. Once connected, you can search for wifi using your iPad.

Another video on how to use an Apotop Wi-Reader.

【Feature】

•  Easy to create Wi-Fi hotspot at hotel
• Supports power over built-in battery or USB
• Easy to get multiple devices online simultaneously
• Share contents up to 5 users simultaneously
• Wireless speed up to 150Mbps
• Supports SD or USB drive for wireless file sharing

【Specifications】

• IEEE 802.11b/g/n standards compliant
• 2.400 ~ 2.4835 GHz (subject to local regulations like CE / FCC / TELEC)
•  Power LED & Wi-Fi LED Embedded
• Reset (10Sec) / WPS (4Sec) button Embedded
• SD/SDHC/SDXC or USB flash drive supported
• Includes USB 2.0 cable for battery charging
• Built-in rechargeable battery
• Dimensions: 60 x 50 x 25 mm (L x W x H)
• RoHS Compliant.

Interested in getting one? Click here Connect2Usales. 

The SIGN……

Screen Shot from Apple Malaysia

iPhone 5… The latest craze in town. Everyone is crazy about it and some are willing to camp outside the store just to be the first to get it. In Malaysia, the cost price for an iPhone 5 16gb goes as high as RM3500 per unit! And surprisingly people are still willing to pay for it. (I guessed they are using it as an iPod since nano sim are not available in Malaysia yet)

I can't understand the rationale on paying so much to get a phone that are worth around RM2199 without contract. I mean, the launching in Malaysia is just around the corner. Probably just another day or two before Apple announce the availability in Malaysia. 

The SIGN is HERE! Apple going to launch iPhone 5 in Malaysia soon. 

SIGN 1

Quotes from Apple source

SIGN 2

Statement from Maxis on the availability of Nano Sim

SIGN 3

Screen Shot from Digi website on the availability of Nano Sim

The 3 Signs hints that iPhone 5 is ready for launch. The Date? I guess it's on the 29th September 2012. Just watch out for the updates in Apple.com/my that day. Instead of camping outside the store, all you need is to stay tune on my blog or alternatively, you can go to my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Connect2Usales. Will update once its out!

Cheers…

Advertisement - iPhone 5

It's advertisement time….

Look at the power of ADVERTISEMENT!

I never studied physics before and now I know why…..

Say CHEESE….. 

Thumbs is GOD greatest invention… 

Finally, headset which fits the ear

Enjoying yourself? 

How DURABLE is iPhone 5?

iPhone 5….. the latest craze in town. People are willing to Queue overnight just to be the first to own it.   A lot of critics are writing off Apple latest smartphone as it is no longer a INNOVATOR product. But…. by looking at the numbers of people queuing up are more than last year, and the speed of stocks running out since the pre-order in Apple Online Store proves them wrong.

Those who managed to get their iPhone 5.. Congratulations… I have yet to receive mine as Malaysia is always late. Just hope the telcos will be bringing it soon. I have been waiting for it since…

Ok.. while waiting, I did some googling and found this interesting video from www.ifixyouri.com. It's a drop test on the new iPhone 5. These guys are actually dropping the mewl bought iPhone to determine the durability of the new iPhone 5.

Let's enjoy the video.

Or if you got more time to spare… maybe you would like this as well…

Drop test - Iphone 5 Vs Samsung Galaxy S3

Cheers….

Marketing War - Apple Vs Samsung - iPhone 5 VS S3

The new iPhone 5 has yet to hit the shelf but Samsung already started running ad to attack APPLE Latest Phone! 

Nice ad, huh…. but I, as a user for both Apple and Samsung phones, both have the own pros and cons and the ad above are a bit misleading. It's like comparing orange to banana instead of the same class.

My View on this.

1. Screen size - bigger screen means bigger phone and not everyone in this world likes to carry a 4.8" phone in their pocket. It relies heavily on user preference over size of the phone.

2. Display - Both company boasts on how clear is the screen. Theoretically, I'm not sure which one is better but practically, I think both around the same. On average, a person eye can't really differentiate the difference between a Retina Display and a HD super AMOLED. Trivia : How many USERS are actually setting the brightness to 100% ? I don't… Do you? Again, how important this comparison will be?

3. Standby - The definition of standby means you just keep your phone aside without using it. NO CALLS, NO SMS, NO WHATSOEVER… So again, this comparison is meaningless… unless there are a genius out there who bought a phone for the purpose of "standby" only…

4. RAM - The higher the ram, the more and the better performance your phone. Again, this will rely on the OS. IOS had proven that they do not need a lot of RAM to give the BEST PERFORMANCE! Just look at iPhone 4/4s. Only 512mb RAM but yet no one complains on it. 

5. Siri and S Voice - Personally I prefer Siri since she can understand my slang better… S Voice probably for those with better english pronunciation. Tried both but Siri seems better for me. S Voice are clear when used to dictate SMS but not in searching for my CONTACTS.

6. Storage - This is the area i guessed Apple need to improve. Having an external storage would be extremely useful especially for people who likes to takes photo and videos. 

7. IOS - I think a lot of people agreed that Android is laggy and problematic although they provides a lot of customisation. But Android 4.1 a.k.a. Jelly Bean improves a lot on the user experiences. I am currently using a Samsung Galaxy Nexus with Jelly Bean update and the performance is superb. The best version I ever use for Android. And since Nexus is a mid range phone, imagine what S3 can offers when they get the Jelly Bean updates. But until that day arrives, I still betting on IOS to be a better OS.

8. Different plug? Thats something I really don't understand. Why? So Apple can make more money by selling an adapter? LoL!!! I vote on S3 on this for sticking on microusb.

9. The rest…. hmm… NFC is practically useless in Malaysia, S Beam is just another name for contact transfer, I can also use my favourites to do a direct call, SMART ALERT? I don't think its very smart though… tilt to zoom? hmm.. how useful is this? Shake to update? I am sure most will turn off this features. Imagine a person goes clubbing and while dancing, the phone keep searching of updates. By the time you finish your dance, your battery life left 10%! Now, how useful is that?

Conclusion - Every phone comes with pros and cons. All the ads out there are created to convince consumers that they are the best. So as a SMART CONSUMER, you should really think on what is your NEED and WANTS when buying a phone. Talk and discuss with your seller and they should be able to advise you. Why pay for RM2K when you only need a phone to Call, SMS and Alarm? A normal phone cost less than RM100 also can do the job… 

Happy Reading and Good night…

Cheers

iPhone 4S - New Pricing

Try and guess what phone is this? It's the latest craze in town and a lot of people are willing to queue for it.

YES. You are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! It's an iPhone 5 and it just launched on the 12th September 2012 in the U.S. 

It comes with NEW FANTASTIC FEATURES and expected to reach MALAYSIA before CHRISTMAS.

Are you going to get one? 

NO? You don't think its tempting enough to convince you to buy one? Or you still prefer the iPhone 4S?

Ok. As usual, when APPLE launches a new model of iPhone, the previous model will have a drop in price. Today topic is on the new pricing of the iPhone 4S. It might not be the latest one but it does most of the things iPhone 5 expected to offer. You still get SIRI, IOS 6, 8mp Camera and many more. And most important, it COMES with A NEW PRICING!!!!

Here are the prices offered. You do the comparisons ya…

From Celcom Website 

From Maxis Website

From DIGI Website

And finally, from APPLE STORE MALAYSIA WEBSITE

So, that's the pricing for the top 3 telcos in Malaysia and Apple Store Malaysia. If you still prefer the iPhone 4S and want to get one, probably this will help. 

Enjoy… Cheers….

 

Pre-Order of iPhone 5 - Are you going to get one too?

Hi,

As you might already know, the pre-order event for iPhone 5 started this morning and the first delivery expected to be on the 21st September 2012. Currently it's only available for AT&T, Sprint and Verizon, and with countries like US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, France and Germany also will be able to make a pre-order. For those who are curious, Malaysia "might" be getting their iPhone 5 after that, probably the second batch.

So are you planning to get one once it's officially available in Malaysia? Or are you going to get a friend to buy one from Singapore? Or you decided not to get one since it's no longer "SPECIAL" post Steve Jobs era? Going through website you will see a lot of comments on the iPhone 5 no longer special and exciting comparing those days when Jobs are presenting it…

Some of the feedbacks from the world….

1. i feel u can go for the s3 rather than i phone 5. s3 is proven to be a gud fone. as for i phone 5 - i feel tht they wd be carrying the same stuff except for the display size. - From GSMARENA

2.  i live in the uk and i'll never buy an iphone 5 or as it should be known as the iphone 4s+ as not enough has changed to make it a new phone, it's 1 row of icons longer, a new cpu/gpu probably still clocked at 1Ghz, 1Gig of ram and a new 19 pin usb connector. wow apple really know how to push the boundaries of technology. couple this with ios 6 and what you got, the same damn
phone as the first iphone and i bet a 6year old could use it as the childish icons need to be worked on to make it more appealing to a grown up (adult). and as for itune its the worst experience of my life it lost over half my music collection (over 200Gb) on its first day on my pc. - From GSMARENA

3. iPhone 5 has better design than Galaxy S3 despite has 4 inch screen. 
The body of iPhone 5 made of high quality metal and glass but Galaxy S3 made of cheap plastic.
For sure iPhone 5 is my choice. - From GSMARENA

So, there are mixed reactions on the new iPhone 5. So which group you are in? 

Regardless whether you are going to get one or not, I am going to grab one for myself. And if the wallet permits, I am going to get it once my supplier got it. 

A glance on the key features of iPhone 5.

• New IOS 6 installed - WOW! Great ! Amazing !
• 4" Retina Display Screen with 326ppi pixel density! 
• Only 112gm - WOW! You said S3 was light? This is 21gm lighter than S3
• New Apple A6 processor - 2x faster processor and graphic performance!
• Low battery consumption - I only hope it can last 24hours on heavy use!
• 4G LTE Network - Faster INTERNET! No 4G in Malaysia? No worries - DIGI is currently under upgrading process to offer LTE service and expected to complete by end of 2012!

A video to make you drool.. Hands on iPhone 5

Enjoy.

Small Talk - Difference between AP, Original & Water Set for Mobile Phone

  

Most of us owned a mobile phones and most comes with warranty for at least 1 year. However, are we aware of the difference between the warranties given by each retailer? Today, I would like to share on whats the difference between an Original warranty, AP Warranty and Water Set.

Any questions so far? If yes, please comment on the post. If no, then we proceed.

There are many questions on what is it so important to make a right choice when buying a phone? Why would someone pay the extra few hundred dollars for the original set while some are willing to get an AP set at a lower price? Let's us go through some of the common questions asked.

Q1. The warranty between an Original Set and AP set are the same. So why should I pay extra for an Original set?

A1. While the duration of the warranty provided are the same, the terms and conditions would varies from one to another. Most original phones warranty covers LCD and accessories for 12 months while the AP only covers the phone for 12months to 24 months but the LCD are not covered. For the accessories, most would only cover for 6 months. For a Water Set, the seller might not even give you any warranty for the phone! 

Q2. Why is it so important to have original warranty? I still bring the phone to the shop I bought from should anything happens!

A2. We do not know what will happens in the future unless we can read it. If you are buying an AP set, any problems with the phone you will need to bring it back to the shop. If the shop closed down, then you can kiss your warranty good bye. On top of that, most AP set are being repaired by third party technicians. If they can't fix it, they will tell you a lot of stories that the damage is caused by you and warranty does not cover it! Again, kiss your warranty good bye.

Q3. Some local package does not come with additional accessories compared to those launched overseas. For example, local sets do not come with extra battery while some countries gives extra battery as part of the package. 

A3. While some AP sets comes with additional accessories, most are not. Some accessories might not even suits our country. For example, the charger. Due to different voltage and plugs in the world, the AP set you got might contains charger that has different pin than the standard one in Malaysia. 

Q4. What others problems i might face / experienced if I bought an AP set?

A4. For those who are lucky, then your phone will works as good as an Original set. But for those who are not, you might be getting a recond set instead of a new one. Some retailer brings in a used or refurbished phone and sell as a new set. This means you might be paying for a new phone but the fact is, the phone are a refurbish unit.

Knowing the difference of the different types of warranty, any questions? If not, let's proceeds.

Ok. Now I am willing to pay for the Original Set. But how do I know if the set is original?

There are many ways to differentiate an original phone over an AP set. The main one is the coverage of warranty. Ask the retailer and they will tell you. If not, just look at the warranty card. 

List of Authorised Dealer for Original Phones.

1. Apple - Apple International

2. HTC - SIS

3. Samsung - SME / FMG 

4. Nokia - Zitron / Avaxx

5. LG - Zitron

6. Sony Ericsson - Midlands / Thorus

7. Motorola - Brightstar / MDM

8. Blackerry - Brightstar 

There might be new appointed Authorised Dealer so you will need to check with the reseller.

Another way of identifying the warranty of the phone would be checking the IMEI. You are advised to check the IMEI on the phone against the box to ensure it match. Otherwise, demand for another unit! 

Lastly, you can compare the pricing of the phone. An original SME set Samsung Galaxy S3 are selling at around RM1950 - RM2199. If some one offers at RM1700 and below, you should suspects on the authenticity of the phone. 

Example of a AP warranty card

That's all for tonight. Again, if you have any questions or comments, please write it below.

My Opinion - When to change your Mobile Phone -

When to change your mobile phone? Now days, with telco tying up contracts for an average of 24 months, most of us will probably change our phone after our contracts end. A contract will indicate that it'e time to ditch the current phone for a newer model. Well, we are not alone. According to the data from Recon Analytics in 2011, Americans change their phone on an average of 21.7 months, making them the most often users that change their mobile phones in the world. As for the Indians, the keep their phones for an average of 93.6 months before the get a new one.

For more data on the handset replacement cycle, refer to the Table 1 below.

What about you? How often do you change your phones? Do you also wait till your contract ends or you change it every time there is a new model available? I do come across people who used to change their mobile phones every time a new model released. As for myself, i try to change it before the end of the warranty or if I really likes the phone, I will change it before my battery drop dead.

Things I consider before I change my phone.

1. How long my warranty left? This is the most important aspect as once the warranty expired, the value of the phone will drop at least 20% - 30% than those still under warranty. Every RM100 drop RM30! 

2. Resale Value. With new models keep launching, it's difficult to sell an used phone at a high price. Currently, only Apple hold the highest resale value as the design only change every 2 years despite new model being launch every year. So, even if you are holding an iPhone 4, it still looks the same as iPhone 4S thus the price for iPhone 4 still remained higher than other models. Do remember that, the earliest you change your phone, the higher resale value will be higher. Classic example, I bought a phone today at RM2000. After 3 months, I sell it for RM1600. Another scenario, my brother bought a phone today at RM2000 and keep it for a good 1.5 years before the battery began to have problems. Knowing the problem, he decided to sell it away but unfortunately, the model is outdated, out of warranty and got battery issues. So, he might only able to sell it around the price of RM400 - RM500 depending on phone models. If the phone do not have replaceable battery, then good luck. You consider yourself lucky if people are willing to pay even RM300. So the next time you buy a phone, check if the battery are replaceable or not. 

3. Battery life cycle. With an average of 500 charge cycle for a lithium ion battery (standard battery type for most mobile phones). A smart phone battery can only last approx. 16.4 months if you charge it on a daily basis if your battery was lower than 20% capacity. More details on battery life cycle. Refer to: Battery Life Cycle. 

Those are things I consider before getting a new phone. What about you? Share your comments here. 

Credit to Recon Analytics for the data.