Posted by Jonathan Pentecost on Fri, Nov 30, 2012
According to the http://news.yahoo.com/ipad-mini-short-supply-until-next-105248859.html;_ylt=A2KJ3CUZtrhQBHoAAcPQtDMD website, there have been cutbacks on the supply of available iPad minis. This is because of the decrease in available parts on at least two counts.
The first is the production of the display used in the iPad mini (as well as the new iMac, which is due to go on sale November 30). The two primary producers of the screen, LG Display and AU Optronics, according to the article sited at http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20121127PD207.html indicated that there are mass production issues with the display being used in the devices and shipment of the screens are down close to 22%, from the expected 40% target shipments. This forced Apple to reduce the number of available iPad minis to about 6 million, down from the expected 10 million devices by the end of the year.
The second issue according to the Yahoo News article is the shortage of supply of the backlight module used in the iPad mini devices. Coupled with the issues with the display production, this supply decrease will not hamper sales of the devices in and of themselves. As you need to have both the display and the backlight in the iPad mini, shortage of both together is what is causing the decrease in available devices rather just a single item.
What about you? Have you already ordered or received your iPad mini? Are you going to get one and trade in your iPad 2 for the smaller iPad? Thinking about deploying iPads or iPad minis in your company? Contact Trigon Technology to find out about our Philadelphia IT Mobility Solutions that are available.
Posted by Jonathan Pentecost on Mon, Nov 12, 2012
According to the http://news.yahoo.com/apple-rolls-ipad-mini-sydney-shorter-lines-003507221--sector.html website, not as many customers showed up for the initial launch of the brand new iPad mini today. Previously, customers had to wait in line for hours to get their hands on the newest Apple offering (iPhone5, 3rd Gen iPad, etc.).
Although sales were still expected to be over a million for the opening weekend, there were noticeably fewer people in line at stores across the globe at Apple stores. The article indicates that most likely the reasons are because of Google and Amazon tablet offerings that are comparable but at a cost much less than the $329 price tag of the iPad mini.
Most of the reviews of the iPad mini were positive, pointing to the faster processor, the light weight of the device, and the ability to compact the iPad to a version that can be held easier with one hand. Wireless options were also a factor, as the 3rd Gen iPad did not offer wireless options like the iPad mini.
At the same time the iPad mini is going on sale, the 4th Gen iPad is also going on sale. This also is of concern with the shorter lines than when the 3rd Gen iPad went on sale. The article indicates that there is a chance that Apple may have lost its main focus with the passing of the late Steve Jobs, coupled with the increasing amount of rival tablets available on the market at a lower price.
What about you? Are you in the market for an iPad mini or would you prefer the larger screen size of a 4th Gen iPad? Or are you on the other side of the fence and are going (or have already gone) with an Android device? Maybe you also are in the market for Microsoft’s Surface tablet that uses the just-released Windows 8 platform?
If you are interested in finding out more, contact us to find out about our Trigon Technology Mobility Solutions. We also can provide information on our many Microsoft Small Business Solutions for Philadelphia Business.
Posted by Jonathan Pentecost on Mon, Jun 04, 2012
..if you have one, that is.
The buzz all around the Internet these days is about the release of Samsung’s “Galaxy S III” smartphone. According to the http://news.yahoo.com/samsung-galaxy-iii-invades-u-beginning-month-113538279.html website, it is the first time that Samsung will be using the same name for the device regardless of the carrier it is on (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless). Previously, each carrier had a different name of the device in order to blend in with the other smartphones that the particular wireless carrier used for phones. The Galaxy S III is set to be available this month by all above named carriers, as well as U.S. Cellular, so you should be able to get one soon if you are so lucky!!
I personally have an HTC Thunderbolt and have loved it ever since I made the switch from the Windows Mobile platform. I used to be an MS guy all the way, but seeing the HTC Android that a friend of mine had, it looked very appealing. It had many more features and options that I just didn’t have. There was no “store” that I could browse to from the phone to download new apps, there was no built-in GPS (I have MS Streets and Trips and the GPS unit would need a converter to connect to the phone), and the screen was much smaller. The Thunderbolt has the Google Play store (formerly Google Market) for easily (and for the most part, free) downloading new apps, has built-in GPS that integrates with both Google maps for planning trips and Navigation for on-the-go turn-by-turn directions, as well as having a nice screen. Granted, I do miss my old QWERTY keyboard on my old phone that I could slide out and use easily, but I have adapted to the on-screen keyboard on the Android phone.
So what smartphone do you have and what stories do you have about trading up or trading in? Would you like to know more about offerings that Trigon Technology has about our Mobile IT Solutions for Philadelphia? Contact us and we can work with your SMB to develop a plan that best suits your needs.
Posted by Jonathan Pentecost on Wed, Jan 18, 2012
So now that I have an Android and the software applications are easier to get than my previous Windows Mobile 6.2 device, I am pleased to find out that the Android Market now has over 400,000 apps available for download. According to the http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/android-market-achieves-new-milestone-with-400000-active-apps/ website, there are now over 400,000 of the apps that I can download. Not that I would be able to load up my device with all of these, but I certainly have made use of a few apps already.
The website also talks about the number of apps available for the iPhone, indicating that it has taken the Android longer to reach this milestone (22 months for the iPhone and 31 months for the Android), but by contrast it has taken less time to make the jump from 200,000 to 300,000 and from 300,000 to 400,000 for the Android. This means that in the over-all scheme, the ramp-up to the 400,000 level grew faster in the second half of release than it took the iPhone App Store to get to the same amount.
One other item the website reviews is the revenue brought in by the apps in the respective sites. More than half of the apps on the Android Market are free (68% according to the article), most of which are part of the so-called “freemium” model. This is the idea that the basic app is provided free (most with advertisements) and an upgrade to an advertisement-free and/or advanced feature app can be purchased. Alternatively on the Apple App Store, more apps need to be purchased in order to download.
As I am a big proponent of the “freemium” model, I am really glad I did go with the Android versus the iPhone when making my SmartPhone purchase. What about you – what device do you have? Do you like it or are you in the “market” for a new one? Contact us about our Trigon Mobility Solutions to see how we can help your business grow with such a device.
Posted by Jonathan Pentecost on Thu, Dec 15, 2011
The last few blogs that I have written, as well as a few in the past, have been about the Apple iPhone. I had been using a Windows Mobile 6.2 device myself for the last few years and only had the pleasure of using friends’ and family’s iPhones. My phone was dying and I was going to see about upgrading to an iPhone (the only reason I hadn’t got one before was Verizon didn’t offer them until this year). After talking with a friend, he suggested I go with an Android.
I was thinking about getting an Android, but because of all the friends and family that have the iPhone, I was going to get an iPhone myself. I liked a lot of the apps that they have and wanted to be able to “play” with some of the features and things I have been writing about for the past few months. So, after seeing the Android first-hand, I knew it was going to be for me. For starters, it had the ability to have Adobe Flash Player installed on it, which the iPhone does not (why can’t Apple and Adobe come to some agreement?????). Next, it had an appealing interface to it. While I was used to going to the “Apple Store” for apps on friends’ iPhones, I was new to the Android “Market”. It was very easy to search and find exactly what I was looking for.
The only down-side to the Android that I have found so far is that my favorite app, Magic Piano, on the iPhone has not been written for the Android. Most of the other apps and other things that I had on my previous Windows Mobile 6.2 device, as well as a few additions I wanted, I was easily able to get for free on the new Android. For the first time, I am able to check my auto insurance coverage anywhere I want, see where I am by using Maps (including directions that rival the TomTom and Garmin) with appropriate GPS, and be able to listen to music using the Pandora app. As these are all free, it is like an early Christmas present.
So, what mobile device do you have? An iPhone, Android, Windows-based, Blackberry (perish the thought!!)? Or do you still have a device that is not a SmartPhone that can do all these fun things? What are your likes and dislikes about your device? Is it easy to use and have all the things on it you wanted? Are you able to do what you thought you could or are you disappointed that you got it and think you would have been happier with another device?
Are you in need of some assistance with the purchase of a new device that could help your business grow by increasing your productivity? Please contact us to discuss our Philadelphia IT Mobility Solutions. Or let us know how we can help you with our many Philadelphia IT Strategy Solutions. We would be happy to help you do what you do best – make your life easier while at the same time advancing your business however you think best.
Posted by Jonathan Pentecost on Mon, Nov 21, 2011
According to the http://www.bgr.com/2011/11/14/a-month-with-the-iphone-4s/ website, there is a lot to talk about concerning the iPhone 4S now that it has been out for a month. The sales of the iPhone 4S have been larger than expected, users have been able to use the new Siri app (see my previous article about the launch of the iPhone 4S), and speculation of what the “S” in “4S” stands for has diminished.
Initially, according to the article, many people were a bit disappointed that the iPhone 4S looks exactly like its iPhone 4 predecessor when most were hoping for a revamp of the look and feel. This is similar to the release of the iPhone 3GS, which was the same as the iPhone 3G release. Mostly it is thought that the disappointment stems from the idea that the iPhone 5 was to be released with a vastly different look and feel, including a larger screen display that most were hoping for.
There were two main audiences that the new iPhone 4S is targeting, as indicated in the article. The first main group of people were those that have contracts expiring on the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 4 has been out for a while but with all the new features, Apple is hoping that those that do need to renew will go straight to the 4S. The design since the 3GS is vastly different, there is a much better display on the phone, an upgraded 8-megapixel camera is installed, and the speed of the 4S from the 3GS is much more than that from the 3G to the 3S.
The second targeted audience for the iPhone 4S is those that have never owned an iPhone before. A wide selection of smartphones is on the market, ranging from Windows-based devices to Android platforms. Apple is hoping with all of the items packed into its latest model, more users will “jump ship” to come over to the iPhone product line.
Those that most likely will not be ecstatic about a change are those that have the iPhone 4. Only minor items have been upgraded and updated, a few apps added to the 4S, and speed marginally increased. The iPhone 4S does not have the same issue that its predecessor had with the so called “death grip” (when held in a certain manner, wireless signal would decrease to the point of disconnection from the network on the iPhone 4), but that and all the changes to the 4S may not be worth updating.
What are your plans regarding the iPhone 4S? Are you going to upgrade from a previous model iPhone? Do you want to try out what all the fuss is about with Apple devices because you don’t have one? Contact our Trigon Mobility Solutions to see what we can do to assist advancing your business. Interested in seeing other solutions we have available? Just ask about our Philadelphia Area Managed IT Services Program to see what we can do for you.
Posted by Jonathan Pentecost on Wed, Nov 09, 2011
According to the http://news.consumerreports.org/electronics/2011/11/consumer-reports-recommends-the-iphone-4s.html website, Consumer Reports is now recommending the iPhone 4S in its recommended SmartPhone list.
In a previous blog post (http://www.trigonit.com/tech-blog/bid/34539/IT-Mobility-Should-Apple-Recall-its-iPhone-4), it was mentioned that Consumer Reports is not recommending the iPhone 4 due to the issues with the antenna if the iPhone was held in a certain manner. This still is true – Consumer Reports is still not recommending the iPhone 4 even with all of the updates and changes made to the original release. They are, however, recommending the latest iPhone to hit the market – the 4S.
A number of tests were completed on the new iPhone 4S that were previously performed and failed on the iPhone 4. They all passed the “death grip” test and there were no issues discovered with the antenna on the 4S that new iPhone 4 models still are experiencing. This is the only item, according to the article, that is keeping Consumer Reports from recommending the iPhone 4. Obviously, they corrected the issue in the iPhone 4S and have not issued a recall of the iPhone 4, so if you want to make sure that the position you hold your iPhone will not affect the signal strength connecting to the network of your wireless carrier, the iPhone 4S may be for you.
Along with the modified internals that now allow you to hold your iPhone 4S any way you desire, it also comes with a few new features, such as the upgraded camera, the “dual-core” processor, as well as the ever-popular (and very commercialized) “Siri” that allows you to ask a question and it responds with related information in a conversation-style format. The battery life on the iPhone 4S still performs “Very Good”, similar to the iPhone 4, in the tests run on the models. Reports have come out that indicate there are issues with the battery life but Apple indicates that it is a “bug” in the latest OS release and an update to resolve the issue is due towards the end of November.
Even with all of these features and enhancements, the iPhone 4S still did not take top honors amongst all SmartPhones currently available. Two that are higher on the charts are the Motorola Droid Bionic and the LG Thrill, which each have a larger screen and other features that allow them to beat out the iPhone 4S. What about you – are you going to switch to another SmartPhone or upgrade to a 4S? Maybe you are OK with the current one you have and will wait until the iPhone 5 comes out?
In any case, be sure to check out our IT Mobility Solutions for Philadelphia to see what we have to offer. You also may be interested in one of our many IT Solutions for Small Businesses in the Philadelphia Area, as well. Take a look to see how we can help grow your business with a solution customized to your business needs.
Posted by Solutions Center on Mon, Oct 24, 2011
According to the http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/24/apple-macbook-pro-line-up-gets-processor-and-graphics-boost/ website, Apple is releasing a MacBook Pro near the end of this calendar year that gives you more in it for the same price.
Apple is scheduled to release versions of its MacBook Pro that have better graphics and processing power in them than previously released laptops. Both the 15” and 17” laptops will come with a faster AMD Radeon HD 6770M video chip than the chip that the models’ predecessors had. Processor power has also been increased in the 13” models from the 2.3 GHz Intel i5 chip up to either the 2.8 GHz Intel i7 chip or the 2.4 GHz Intel i5 chip, as well a larger hard drive (500 GB as a minimum, 750 GB as a max.). The 15” MacBook Pro is now also coming with a faster processor that can be increased all the way up to a quad-core 2.4 GHz Intel i7, which is the same processor in the 17” model.
Now that speed and graphics have been increased and it won’t cost you any extra, is now the time to buy the MacBook Pro? Have you been waiting for just the right time to buy? Well, maybe now is the time. There is speculation that next year, Apple will be making a design change to the MacBook Pro, so if you like the current way it looks, there may be no better time than the present.
If you are in the market for laptops and need a business solution that is right for you, contact Trigon Technology and ask about our Mobile IT Solutions for Philadelphia. We also can assist you with any server or desktop needs with our PC and Server Solutions for the Philadelphia Area. There are also a wide range of other services we provide through our PinnacleCare Managed Services Program – contact us for your IT needs and Expect IT to Happen.
Posted by Solutions Center on Fri, Oct 21, 2011
At the risk of being too cliché, I can’t help but take a moment to reflect on what I think the greatest gift from Steve Jobs was in his lifetime – the absolute simplification of our complicated friend, ‘computing.’
Steve’s vision seemed to be that everything in technology could be done easier and look cleaner, and not be reserved exclusively for us nerdy types who have too much time available and learn how it works. While the current state and direction of our high-tech lives can’t be attributed exclusively to the late Mr. Jobs, he was undoubtedly an arbiter for its core principles of making things simpler, more efficient, and more aesthetically appealing.
Apple executes this vision extremely well, although the other players in the market have now adapted and in some ways out-innovated them. Without the advent of the iPhone, however, we would not be experiencing the level of connectivity between ourselves and information as we do today. There wouldn’t be such a need for cloud computing because we wouldn’t have such an interest in accessing our information from literally anywhere without having to carry something larger than your pants pocket. We wouldn’t miss the ability to share every detail of our lives with our friends and family because moments wouldn’t have become so easy to capture anywhere and at any-time without a device like the iPhone making it stupidly simple. He took an idea that didn’t fit the current model, and it happened to be so good that everything else has now conformed to it in response. Windows 8 is designed first as a mobile operating system and second as a desktop experience - this model wouldn’t exist if Apple hadn’t come along first and made the mobile operating system so important.
RIP, Steve. Thanks for making the digital world beautiful and our lives much easier.
Posted by Solutions Center on Mon, Oct 03, 2011
Yet another tablet has entered the marketplace when Amazon announced its new tablet this week which has touched off a bevy of questions around tablets. Apple set the bar with a massive media blitz during last year’s launch of the iPad. On the day it was announced Apple sold 300,000 units. By day 80 that global sales number was 3,000,000 for the iPad alone. (http://www.ipadinsider.com/tag/ipad-sales-figures/ ) Clearly, Apple had hit consumer gold. Total tablet sales for 2010 were 17.6 million units. Fast forward to this week where total tablet sales are on pace to top 60 million units for 2011 and Amazon announced its own color tablet to start shipping this year. With all this activity the question remains; are tablets a good idea for SMB?
“Within 90 days of its release, the (first generation) iPad had penetrated 50% of the Fortune 100 companies.” ( FROM http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad#cite_note-164 --Clevenger, Nathan (July 29, 2011). "How the iPad Conquered the Enterprise". Datamation. http://www.datamation.com/mobile-wireless/the-ipad-and-enterprise-it.html.) Using the same interface and design to its little sister, the iPhone, Apple made early adoption of the iPad a smashing success. With this kind of immediate penetration it was very evident that Apple had hit enterprise gold as well. As other manufacturers scramble to throw their respective hats into the ring the line between consumer and business has become frenzied over the past few months. The question is what problems do tablets solve? A tablet’s increased portability over their slightly larger and heavier netbook brothers of a couple years ago coupled with ease of internet access make tablets extremely attractive. To pull out a tablet and in a matter of seconds be checking email or hit a favorite website and avoid the annoying boot up time is very appealing. The format is far more inviting from both a reading and writing perspective in contrast to a smart phone and produces less wear on the shoulder than a conventional laptop. These gains in productivity and portability along with low cost make tablets an extremely attractive notion to today’s SMB owners.
2010 and 2011 tablet sales show only a 3% market penetration yet by 2015 that number should be between 30 and 35%. (http://www.informationweek.com/news/smb/hardware_software/229400338 ) With the frenetic activity surrounding this new format it’s time to take a step back and ask the question of whether or not tablets really are a good idea for business. Size, horsepower and portability make tablets viable; the last question that remains is whether or not the application base exists to really benefit your particular business. When you look at the number of applications in the Android App store or iTunes it really does justify the truth in “there’s an app for that.” As an IT consultant the instant access to our own web applications with minimal investment and ease of internet access make the jump into the tablet space a no brainer. The worker bee is continually driving the element of flexibility in the workplace and today’s tablet when matched up with the right software platform are a natural low cost extension and the next generation of what we came to expect from the smart phone of four and five years ago. Contact us to discuss your mobile initiatives. Who knows, maybe tablet sales will save the global economy? Think about it….