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Sammy's diary: My iPad has encouraged me to read.
Something this year which I don't normally do is read more magazines on my iPod. This has been the year that I believe that I have converted from paper magazines to digital and I made the transition with ease. I'm not simply who read a lot of books but this year I have read a couple using the iPad. So what has made me go from reading magazines and the odd book to reading more using my iPad? It's something that I have been asking myself a lot of the last couple of weeks and I believe it's really down to the ease of use. Picking up my iPad just starting to read from where I left off about not having to travel with lots of books and magazines I believe that this has something to do with it. It's just easy, I don't have to think about things I just pickoff awhile I left off and I wish that life was just so simple like that. I think that's attracted me to read more, encouraged me to pick up a book on my iPad and to explore what literature greats are out there. And I think my iPad is brilliant because it educates me to do that when normally I would give books a wide berth. So for that I am grateful for my iPad.
iPhone and Apple enhancing my life.
I was talking to a friend of mine on twitter about Apple stores and just how addictive and inviting their stores are. Whenever I visit an Apple Store one of the first things I lookout for is what new Apple product can I purchase today? It doesn't matter if I already have that product or whether it's something that isn't necessarily essential I'm always looking for the next best products that Apple produce.
Take the iPhone for example before owning iPhones I was happy and content with my Palm device whether it was the Tungsten C or whether it was a Treo. But when it came to be iPhone the devices were just too compelling I don't necessarily need the iPhone 4S, the iPhone 3G would do but the latest incarnation of the iPhone enhances how I communicate whether by phone, email, Facebook or twitter. Of course there are probably better phones elsewhere, android powered phones are very good, that's spec on many of the day latest phones are equal or even surpass that of the iPhone, but for me its the Apple brand, loyalty and the fact that its a cool phone; but I also remind myself that I have used Apple devices in the past, so I know what to expect and also the fact that it's just so easy to use an iPhone. There are no manuals to read, hardly any learning curve, the iPhone just does what it needs to do and performs exemplary. It fits my lifestyle well and I've tried android powered phones and they are good but there is an element of learning, having to shift from one platform to another and I also find their user interface not so friendly as the iPhone.
May I also add that this editorial was dictated into Siri, again enhancing my productivity. Happy Wednesday everybody.
Sammy's Diary: Keeping up to date with news developments.
Today I have been following on twitter and u-stream the developments in New York City with the Wall Street protesters. It's made me think just how much I rely on the means of modern media such as Twitter to update me on news developments. I can utilise these newsfeeds very easily using my iPhone, iPad and my MacBook. It means I'm not relying on TV as much. Also I don't remember the last time I actually spent time to sit down and read a newspaper, my news is now access online and it's fantastic because I can read other peoples first hand experiences and accounts of what is actually happening. Its bank up-to-date and I get an independent view on what is actually happening.
Spending a month using my new iPhone 4S
I can't believe that it's actually been a month since I purchased my iPhone 4S. Within that time I have come to love the device, I never thought it would surpass my iPhone 4 so much but it does. Naturally Siri has been awesome, not only has it been a excellent utility but it has also provided the WoW factor when showing to my friends. I thought initially the novelty may wear off but in fairness as I have found more ways to use it it has become even more invaluable. I also love the camera. The camera is just used continuously, the pictures it takes are absolutely awesome and again this has been another feature that has amazed people especially in terms of the quality of the photographs. Reminders is also something that is great, naturally that asked many to do apps available in the App Store but I like reminders because I can use Siri with it. I may be driving and I need to remind myself of something, just dictating to my iPhone will allow me to add that task to my reminders. It is convenient and very much useful.
Siri has also meant that I can dictate editorials, such as this for PalmAddict. Regular readers will know just how much time this saves me. No longer do I need to use the keyboard when I can just dictate my thoughts onto my iPhone.
Notice the reasons why I love my iPhone are based upon saving time. And it does do that and it does it well. That's what I needed a device that helps me get the most out of the time that I have.
So a month with the iPhone 4S, has it been all been plain sailing? The simple answer is yes it has, I automatically you how to use the iPhone, so the move to this new phone was pretty much straightforward. There really wasn't a learning curve in using Siri, it's very simple to use and the extra speed, and eight megapixel camera have been an added bonus.
So there you go, my initial thoughts of spending a month with my new iPhone. I will, as always continue to post my thoughts and opinions on my usage. In the meantime I hope you are having a great Tuesday.
My iPhone since the battery update.
Since the iPhone update this week my iPhone battery has been awesome. It was pretty decent before the update but I thought, what the hell, and I downloaded it and it's even better. Here is a screenshot, above, of the battery life on my iPhone at 6:25pm and as you can see I have about 95% battery life left. I've used it a few times today and I've had wifi on, Bluetooth and location services off and I also switched off Facebook and Twitter notifications and this also improved battery life. Very pleased with the results, so of you've not updated then give it a go, see of it helps enhance your battery life. I hope that you are having a great weekend.
Just updated my iPhone 4S with the latest software update.
Just updated my iPhone 4S with the latest software update - quick and easy. Let's see how the battery performs with the latest update.
My iPhone is a travellers friend.
Next week I start a trek across Brazil calling at places such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. So ultimately its important that I am organised, I have an itinerary I don't know the places, times and locations I will be travelling to. In this case the iPhone 4S is something that I'm going to be relying on an awfully lot over the coming weeks. Siri is giving me up-to-date weather reports on a daily basis just by me instructing it to do so, I use trip boss to organise my trip, I also use the memo app on my iPhone to make lists of things I mean to take with me or to purchase before I leave and an array of important facts, or place I just simply wish to visit whilst I'm away.
Needless to say, without my iPhone I would probably be very much unorganised and there is a chance I would actually forget to take important items with me. I remembered the days before my iPhone I would have to rely on pen and paper to remember what to take or places to see, guidebooks would also be cumbersome and heavy and now with the iPhone I'm not having to take these guidebooks with me so freeing up weight and space in my luggage.
So I love my iPhone as a tool to organise my trips and itinerary. It's amazing the different ways our mobile device can be useful and because I travel a great deal it is very important that I know where I need to be and at what time, plus what I need to pack and it's great to know that my iPhone can take of these matters.
I hope that you are having a great Wednesday.
Abbreviated shortcuts help save me time.
Abbreviated shortcuts really make my life easier. It's a great new feature in IOS5 and it allows me to basically alleviate my words using shortcuts. It's something I first experienced using a blackberry and was something that I have been looking for on my iPhone. So naturally I was very excited when I heard in the summer that it would be integrated into the latest OS updates for iPhone. Since I have been using a beaters I set up my abbreviations and what I've found is that I can throwout quick also responses to emails, I can also have various email signatures that corresponds with the emails depending on what the subject is or the content. And it just saves so much time.
I think with Apple they are looking at ways that the operating system temporarily save you time not just with abbreviations also with the likes of sirree. But if you haven't used text abbreviations yet then have a look at it, if you have and iPhone you'll find it in the general settings. But if you have another phone such an android then I'm sure there is software that is pretty similar to text abbreviations or at least it does the same task. I hope that you're having a awesome Monday.
Eid Mubarak
To all my Muslim readers, I would like to wish you a happy Eid.
