Tech

What I Got for My Birthday: iPhone Xr

March 19, 2019 by Tina Lee Leave a Comment

I had a feeling I won’t get a bag for my birthday and I was right. I got a new phone instead! As much as I wished for a new bag, I needed the phone more. You see, my 4-year-old mobile phone died on my birthday. Quite literally, my damn phone chose my birthday to die, which in hindsight, was so fitting.

I didn’t realize how dependent I was on my phone until it died. My phone has been glitch-y since the battery started wearing out. Before that, I stopped updating the OS thinking that Apple has been slowing down my phone (which turned out to be true). I know Apple has been giving incentives for certain iPhone models with faulty batteries. Mine happens to be a part of the model with faulty batteries, but since I am no longer based in the city, I didn’t take advantage of the offer.

I really didn’t want to replace my old phone because the novelty of getting a new phone has faded a long time ago but I guess I have to.

Anyhoo, I got the iPhone Xr in Black. It comes with a massive, 256 GB storage, but just 3 GB RAM. I was lucky enough to get the version with the largest storage. My last phone only had a measly 16GB of storage and I cannot tell you how frustrating it was, erasing app after app because I kept getting prompts about my storage usage.

Initially, I wanted the red Xr but it’s sold out everywhere. Or at least in the stores that I went to. I knew this would be the case so I went for the black one.

Out of the box, I got the standard accessories: adaptor, headphones, and the charging cable:

The orientation of the camera is different from my iPhone 6 as you can see. The lack of a home button makes the Xr look so seamless:

The Xr is bigger than my old phone, but it’s not the largest in the iPhone X series. The Xr is larger than the old iPhone X and the updated XS but it’s smaller than the X Max, which is the premium phone in the line.

One of the most important features of the iPhone X series is the Face ID. The technology allows for facial recognition and this made the iPhone Xr much easier to open than the now-traditional fingerprint scanner.

The Xr is fairly expensive and it’s the priciest phone these hands ever held. At first, I was worried that the Xr might be too big and the size might strain my fingers, but surprisingly, I can use this phone with just one hand.

I love how snappy the Xr is but that’s normal if the phone is new. Apart from the Xr, I also got a Spigen crystal clear case because a scratch on this thing will break my heart. I also had the screen covered by tempered glass because that’s what kids do these days, apparently.

Overall, I am quite happy with this purchase though I’d rather get a designer bag. Still, having a fancy phone is nice because I can finally play freakin’ tetris when I’m bored or update my son’s instagram, which you can follow here.

How to Survive A Game of Pokémon Go

July 1, 2017 by Tina Lee-Almazar | Tinaciouslee Leave a Comment

Unless you live under a rock, you know that the Nintendo teamed up with Niantic to develop a Pokémon game that you can play in an augmented reality environment with real-world locations. Pokémon Go mixes software with a mobile device’s camera and sensors, turning an ordinary handset into a real life Pokedex! Finally, your dream of becoming a Pokémon master has been realized!

Pokémon Go has officially launched (at least in most regions) and as expected, nostalgic fans downloaded the game. The popularity of the game proved that the Poké craze never really died down two decades after it made its debut on the small screen.

At its core, the Pokémon series is all about exploration and that’s exactly what the AR game is all about. You will literally explore your immediate surroundings, searching for wild and run away Pokémons hiding in the bushes and so on.

The game blends in with the real world, enabling users to go on a GPS-powered adventure searching, catching, collecting, and training all sorts of Pokémon characters, including the trifecta: Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander! We’ll give you a moment to take that all in, your welcome.

How to Survive the Pokémon Go Game

Pokémon Go is definitely an exciting game to play and the graphics are amazing so the hype is real. But the game is not without its challenges. If you’re one of the lucky few who is able to DL this game, here are certain tips to keep in mind:

Get Back Up Power

Prepare for heartbreak, this game drains the life out of mobile phones! According to CyberShack, Pokemon Go utilizes GPS and rear-facing camera, which kills battery life. Niantic is aware of the problem from the get-go that’s why the company released a statement on its website:

“Heavy battery use

Some devices may experience battery drain while playing Pokémon GO for prolonged periods of time. We are working on a solution.”

So what can you do? The Pokemon Go database offers a number of tips to conserve battery life. These tips include adjusting the screen brightness, switching off Bluetooth, reducing in-game actions and turning the audio off.

Apart from tweaking your mobile phone setting, we highly recommend packing an extra battery pack so you can play the game to your heart’s content without your phone dying on you. Also, try to play the game only when your battery is full.

Look Both Ways

Using your mobile device as a Pokedex, you will literally scour the neighborhood for Pokémons. Though the concept is exciting, the game increases the risk of accidents. This is a no brainer but always look up and both ways before crossing the street. Do not take your eyes off the road and always be mindful of your surroundings while hunting for Pokémons!

Be Vigilant

A bit of sobering news, a growing number of Pokémon Go! players were being targeted by armed robbers. According to a Buzzfeed report, the robbers were using the game’s geolocation feature to check for Poke Stops. Then, they lie in wait for unwitting players to show up for Poke balls. Authorities are issuing warnings to Pokemon Go! players to stay vigilant, especially if they mistakenly ended up in a bad neighborhood.

Avoid Inappropriate Locations

On Pokémon Go, users are instructed to get near Poke Stops located in real-life locations. And sometimes, these locations are off-limits. In Australia, the Darwin Police Station has issued a warning to aspiring Pokémon masters to never set foot inside the station for poke balls:

“For those budding Pokémon Trainers out there using Pokemon Go – whilst the Darwin Police Station may feature as a Poke stop, please be advised that you don’t actually have to step inside in order to gain the poke balls. It’s also a good idea to look up, away from your phone and both ways before crossing the street. That Sandshrew isn’t going anywhere fast.”

So before you end up in a hilariously embarrassing or downright dangerous situation (like unwittingly entering the ladies’ bathroom or ending in the middle of the ocean hunting for legendary Pokémons), be aware of your surroundings!

Watch Your Head!

Being aware of your surroundings also include looking at where you are going. Some users are reporting cases of real world pain after bumping into things while playing Pokémon Go! In New York, a 21-year-old skateboarder cuts his hand on a sidewalk while trying to catch a Pokémon on the side of the road. In North Carolina, a bar waitress suffered a bruised shin after wandering outdoors hunting for Pokémons in the middle of a storm.

Although the idea of hunting rare digital monsters on the most unexpected of places seems like a ton of fun, be extra cautious when you’re hunting outside or at night!

Do not Hunt and Drive

Some Pokémons would appear in the middle of the road, on car dashboards, and on street corners. If you are driving, keep your eyes on the road and do not play Pokémon Go! Just don’t. There were reports of Pokémon Go! Players causing a road accident after stopping in the middle of a major highway to catch a Pokémon.

Be Considerate

Awesome Pokémon critters may appear in the unlikeliest places/situations (like this player who caught a Pidgey while his wife is in labor) but there is always time for everything. That means no Pokémon Go when you’re in the middle of a date or during a presentation.

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10 iPhone Hacks You Didn’t Know

July 1, 2017 by Tina Lee-Almazar | Tinaciouslee Leave a Comment

NOTE: This article was part of the content stolen (and published without consent under a different author) from yours truly by an ex-client: Steven J. Hammond or Steve Hammond (profile here) of sylo.eu. Stealing is not cool, yo. All images credited to owner/s.

When the iPhone first came out in 2007, it changed the smartphone industry forever. Almost ten years later, the iPhone remains as one of the most advanced handsets in the business. If you’ve been a loyal iPhone user then you might think that you know more about this phone than average folks. But surprise, surprise! iPhone has a lot of hidden features and shortcuts just waiting to be discovered! Get the most out of your iPhone with these cool tricks:

Enhance Photos HDR

HDR, which stands for High Dynamic Range, is a technology that allows you to take stunning photos. It works by taking two images and matching their best qualities together to create a single photo. The iPhone can take these dynamic photos but you’d have to set the camera to HDR manually. To do that, go to Options > HDR. Simple, right? But the HDR will be turned off automatically every time you adjust the flash settings.

Dictionary

Did you know that your iPhone works like a handy dictionary too? The Word Definitions work to define certain terms. To use it, just highlight a single word using the blue circles, then press and hold. Click “Define” and the definition along with pronunciation and part of speech will appear.

Using the Assistive Touch

The Assistive Touch feature is designed with disabled users in mind. This feature is made for seeing and hearing impaired individuals, allowing them to navigate the iPhone ease. You will find the Assistive Touch button on General > Accessibility. From here, you can access Siri, the home screen, and favorites.

LED Alerts

Did you know that the iPhone has its own LED alert just like a Blackberry? The iPhone’s flash will go off when the LED light notification is activated. To do that, go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Activate “LED Flash for Alerts”.

Faster Scrolling

When reading a web page via the iPhone, scrolling back up can be cumbersome especially if you are reading a long text. You can scroll back up much faster with just a tap. Just find the top tab bar, which is the section where you’ll see the signal strength and battery life icons. Click that area and your webpage will scroll back up much faster.

Quick Access When Locked

You can get your iPhone to do simple tasks even if it is locked. You can either access Siri or take photos without unlocking your phone. To access Siri, just press the home button twice. To take a photo, tap the camera icon at the bottom right then press.

Reveal Native Apps

Sometimes native apps are tucked away in an unused folder because they are not used as frequently as apps you downloaded yourself from the App Store. This works great if you want to organize your phone. But there are times when you need to reveal these hidden apps, such as letting the kids have their own iPhone.

Activating the Parental Control help reveal these apps. To do that, go to Settings > General > Restrictions > Enable Restrictions > Enter Your Password > Switch then toggle off to enable restrictions.

Using the iCloud Reading List

The iCloud Reading List allows users to save certain web pages or news articles for later viewing in a single iCloud account. For instance, if you are not done reading a certain web page on your MAC, you can continue reading on your iPhone as long as the computer and iPhone are connected to a single iCloud account. You can do this by going to Safari > Bookmarks icon > iCloud Tabs. From there, you will see a list of active tabs on the MAC that you can view using your iPhone.

Keyboard Switching

When typing a number, you’d have to quickly switch the keyboard to numerical and then switch back to the normal keyboard in one go. This can be cumbersome for some users. If you don’t want to bother typing the numbers manually, just press and hold the number key. Then, slide to the number and lift your finger off. The number will be typed automatically before switching back to a normal keyboard.

Read Receipts

The iPhone’s Read Receipts allows you to check if a certain message has been read as well as the time and date the message was received. This works great if you have not heard back from someone you just messaged. This feature also lets the recipient of the message know that you’ve read their message. To activate the Read Receipt feature, go to Settings > Messages > and toggle “Send Read Receipts.”

Which is Better: HTC 10 vs. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Face-Off

July 1, 2017 by Tina Lee-Almazar | Tinaciouslee Leave a Comment

NOTE: This article was part of the content stolen (and published without consent under a different author) from yours truly by an ex-client: Steven J. Hammond or Steve Hammond (profile here) of sylo.eu. Stealing is not cool, yo.

HTC is back and the Taiwanese phone maker comes out swinging with a new flagship smartphone, the HTC 10. It is good to see that HTC finally addressing some of the most persistent weaknesses of its older sibling but is the HTC 10 better than Samsung’s flagship phone, the Galaxy S7 Edge? Let’s find out:

Design

HTC 10 features a 2.5D glass and an all-metal unibody. The edges of the glass curve ever so slightly for a more rounded aesthetic. HTC’s flagship phone is about 3mm at the thinnest point and 9mm at the thickest point and weighs about 161 grams. There are no visible logos on the front of the HTC 10, making for a simple, refined design.

HTC 10’s design is not unique, thin, or light. But it is definitely sturdy. The size is perfect for one-hand operation that the larger, more slippery S7. Holding the HTC 10 feels very luxe because of the nice heft. The S7 feels almost fragile compared to the more robust HTC 10.

On the other hand, the Galaxy S7 features a metal alloy body and glass front and back. Featuring a rounded aesthetic, the S7 sports a shiny, contemporary design. It is thin, lightweight, and very sleek all around. The S7’s rear glass allows for wireless charging capabilities, something that’s we are extremely excited about.

The S7 offers support for the Qi and PMA standards. Of course, the S7 also offers traditional cable charging via a micro-USB port down at the bottom paired with support for Samsung’s Adaptive Fast Charging.

The S7 weighs about 152 grams and is about 7.9 mm thick. This handset has a UP rating of 68, making it waterproof when submerged in 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes. Finally, you don’t have to worry about your phone getting drenched during a rain shower! Of course, this technology is not cutting edge but it’s nice to see Samsung offering something new on the table.

Both handsets come with a fingerprint scanner. The only difference is that HTC 10’s home button is capacitive, whereas S7 is clickable.

Display

The HTC 10 features a 5.2 super LCD 5 display with 565ppi density. On the other hand, the S7 comes with 5.2 super AMOLED display with 577ppi density. Playing with the HTC 10, the photos are very clear, very brilliant. It helps that the HTC 10 has LCD backlight to enhance the quality of the images.

However, S7 is hard to beat in this category because it has the nicest display on the market. There’s just no doubt about that. Side-by-side, you can see the difference between two handsets in terms of display quality. This one is a given, Super AMOLED display is the best display in the business so we’ll give this round to Samsung.

Performance

Samsung’s flagship handset comes with different processors, depending on the territory. The US version of the S7 features Snapdragon 820 while other territories come with Exynos 8890 chip. Although there are differences in performance between these processors, both offers snappy processing.

On the other hand, the HTC 10 comes with Snapdragon 820, the same processor that S7 US version comes with. The handset also offers 4GB of RAM, same as the S7 and S7 Edge. As such, you can expect the same processing speed from HTC 10 and S7 US version. Both handsets can handle multiple apps running at the same time without major issues but we do detect a slight lag.

As for storage, both flagship handsets offer the same 32 or 64 GB options. But in the UK, the S7 model only comes in 32 GB. Both handsets offer expandable memory for up to 128GB.

Battery

The S7 comes with a non-removable 3,000-mAh battery, which packs enough juice for a whole day’s worth of heavy usage. The HTC 10 also comes with the same non-removable 3,000 mAh battery, so in terms of performance, you can expect the same battery life from both handsets. However, the HTC 10 is being marketed for its two-day battery life but it is unlikely that the battery will last two days in normal, day-to-day usage. It will, however, last through a day of heavy usage.

The Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 comes with Quick Charge technology, allowing both handsets to charge up to four times faster than a conventional charger. However, S7 only comes with Quick Charge 2.0 while the HTC comes with the latest 3.0 tech. This means HTC charges faster compared to the S7.

Software

The HTC and S7 run on Android Marshmallow but the latter comes with its own Android skin, which is overlaid, on the standard interface. As such, most icons look different on the S7. If you hate the TouchWiz, Samsung managed to tone down its intrusiveness.

On the other hand, the HTC offers a much closer user experience as Google intended, which gets plus points. HTC also noted that it is working with Google to eliminate duplicate apps to organize the interface. The HTC 10 features a freestyle layout, allowing users to place the apps anywhere on the screen as opposed to being limited to a pre-set grid. As far as customization goes, HTC trumps the S7 simply because the handset leaves more room for personalization.

Price

The HTC 10 will set you back £569.99 while the S7 costs £569. Both are very pricey but given the impressive specs and design, both flagship phones are definitely worth the money! Both handsets pack an impressive selection of high-end components including the latest processors from Qualcomm, excellent cameras, and expandable storage!

The only difference between the two is the way each company played their respective handsets’ strengths. Samsung really set the bar high in terms of display quality, performance, and battery life. On the other hand, HTC focused on enhancing the user experience, audio quality, durable form factor, and a cleaner interface.

5 Free iOS Apps for Budding Linguists

July 1, 2017 by Tina Lee-Almazar | Tinaciouslee Leave a Comment

NOTE: This article was part of the content stolen (and published without consent under a different author) from yours truly by an ex-client: Steven J. Hammond or Steve Hammond (profile here) of sylo.eu. Stealing is not cool, yo.

Learning a new language is not only fun, it also stimulates the brain. Unfortunately, not all of us have the time to attend language classes! Good thing these apps make language learning easier, all without paying a single dime:

Duolingo

Duolingo is one of the best and most popular of all language apps. Using the app, you can learn how to speak Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Irish, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, and English. What’s so great about this app is that it never overwhelms. Language learning is done in short sessions, allowing you to find the meaning of a certain word easier. Also, this app offers a leveling up system to motivate users to complete every stage.

Get the Duolingo on iTunes here

SYLO Technology — Photo Credit: bestwaytolearngerman.com

Babbel

This subscription-based app offers 14 languages to learn. Babbel makes it extra easier to learn Spanish, French, German, English, Italian, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish, Polish, Dutch, Indonesian, Danish and Norwegian by providing new words over the course of the day. As you visit various locations, Babbel will unlock new words to learn. On top of that, you can also try various activities for a firmer grasp of the language you want to learn!

Get Babbel on iTunes here

Memrise

Just like Babbel, Memrise offers a subscription-based service, honing a user’s skills to remember various words. The app aims to boost a user’s brain to learn at least 44 words in an hour. Memrise offers a structured way of language learning. You can go on game mode to learn a new language or type certain words to complete a sentence in an exercise. There is a wide array of languages you can learn using Memrise including Klingon!

Get Memrise on iTunes here

Busuu

Busuu offers an easy to digest way to learn 11 different languages including Japanese, Turkish, German, French and Italian. This free app offers customized goals to motivate users to learn a different language. You can take different quizzes to learn every word or every sentence. Although Busuu is a subscription-based service, you can also use it to learn a new language online and offline.

Get Busuu on iTunes here

Rosetta Stone

Perhaps one of the most popular language apps on the market right now is Rosetta Stone. This app allows you to learn a whopping 24 languages. It sharpens your grammar and vocabulary of your chosen language. The first few lessons are free but the full course will set you back $199.99. This is the perfect app for those who are serious about learning a new language.

Get Rosetta Stone on iTunes here

5 Useful Google Maps Features You Didn’t Know

June 28, 2017 by Tina Lee-Almazar | Tinaciouslee Leave a Comment

NOTE: This article was part of the content stolen (and published without consent under a different author) from yours truly by an ex-client: Steven J. Hammond or Steve Hammond (profile here) of sylo.eu. Stealing is not cool, yo. All images credited to owners.

No doubt about it, Google Maps is the most reliable of all web mapping systems. And at some point, this app helped you navigate through unfamiliar streets. But if you think you know how to use Google Maps, there’s a good chance that you’ve never dug deeper to discover the service’s hidden features.

Sure, you know how to calculate the fastest route toward a destination or find high res satellite images but there is more to Google Maps than providing panorama view from street level! In today’s post, we are sharing some of the most important Google Map features you need to check out:

A Look Back in Time

If you are using Google Map then you probably know how to use Street View. This feature presents a 360-degree panorama view from street level. Although the Street View feature has only been introduced in 2007, millions of street locations have been added to Google Maps. These stored views allow you to look back in time. Try it by launching the street view window and dragging the yellow figure on a specific area of the map you’d like to explore.

As the panorama loads, there will be a small window in the upper left with your current location. Under the address is a small clock logo and date. Tap this and a slider window will pop. Wait for the slider window to pop to travel back in time.

Check Real Time Traffic

If you think Google Maps does not come with a real-time traffic report like Waze, think again. You can make your own traffic report and keep tabs on traffic data in real time by clicking the Traffic link on the top left corner of the screen.

As the traffic view loads, you will see networks in corresponding colors mapped across the roads. These markers will show you the traffic condition of a specific area. You can also check traffic conditions by toggling the Live Traffic to Typical Traffic on the bottom center of the new toolbar. Using the data, you can predict the best time to travel, any time or any day of the week and plan accordingly.

Measuring Distances All Over the World

Did you know Google Maps allows users to measure the distance between two points anywhere in the world with just a click of a button? This feature will come in handy if you are planning a vacation! To give this nifty feature a try, go to the drop-down menu and choose “Measure Distance”. A white dot with a bold black line will drop on the map.

Now click the map and Google Maps will calculate the distance between these points. Just keep tapping the maps to add more dots. If you are planning a long journey, you can move these points around by dragging and dropping the white dots. The total area and distance will be presented in both Metric and US measurements on the bottom of the map.

Feed Directions to Your Smartphone

Google Maps syncs data from the desktop to a smartphone. This feature allows you to access a certain address and send the data to your mobile device. Just sign in on your mobile device with the same Google Account you use on your PC. Then, find the address you need then click “Send to Device” on the left side menu.

If your device is not appearing on the selection, check if the “Sent From Desktop Maps” option is toggled in your mobile device’s settings menu. You will get the notifications on your mobile device once you hit send.

Virtual Tour

Did you know that Google Maps lets you take a virtual tour of a street just like a First Person Shooter in a video game? Hold the W and S keys and you will move forward and back while the A and S keys shift your gaze from left to right. Just play with these keys and you’ll feel like walking on any street using Google Street View. You can also use the directional arrows to move around your chosen destination!