Last week, I transplanted my SIM card once again. A couple months from now, it would be Apple’s WWDC 2013. We all can guess what that entails. iOS 7’s possible revamp is one of the encouragements for me to switch back because I’m just DYING to see what’s new (although, unfortunately, I’m now on a 4S so there’s no guarantee I’ll get all the new features if any).
But the main thing, how did it feel coming back to iOS. Honestly, my productivity on my phone went up, but my productivity in real life got a little lower (I kid). What I really mean is that I really got the sense that I was able to do MORE on iOS than on WP8. Call me a sucker at using WP8 but based on the couple months I had the HTC 8X in my pocket, I did less on it that on my iPhone (which would explain the 8X’s better battery life, I guess). Personally, I felt that Apple was definitely way ahead in user navigation on the device than other companies. It was evident in the experiences I got with both devices. Perhaps, the time with 8X was too short, but oh well.
Before I end off, there’s one thing I did miss about the 8X: the BIGGER screen. No iP5 for me :(
The past days have been interesting for my digital life. The Switch is known to many tech veterans out there as that time when they transitioned between two platforms: Most commonly Windows PC to Macintosh.
Oddly for me though, I’m in a different position. I’ve switched operating systems but not in the most common scenarios. Straight to the point: I’ve switched from iOS to Windows Phone 8. Traded my iPhone for a HTC 8X.
Not here to talk about why I picked that particular Windows Phone, but rather to share the difference on my digital life after the switch.
THE APPS
As anyone would expect, the marketplace for Windows Phone is significantly limited compared to the iOS App Store. Honestly, the quality of some apps are just embarrassing. Not sure if Microsoft wanted to make room for Google but their self published Youtube ‘app’ is just awful. It’s basically a browser opener. Sure there are better third party apps out there notably, Metrotube. But it’s a paid client for a free service. Sorry, I’m kind of cheap. On the plus side, some apps I’ve come to know and love followed me through the switch as well: Facebook, Twitter and ,especially, Evernote. It did take a little time to get used to the new UI bases for these apps but it was an ‘ok’ refresh.
EBOOKS
EBooks have been quite important to me. I’d read them in the train on my way to school. I’ve gotten quite used to the iBooks environment on iOS. For all potential buyers of Windows Phone 8, you’ll be happy to know that there’s a pretty good system in using. I found a pretty good eBook reader for WP8, Legimi. It allows me to import epubs from Skydrive. SkyDrive,becomes my new mode,of,transferring documents back and forth, including documents I write in Office on my phone. Back to the books, thus far, the experience of reading hasn’t been too different, there was just a difference with the transferring of eBooks.
MEDIA CONTENT
I was worried at first that I might lose the convenience of easily syncing media across my Mac to my Phone. But fortunately there already had a Windows Phone sync client available on the Mac App Store. Syncing music from my iTunes library to Windows Phone has never been simpler.
MAPS
Something many mobile users hold dear is the Maps functionality of their device. Just a note: Back on the iPhone, I was a proud Google Maps user. It felt really fluid and its functionality was unmatched at least in my opinion. Right now on WP8, what do I use? WP8 does offer their own Map service though for a person who has relied on Google Maps heavily, it felt like replacing an airplane with a car. Thankfully, a quick search revealed an adequate alternative to the service, gMaps. Though it does lack some cool features like turn by turn or flyover which were available to both Apple and Google Maps, it did its job well by being able to tell me where I was and where the nearest train station was.
IN CONCLUSION
The switch hasn’t exactly been as torturous as I thought it was. Sure, I’ll be honest, a switcher from iOS to WP8 definitely faces some issues and hindrances. I mean who wouldn’t for a major switch. However, this has acted as a great refresh for me. Goodbye to the tiled pages and Hello to Live Tiles.
Picked up the old model Wii from my friend for Christmas…time to give this baby a try
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It has been AGES since my last entry but I’m back. Remember that post when I did a little mention about my plan for the zombie apocalypse? Well, for once, it is possible for me to see if it works :D I’m talking about none other then a launch title for the new WiiU, “ZombiU”. It is thus far, the most intense zombie game I have ever seen. Hang on, didn’t I say I was an Xbox guy?
Well, perhaps one of the factors that made me have a soft spot for ZombiU is the fact that it’s on the most unexpected platform (to me at least), WiiU. To think, my friend’s collection of Mario, Zelda, Starfox and Metroid was going to have a new addition, the Horde.
I’m not going to comment on the specs of the game graphically and what not but I have to say, I really appreciate the way the developers design the story around the part medieval part modern atmosphere of London. I find that I am suddenly able to CONNECT to such a story better as it seems to match the current timeline well.
Like any other good survival game, there’s always the beloved voice of wisdom in the game, in this case “The Prepper”. And the way they drop you into the game at the first time, you are instantly submerged in a heap of horde trouble.
I think the most interesting to me is the way how dying becomes part of the gameplay significantly and for good reason. When a character dies, you do not lose any progress nor have some reload from checkpoint thing but rather, you are put in the boots of another character and have to ‘hunt’ yourself to restore your old gear. Not sure about you guys, but I have not seen something like that before.
SO am I getting it? Nope (I can’t believe I’m saying this but…) unfortunately. I won’t be getting a WiiU. Perhaps sometime in the future. But I have to say, it is a great leap for Nintendo to expand their reach to more gamers.
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Ever since 2007, we’ve been using what we remember as smartphones. (Sure there were the old guys who came earlier, but I’m gonna assume that not many still remember them today.) Since 2007, the famous launch of the first iPhone, pretty much all companies who hope to compete in the smartphone market has moved to multi-touch screens, a reasonably good camera, a good operating system and a good battery life. These features are basically essential for a smartphone these days, and anything less will be unacceptable. Now, RIM is sorts trying to do that. We can see how they’re trying to implement all this necessities looking at their Dev Alpha B. I have to say, I first saw it on The Verge’s website. With Blackberry 10, it certainly seems RIM is heading in the ‘right’ direction in terms of making a “no less than standard” smartphone”. (I really like the way the user can unlock Blackberry 10 by the way.) However, the question on my mind is: Could RIM doing a standard smartphone actually be a PLUS for them OR could it actually be a problem? With Blackberry 10, RIM really has to make this their A-game if they want to even have a chance against the top dogs, iOS and Android…even upcoming Windows Phone 8. Blackberry 10 does have its potential but, does RIM really have a miracle product on their hands OR could they be a little too ‘late’ for this particular point of entry?
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Entry: It’s been a while since my last entry. I’d probably want to talk about the iPhone 5 but…
YOU KNOW WHAT? ONE WORD:
Jealousy
Well, I’ll just wait for next year.
