After nearly 4 years with a Samsung Galaxy Note 2, I upgraded to the Note 7.
I pre-ordered the device and had it the very first day it was available. It never ran hot, or even warm. The warmest it ever was is after leaving it on the charger well after it was charged to 100%. Even then, when I took it off the charger, it still ran cooler than every other smartphone that my entire family has ever owned in normal operating condition in the middle of winter. Aside from the gimmicky curved edge screen, which makes the device look pretty but functions as a completely unreliable writing surface (so true, I have to question Samsung's decision to not allow consumers the choice it has previously, between getting a flat screen model and a curved glass model, as the Note has always been equipped with a hypersensitive S Pen and it is intended as an unrivaled creative's platform), and the smaller usable screen size of the Note 7 (which increases typo occurrence incidences exponentially), it has otherwise never given me an ounce of trouble.
While the smaller curved edge glass screen is a considerable design flaw, the Note 7 ran impressively quickly despite all the different and varied applications that I ran on the device. I honestly can't believe that there was an electronic engineering issue. Remember, the Note 7 was reportedly exploding into a small fireball when completely powered down. This seems to speak to either sabotage by someone during assembly in the clean room (perhaps a disgruntled employee adding a pinch of metal dust into the battery compartment, or someone whos careless and sweat fell directly into it and pooled in the battery as they worked on it - then the watertight and airtight device didn't allow for the perspiration to evaporate or otherwise escape) or an engineering flaw where some barometric sensitive sensor shorted-out the device.
The very fact that I had to turn-in my Note 7 once, after waiting years to find an upgrade device that I would not only settle for, but also be stuck with for the next couple of years, shows how loyal I was to the Note platform. But frankly, the end of the true Note line of phablets ended with version 4, when Samsung decided to stop supporting microSDcards with the Note 5, which is exactly why most smartphone users chose Google's Android smartphone platform over Apple's iOS platform iPhone.
Quite honestly, I cannot believe that Apple does not even come-up with their own proprietary removable storage card solution. If I go out and record my son's ball game, I am going to be consuming 4 GB of space in full High-Definition. Now that 4K UHD (Ultra High Definition) is available at nearly quad the resolution of Full HD, the same recording would consume 8 to 12 GB of storage (depending on detail capture settings and video compression settings).
Relying on the cloud for UHD video recording and high resolution photo storage is not only a means of embezzling from their own customers and requiring (usually overpriced) subscriptions, but it also adds significantly to the noise and load of the cellular data networks, as well as internet junk traffic. And mobile data networks are not so reliable, especially in rural and developing areas. Quite honestly, pushing everyone to the cloud is bullying and the result of this is data air-time spam, because it is neither necessary, convenient nor secure. How many times do we have reports that the internet is down (not only locally, but nationally under significant attack by foreign agents)? And no matter how secure the cloud is reported to be, the idea that we should trust anyone with our personal photos and videos is sinful for anything but back-up purposes.
The issue is not that the cloud may or may not be secure, it is that humans are fallible. The very fact that we are relying on the cloud as a storage solution for anything but incremental backups puts us at a specific disadvantage in securing our own data, and opens us up to ransomware, exploitation, blackmail and even the authorized snooping and sharing of our private lives and documents by anal governmental scrutiny. Although hacking the cloud may seem a hard task, the rewards of doing so, and the payoff so tremendous, I can pledge to you that great risks will be taken and over the course of time, it will be done.
All of this is the result of engineering stupidity. The whole system is designed this way not out of convenience (because it is not), not out of security (because the cloud will not only be hacked, but the NSA is constantly cataloging anything and everything that transpires over the air and on the internet), but only as a marketing tool in order to sell you more services (the cloud) which everyone will eventually have to charge for in order to keep it safe... and yet everything is shared with the NSA and nothing (not one iotta of data or voice) transmitted is ever secure.
As a few examples, I will mention that... Yahoo has admittedly been sharing everything with the government since asked, without even questioning it. Google's unrivaled data is considered a national security issue, and it has very close documented ties to Homeland Security (its Director was a former Google security liason) and not only complies with, but provides professional assistance to the NSA. In fact, the NSA's data collection facilities are growing at unbelievable rates.
I know that that is a long side-trip, but it is an important one. AI has been entering the marketplace and itself can become a security risk if not developed and handled properly (see the warnings from Steven Hawkings, Elon Musk and Bill Gates). The fact is that we are not only voluntarily giving our data over to our communication and internet providers, but purchasing our most personal and private equipment from foreign powers. Some of these foreign powers, especially China, has obvious alternative state sponsored corporate spying on behalf of the government, has a documented track record of spying, malicious hacking and other dubious activities that threaten not only national security, but even individuals' security, savings, pensions, privacy, data and reputation.
These decisions are considerable mistakes, made directly and knowingly to positively impact sales through marketing, expand their market reach and/or their espionage capabilities.
Now, you may be thinking that I am a nut because I am so security anal. Actually, I am not. What I am talking about deals mainly with what is to come. But the fact that major corporations are making poor selfish and insecure decisions that affect us all based on increasing their ability to expand their marketing or market reach at the detriment of their own brand name is actually the perfect example of how the drive for sales improperly effects decision making. And because this is our history, we are doomed to repeat it unless we wake up.
This has everything to do with why I enjoyed the Note platform, believe it or not. Because South Korea is a US ally, whom my father fought for in the Korean war, I do give them some credit. The microSDcard helps me stay secure while keeping my phone usable as a good and reliable snapshot and video camera. Even the S Pen (hypersensitive scribe) allows me to deal with the reduced screen size in the Note 7 and avoid typos (now that it is no longer a member of the beloved phablet platform I have come to enjoy). I also have huge reservations about my carrier, Verizon, who now owns Yahoo that has so easily shared so much with my way-too-nosey government, and has its own intimate relationship with that same US government. But here in the rural upper midwest US, there isn't much choice for good, reliable cellular coverage.
That said, I used the Note 2 and Note7 to take photos and video of wildlife on a daily basis while riding my trail bike. I have amounted quite a few photos and videos of deer, fawns, turkey, geese, ducks and turtles, as well as amassed a wide variety of landscape scenes. And that hobby helps keep me fit by riding around the city bike trails on my bicycle.
Samsung officially calls it the 'Note7', I suppose to differentiate it from the common generic word, and a possible brand evolution to assist in differentiating the Note8 from their 8 inch Note?
I thought I was in the clear when my replacement Galaxy Note7 went through a mandatory update and the white battery icon turned green in the notification bar and the 'always on' display, but clearly I was not. It was out of pure reluctance when I weighed my options as to whether or not to give-up my upgraded phone, and I went back to the Verizon store without an acceptable, decent phone solution so many times before the Google pixel phone photos were leaked.
Quite honestly, no one competes with the Note platform. There is an option to get a third party multi-pressure sensitive pen that can be used with an older Apple iPhone, but the 6S Plus and the 7 are not yet supported.
Despite my love/hate relationship with Google, and despite everything I wrote above (that I know Google is spying on me and everyone else for the government), I do want a good camera with my phone. I've already had to make the conscious compromises with Google over Gmail, Android, Adwords, AdSense, as well as with Verizon, who used to be WorldCom and already has shaken my confidence many times since joining their network. But, at least these are the evil demons I know.
Though I will never trust either of them, I have no choice but to use them if I want a mobile communication device. Verizon is the only reliable network in my area, especially in rural communities. Google's Android platform is the only one that offers its code as an open source platform.
But the Google Pixel comes with its own set of headaches. You can only get it with no more than 128 GB (ever), as there is no microSDcard support. Google markets it with an unlimited photos & video drive account in the cloud for as long as you own the phone, but you can bet that they will be showing ads there and require a paid subscription ransom in order to remove them. But how do I dare trust them with all of my photos when they are a known government collaborator?
Unfortunately, I have to make these compromises all the time in order to stay in the industry I am in. But it still pains me. Just because I'm not a criminal or radical doesn't mean that my privacy won't be violated constantly by these corporate giants on behalf of the government. But it is what it is, and the only safe computer is one that no one can access and I live on the internet, so I will never be safe.
It's a calculated risk, but I pre-ordered the Google Pixel XL. Yesterday, I sent my Note7 back to Samsung in their fireproof box (it took forever to arrive here). I really did want to keep it, but I didn't want to be a liability for owning one. I sure as heck didn't want to burn down my house or never ride in an airplane ever again (though I can't afford to go much at all, I rarely want to fly anywhere now that I have to get to the airport 2 hours ahead of time and risk my privacy being violated all over again by any kind of search).
The truth is that our privacy is now violated constantly in the name of national security and we have to come to terms with that. Perhaps trusting Google to build a phone on their own platform that will work and take the best smartphone pictures ever is my only possibility.
I wanted to go back to Motorola and use their optical zoom snap-on camera mod, but there is no microSDcard support on the Z. To top that off, there is no headphone jack, and I need that for PayPal Here and Square Register.
Whether or not the Pixel camera is any good is hard to tell. The reports are good so far, but the Note7 had a bad-ass camera that shined, too.
Damn, I'm going to miss that phone.
So, I wound-up grabbing a Samsung Galaxy Note 3, as well. This allows me to have the old reliable Note platform that I knew, is an upgrade to my old Note 2 that I relied on for so many years. It's only 3 years old, and functions with the old OS I liked. Because I have the built-in IR Blaster with it, when I retire it, it can function as my remote control. If it dies like my Note 2 did, I will write-off Samsung forever because I still have a Motorola Droid X that I use as a desk clock.
But the Note7 was still the best compromise I have ever found in a phone. Damn!
Showing posts with label video. Show all posts
Showing posts with label video. Show all posts
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Chromecast
If you are still looking for that perfect Christmas gift, Chromecast just may fit the bill.
Although Chromecast is still in beta, it is a very nice little tool. But I should probably point out why I bought my Chromecast, as it will not be the perfect gift for all...
1) I do not have a smartTV. I do have a nice, older 32" VIZIO HDTV.
2) I do not have a smartTV add-on box such as a SamsungTV, GoogleTV, AppleTV, or Roku streaming device box.
3) I am kind of thrifty for an early adopter.
That said, I also believe that Chromecast might offer something that the smartTVs and add-on smartTV boxes do not, eventually. And that is, streaming photos, video and music directly from your phone through WiFi.
As mentioned, although Google Chromecast is still in beta, it is pretty good. However, the truth be told, I did have to exchange my first one for a new one. The first one I bought on "Black Friday" was only $30.00 at Best Buy and was supposed to come with a $6.00 credit at the Google Play store. I did get the deal on the price, but was snubbed on the Google Play store $6.00 credit. According to Google's own instructions, there should have been instructions on how to collect (or redeem) the well advertised $6.00 credit at the Play store on my Best Buy receipt, and there was none. So again, we run into the truth in advertising dilemna. I absolutely hate promoting stuff that, whether useful or not, does not include truth in advertising. As an advertising guy myself, to outright lie to the consumer is absolutely sinful and invites disdain and boycotting. However, this was a one-day promotion that will be extremely limited to those of us that purchased the Chromecast unit on Black Friday only, so I do think that this product is still worthy despite the promotional problems at Best Buy (and possibly other outlets).
I did purchase the product in-store at Best Buy. The first one worked for a day. As I had worked all night at Kohl's starting on Thanksgiving (which I consider an anti-family decision made by Kohl's corporate, as my Thanksgiving was completely disturbed by being required to work that very holiday and not being able to spend it dining and celebrating with my family as most enjoyed), I was very tired but still got out to do a little Black Friday shopping of My own. After grabbing my selected Black Friday specials at Kohl's, I went to Best Buy specifically to check out the deals there and yet somehow only walked away with the Chromecast. Upon returning home I set it up easily and had no real issues, though there were a few points inbetween updates that flashed static that looked a little strange. Still, I watched a couple of YouTube videos and fell asleep watching a movie on NetFlix with it. The streamed internet video signal I was watching was even much better than when I hooked-up and watched NetFlix video on my (now non-funtioning) dual-core 1 GHz NVIDIA Tegra processor powered Asus Transformer Eee Pad (TF101) via its miniHDMI port.
Unfortunately, the next day that Chromecast stopped working. I contacted Google Chromecast support through online webmail and followed-up with an email (the only way you can contact Chromecast support) and told them that although the device had worked great the previous morning, it was delivering no signal at all today. Then, all of their support instructions indicated that I should get to a certain screen, apparently not reading that I have no signal from the Chromecast device at all.
Luckily, a couple of weeks later, I was finally able to manage getting all the little pieces, document, box and receipts together and returning the Chromecast to Best Buy at an even exchange and the new device performs flawlessly. On top of that, I have never experienced a flash of static and point in this unit's young life, so far. The signal is always rock solid and the device streams video and music (through Pandora) flawlessly. There hasn't even been one glitch or hiccup in the quality of the playback.
I am still miffed as to why Best Buy failed to support the Black Friday $6.00 Google Play store credit, though. This was the very promotion that the Google representative pointed out to me, and it was clearly displayed and advertised in the store. And although this does help to further sour me on Best Buy and even though I did discuss the fact that I didn't get the $6.00 advertised credit, nor did I have any way to do so as shown by the receipt I used to exchange the non-fuctioning Chromecast, but they directed me to take up the issue with the Google lady, who works the same limited hours as I do. I mean, this was a Best Buy promotion and they are apparently refusing to stand-by their own promotion. C'MON, MAN!
So, for anyone without a smart HDTV that can already stream stuff, someone who also doesn't have a smart TV streaming device, Google Chrome is a really good choice. Setup is easy and quick. The software update doesn't take too long, either. And you can use your network connected Windows, Linux or Android based desktop, laptop, tablet or smart-phone to control it.
I would like to see more application support, though. Particularly, I would like to see support for Gallery, so that you can stream photos and video directly from your smart hand-held device without having to first upload things to YouTube or VEO, etc.
Currently, Chromecast supports casting Chrome tabs as well as the following Chromcast enabled apps:
Above all, this product is still in beta and is improving a great deal fast with added support for many apps. I just don't think that anyone will be displeased with a Chromecast unless they already have a smartTV or smart HDTV device.
Of course, you do need an HDTV and some sort of broadband internet connected computerized device to use this, and it is best used, and I think more conveniently, with hand-held devices (phones & tablets). But my second Chromecast works flawlessly. If you are on a busier or stressed load network it might not stream as well, as a great deal will have to do with your available internet bandwidth. But with most home networks, that shouldn't be an issue.
Although Chromecast is still in beta, it is a very nice little tool. But I should probably point out why I bought my Chromecast, as it will not be the perfect gift for all...
1) I do not have a smartTV. I do have a nice, older 32" VIZIO HDTV.
2) I do not have a smartTV add-on box such as a SamsungTV, GoogleTV, AppleTV, or Roku streaming device box.
3) I am kind of thrifty for an early adopter.
That said, I also believe that Chromecast might offer something that the smartTVs and add-on smartTV boxes do not, eventually. And that is, streaming photos, video and music directly from your phone through WiFi.
As mentioned, although Google Chromecast is still in beta, it is pretty good. However, the truth be told, I did have to exchange my first one for a new one. The first one I bought on "Black Friday" was only $30.00 at Best Buy and was supposed to come with a $6.00 credit at the Google Play store. I did get the deal on the price, but was snubbed on the Google Play store $6.00 credit. According to Google's own instructions, there should have been instructions on how to collect (or redeem) the well advertised $6.00 credit at the Play store on my Best Buy receipt, and there was none. So again, we run into the truth in advertising dilemna. I absolutely hate promoting stuff that, whether useful or not, does not include truth in advertising. As an advertising guy myself, to outright lie to the consumer is absolutely sinful and invites disdain and boycotting. However, this was a one-day promotion that will be extremely limited to those of us that purchased the Chromecast unit on Black Friday only, so I do think that this product is still worthy despite the promotional problems at Best Buy (and possibly other outlets).
I did purchase the product in-store at Best Buy. The first one worked for a day. As I had worked all night at Kohl's starting on Thanksgiving (which I consider an anti-family decision made by Kohl's corporate, as my Thanksgiving was completely disturbed by being required to work that very holiday and not being able to spend it dining and celebrating with my family as most enjoyed), I was very tired but still got out to do a little Black Friday shopping of My own. After grabbing my selected Black Friday specials at Kohl's, I went to Best Buy specifically to check out the deals there and yet somehow only walked away with the Chromecast. Upon returning home I set it up easily and had no real issues, though there were a few points inbetween updates that flashed static that looked a little strange. Still, I watched a couple of YouTube videos and fell asleep watching a movie on NetFlix with it. The streamed internet video signal I was watching was even much better than when I hooked-up and watched NetFlix video on my (now non-funtioning) dual-core 1 GHz NVIDIA Tegra processor powered Asus Transformer Eee Pad (TF101) via its miniHDMI port.
Unfortunately, the next day that Chromecast stopped working. I contacted Google Chromecast support through online webmail and followed-up with an email (the only way you can contact Chromecast support) and told them that although the device had worked great the previous morning, it was delivering no signal at all today. Then, all of their support instructions indicated that I should get to a certain screen, apparently not reading that I have no signal from the Chromecast device at all.
Luckily, a couple of weeks later, I was finally able to manage getting all the little pieces, document, box and receipts together and returning the Chromecast to Best Buy at an even exchange and the new device performs flawlessly. On top of that, I have never experienced a flash of static and point in this unit's young life, so far. The signal is always rock solid and the device streams video and music (through Pandora) flawlessly. There hasn't even been one glitch or hiccup in the quality of the playback.
I am still miffed as to why Best Buy failed to support the Black Friday $6.00 Google Play store credit, though. This was the very promotion that the Google representative pointed out to me, and it was clearly displayed and advertised in the store. And although this does help to further sour me on Best Buy and even though I did discuss the fact that I didn't get the $6.00 advertised credit, nor did I have any way to do so as shown by the receipt I used to exchange the non-fuctioning Chromecast, but they directed me to take up the issue with the Google lady, who works the same limited hours as I do. I mean, this was a Best Buy promotion and they are apparently refusing to stand-by their own promotion. C'MON, MAN!
So, for anyone without a smart HDTV that can already stream stuff, someone who also doesn't have a smart TV streaming device, Google Chrome is a really good choice. Setup is easy and quick. The software update doesn't take too long, either. And you can use your network connected Windows, Linux or Android based desktop, laptop, tablet or smart-phone to control it.
I would like to see more application support, though. Particularly, I would like to see support for Gallery, so that you can stream photos and video directly from your smart hand-held device without having to first upload things to YouTube or VEO, etc.
Currently, Chromecast supports casting Chrome tabs as well as the following Chromcast enabled apps:
- YouTube app & YouTube.com
- Netflix app and Netflix.com
- Google Play Movies & TV
- Google Play Music
- Hulu Plus
- Pandora
- HBOGo
- Vevo
- Red Bull.TV
- Songza
- Plex
- PostTV
- Viki
- RealPlayer Cloud
- aVia
- Revision3
- BeyondPod
Above all, this product is still in beta and is improving a great deal fast with added support for many apps. I just don't think that anyone will be displeased with a Chromecast unless they already have a smartTV or smart HDTV device.
Of course, you do need an HDTV and some sort of broadband internet connected computerized device to use this, and it is best used, and I think more conveniently, with hand-held devices (phones & tablets). But my second Chromecast works flawlessly. If you are on a busier or stressed load network it might not stream as well, as a great deal will have to do with your available internet bandwidth. But with most home networks, that shouldn't be an issue.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
