Will You Buy The World’s First Foldable Phone?

It came as a surprise to many when a barely known tech company introduced the world’s first foldable phone. The future of smartphone is upon us as Royole Corporation launched FlexPai in Beijing. Royale Corporation is a relatively new company, which was founded by Stanford engineering graduates in 2012. It will go down in history as the company who conquered the “foldable phone” race ahead from Samsung and Huawei.

For the digital savvy Singaporeans who are interested in acquiring their own FlexPai, here are its specifications. FlexPai boasts its “virtually unbreakable and extremely durable screen”, which can be bent for over 200,000 times. This smartphone can be folded like a paper or a wallet to display various small screens: in the front, back, and spine. While it is folded, you can receive incoming calls or take photos from front and back screens. The spine is where the notifications will show. Its 7.8-inch display resembles a tablet when fully unfolded.

You may be wondering if it can take some Instagrammable shots. To tell you frankly, it has two cameras with 20 and 16 megapixels. You can bend it to capture objects and subjects at unique angles. Other features include having a microSD slot, a fingerprint reader, a Snapdragon 8-series chip, and a USB-C port. Furthermore, it is running on an Android 9.0 based Water OS.

See this latest handset in action as you watch the following demo.

As with many first models, this pioneer handset is far from being perfect. Royole needs to address some glitches. For instance, it should offer a sleek design which does not have visible fold marks when straightened out. There should be seamless switch between front and back displays. Furthermore, it is a bulky device that is about 50% heavier than Note 9 and the iPhone XS Max.

Nonetheless, Royole’s foldable product encourages other tech companies to provide different experiences to the Millennial consumers. While consumers in China can purchase a consumer edition FlexPai today, global consumers can pre-order the developer version online. The 6 GB model with 128 GB storage is available to consumers for $1,588 (about S$2182), while the 8 GB model with 256 GB costs $1,759 (about S$2417). These devices are expected to be shipped by December.

With all these information in mind, I am excited to see the foldable products that well-known tech companies will launch soon (e.g., Samsung Galaxy F).

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...

Microsoft Corporation’s Most Expensive Fails

There is a significant reason why Microsoft Corporation continues to thrive alongside massive tech names such as Apple and Samsung. It taps the global market due to its persistence. Throughout its journey to innovation, it made some incredible moves and a bunch of missteps. Who can forget about Bob and its emergence in 1995?

On that note, here are some of “Microsoft Corporation’s Most Expensive Fails”.

2006: ZUNE

As people bid farewell to the portable CD players, early 2000s embraced the integration of a music player and a downloading service. Apple took advantage of the rich financial potential in the music hardware. In fact, it sold 100 million iPods by 2006.

When Microsoft decided to compete, it was to late! Launched in 2006, Zune was considered as one of Microsoft’s worst product of all time. How so? It not only came with a US$249 (about S$338) price tag, but it also came with an unappealing exterior (e.g., having brown as a color option). Zune’s sales in 2009 were around US$117 million (S$161 million), while Apple’s iPods sold about US$3.3 billion (S$4.5 billion) in the same period of time. Imagine their dismay!

2010: KIN

Spending about US$1 billion (S$1.38 billion) in development and a partnership with renowned designer Danger Inc. were not enough to save Microsoft from the Kin’s downfall! Kin One and Kin Two were released in 2010 as Verizon exclusives. These phones featured touchscreen displays and slider keyboards. Furthermore, it was packed with social-networking capabilities including Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. So far, so good!

However, the Kin phones did not support downloadable games and applications. Every single Kin phone required a data plan too. Within two months, Verizon stopped selling the Microsoft Kin because of its underwhelming sales. All traces of kin were gone within a year.

2012: WINDOWS RT

Windows RT is a discontinued operating system developed by Microsoft. Many believe that it was a predictable demise. You see, the Windows RT confused its users as it was launched alongside a superior operating system – the Windows 8. They may look the same, but they do not work in the same way!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Windows RT was designed specifically for energy-efficiency. It could only run software downloaded from the Windows Store, which was not enough for many people. Selling low-cost products that operate on it were not helpful either. With these reasons, Microsoft Corporation lost about US$900 million (S$1.24 billion) on unsold Surface RT tablets by 2013.

Which Microsoft products did we miss? Feel free to express your thoughts below!

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Pricey Laptop

The average lifespan of a laptop is between two to four years. Due to the many mishaps that can happen throughout the course of time, it is not uncommon for a machine to last for less than a year.

If you are not on-board with the idea of shelling out thousands to replace your laptop then, you must take certain precautions to maximize its lifespan. May the following tips help your circumstance.

LET ME FREEZE YOU

Unbeknownst to many, overheating is among the top reasons why laptops fail. Snuggling up in your bed with your trusty laptop as you watch your favorite movies sounds divine! However, your lap is not the best place to use this machine. Any soft or uneven surfaces can block the vents and restrict the airflow. It is recommended to work on a hard and smooth surface or to use a laptop support.

ADD MORE RAM

Random-access memory or RAM stores data and machine code that is currently being used. It works like your short-term or working memory. You can rely more on the system that pulls the data afresh from the hard drive once you upgrade your RAM. You see, reducing your hard drive activity reduces the power consumption. Other performance benefits will be quickly seen upon adding more RAM.

KEEP IT CLEAN

It comes as no surprise that a clean laptop will last longer than a filthy one. Unless you are working in a highly sanitized room, every laptop can come in contact with dust and dirt on a daily basis. Left to linger long enough, these unfriendly substances can suffocate the hardware of your laptop. Doing so will reduce its performance or contribute to a component’s premature demise.

UPGRADE TO SSD

Bid farewell to moving parts by switching to an SSD and using flash data memory to store your data. If possible, this upgrade will immediately make your laptop more energy efficient. Aside from its benefits surrounding your laptop’s battery life, an SSD can deliver a faster performance. Furthermore, it removes problems associated with fragmentation.

UPDATE YOUR SYSTEM REGULARLY

Whether you are a computer geek or not, it takes a few clicks of the mouse to update your operating software. Do not hesitate to update your current system once a notification comes up! Remember that no operating system or program is perfect. Hence, every upgrade includes new features and solutions to previous issues.

Aside from patching up some issues, keeping your software updated reduces the chances of security exploits. Maximize your security by regularly running anti-virus and anti-malware scanners. Less malware and junk supports a smooth running system.

SHIELD THE OUTSIDE

Modern technology has led to the introduction of smaller, thinner, and lighter laptops. This means that these machines are more susceptible to damage from spills and drops. Extend the life of your device by providing laptop covers and screen protectors. A tumble off your desk or a scratch against the wall can be shielded thru a powerful hard-shell or soft-shell case. Just ensure that your protection does not obstruct the laptop’s cooling system.

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE

Multitasking is a necessity in today’s revolving world. It may sounds nice, but running several programs at once puts a significant load on the processor. This further creates more power consumption. So, stretch your battery’s life and take care of your laptop by simplifying your activities.

As much as possible, stick to one application at a time. Close any additional programs when typing a document. For instance, I only use Notepad when writing a draft for my articles. How about for listening to music? Instead of streaming some tunes, you can use the locally stored songs. Streaming media over Wi-Fi uses the laptop’s wireless radio and other components. Less is more.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

Read More...

Apple Company’s Most Expensive Fails

Despite how devoted you are to Apple and its products, your beloved company has its flaws. It is far from perfect! Even the most luxurious iPhone of all time has its decent share of criticism from its first buyers. Thus, this list will shed a light to its darkest paths.

1980: APPLE III

Imagine being instructed to lift and drop your computer about 6 inches to reset the chips that are coming out of the circuit board. It sounds ridiculous to perform this task at a time where Genius Bars exist. However, Apple III users were madly disappointed in the 80’s. You see, Apple III was plagued with hardware issues including faulty circuit boards and heating issues. The company had to recall every existing machine on the market (about 14,000 units). Then, the machine was re-marketed with new parts a year later.

1983: THE LISA

Every possible list of Apple flops will include “The Lisa”. Released in 1983, the Apple Lisa was known for being the first commercial computer to be sold with a graphical user interface and a mouse. The main drawback of this machine is its insane price-tag of US$9,995 (about S$13,700).

The steep price proved to be unreachable for many customers! It only sold 100,000 units before the model was discontinued. Furthermore, Apple released one of its most iconic products in 1984. This product is none other than the first Macintosh computer.

1993: MACINTOSH TV

The Macintosh TV was a failed product attempt that launched in 1993. On paper, combining a computer hardware with the experience of watching a television sounds like a great idea. However, they were not able to execute it well.

The Macintosh TV resembled a Macintosh LC 500 series computer with a TV tuner card. Users were able to hook it up to a cable line or an antenna. The major problem is: you cannot use the television while using the computer. As expected, Apple only sold 10,000 Macintosh TVs. The product was discontinued in three months time.

1993: NEWTON MESSAGEPAD

When your product gets mocked by a cartoon as popular as The Simpsons, you will realize what type of impact you evoke on your users. Take Apple’s Newton MessagePad as an example. The company’s take on the PDA was innovative, but it was pretty expensive. It retailed for S$700 (S$960) in 1993. Moreover, its handwriting recognition feature rarely works!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

When Steve Jobs returned in the late 90’s, he focused much of his energy on phones and tablets. You will see this pan out throughout the years.

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...

Extend Your Computer’s Longevity To Save More

I can vividly recall when my MacBook’s motherboard crashed. It was just like yesterday. I have to admit that it was entirely my fault as I spilled a decent amount of hot beverage on it. The situation is bad as the motherboard holds many crucial components together such as the CPU and the memory.

To my horror, the damage took me back by S$500. This amount is almost half the price of a brand new iPhone 7. It was too much! This faux pas was a buzzing reality check for me. I needed to take care of my devices for many years to come.

Keeping your laptop or computer working is vital for your sanity, productivity, and budget. So, consider these tips:

BLOCK THE NASTY BUGS

Upon opening the fresh boxes of your laptop or computer, one of your top priorities is to install an anti-virus application. An adequately protected device will prevent the corruption of personal data and other important files. Furthermore, it will give you a smooth functioning operating system. Worry not about shelling tons of cash as you can download free applications such as Avast and AVG 2017.

DECLUTTER YOUR SPACE

Aside from the viruses and malware attacks, too much clutter can slow down the operation system. A quick way to clean your space is to transfer your bulky files into an external hard-drive or hard disk. A 1 TB portable disk can cost you about S$80 at Lazada Singapore and S$89 at Courts Singapore.

The more space you have, the better your device will run.

CLEANSE YOUR KEYS

A filthy keyboard is not only a health hazard, but it can also damage your keyboard completely. Make it a habit to sanitize your keyboard and track pad.

Cleanse your keys by turning it upside down to release any loose materials. Then, blow into it to remove any debris between the keys. The last step is to dip a cotton swab into rubbing alcohol and wipe your keys and track pad gently.

STRENGTHEN THE BATTERY

The battery is an essential part of any device. Take care of your computer or laptop’s battery by draining it at least once a month. Afterwards, you must allow it to have a full cycle before you use it again. For laptop users, unplug it and rely on the “stored battery life” to keep it working.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

The act of draining and recharging helps to maximize its performance. When battery replacement is necessary, look for lithium ion (Li-Ion) batteries as they have the greatest longevity.

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...