iPhone 5: Are you impressed?

 I thought I'd touch on the ever popular iPhone announcement that happened yesterday. The iPhone 5 was announced and honestly, if you have been on the internet at all - then the whole thing should not have been a surprised. We've pretty much known how it was going to look for a while now. 

I have to say, I am not impressed. It is an amped up version of the 4S, I think the largest thing going for it right now is that it will support 4G LTE. However, here are some of the new features:

- 4 inch screen compared to the 3.5 inch screen on the previous models

- thinner by 18%

- 8 megapixel camera on the back and a 1.2 megapixel front facing camera

- it is 20% lighter and it is taller than the older models but not wider

- the back camera now features panoramic picture taking

- newly designed earbuds

- smaller connector port, which means new smaller cord

- Siri has new features like looking up restaurants and movie times, purchasing tickets, making reservations through Opentable, and she can even social network for you

- screen is even more crisp

One other thing actually worth mentioning app wise is the new Passbook app which is essentially "Google wallet without the credit cards" as said by my favorite YouTuber Philip DeFranco. Essentially, you can keep all your gift cards, tickets, plane boarding passes, and discount cards on your phone instead of physically needing them.

There are however some warnings you should know about the new phone. 

- They have come out with a new maps app because Apple and Google seem to be going at it. So you won't be getting maps and directions through Google, but through whatever system Apple sets up

- Because of the disagreements between Apple and Google, they are getting rid of the YouTube app, but never fear because YouTube has come out with their own app for iOS

- The new cord is USB 2.0 compatible not 3.0 which is what the new Macbooks are - womp womp

(don't worry Apple is estimated to still make 100 million dollars just off the cords alone in the next year - triple womp)

- Finally, any accessories and docks you have for the older iPhones are useless with the iPhone 5 - unless...you buy a $30 adapter for the phone 

Personally, I'm more interested in the Google Nexus and that may very well become my next phone. While others are fangirling out of their minds over the new iPhone - it feels like there is something still to be desired. New fancy features are great but there are a number of inconveniences that come along with it and honestly, some of them are features that should have come a while ago.

It is worth noting that Apple announced the new line of iPod nanos and iTouch - I actually would love to get my hands on the iTouch. It looks incredible - maybe look for a post about that soon!

Google versus Apple

I've been an Apple fan girl for quite some time now, I have the iPhone and a Mac Book Pro. I even got my mom to buy herself an iPad, and she loves it by the way. My brother was convinced to switch to a Mac Book Pro when he entered college. Needless to say, I've been an advocate for Apple within my family*.

However, I was talking to the boyfriend today while in the car and honestly, I think Apple has its' work cut out for it. They need to come out with something amazing because the Android market is booming. Now if you haven't made the connection yet, (I too was late to the game, no worries) Android is a product of Google. So all those phones that are "Android smart phones"? Yeah Google is the mastermind behind it.

Galaxy Nexus

Google has however, come out with their own signature smart phone called the Galaxy Nexus by Samsung. I have to say it is p.r.e.t.t.y impressive. It has all the capabilities of an iPhone and more. If you are familiar with any of Google's products, as in Google +, maps, Drive, etc; then you will see a lot of that integrated into the phone. Come on now, it's Google, they are going to integrate as much of the company into the phone as they can. I can't fault them for that though considering they have some great stuff.

Shaun mentioned that at work one of his clients was showing him one of the devices (phone or tablet, I cannot remember :/) and he told me how all the apps were just there, you didn't need to enter one and exit out of another. That is the impressive thing about the Galaxy Nexus and I assume the Nexus tablet, that everything is integrated into the operating system - Jelly Bean (what an awesome name btw!).

At this point, it seems like Apple needs a big product to catch up with how the rest of the market is moving. Apple had just announced its' new operating system, OS X Mountain Lion, which does have some new features. Some of the features include: auto save (in documents and iCloud), built-in sharing to social networks, dictation (talk to type). There are two major features that I think are a selling point for the system - notifications and messages. With notifications, it is a literal feed on your desktop that shows your calendar, mail, reminders, and "third-party apps". You can get notified when things happen, you can tweet from it and post to Facebook. This is something Microsoft has had for years.

Screen Shot of Apple Website

Then messages is exactly what you're thinking, you can send a message (through iMessage) to any iPhone, iPad, iPod, or Mac with Mountain Lion. So this is like AIM for your Mac. Remember AIM? Ah the good old days... It also includes group messaging which is definitely cool and you can also use face time.

Other than the new OS, the changes Apple has been making are minimal. They upgraded the 15-inch Mac Book Pro to a retina display and got rid of the 17 - inch completely, which in my opinion isn't the worst thing, it seemed like a little much. So they better make the iPhone 5 out of this world, or Apple is going to be in quite some trouble.

Nexus 7 Tablet

The point is, that the rest of the market is changing in ways that we couldn't have fathomed a few years ago. I mean the Galaxy Nexus is an unlocked phone for $349! That means you can go with any network provider you want! At $349 in comparison to the iPhone, it seems like a no brainer. Even the Nexus tablet at 16 GB is only $250!

Better step it up Apple.

* my father has resisted most technology and has the bare minimum for his cell and his company gives him a laptop...so yeah no luck there ;)

Drowning....

in homework! I have been non-stop all day today working on my two classes. I literally thought my computer was going to explode...and it may very well still do that. I could roast a marshmallow over the back of it!

It makes me sad, because I should be enjoying my Summer. Then again I should have technically graduated in May. But alas, not until December, which is why I'm stuck in Summer classes.

(SadFace)

Book Review!

I just finished a really great book about Apple, yes the company, and I wanted to share it! It is called "Inside Apple : How America's Most Admired - and Secretive -  Company Really Works", by Adam Lashinsky. It is an honest look into the company and how Steve Jobs built it and ran it.

Mr. Lashinsky does an amazing job of getting the reader to see Apple for what it is. He lets us see how Apple set itself apart from the rest, and why it has worked for so long. The book also delves into the company's future and new executive employees.

It is really incredible to see the tactics that Mr. Jobs employed throughout the company. What makes this book so stand out, is that the author actually was able to speak with many former employees. Without giving away too much, one of the major characteristics of the company and its employees is its' secrecy. If they are developing a product, the design department will only know about their own information, they won't know anything from the other departments. The secrecy is so intense that in a note about the interviews he conducted, Lashinsky says that some employees were as hesitant to be quoted praising the company as they were criticizing it.

It took me a while to get through the book only because I've been so busy but I give it a 5/5. It is worth reading if you're an Apple fan or even interested in just the company and how it became so successful.

Sephora + Pantone Universe

So if you've been in a Sephora lately, then you know about the Sephora/Pantone partnership that has resulted in a line of products celebrating the color of the year: Tangerine Tango. There are make-up brushes, eye shadows, blush, lip colors, and nail polish.

Well get ready because they just one-upped that whole line. They have come out with an eyeshadow palette called the Shades of Nature Eye Shadow Palette.

Is that not gorgeous?!? Well, I bought mine and just received it and I'm in love. First off the packaging comes off very Apple-esque. White box, white palette, and it is so pretty!

The packaging is perfect. The weight isn't too heavy and I don't feel like it is so light I'll just toss it. The closure is magnetic, not a strong one so be careful if you travel with this. I would put a rubber band around it just in case.

The colors are to die for, the range is so perfect and the color pay off is more than I expected. What I like is there are a few shades of each color, a few greens, a few purples, etc. What is awesome, is they put a plastic cover in that has all of the color's Pantone numbers. Very clever.

I did a few swatches above and they are so pigmented! What is probably the most attractive thing is that there are matte and shimmer colors, neutral and bright color. However, the bright colors are colors that anyone could really pull off; even if you just used them as eyeliners!

I am so incredibly happy I got this palette, it is like the only thing I need now for eye shadows!

Sephora $55.00

Currently Reading: May

I thought I would do something a little different and do a post about what I am reading this month. I am one of those people who can read two different books at the same time. I don't know why but it doesn't seem to confuse me. Although if it is a really good book or a more difficult book to read, I'll stick with one.

This month I have been reading the Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and Inside Apple by Adam Lashinsky. Truthfully, I started the Happiness Project in April and I just started Inside Apple today.
I am really enjoying both books though; they are subjects I hadn't ever planned on reading about.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin started with a bus ride and a Aha! moment. She wanted to test different aspects of life and see how and why they made her happy, and ultimately if they could make her happier. She sets up a year long project and assigns different aspects like fun, money, friends, and love to each month.

It is a pretty genius idea, and it has branched off into her offering templates and plans on how to do your own project. At 22, I don't really think I'm ready to tackle such a big thing. I'm still figuring out what makes me happy in the first place, I don't really want to start questioning it, but the book has given me some great ways to improve my mood.

Ms. Rubin does a lot of research so it isn't just hearsay, there is an actual basis for everything she is doing within her project.

Today, I started Inside Apple by Adam Lashinsky and I'm pretty impressed almost 3 chapters in. It is not a look into Steve Jobs so much as it is a look into what Apple as a company has done to run as a business and how those tactics have made them so successful. We get a great look into the atmosphere of the employees and the headquarters. We do see a lot of Steve Jobs and how he made choices and how he truly decided to run Apple, but the book delves into so much more.

Like I said, I'm only 3 chapters in but I think it will be pretty amazing to see inside a company that has more money than our country.

What are you guys reading? I have such a large pile of books to still read and an even bigger list on Barnes and Noble that I've yet to buy!

[Pictures from Barnes and Noble's website - bn.com]