Sunday, March 31, 2013

Happy Easter 2013!

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you have a great time on this day! Just as a little heads up, if you were selected to get a prototype of Google Glass, then please comment on this post. Thank you!

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Geocaching

Yesterday, I mentioned Geocaching as an app for the outdoorsman. Geocaching is a high-tech scavenger hunt. Around the world, people use their GPS or smartphone to find the coordinates of the geocache (a hidden container). To learn more, go to geocaching.com

Friday, March 29, 2013

iOS Lifestyle: The Outdoorsmen

Welcome to iOS Lifestyle! The series in which a lifestyle can meet technology. This time, we are doing the outdoorsmen. The hiker. The camper. Let's see what apps can be helpful when two opposites come together!

REI

The Backpacker

Geocaching

SAS Survival

AllTrails

Project Noah

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Cyber bullying

While technology is great, I would like to focus on a topic that is very serious for once. Cyber bullying. This is a very serious topic and should be treated seriously. Cyber bullying is when an individual attempts to harm another individual by using the Internet. The Internet, in this case, could be defined as a Facebook post, an email, or a text message. In fact, 67% of cyber bullying takes place in text messages. I've been cyber bullied once. One of my friends (or at least one that I thought was a friend at the time) took my other friends phone. She texted me under the other friend's name and made fun of me. Cyber bullying is no joke. People don't realize that there is a face behind a screen. Please don't do it.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The Button to End All Buttons!

Chevy has unveiled their new TV ad for the Chevy Sonic. This ad showcases the world's first car to use Siri Eyes Free (it's about time too!). Eyes Free is integrated into iOS devices (iOS 6 or later) and allows you to ask Siri to do tasks from your car, all without lighting the screen up. Any task that requires turning on the screen won't work.


Tuesday, March 26, 2013

AppGratis

Do you want free apps? Then try AppGratis! I found out about it because I bought an app, received a notification that the app was free today (and that I wasted 99¢) and found AppGratis. Try it out. It tells you when apps are free. It also gives large discounts. I hope this helps! 

Monday, March 25, 2013

MyScript Calculator

MyScript Calculator in one word: Amazing! It's free too! Every student NEEDS this. It's an app that allows you to write out an equation with your finger, and the device solves it (and it's free!). It's super accurate (and free)! Try watching this video!




Sunday, March 24, 2013

The Secret!

On the Mac, you can choose the "All My Files" button (Mac OS X 10.7 or later) and look at the icon. It looks like the picture below. If you look close enough, you may notice some parts of Steve Jobs quotes. Here are a few.

"We make tools for these kinds of people. While some people see them as the crazy ones, we see genius."
"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the [quote cut of here]"

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Secure Your Security: Part Two!

Last night, I've found another issue that can be very bad for your iOS device. If you haven't read part one of this post, I recommend that you read it by clicking here. Apple has a security hole in which people can possibly get into your account. However, I have a fix for it.

How to do it:

  1. Click here. The link will open in a new window. Refer to this post as needed.
  2. Click "Manage Your Apple ID."
  3. Sign in with the Apple ID that is associated with Find My iPhone (To find out what Apple ID is associated with Find My iPhone, go to your iOS device and go to Settings > iCloud > Account).
  4. Look for the link "Password and Security" on the left-hand side and click it.
  5. Setup "Two-Step Verification" (Note: Be prepared to create a stronger password).
  6. Wait three days for the verification.
  7. You are good!
I hope this helps!

Friday, March 22, 2013

HiddenApps No Longer Works!!!

If you read my earlier post About HiddenApps (the app that lets you delete included apps), then you know that this app got past Apple App Store Guidelines. Later, the app was removed from the App Store. I managed to get a copy. Unfortunately, Apple made the person who made the app disable the functions of the app. In addition, the user is no longer allowed to create apps and put them on the App Store. Here are the before and after shots:

Before
After


Thursday, March 21, 2013

Guess what? There's another bug!

For those who read my recent post (or from a post from another source as everybody's talking about it), you know that there was a bug that allowed people to bypass the lock screen without typing in a passcode. That was in iOS 6.1.2. Now, we have iOS 6.1.3. This fixed the error. Unfortunately, this brought another bug. However, it only works on iPhone 4's (not 4S) (assuming that you have Siri turned on on your iPhone 4S or later). For those who qualify, there's a quick fix. In Settings > General > Passcode Lock > and turn off "Voice Dial" if not already off. That's it. You are protected! I hope this helps!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Shake to Redo

After you've done an action to undo on an iOS device, you can redo the action (undo the undo) by shaking the device. The process is just like the Shake to Undo process. Just go somewhere you can type and shake the device to undo. Do it again to redo. I hope this helps!

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Beheaded iMacs!

If you're looking for an iMac without a stand to put it up on a wall, then you've come to the right place. For $40 extra, Apple will suit an iMac with a wall stand and take off the other one. These Macs use a VESA Wall Adapter. Here's a comparison of the two Macs.


To get one, click here.

The Standard iMac


The iMac with a wall mount

Monday, March 18, 2013

Shake to undo

On iOS, you can shake to undo many different items. When you're typing, you can shake the device and a prompt will appear. Select undo to undo. I hope this helps!

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Smartphone Camera Lineup

Flickr has announced their three top cameras used for picture taking. First, there is the iPhone 4S. Second is the iPhone 4. And third is the iPhone 5 (probably because it has been out for the least amount of time). While other smartphones have larger mega-pixels, they don't realize that the advanced optics in an iPhone makes up for the lost mega-pixels.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Carlsbad Represent!

I need to say thanks to my good friends at the Carlsbad Apple Store. They are the best (and I mean the best) Apple Geniuses (no offense to the other Apple Geniuses). They have helped me a lot and go on this blog. Thanks guys!

Friday, March 15, 2013

Galaxy S4: My Impressions

I've been reading up on other people's reviews and impressions before writing this post and I have a LOT to talk about. I'm reading a review from Larry Magid (that's right, I'm calling you out!) from Forbes, and right away, he's totally bias to Samsung. Granted, I think it's obvious that I'm bias to Apple. But from him, it really stung. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think I say stuff like this:

"It’s kind of ironic that Apple won a lawsuit last year after a jury found that Samsung had copied iPhone features and designs. The Galaxy S4 — like the Galaxy S3 — could never be called a copycat. Samsung came out with specs and features that we’ve never yet seen in a smartphone, including any phone that begins with the letter i. (Forbes)"

If you haven't noticed, but these phones are often referred to as the S3, or S4. They might as well be i3 or i4. Think. There's the S Band and S Health. That sounds much like iBand or iHealth. I could come up with a MILLION other pieces of evidence that Samsung copies Apple, but until then, you'll just have to click this link.

On to the features. All this cool stuff looks kinda cool. I wouldn't mind having Apple innovate this in their own way. Although I have no problem touching the screen of a phone to do a task, "Air Gestures" wasn't that bad. A bit too futuristic for me. Also, this whole thing about the scrolling up and down without using the touch screen seems far-fetched. People who have the "Haze" app for iPhone and have "Tilt Control" on know what I mean.

Anyways, I'll cover more on this once more information comes out. Thanks!

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Pi Day 2013

If you haven't noticed, today is March 14th. If you write that in MM-DD form (month-day), it shows 3-14. The first three digits of pi. Pi is an irrational (never-ending) number. I know about thirty digits of pi. Today, I'm having a pineapple (word play!) pizza pie and an "Apple" (more word play!) Pie for dessert.

Did you know?

  • April 31st is Pi Day in England because they write the date like this: 31 April
  • The one millionth digit of pi is 1
  • To be exact, 22/7 is not actually pi
  • Every single person's phone number is in pi somewhere
  • pi is NOT supposed to be capitalized (except in the holiday)!
  • Pie is 10% yummier on Pi Day (That's my theory anyway)!
Happy Pi Day!
This is the symbol that represents pi

Google Now for iOS

Google has leaked a video for a popular Android app, Google Now, made for iOS. This video was quickly removed, however several sources managed to get a download. Google Now is a series of information "cards" that tell you information (sports, weather, time, etc.) much like Siri. Google Now for iOS isn't available yet, but will be soon in an update of the Google Search App. I hope this helps!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

For those who have no idea of what any word on this blog means...

People! New-comer geeks! Don't worry! Today, I put up a great page that allows you to easily understand everything I say! Just go to the top of the page and click on the page link that says, "If you're new with technology..." or click here. I hope this helps!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Want to get rid of included apps?

Although the app was removed from the App Store, you can remove apps such as the stock app on your iOS device. I managed to get a copy of the app, "HiddenApps". It was free. This app managed to get past the strict App Store Guidelines and allows your non-jail broken device to do stuff like get rid of iAds and unwanted apps. Perfect for those who want to use third party weather, clock, stock, or (and to a MUCH greater extent) to replace Apple Maps with Google Maps. The process goes like this. You select an app to remove (until you reboot your iOS device) and it installs a plugin named "Poof". I haven't tried this yet (*sarcastically* I know, real professional, right?) as I'm worried about the risks of a bug or something getting in my iPhone. So, until then, I hope this helps!





Monday, March 11, 2013

Photo Stream Has UNLIMITED Space and Has No Effect On Local Storage

In another case with one of my friend's iPhone, my friend discovered that her storage on her iPhone was maxed out. What she did was she deleted photos from her Photo Stream. This does nothing to increase storage on your iPhone. These photos are in the iCloud. Here's how it works:

  1. You take a photo on your iOS device.
  2. The photo is automatically pushed to iCloud's Photo Stream.
  3. The pictures are automatically downloaded to other devices (including Macs running Mac OS X 10.7.2 or later) that are connected to the internet within the next thirty days (Any device that doesn't download it within the thirty days will not receive the photo unless it is synced with the device).
In addition, photos stored in the Photo Stream do NOT affect your iCloud Storage. The storage space is unlimited. iOS devices will show the last 1000 photos (but the photos aren't deleted) and Macs (and to a lesser extent, PCs) will show all of them. I hope this helps.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Panorama: From Left to Right AND Vise-Versa

When taking a panorama on an iPhone or iPod Touch, you can tap on the window of the panorama to switch the direction of the panorama. This works both ways. I hope this helps.

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Creating an iTunes Backup

To create an iTunes backup without using Time Machine in Mac OS X, open iTunes. Go to iTunes > Library > Export Library. You can put this on a CD. This really isn't necessary as long as your songs are bought from the iTunes store or your computer is backed up with Time Machine. I hope this helps!

Friday, March 8, 2013

Choose your iTunes Library

In iTunes for Mac OS X, you can switch libraries. Different iTunes libraries can have different songs. Although I don't recommend switching iTunes libraries if you are a beginner in Mac OS X, it's very simple to do. Simply hold the "alt" key when turning on iTunes. You can even create a new library. You can do the same process with iPhoto.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

One Second Everyday Review

One Second Everyday, or 1SE, is an app that let's you see your life in seconds. For 99¢, the app is very nice. However, it can be very complicated. The app makes it hard to select that one second you want. It runs slow for iOS devices with lots of video and sometimes crashes. Once you figure out how to use the app, it is a great app. I've compiled about a month of my life into 30 seconds. Because of the great concept, I give One Second Everyday four-out-of-five Geek Glasses.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Be prepared!

Whether you live in a place where tornados are often or if earthquakes happen almost never, you should ALWAYS be prepared for any emergency situation. As technology advances, we find new ways to be prepared. Now, we have iOS devices. The Red Cross has innovated emergency preparedness with their apps. Each app is absolutely free. There's one for earthquakes, one for wildfires, and one for first aid. You can test your knowledge, send a message to your family members that you're okay, and create an emergency plan in every app except for the first aid one. Most of the apps have a flashlight, strobe light, and alarm tool.

To try out one of these apps, click here.


Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Amount

In this week's "New and Noteworthy" section of the App Store, we have "Amount". This app converts one number into so many units, there are probably some units that you've never heard of before. For 99¢, I think it's a good use of money. Just be sure you have a good use for it. I hope this helps!



Monday, March 4, 2013

Evernote Security Issues

If you are an Evernote user, then you probably know about the security issue. Evernote has issued a statement about the situation.

"Evernote’s Operations & Security team has discovered and blocked suspicious activity on the Evernote network that appears to have been a coordinated attempt to access secure areas of the Evernote Service."

- Evernote

For those who don't know about this, ALL Evernote users must reset their passwords. And for those who don't know what Evernote is, Evernote is a cloud that stores documents and text files.

To reset your password, you must sign into your Evernote account and go through a process to reset your password. Do this as soon as possible. For more information, go to http://blog.evernote.com/

Sunday, March 3, 2013

iPhone 5 photos are NOT full screen

Despite iPhone 5's larger screen, it doesn't take pictures large enough to fill the entire screen. The only way to have them fill up the entire screen is to crop it. However, cropping isn't always good. Take a look.


This is a photo on the iPhone 5.
Take a look at the edges.

Here's the same picture. It's cropped.
The cropping takes away a lot of the cat's face.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

What I put in my accessories case

What do I put in my accessories case? Well, there's:
And, if you're interested, the accessories case is the AmazonBasics Universal Travel Case for Small Electronics and Accessories. I hope this helps.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Dreamdays Review

Everybody has a dreamday. Whether it's the weekend or a birthday. When you need the assurance that that dreamday is coming, and that the time until that day isn't just getting longer and longer, Dreamdays is the app for you! The app is quite elegant and functional. It's even iCloud enabled. Unfortunately, my data from the app was deleted the day I bought the app because of a glitch in the app. I had to manually restore my dates. However, I never had to do that again. I'll give the app four-out-of-five stars. The app is currently on sale for $1.99 and a lite version available as well.