Why Apple Hardware Is Redonkulously Over-Powered

Apple has been a pioneer when it comes to new products that take the market by storm, and it is no surprise that even after Steve Jobs, the company seeks to keep and extend its overpowering control of the market share. By pioneering, I mean that Apple always comes up with products which no other organization has thought about, equipping its machines with features that are almost too powerful for the machine to hold and the users to use.

Let us take the example of the 64-bit A7 processor that adorns the iPhone 5S. Does a Smartphone need a 64-bit processor, my god that’s too much.; Its like equipping an aircraft with rocket fuel, when you know that the aircraft will always use jet turbine fuel and never be used as a rocket, at least in the near future. A 64-bit processor can combine with a 4GB RAM, but then that is too much for a Smartphone, which comes with a maximum of 1GB RAM. So that’s a bit of an overloading.

Another prime example is the Mac Pro, a computer which is way too much of a computer. It is superfast, and has an ability to use graphics in ways more than you can imagine, which is ridiculous, as a vast majority of users are hardly going to need such stuff on their computers.

While we argue that Apple hardware is redonkulously overpowered and that such over kill of technically advanced hardware ends up overpricing the machine, there is also the ego that an apple product carries into this world. Such an attitude creates an aura around the product, even though practically speaking, such advanced hardware is of no use unless you have enough practical uses to put these hardware to.

Some advantages though of launching such over powering hardware are: 

a. Higher Benchmarks: By launching a product way ahead and powerful, you are setting higher benchmarks for competitors, where-in they try to match Apple products.

b. Durability: Such advanced products with higher prices also come with longer durability, thereby reducing your costs in the longer run.

c. Once an Apple, always an Apple: An Apple product once bought, becomes so unique that all your future purchases revolve around this product, due to the high initial cost which makes it indisposable as well as the fact that no other product in the market matches the speed and efficiency of such over powering devices.


In the present scenario, such an overkill may seem to be an excess of technology, but in the longer run, such an act of bravado could sow the seeds for inventions in line with such technological advancements from other organizations as well. Hoping for a better technological future!

Is the iWatch in danger?

On the way Apple iWatch is struggling with problems. MacRumours reported that the screen of the smart clock consumes too much power. Therefore Apple is thinking about better alternatives. Furthermore, they have stopped a prototype test.

t is most likely to hurt Apple since Bryan James left the company. James was worked on the iPod project and he was also a part of the iWatch teams. Now he moved to Nest Labs. Despite the setbacks, the team is still large enough, Apple could meet the schedule. Rumors predict that it may be released on or before the end of 2014.

First rumors to iWatch came on in December 2012. The Chinese blog TGBUS reported, citing informants, it shed more light that Apple is working together with Intel on a smart watch. The gadget should have a 1.5 -inch OLED display and connect via Bluetooth with mobile devices. A report published in February 2013 patent application from 2011 also includes plans for devices with flexible screen and a solar cell as an energy source. IOS operating system is to be used.

 How serious Apple in a project is reflected with the number of employees working in a particular project. Both the Financial Times and Bloomberg said that Apple staff for the iWatch increased massively. Over one hundred developers and designers should take forward the work on the smart clock. A first version was tested already tested by Apple according to a report in the New York

Times in February 2013. Analysts hold a launch in 2014 may be realistic. As the Guardian reported, also the production contract for the SmartWatch has already been awarded to the The Taiwanese Company Quanta and Inventec making the smart clock in 60:40 ratios. According to Angela McIntyre from market research firm Gartner the starting price of Smartwatch may be around 149-199 U.S. dollars.

How to control Apple TV with a third-party remote

Apple Televisions are becoming more and more popular and as it is normal with any new technology; different problems have started surfacing as usage increases. One of the most common issues with any television is the compatibility of remote control devices, with many equipments having specific remote controls that control that equipment, thereby making it compulsory on the users part to either ensure that the remote is kept in good condition or go back to the company for purchasing remote controls; in case the one you have fails. This throws open another challenge in the way of availability, as post a number of years the company tends to discontinue production of certain models as well as accessories that come with it.

Apple TV also faces a similar problem. What do you do? Are you aware that, a third party remote, which has come with some other equipment of yours, can now be paired to work seamlessly with the Apple TV. There are a few steps that you will need to follow to ensure that the Apple TV is paired with a remote control device other than the original one.

First select the remote that you want to use on your Apple TV. . There are numerous buttons on your remote and frankly, there are always some which do not have any use with the present set up that you will have. Select one of these buttons. This will serve as your Apple TV remote control button.

On the TV, open settings select General, press Remotes. There you will find an option called “Learn Remote”. From hereon, it is just a matter of following certain simple steps to pair this device with your TV.
Select Start. Apple TV will show icons that normally indicate the six buttons on an Apple remote. There will also be the Up or + button which needs to be in highlight mode. Using your remote, press and hold the button on your remote that you want to use on Apple TV. A blue progress bar will indicate the progress as far as the pairing is concerned. Once the progress bar is full, it is a clear indication that the pairing has been successful. One of the six instructions for an Apple remote has been converted to suit your remote. Similarly, you could follow the same steps to configure all the six functions.

A few programs that you could use for the other five are certain advanced features like playback, fast forward, rewind, next chapter etc
…
A couple of issues that could crop up when you are pairing are:

1. “No Signal Received” – Check the remote to ensure that the button you have decided to use has been enabled. Also check the battery strength of your remote.

2. “Button already learned” – This message appears if the button that you are using already has a function assigned to it. Select another button and repeat the pairing procedure.

Overall, an excellent feature that sadly, has not caught the eye of the consumer in a big way. This can certainly revolutionize the usage of televisions in times to come.

iPhone App Review: DoodleJump

We have seen so many games on mobiles that a new one hardly arouses our curiosity. But, here is one that may generate a fair bit of heat once you get hooked on to it. Many mobile handset manufacturers have come up with various stages and styles of jumping games but Apple has taken a big leap ahead with DoodleJump. This game, brought out on the iPhone is a bit like PapiJump, but is distinct in its style and sketch, a typical uniqueness that oozes charm and chutzpah.

Let me take you through this one. If you are artist, even a starter of one, DoodleJump will give you a nice surprise as it reminds you of the various characters that you have drawn on your rough notes when in school or college. Here, they seem like coming to life. The animated doodles are great fun, and the game is quite addictive and will see you getting hooked on for a pretty decent amount of time, a fair bit more than you would generally anticipate. This game is typical of jump games, where you aim to jump as high as possible. Every time the doodle creature lands on a surface, it aims to jump higher. Jump with care, as the path is strewn with dangerous aliens, UFOs, crumbling platforms, black holes and many such hazards that tend to make life difficult as you go up.

The controls are quite basic, with an accelerometer that helps you move left and right and a tapping on screen function that makes the doodle fire a bullet to kill its obstacles. It is a pretty simple game with simple instructions and a simple goal. Now you would be wondering as to what makes the DoodleJump a great game, if it was so simple. Well, to be honest, it is not a tech marvel, but a simple game with a nice feel and ring to it, something that draws you to keep playing it on and on. A great add on is the global leader board which allows you to track similar players and their scores on iPhone network. Also, the variety of having cute hand drawn doodles jumping furiously to make it to the next level is a great addiction by itself.

A small wish from my end is to make the game a bit more musical by adding some back ground tunes to the jumps as well as the elevations. That could make it very pleasing to hear as well. Over all a good value for price and time well spent, especially if you are one of those who spend a considerable time over the handset.

A Pensioner's Guide to Using the Internet to Research Products

Pensioners are no fools when it comes to new technology, after all the first programmable computer was invented in 1936 and during the Second World War many young men and women were operating code breaking machines with such deftness that would impress any computer programmer. Online technology may be new, but the basics behind it are not.

The Internet has, since its birth in the 1980s, made the world a much smaller place and has opened up knowledge to anyone at anytime, anywhere in the world.



By using the Internet, you can discover information in seconds which also means that you can now research any products that you buy, read reviews about them and find the cheapest prices. With our pensioner's guide to using the Internet to research products, we'll show you how.

Research your Products Online



There are billions and billions of website and whilst many of these many be useful, informative and correct, others may be scams or fake sites, so how can you research something properly and filter out the results you need?

STEP 1: Log onto the Internet and go to a search engine. The most popular search engines are Google, Yahoo, Bing and Ask Jeeves.

STEP 2: Think about what it is you are looking for. Do you need a particular brand? What is your budget? Knowing exactly what you are looking for will help narrow down the search and make you less vulnerable to impulse buying.

STEP 3: Type in your search phrase and try to be as specific as possible. Searching for "stairlifts" may bring up thousands of results, many of which will not be relevant, but searching for "curved stairlifts for sale in south London" will narrow down your search, providing you with more relevant results.

STEP 4: Choose the result which closely matches what you are looking for. If you realise that the website is not what you are looking for, you can quickly go back to your search results by using the back arrow to the left of the address bar at the top of your screen.

Finding Trusted Websites



Whilst the majority of websites out there are trustworthy, unfortunately some opportunists have exploited the Internet to advertise their own, unscrupulous websites. These can look convincing and can even have portfolios and testimonials from satisfied customers but anyone can write a testimonial.

Here's how to tell if a site is genuine:

- It should have a full postal address, email and landline contact telephone number.

- Some sites have an "s" after the http in the site address which indicates that it is safe.

- If you are unsure then call the telephone number given on the website.

- You can also search the name of the company online to discover a little more about it.

- You should also look for delivery charges as these charges can add considerably to the cost.

Check out their returns policy too, just in case there's a problem. You need to know how easy it would be to return a product, if you have to pay for return postage and if you would be entitled to a full or partial refund.

Comparing Prices

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The Internet offers a great way to compare prices, for instance if you were looking for stairlift prices then you can search the type of stairlift you require and compare the prices and services of lots of different stairlift companies. Always be aware though that if something sounds too good to be true, then it usually is.

You can also use price comparison sites such as Moneysupermarket and Pricechecker which will compare prices from hundreds of websites for you.

Finding Reviews

If you are to make an online purchase then obviously you can't view it beforehand or try it out, so it's handy to get some customer reviews and feedback. Any reputable site should provide customer feedback and ratings on their products but you can also look at review sites such as Trusted Reviews and Which?. Happy Shopping!
This helpful blog was provided by Acorn Stairlifts, the name you can trust in stairlift installation, design and manufacture. Why not read more of our informative blogs on stairlift advice and online articles for the elderly.