iDenkilla's Thoughts on the Android OS

So I've been using android for about 2 months now and I wanted to post my thoughts about it, the good and the bad.

Let's start with the good things. I really like the Google Now functionality. It is a great tool that keeps you well informed. It basically is your personal assistant, it will tell you each morning how long it will take you to get to work in traffic, it will calculate your time home from any location. In addition, it'll inform you of the weather, your favorite sport teams' scores, and the last day of the month it will compare how active you were for the last 2 months. It will also remind you when to leave to reach an appointment on time. Google Now has a lot more functionality compared to Siri (the iPhone personal assistant).

I also enjoy the fact that I'm able to download apps from websites and not have to go through the Google Play store. It makes it easier to find apps and install them.

I'm also able to stream movies and pictures to my WD Live TV set top box. This feature is similar to Apple's streaming feature but the big perk is that it is not limited to just Apple TV.

One of my biggest pain points with Android, is that I have to wait for software updates to be tested by Samsung before they are released. Android 4.3 was released about 3-4 months ago yet my S4 does not have the update, and there is no official release date. Also Samsung will not release all Android updates to the S4. For example, if Google releases Android 4.5 next December 2014 or January 2015 the S4 may not receive the update. This is very different compared to Apple, all software updates are released to the phones on the release day and the software updates are released to devices even if they are 2 years old or older.

Another gripe I have, there is no consistency with certain menus within the phone. If I want to change a setting on my S4 and change the same setting in the Note 2, chances are they are in two different locations. In Apple, there is complete consistency which means it is easier to use.

I understand, Apple manufacturers it's own devices and Google doesn't. But if they want to have greater use adoption, consistency is key.

Let me know you're thoughts.
iDenkilla

P.S. Google Now has more functionality which I have not mentioned. It is also available on the iPhone but it is not as great due to system limitations.

Weight loss update 2

Hey everyone,

I've been delinquent with posting recently. But here is my update regarding my weight loss.

So I'm trying to eat healthy to maintain my weight. I don't know how much that has worked. Even if I consume 1500-2000 calories, I'm not burning much of it as I'm just sitting around most of the day. I try to be as active as possible by walking down the block or just walking in the house but it's not the same.

The good news is the doctor has cleared me to start walking without the use of crutches. That means I'm one step closer to being 100%. And I'm looking forward to getting back to my normal life. Physical therapy is going well and I'm seeing some great improvement as well.

That's all for now.
iDenkilla

iDenkilla's Origin Story

Hey Guys,

I typically don't post twice in a day, but I wanted to tell you guys how I came up with the name "iDenkilla".

Back in the early 2000s, Nextel cell phones were very popular. These were the phone where you can chirp your buddies to see what they were up to. Just like walkie talkies but you didn't have to be within a certain range. I had their color flip phone, the Nextel i760. Around that time, I discovered forums and the developer community, based on the information they posted, I modified (moded) my Nextel and pretty soon I was doing the same for a lot of my friends.

Another name for a Nextel is, iDen. So I thought I'd call myself iDenkilla since I hack these phones.

That's the origin story of my name.

Later,
iDenkilla

Nextel i760

iDenkilla's iOS 7 review

Hey guys,

So iOS 7 released last week and I thought I would write a review about it. This update is a complete change from the previous version of iOS. They have removed "the unnecessary lines", gave the UI flat coloring, added transitions between screens, added other features  such as a command center, etc. I have played with the software on my old iPhone 4s and my iPad 2. 

The lock screen on the phone is completely different, you no longer slide an arrow to unlock the screen or to enter your pin code. Instead you slide your finger anywhere on the screen to unlock the phone. You are able to pull down the notification center or pull up the command center. The notification center is nice because you are able to sort if you want to see information from today or from all time. The command center is nice also, you are able to turn on and off items which you would normally have to do from the settings screen (such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi). You are also able to turn on the flash light right from there. A very handy feature. The command center is similar to the one in the s4, you swipe down from the top of any screen and you are able to control settings and monitor notifications. Way to be original Apple! 

The icons for all Apple applications on the home screen are different, they contain bright colors and are flat. There are transitions now when you go into an app or come out of the app. Overall it's nice because it's aesthetically pleasing. It appeals to the masses, hence the high adoption rate of the new iOS. There's a lot more transparency as well. The transitions and transparency are also available on the s4

When switching between apps using the multi-tasking feature, there is a preview shown of the app. In order to close the app, you swipe it up. This is very similar to the multi-tasking feature on the s4, in order to close an app you swipe to the left. Again, way to be original Apple!

Siri is finally out of the beta stage and there is a lot more things you can do with it. For example, train the phonetic pronunciation of someone's name, change the voice to a male voice. Siri doesn't sound like a robot anymore, it has a more human tone. It's great that Siri is no longer in beta and they improved on it. Siri was an original idea of Apple's, but it's a shame it took two years to get it out of beta. 

iOS also comes with iTunes radio, which is Apple's answer to Pandora, another thing they copied. 

Overall, I'm not a fan of the new iOS since they are copying certain features right from the s4, more specifically android. Apple really needs to see l step up it's game and create something original. 

Thanks for reading,

iDenkilla

              A screen shot of the home screen

Narrigun

So it's another sleepless night :-(  . My cousin was visiting and just went home an hour ago. Before she left, she asked me if I could write a post about her on my blog. She's a bit conceited but I thought I'd do it anyway to embarrass her :-D.

Krishna is 17, and goes to a great high school in Queens. She's in a school which gives her college credits her last 2 years of high school. Basically when she goes into college as a freshman next year, she will already have her Associate's degree. She will have many doors that will open to her because of this: 1) She could take the easy way out and graduate college in 2 years with a bachelor's and just finish early. 2) She can stay in the college for 4 years like a normal kid and have two separate majors or a major and a minor. 3) She can earn her bachelor's in 2 years and then study/ volunteer abroad. She's s bright kid and I'm sure whatever she chooses will be well thought out.

The title of this post is "Narrigun" which means "look" in Kutchi. It's one of the languages she speaks at home with her parents, grandmas, her uncle and my mom. "Look" is the only word I am able to speak in Kutchi and I say it to annoy the crap out of her. As she gets older, I feel like I'm able to relate to her more and pass on my wisdom but that comes with the price of me annoying her.

Well that's it for my post, I hope you're happy Krishna. (I expect an awesome Christmas, and birthday gift for this)

Thanks for reading everyone,
iDenkilla

P.S. Krishna, I also expect a nice comment.

Weight loss update

Hey everyone,

It's a little over 2 weeks since my first weight loss post. It's time for an update!

Well I've been watching what I have been eating, mostly eating fruits and veggies. I've also been eating smaller meals so I don't become overly full. I haven't ate fast food or junk food a lot either, and the days I ate fast food I limited what I ate afterwords.

I don't think I've lost any weight, but I'm sure I'm maintaining it. The doctor has removed my cast and I lost some muscle in my right leg.

Overall, I feel pretty healthy. I'm in pain because the doctor removed my cast. Hoping recovery will get easier.

Thanks,
iDenkilla

iDenkilla's Thoughts on the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c

So on September 10th, Apple announced 2 new phones they will be releasing. The public has known a lot regarding the phones due to information which was "leaked" online in the last few months.

The iPhone 5c is the cheaper model which Apple is introducing. This is for emerging markets and for consumers who would like the iPhone but can't afford it. This iPhone is basically very similar to the iPhone 5 which was released last year. There's only one major difference, the back is made of plastic instead of glass. This plastic will be available in a variety of colors. They have improved the front facing camera to perform in low light also. (Probably a bunch of crap) hardware wide, I wasn't expecting more from this cheaper version. To be honest, it should be cheaper than $99 with a 2 year contract. To be stuck in a 2 year contract for a phone that's already behind in the times is ridiculous.

I also don't like how Apple is hyping that the inside of the phone is built as one piece, that to me just means they have found another way to reduce their cost but won't pass the savings onto the consumers.

The iPhone 5s is the upgraded version of the iPhone 5. Those of you who know me heard me saying that there will not be drastic changes in the new iPhone, and I was right!(This was the reason I got the Galaxy s4)  The one minor feature I like is the finger print scanner, which they call TouchID. To my recollection, there aren't many phones out there with a finger print scanner and I think it's pretty unique. The bad thing is that developers are not able to utilize this functionality because the SDK is not available to them.

There is also a 64 bit processor which the phone will have. I don't know much about processors but from what I understand there isn't any cell phone on the market which has a chip like this. This chip should improve how games and apps run on the phone. In addition, there is also an M7 chip on board which will turn the phone into an activity tracker when used with Nike move (Like the Fitbit/ Nike fuel band). I was expecting the improved processor but not the M7 chip. I'm interested in how M7 will work out.

The 5s also sports a better camera, a better flash, and improved battery life. I was expecting these improvements as these were rumored.

Overall, I'm not impressed. Apple has lost their innovative ways. To be honest, I don't think there needed to be an event to announce these devices. Events should only be held when there is something ground breaking for the consumers, not when they are just pushing minor updates to hardware.

What are your thoughts?
iDenkilla



P.S. A few people mentioned to me that they were not able to leave comments. The issue should have been fixed. Let me know if that is not the case.