Monday, May 14, 2012

Technology Snafu

Hi Anyone who has read this blog, knows that I ventured into the Smartphone realm about a year ago, and bought a Samsung Galaxy SII. The phone worked as it should and sync'd with the Bluetooth in the car and all my contacts were downloaded to the car. This was great as I was able to call anyone on my contact list (or make a phone call) with out taking my eyes off the road. This "eyes on the road" is very important in the country where I live, if you are cought, while driving, using a mobile phone, in your hands, to your ears you are fined big time and a few demerit points. The Android market is so fragmented, that new OS (operating systems) come out but because the fims that make the phones "individualize" them to such an extent that newer OS's may not function properly on a phone that is a year old. That has been the proverbial complaint with the Android phones/Tablets. Luckily, Samsung and the Canadian Telecom (Bell) decided to release the newer OS for the Samsung Galaxy SII. This update improves the phones functionality and makes it easier to use. With those promises a lot of people (myself included) updated our mobile phone to the new OS, called Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS for short) Version 4.0.x. The upgrade disconnected the pairing of the phone(bluetooth) with the car, therefore I had to do the "pairing" all over again, which managed to work after many tries, however, the contact list will not "transfer". The phone in useless in the car if the data is not tranfered to the car. Samsung then talls us (who have complained) to delete a file on the phone and it will then transfer the data, however, this method does not work. So Samsung has upgraded the OS for the Android phone, but screwed up the Bluetooth functionality, then telling us to delete a file AND to go back to the car manufacturer, for them to fix this problem. The annoying part is that if you only have a "bluetooth" speaker in your ear, the phone will not work with ANY bluetooth devices so it is NOT the fault of the car maker, but the fault of Samsung, and they will not acknowledge that there is a problem OR offer to fix the problem. What a load of BS.
I got a new toy, and it is the Blackberry Playbook. I know, I know, everyone is buying the iPad & iPad2, but I am not an Apple guy and I am uncomfortable with the Android Tablets. A lot of people are dissing RIM/Playbook, however, let me state right now (up front) the Playbook (with the new OS 2.0.x)is an amazing Tablet and compares favourably (and in some cases surpasses) with the iPad2. The main complaints I have read is that there are not enough apps for the Playbook. If you are familiar with the Apple App Store, then it does not compare with volume, however, it sure does compete in quality AND it can now support (most not all) Android apps. On a personal note I hate clutter, so I don't like to have so many apps that I hardly use most of them, that is just silly IMHO. It is sometimes counter productive to buy a device for &500-$800 anduse it two or three times per day. With the playbook, it may cost you $250 and you will use it many times per day. I will provide my personal opinion update(s) on this device in the coming months. In the meantime I intend to enjoy it. Walk Good God Bless