Leaving Apple in the Dust

Last week we talked about the craze  or flop of the iPhone 5C and 5S, this week let's move forward and talk about the moto X by Motorola.  This phone has transformed Apple's Sirri concept into something much more powerful.  Beyond that it has taken the idea of customization to a whole new level.

Voice Commands:

Apple's, like the majority of smartphones, voice commands currently are not completely hands free.  The moto X however, went that extra step for it's customers and has become literally hands free.  As each device begins to recognize your voice the possibilities are endless.  You don't have to be next to your phone or have the display on to execute a command. Because, the display doesn't have to be active users can even set alarms without  running the risk of blinding themselves. 

Customization:

I think it's a fair conclusion that moto X one upped iPhone again in the customization aspect.  The iPhone 5C currently comes in five vibrant colors and iPhone 5S is available in three metallic styles.  There is no disputing this is an improvement over the standard black and white options previously available but, when you compare it to the near 2000 ways to mix and match options up for grabs on the moto X it seams much less impressive. A few ascetic features which are customization include but are not limited to both the back and front cover as well as the buttons.

In closing can you as a consumer look beyond the iPhone craze and venture into the new technology the first Google based Motorola has to offer?

New iPhones, Old Technology?

We have all heard about the new iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C, But are they really that new? In this post I will share my opinions on these new phones and what new customers can expect.

First off we can review that the Apple, and the iPhone has come a long way since their debut in 2007. iPhones were the first phones that really got users to use their device as more than just a phone, Apps now came into play and expanded the mobile market to an all time high. While smartphones hold about 56% of the market share for mobile devices Apple comfortable holds around 25% of that share. Here are some points that I think Apple is missing out on.

RFID Technology:

For those of you who haven't heard of RFID technology it is something that Android has been creating a strong market for over the past years. RFID is also known as NFC or Near Field Communication. This started simply as beaming a photo to someone across the table, and has now evolved to using your phone as a credit card at almost any store that has a card scanner.  The iPhone has always been explained as something the is "revolutionary" or that will change the world, But if this is so then why are they excluding a technology which is strongly growing in the past year from their new devices?

IOS 7 Movement Detection Software is old news:

One of the largest selling points to the public in my opinion is the introduction of the movement detection software included in the new IOS 7. The goal of this is that your iPhone will track and store locations you frequent, such as your home or work. With this stored information you can access a screen that will provide information about these locations. For example when I wake up my iPhone can let me know approximately how long it will take me to commute to work given the traffic conditions which are updated with RSS feeds.

I don't know about you but this sound exactly like Google Now to me, which has been out since July of 2012. Looking at the screenshot to the left you can see the same information based off of frequently visited locations.

I think Apple is making a smart decision by including this technology after seeing its success with Android devices, but why exclude RFID?

Fingerprint Scanner:

Here is another example of something that has been done in that past that Apple is claiming to be revolutionary. The fingerprint scanner included in the new iPhone 5S.  The Motorola Atrix was released in 2011 and had a fully functional fingerprint scanner. The fact here is that it never really caught on, it simply just put another security precaution on the phone. For example all iPhones now have added security features such as a pin number unlock, but how many people honestly use that? Will the fingerprint scanner actually catch on with Apples new attempt? It should be interesting to see how this plays out.  

In conclusion I think that many people are very excited for the new iPhones, but I also think that people should step out of their comfort zones and explore additional options outside of Apple devices to find similar technology at a more affordable price. With the 5C introduced as a more "affordable" option for an Apple device it should be interesting to see how the market plays out. Will users chose an Android platform available on multiple devices with the same technology and a little more experience in these new technologies such as RFID and Movement Tracking? Or will they take the leap with Apple as the venture into the market again with their new devices? We will just have to wait and see.

-Alex Maslyn

Introductions

The Awesome Technologies blog is authored by Jordan Weak, Marie Pistek, and Alex Maslyn. We are three students from the University of Northern Iowa studying Management Information Systems. Over the course of the following semester and possibly beyond we will be talking about various technological subjects that interest us. But first, a little more about ourselves:

Jordan 

Hi, my name is Jordan Weak. I am a senior year student here at the University of Northern Iowa. I currently work for John Deere as a Part Time Student Employee working on various Info Systems projects to support the Power Systems department. I first became interested in computers all the way back when MySpace was still cool. I searched high and low through Google to convert my "Top 8" to a "Top 12" list of friends. Seeing the way that simple piece of code worked like magic is what sparked my interests. My main focus in technology is database design and application development.

Alex

My name is Alex Maslyn. I am a senior at the University of Northern Iowa persuing a degree in Management Information Systems with a Minor in Computer Science, with my degree I will also achieve a Computer Applications Certificate. I am actively seeking a full-time position in the IT consulting field specifically in Application Development. 

In my prior jobs, I worked as a Visual Basic Developer and SharePoint administrator for John Deere; Where I have designed and developed an engine tracking application used worldwide by John Deere Original equipment engineers, and the EPA to monitor regulations. I have also had experience with IT Consulting Internship at McGladrey on an Application Development team, where I focused on programming custom applications for 9 different clients primarly in C#.  Both of these positions required that I complete tasks on schedule with great attention to detail.

Outside of working and class I am also the President in the Management Information Systems Association or MISA. Information Technology has always been a passion of mine, and I am excited to share my thoughts on this blog.

Marie

My name is Marie Pistek. I am a senior at the University of Northern Iowa double majoring in Real Estate and Management Information Systems. Currently I work at John Deere Power Systems in the OEM (Original Engine Manufacturing) Department. My position entails both ordering and shipping prototype parts for customers worldwide. Beyond that, two colleagues and I are responsible for data management. This includes development, population and maintenance of several Access databases used within our team. Through this I have gained a year’s experience working with SAP, Business Objects and Excel Macros to develop automated reports. Several of which are displayed for external customers. I have found the value and power in team working skills, the ability to network efficiently and a strong work ethic.