Interesting set off toys found in a silver pan tray.
A couple of dogs, some Play-Doh, a crayon, and a fighter plane.
Off to the side (not pictured) are the Legos.
Interesting with what competes with video games and phone apps these days.
(Note: 85% of the world’s toys are now made in China!)
Frankly, there is still a lot to be said for the creative play of yesteryear. 😉
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Please see my article in The Times of Israel called, “The Lesson of the Candy Lane Menorah.”
It was a beautiful ushering in the first night of Chanukah by Chabad of Bethesda, Maryland. The “candy” menorah that they were going to use was somehow destroyed, but Chabad came with a spare–they are terrific…even when things go wrong, miracles can happen, but we have to be prepared like Chabad was tonight.
Happy First Night of Chanukah to everyone! 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
As Apple approaches the unbelievable $1 trillion mark in market value, I am going the contrarian.
Historically, I love Apple products–truly.
But since Steve Jobs, Apple has done virtually nothing!
They are losing the battle for common sense priced products.
They are losing the battle on innovation.
Think for a second what has Apple come out with that is “WOW” in the last few years–either in terms of new product or design.
Do you care anything about Siri?
Are you in love with their Apple Watch?
Do you think much of their new iPhone X?
What about the computers–same old, same old?
I am still using the iPhone 7plus and have no intention to upgrade anytime soon.
See the picture above, this is Apple’s idea of innovation.
It’s the new Mac Pro — virtually the same as their iMac Pro, as their store rep explained to me–except it’s shaped like a tall and weird version of the Amazon Alexa personal assistant.
BTW, you still need to attach a monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.
Are you impressed NOT?
Apple as a brand used to mean the latest and greatest.
Even now, I am still drawn to Apple products, just because I am conditioned to think of it as the best!
But is it still the best and is it worth the premium price?
Apple still has me as a customer and I am still a big fan of what they have done in the past.
But they better do something amazing again and now, because I think their stock is in for a mighty big and painful tumble if we don’t see the old Apple again soon. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
So on the 10th anniversary of the iPhone…
I want to say that the iPhone is probably one of the greatest inventions of all times…congratulations to Apple and especially to Steve Jobs!
I also want to say how far people have gone crazy in using these smartphones without any filters as to privacy or propriety.
HERE IS A TRUE STORY THAT JUST HAPPENED :
We are in this building waiting for an elevator to come.
A man comes around the corner speaking into his smartphone held at chest height with the speaker on blast!
He sees us, but apparently doesn’t even think to pause the conversation or turn off the speaker and put the device to his ear.
Instead, we hear from the phone from what is apparently his immediate family member.
“That’s right, it’s a yeast infection!”
We are looking at each other like is this really happening or are we on Candid Camera or something.
And he respond still on with the speaker as we get on the elevator:
“A yeast infection, yeah, yeah, you better not let it get any worse.”
Then from the phone:
“With these yeast infections, you know how it can be. I’ll try to take care of it today,”
Him again, now as he’s getting off the elevator:
“Well anyway, hope I’ll be seeing you over later today.”
My wife and I look at each other, and I blurt out after the elevator door closes:
“Yeah, yeah, I guess we’ll be seeing you later today–with that yeast infection and all–hope it’s not contagious!”
And we both start cracking up at how insane people are.
While we can’t (completely) help what people are over-hearing -and seeing through surveillance mechanisms on our smartphones, this guy with his phone, he didn’t even flinch at the conversation he was having in the open on the speaker.
It’s a different day and age, and some people have no sense of boundaries anymore. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
So Microsoft has tried to do the copycat thing of the Apple Store.
See Apple (top photo) streaming with customers trying out their world-class computers and smartphones yesterday.
See Microsoft (photo underneath) just a few storefronts down in the mall with nice vibrant colors, but just a handful of customers (the non-red shirts) in the entire place.
BTW, I took a look at the iPhone 6 Plus and liked the size (I thought I wouldn’t) and ordered one (will be nice I hope to actually see the screen on this thing).
At the same time, I tried the Microsoft Surface, and my wife says to me can you videotape me showing how long it takes to actually try to figure this thing out–piece of garbage!
It was also confusing why the Microsoft store was selling Dells and other companies computing devices–Ah, maybe because they don’t have anything competitive of their own???
Microsoft great try with the overall store (Touche!) but you just don’t have the retail products to compete with Apple–and the piles of Xbox in the rear of the store to draw people in–that wasn’t working either.
Microsoft still a winner at enterprise computing, but Apple hands-down has you on personal computing–everyone to their corners. 😉
(Source Photos: Andy Blumenthal)
I had to share this wonderful Rosh Hashanah greeting.
This was developed using Apple’s iPhone icons.
It is one great technology way to usher in the Jewish New Year of 5775.
Please G-d, let it be a wonderful year full of blessings! 😉
(Source Photo: Sarah Herbsman from Pamela)
Please see a new article by Andy Blumenthal at Government Technology.
We “need to learn ever new technology skills and simultaneously retain, old tried and true, core survival and self-sufficiency.”
This is a serious topic, and there will come a time when the lights go out and those who blend old and new skills will survive, while unfortunately, others who don’t, will not.
Hope you enjoy the article.
Andy
(Source Photo: here with attribution to U.S. Army Africa)
Okay, it takes a big man to admit when he’s wrong.
Reference my blog “How Apple Is Losing Its Fan” dated August 10, 2013.
After testing the Galaxy S4 for the last 5 days, I can honestly say, I was wrong!
I hate the Galaxy device, and am returning it tonight!
Despite a dearth of recent innovation from Apple, their iPhone is SO MUCH better than the Galaxy.
Do NOT listen to the stats comparing them!
The battery on the Galaxy was horrendous, and after never running out of juice on the iPhone, I got a warning message yesterday on the Galaxy that the battery was almost dead after only 8+ hours of use!
Also, syncing it up with my car system was clumsy and annoying compared to the iPhone which did it seamlessly everyday.
Even simply syncing up music, videos, and so on with iTunes required a 3rd party app to facilitate this.
Checking email was a pain as there were separate icons for Gmail and the for all other email (yahoo etc.), so this very basic feature was not consolidated.
The cheap material on the Galaxy, even with the nice case I got, made it feel like the crappy buttons would break anytime.
But most important, the integration of the Apple iPhone ecosystem is so much tighter than on the Galaxy–whereas everything on the iPhone works the first time and every time, the Galaxy is an annoying hit or miss.
Everything on the Galaxy felt to me like more clicks, more annoying messages, less intuitive interface, and like I just wanted to toss it into the trash.
When the lady said she completed my switchback over to the iPhone, I only had one thing to say–thank G-d!
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Without a lift, Apple is already (and unfortunately) on the way down.
IDC reports that the recent quarter global smartphone shipments show Android with an almost 80% market share compared to Apple’s flimsy 13%.
I’ve been a diehard Apple fan for years (and I still love them, but…)
Years ago, I converted all my Windows computers and even my old Android phones.
Apple was innovative, sleek, and intuitive to use.
But since Steve Jobs passed, the company has lost its mojo.
Siri was a bust and what else have they done since.
Google is leading the way with Glass for wearable technology.
Apple is disappointing its consumers, and their stock plummet from over $700 to the upper $300s (now in the mid $400’s) shows investor sentiment.
Out comes the Samsung Galaxy S4 and I am salivating–the differences from the iPhone 5 make them “almost” not comparable.
Thought I’d wait for Chanukah, but the opportunity came early and so I am now a proud owner.
A couple of days earlier, a young women on the Metro was using the Galaxy and I asked how she liked it–she said she loved it, mentioned the big screen and all the free apps, and then went on to say that her mom also just switched over from the iPhone and loves the Galaxy too.
What is it about the Galaxy?
The larger 5″ screen on the Galaxy versus 4″on the iPhone 5 is the first thing you notice–and yes, when it comes to doing email, reading news articles, or watching video, size does matter!
Also, the Galaxy has Corning Gorilla glass and a higher 2.85 resolution and 35.28% higher pixel density–so it is strong and sharp and images really come out looking like a beautiful work of art.
Also with air gesture, you can just wave your hand to navigate pages and not get fingerprints and smudges all over the screen.
The camera is another huge difference: the Galaxy is 13 megapixels compared to only 8 for the iPhone and if you like taking photos that don’t look like they came from a smartphone, this is a better way to do it.
In terms of speed, the Galaxy again outperforms the iPhone, it has 2 gigabyte of RAM versus only 1 for the iPhone and its CPU is 2.46 as fast. I was able to transfer my entire iTunes music library in just a couple of minutes.
Finally, battery power is key and the Galaxy has 1.81x what the iPhone has–which basically makes it not necessary to get a heavy and costly Mophie external battery pack for it.
While there are many features I like better on Galaxy s4, the one thing I’d recommend Samsung improve on is the body, which is a cheaper plastic compared to the iPhones aluminum, but once you have a solid case on it, it doesn’t really matter for the end user experience.
Overall, Galaxy has out-done the iPhone, and I think the venerable and cash rich Apple, without some major new technology leaps and advances in design is under very real threat.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Gone are the days when Sony made innovative products like the Walkman and great products like televisions that you willingly paid top dollar for.
Bloomberg BusinessWeek (18-24 February 2013) reports on Sony that “after eight years of losses in the TV business, it projects a $215 million profit this year–only after selling its New York headquarter for $1.1 billion.”
LA Times reported last May that Sony announced its largest ever loss for year-end March 31, 2012 of $5.6 billion, nearly double its prior-year loss of $3.2 billion. They also announced layoffs for 10,000 employees.
Sony is reorganizing and shedding businesses (displays, chemicals, etc.) and according to Bloomberg looking to generate 70% of sales and 85% of profit from just 3 remaining businesses–cameras, smartphones/tablets, and gaming.
However, Sony has lost its way…
Maybe it started in the 80’s when Sony lost out in VCR (videocassette recorder) format wars with its Betamax to VHS, and it continues today with a lack of innovation in the mobile technology marketplace. Anybody want to buy a Sony Ericsson phone? Ah, no!
Additionally, if you have ever been to a Sony retail store–probably not–they are a truly sad imitation of Apple and virtually nobody is in there. Hello–echo.
Sony is not only losing the technology war, the retail war, and the market share (it has only 4.5% of the phone market according to the Wall Street Journal) and earnings war, but also the branding war and they have just become plain uncool.
Sony’s products have names that are unrecognizable, unpronounceable, or just plain alphabet soup.
Do you want to buy a MacBook or a Vaio, iPhone or Xperia, Kindle Fire or PRST, a Sharp Elite or XBR, an Xbox 360 or a PS4?
The answer is obvious to everyone but Sony. 😉
(Source Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)
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