Author: jamesclay

Posted on

Making the Switch

Due to some changes at work I have switched my work iPhone from O2 to Vodafone.

It was a relatively painless process. The phone needed to be “unlocked” by O2 and my number ported to Vodafone. I think I was without service for about an hour, but no more than that.

Using Vodafone now means I get coverage at the Forest of Dean campus at Gloucestershire College, which had minimal to zero coverage for O2 and T-Mobile. Working in the forest has made me realise how difficult it can be for rural communities to utilise mobile devices as the connectivity can be very poor or non-existent.

One of the advantages of having the iPhone unlocked is that if I ever take it abroad I should be able to now use a local SIM.

Another advantage is I can now use my iPhone for tethering, however due to the additional cost, I won’t be using that, that often, but it’s useful to have it “just in case”.

So far a week into the new service, I’ve not noticed too much of a difference. I have had a few connectivity issues, but nothing that much different when I had O2.

Posted on

Scrabble for iPad – Game Choice #05

If you like using your iPad for games (in the main casual gaming) then you may be interested in the following games that I have enjoyed playing on my iPad over the last few years.

Enjoy the game you know and love with stunning new HD-quality graphics, quick and easy play, plus incredible exclusive features. The world’s favourite word game is now an iPad essential!

Scrabble for iPad £4.99

I quite enjoy playing Scrabble, but it’s not the easiest game to play on the move, when travelling or when you’re on your own. I bought Scrabble for the iPhone.

When I got my iPad, I did buy Scrabble for iPad and was pleased with it.

It works well and the AI can be quite challenging when you play against the “computer”.

I have to admit I am slightly sceptical about the dictionary as it doesn’t allow some words, and has some really “weird” two letter words in it. However it is consistent and as everyone is playing by the same rules, it isn’t too much of an issue if you are playing Scrabble for iPad with a real person.

Some may think that, where as Words with Friends has Facebook integration built in that this is a limitation with Scrabble, others like me think of it as a real advantage.

From an usability perspective I found it very easy to move my letter tiles around and to try words out.

Overall I like Scrabble for iPad, and it is possible to play reasonably quick games against the AI. Quick and simple interface means that it works quickly and easily.

Get Scrabble for iPad in the iTunes App Store.

Update

Scrabble has been updated to a new version in the App Store.

Posted on

That’s that then… Instagram bought by Facebook

Yesterday, Instagram announced that they had been bought by Facebook. Though they indicated that it would be “business as usual” for Instagram, do we really think that this is going to happen.

And so it begins... #fote11Generally whenever Apple, Google or Facebook buy another company that runs a particular service, they run it for a year or so and then either integrate aspects of it into their service or not… and then shut it down.

You never know Facebook may continue to run Instagram as a separate service, however I think after a year it will probably cease to exist…

Google took Jaiku and Picnik, two excellent services, deprecated their functionality and integrated aspects into Google+ (probably Buzz and Wave too) however both services are now shut down.

Apple took Siri and integrated it into iOS and made it 4S only whereas before it worked with the 4 and 3GS.

13 #366photosTwitter bought out Tweetie and then created the Twitter app out of it.

Facebook bought Gowalla and integrated it into Facebook and then shut down the service.

I would be very surprised to see Instagram operating as it currently does after a year, if at all.

I do like Instagram, and I see it much more of a social app than a photographic app, there are many apps out there that do a significantly better job at image editing. However they lack the social aspect that you find in Instagram.

Ah well, one shouldn’t really think that things like this don’t happen and it does more often than I like, but that’s life I think.

Posted on

Instagram for Android

I’ve been a fan of Instagram (for iOS) for a long time. So I am pleased to see (finally) a version of Instagram for Android.

A beautiful way to share your world. It’s fast, free and fun!
Pick from one of several gorgeous filtered effects to breathe a new life into your mobile photos. Transform everyday moments into works of art you’ll want to share with friends and family.



Share your photos in a simple photo stream with friends to see – and follow your friends’ photos with the click of a single button. Every day you open up Instagram, you’ll see new photos from your closest friends, and creative people from around the world.



The app is not that easy to find in the Google Market Place so use this link which will take you direct to the app on your Android device.

The app as you might expect works in a similar vein to the iOS device. There are some subtle differences, but you’ll only notice them if you use both versions on a regular basis.

Instagram for Android #366photos

There are the same effects you find in the iOS app, and as my Google Nexus One has a pretty decent camera you get some good quality images.

If you have an Android device, well worth a look.

Posted on

iPad 2 for £329, but not for long…

As well as releasing the new iPad, Apple also reduced the price of the 16GB iPad 2 to just £329 ($399). However according to information I have from Apple, that this is only availabel for this reduced price, for a very limited time.

This information was in a marketing e-mail about the new iPad.

The reduction in price is temporary and will be for a short time. So if you are thinking about buying the cheaper iPad 2, then you may not want to wait for very long and buy it now.

The other thing to consider is, because of this it doesn’t matter that the old iPad is called the iPad 2 and the new one is just the iPad, because before long we’ll only have the iPad and as the only iPad available it won’t matter what it’s called. Apple will just sell the iPad.

Posted on

So it’s not a Jelly Donut…

Well my prediction that the next version of Android, after Ice Cream Sandwich was to be called Jelly Donut was a little wide of the mark. It’s going to be called Jelly Bean.

Unlike earlier names, that were puddings, this name is a type of candy!

Makes it more difficult to guess the next name, the obvious choice is Key Lime Pie. However if Google are using candy names, then it could be anything…

Won’t be Krispy Kreme to Kit Kat though, as they are trademarks.

Posted on

Photoshop Touch for iPad

It has been talked about for some time, but Adobe Photoshop Touch for iPad 2 is finally released today.

Adobe have worked hard to create a stunning looking application that is both powerful and easy to use through the touch interface. I’ve only had a small amount of time to use the app, but what I can say is that it is very easy to use, pick up and is very powerful. Photo professionals will really like the power that this app gives the iPad and enthusiasts will find the app very accessible and easy to use. The app gives you the toolbox to manipulate, edit and create stunning images.

I can image photographers taking this tool on the road with their cameras enabling them to both edit the images in the field, but then send those photographs on via 3G.

The app has been designed for both new users to Photoshop and those use to the existing application on the desktop platform. It comes with a series of useful tutorials and these explain how to achieve certain effects and the way in which different tools work.

Continue reading “Photoshop Touch for iPad”