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Groovetech
By Jun P. Velasco

Technews

EVERY MONDAY June 18, 2012

Apples True Test

The Next Generation Apple Products
here is a persistent question floating around, Will the next iPhone have a bigger screen than its current 3.5 display size? There is even a rumor that came out, saying that the late Steve Jobs killed the launching of the iPhone 5, since it was purported to have bigger display size which he did not agree with and believed would lead it to a deviation from the legacy of the iPhone and even cause fragmentation problems, as well as serious issues with developers. There is certainly a convincing argument regarding a bigger sized display, as there is a compelling argument as well otherwise. But will the next iPhone just be a measure of display size or will it be more? Will it again surpass what naysayers are expecting? If it were to be recalled, the first iPhone changed the way we see what a smartphone should be. It certainly changed mine, that I see other smartphones as a mimic of a truly successful device. But I only got to enjoy the experience with the iPhone 4 which is a successful derivative of the three previous generation and a better looking one, as well. The introduction of the iPhone 5 will be a true test for Apple. What it will be and what it can do, for most of us mere mortals, are left to the imagination. But there are obvious possible enhancements, like a faster processor, better camera, more intuitive touch panel, bigger memory, 4G LTE support, and even a stronger alloy to build it with the liquidmetal. In all accounts, it will be a complete model change as oppose to the marginal improvements made with the iPhone 4S. Of all these possible improve-

ments, what caught my attention is the possible use of the new alloy liquidmetal or metallic glass in some circles. It is an alloy of titanium, zirconium, nickel, cooper and other metals (sadly my chemistry teacher did not touch on this in high school) that gives a look that is as smooth like liquid. This change in the material can surely lead to a change in the chassis for the iPhone 5, something that will again differentiate it from other smartphones. A unibody is indeed a possibility. On a personal note, I do not think smartphones should be made out of plastic. Aside from the possible aesthetic value of the liquidmetal, it is also reported to have higher elastic energy, which allows it to be more damage or wear resistant against scratching and even denting. A definite plus for careless me. A metal back plus a unibody case can be at the works, and can be what the iPhone 5 can look like. Now match this up with all the possible trimmings, like the A6 processor, a higher megapixel camera, a new iOS, 1GB RAM and LTE connectivity; and what we have is the best iPhone yet. So going back to the persistent question of display size, would it honestly matter in the end or what will matter is the total package that will be delivered hopefully soon. Over and above, all the other curious questions surrounding the next iPhone, the bigger question for me is -- when will we be given the chance to be amazed once again? In closing, I wish to share this article in three parts to all those who believe, innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower, quoted Steve Jobs. For your comments and opinions, reach me at jun.velasco@ me.com.

hanking Dad on his special day does not have to always come in the form of a giftwrapped tie. There are fresh and unique ideas to surprise your father, and all it should take is a little creative effort and the new portable Epson LabelWorks label printers. Here are a few suggestions that can express your special thanks to the first man in your life.

Epsons Gift Guide For Fathers T

Day gift to help dads organize their tools, cables, business files, gadgets, and more the portable Epson LabelWorks LW-300 and LW-400. The new Epson LabelWorks printers are ideal for labeling dads power tools, his DVD collection, hobby materials, important documents, computer peripherals everything a father needs. Moreover, the label printers can also be extremely useful for moms for organizing household items, scrapbooks, school materials, stationery items, and documents. With more than 40 tape cartridges, users have wide variety of colors, symbols and print styles to choose from. The specialized media and custom features allow everyone to incorporate unique styles to their projects, while making it easy to stay efficient and organized, said Donna V. Ferro, Epson General Manager. The LabelWorks LW-300 works with a variety of tape widths ranging from six millimeters (~1/4 inch) to 12 millimeters (~1/2 inch), and the LabelWorks LW-400 accommodates tapes up to 18 millimeters (~3/4 inch) wide. The highly durable tapes are available in a variety of traditional colors, as well as specialty colors and textures such as fluorescent, pearlized, iron-on, metallic, glowin-the-dark, and colorful patterns such as blue checkered or white and pink polk-a-dots. They also provide dramatically smaller lead margins for up to 60% less margin waste, giving users a perfectly sized label for any

Treat him to his favorite things. If you live near your Dad and can spend the day with him, take him out to enjoy his favorite activity! Whether you assist him in his carpentry project, tag along to watch his favorite movie, or organize an all-day outing, being there for him will make it more special. Give him a new experience. Being the familys provider makes a father prioritize other things aside from finding time to try out new things for himself. Maybe your father has always wanted to learn photography, attend a special edition car show, or go on a cross-country biking tour. Let him relax. A gift certificate for a massage to soothe aching muscles, a nice soak in a mineral tub, or an old-fashioned professional shave can go a long way in making fathers feel appreciated. Do all his chores. If your father is too busy to take the day off, help him eliminate some of his chores. Arrange to have the car cleaned or do all of the things around the house that take up the most of his time. At the very least, hell be able to kick back for a day and that can be priceless. Make it yourself. Try something creative. Coming up with something creative, personal and memorable is always heartwarming. Childrens artwork and poetry can be framed. Something made with your own hands is just as meaningful now as it was when you were 10. Kick back and have fun. Make a compilation of his favorite basketball games or top 5 Pacquiao fights and watch it with him. Even better, invite his friends over, prepare snacks and beverages, and turn on your Epson projector to treat him to an instant barkada blowout! Get him a new toy to help him organize. Most people know a Jack-of-all-Trades Dad, and each year proves difficult to find the perfect gift that he doesnt already have. This year, Epson is making it easier with the ideal Fathers

LW 300

application. With 14 font types, 75 frames, and more than 300 symbols, the creative possibilities are almost endless. The LabelWorks LW-400 adds a two-line, back-lit display and features increased built-in memory for storing up to 50 labels. It also has expanded specialty print modes that include custom barcodes, cable and wire wrap, and a tab function that prints a mirror image for simple folder making. For more information about Epsons LabelWorks, visit www. epson.com/LabelWorks. For videos demonstrating the various uses of labels with LabelWorks, visit Epsons YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/playlist?l ist=PLD1239A2629407779.

cablewrap

Sing Something, New Draw Something

If you are fond of drawing, play Draw Something and doodle away. But if youre into singing, or at least just wanting to belt out even if you dont have the right tunes, download the newest game in town called Sing Something yes, playing mobile games has gotten melodic, loud, and vocal. While the title and the type of application are almost similar, Draw Something is by OMGPOP while Sing Something is developed by Cuteko. If youre still a bit clueless, Sing Something is very similar to Draw Something in several ways. The difference lies on the activity, which is, instead of drawing, you need to sing a phrase of a song and get your friend to guess the song title and its artist. To use the app, simply sign in using your email or Facebook account, pick a competitor from among your contacts, choose a song, record a clip, and then hit send. Playing the Sing Something game may be challenging if you are not that familiar with multiple music genres. It doesnt give the lyrics of the song as you sing your way through it, but it does provide a Youtube link for possible reference. Once a friend sends you a song, you need to guess what hit your friend likely belted out by selecting letters from a virtual keyboard of the entire alphabet in order to solve the puzzle. Using the hangman style, you need to fill in the blanks of both the song and the artist. Having similarity with Draw Something again, you and your friend earn coins upon the correct guess of the title and artist. In addition, you can also use up the bombs as your help line to get a different song or eliminate some of the available letters to make the guessing easier. At present, there are over 1000 songs in the library of the Sing Something app, which mostly came from the programmers favorites as well as Youtube hits. VladoHrincar, one of the developers of the app said, Currently we have four categories (80s, 90s, 2000s, 2010-2012), covering the overall history of the modern music. We are planning to add at least 10 more categories, focusing on specific genres or artists Madonna, Jackson, and yes, Justin Bieber too and Rebecca Black if were really evil. The recent finale of American Idol and the rise of other singing competitions like X Factor and The Voice will surely have an influence in attracting gamers to use the app. Unlike Draw Something that can be played in silence, this app is both a good and bad one. Good, because great singers might get discovered (who knows?); and bad, since other commuters might get angry when hearing you or your friends out-of-tune melodies. The app can be downloaded from Apples iTunes for free, but requires iOS 5 to function. Will Sing Something receive the same fire as that of Draw Something? Let me know what you think via @GlennOng on Twitter. (Glenn Richmond Ong)

LW 900p

Boomer Gen
K, bet the title of this article got to you, right? And you tried your best to figure out how a cup of tea could power anything at all, unless it has the ability to provide someone like the one-eyed sailor man, Popeye, with earth-shattering strength like spinach can! Well, the power source in mind by the inventors of this unique lighting system is the nice lowly tea candle that one sees people who go into meditative states use. Those teeny-weeny candles that can be made our of a whole lot of different renewable resources like, yes, tea-leaves, chamomile, neem oil, lavender, and so forth. You get the idea! The concept was originated

Jose Ma J Fernandez

Ah, Electric Light From Tea?

by a group called Tellurex which, with the help of the Kickstarter Foundation, are trying to raise a comparatively small amount of only $85,000 to help fund the research and development of their project. Tellurex calls their little gizmo the tPOD1 definitely a play on the word iPOD which stands for thermoelectric Power on Demand! How does tPOD1 work? Basically, the diminutive tea candles provide heat than generates enough electricity to power a smallish battery that, in turn, powers a 25 LED bulb lamp for about 4 hours. And since tea candles are quite inexpensive, one can power a light to be used in dark spaces, especially remote areas that have little or no access to electric power. The tPOD1 weighs only about 12 oz and is roughly the size of a soup can. Its most amazing ability is its use of renewable resources and also the way it converts the heat from a small candle source into enough power to keep a small bulb alive for a few hours. The developers of the tPOD1 are planning on other uses for this unique device, and hope to be able to come up with many new ones that can be attached to a USB device. One sees this device being used for charging phones, maybe keeping a small smart-phone working for emergency uses, and so forth. Campers and people living in electricity-challenged areas will definitely welcome this new gadget if it manages to make it to the market.