Galaxy S8 – The Little Things

The screen of the Galaxy S8 is BIG, but as “they” sometimes say, it is the little things that matter.  I don’t know how true that is in all situations, but I’m discovering that it is certainly applicable to mobile technology.

When I moved over to Android and Samsung, from Windows Mobile, I knew about the big stuff that would be different, like the availability of more apps that were part of the “app gap” on Windows.  More important to me are some of the little things.  These first two features and things that I had requested on Windows for many years.  They are small things, but they matter to me.

Today’s double dose of small things are sponsored by the letter “C”.   I use my phone for a lot of things, but two areas that are mission critical in the JDE, are COMMUNICATION and CREATIVITY.  See, the “C” connection happening?  

My Complaint Email to USDOJ RE: Chase + BofA Anti-Competitive Activity Against Windows Phone

In the last week or so, Microsoft had some really big news with the announcement of Windows 10, HoloLens, and Surface Hub. They were showing true innovation on screens of all sizes and getting good press. The day before the Microsoft event and a couple of days after, something strange happened: Chase and BofA pulled their banking apps from the Windows Phone app store. Considering that they are the headline banks for ApplePay, something seemed a bit fishy to me.

I’ve never written the United States Department of Justice, but I honestly feel like something anti-competitive is being acted on here, with collusion between the banks and Apple. It bothered me so much that I sought out the email to contact the DOJ. Please find that email below.

Apps That I’ve Been Playing With on my Lumia

It’s no secret that I rock Windows Phone.  Currently, in the form of a Lumia 1020.  The media loves to badmouth the platform as having “no apps”.  Even owners of Windows Phone jump in when the app they want isn’t available.  While there is some truth to that, there are also lots of really great apps and I’d like to showcase some of them here.  Don’t worry if you’re stuck on Android and iOS, some of these are available to you, as well.

So read on to see what apps that I’m using that you might not be using.

Images to Video on my Lumia 1020

I needed to be down in Hollywood for an appointment and I decided to do a little tourist walk.  I took 10 minutes and gathered some pictures and a couple of videos.  Later, I had some Pho for dinner.  You don’t know what Pho is?  Not to worry, you’ll see it in the second video.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 is perfect for capturing great images.  The Windows Phone ecosystem has a ton of apps to use with imaging, as well.  Today, I’ll show you examples of  two of these apps I used to quickly put together video content to share on social media.

Lumia Gets REAL…estate

I have to tell you that the Nokia Lumia 1020 puts in work.  I’ve used it on paid video jobs and paid event photography jobs.  Now, it just got REAL.  My friend asked me to do a shoot of his new real estate listing.  I brought along my trusty DSLR because  “size matters”, when people are paying for pictures.

I took about half of the photos with the DSLR and half with the Lumia 1020.  The Lumia had a wider angle, which is great for capturing smaller rooms where I couldn’t back up any further to frame it properly with the DSLR.  That wider view was also great for capturing the totality of the yard spaces.

I’m only going to post pictures taken with the Lumia in this posting.  If you are interested in the house, please check out the listing here: 10521 Northvale Rd – Represented by Cory Holtzman.

Lumia 1020 on Roids

This modern piece of photographic genius is capable of taking amazing pictures.  I was thinking that there had to be more. With the fad of InstaGrime, it appears that “more” is actually “less” and retro.

I took the plunge and put the Lumia on ‘roid…as in Polaroid.  Obviously, this was via an app and this app is called APict.

Let’s dig in and see a couple of examples.

Lumia Getting Me Fit

I spend a lot of time talking about the imaging features of this amazing Nokia Lumia 1020 device, but it has other uses.  There are a bevy of apps that I should probably be writing about, but I can do that after my time with the 1020 is over.  I mean, I do have my Lumia 920, running the same operating system.

Photography and videography are one thing, but I find myself frequently on BOTH sides of the camera, so I need to keep an eye on  my fitness.  Obviously, vanity and aesthetics aren’t the only reasons for getting into shape, but they are powerful motivators for this guy.  No matter your reason, the Windows Phone powered Lumia can help buff you up, slim you down or just add to your performance level.

You can see here that I have the phone posing with my running shoes and a nasty post-run t-shirt.  Too bad Lumia can’t do laundry.  Never mind that though.  Like Olivia Newton John said back in the day, “Let’s Get Physical”. (BONUS – I added that music video to the end of this blog)

DalyDose of…6 WEEKS!

There are just about 6 weeks left in 2012.  Did you make a bunch of resolutions for yourself that you didn’t keep?  Well, now is the time to tackle those issues and we have apps for that!

I am starting up a goal orientated fitness plan for these last 6 weeks and I challenge/invite you to join me.  DO NOT WAIT for New Year’s to get this done.  Let’s do it now so we can work on bigger, better things in 2013.  Read on to join the challenge. Links to the apps, the plan and a little motivation, after the break.

DalyDose of…Zombies, Run!

Two things that I’m not that interested in: zombies and running.  Who knew that pairing them up would result in some fun and motivating fitness?  I got so motivated that I recorded a short video at the end of my run.

WARNING: This video is unrehearsed and immediately follows a non-runner’s run.  I can’t guarantee the level of awesomeness that you are accustomed to, but if sweaty truly IS the new sexy, you won’t be disappointed!

*photo taken with Nokia Lumia 900 (Windows Phone). Zombie effect by Photofunia app.
Hilarious wisdom and insight by yours truly.  Read on!  WAIT…first the video…

Apps You Didn’t Know You Needed

OK, you have every “must have” that all of the blogs tell you that you need.  Well, I have a few here that you might never have heard of, but I have found them very useful.  I use a Windows Phone, the Nokia Lumia 900 to be exact, but some of these apps are available for Android and iOS.  I’ll let you know, because I’m cool like that.