18 Thursday Jan 2018
12 Friday Jan 2018
Posted in casa azahar, cats, computers, iphone
So HEIC is the name Apple chose for its new HEIF standard for photos. HEIF stands for High Efficiency Image Format, a more streamlined way to store image files. Using advanced, modern compression methods it allows digital photographs to be created in smaller files sizes, while retaining higher image quality than its JPEG alternative. Which sounds great EXCEPT that nobody else is using this format other than Apple, so it won’t download on my computer, blah blah…
After locating an app that would convert HEIC to JPEG, a friend told me that it was actually possible to turn off the HEIC option on the phone, so I have now done that. I mean, I now have 256 GBs and am sure I’ll never get up to using even half of that, so I’m not really interested in saving space. Anyhow, Morcilla looks just as pretty in JPEG, wouldn’t you agree?
11 Thursday Jan 2018
Tags
So this is my fifth iPhone, and it’s quite exciting. You may recall when I got it for my birthday the other day (thanks Peter!) that I wasn’t sure if I should upgrade to the 256 GB model. Well, I decided to do that, but then came the issue of finding a case for it that would protect the phone without completely hiding the beautiful design. I tend to go with bumpers, but couldn’t find any, so ended up buying a “good enough for now” cheapy case at one of the many phone shops around. It’s cute, ruby red, whatever. It’s good enough for now.
But then I wondered if I should also get a screen protector. So I asked at one shop and they said it was highly recommended as replacing the screen on an iPhone X costs 600€ (wtf?). And when I asked how the protector actually protects, the guy took out a sample phone, and a heavy pair of scissors, and proceeded to theatrically bash the shit out of the screen with the scissor handles, with no visible damage. I explained to the guy that I was not about to bash my phone and that I was more interested in how a screen protector would actually protect the original screen if it was dropped. And instead of throwing the demo phone across the shop to prove his point he simply assured me that the protector would also protect the screen from breaking if dropped. But… how? It’s just a thin film of “protection” stuff. Surely the force of hitting the ground, screen protector or not, would cause the original screen to shatter. No?
I ask because I have never used a screen protector, even back when they cost 2 euros and only protected from surface scratches. But now they cost 15-25 euros, so I’m a bit sceptical. Do these things really work? Are they worth it?
09 Tuesday Jan 2018
An iPhone X!!! This was Peter’s fab combo Christmas-Birthday present, though he couldn’t surprise me with it as he (wisely) said he wouldn’t dare pick one out on his own, you know, in case he got the wrong one. Ha. Anyhow, we went out birthday shopping on Sunday and, at both shops we went to, they only had the 64 GB model. At the time I thought this would be fine, so that’s the one I got, but now I’m having second thoughts and wondering if I should upgrade to the 256 GB model (annoyingly they don’t offer a 128 GB one).
My present iPhone 6S has 64 GBs, and in over two years I’ve never reached more than about 40, though I do have to keep deleting photos after they’ve been uploaded to my computer. So it made sense that I probably wouldn’t ever get close to ever using 256 GBs. But later I started thinking about the main reason I wanted a new iPhone, which was to get a better camera. Also that I would probably be using a higher resolution and be taking more videos, which do take up a lot of space. So now I’m wondering if (before I open the box) I should go with 256 GBs, just in case. Any advice?
25 Tuesday Oct 2016
Tags
Frustrated with the latest iOS update, which has taken away the “swipe screen to open” option, so now I have to click on the home button. Conspiracy theories abound on Twitter, mostly about how wearing out the home button will make us all have to buy new iPhones. Then a Twitter pal posted this seemingly easy solution…
Settings>General>Accessibility>Home Button>Rest Finger to Open
However that only appears to work if you are using the Touch ID option, which I can’t do because I have no fingerprints. So now what?
20 Friday Nov 2015
When I got my first iPhone in January 2009 ol’ camera shy me thought that a good way of showing my mug as an avatar (instead of using a cat or an orange) would be to take a selfie with my cute new phone covering most of my face. And of course the best day to do this would be just after a haircut (and professional blow-dry) so that my usual frizzy “pelo frito” look would be more or less subdued. Thus began a tradition of creating a new avatar with each new iphone. And today was no exception. So here are all my bathroom selfies with iphones 3, 4, 5S and 6S, taken roughly two years apart. You’ll notice that more of my face shows each time, and that I was less free with the obvious touch ups on my most recent pic (though I did allow myself a couple of clicks on the “halo” filter). Vanity, eh?
13 Friday Nov 2015
Tags
This has been on my mind for some time. Actually for quite a long while, ever since they released the iPhone 6 last year. But by the time I started seriously thinking about upgrading (this past spring) a client told me to wait until they released the iPhone 6S in September. Which actually ended up being in October, but whatever.
It was released. I looked. I wanted. I bought it today. Hello Pippin IV! My lovely Pippin III now looks rather chubby and clumsy in comparison. And there really wasn’t anything wrong with III, but I was keen to get a larger screen and also that sexy camera everyone has been talking about. Plus I’m sure there are other options that I will discover I can’t live without. So yeah. My brand new iPhone. I’m already in love…
14 Thursday Nov 2013
So when I bought my new iPhone last week I bought these plasticky-rubbery clear covers for both the new one and the old one (pictured on the right). The woman at the shop said not to mind what looks like condensation under the case because it would eventually disappear.
But a week later it’s still there (and I assume on my new one too but I can’t see it as it’s pale grey at the back).
My question is… is this bad for the phone? Being damp all the time? I’ve wiped both surfaces several times until they feel totally dry but as soon as I put the cover on I get this again. Or maybe this happens with all covers but I’ve never noticed before because they aren’t see through?
Help?
26 Saturday Oct 2013
Posted in gadgets, geekiness, iphone, retail therapy
19 Monday Dec 2011
A week or so ago I was telling my friend Juan (who owns the Vineria San Telmo, one of my top-five fave tapas bars in Sevilla) that I was seriously considering getting an iPad. He’s had one for a couple of years and, in his opinion, thought I’d do better getting a small MacBook Air. And well, I could see his point because an iPad is kind of just a big iPhone, except you can’t make phone calls on it.
BUT… it really would be useful for when I want to visit clients and show them my social media presentations, or their page on my Sevilla Tapas blog. It would easily fit into my handbag and doesn’t weigh much, so I could pretty much always have it with me. I wouldn’t always carry around a small computer, no matter how lightweight. And besides, the MacBook Air costs twice as much as an iPad. But Juan insisted that it was worth it because it was actually a computer, whereas the iPad is, well, just a big iPhone.
BUT… I already have two laptops. And if I have to upgrade at some point, which may actually happen soonish, I’d want a proper laptop with a decent sized screen, not a mini-sized MacBook.
And so I was telling all this to Juan and he suggested that I borrow his iPad for a few days to see if it was actually suited to my needs. What a generous offer! So I picked it up on Saturday (photo was taken outside Juan’s restaurant) and within five minutes I was hooked. I LOVE it. But now that this decision has been made I am suddenly faced with another dilemma, because apparently the iPad3 is coming out in March. So do I wait until March to put myself into debt 600€ or do it now? Will the iPad3 be that much better that it’ll be worth the wait? What if it’s even more expensive? Or maybe I should wait until March and pick up an iPad2 for a song (if possible)?
What should I do? What would you do?
I think it’s time… any advice?