Tag: GMG Tech Talk

Online Free Storage- Dropbox Free- All About Making It Easy To Sync and Collaborate and Store Your Files

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

I wrote this two years ago but it remains my favorite collaboration and sync storage option when working with decent sized files that you can’t transfer by email-

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File this under cool free useful stuff on the internet.

What is Dropbox you ask?

From the website-

Dropbox is software that syncs your files online and across your computers

Put your files into your Dropbox folder on one computer, and they’ll automatically appear on any of your other computers that also have Dropbox installed (Windows, Mac, and Linux too!). You can even download Dropbox apps for your smartphone or mobile device (iPhone, iPad, Android, and Blackberry). Everything in your Dropbox is available from the Dropbox website, too.

I use it almost daily for files that I want to have access to on my android phone, desktop computer and iPad.  The feature I like most however is the sharing capability.   I share Dropbox folders with some people I collaborate with on projects like videos from Jim Capillo at Cape Ann TV.  Also Alicia Cox and I share a Dropbox folder for her Alicia Unleashed Podcast.  We share online Dropbox folders in which they share copies the audio and video files of our podcast when they are done editing them and we can both access the files.  I then grab the files from wherever I happen to be: home computer, on my mobile android phone or on my iPad at a coffee shop and I can then upload them to the blog.  The difference between this way of sharing and storing files through email is that Dropbox hosts them everywhere at once because it is stored to the cloud and you can transfer and store huge files that would never be allowed through regular email because they are too large.  you’d never be able to transfer a file that big through email.

You get 2GB of free cloud storage and it opens up a ton of possibilities to host music, pictures or movies which you can stream from any of your devices.

You can’t beat it so if you want to get something  cool for free, you can go to the Dropbox website and sign up for a free account here

Here are some reviews from trusted tech websites that can probably explain it even better than me-

The appeal is its utter simplicity — it’s essentially invisible, doing the task that isn’t hard but none of us care to remember to do, namely, backing up our files.

from “There’s room yet in the cloud”

by G.F., The Economist – 8/24/10

We’re building the fabric for a new, different kind of Web, where your files follow you to whichever device you happen to be working on.

from “Dropbox: Files without Borders”

by Victoria Barret, Forbes – 6/10/10

Pick a file: a photo, text document, PDF, … or anything supported on the iPad. Tap the “Open In” icon and choose from the list of available apps. You’re done.

from “Dropbox Updated for iPad, External Editing Added”

by Charlie Sorrel, Wired – 5/4/10

Dropbox is better.

Dropbox replaces:

  • Emailing file attachments to yourself and other people
  • Using USB drives to move files between computers
  • Renaming files to keep a history of previous versions
  • Complicated backup software and hardware
  • And more!

Not convinced yet? Then take a look at our list of features. Otherwise, go ahead and get started!

Download Dropbox

Lifehacker posted a good explanation of ways to collaborate using Dropbox today.

For The New Folk: The Official GMG Android App Is Available In The Google Play Store. It’s Free and It’s Got a Five Star Rating

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

So if you go to the Google Play Store, type in “Good Morning Gloucester”  you will come up with the app.

If you have the app, please take the half of millisecond to give it a nice rating if you feel it’s worthy.  Thanks, Joey

Also thanks to James Eves from Cape Ann Giclee and Bill O’Connor from North Shore Kid who helped me out big time with a few much needed image files. 

Get it on the play store free by Clicking This Link

 

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Just the ability to listen or download the podcast for offline listening  would be enough reason to get it.  But then you have all the direct links to The Blog, The Cultural Calendar Events Page, The Facebook page, Gloucester Marine Forecast, Cape Ann Eats News, Cape Ann Wellness News and More-

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No Big Deal, Just The New GMG Android App Is Done and Kicks Serious Ass!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Fill Out This Form and I’ll Send It To You For Free


Click on this video to see the demo-

It’s extremely lightweight, only taking up just over 3mb and works super fast without any hiccups!

This is only for android, not Apple.

Check Out The Screenshots-

Here’s the podcast player page which gives you the option to stream or download for offline listening.  You click on a title and it gives you all the show notes-

podcastscreenshot

 

Here’s The Landing Page With Easy to Read Links To the GloucesterCast Podcast Episodes, The Blog Direct, The Facebook Page, Cape Ann Eats, Captain Joe and Sons Lobster Company.

 

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Scroll Down and You Have The Cape Ann Arts Calendar at your Fingertips, Video Page and My Contact Info.

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When You Click On the Cape Ann Arts Calendar It Takes You Directly To the Cape Ann Arts Calendar That James Eves At www.capeanngiclee.com Built and Administers-

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When You Click On The Videos Tab It Brings You To The YouTube Player-

gmgappscreenshot3

 

Fill Out This Form and I’ll Send It To You For Free

GMG Tech Talk- For Those Of You Who Bought A Chromecast- You’ve Got a free Movie Rental Coming To You

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Also you should periodically check the Chromecast offer link here- Chromecast Offers, I’ve redeemed a bunch of stuff for free over the past 6 months. Bookmark that Chromecast Offers link, and check it often, it’s always got more free rewards it seems, every time I click on it.

I think the $35 Chromecast is an absolute steal and no brainer.  95% of my TV viewing for the past year has been Netflix ($9 a month) or Hulu Plus ($9 a month) through the Chromecast dongle.  Much like UBER is revolutionizing the local transportation game, Chromecast and streaming TV is revolutionizing TV viewing.  Chromecast is an absolute monster in what it can do for such little money.

Loves me some Chromecast.  if you don’t have one you can get one on Amazon right now for $32.11 here

So I thought I’d pass on this offer I read about this morning on Google+-

These are the current offers this morning-

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I’ve redeemed the latest free movie rental and the Valentine’s  Day movie rental WITH a $6 Google Play credit.  So the Chromecast I paid $35 for actually after credits is almost free and the offers show up ALL the time.

Such a NO-Brainer.

source: Engadget

Google isn’t just using Chromecast Offers to reward existing users, the company’s also loading it with freebies in an effort to more households to get one. For instance, if you buy a Chromecast from March 20th to April 19th, you’ll get $80 worth of rewards. Namely, three months of subscription to Play Music, one month of Qello Concerts, three months of DramaFever, three months of Sesame Street GO and a free movie rental from Play Movies. While Google has reportedly sold over 10 million streaming sticks last year, having more users means getting more leverage when negotiating with content providers. That, in turn, could lead to bigger rewards or exclusive deals similar to Apple TV’s HBO Now offering.

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What did I tell you on release day of the iPhone 5c?

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

iPhone 5c keeps disappointing, almost 3M units in inventory

From digitimes-

We remember the reports that Apple had ceased orders to manufacturers for the iPhone 5c since the end of 2013, though sadly we didn’t know just how bad this was for Apple. As it turns out, new supply chain sources have told Digitimes that Apple is currently holding on to as many as 3 million iPhone 5c units in inventory that it can’t sell. Two million units are currently in the factories and one million units have already been distributed to carriers.

The usual thing is for Apple to not be able to meet demands for customers, and we’ve seen this with the iPhone 5s, but the fact that the iPhone 5c is too expensive, and too small have made it less attractive than Apple expected, and it’s clear that consumers have manifested what they want.

I called this from Day 1.   Apple buyers don’t want plastic cases, they don’t want compromised hardware, they want the best they can get and are willing to pay UP for it.  I also added that releasing a cheaper version of the iPhone was tantamount to Tommy Hilfiger selling it’s stuff at Marshalls.  Once you break that cherry you take a little luster off the elite brand.

What I called for instead (and this was all way before any of it was announced) was a Larger iPhone that could compete with the android offerings like Samsung Galaxy and Note.

It looks like Apple is getting back on track by announcing that they will be releasing a larger iPhone and this failure was probably a great lesson for them.  Apple users don’t want to compromise on hardware, they’ve built a brand on providing the best and charging up for it. To tarnish that reputation is foolish IMO.  They should eliminate the 5c altogether and instead build a super no compromise phone and charge double for it, and make even bigger margins, and I bet there would be people lining up for it, begging Apple to take their money for it.

.Samsung Galaxy s4 vs iPhone size-

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Here is my post from release day of the 5c back in September-

iPhone 5s and 5c and What I Would Have Done If I Were Apple

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Joey C

some quotes from the post-

Every product refresh they make they include great enhancements but I think there is one move they have yet to make but I think would be an absolute monster boost to their sales.

A larger iPhone to me would be a monster hit.  As a Samsung Galaxy s3 user I really appreciate the extra screen real estate and I appreciate even more the ability to strap on a cheap aftermarket battery to the back of my s3 which triples the battery life. 

I don’t agree with Apple’s tactic of offering a low cost iPhone either with the 5c and it’s plastic parts.   Apple has always been synonymous with unapologetic top grade hardware and premium pricing.  people were and are willing to pay for it knowing they are getting the best hardware without ever questioning it. 

I equate coming out with a lower grade iPhone to a brand like Tommy Hilfiger who for a brief moment was competing with the likes of Polo/ Ralph Lauren and then went and sold out and buried there products into discounters like Marshalls and TJ Max.  Forever to be equated with a poor man’s Polo and never will they ever be able to command the premium pricing they once did.

I say instead of offering a cheaper iPhone option that they should have offered a larger iPhone option with a mongo battery and charge even MORE for it.  That would have pleased Wall Street I bet.

Free Online Storage and Why You Should Be Using It

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

I use a bunch of free online storage options.  Mainly I use Dropbox for sharing big files, Microsoft OneDrive for stuff that I want to use on any of my computers, GoogleDrive for documents on the fly, Flickr, Amazon mp3 for music.  I don’t use Picassa because it seems when people share photos using Picassa they always send the small compressed files rather than the better quality hi res ones.  For a blog that relys heavily on photos, that’s sucky.  I do think Picassa works well for lots of people and I love most everything else Google but that one little thing drives me nuts about Picassa.

Anyway, it goes without saying that you should back up your hard drive often.  I suggest at least one hard copy onto an external drive and a service like Carbonite that backs everything up to the cloud for your important files like photos, music, videos and documents.

But what I’m mainly focusing on in this post are online storage options that are free and allow you access to the bulk of your photos, music and documents for easy access anywhere you are in the world and from any device.

The main one I use because it syncs so perfectly among all my computers and makes beautiful photo albums I can share on the blog is OneDrive from Microsoft (formerly SkyDrive).  It allows me to make beautiful slideshows and photo presentations and it’s completely free.  I can acess the files from any of my devices including my android phone, Apple iPad, my laptop or my desktop PC. To get it and it’s storage for free click here

Here’s a snapshot of my OneDrive homescreen- Simple, uncluttered, easy to navigate.

I highly recommend you take advantage of this free online storage option

Get it here

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Tomorrow DropBox

Better Pics Of The New Portable Podcasting Set-Up Using The iPad and Samson GoMic

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Listen to the GloucesterCast Podcast here-

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Shown Left to Right- The Samson GoMic, Lightning to USB connector for connecting Mic to iPad, and cheapo earbuds which plug into the GoMic.

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Here’s a shot of everything connected and ready for recording using the BossJock app on the iPad.  Note that I have the GoMic sitting on the table but that black stand actually doubles as a clamp which I clamp to the top of the iPad case.  I placed it on the table for this shot so I could get everything in the shot close together but normally it would be clamped to the top left corner of the iPad Case.  This can all be set up in less than 30 seconds.

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This shot is to illustrate how small and compact the set-up is.  I placed a quarter below the GoMic for scale.

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Samson GoMic available on Amazon for only $39.99.  You can use it with any laptop or computer with a usb port.  I’ve used it to tape podcasts with my laptop before but the ease of using it owith the iPad along with the BossJock app is so ridiculously easy I can’t even begin to tell you.  It’s plug and play.  The iPad immediately recognizes the mic, you hit the record button and you are off to the races.  When finished you stop recording, hit finish and then select how you would like to export it for use.

The GoMic is also good for use in conferencing, Skype and other uses like that.

You can get one on Amazon here–

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Here’s a great video showing exactly how it’s done (In this demo the video creator used an iPhone but the iPad version of the BossJock app works exactly the same way)-

In the second video the same video creator used a different mic with an iPad and the iPad BossJock app.  The mic is a nice mic but does not provide nearly the portability of the iPad/GoMic combo.

I Don’t Wanna Say I Nailed It, But I Nailed It In Reference to the iPhone 5c and Larger iPhones

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Should I be on the development teams for some monster tech company or should I be on the development team for some monster tech company????

Back in September when Apple had just launched the iPhone 5c and 5s I wrote that releasing the cheaper 5c was a mistake because Apple users want and had been accustomed to getting the best hardware on the market.  I also argued that what would drive much higher margins and sales would be a larger iPhone like the Galaxy Note.

Here is the post from September 12, 2013 the day they released the iPhone 5c and 5s-

iPhone 5s and 5c and What I Would Have Done If I Were Apple

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Joey C

I’m am an apple product fan.  Huge fan of the iPhone and the iPad.  I own a first gen iPad and still use it. Even though I am an android phone user I can still appreciate Apple hardware.

Every product refresh they make they include great enhancements but I think there is one move they have yet to make but I think would be an absolute monster boost to their sales.

A larger iPhone to me would be a monster hit.  As a Samsung Galaxy s3 user I really appreciate the extra screen real estate and I appreciate even more the ability to strap on a cheap aftermarket battery to the back of my s3 which triples the battery life.

I believe there are many people out there that want the smallest and lightest phones they can get but with the sheer computing power available on today’s smartphones they are being used more as portable computing machines and I think there is a distinct trend with people who want larger phones to be able to hit the keys easier and navigate easier, see videos more clearly, ect, ect ect.

The success of the Samsung Galaxy Note which is basically a Samsung Galaxy with an even larger screen shows there is big demand.

I don’t agree with Apple’s tactic of offering a low cost iPhone either with the 5c and it’s plastic parts.   Apple has always been synonymous with unapologetic top grade hardware and premium pricing.  people were and are willing to pay for it knowing they are getting the best hardware without ever questioning it.

I equate coming out with a lower grade iPhone to a brand like Tommy Hilfiger who for a brief moment was competing with the likes of Polo/ Ralph Lauren and then went and sold out and buried there products into discounters like Marshalls and TJ Max.  Forever to be equated with a poor man’s Polo and never will they ever be able to command the premium pricing they once did.

I say instead of offering a cheaper iPhone option that they should have offered a larger iPhone option with a mongo battery and charge even MORE for it.  That would have pleased Wall Street I bet.

Here’s the poll I created a few days later (it seems the GMG readership had the same opinions when asked)-

In light of the recent iPhone releases of the 5c and 5s a poll for iPhone users or potential iPhone users

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Joey C

and Now from the Wall Street Journal it seems that EXACTLY TO A T WHAT I HAD PROGNOSTICATED HAS COME TO FRUITION-

WSJ: Apple planning to launch two iPhone models with bigger screens, ditch the iPhone 5c

Posted by Stephen Hall at 10:31 am

iPhone 5S FrontAccording to a report published today by The Wall Street Journal, Apple is planning to launch two new iPhone devices with larger screens by the end of this year. The report also says that the Cupertino corporation plans to discontinue the recently launched iPhone 5c in favor of having two flavors of metal-body devices similar to the iPhone 5 and 5s.

It has been long rumored that larger screens were on Apple’s roadmap, but this is the first we’ve heard that the company may be releasing more than one new screen size for its future flagship smartphone. One of the rumored devices will supposedly sport a screen size of “more than 4.5-inches” diagonally, with the other shipping with a display of “more than 5-inches” diagonally.

Facing competition from rivals offering smartphones with bigger screens, Apple Inc. plans larger displays on a pair of iPhones due for release this year, people familiar with the situation said.

The people said Apple plans an iPhone model with a screen larger than 4½ inches measured diagonally, and a second version with a display bigger than 5 inches. Until now, Apple’s largest phone has been the 4-inch display on the iPhone 5.

Both new models are expected to feature metal casings similar to what is used on the current iPhone 5S, with Apple expected to scrap the plastic exterior used in the iPhone 5C, these people said.

Interestingly, the report also notes that Apple has no plans to release a phone with a curved display.

[WSJ]

APPLE OR MICROSOFT JUST HIRE ME ALREADY.  I’LL SAVE YOU A BUTTLOAD OF MARKETING ANALYSIS MONEY.

Oh and while we’re at it Microsoft I have a couple of quick suggestions for you-

I absolutely love the idea of the Surface tablet and being able to run all your desktop windows programs applications on a hybrid tablet, I especially love the idea of being able to plug into a usb port and use a mouse, condensor mic, external hardrive containing a shit ton of media files, ect, ect, ect on such a portable device.  Every part of that Surface tablet I loved to death except one important factor- compared to the iPad the thing feels like you’re holding a brick and it is in no way near even the last generation iPad’s comfort for holding.  With the weight of the Surface, you may as well buy yourself a more powerful ultrabook laptop.  It needs to be lighter.  Bottom line end of story.  Otherwise I’d buy a way cheaper android tablet or iPad if I wanted portability or a ultrabook or a Macbook air if I wanted to run desktop programs applications.

On to Windows 8 which is about to get an overhaul.  I understand the idea of everything being able to sync between a windows phone, tablet and desktop but it seems for you to be able to do this you needed to cripple the metro Windows default programs applications and dumb them down so they would be compatible on the less powerful Windows Phone and Tablets.  But by doing this you’ve only succeeded in frustrating Desktop users who want horsepower and powerful creation tools and not simply media consumption devices.  I get that 80% or more of computer/tablet users are using their devices as consumption devices, but for those of us who prefer a powerful desktop you should have let us have that powerful desktop experience and not steer us to the crippled windows 8 “Metro” programs applications just because they will sync better.

This is evidenced by HP announcing just this week that they are offering Windows 7 desktops (stepping back a generation)-

HP brings back Windows 7 ‘by popular demand’

By Tom Warren on January 20, 2014 08:26 am

Update: Amazon Offering Chromecast for $30 Black Friday Plus $6 In Google Play Store Credits! Poll- Has Anyone Here Cut Their Cable and/or Land Line Phone?

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Just saw that Amazon is offering the Chromecast for $30 for Black Friday Today and giving $6 in Google Play Store Credits making the Chromecast an absolute no brainer steal stocking stuffer-  Here’s the Deal At Amazon

For $30 this is something that will have huge impact.  I freakin love mine!

chromecast

 

My guess is that anyone under the age of 30 either laughs or looks puzzled at why anyone would pay for a Land Line telephone or cable.

Reading the last couple years about online services like Hulu for $8/mo and Netflix for $8/mo there are whole slews of great television programming for tiny fractions of what you pay for traditional Comcast cable.

Yesterday I got the $35 Chromecast which plugs into the HDMI port on the back of your TV.  It allows for wifi streaming Television programming from your smartphone or tablet of Netflix or Hulu Plus programming to your TV.

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The amount of network and cable shows that are available through these two services are astounding and way more than I’d ever be able to watch.

The one thing that you don’t get is local cable which admittedly is a big deal for a lot of people (not for me though and I suspect not for a lot of younger people who laugh at the idea of being tied to the exorbitant cable tv package plans).

I used The Chromecast with Netflix yesterday.  It took me less than two minutes to set up and was set up in three crazy simple steps.  I mean so easy my mom could figure it out.

I was always skeptical of these things because the video streams wirelessly from your internet and I figured that the picture would be compromised but the picture was insanely clear.  The show I watched was crystal clear.  I could pause and resume using my iPad as the remote and watch without commercials.  And it remembers where you left off watching a show and you can pick it up watching it on your iPad, smartphone or on your TV.

So if you buy the $35 Chromecast (one time purchase) and sign up for $8/mo Netflix and $8/mo Hulu Plus.  You could completely kick your cable bill to the curb.  Of course you still need internet service.

As for local cable channels which I recognize is hugely important to some people there are still OTA (over the air) antenna sold that will pick up local channels.  I don’t know how effective they are and I’d love to hear from people that have gone this route.  These over the air antenna are smaller and sleeker and look like mini sculptures-

Here’s an example of one of these OTA antenna, the Mohu curve–

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So if you can pay $35 once for the Chromecast and $16 a month for Netflix and Hulu Plus and $52 for the Mohu Curve which gets you local OTA channels and after that one initial outlay you’re only into it for $16 a month.

To me it’s a no brainer because I get my news on the internet.

Click here to read about Chromecast

Click here to read about the Mohu Curve

Do you know people who have eliminated home phone line and/or cable tv in favor of cell phones and/or streaming tv services like netflix or hulu plus?

Now did I get this right or did I get this right? People who buy Apple products aren’t looking for the cheap version, they’re looking for the best version available.

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Posted by Joe Rossignol at 9:37 am

Apple Cites ‘Incredible’ Launch Day Demand for iPhone 5s

iPhone 5S FrontIt appears that Apple is having yet another successful iPhone launch day, with the all-new gold iPhone 5s facing the biggest constraints thus far.

“Demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and we are currently sold out or have limited supply of certain iPhone 5s models in some stores,” an Apple representative told AllThingsD.

Estimated shipping dates for most iPhone 5s models have been pushed back to at least 7 – 10 days worldwide, with certain models not shipping until October. On the contrary, there remains more widespread availability of the iPhone 5c in all colors through most retail channels.

The cheaper plastic 5c is readily available while the upscale top of the line iPhone 5s is getting backed up and limited supply.

Now if they would just listen to me instead of offering the cheaper version, they should have offered the super no-compromises version which includes a larger screen, more memory and a larger battery and charge $400 for it and watch apple freaks from all over line up half way to China to buy one and in the process probably win over a bunch of android fans who would have liked a larger phone which previously had only been available on the android platform.

 

My previous posts on the subject-

iPhone 5s and 5c and What I Would Have Done If I Were Apple

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Joey C

In light of the recent iPhone releases of the 5c and 5s a poll for iPhone users or potential iPhone users

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Joey C

In light of the recent iPhone releases of the 5c and 5s a poll for iPhone users or potential iPhone users

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

I’m fairly confident that we can all agree that smartphones of today including Apple’s iPhones and the high end Android phones are incredible marvels of innovation, productivity and communication powerhouses.

The iPhone is a great phone, the android powered Samsung Galaxy s4 is a great phone, bottom line, end of story.

Not here to debate which is better.  What I would like to know from current iPhone users is what features you would like most to see in the next version of the iPhone or were you most disappointed weren’t included in the latest iPhone release.

I contend that instead of a cheaper iPhone made with plastic parts like the iPhone 5c, a larger iPhone with more screen real estate and a larger longer lasting internal battery would bring larger numbers of people upgrading to that iPhone or converting from Android.  I think there are a huge number of power users and gamers who don’t care about having the lightest slimmest phones, they just want a performance beast with more real estate on the screen.

I’m not discounting the benefit of small and light, all I’m saying I think there’s a whole other segment of the market that would happily give up small and light for large and without a care in the world about having to not get through a day on a battery charge.

In the comment section on this post please share your thoughts about what you would like to see in the next iPhone or additional model to complement the current iPhone.  Even if you’re not an iPhone user I’d like to hear your thoughts about the larger heavier phone with longer lasting battery and more screen vs smaller lighter phone with a battery that may not get you through a day.

I’m not trying to convince anyone that one way is better than the other- for some people they just want the most unobtrusive, smallest, lightest phone they can carry, for others maybe having a larger screen means you can read and see things a little better, for others not being able to get through a day without charging their phone might drive them up a wall.  Fortunately there are many options in phones out there which push each manufacturer to get better and better.

I personally fall into the camp where I favor a larger phone and longer lasting battery but for someone that hardly uses the multimedia capabilities of their phone a smaller phone might be a better fit for them.

For size comparison- Samsung Galaxy s4 on the left and current version of the iPhone on right.

Samsung Galaxy s4 size vs iPhone Size

iPhone 5s and 5c and What I Would Have Done If I Were Apple

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

I’m am an apple product fan.  Huge fan of the iPhone and the iPad.  I own a first gen iPad and still use it. Even though I am an android phone user I can still appreciate Apple hardware.

Every product refresh they make they include great enhancements but I think there is one move they have yet to make but I think would be an absolute monster boost to their sales.

A larger iPhone to me would be a monster hit.  As a Samsung Galaxy s3 user I really appreciate the extra screen real estate and I appreciate even more the ability to strap on a cheap aftermarket battery to the back of my s3 which triples the battery life. 

I believe there are many people out there that want the smallest and lightest phones they can get but with the sheer computing power available on today’s smartphones they are being used more as portable computing machines and I think there is a distinct trend with people who want larger phones to be able to hit the keys easier and navigate easier, see videos more clearly, ect, ect ect. 

Although I recognize that Apple will probably never let you open up your iPhone or add a micro sd card slot for more memory a larger iPhone would mean more space internally for a larger high capacity battery.  If there’s one thing that sucks about a smartphone for a power user it’s the amount of life a battery on a small phone has.  Bigger phone, bigger battery.

For me the ability to get many different android smartphones with detachable backplates allowing for huge batteries and larger screens are the difference and why I’d recommend an android phone over an iPhone.  But if I was a casual non-demanding smartphone user it would probably be iPhone.

The success of the Samsung Galaxy Note which is basically a Samsung Galaxy with an even larger screen shows there is big demand.

I don’t agree with Apple’s tactic of offering a low cost iPhone either with the 5c and it’s plastic parts.   Apple has always been synonymous with unapologetic top grade hardware and premium pricing.  people were and are willing to pay for it knowing they are getting the best hardware without ever questioning it. 

I equate coming out with a lower grade iPhone to a brand like Tommy Hilfiger who for a brief moment was competing with the likes of Polo/ Ralph Lauren and then went and sold out and buried there products into discounters like Marshalls and TJ Max.  Forever to be equated with a poor man’s Polo and never will they ever be able to command the premium pricing they once did.

I say instead of offering a cheaper iPhone option that they should have offered a larger iPhone option with a mongo battery and charge even MORE for it.  That would have pleased Wall Street I bet.

.Samsung Galaxy s4 vs iPhone size-

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Galazy Note vs iPhone size-

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Samsung Galaxy vs Samsung Note size

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PSA- In This Day of Cell Phone Cameras Try To Think Horizontal

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Straight out of the Ed Collard School of Video-

No joke in the past week I’ve received video footage from no less than 5 people who have  held their cell phones or regular cameras vertically while they take video.

I guess it’s because people are used to taking cell phone pictures vertically but to upload  video to something that is  watchable you need to think about keeping your camera horizontal.

This one was ok in that it’s viewable (and I appreciate people sending stuff in believe me I’m just trying to get folks to know how to do it a bit better), but would have been a whole lot better horizontally so when uploaded to YouTube you would have a full frame of video instead of the black bars on the sides.

Sent in by Michael Oppelt –

Can’t believe my luck when walking my dogs down on Davis Neck in Gloucester MA, my boys discovered a dolpin/porpoise? swimming in shallow water at a nearby inlet. Here’s a video I took with my Android phone taken close to sunset over the Ipswich Bay.

 

Niece Amanda Interviews Ed A Couple Weeks Ag0.  this one is taken with a regular camera held vertically.  My guess is that Amanda is thinking like a cell phone while taking the video-

An unnamed source submits this video of the lobster trap tree lighting

Click the List to See The Latest Joey C Local Retailer Happenings On Twitter

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

https://twitter.com/Joey_C/cape-ann-retailers

Is there a local retailer not on my list? tweet it to me @Joey_C

Below is just a snapshot, Twitter updates as the retailers who are on my list update their twitter feeds. So click on the list for the latest. If you are a local retailer, tweet your Ladies night deals and let the GMG and Joey Twitter List Know.

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Alrighty Pinheads- Expose Yourself!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Anyone else on Pinterest?

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I’ve been slowly adding to my Pinterest Boards.  It all seemed pretty redundant being on Pinterest while I’m already blogging, that was until I started doing searches for things that interest me.

My favorite board is the motivation board where I search for motivational pins and find stuff that really gets me fired up.

So who among you have Pinterest accounts?  What are some of your favorite boards of yours or boards you follow?

Share if you will some of your favs.

Here is my Pinterest account-

http://pinterest.com/gloucesterma/

Check it out for yourself and instead of just creating your own board use the search box and look for stuff that interests you.

Oh and BTW we have a Pin it Button below each post.  That will post what you like to one of your own boards.

Some of Today’s Twitter Highlights

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The New Cell Phone- Samsung Galaxy S3

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Just picked up the relatively new flagship Android phone The Samsung Galaxy S3.  Had the original HTC EVO 4G for 2.5 years and it was a little long in the tooth.

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If anyone would have asked me before I had this phone what kind of cell phone one should buy I would have told you an iPhone for anyone that does what 95% of cell phone users will ask a cell phone to do and do well.

This was based on more than a few hiccups I had with the original EVO.  This Galaxy absolutely SCREAMS it is so fast, the screen is so beautiful.  There is zero lag.  It has a removable back for which you can buy a larger extended battery which will last you several days under constant heavy duty use as opposed to being stuck with a solid case which doesn’t allow you to snap on an extended battery.

The stock Samsung Galaxy s3 is so lightweight that I actually prefer a little extra size and heft with the extended battery.  It comes with 16gb of on board memory for your music and movies and to save podcasts with a slot for a micro SD card which can handle up to another 64 GB of on board storage space for photos. music, files.

So far I have no reservations about recommending this phone.  The top online tech sites routinely compare it to the iPhone and other top end phones.

It gets my highly recommended nod.

Business and Twitter (and Facebook)

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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There are a couple of business owners that God Bless them are embracing Facebook and Twitter to promote their companies.

This is a good thing.

What many don’t realize though is that if your Twitter feed or Facebook page is nothing but a bunch of ads and you retweet and repost them every hour that you are doing damage to your brand. 

Once people realize that all you do is feed them ads for your product or service all day they will either unfollow you or breeze right over your tweets without ever clicking through because they know ultimately they’re really not going to get a payback in the form of something interesting but what they will be getting is yet another one of your advertisements about you.  Yes I understand that YOU are the most important person in YOUR life but to the reader on twitter or Facebook try to engage the reader with something that will be a payoff for THEM.

Retweet other interesting things that are happening in your area, things that speak to you or you agree with and let your personality shine through your Twitter or Facebook presence.  People don’t want to get hammered over the head with ads all day long.  Be judicious with your self promoting.  I’m not saying it’s not important.  What I’m saying is to be more effective, maybe make every 5th tweet about your goods or services instead of 100%.

I guarantee you will be more successful in your marketing efforts.  Be natural, be you and let it shine on through.  Don’t be afraid to promote others you find interesting and they will be more likely to help you in your efforts to show the world how truly awesome YOU are.

Thank you.

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A couple examples of people who are really interesting tweeters and marketers are my friends @JMcElhenny an @DscvrGlstr  If you look at their twitter feed it’s not just straight up advertisements marketing themselves.  They tweet and retweet intersting things around them and their personality shines through.

If you’re wondering if it’s you I’m talking about, step back, pull up your twitter feed and ask yourself if you are just hammering the shit out of people with advertisement about yourself after advertisement about yourself.

Twitter Faceoff @GDTnews vs @Joey_C

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

www.visual.ly is a fun site which lets you create infographics based on twitter statistics.  You can have fun plugging in your favorite twitteratti, just go to the site and click on Twitter Faceoff and then enter two twitter usernames and it will create your infographic.

Fun!

You can and should follow the Gloucester Daily Times Twitter Feed here

My Twitter feed can be found here

I plugged in The Gloucester Daily Times Twitter feed and Mine- here are the results they came up with (I based the GDT Character off of my buddy Andrea Holbrook)

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