This is why I’m potentially skipping the iPhone 13 and not upgrading this year

Smartphones have become too expensive for the incremental upgrade they bring and I might just skip the iPhone 13 this year altogether.

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Here’s why I’m not upgrading to the 2021 iPad Pro

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I’m using a lot of devices throughout the year, which comes with its pros and cons. On one hand, you get to carry the latest tech all year round, more or less. On the other hand, it’s a constant move, a nomadic lifestyle, if you will, of your data from one device to the other, irrespective of how much the cloud might help you out or not.

Despite all of that, I do, as do most reviewers, have a personal daily driver, a favorite if you will, which sticks around throughout its lifecycle as the main device. It can be a device I reviewed, or a review unit, or, as is the case with my iPad Pro, a device I personally purchased for my private usage. The iPad Pro is my main, personal tablet.

I purchased it in October of 2020, around the time I purchased my personal iPhone 12 Pro Max. I knew a refresh was fairly around the corner, but I just needed to fill in that gap in my home ecosystem.

Usually, when a new device, a successor, is announced, I get “the itch”. We all know it, and as I was sitting and watching the Apple Spring Loaded event, I was looking down at my 2020 iPad Pro, and I was like “Nah, I’ll pass”. Here’s why I’m not upgrading to the 2021 iPad Pro.

iPad Pro 2021 vs iPad Pro 2020

The specs factor

Just to clarify, I own the 2020 11-inch iPad Pro, Wi-Fi only, 128GB. Since I only use my tablet within Wi-Fi range (or, at worst, I tether to my iPhone), I have zero need for a 4G version, let alone a 5G variant, like the 2021 iPad Pro. That’s one point, right there, in favor of my current device. Yes, I am aware that there’s a Wi-Fi-only model as well! Feel free to disregard this point if you want. I’ve got plenty below.

I deliberately opted for the 11-inch model last year because I simply consider the 12.9-inch variant to be too big. Apple did introduce a brand new mini LED display for the iPad Pro this year, however, only for its larger version. The 11-inch still packs the good old IPS panel, with which I’m fine and satisfied. Here’s one (more) point in favor of keeping my current device.

I have never taken a single picture using the iPad Pro (or any other tablet, save for review purposes, and even then, I cringed). For my personal use, I couldn’t care less about the camera improvements on the 2021 iPad Pro, and, since I also don’t do video calls on the iPad, the new wide-angle FaceTime camera doesn’t faze me. I’ve got the iPhone for the 3 FaceTime calls I receive during the year. One more point in favor of my 2020 iPad Pro.

…and here comes the big one, that takes it home in favor of my current iPad. The incredible performance delivered by the M1 chip. But wait: how can 1,500 times higher performance and 2 times faster storage (according to Apple’s claims) be an entry on your Cons list?

2021 iPad Pro

The OS and apps factor

The 2021 iPad Pro is, on theory and on paper, as fast as the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and the Mac Mini (lately the new iMac). This, in and of itself, is awesome! But there’s a caveat. Nothing (or nothing useful to me) takes advantage of that tremendous power.

It’s like installing a fine-tuned supercar engine into a chassis and feeding it low-octane fuel, just enough for it to start, but unable to rev at speeds that deliver torque and horsepower. It’s like crawling in Drive mode without a gas pedal.

This is something I alluded to in my previous commentary when I said I would easily purchase the MacBook Air over the 2021 iPad Pro.

Is the 2021 iPad Pro faster than my 2020 iPad Pro? Absolutely! Would I be able to perceive the speed increase? Probably not. For me, at this particular point in time, there’s absolutely no need to upgrade to the latest iPad. This, however, could change in an instant, if Apple allowed the iPad Pro to run macOS instead of iPadOS (which is pretty much a phone OS for all intents and purposes), but that’s a different conversation. Then I’d be able to run full-fledged Photoshop and Final Cut Pro on it. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Yes, a different conversation, one in which Apple would create a new product family, turn the iPad Pro into a convertible, allow it to somewhat eat into both the iPad Air and MacBook Air segments, and create one of its own. That, however, is an iPad Pro I would definitely consider. However, right now, my stance is this: if you don’t have an iPad and you’re planning on getting one, get a MacBook Air instead. If you do have a 2020 iPad Pro, keep it for one more year.

But that’s just me, and, as always curious about what everyone else thinks. Drop us a comment below and let’s talk about it. My colleague Adam already chimes in. He said “pass” too. Read his reasons!

Thanks for reading! Welcome to The Editor’s Desk!

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Is it too late for the Google Pixel Watch?

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The alleged Google Pixel Watch recaptured the headlines yesterday, after a rather long hiatus. Remember, a smartwatch made by Google has been rumored for years, and, if the recent chatter holds any truth to it, we might soon see it. Who knows, maybe Google will show something off at the upcoming Developer Conference, so we can get more clarity.

Even though it’s been a long time coming, where would the supposed Pixel Watch sit and rank on a market that is saturated?

There are currently three major smartwatch categories out there: on one hand, we have the Apple Watch running on its own watchOS, and on the other hand (pun intended) we have all the Google Wear OS-powered devices. In between, we have the HUAWEIs, the Samsungs, and the FitBits (to name a few), running on a different platform, proprietary or not.

The Apple Watch is really no competition for the other two categories as it’s only compatible with the iPhone, and, to be honest, an iPhone user will likely only purchase an Apple Watch rather than a third-party solution.

Pixel Watch and its competition

Now that we knocked the Apple Watch out of the proverbial ring, the Pixel Watch will have to compete with devices in the other two segments. Whether Tizen, HarmonyOS, or another platform built upon RTOS, these devices have already established themselves on the market.

Both HUAWEI and Samsung have some really compelling models on shelves, for every look, and for every wallet. The Pixel Watch will indeed have the advantage of having notifications you can actually do something with instead of just dismissing, but you simply can’t beat the outrageous battery life these watches offer. HUAWEI comes to mind, and HONOR, with their monstrous, more than one week-long runs.

…and then we have all the other offerings running Wear OS, from Louis Vuitton to Mobvoi, and everything in between, designer or not. These are some heavyweights that, in the absence of a Google watch, have established themselves on the market using Google’s own Wear OS.

We also need to mention that, if the rumors are true, Samsung will likely embrace Wear OS for its future models, making the competition even more cutthroat.

Pixel Watch competitor

Not all is lost for the Pixel Watch

Now, before we write the pre-launch obituary for the Pixel Watch, it makes sense to acknowledge the probable future customer. Just like in the case of Apple users, the most likely buyer for a Google Pixel Watch is a Google Pixel smartphone owner. Yes, being invested in the Google ecosystem is possible across many brands, but purists will likely flock to the online stores to complete their Google hardware collection. 

And this, I believe, will be the entire raison d’être for the Pixel Watch. It will likely be a niche product not necessarily aimed at the masses. Google might knowingly target a specific chunk of the user base – the purists and loyalists – and by doing that, on a smaller scale, it could offer the Pixel Watch a chance of finding its place on the market, and growing. Sounds familiar? Just think of the Pixel phone line-up, where it began, and where it is today.

Which begs the question: is it too late for the Pixel Watch or is it going to be just right, with the proper pricing and targeting? Let us know in the comments below: would you buy a Pixel Watch? Why?

Thanks for reading! Welcome to The Editor’s Desk!

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LG potentially exiting the mobile business is actually a good thing

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A series of reports, of which the latest last week, suggest that LG could be exiting the mobile business. According to chatter, there will allegedly be an official announcement tomorrow, April 5, where the company could potentially reveal its retirement from the segment. I personally believe this is the best decision LG can make.

No, I’m not hating on LG. Believe it or not, I have much love for the company and I have very dear friends who work at or for LG (you know who you are, much love!). So how come such a drastic move, where we lose yet another OG, can be a good thing?

LG Mobile and the platform dilemma

Those of you who have been around for the journey might remember that LG was really back and forth between platforms back in the day. This vacillation will, as we’ll soon see, become a defining factor in LG’s mobile business, which I believe has a direct correlation with its struggles.

LG

Getting back to the platforms, LG’s push started back in the Windows Mobile days. The LG GM750 comes to mind with its 3-inch screen and Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional operating system. LG later became one of the three (alongside HTC and Samsung) hardware launch partners for Microsoft when Windows Phone 7 came along, and the Optimus 7 was a really good phone (also being LG’s first Windows Phone).

But in between Windows Mobile 6.5 and Windows Phone 7, LG started dipping its toes in Android waters, launching its first smartphone running on Google’s (Android 2.2) platform in 2009 with the LG GW620.

This indecisiveness (or exploring all options, if you will) will accentuate and persist in the future for LG. Sure, the other Korean behemoth, Samsung, was pretty much doing the same, and they’re in a pretty good position today. Yes, but Samsung had a certain consistency in other departments, where LG was lacking too.

In defense of LG, or any other manufacturer in the same position back in the early 2010s, there was no way in foreseeing that Google and Android will eventually blow up. Microsoft was the real deal, basically having a monopoly over a market that was fast developing. Betting on Windows Mobile (and later Windows Phone) was a safe bet, if only Microsoft wouldn’t have rested on its laurels, which eventually turned into Windows Phone’s demise. Apple and its iPhone launch in 2007 didn’t particularly help either…

LG Mobile and the design dilemma

What makes an iPhone an iPhone? Or a Samsung a Samsung? Heck, even a HUAWEI a HUAWEI! It’s the companies that managed to build a brand that’s recognizable that eventually succeeded. What do I mean by that? When you look at a product and you can instantly tell the brand behind it, that’s when you know they’re doing a good job. Just think about BMW and Porsche (just to name a couple that is not mobile-related).

LG G4

LG somehow got lost in the details and failed to create a “signature” for its mobile phones. It basically threw stuff on the market to see what sticks, without leaving it on the market enough for it to actually stick.

In case that doesn’t make sense, let me put it this way. Instead of improving from generation to generation, LG went back to the drawing board every year to announce something completely different, abandoning the predecessor, or the main features it introduced.

We all remember the LG G Flex, the first curved display smartphone. It was way ahead of its time, but the project was abandoned just for LG to return to a flat display. At the same time, the LG G2 was trying to capture the same market, with a different approach.

The LG G3 was flat, just for the LG G4 to be curved again. I think you see where I’m getting at. …not to mention those leather back models which only stuck around for a little while, though they were gorgeous.

Save for the LG logo, there was little to nothing to make an LG phone instantly recognizable, and that I think laid down roadblocks in its own path.

About the only form factor LG has not experimented with (at least not in the form of a finished product on the market) is a foldable device. Instead, LG chose to go the “Dual Screen” way but threw in a twister (literally) along the way with the LG Wing.

Did I mention the V10 and its durability? Yes, that didn’t stick around long enough either, the same way that the Optimus 3D and the entire 3D smartphone concept were soon abandoned. How about the LG G5 and Friends, with the modular approach? Yep, out the window.

So what makes an LG phone an LG phone? I guess, if we have to put a label on it, it would be “diversity”? No, not in a good way.

The company’s best decision

Every time a player (big or small, doesn’t matter) retires, we all lose. The market loses, customers lose, innovation takes a hit, people lose their jobs, it’s a mess. It’s a lose-lose situation. Especially if the company is one of the OGs (HTC comes to mind as well), you can’t help but feel sentimental, nostalgic. I just fired up my G Flex 2: it still works.

So how the heck is LG exiting the mobile business a good decision? Well, it is, if you’re LG. The only one winning from this entire situation is, paradoxically, LG itself. It’s not that the behemoth doesn’t have the resources to fund a non-profitable segment of its huge organization. It’s about pouring water into a bucket filled with holes. At one point you just get tired of doing it, especially if you’re trying to pluck them, and another one pops up.

LG Wing

The millions and millions the company was spending on research, development, manufacturing, and many other aspects involved in its mobile business will most likely be put to better use elsewhere.

At this point, I wish it was an April Fools’ joke and I have wasted an hour writing this. But did I? You see, even if it was a joke, LG still has a big problem which it failed to solve for years and years on end. And, at this point, I don’t think it can come up with anything (that it hasn’t already tried) that can turn the tables in its favor.

What do you think? Drop us a line in the comments below. Share your story, opinion, memories and let’s have a conversation.

Thanks for reading! Welcome to The Editor’s Desk!  

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This is what happens when an ecosystem dies

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Windows Phone 8 is another lesson we’re learning the hard way. You know, it’s been a while since Marilyn Monroe’s now-famous quote was uttered: “if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best”. You can debate whether that resonates with most people or not, but when your “worst” is basically “useless”, there’s nothing you can really do about it.

More recently, the HUAWEI-Google drama taught us the importance of services in the success of a product. It’s not all about hardware, of course, but when services, or, to be more specific, lack of services, render a product that’s still capable hardware-wise useless, we tend to realize how much we rely on said services. 

It’s not just only for our usage scenario or particular apps. Sometimes the entire existence (or extinction) of a product (or entire generation), otherwise still capable hardware-wise, depends on it. This is what happens when you kill an ecosystem.

When I was at my best: Lumia 1020

I’m showing you the Lumia 1020 because this model happens to still be in my drawer. Long-time Windows Phone users (OGs) know that there are many other Nokia Lumia models in the same situation. 

These are phones that didn’t get the Microsoft update treatment to Windows Phone 10 and were stuck on Windows Phone 8 (my particular one is on Cyan). And, as we know, Microsoft has killed off support for Windows Phone 8. To my surprise, this went way beyond the inability to get updates (for the OS or for apps). This rendered the Lumia 1020 useless. It’s basically a camera that is able to make phone calls and send texts. It’s that bad.

This is the Lumia 1020 at its best:

When I’m at my worst (read: useless)

One would think that, even without software or app updates, you’d still be able to use a capable phone. One would be wrong, at least in this particular case.

With services gone, the first thing out is the Store. You are not able to access it, since it’s no longer there. This means that your apps don’t get updates. This also means that if an app is already on your phone (Skype) as a placeholder, tapping it to go to the store and downloading it will fail.

Windows Phone 8

How about email? While back in the day, you had plenty of e-mail options to choose from, believe me, that none can be set up. I can’t log in with a Microsoft Account. I can’t log in with a Yahoo account. And, I can’t log in with a Google account. Needless to say, all those accounts are active; Microsoft seems to have pulled the plug and stopped allowing users to add those to their phones.

With that, e-mail, calendar, and contacts don’t work.

Facebook came preinstalled, and it launches alright. The problem is you can’t log in with a valid Facebook account. I think you know where I’m getting at with this.

What works? You can still edit Office documents locally, but what’s the point if you can’t share them or access incoming ones? The calculator still works, if you’re out and want to calculate the amount of the tip you want to generously hand out. Of course, I’m being sarcastic: apps baked into Windows Phone 8 that don’t require services or connectivity will work. Maps are still working and Internet Explorer is still alive.

Windows Phone 8

I’m just a camera that can make calls

What was once a true statement of stellar hardware on a platform that had the potential to grow is now sadly just a camera (still a damn good one at that) that can make phone calls and send texts.

And, this should serve us as a valuable lesson, in case we didn’t learn from the demise of Symbian, BlackBerry OS, and others before it. You can’t help but wonder about the potential disaster that could hypothetically happen if a company like Google pulls the plug. I know, it’s highly unlikely to happen, but the most important takeaway, at least for me, personally, is how important it is for a company to be in charge of both hardware, and software.

Apple is pretty much the only one among the top players whose hardware products don’t depend on third-party services, or at least not existentially. HUAWEI might try to (is being forced to) mirror that, but it’s a sad pill to swallow for all the Windows Phone fans of yesterday.

In the case of Windows Phone, the ecosystem did not die out. It was killed and leaves nothing behind but pages of tech history and memories to fuel your nostalgic tech conversations.

Have a classic phone from yesteryear that was rendered useless due to its ecosystem dying out? Let’s talk about it in the comments below.

Thanks for reading! Welcome to The Editor’s Desk!  

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Flagship smartphone prices are getting out of hand

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Flagship smartphone prices are out of control, and we wonder why the upgrade cycle for the average user is longer and longer. Back in the day — that we barely remember — it was normal to upgrade your smartphone every year. Especially if you extended or renewed your carrier contracts and got some incentives or subsidies.

Then Apple came along and killed that off (no, Samsung’s not innocent either), as the cycle slowly but surely got longer and longer. According to Strategy Analytics numbers for 2019, the said upgrade cycle is 33 months, and currently, it is just a tad beyond three years.

And it kind of makes sense. If you’re spending north of $1,000 on a smartphone, you’re going to hold on to it as long as you can (or as long as it serves its purpose, and the manufacturer doesn’t do something to slow it down or damage the battery to force you into an upgrade). Now that we’ve mentioned batteries, making them non-removable is just another way to force you into an upgrade once the battery degrades.

smartphone prices

Speaking of the $1,000 threshold, Apple is to blame for that too. Why? Because they could pull it off. If consumers would have left those phones on shelves, Apple, or any other company for that matter, would have thought twice about crossing the barrier.

But today, we’re inching towards the $1,500 mark, and those phones, even at the outrageous and prohibitive smartphone prices, will sell, pushing the price tag higher and higher. Just the other day, OPPO announced the Find X3 Pro. £1,099 they charge for that thing, which is a hair over $1,500.

The niche products

It’s a stretch, but you could somehow justify the insane price tag for the niche products. These are foldables (Mate X2 goes as high as $2,959, Galaxy Z Fold 2 has a $1,999 price tag), these are the Porsche Designs, the Lamborghini, and McLaren editions, and the other exclusive products.

HUAWEI Mate Xs

You see, these are not for everyone. The first category pushes the limits of technology, while the second category is pure branding mostly.

You don’t have to buy these products, but when it comes to regular smartphones, you will have to pay top dollar for a flagship.

The insanely priced flagship

Yes, we understand that these smartphones are more powerful than computers were just a couple of years ago. But those computers didn’t cost as much. Granted, everything smaller in technology is usually more expensive (if only smartphones remained decent-sized).

OPPO Find X3 Pro review

They say we make decisions emotionally and we rationalize them with logic. But logically thinking, is a $1,500 smartphone two times better than a still arguably expensive $750 phone? Of course not. Often times they’re not even that much better from generation to generation when the successor is more expensive than the predecessor.

There are two aspects to consider here: first, manufacturers throw in everything including the kitchen sink, with hardware components and features you’ll likely use once or twice and then forget about them. That increases the price. Second, the profit margins are huge. Just think about it: in 2018, every time you bought a $1,250 iPhone XS Max, you made Apple $800 richer. That’s because it cost Apple only $450 to manufacture it.

iPhone 12? Almost %70 profit margin. And, don’t think for a second, that Apple’s alone in this. They might be the company that makes the most profit off of smartphones, but they’re closely followed by the likes of Samsung, HUAWEI, and OPPO.

Galaxy S21 Ultra iPhone 12 Pro Max

Why these insane smartphone prices?

Simply put, as I alluded at the beginning: because they can. Because they manage to generate demand, and, at the end of the day, because consumers are buying.

And, as outraging as it might be, it’s a vicious circle and a paradox. Back in the day, we were totally fine with buying a new $500 phone every year. That’s $1,500 over three years, and that’s exactly what we’re spending, give or take, every three years today. Pretty much levels out on a three-year span.

Did the smartphone prices go up because smartphone owners forced companies to increase them due to us extending the cycle? Or did manufacturers force us to extend the cycle because phones are becoming more expensive?

Let’s talk about it. What do you think about phone prices? Justified? Outrageous? Drop us a comment down below.

Thanks for reading! Welcome to The Editor’s Desk!

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Is HUAWEI preparing to give Google and the U.S. the middle finger?

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I’ve said this, in various circles and in different conversations, after the entire U.S-China/Google-HUAWEI drama began: there might come a time when HUAWEI might no longer need Google.

Ladies and gentlemen, I think we’re getting closer and closer to that happening. If not this year, probably in 2022. The Chinese company is slowly but surely paving the way for its independence, but more importantly, survival.

History

In May 2019, the Chinese company has been added to the dreaded Entity List and former President Trump banned the company through an executive order.

Some would argue that the problems started way back in 2012 when the U.S. imposed a ban on companies from using HUAWEI networking hardware and equipment. According to others, the mobile side of the business might have gotten involved with the occasion of the 2018 CES in Las Vegas.

Remember when we all expected Richard Yu to go on stage and announce the Mate 10 Pro’s availability in the U.S. Well, AT&T pulled out at the last minute so HUAWEI turned to Verizon just to get the same treatment. Congressional pressure was cited as a possible, but unofficial, reason for the move.

Whether the new Administration will overturn the ban is yet unknown, but, just in case it does, it might be too late. HUAWEI might no longer need Google (among other key technologies like software, hardware, patents, etc.) and the U.S. would likely be the one ending up with the shorter end of the stick.

AppGallery

The HUAWEI Ecosystem

What happens when a rich and smart tech company faces roadblocks? It turns all of its focus and efforts towards surpassing them while getting better and better while at it. I believe that to be the case with HUAWEI too.

Sure, there were some dents in finances and the image of the company (not as big as one might have expected) but the Chinese tech giant got to work (and spending).

The first step to building its own (alternative) ecosystem was laying down the foundation. No longer having access to Google Mobile Services (GMS), HUAWEI placed HMS at the core of its EMUI (Android-based) operating system.

Then it went in big with investments to the core components, as well as adding titles to a store (AppGallery) which was most useful for Chinese users who didn’t have access to Google, to begin with.

The recent numbers the company shared, specifically on the growth of the ecosystem, are nothing but accolades.

The Google replacements

With access lost to Google and its services, the company started building its own alternatives. No GMS? Here’s HMS. No Google search? Enter Petal search (which was repurposed to a full-fledged search engine from the initial search engine for apps only). No Google Maps? We’ve got Petal Maps. See a (Petal) pattern here?

HUAWEI is basically building its own ecosystem as an alternative to Google, one that’s not only built, but controlled by the company itself.

Most recently, news broke of a certain Petal Mail, which, if we follow the pattern above, will likely be an alternative to Gmail. All that’s left from the list above is a solution for YouTube (but I described how HUAWEI currently approaches it with its Quick Apps in my recent Mate 40 Pro review).

…and when it’s time to pull the plug on Android and go all-in with HarmonyOS, that’s when the buzzer sounds. 🖕🏻

harmonyos 2.0 huawei

The endgame?

At the end of the day, HUAWEI has not much to lose at this point, but anything to gain. If and when it pulls the plug completely, it will have had created an independent ecosystem that could be the third-largest on day one, after Google’s and Apple’s.

Why? Because even though it recently got dethroned in China, HUAWEI sells an insane amount of phones worldwide every year. We’re talking north of 200 million for the third-largest smartphone manufacturer in the world. With a flick of a switch (a firmware update), it could convert all the existing phones into HarmonyOS devices with AppGallery as its distribution platform and services under the Petal umbrella.

With control over its own ecosystem (complete with an operating system, app distribution, and development, as well as services), HUAWEI could reinvent itself as a “self-sustainable” smartphone manufacturer that’s independent of core/key/crucial third-party components, along the lines of Apple.

Where do you see HUAWEI? Is it the right thing to do? Will it succeed? Let’s talk about it in the comments.

Thanks for reading! Welcome to The Editor’s Desk!

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Should you care about the upcoming Apple iPad?

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Apple is expected to launch an iPad Pro refresh, and possibly a new iPad mini – among other things – at its upcoming March event later next month. But, is the iPad Pro, or any iPad for that matter, still a product that users should be excited about?

Just like its iPhone line-up, Apple’s iPad lineup has something for everyone, with various sizes, colors, and performance figures. While the iPad mini – rumored to be sacrificed for a foldable iPhone within the next couple of years (note: only if it folds out to a bigger canvas) – is still the easiest to manipulate, it offers just a slightly larger display than a large phone. In this particular case, the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Something (an Apple iPad) for everyone

If you’re using your iPad for work, the 12.9 and the 11-inch iPad Pro models have everything you need, whether you’re a graphic designer, photographer, or light content creator. 

The new iPad Air, with a slightly smaller display, is a more personal device, thanks to the color options it comes in. It’s a happier tablet that doesn’t scream business like the iPad Pro unless you choose to go for the Space Gray version. This is typically a tablet for media consumption, light office work, and social media, and not because it lacks in horsepower.

new iPad Air

Then comes the classic iPad with the old design, but with a really attractive price tag, and last comes the iPad mini, the smallest of all, with just a hair under eight inches. 

At the end of the day, we all use the iPads differently, but it’s safe to assume you won’t go for the iPad Pro if all you use it for is watch Pocketnow videos on YouTube.

Is an extra device necessary?

This is a question many, including companies, have tried to answer. Manufacturers have slowly started bridging the gap between smartphones and tablets. This was how the phablet category was created, and today, a six-inch smartphone is pretty much standard, just under two inches away from the smallest iPads (or tablets in general, for that matter).

The question seems to be unanswered, as the problem at its core still remains unsolved. The larger and larger smartphones are getting, the harder and harder they can be fit inside your pockets, purses, etc., which is a problem tablets were facing from the get-go. Trying to solve this problem (among other things, like technological advancements) gave birth to the extremely expensive foldable smartphones which aim to offer the best of both worlds.

iPhone and iPad

But, since not all of us can afford a $2,500 foldable smartphone, and carrying your laptop everywhere you go is not always feasible, I’m afraid the extra device is necessary, with a caveat.

It all comes down to your usage and preference

The only places I’m using my Apple iPad are in the bedroom for the end of day e-book read and Pocketnow Daily video, at the park or coffee shop (if it’s open during the various pandemic health and security protocol stages) to consume media and news, as well as while at my parents or friends’ house, where I need to often have a larger screen but don’t want to carry my laptop.

So, in my case, I do care about the iPad. Well, not “the next iPad”, since I have a fairly fresh model, but as a product category, and I’ll likely care about the 2022 or 2023 iPad when it will be time to upgrade my current model.

How about you? Drop us a line below and tell us whether you care about the iPad or not. Or any tablet, for that matter.

Thanks for reading! Welcome to The Editor’s Desk!

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Why I will never buy a BlackBerry with a QWERTY keyboard again

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One of the advantages (if any, I know: it’s a stretch) of growing older is that the older you get, the more memories and experience you gather. I was there to witness both the birth and the demise of QWERTY keyboard-equipped smartphones. From the BlackBerry Bold 9000 (which was actually my company phone at my day job in sales before Pocketnow), the HTC ChaCha, and the beloved Touch Pro2 to the BlackBerry KEYone (and its point iteration successors).

qwerty smartphone

I was so good at typing on the small keys that I could pull off an entire e-mail without even looking at the keys or auto-correction, similar to how I type on a full-size keyboard. But you see, just like everything in life, there was a time and purpose for those phones, and I personally believe that said time has passed.

You see, when companies started to think about, initially, and then push to the market smartphones that had QWERTY keyboards, the entire smartphone market was in its very infancy. Not only were they just transitioning from resistive to capacitive displays, but they were pushing the resolution up from 320×200 to a whopping 640×480 VGA.

qwerty smartphone

On-screen keyboards were really bad, with small keys hard to hit with a stylus to terrible, nightmare-generating auto-correct mistakes for subsequent, larger keys (just large enough to hit it precisely with your fingers on 3-point-something, or 4-at-best diagonals).

There was a need on the market to do something and improve the productivity of professionals (because, let’s face it, only they were able to afford smartphones back in the day, or the companies they worked for).

Birth and demise of the QWERTY smartphones

Enter the QWERTY keyboard on a smartphone. Sure, in the late 90s, NOKIA dipped its toes in the water with the Communicator, but BlackBerry and HTC were really spearheading the movement, as Symbian, BBOS, and Windows Mobile (somewhat later, Android) were the only usable/useful platforms.

qwerty smartphone

Offering tactile feedback and an improved hit or miss ratio, QWERTY keyboards caught on fast (also, there was no fun in typing out a message or email on T9 keyboards: BlackBerry Pearl anyone?). Not only were they offering more productivity, but they became a symbol for the “modern” business professional. It solved a problem!

The demise started not long after when Apple decided to remove the problem altogether with the iPhone, and an on-screen keyboard that was actually usable. Android really caught the drift and the two started to chip away, slowly, at BlackBerry, Microsoft (Windows Mobile-powered smartphones), and Nokia.

Screens became larger and larger, on-screen keyboards became better and better, autocorrect massively improved, and soon dictation became a standard option.

We’re currently at the point where a six-inch phone is pretty “average” or “normal” when it comes to size, and FHD resolution is a “minimum”. That’s twice, sometimes thrice the size or resolution of the displays back in the day when a QWERTY keyboard was a need, or useful to begin with.

The problem with QWERTY smartphones

Regardless of which approach you think of (vertical slider, horizontal slider, below the display/split) a QWERTY keyboard either adds bulk to the phone or reduces the screen size. By this alone it creates a problem, instead of solving one (that’s no longer there).

I’ve been thinking about this topic for quite a while, and I can’t find a single usage scenario where a QWERTY keyboard would be useful in today’s smartphone landscape. If you can think of one, drop us a comment below. I’d really love to know!

qwerty smartphone

In this decade, the smartphone can be easily defined by being as thin as possible, with as much display as possible taking up its front. How much sense would it make for a company, even with a strong brand behind it, like BlackBerry (with its most recent 2021 comeback rumors), to go against the grain and offer a product which, by simple definition, takes away from the experience, as we know it today?

Again, I can’t think of anything, save for the nostalgia factor, which I believe is not enough for a product to justify its existence. Maybe it’s just me, but whatever it is that you’re planning with it, BlackBerry, please don’t count on me. I’ll pass! And no, it’s not personal: I’m passing on all physical QWERTY keyboards on smartphones, regardless of make or model. Will you?

Thanks for reading! Welcome to The Editor’s Desk!

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Will Apple go big or small with its foldable iPhone?

The Editor's Desk

The point of foldable smartphones (and soon, rollable ones) is, beyond the proof of concept and technological advancements, to modify the actual shape of the device. What does that mean? By folding (rolling, etc.) a smartphone, you’re actually changing the size of the canvas, which, in this case, is the display.

You can make said display larger – and we discussed last week about the two major concepts to achieve that – or you can choose to make said display smaller. If you continue the logic, the two approaches above result in either a. a larger, tablet-like phone or b. a smaller phone.

An example for the first category would be the Galaxy Z Fold 2 or the Mate Xs (upcoming Mate X2). An example for the second category is the Galaxy Z Flip or the razr 5G. 

While they both fold, they do so with a completely different outcome in mind. The ones in the first category unfold into a tablet-like large canvas and collapse to a regular size phone. The ones in the second category fold into a smaller-than-regular device, expanding into a regular size. In other words, we have regular-to-big and small-to-regular.

With all of that in mind, let’s look at the recent rumors of the foldable iPhone. According to chatter, Apple might have already decided to take the clamshell route for its first foldable smartphone, or at least so some claim.

In defense of the clamshell foldable iPhone

Sure, why not? It makes sense for Apple to launch a clamshell foldable iPhone. Samsung did it, successfully”, some might say. And to that, I say “you are right”. But what we are forgetting is that Samsung also has a classic, non-clamshell foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold 2.

So for those who don’t want to carry a smartphone and a tablet with them at all times, Samsung (and HUAWEI for that matter) came up with the concept of a phone exploding into a tablet.

Not the foldable iPhone

This brings us to the idea of protecting the iPad, as a line-up. Having a phone transform into a tablet will surely cannibalize the tablet offering, right? Well, if you come to think of it, the iPad mini is the only relatively small iPad, at 7.9 inches. All the other ones are a 10-inch plus, which is a different category altogether.

Even if we force the argument that an inflating iPhone would somewhat affect the iPad, it would only affect the iPad mini, and even if so, it wouldn’t be a bad decision to discontinue it but still at the same time offering a foldable iPhone that’s close to that display size. 

The case against the clamshell foldable iPhone

Going back to the Samsung analogy above, and the Z Fold 2, this actually was the first foldable Samsung product generation on the market. Only after they have managed to establish this offering did Samsung lean towards the clamshell approach. Why? Because these days we want our screens to be big. We are consuming so much media, and with 5G upon us, that’s not going away. 

Apple tackling the foldable game with a clamshell will still offer future customers two screen sizes: a small one (compared to the outfolding/expanding foldables), and an even smaller one (hopefully, on the outside of the now folded clamshell).

This could, of course, solve a problem for those who want a phone to occupy the least amount of space, but only partially. A phone folded in two will be close to doubling its thickness, so whatever you gain from reducing height, you lose by increasing thickness, while width remains the same.

There’s also the inconvenience of flipping it open every time you want to talk on the phone or do anything significant. As powerful as iOS could become to support the outer display, you simply are not as productive on a 1, 2, or even 3-inch outer screen as you are on a 6-inch plus display. There’s no way around it.

…and then there are the bragging rights, but we should mention this as both in favor and against the clamshell foldable iPhone.

Conclusion

Whether Apple will go classic or clamshell foldable for its iPhone is at the moment unknown, and we’re only speculating here. At this point, it’s not even sure Apple knows the direction it wants to go in. Regardless of which one it will end up materializing, a foldable iPhone will definitely be a bragging right for those who find pride in showing off their latest iPhone.

Yes, there are plenty of those who specifically purchase the latest exclusive color option, in order to be spotted from afar that it’s the latest model, Heaven forbid should they rock last year’s offering. But, to each his own.

Another thing is clear, and history teaches us about Apple: they’re usually late to the game, but when they do adopt a technology or trend, they seem to do it arguably better.

Thanks for reading! Welcome to The Editor’s Desk!

Leader image credit: LetsGoDigital

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