Tag: Samsung

Are Wearables Still A Thing?

Posted on by ja3techreviews

So the big Apple Event came, it saw, it conquered, more-or-less and left its faithful fan base clamoring for more.  Now that the new iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, iPhone X and the Apple watch, all set to drop either later this month or first part of November, have been unveiled, color me somewhat impressed but highly confused .  All the while, during the marketing, excuse me, press event…Freudian Slip; I kept asking myself a multitude of questions such as:  1) Would anyone really pay $999.00 plus tax for a phone? Come on, that’s like six or seven months worth of groceries.  2) Why is Apple making it seem like they were the first one to do many of these features?  I mean (fill in the blank) did this like (fill in the blank) years ago.  But the most important was, 3) Will the Apple watch actually do well; I mean, are wearables still a thing?  Apparently, Apple still thinks wearables are a thing, and based on previous years sales, they would be foolish not continuing the offering.  However, a question such as this requires more than surface viewing of sales in ascertaining whether wearables are still relevant.

In understanding the essence of this quandary, we must first be honest with ourselves in addressing that the mobile technology industry is utterly stagnant right now.  No longer are the days of 2007 to 2015, where breakthroughs and advancements define whether a device is cutting edge and worthy of consideration.  Now, mobile devices have become more about novelty, convenience, and fashion.  As such, companies are cashing in by placating more to our desires to have the “latest trends” as opposed to a device’s innovations and added value in our lives.  Don’t get me wrong, the usefulness of your cellphone remains a stable, as it is our life line in staying in touch with others, browsing the web for useful (or nonsense) information, or merely conducting your daily business affairs.  And that remains my point, ONE device should be the backbone of our productivity.  Believe me, wearables are slowly becoming their own stand alone entities, but can they replace the array of uses a cellphone offers?  My opinion is these are more a fashionable augmentations, but not necessities, and as such, definitely do not seem overtly relevant.  Doing this article made me think about Google Glass, one of the first major wearable, and how that was supposed to revolutionize the tech industry.  And it did, for a time, but the novelty wore thin as its pragmatism was superseded by the the more multi-purpose smartphone.  Let’s play the anecdote game, if you had a good car, would you buy a motorcycle?  I think many would answer “yes”, but what would be your reason?  Many would probably say, “Because having a motorcycle would be cool and fun.”  That is exactly the point, the motorcycle would be desired more for its novelty and enjoyment, less for its practical replacement of the automobile.  Some situation may cause this to vary, but overall, most would claim this to be the case.

Building off the notion of novelty versus necessity, we find ourselves at the corner of price and usefulness, while walking through these rough city streets searching for answers.  At launch, the Apple Watch 3 will debut with a $399 price tag, respectively, while its iPhone counterparts will start at $699 and $799.  As stellar and impressive as the Apple Watch 3 may be, is it overall utility equal or greater than its phone brethren, and the resounding answer of “no” seems obvious to me.  Though it can make/receive calls, play music, view/send text messages, can you honestly see yourself doing more?  Does writing or responding to an email seem plausible?  Watching video content for any period of time?  Playing a graphic-demanding game?  You probably found yourself with the conclusion of “no” to all or any combination of these questions.  And as such, the $399 price point proves disproportionate to usefulness/functionality comparative to its phone alternatives.  A more feasible price point for wearables would start at $15 (for items such as fitness trackers) and maxing out at the $200 price (for smart watches).  This is just my humble opinion, as it does not make sense for their pricing to be anywhere near that of a more encompassing phone.  My stance remains that until we reach a point when wearable pricing is comparable to its added value in our daily lives, I will continue seeing these as secondary technology, bought only if our wants outweigh our needs.  Or if a rich uncle just kicked the bucket and left us billions of dollars; whichever comes first.

After investigating the facts, the posed question still remains, “Are wearables a thing?” For me, the conclusion is this; they are a thing, but not a very relevant thing.  I have two smart watches still sitting in their packaging, and after playing with them a few times, found no practical uses in my daily grind.  But they do look hella cool!  Due to this, my beastly Huawei Mate 9 and sleek-as-hell LG G6 will continue being two pillars of productivity, sans making money and paying bills.  Oh, wouldn’t that be great if they could (sighs)?  Depending on which economist you read, we are either slowly recovering from a long recession or heading towards a great depression, meaning money is tight. Spend your money sensibly on the items that have more value adds in your life. For me, wearables are a novelty you acquire for the style, the convenience, or the simple enjoyment.  Not something that will make or break you!

Confessions of an OS Adulterer

Posted on by ja3techreviews

For anyone who gazes upon this, I write this as a humbled man here to confess my sins.  Over the past two years, I have been cheating on my significant other, and I come before you to tell my story.  It all began when I was in my twenties, and much like any other tech noob, I was a wet-behind-the-ears little punk jumping from flip phone to flip phone.  Never a clue, nor understanding of where I was going, or what the future held.  But then I meet “her”, Android, and my life was forever changed.

It was a cold winter’s night in 2010, when I came upon her, and like any gorgeous woman, she stole my heart from the onset.  We met at Club Cliq, located at the corner of Motorola and Qwerty.  Now, I had frequented this joint for sometime; hell, I remember when it used to be called Club Razr, but the owners decided to upgrade, and the name change came along.  However, this was far from the old days, as this was the night my life would be different going forward.  I strolled in like a boss, with my game in full effect, checking out the honeys.  Everyone who was anyone was there that night!  Droid X was pulling mad girls, as he was the “big boy” of that day, and the crowd was hyped as DJ Atrix was layin’ down some serious tracks.  And that’s when it happened.  I could see her standing in the corner, those luscious Apps and silky performance, just beckoning me.  I walked up to her and gave her my best lines, and she was digging it.  Anyone could see she was totally into me, and right off the bat she let me know I wasn’t just any guy.  After a few minutes of talking, she looked me in my eyes and said, “Please call me Cupcake, all my friends do.”  Right then I knew love was on the horizon.  We ditched that joint, as she was about to take me on a ride across a world previously unknown to me.

Shortly after leaving Club Cliq, Android took me to this fancy place called The Samsung Spot.  Hours passed as we sat and drank, but after awhile she looked to me and said, “This place is a little cartoonish and the drinks are way too saturated, wanna go someplace else?”  And like any guy falling head-over-heels, I gazed at her with admiration and said, “Wherever is fine with me, as long as I’m with you!”  We enjoyed each others company until the sun finally came up.  It was then she turned to me and whispered, “I like you. Any chance we can do this again?”  My heart fluttered and I could barely hold myself back when I blurted, “I don’t want this to end…wanna go back to my place?”  She stared at me for a moment, finally bringing herself to say, “I would love to.”

From then on we were inseparable, with people saying we were attached at the hip (thanks to my belt clip).  The days went by too fast but our love kept growing.  We matriculated from the beloved Cupcake days to the period I like to refer to as the Kit-Kat years.  It seems like yesterday, when I marveled at her wearing this beautiful Nexus 5 outfit from the fabulous designer, L.G.  It was so gorgeous, and made me fall in love with her all over again.  Truly, we had the beginnings of a beautiful life together.  She knew she was my one and only.

But as time went on, Android began to make me feel like I was secondary, and that’s when our love began to fade.  She was going through a lot, I could tell, as we endured her whole “Material Design” phase.  It was hard for me, because the Kit-Kat girl I was madly in love with was losing her identity.  No longer the dark, mysterious girl I pined for, she was becoming more mainstream, more light-themed, like she wanted to be the girl everyone else wanted.  Things were changing for the worse, I wasn’t sure if they would ever go back to the way they were.

A few months went by and things were reaching their breaking point, and that’s when I bumped into her at the local electronics store, and by her I mean temptation.  Normally, a plastic-like girl such as her would not appeal to me, but remember, I was a lonely man.  She came up to me and said, “Hey, my name is Windows, but you can call me Denim.”  I started to tell her my named, but she stopped me and replied, “I know who you are!”  We casually talked for a few moments, but I found myself becoming more and more intoxicated by her lure.  Oh, and she was smart, she was like a computer as she had so much pertinent information ready at a glance.  She was so seductive and already had me in her web.  I left that day without her, but I couldn’t get her out of my mind.  She had sown the seeds of seduction and I was ready to partake in its forbidden fruit.

Three months later, I came back to that store, hoping I would see her again.  Sure enough, she was there, waiting for me.  She gazed at me and uttered, “I knew you’d come back.”  Like a nervous schoolboy, I tried to form words, but nothing came out.  Finally, I was able to say, “Windows, you know I’m in a committed relationship with Android, but I can’t stop thinking about you.”  She replied, “I know…so this is our little secret!”  It was that day I was to succumb to desire, as we began our secret affair.  I felt bad juggling two women like this, but Windows expressed she would eventually make me forget about Android.  The days turned to months, as our tawdry affair continued.  This vivacious vixen was so devious she would make me call her Cortana.  And sometimes, when we were alone, I would ask her, “So, Cortana…Who’s your daddy?” to which she would coyly reply, “Technically, Bill Gates is my father…”, but I knew the truth!  Eventually, as is the case, Android walked in as Windows and I were texting, in the very house we made.  It was a dramatic day, but the charade needed to be brought to light.

Android was understandably hurt and I tried to console her by stating it meant nothing.  But the damage was done!  Weeks went on and we barely spoke, until she said we needed counseling, but things could never go back to the old days.  Dr. Brownlee of the MKBHD Clinic attempted to repair our union by trying to rekindle what first bonded us, but she was different, I was different, we were different.  He kept reminding us things will get better, and that we’ll be able to multi-task in the “new version” of our lives, he so appropriately dubbed the “N” years; for “new” beginnings.  I knew he was right, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Windows; I was hooked!  I couldn’t wait for the day I could wrap my hands around her.  It’s wrong, I know, but desire knows no limit.

Funny and pun-laced story aside, as a reviewer, I am blessed to evaluate some great devices across the Android, iOS, and Windows platforms.  In 2014, I was presented the opportunity to review the Nokia Lumia 635, and it was far better than I expected, given its budget price tag!  Was it the most premium feeling phone?  NO!  Was it the fastest phone I ever used?  NO.  Did it have the best Apps Store?  Heck NO!  But up to that point I had never used a Windows device, and let me tell you, I was thoroughly impressed.  It was the simple things like a very user friendly keyboard, integration with components on my windows-based desktop, and the overall fluidity of the OS, that captivated me.  After talking to a fellow reviewer, he advised me these, and other features, are just as enticing on higher-end offerings.  Then, last year, I reviewed the Microsoft Lumia 640, 640 XL, and 950 XL.  Although, there were significant bugs with Windows 10, I saw lots of promise for the platform, and I loved using Windows 8.1.  Many reviewers assert Windows is dead, but I think the last few years have shown a re-dedication to make Windows a significant force in the mobile world.  Don’t get me wrong, I love how interactive and user-friendly Android is, but I could see myself ditching my Nexus devices and OnePlus Two for a high-end Lumia devices one day.  If you haven’t tried one, just buy one of the cheaper Windows phones, like the 640 or the new 650 and see what you think.  You might be surprised and begin a sinful affair with Windows.  But don’t worry, I won’t tell your current OS.

Corning Continues to Shape the Future

Posted on by ja3techreviews

As a child, while watching my favorite sci-fi movies, I would be in awe as the hero hacked into the building mainframe from a 3-D terminal hub, allowing all the doors to open, thus leading to the rescue of the gorgeous damsel in distress, or pressing a button on his watch unveiling a virtual map leading to the treasure.  Well, those once far-fetched ideas are no longer left to the imagination; they are here in the very world around us.  Everything from touch-display buildings, 3-D and virtual reality museums, and interfacing with every facet of our home from a smartphone or tablet, may have seemed impossible then; but let’s face it, the future is present and  incredible.  Spearheading many of these advancements is a company you’ve probably heard, but may not have known how integral their contributions are for the whole.  Today, everyone and their mother own a smartphone, and such, probably heard of this little thing called Gorilla Glass, the protective coverings for the displays, manufactured by Corning.  However, Corning is no one-trick pony, as they are key contributors in numerous design and patent-pending advancements, allowing for the dreams of yesterday to become reality today.  As their website banner states and so appripoaly exacts the premise of this article, “Our glass innovations power the devices that make lives easier, more entertaining, and more rewarding…”

In business since the 19th Century, Corning already has made monumental offerings to current advancements in several industries, and continues to engineer modern progressions in Avionics and Aerospace, communication, architecture, and the mobile electronics.  Two of the most notable contributions are their Gorilla and Willow Glass lines.  Gorilla Glass is a commonplace for many of the mobile devices we use today, serving an integral buffer and touch-capacitive functions to interact with our devices.   However, many underestimate the overall value of such a medium, as I did until researching for this article.  Corning believes the continued advancements within the Gorilla Glass line will be the bridge to a more interactive world.  Not merely an instrument to protect our displays, this glass can be incorporated with our existing structures such as wall, elevators, or direct link capable displays.  The idea is the very information we find on our computers, smartphones and tablets can be expanded into a larger form factor.  The concept of “smart walls” and “smart buildings” remains the underlying goal, and the possibilities and positive impacts to our world are vast.  In the not-so-distant future, elevators will not only serve as a mode of transport between levels, but also as outlets to news and video feeds.  The very walls in hospital offices and patient rooms will be filled with information on treatments, and will allow for improved methodologies of diagnosis and treatment, utilizing the synergy between medical instruments and this glass.  Again, this is readily available now, as Corning reiterates the Gorilla Glass line serves as a principal, in that it can be used as on overlay focusing over the existing walls in a building or home.  I’m fascinated for the day I go to a museum, and while I’m viewing a piece of work, I can touch the surrounding walls and retrieve pertinent facts regarding its origins to bios on the artist.  In my opinion, what Corning has already done and hopes to continue will be a great bridge in the divide between today’s concepts and a truly immersible world.

One other impact offering from Corning proves to be the applications of their Willow Glass line.  Similar to Gorilla Glass, Willow Glass will serve as a principal for OLED and LCD displays.  Unlike its counterpart, Willow Glass is geared more towards curved displays because of its thin, light and pliable characteristics.  Because Gorilla Glass is mass produced in slightly larger form factors, utilizing the “roll-to-roll” production of Willow Glass, much like that of newspapers from a printing press, will allow more cost-effective and quicker production times.  Additionally, Willow Glass can be used in smaller spaces, those the larger Gorilla Glass may not be able to be applied, while still maintaining similar, if not greater resolutions.  Simply put, Corning sees these as a means of producing quality displays where the implementation of larger glass methods may not be accessible.

However the method, it is apparent Corning hopes the continued advancements of these lines, and additional product lines, will continue to shape the interactive world of tomorrow.  I for one am impressed by the technology readily available and challenge designers implement in upcoming projects.   Furthermore, I advise any readers to visit the Corning webpage and YouTube channel to see this and many other current projects that will unlock the future, today.

YouTube Channel for Corning

Corning.com

Gorilla Glass
Gorilla Glass 2 Testing (Image courtesy of Corning.com)
Willow Glass
Willow Glass Image (Image courtesy of Appliancedesign.com)

Best Smartphones of 2015

Posted on by ja3techreviews

Ah yes, winter is finally here, and as we wind down this incredible year, I would like to take a look back at which manufacturers titillated us with their naughtiest and nicest offerings. Share with me as I announce my best smartphones of 2015.

For sake of ease, I broke this down into two categories: (i) best premier smartphone (ii) best budget smartphone – best smartphones at or under $399. Bear with me as these are my honest opinions based on devices I’ve reviewed throughout this year. Once again, these are my OPINIONS predicated on matrices I preset to give quantitative scores for ranking purposes. Hopefully you agree, but if not, sit back and enjoy.

BEST PREMIER SMARTPHONES
1) Samsung Galaxy Note 5 – With its stunning Quad-HD display, incredible S-Pen functions, and everything we loved about the Galaxy S6 (with some minor improvements as well), it’s hard not to rank this as the best smartphone of the year. Rumblings are Samsung already has production set to trump this one; sounds intriguing.

2) iPhone 6s and 6s Plus – I am ranking these together because more-or-less, they are identical devices, sans the size difference and a camera upgrade. Everyone knows I am not a huge fan of Apple, but I must give props to them on a magnificent looking and well performing phone. Did they steal features from previous devices? Yes, but who doesn’t nowadays. If you are not an Android or Windows junkie, the gorgeous build and overly expansive App Store will make you run, not walk, to get this phone.

3) Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge – The “cousin” of both the Note 5 and S6 ranks slightly above the latter due to the ingenious edge display. During my testing did I find much use for it? No, but I can attest the few videos I viewed were enhanced by this design feature. Even though it closely resembles the S6, I found myself just more impressed by this one. Definitely worth an upgrade if you are coming from the S5 or interested in a new Samsung device.

4) LG V10 – Even though it was a recent release, we will give it a pass as it is such an impressive device. It makes me think, if the LG G4 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge had a baby, this is what it would look like. Compliments aside, I still wonder why the secondary display is on the top, but as I said in a previous writing, LG knows how to make stunning phones. From the massive yet glorious 5.7” display, to the premium feel, and “yes” SD card storage and removable battery, make this a no-brainer for a converted or long time LG fans.

5) Samsung Galaxy S6 – I remember at the end of last year, Samsung stated a few minor tweaks would be in store for the upcoming S6…a few minor tweaks, huh? Oh yeah, you just dropped the SD card slot, shed the removable battery, changed from a plastic to all glass and metal design, changed the processing chip, and upped the price; but yeah, just a few minor tweaks! Jokes aside, when I first saw this, my jaw dropped to the floor. It is a stunning piece of craftsmanship and I enjoyed my testing time. You ask, why only five on the list then? Well, poor battery life and the very breakable glass design pulled it down from the original #1 spot earlier in the year. It is without a doubt, one of the best devices of the year and a must have upgrade for anyone ready to turn in their S4 or Note 3.

6) Nexus 6P – Over the last two years, I have been thoroughly impressed by such devices as the P8 and Mate 7, and thus, find myself becoming a huge fan of Huawei. This Chinese manufacturer reminds me of LG with its use of nice designs, premium feel in the hand, only diminished by its convoluted user overlay. Nexus 6P shows it’s a boss of a phone and corrects the overlay issue by running Stock Android. So you have a great design, incredible display, front-facing speakers, coupled with the fact you will be first-ish (sorry, Motorola has been the first for Android updates the last year-and-a-half) for OS updates, makes this all the more appealing.

7) LG G4 – The “little brother” to the LG V10, the G4 was the first of many incredible devices to be launched this year. You may ask “…why so low on the list then…” and that has more to do with how many amazing devices came out this year, as opposed to something LG did wrong. From the beautiful display, to the micro sd card slot and removable battery inclusion, and the ingenious application multi-function feature, there is little to disapprove.

8) Motorola Moto X Pure/Style – Whatever the name is, Motorola continues its dominance of putting out simple yet outstanding devices. Utilizing an outstanding design, pure Android OS software, and an understated price tag, you cannot go wrong with the Moto X Pure/Style. And “yes”, for all you who still use your devices to make and receive phone calls, Motorola continues producing cellphones with great reception and call quality. What’s more, Moto-maker adds the icing to the cake, allowing a fully immersive level of customization not present by other manufacturers.

9) OnePlus 2 – Carl Pei, the founder of OnePlus, sought out two (2) years ago to change the game, so to speak, and we’ve witnessed his precision in doing so. A small off-shoot of the OPPO family, OnePlus followed up its success of the OnePlus One to bring an even more outstanding offering in the OnePlus 2. Lack of NFC debate aside, there is little to dislike in this year’s entry.

10) HTC One M9 – Like the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” HTC held true to this in carrying over many features from the One M8 to the new One M9. From the outrageous boom sound speakers, to the crisp display and expandable storage, there was little to dislike. However, HTC needs to understand, a few tweaks here-and-there will be necessary for next year’s M-series phone to make this list.

HONORABLE MENTION: ZTE Axon Pro, Microsoft Lumia 950/950 XL, Huawei Mate 7, Blackberry Priv, ZTE Nubia N9, Sony Xperia Z5 Premium

BEST BUDGET SMARTPHONES
1) OnePlus 2 – See everything from previous entry about OnePlus 2, and just remind yourself all that for just $389.00 off-contract.

2) Microsoft Lumia 640/640 XL – Since taking over the Lumia moniker from Nokia, Microsoft re-introduced itself into the smartphone race with a solid winner. Although a budget device in every facet, this checked all the boxes of what you want in a great phone. Near crystal clear call quality, adorable display, solid speakers, great camera for the pricing, and a solid OS, make-up for a not-so-stellar but improving App market. For what you get at a sub-$100 price, you won’t be upset

3) Asus Zenfone 2 – If you’ve read my review on this phone, you will realize I want to put this under the Best Premier Smartphones category, but because of the price, it certainly falls under budget, but with a solid asterisk. From the incredible display, large customization options, solid performance, and continual updates from Asus, it’s hard not to call this one of the top-20 best phones of 2015…overall!

4) Nexus 5X – The successor to its famous “little brother” of 2013, the Nexus 5, the Nexus 5X follows in the “family” footsteps with a quality build, great interface, solid performance, and stock Android to boot…bootloader pun intended. It falls at the top of the budget tier line, but several current promotions put it at under $350.00, which I call “budget” in the era of $800 and up premium phones. Little bro can cheerfully say with pride “That’s my brother!”

5) Oppo R7 – What can be called the parent company to OnePlus, Oppo continued making innovative devices this past year. The Oppo R7 without a doubt slides right into one of the best budget devices of the year. Improving on the popular R5, Oppo kept the slim design, re-introduced a 3.5 mm jack, and kept a gorgeous display. Although not a major player in the North American market, tech heads have lauded Oppo due in part to their consistent updates, great options in customization, incredible speaker quality, and snappy performing devices.  Those very reasons are why we find the R7 as one of the best budget smartphones of 2015. Coupled with its current $349.00 promotion price, I say it’s a great product on a budget.

6) Motorola Moto G – Motorola was once the top dog in the emerging smartphone industry back in the mid to late 1990s and early 2000s. Unfortunately, much like the ebb and flows of life, they found themselves on the outside looking in to the likes of new big dogs Samsung, Apple and LG in current 2000s. Since its first introduction two years ago, the Moto G evolves gracefully, while still maintaining its budget status. What’s not to like about a solid offering for under $179? Plus, if you’re still looking for a last minute Christmas gift, several U.S. retailers are offering such an incredible device for as low as $99.00. Not too shabby!

7) Motorola Moto E – Take everything you like about the Moto G, shrink the body a little bit, add LTE bands, and voila, there you have the Moto E. I really tried not to like this device due to my own prejudices based on its price, but couldn’t help falling in love with it. Now, the Moto E shows more function over form, but at such a highly consumer friendly price, you can’t help but pick one up. If you are lucky like me, you may be able to catch another retailer’s blowout sell and nab one for $9.99. Really impressive!

8) BLU Life One X – Although coming out at the tail end of this year, we had to add the BLU Life One X to our listing of great budget offerings. In standard form, BLU continues to pump out impressive, budget friendly offerings, but the Life One X may stand above the crowd in BLU-ville. A solid 1080p, with LTE coverage for some bands, and a well performing MediaTek CPU, the Life One X could challenge as one of the best bang-for-your-buck smartphones for the first part of 2016. Couple a quality device and a $149.00 price tag; it has the makings of everything this list embodies.

9) Alcatel One Touch Idol 3 (5.5”) – Wait a minute…nice looking display, great JBL earphones and sound quality, reversible UI and all under $299.00? No, can’t be! However, Alcatel managed to do just that. I must mention the call quality wasn’t the best during my review, and I also observed some software stuttering, which account for its fall on our list. But, for an already established manufacturer throwing its foray into a competitive mid-tier market, we like what we see.

10) OnePlus X – Oneplus founder, Carl Pei, continues to show he knows the smartphone business. Taking what people liked in the original OnePlus One, modify the body to a breathtaking glass/metal body, and you have another OnePlus hit! Also, marketing it at an insane sub-$250.00 price point won’t hurt in winning over any would-be consumers. You sacrifice NFC and the loss of a few LTE bands, but overall, a premium device for small change won’t make anyone fell like a Grinch this Christmas.

HONORABLE MENTION: BLU Vivo Air LTE, Xiamoi Mi Note Pro, Kyocera Hydro, Huawei P8 Lite, LG G4 Stylus/Stylo

Apple or Samsung…Is There Any Other Choice?

Posted on by ja3techreviews

Apple or Samsung? Chicken or Beef? Actually, I prefer ground turkey due to it’s a leaner meat and less toxins, but I digress. Perhaps, though, this is what has driven me to produce such an article, because my deviation from the predicated conventional norms. Let’s face it, Apple and Samsung dominate the mobile technology, and consequently are the two most consumed and talked about manufacturers. We hear of every press release and upcoming launch event, retailers promote them seemingly around every crevice of their stores (yes, I’m looking at you Best Buy), and we are constantly presented with those witty us versus them commercials reminiscent of a bitter high school rivalry. Apple and Samsung masterfully inject themselves into our daily lives and influence our trending ways. Thus, when it comes time for that new Smartphone, tablet, television, or media player, it seems the majority flock to one or the other. People, let me tell you, you have other choices.

Let me drop some quick knowledge you may or may not know; Apple currently possesses 20.4% of the overall Smartphone sales, while maintaining 92% profits of the overall Smartphone industry. I’ll repeat that in case you missed it, 92% of the overall Smartphone profits. In a landscape encompassing well over 1,000 manufactures, and more popping onto the scene each day, Apple reigns the top dog of profitable companies. Putting further into perspective, roughly 1 of every 5 consumers owns an iPhone and/or Apple product. And that 20% is leading Apple to billions in gross profits. Not to mention the recent successes of Apple TV and Apple Watches. Recent survey analysis relates Apple’s success to its identity. Of those consumers in the market to buy a tech device, over 84% surveyed stated they would buy Apple products based solely on brand recognition. I will repeat, not knowing the functionality of the products, but solely on the fact they have heard the name, people will be inclined to buy Apple devices. That in itself I find truly amazing. The notion of buying something based only because I saw the name on television, or my neighbor bought one, or because it’s the in product baffles me.

Possessing an amazing 19.9% share of Smartphone devices sold last year, and filling in nearly all of the remaining 8% of available market share profits, Samsung remains the other most recognizable force in the industry. 19.9% may not sound like a huge number, but let’s attempt to put that in perspective. Several statistical analysis firms put overall Smartphone sales for 2014 at roughly 1.1 billion sales. This means Samsung accounts for approximately 220 million of those sales. Truly astonishing are those numbers. Following similar analysis, 86% of potential buyers surveyed stated they would buy a Samsung product on name recognition alone. Now that is truly amazing! Please forgive me if it seems I am attempting to minimize Samsung’s impact on the evolution of the industry. That is far from my intentions, as I am a huge fan of their in-house Exynos processor and find myself amazed in the steady improvements of their stunning displays. In the past year I have witnessed three magnificent devices out of the Samsung camp in the Galaxy Note 5, S6 and S6 Edge. All are truly remarkable gadgets showcasing Samsung’s innovation in hardware design language and substantial improvements in their TouchWiz software. Devoid of the poor battery life, the Galaxy line this past year lived up to the moniker of flagship devices. Each of these embodied the strongest, brightest and best offerings and a glimpse of what to expect in the upcoming year. Yet, I still find myself wondering why we gravitate to these products at the cost of other quality and cheaper manufacturers.

In asking myself this question more and more, the conclusion literally hit me in the face one evening. Walking down the street, while simultaneously writing a text message, I ran into a Samsung sidewalk sign outside Best Buy. That sign was closely followed by an Apple banner parlaying news of the recently released iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. The saying “…if you control the media, you can control the masses…” came to mind. I know the context of the quote is intended another way, but let’s face it, Apple and Samsung find ways to dominate our information sources, and because of that earn our money. If all you see is Apple and Samsung on the news, in print, on the radio, you will fixate on that. These tech giants clearly understand this simple concept, and do all they can to insert themselves into our lives. In a consumer-based world, we are lead to believe these two are the “posh” and “in-thing” of our times above all others, and maybe rightfully so. But I repeat, you have other choices.

I challenge you today to record how many times you hear or see the promotions of companies such as LG, Lenovo-Motorola, Huawei, Sony, Oppo, Blackberry or Oneplus. The last may be the exception if you frequent Facebook or Twitter, but my overall notion still stands. These companies rarely promote themselves and rely on the principle we as consumers will learn about their products and gravitate towards them. Unfortunately, we as consumers rarely do this and that is our greatest flaw. We trend towards what we are told is the latest and greatest, or what we see others have, or what’s the best of those readily accessible. In paraphrasing one of my favorite comic book characters, Ben Parker, “With great power comes great responsibility”. As a consumer, you have a responsibility to be informed before you hand over your money. Do your analysis and understand why whatever you buy is the best choice. Now I’m not saying to not to buy Apple or Samsung products. As previously mentioned, I too am an owner of several of their products, but before you spend the $700 to $1,000 full retail price….really, that much? Okay, before you pay my monthly mortgage for a device, make sure you do your homework. I personally have found the offerings of Asus and LG, to name a few very pleasing. Although I purchased the device nearly six months ago, I absolutely love using my Asus Zenfone 2 (the high-end variant) as my daily driver. That’s pretty impressive as I own nearly 15 different phones, three of which are Apple and Samsung products. What is even more impressive is the $299.00 off-contract pricing, not too bad in my opinion. Also, it would take an act of force majeure before I stop using my Nexus 5 from nearly three years ago. Much like a fine wine, it just seems to get better with time. Thus, I implore you to please remember this one message…you have other choices.