Alec Douglas

[alecd106-blog]

For the reference of our representatives: <i>compromise—a settlement of differences by mutual concessions; an agreement reached by adjustment of conflicting or opposing claims, principles, etc., by reciprocal modification of demands.</i>

[alecd106-blog]

Thanks, government, for doing your job! Oh, wait...

[alecd106-blog]

Make iOS 7 Easier on the Eyes

iOS 7 is undoubtedly one of the most visually pleasing mobile operating systems on the market, given the attention to every detail by the Apple design team. For some, however, certain aspects of this os can be tiresome, such as the lighter font and the parallax effect. Here's a couple of tips to make iOS 7 a bit easier on the eyes.

Text

Indeed, the new, lighter fonts in iOS 7 are stunning, namely on the lock screen. But it can be challenging to decipher the letters, especially on lighter backgrounds. Luckily, it is possible to restore the text to its original boldness. Simply navigate to Settings–General–Accessibility. There, you will find a button labeled "Bold Text." Tap this option, and you will be prompted to restart your device. Once this process has finished all system text will be noticeably thicker, and much easier to read.

Motion

For some, the parallax effect of the iOS 7 home screen can be tiring and even sickening. Of course, this can easily be turned off.

Again, navigate to Settings–General–Accessibility. Scroll down and you will find an option titled "Reduce Motion." Enable this option and the parallax effect will, for all intents and purposes, be turned off.

If you have bad eyesight or motion sickness, these quick changes should make iOS 7 much more useable.

[alecd106-blog]

I'm shocked that Apple still hasn't updated most of their non-native iOS apps for iOS 7. How is it that so many developers beat Apple to the punch?

[alecd106-blog]

Occasionally, while listening to music, I encounter a song that I enjoy so much I feel the urge to share it. I've now decided to act upon this desire on a weekly basis: every Saturday, I will be posting a song that I deem worthy of your attention.

First up is "Dirty Harry," a track off of the 2004 Gorillaz Album Demon Days. A combination of interesting sounds and an infectious beat, I reckon I'll never grow tired of this song.

[alecd106-blog]

I really hope this isn't a coincidence.

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Microsoft Releases New Surface Tablets

Monday, in New York City, Microsoft announced updated versions of their Surface tablets known as the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2. With many new components and features, these new devices could redeem the failure of the original Surface lineup.

Surface 2

The Surface 2 employs the NVDIA Tegra 4 processor, allowing apps to run faster while increasing the battery life to ten hours. The built-in stand can now prop up the device at two different angles, while the ClearType Full HD screen is now 1080p, so movies and television shows will be of much higher quality. The Surface 2 features the USB 3.0 port as well as a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 3.5 megapixel front camera. And, despite all these new features, the Surface 2 is noticeably thinner than its precursor. The tablet will run Windows RT 8.1, which contains numerous fixes and improvements. The Surface 2 starts $449, and is available for preorder now.

Along with this, the Touch Cover has received a some minor updates, including a thinner design as well as a backlit keyboard.

Surface Pro 2

The Surface Pro 2 features the Intel i5 processor, dramatically increasing both speed and efficiency while permitting users to install any windows program. Just as the Surface 2, the Surface Pro 2 now has two viewing angles and a new 1080p display. It also has the new USB 3.0 port. The Surface Pro 2 has the ability to run any two apps side by side, including desktop programs. The Surface Pro 2 starts at $899.00, and is also available for preorder now.

Microsoft updated the Type Cover as well: it now has a backlit keyboard, and comes in multiple colors.

In recent months Microsoft has seen little growth and dwindling investor confidence. But these new tablets, combined with Steve Ballmer's imminent retirement, have the potential to set off a new era of success for the company. Source

[alecd106-blog]

Russel never fails to amuse me.

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I'm growing weary of all those who reject certain types of music, believing that their preferred genre is the only acceptable genre. In my opinion, what defines a quality song is the intent of the artist behind it, not simply its style. If a musician's aim is to create art, his music should be regarded as such.

[alecd106-blog]

Flowering tea.

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I can't decide if I want to eat this or simply preserve its beauty.

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This sums up all the changes pretty well.

[alecd106-blog]

Thanks, Apple, for allowing me to email certain PDFs from my iPad but not others. Learn from my mistakes: do not use iBooks to manage your PDFs.

[alecd106-blog]

A message to all Tumblr users: custom background images only work if there is a solid colored frame around each post or the content area as a whole. Otherwise, your site will look like hideous mishmash of images and text. 

[alecd106-blog]

Microsoft is now allowing customers to turn in old iPads in return for a minimum $200 gift card valid at most Microsoft stores. Looks like its time for me to get a new laptop!

[alecd106-blog]

Apple Announces iPhone 5s

Although certainly not the focus of the company’s Tuesday keynote, Apple announced the release of the iPhone 5s, an update to the popular iPhone 5 that has some new features and hardware.

Incorporated in the iPhone 5s is an all new security feature: a finger print scanner. The home button now has the ability to scan a users fingerprints before allowing access to the phone, meaning one can secure their device without the need for a pass code. This feature is especially useful for those who require frequent access to their phone.

The iPhone 5s also contains some upgraded hardware, including the new A7 chip. This new component effectively doubles the CPU and GPU of the phone. Additionally the A7 chip is 64-bit, meaning the iPhone 5s is essentially a pocket computer.

With this update the iPhone is also getting a brand new color: gold. Along with this, Apple is also releasing a matching case for the iPhone 5s, just as they did for the iPhone 5c. The case comes in six colors and is made of premium leather. It’s as if Apple is trying to proliferate stereotypes of the rich, pretentious iPhone user.

In short, the iPhone 5s is simply a refined version of the iPhone 5 that offers some new features and double the speed. Whether consumers will purchase this over the iPhone 5c, we have yet to discover.

[alecd106-blog]

The Apple clock app has just ruined my morning for the last time. After another software glitch prevented the app from waking me this morning, I've decided I will not rely on that app ever again.