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iOS

Dozy iOS 11?

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Anyone else experience a “very sleepy” iPhone after installing iOS 11? I’ve encountered at least three times that my iPhone 7 doesn’t want to wake up right away. It’s usually after I put my phone to sleep then try to wake it immediately. The screen stays black. I know the iPhone is still on since the home button still provides haptic feedback (the “button” doesn’t do anything when the iPhone is off).

After a long delay, the iPhone wakes up but in the meantime, the dozy iPhone feels like it’s not working.

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Checking Out Apple CarPlay

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Like me, you may have heard of Apple’s CarPlay “system” that links your iPhone with your vehicle but never saw CarPlay in action. Today, I got a first hand look at CarPlay via the Alpine iLX-007 in-dash receiver. An aftermarket car stereo replacement, the iLX is CarPlay personified. Connecting your iPhone to the iLX brings up the familiar iOS screen on the 7-in display. Everything looks and behaves similarly to regular iPhone interactions. The apps, the home button, iTunes music, maps, Siri – it’s all there.

I had to admit seeing CarPlay in action was pretty cool. The learning curve of operating the iLX is negligible since it is  the iOS that you’re already comfortable with using an iPhone. No need to figure out how to set music stations, make a phone call, or otherwise operate the unit. The Maps application for navigation was the most compelling since it eliminates the need for any other in-car navigation system. 

But there are some limitations with the fledgling CarPlay. For the iLX-007, you have to physically connect your iPhone to the receiver via a USB-Lightning cable. And if you’re ever without your iPhone, the iLX is essentially non-functional. There’s no real built-in capabilities since mostly everything resides with the phone. 

The one aspect of CarPlay that I found underwhelming is its overall implementation, or really, lack thereof. CarPlay seems like a literal translation of iOS from your phone to your car’s in-dash display. While there are some changes to the user interface to accommodate the attention of drivers, it still looks like and feels a lot like iOS.

I was hoping that CarPlay would do more like become the central processing unit of your vehicle, maybe even its soul. Currently, CarPlay doesn’t revolutionize or innovate the driver’s experience. It reminds me of the Motorola ROKR E1 aka the Apple iTunes phone. If you remember this iPhone precursor, the ROKR could play music by including iPod features. Useful? Yes. Innovative? No, not compared to the revolutionary iPhone. 

So while I’m digging the concept of CarPlay version 1.0, I’m already waiting for version 2.0.

Threes! Starbucks App of the Week

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Threes!
Threes!
If you haven’t caught the “mathematical” game craze, here’s your chance. Starbucks is giving away copies of Threes! as their App of the Week.

The premise of the game is simple. Maneuver numbered tiles and add up pairs to get bigger and bigger numbers. It’s a great mind challenger, and in my opinion, the gameplay is more understandable than the similar 2048 game.

Test Driving Google Now

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Google Now recently became available on iOS via an updated Google search app, so one morning I took it for a test drive. Nothing fancy, app defaults taken, minimal customization, and a daily commute to work.

Here’s what Google Now presented to me.

Google Now
Google Now

Pretty mundane. Nothing out of the ordinary. Let’s compare the weather. Google Now reports 75-degree weather with some clouds and rain.

Local weather
Local weather

Car reported outside temperature was 76 degrees, and it was an overcast morning, so that’s a +1 for Google Now. How about the commute? 26 minutes seems about right with light traffic, but even Google doesn’t know and can’t integrate everything (yet). You see, there was a traffic accident reported on the H3 that morning. I had heard about the mishap on the radio at the start of my drive and was hoping the accident would be cleared by the time I got to the H3. Not quite.

Ugh, traffic
Ugh, traffic

There were lines of cars before the H3 Harano tunnels with one lane closed off. Fortunately traffic was flowing, albeit slowly compared to most mornings. Was this “light traffic” according to Google? From my daily commutes, I would consider this heavy traffic for the H3. So my commute did take longer than normal, quite possibly the 26 minutes estimated by Google Now from the starting point of traffic slowdown.

My overall first experience with Google Now wasn’t totally amazing but modestly intriguing. I can see how this intersection of relevant data is very cool and convenient, and I have to tinker with Google Now settings to see what else it can do.

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iOS 6 Mail Oddity

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So I’ve been having a weird issue or two with my new iPhone 5. Here’s an oddity with the Mail app in iOS 6. Check out the screen shot. How do I compose a new email?

That’s correct. The “compose email” button in the bottom right corner is missing! Odd… A quick screen rotation brings the button back, but it shouldn’t be missing in the first place. This oddity isn’t consistent either. It comes and goes.

Something and Sounds at Starbucks

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Picked up Draw Something and SoundHound from Starbucks today. These are the weekly Pick of the Week freebies, and as an added bonus, the Starbucks treat receipts are back. Buy a drink in the AM and get any grande iced drink for 2-bucks after 2 PM. That’s any drink including a custom creation with extra shots.

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