Category: Tech

Whether you are a professional designer bringing in the big bucks, or someone who does design for a hobby, most of us will generally be away from our homes when inspiration hits, and then what?

Fortunately in our ever evolving world of smart phones, tablets and technology there will always be some way to quickly get your idea down in a physical environment either on your iPhone or your iPad. Here we count down 10 must-have apps for your iPhone or iPad.

10. POP

This app is very, very cool. Anything that you draw in the real world on a piece of paper can be photographed by POP (Prototyping On Paper), allowing you to then interact with your creation via your smart phone or tablet. Used by students, advertisement agencies and entrepreneurs alike POP is a sure fire way to get your project from sketch pad to completion. POP also integrates high security, using 128 bit SSL encryption, so you know your designs will stay safe. POP also allows you to duplicate, import, organise and share with ease.

9. Udemy

This nifty little app fuses the world of education with the world of Apple Applications, having the largest online database of tutorials, courses and training. Udemy allows you to learn on the go, whether you are commuting to work on the train or taking a long haul flight across the world, this app provides no excuses when it comes to further education. This application allows you to choose from a vast number of categories to further your knowledge on any given subject, from things such as business and development, to music and languages, and yes, it also offers courses on software and design, to better further your understanding of the latest developments in design software.

8. Adobe Color

Adobe Color is an app that let’s it’s users create their own colour palettes or colour themes from any picture source they can think of. You are even able to create a colour palette from your phone or tablets camera, leaving no end to the type of colour schemes you can create. Using the apps ‘Color service’ let’s users automatically sync any colour palette they create with their Adobe desktop applications such as Photoshop or Illustrator. Adobe Color also let’s you upload what you create, and with cloud sharing technology allows you to browse other users’ creations, so inspiration is never far away!

7. Word Swag

Whilst Word Swag might not require too much technical input, it’s a great application that allows even the most novice of designers to create something inspiring. With hundreds of pre-set quotes, jokes and thoughts, you can quickly assemble eye catching and thought provoking layouts that would normally take you hours.

6. Ikonica

This free application for your iPad and iPhone is a quick, simple and smart way to test your icon designs on various backgrounds. This tool is a necessity for all those of you who are app developers or designers, offering you a limitless way of making sure that your designs suit the backgrounds you choose. Ikonica is available for iOS 6 and later and is FREE from the Apple Store. The app allows you to directly load images from your camera roll, drop box or your camera to make things even easier!

Now, what looks good against a purple polka dot background?

Related: 10 Apps That Can Make You Extra Money

5. Design Shots – Dribbble Client

Dribbble is a place for all designers to showcase any of their past and present work, and Design Shots is an application that allows you to quickly and easily browse these pieces of work on your iPhone or iPad. If you are looking for something inspiring then look no further than this app, with the ability to scroll through GIFs, images and designs with ease. You can even share your favourite artist’s work for viewing at home or elsewhere, allowing inspiration to stay with you throughout the day.

4. Skitch

Used by designers and lecturers alike, Skitch is a wonderful and simple way to share your thoughts and ideas visually with other people. Giving and receiving feedback is important, and with Skitch this is made very simple, by using annotations, sketches or even shapes you’re able to easily share your feedback with everyone else instantaneously. Skitch is a free download from the app store for your iPhone and iPad.

Let your ideas stand out!

3. Loose Leaf

Loose Leaf is a great way to share your sketches, ideas and annotations. This app utilises a cutting and cropping feature, allowing you to shape any photograph to your liking in a simple and functional way. Loose Leaf is essentially an old style white board fused into an iPad application, allowing drawings and images to be quickly thought up, drawn, edited and deleted in a convenient efficient manner. Now you have no excuses to write down or draw that idea that’s just popped into your head.

Let’s get our sketching on!!

2. Marvel

Marvel works in a very similar way to POP, in that you are able to quickly sketch something out on a piece of paper, photograph it and then interact with said drawing on your Apple device. Marvel also offers a collaborative working environment, allowing you to share your drawings/ideas with other Marvel users, even letting people comment on your work directly, giving you endless amounts of feedback (or constructive criticism). All your designs can be synced with your cloud storage devices, such as iCloud, DropBox or Google Drive, letting you access your drawings on the go, day and night.

Who says designing stuff has to be in an office?

1. Fontli

Fontli styles itself as being a type of social media for those of you interested in typography. Yes, this passion for fonts extends beyond boundaries even we thought didn’t exist. Fontli allows it’s users to photograph and upload weird and wonderful font types from any source, such as a store front sign or graffiti found in an urban area. Once uploaded, users will then tag what type of font it is, allowing people to better understand the type of font they have seen, and even allow them to independently look for similar fronts online at a later date. Fontli is available for free from the app store and compatible with your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch!

We think this app is Fontastic…..

If you liked this article please share it with your friends on Facebook and Tweet it to your followers below.

A lot of people may not know how integral to people’s lives these devices have become. This is probably true mostly for people who grew up during a time when the word “cell phone” would probably have been received similarly to the way the word “flying scooter” would be. It may be hard for some of those people to believe, but some folks take the use of their phones so seriously that they actually use them in accordance with a sort of unofficial etiquette that has evolved as the use of cell phones has exploded.

You may want to be aware of these potential faux pas when using your phone.

#1 Calling to reply to a text

Someone who sent you a text message is probably expecting a text message in response. If they wanted to actually talk to you, they would have called. For some people this behavior is acceptable, like your 84-year-old grandma, for example.

#2 Watch where you’re going

When you’re walking in a place where you are likely to encounter other people, it might be wise to not get too absorbed in whatever it is you are doing with your phone. Accidentally bumping into someone might get you a date in the movies, but seldom does that happen in real life.

#3 Ignoring people

This is undoubtedly on of the worst things you can do, particularly if you are in the company of someone who is not a big cell phone user. When you’re talking to someone, whether it be during lunch or just stopping for a quick chat, many people consider it rude to keep checking or responding to text messages on your phone.

#4 Rude ring

Phones have a “vibrate” function for a reason. There are times when it’s a very bad idea to have your cell phone ring. Some that come immediately to mind are while at church, a movie, a lecture or a funeral.

#5 Public speaking

The speaker function makes it a lot easier to talk with someone under certain circumstances, but one of them is not while in public. People having conversations while using the speaker on their phone in just about any public place can be quite annoying to those around them.

#6 Photo browsing

If someone hands you their phone to show you a photo, don’t assume they want you to start scrolling through their entire collection. There are virtually no limits to what people will take pictures of and store on their phone. Save both yourself and the owner of the phone from the embarrassment of seeing something you shouldn’t.

#7 Noisy games

Playing a game on your phone in public with the sound on is not a great way to impress people. Very few people want to hear those nifty sound effects that accompany your efforts to beat your previous score.

#8 Food as art

For some reason people just love to take photos of their food when they are dining out. Unfortunately, many of them want pictures of your food as well, and will actually ask you to hold off on taking that first bite until they get a chance to send it off to Instagram. Rude.

#9 Spoiling a free ride

If a friend is giving you a lift in their car, it’s probably not a great idea to talk to someone else on the phone the whole way. It might be excusable if you’re on the phone with your doctor giving him or her updates on your medical emergency, but other than that, pay attention to the friend who was nice enough to give you a ride.

#10 All hands

If someone holds their phone up to show you a picture, they will normally make it pretty clear if they want you to hold it yourself. Snatching a phone from someone when they show you something is not likely to be appreciated by the person doing the showing.

Watches can be as affordable or as luxurious as you want them to be, but with so many brands out there, it can be difficult to know which one is a good buy and which one isn’t. That’s why we’ve compiled this guide, so you can take a look at some of the most popular watch brands on the market without any hassle or fuss. Take a look below to find out more.

Rolex

Rolex is very famous among those who like to pay for quality. The brand itself is very prestigious and the price you’ll pay is in fact quite high, but at the end of the day this remains to be one of the most popular watch brands in the world and it has been for quite some time.

Patek Philippe

This brand is also very famous. It originated in Switzerland and the company was founded by two young men, Antony Patek and Adrine Phillipe. It is one of the oldest brands in the world and the style of the watch is incomparable to other brands on the market.

Citizen

This watch brand is incredibly famous but it can be purchased for a very affordable price. They are very long lasting and it is the leading brand in terms of sales and affordability.

Tag Heuer

This is another brand that is from Switzerland. It is very stylish and even though it does come with a bit of a price tag, it is still incredibly popular due to the crisp and unique designs that it comes in.

Seiko

This company actually designed the very first quartz watch and if you are a business owner then this is certainly the one for you. They aren’t expensive to buy, but they are sleek and incredibly professional to say the least.

Omega

Omega is nothing short of a masterpiece and if you think that you are going to be in zero gravity any time soon then you will be glad to know that this watch comes with a feature so it can still function. James Bond wears this watch and that alone is a deal breaker, right?

Mont Blanc

This is a reputable brand and it is the best seller on this list. The low price attracts plenty of people and it is a great choice for anyone who wants to look great every day of the week.

Hamilton

A lot of people trust Hamilton watches because of the quality and it is great for daily use. If you want a watch that won’t give out on you over the next couple of years then this is the one for you and it is widely found on the open market.

Bulova

This company also offers very reasonable prices and they have some of the finest watches around. This alone makes them one of the top brands and they are always releasing new products as well so you can be sure to find something that suits your requirements without having to look very hard at all.

Graphic design can be a very challenging task that can only be carried out using complex software. These kinds of software can really only run on powerful PCs which is usually a desktop computer or laptop. The best graphic design laptops aside from being powerful must also be flexible and handy as well. They must be powerful, be light in weight and portable. Here we list what we think are currently 6 of the best.

Apple MacBook Air MJVE2LL/A

Apple’s computers have always won the hearts of graphic designers with the simplicity and flexibility of their interface as well as the power of their processors. The Apple MacBook is currently sold in Pro and Air models with the Pro model ranking in power and the Air model ranking in portability.

The Air model is usually the pick for graphic designers who are always on the move and who have to work both at home and the office. This is as a result of its slim design and feather-weight. If you are a graphic designer who desires a flexible and portable laptop, then the latest Air model; Apple MacBook Air MJVE2LL/A 13.3-inch laptop is arguably the best you can get.

Because graphic design tasks require regular reading and writing of data saved to the drive, they require high-performance storage systems. This model of the MacBook Air is created with SSD which is very fast, responsive and very spacious with a 128GB storage capacity. The SSD, portability and other wonderful features of this laptop are what graphic designers will really appreciate.

Dell XPS9350-5340SLV QHD Touchscreen Windows 10 Laptop

The screen is one of the most important parts of a laptop for most graphic designers, hence, the most valuable tool to them will be a laptop with the best display features.

When it comes to choosing a laptop with the best display feature, the Dell XPS9350-5340SLV QHD laptop is up there with the best. First of all, it is very portable and light in weight, thereby becoming an ultraportable laptop that can easily be carried around. Secondly, it has a large screen despite its small size. The groundbreaking design of its infinity screen has proven that the size of a laptop doesn’t stop its screen from being adequately big. Thirdly, the display utilizes Ultra-Sharp QHD+ technology to enhance the large size impression of the screen. Apart from ensuring clarity and sharpness, it also enables the screen to function in a resolution of 3200 x 1800 pixels. Fourthly, touch screen mechanism is supported it its large screen. The touchscreen function lets a person easily drag and drop objects on the screen with the fingertips.

This Dell model is simply the best laptop when it comes to displaying features.

Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro Convertible Touch-Screen Notebook

Another very important task for graphic designers is the presentation of their projects. Even though every laptop can easily be connected to a projector, the only ones considered really suitable for presentations are those convertible ones that can take a stand position.

The Lenovo Yoga Pro 3 2-in-1 13.3-inch laptop is a convertible laptop that has a screen which can turn at an angle of 360 degrees. It is a 2-in-1 laptop that can be used as a tablet or a laptop. During a presentation, it can either be converted into a stand or a tent and offers an IPS touchscreen which is a bonus every graphic designer will find very useful.

Toshiba Satellite Fusion 15 L55W-C5259 for Graphic Design

Every graphic designer is very mindful of aesthetics. Since they produce beautiful things, it is no wonder they prefer to use tools that are appealing to the eye. The Toshiba Satellite Fusion 15 L55W-C5259 15.6-inch laptop is a great 2-in-1 laptop that is very attractive aside its dual function as a laptop and a tablet. Its IPS touchscreen brings awesomeness to everything displayed on it and its backlit frameless keyboard augments the elegance of the laptop’s interior. The laptop’s convertible build is also an asset for presentation and other computer related tasks.

HP Pavilion 6th Gen Skylake with FHD IPS Touchscreen

The importance of audio quality cannot be overlooked by graphic designers while working on their projects. These graphic design jobs are focused on visual content as well as audio quality. With this in mind, graphic designers generally only use laptops that are strong enough to run their apps and produce quality sounds at the same time.

The powerful Core i7-6700HQ processor and touchscreen functionality of the HP Pavilion 15.6-inch laptop have guaranteed it a spot on this list. This is a lovely gadget for every graphic designer who produces animations and other media projects requiring high-quality graphics animation.

ASUS Zenbook UX303UB Graphic Design Laptop

Another important factor in graphic design is the resolution. Ever considered the number of panels in application packages like Adobe Photoshop, 3D Max and several other CAD software packages? When a screen has a low-resolution scale, it always looks cramped as it is unable to contain all the panels. Only a machine with a high-resolution display can guarantee adequate coverage for all the panels.

The fact that the ASUS Zenbook QHD 13.3-inch laptop display is powered by the latest NVidia graphics card, and that it was built with a 6th generation i7 Skylake processor with high-resolution QHD (3200×1800) touchscreen makes it the perfect choice for graphic designers. With these features, it not only offers the finest visual coverage but also adds sleekness to every motion graphic displayed on its screen as a result of its sophisticated graphics card.

Will the iPhone 7 be better than the Galaxy S7? What will they have that their current version doesn’t have? Whilst unfortunately we doubt they’ll be able to do the washing up and tidy the bedroom (if only eh!), we’ve summarised below what we think will be some of the best released phones in 2016.

iPhone 7

Easily the most recognized smart phone, the upcoming iPhone 7 marks the start of our list. Although not yet confirmed, Apple routinely launches a new smart phone every year in September and since the iPhone 6 was upgraded to “s” last year, it’s a pretty safe assumption that this year will see the iPhone 7 coming out. It’s also a safe assumption that Apple will continue offering consumers two different-sized models of phones to choose from – the larger 5.5-inch model and the smaller 4.7-inch model.

So far, Apple hasn’t leaked much, but there are rumors that indicate they’ll be tougher and more waterproof than previous models. There are also predictions of screen resolution upgrades. An insider source has also suggested that the headphone socket may be ditched and replaced by the Lightning port. iOS 10 is set to be announced over the summer at WWDC, and so expect more information about the new Apple smart phones then.

Related: 11 of the Best iPhone Multiplayer Games

Samsung Galaxy S7

Apple’s biggest competitor takes the next spot on our list, and we’re predicting that the fierce competition will continue into 2016 as Samsung had some good success in 2015 with their innovative Edge smart phones and will undoubtedly maintain that momentum.

The exterior isn’t expected to see much change from the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, but the internal software is expected to get a nice upgrade. There have also been rumors indicating that they will introduce tougher materials for their new lineup, and that they will also be offering the phones in two different sizes.

Related: 11 of the Best iPhone Multiplayer Games

HTC One M10

We’re guessing that since the HTC One A9 wasn’t overly impressive in the eye of the public, they will be working extra hard to produce a model similar to that of other popular smart phones so they can get themselves back in the game.

So far, though, there isn’t much to go off of to make detailed predictions about their upcoming smart phone model HTC One M10 other than the HTC One A9. The only thing we can say with some confidence is that it’s going to make its appearance within the first quarter of 2016. It’s very possible that wireless charging will make it onto the list of features and significant improvements to the internal components are a pretty safe bet. It’s expected that the screen resolution will also get an upgrade from the 1080 x 1920 that we’ve seen from HTC in the past.

Related: 11 of the Best iPhone Multiplayer Games

Sony Xperia Z6

Although 2015 was a little rough for Sony when it came to their smart phone launches, we feel like the Xperia Z6 could help them get their foot back into the door in the smart phone market. We’re not anticipating any record-breaking sales numbers this year, but their Xperia range certainly rank among the most aesthetically pleasing phones on the market that have the internal power to back it up.

So far, we’ve heard rumors about no less than five different Xperia Z6 models to choose from, all of which will feature Sony’s own 3D Touch technology which is set to rival that of the iPhone. We’re expecting that these models will be dust and waterproof like previous models and that they’ll be something special since Sony is taking lots of time to release this model.

Related: 11 of the Best iPhone Multiplayer Games

LG G5

After the impressive LG G4 that we saw in 2015, they’ve got some pretty high expectations set on the LG G5 that’s likely going to be launched sometime in the next 12 months. We’re still waiting for the official confirmation of the release of this smart phone but we do expect it to be in February or March of 2016. We’re also guessing that this model will be helping Google with their Nexus initiative.

We’ve heard through the grapevine that the new model is going to have an all-metal, premium body, but the biggest upgrades will be to the integrated camera and the cards. One rumor indicates that it will feature an iris scanner which will allow you to unlock your phone without even touching it.

Related: 11 of the Best iPhone Multiplayer Games

We live in a world where mobile technology plays a major role in our lives- we use it to shop, learn, play, manage our money and communicate- as well as countless other things. In order to be able to use the very latest platforms to their full capacity, most of us understand that we’ll need to buy new devices every few years. But WhatsApp’s recent announcement that millions of phones will be unable to keep up with their latest version of software has come at an unfortunate time for those who are trying to look after the pennies with Christmas just around the corner. Changes in technology mean that many devices will no longer be WhatsApp compatible by the end of 2016, so if you want to be able to send your loved ones Christmas and New Year messages it’s a good idea to check your position before it’s too late.

With over a billion users across 180 countries, WhatsApp is the most popular messaging  service in the world. Since its launch in 2009, it’s gained popularity with everyone from confident IT professionals to technophobes for its simple user interface and inexpensive form of communication- unlike texting, it’s completely free to use if you have an internet connection. Sold to Facebook in 2014 for a staggering $22billion, it’s had a huge impact on how we communicate.

Not everyone has been a big fan of everything WhatsApp can do, though. The introduction of end–to-end encryption in April 2016 sparked controversy with many, including President Obama. Concerns were raised about how this new level of privacy would affect things like National security, and with everything hidden from the authorities there was a worry that paedophile rings and terrorist plots could easily be encouraged rather than stopped. Others believe it’s the most revolutionary communication platform ever created- it’s fast, personal and the group chat function allows us to say the things we wouldn’t necessarily want to on a public platform.

If you’re worried that it might be time to buy a new phone, here are the handsets that will no longer be compatible:

Apple

• iPhone: 3GS and any 4/4S, 5/5s that hasn’t been updated with iOS10
• Any iPad that was released prior to the 4^th Generation in 2012

(to check your current operating system and see if you can update your device go to Settings, General, then Software Update)

Android

• Any android devices using 2.1 or 2.2 software (made between May 2010 and November 2011)
• Android’s latest version, 7.0, aka Nougat is still not being used on many devices yet. Check in the settings menu

Windows

• Windows 7 phones – even Microsoft themselves stopped using this platform in 2014

There’s some good news for Blackberry and Nokia fans though- WhatsApp will still be accessible on all devices until June 2017.

With Christmas just around the corner, we think Santa might be visiting a lot of phone shops over the next couple of weeks…

Good Read: Best Smartphones of 2016

Apple has been hell-bent to eliminate all the wires from its products. There seems to be a method to this ‘cutting the cords’ madness.

In the earlier days it was pleasantly surprising to see the wires of Macbooks connected magnetically, which is a common feature now. This allowed it to detach harmlessly instead of taking the laptop down with it, in case someone tripped on it. It prevented your laptop going off the table in StarBucks, and crashing on the floor. After that a lot of standard ports started disappearing from the MacBook lines. It was an indication of the mindset inside the one infinite loop.

Then came the Wi-Fi iTunes Sync and also the AirDrop in the iPhone and the iPod touch. It seems they don’t like wires!

The soon-to-be-out AirPods, Apple’s wireless incarnation of the EarPods, are the latest proof that they really do not want any wires whatsoever. These $159-a-pair ear ornaments have decent technology, but I have a hunch that Steve Jobs would not have approved of the design. They look kind of incomplete, dangling in the ear, ready to fall off. But that’s just me.

iPhone 8 (2017)

Now there are rumors that next year’s iPhone 8 will have wireless charging built-in. Apple also has a few patents out for this kind of technology. It seems to fit the pattern here.

The Apple Watch, the over-hyped but moderately successful product, already has wireless charging built-in (through MagSafe), and it’s too early to tell whether the new iPhone coming out next year would employ the same wireless technology or not.

It is hard to believe but true that the iPhone was initially launched 9 years ago in 2007, when the best smartphone out there was a clunky Blackberry Bold. Next year is the 10th anniversary of the most successful product ever created by Apple, and they are bound to have a lot of new technologies in it.

If they are able to give a good battery life and take care of the portability factor (in case of wireless charging), I am all for it! It might not be that much exciting as the other rumors circulating, regarding the upcoming iPhone 8: An edge-to-edge display (bezel-free) with a software ‘Home’ button.