Samsung showed off its technical prowess by unveiling its highly anticipated Galaxy Foldable Smartphone. A welecome design change to the market in my opionion. I saw the new phone from a far. The display counter was chalked full of tech press waiting to get their hands on it.
The Korean Brand also showed off a closet steamer for clothing care. As a fashion editor, I gave it a thumbs up.
Stay tuned for more IFA highlights.
I'm still amazed how #smartphones designs continue to lack originality or brand individuality. At least with #Nokia there were exciting #designs & no data worries. #technology #techreview #connected #device #electronics #MondayMotivation #gadgets #Android #iphone pic.twitter.com/kDPIig6CGF
— BlackandPaper (@BlackandPaper1) April 8, 2019
What happened to mobile phone designs? New smartphone designs are the same. They completely lack style. If you have seen one, you have seen them all. I am looking forward when a tech brand breaks the current monotony.
Steven Jobs became a religious like figure in the world of tech. Credited with changing the way consumers view technology. His imprint on modern culture has been written. Introducing products that changed the way humans interact with each other. With every new gadget release legions of followers waited outside in rain, sleet, snow, or sun to be the first to get their hands on what would become the “must have” device. Apple became the first $1 trillion company in value mainly because of the iPhone. The company set the standard for consumer electronics morphing from a corporation to cultural.
As a person who has covered tech the fear mixed with awe of this brand is like like seeing a lion in the wild. Any type of critique met with bewilderment or a stare of a person who is mentally handicapped. I would say “one day Apple will not be on top”, “Rome fell, so can the house Steve built.” The company was a one trick pony. The iPhone boosted 60% of the brand’s profit, a pretty dangerous act for a multi product corporation without a back up plan. Few bothered to look beyond that simple detail because like all faiths, if you examining too closely the belief does not hold up to scrutiny.
January 2019, 5 days before CES in Las Vegas, the faithful got hit back into reality. The company issued a profit warning, the first since 2002, along with a 10% stock drop. Blaming slowing sales in China, trade wars, hurricanes, snowstorms, and volcanos. A case of pride goes before the fall combined with hubris. The privilege of success comes with a downside. Tim Cook, while no Jobs, is a affable, but facts are facts, Apple has been cruising for a long time. They forgot what made people desire their products. Cook is a corporate head, Jobs was a visionary with many flaws.
Instead of innovating the iPhone, the X series just costs a lot. This shocked me. Even the marketing campaign seemed dated from 2012. Who waits out in the cold for minor upgrade? Judging by the line consisting of 5 people at the store on the first day of sales, not a lot. The Apple watch, need I say more. I considered this wearable waste of resources, an ugly design with the excitement level of buying a new refrigerator. A substandard flawed product for a brand that once made the iPod. When a products best feature is it maybe or could help you prevent a heart attack. A glorified pacemaker. Calling June Allyson! Why not call an over the hill out of work actor to peddle it like Depend Diapers for seniors?
What products are in the pipeline? So far nothing trailblazing. An Apple streaming service to compete with Netflix. Content production is a different culture from producing hardware, just ask Sony. How did to come to this? Has Apple become a normal tech company with overpriced gadgets?
Apple can get its groove back by doing what it does best, being risky, inspiring or maybe making something other than an iPhone.
Counting down to IFA 2017 has started. The latest consumer electronic trends from connected homes, drones, smartphones, and vr are on the agenda.
Coverage starts September 30th from Berlin.
DxO One Camera
During IFA16 Week the Black and Paper caught with the founders of DxO One. Not an ordinary camera, the DxO One is a pocket size camera that connects with the iPhone. But do not let the size fool you. This is a powerful camera capable of producing professional images.
Designed around the philosophy of “The best camera is the camera you have with you” the DxO One delivers complex photo mechanics in a small frame. This is the first generation camera from the Paris/San Francisco based firm made up of engineers and photography enthusiasts.
As with other cameras in the category, the DxO One is compact making it easy to carry around but great lengths went into making it distinguished from other cameras in the small and light range.
Equipped with a 1 inch sensor and 20.2 megapixels means the camera can get details even in low light situations. The specially designed lens allows the user to play with depth of field and Brokeh effects of background and foreground blurring. Video Camera and Mic are included.
The iOS app is available for downloading on the iPhone along with updates. The touch control is simple to use. Overall the camera’s flexibility is advantageous for the user regardless of the situation from producing the perfect selfie to shooting videos at angles.
The DXO One has received raved reviews from Forbes, Wall Street Journal, and Digital Photo to name a few.
I asked the developers when the camera will be available for Android users. The response was “it is in development”.
A Black and Paper creative colleague used the camera during IFA. She fell in love with the DxO One. Her first impression from using the camera was the sharp picture quality.
The DXO One is available in stores and online including at Colette Paris.
German Press Days in Berlin for the presentation of the Spring 2017 collections.
Shoes and Sneakers
Menswear
Womenswear
Accessories
I used the new Huawei Nova Smartphone during the presentations. See my upcoming review on the device.
I have not seen the phone, this post is based on my reaction from the iPhone 7 press conference.
I still think the Apple Watch is a Hula Hoop of technology. A dated piece of hardware before you unbox at home. If you have $369 or 319 euros invest in a watch that will last more than a season or you will look as stylish as polyester bell bottom pants.
The iPhone 7. Is this product beginning to show its age? The brands strategy is an upgrade here and one there will be enough to please devotees. There are two categories of phones, the higher price 7plus with souped up cameras armed with 32 GB or 256B it feels like emotional blackmail to spend more money. Water resistant, dual speakers are nice features, the latter more so because the new smartphone has no headphone jack, comes with an headphone adapter, but $180 for the Apple wireless earbuds/Airpods is steep.
I know Apple is a cult of coolness with many faithful followers but this time I feel like the loyalty is being taken for granted. The more expensive iPhone 7 phone feels like a tacky status symbol, a parody of what it once was.
Acer has an interesting product line up this season from the ailing tech company, the brand introduced devices ranging from interacting toys for pets to a hyped up gaming pc.
The Pawbo is for pets lovers all over the world who feel guilty about their four legged friends alone. An interactive gadget is designed for pet interaction that can be controlled from a smartphone while away from home. It even offers treats.
The Xplova is a smart cycling computer with built in camera. It monitors speed and fitness levels.
Staying to its core strength, the brand introduced a new gaming pc, Predator 21 is with a curve monitor, is impressive.
New gaming technologies include infinite screen, eye tracking technology and intuitive sensing.
High-end home appliance maker Bosch’s theme is “Home Connected”. The man inside the refrigerator now has company, a camera. No more guessing what is on the self. Just check via a smartphone app. All appliances from the brand are locally produced with tight quality control procedures. If you buy a home appliance from the brand in the US. It was produce in the US.
Panasonic is investing in “Future Living” and smart cities as the company has become involved in sustainability eco-friendly services and technology on city size scale. In Berlin there company is involved in building a smart city in the Aldershof District with an emphasis on people and connectivity.
Laundroid is a appliance device that washes, dry, and folds clothing. Available soon!
Samsung proves why it is still the top brand in the android world. The Galaxy 7 smartphone is impressive with pen and user interaction. Very smooth interface and great camera. There is also a retina scan ID feature.
The new Gear 3 smartwatch comes in two styles, one classic, the other is sporty, using Tizan Operating System, has 4GB internal storage with battery life of up to 4 days depending on usage. There are two buttons, the home and back with a rotating bezel for scrolling and navigating applications, also different digital faces with a continuing display. The display/face is 1.3 inches. The casing is a bit thick. There is an option to change bands.
Looking forward to IFA16, the world’s biggest consumer tech show, in Berlin we decided to produce a spontaneous shoot at the NHow Hotel Berlin. Technology is a part of everyday life. How did we survive without it? These are the basic necessities of life.
Images by Gita Kurdpoor shot at the NHow Hotel on a sunny day by the Spree River.
