Bump

Have you guys tried the bump app before? It is a file sharing app that lets you share files between smart phones. It started modestly as a way to exchange your own contact information between two phones, and grew until it can even share multiple files.

Among other files that can be transferred are social network pages (Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn), photos, other people's contact (with pictures) and even files in your smartphones that is 20mb and lower.

It works like magic. All you have to do is to turn on your Internet, may it be 4G, 3G or even Wi-Fi, and turn on approximate or precise location to make the transfer. Following is the video that might help you understand how it works.

With the new updates, now bump can also work with computers. You can now transfer files from a smartphone to a computer and vice versa. No more wires, bluetooth, IR (anyone still using this?) needed to transfer files between a smartphone and a computer. Here is an instruction video about it.

It's like magic. I was pretty amazed when I first tried to bump between phones, and left with awe when the first time I used it to transfer a phone to a computer. When I demonstrated to my friend on how it works, he said "how did they do it? how? how?".

However, after reading FAQs and everything, it all makes sense. Why didn't I think of it before. The app is very original and very very useful. It diminishes the purpose to add NFC onto a phone (unless you want to use NFC for payment of course).

Google has recently bought bump and bump CEO has announced the joining on 16 September 2013. I wonder what Google can add to the table. Perhaps Google Maps, Google+? Here are the links for those who wants to try bump. Android (link) and iOS (link).

Apple Special Event 22 Oct 2013 Review

I have been busy the whole day. Just managed to watch the keynote from Apple. Almost all the things that I expected (link) to be launched on the day are there in the keynote. However some of my predictions were not quite right.

Things that happened:

• OS X 10.9 Mavericks launch.
• New 13" retina MacBook Pro with Intel Haswell chips.
• New 15" retina MacBook Pro with Intel Crystalwell chips.
• Mac Pro will launch by December 2013.
• iPad Air.
• iPad mini with Retina display.
• New iWork and iLife.

OS X 10.9 Mavericks was launched, with all the features that Apple promised. It is available for free. I just can't wait to get my hands on it. I'm still halfway downloading it. Another 2 1/2 hours before I can get to play with the new OS.

There were also announcement of iLife and iWork that I don't care so much. It is a good feature, however you'll only get it for free if you bought a new Mac or iDevice. For someone like me, I won't get the iWork for free for the time being.

I was quite surprised when Apple didn't drop the thick MacBook Pro lineup once and for all. (There is one type of 13" still available for purchase). I was more surprised to see that iPad 2 is still on the iPad lineup! That is good, but I was hoping that iPad 4 is the one that should be a cheap iPad. 

I'm quite disagree with the "iPad Air" naming. It goes out from the convention, and it is not thin enough to be called an "Air". I didn't get my hands on the device yet, but I might retract my statement once I feel the lightness of the product.  

I realised that there is no touch ID available in the iPad lineup. I can see the reasoning behind that. It's just that iPhone is a personal device (thus privacy), while iPads are usually shared with other people, therefore it would be difficult to register everybody's thumb print in it.

Now, the new Mac Pro. Some says it looks like Darth Vader's ash tray. I don't hate the design, but I'm afraid someone would try to throw a paper cup onto it because they might mistaken it with a dustbin. If I have a lot of money, that might be my target just for the sake of wanting one. However I don't think I really need that much processing power. Sour grapes? I hope not.

Well, I think that rounds up the review for today. Don't forget to rush into an Apple store as soon as possible.

Apple Special Event 22 October 2013 Preview

Apple is going to hold another event this year. With a kind of lukewarm acceptance of its September event, Apple surely needs to up their gameplan and show a brighter future of their products and ultimately their company.

Rumours have it that this time they have to show some things that they've introduced during their summer 2013 event. On top of it, they are expected to release new things that is approaching the end of their life cycle. 

The things that they've introduced during the summer developer's event was Mac Pro, and the new Apple OS X 10.9 Mavericks (link). Those two are most likely to show up this time. People are also expecting updates to other lineups too, such as the MacBook Pro, iPad, iPad mini, displays and even Mac Mini. Apple ditches numbering to their products, therefore it is most likely that the new iPads will be called iPad and iPad mini instead of iPad 5 and iPad mini 2 respectively.

That is quite a lot. No wonder the catchphrase they use in the invitation is "We still have a lot to cover". MacBook Pro and retina MacBook Pro are more likely to get an Intel Haswell update. There is also a possibility that Apple will ditch non-retina MacBook Pro lineup once and for all. It is plausible, but might welcome boos from the audience.

The new iPad and iPad mini might get the Touch ID sensor just like the newly launched iPhone 5s. The iPad mini might also get a retina display, even though that might slightly add to the difficulty for the developers having to program for several sizes of iDevice screens. However, if that's what people want, I think Apple would follow through. 

I'm not sure about the displays and the Mac mini update. However I'm very keen with the Mac Pro update. I've thought (day dreamt) about the similar thermal design before, but never put it onto paper. Then I totally forgot about it. I hope the Mac Pro would be successful, not like their discontinued iCube.

I think that's about it. Now I can't wait for the release of OS X 10.9 Mavericks and the Mac Pro! What about you?