Top Bananas | Monthly Archives: August 2018

Wearable Computers Used to Track Chronic Health Conditions

Posted on August 30, 2018 by admin Posted in Hardware, Medical Leave a comment

What it is: Users track chronic health issues with wearable computers.

When Apple first released the Apple Watch, many people couldn’t see a need for one. Over time, Apple Watch users have found the best uses for their device and that involves real-time health tracking. Because a wearable computer can monitor a user’s health without the user’s constant interaction, the Apple Watch can easily monitor health symptoms and store this data for analysis.

Using data collected by the popular health app Cardiogram, researchers noticed that a vast majority of real-time health tracking isn’t just for improving health such as athletes might need, but for managing and tracking chronic health conditions. In other words, if you currently have a serious health condition, a wearable like the Apple Watch can help you monitor your condition so it doesn’t suddenly get worse.

For anyone still confused as to the purpose of the Apple Watch, they just need to protect their health. That’s a simple explanation for why someone might want an Apple Watch that anyone can understand. You might not need an Apple Watch to make phone calls (but it can be handy to have a phone strapped to your wrist, especially for the elderly who may fall down). You might not need an Apple Watch to play games, but you might want an Apple Watch to help you monitor your current health conditions so they don’t get worse.

Protecting your health and monitoring it in real-time is the main use for the Apple Watch. If you’re not interested in your health, then you probably don’t need anything else either from medicine and diagnosis machines to wearable computers like the Apple Watch. If you’re like most people who do care about your health, the Apple Watch can literally be a life saver.

Why People Switch Between Android and iOS

Posted on August 29, 2018 by admin Posted in Software, User Interface Leave a comment

What it is: PC Magazine surveyed Android and iPhone users to see why they might switch to a rival operating system.

PC Magazine recently took a survey to find out why people switched mobile operating systems (Android and iOS). Not surprisingly, the results reflected the general consensus about both operating systems.

Android users often switched to iOS for a better user experience (47%). On the other hand, iPhone users often switched to Android to get better prices on a smartphone (29%). As a general rule, iOS and the iPhone is less of a hassle to use while Android devices offer greater variety and lower prices.

Basically, if you value money and don’t mind putting up with inconvenience, pick a rival product. If you can afford it and don’t want to deal with annoying nuisances, then pick an Apple product.

This general finding works for smartphones and computers. Most people choose Windows PCs because they’re cheaper and upgradeable. Most people choose a Macintosh even though they cost more and have fewer expandability features because they prefer the simplicity and reliability of the Macintosh over Windows.

Most people choose Android because of cost and variety. Yet that same cost and variety means Android users need to be more knowledgeable about hardware to get the best deals. For people who don’t want to hassle with researching different devices and simply want a smartphone, it’s easier just to choose an iPhone since most Android devices mimic the iPhone anyway.

Apple continues targeting the high-profit end of the market while rival products (Android and Windows) are more attractive to bargain hunters. Generally, computers and smartphones work mostly alike so it’s largely a matter of personal preference which one you like best.

The Dying iPad Mini

Posted on August 28, 2018 by admin Posted in Hardware Leave a comment

What it is: Apple hasn’t updated the iPad mini 2015.

The iPad defined the tablet category and killed Microsoft’s Tablet PC concept. While people quickly snatched up the iPad when it first appeared, sales of the iPad started to dip and smaller tablets started catching on. That’s when Apple released the iPad mini, which quickly became the most popular iPad model.

Yet the iPad mini has a problem. The iPhone keeps getting bigger, which makes the iPad mini less appealing. Apple keeps expanding the size of the iPad while also lowering the cost of the regular size iPad. that puts the iPad mini squarely in the middle of the larger iPhone and the cheapest larger iPad. So why would anyone want an iPad mini?

At first, the iPad mini was the perfect size until the iPhone screen got larger and the regular size iPad got cheaper. For people who wanted to pay a little more, they could get a larger iPad. For people who wanted a small screen to carry around, they could get a larger iPhone.

Since 2015, Apple has let the iPad mini languish and there are no hints that it will ever be updated again. Apple likely wants to drive people to buying the more expensive iPhone or iPad Pro so the future of the iPad mini looks doubtful.

If you have an iPad mini, keep it as a collector’s item. Perhaps in the future, it will be a novelty and worth far more tomorrow than it is worth today. If you don’t have an iPad mini, there’s little point in buying one since the components in the last iPad mini are woefully out of date.

The future of the iPad is towards larger and more expensive tablets so Apple can make a larger profit on each one. The iPad mini was simply a novelty product that found a profitable niche temporarily before fading from view forever.

iOS 12 Beta 11 Out

Posted on August 27, 2018 by admin Posted in Software Leave a comment

What it is: Apple released iOS 12 beta 11 just three days after releasing beta 10.

Want to know when the next iPhone is coming out? It’s as simple as tracking Apple’s iOS beta program. On Friday, Appel released iOS 12 beta 10. Now on Monday, just three days later, Apple released iOS 12 beta 11. With such a rapid uptake in beta versions, it’s safe to say that Apple is readying iOS 12 for the public after ironing out the major bugs.

Since Apple is releasing iOS 12 betas so rapidly, it might be tempting to install the beta. Don’t, unless you have a spare device. Just because a beta is getting close to release doesn’t mean that it’s actually stable. You don’t want to lose your current data such as photographs or messages. Backup your iPhone or iPad and then install the beta if you must, but with so many betas coming out in rapid succession, that means the final release is due soon, possibly as early as the first week of September.

Therefore it pays to wait and not rush into using iOS 12 beta just to get a week’s advance notice before the final version comes out. If you’re really tempted, simply read about the latest features and then install the final version of iOS 12 when it’s available. You’ll spare yourself heartache by skipping the betas but even then, always make backups. Your backups are the only lifeline you have keeping you from total disaster.

Numbers – the Forgotten Spreadsheet

Posted on August 24, 2018 by admin Posted in Software Leave a comment

What it is: Numbers is Apple’s spreadsheet available as part of the iWork office suite.

Most companies use Microsoft Office, which means you need to edit and create Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents. For people who need to do this regularly, they might as well use Microsoft Office. For people who don’t need Microsoft Office compatibility but still want to use an office suite, they might as well try the free iWork office suite instead.

Hardcore spreadsheet users will always rely on Excel, but although Numbers may not be as powerful as Excel, it can actually be easier to use. One huge advantage of Numbers is that Excel creates an entire screen of rows and columns. When you design a spreadsheet, you wind up with numerous empty rows and columns cluttering up the screen.

Numbers, on the other hand, lets you create spreadsheets only as large as you need them. Then the rest of the screen can be filled with charts or even other spreadsheets. Where Excel forces you to work within the fixed widths of columns, Numbers let you create separate spreadsheets on a single page that can have wildly different column widths.

If you’ve never used a spreadsheet before and don’t need to use one professionally at work, then Numbers can be more than enough. It makes creating and using a spreadsheet simpler than Excel. You can always import and export Excel spreadsheets if necessary, but Numbers will never be an Excel clone.

The bottom line is that if you need Excel, use Excel. If you don’t need Excel, try Numbers before buying Excel. With Numbers, you might find a free spreadsheet that’s easier to use than Excel.

To learn more about the features in Numbers, click here.

Apple Pay Donations to National Parks

Posted on August 23, 2018 by admin Posted in Business, Software, User Interface Leave a comment

What it is: From August 24 to August 31, Apple will donate $1 to the National Parks Foundation for certain purchases made through Apple Pay.

Apple Pay offers a secure way to purchase items through a credit card. However, adoption of Apple Pay has been slow because learning to use Apple Pay requires a new way of thinking beyond pulling out a credit card and sticking it in a machine. Although security is crucial, it’s not a major reason why people change their habits. That’s why Apple needs other ways to promote Apple Pay to the public.

So from August 24 to August 31, for every purchase made through Apple Pay at any Apple Store, on Apple.com, or through the Apple Store app for iPhone and iPad in the United States, Apple will donate $1 to the National Park Foundation, the official charity of the U.S. National Park Service. The goal is to make more people aware of Apple Pay and give them a reason to use it. Once people use it once, they’ll be more likely to use it again.

Apple needs to offer further incentives to use Apple Pay to increase adoption. The fewer merchants who have your credit card number, the fewer places hackers will be able to steal your credit card number. For people who understand security, adopting Apple Pay makes sense. For everyone else who needs a compelling reason to change their buying habits, perhaps this National Parks Foundation donation can be the first of many steps in getting people to start using Apple Pay for their own sake.