Copy files between Mac and iOS device using AirDrop

Except for my iPhone 5S, I haven't upgraded the operating system of my mobile devices to iOS 8 yet. Maybe not yet until all the earlier hiccups are de-bugged.

But this would be handy once I've decided to upgrade. I'll keep this for my future reference.

AirDrop was introduced in the iOS 8

With Yosemite, Apple has tried to make it easier for you to move files between devices. This is something we've been able to do with File Sharing between Macs and PCs, but now we have the option to move files between Macs and iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches running iOS 8. 

This is how it works.

On your iOS device running iOS 8 or later, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. You'll see an AirDrop entry. Tap on it and you have three options -- Off, Contacts Only, and Everyone.

• Off means, that this device will be invisible to others using AirDrop. 
• If someone who've you added as a contact on your iOS device would like to transfer a file, they can when you select Contacts Only. 
• The Everyone option lets anyone use it. We'll choose Everyone. 

Now let's move to the Mac.

On your Mac, open a Finder window and select AirDrop. Anyone around you using the same Wi-Fi network that has AirDrop enabled for Everyone (or if you're in their contacts) will appear. To copy a file from the Mac to the device, just drag the file on top of their icon. The recipient will be asked if they want to accept or decline the transfer. When they accept, the file is copied to their device.

To go in the other direction -- from iOS device to Mac -- select AirDrop on the Mac and configure the Allow me to be discovered by option. Let's choose Everyone. For this to work we must keep this window open as that tells others that we're open to an AirDrop transfer.

On the iOS device, choose a file that you want to transfer, tap on the Share menu, and you should see the person or device you wish to transfer the file to. Tap on their image and the file will start to transfer. The person receiving the file can choose to save or open the file, decline it, or save it. The received file will appear in the Mac's Downloads folder.

That's it.

For a complete and illustrated guide on how to do this, go to Mac Basics: AirDrop lets you send files from your Mac to nearby Macs and iOS devices

Reference: Computerworld Malaysia 

Official pricing of iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C in Malaysia

The latest iteration of the iPhone will only be available in Malaysia on November 1, but that does not stop people from speculating the launch prices of the two variants - iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C.

UPDATED: Apple Store Malaysia has published its pricing and the prices are exactly as what appeared on Technocrats (one of the Authorised Apple Resellers) website.

This is the iPhone 5S official pricing:

iPhone 5S, 16GB - RM2,399.00
iPhone 5S, 32GB - RM2,749.00
iPhone 5S, 64GB - RM3,149.00


Source: Technocrats. These appear to be RM200 more expensive than the iPhone 5 when it was launched.


iPhone 5C pricing

iPhone 5C would not be that 'affordable' afterall as it will not be going below RM1,500. The colourful iPhone prices are as follows:

iPhone 5C, 16GB - RM1,999.00
iPhone 5C, 32GB - RM2,399.00

Source: Technocrats

Most of your local retailers and resellers will have them next week, so, check them out.

Apple announced new, thinnest iPad Air

Apple has announced the next iteration of its premium tablet, the iPad Air.


With thickness of just 7.5mm this could the thinnest full-sized tablet around

It claimed that the iPad Air is thinner, lighter and more powerful, befitting the new name. And the new tablet weighs just one pound (469 g), down from the fourth-gen model's 1.4 pounds (652 g). It also boasts a 43% thinner bezel and a 20% thinner profile. 

It is 8 times faster than the first-gen iPad, and graphics are 72 times faster. 

Thanks to MIMO, you should enjoy faster WiFi, and expanded LTE support from international carriers as well. So, this should be LTE compatible in Malaysia.

As expected, the new iPad Air sports a 9.7-inch Retina display with 64-bit architecture on board with more than 1 billion transistors, and there's an A7 processor under the hood along with an M7 motion chip.


iPad Air specifications and comparison

To have some idea of how this one differs from the previous iteration, here is the comparison:


Apart from faster processor and lighter body, there's not much to shout about.

Will I upgrade now?

Probably no. I'm happy with how my current iPad 3 perform, it serves the intended purpose and I have little complaint with its overall performance. Besides, iOS 7 works fine under the hood.

I'll wait for the next generation.

iPhone 5S, 5C to launch in Malaysia on November 1

Good news for iPhone lovers. iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C will be available in Malaysia starting Novermber 1, 2013 according to recent Apple press release.



Apple announced that the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C will be available in 35 new countries on October 25 and in another 16 countries on November 1.

Countries such as South Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Thailand are among the 35 countries that will get the new iPhones slightly earlier than Malaysia on October 25, which is about one away:-

Launch Date	Countries
October 25	Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, French West Indies, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and Thailand.
November 1	Albania, Armenia, Bahrain, Colombia, El Savador, Guam, Guatemala, India, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and UEA.

Major telcos have updated their websites indicating availability of the devices at launch date and you can view them here:

• Celcom
• Maxis
• DiGi

No official pricing yet at the time this article was written but you can expect the iPhone 5S to be marketed here starting at RM2,199 (16GB) as posted here.

If you would like to purchase from the official Apple Store, the pricing there looks good and is according to the officially-released prices. You can also purchase from re-sellers but from my previous experience, they would increase the prices up to RM300 more than the recommended retail price, RRP.

If you are in Sabah, you can purchase it at the actual RRP at Technocrats, one of the few premium re-sellers in Malaysia.


TheGreenMechanics: Have fun with your new toy!

New Apple iPhone 5S price in Malaysia

How much would the new iPhone 5S cost in Malaysia?

In the US, unlocked price for the iPhone 5S was announced ten days after its official launch on September 10, 2013. T-Mobile contract-free prices for the the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB are $649, $749 and $849, respectively.

Some say the new iPhone 5S is awesome from the inside, not from the outside

Closer to home, the iPhone 5S is now available in Singapore at the following retail prices:

16GB : S$988.00
32GB : S$1,148.00
64GB : S$1,288.00

A direct conversion of Singapore prices to Malaysian Ringgit would give us a price range of between RM2,502 and RM3,262 which is quite unbelievable.


iPhone 5S Malaysia prices

It has not been announced yet but from past experience, prices for Malaysia market are most likely to be as follows (at current exchange rate):

16GB : RM2,199.00
32GB : RM2,499.00
64GB : RM2,799.00

I won't confirm this but I'm quite certain of the Malaysia pricing. Stay tuned, this space will be updated when the official pricing is announced. Bear in mind though, that retailers other than Apple Store will start selling the sets at RM200 higher.


Compare specifications of the new iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C and old iPhone 5 here.

Apple announced premium iPhone 5S, together with iPhone 5C for the budget conscious

As expected, and rumoured for a long time, Apple unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the iPhone 5S (premium) and iPhone 5C (lower-priced). I was looking at replacing my still-working iPhone 4S and was hoping that Apple has something special up its sleeves.

iPhone 5S looks identical to the older sibling, iPhone 5

A bit disappointing to see the just-a-refresh iPhone 5S as it is basically an iPhone 5 with some sprucing up on operating system and tweaking on the processor. Then again, people say the iPhone 5S is a stunning phone from the inside, not from the outside.

Yeah, maybe it is to some extent. The 64-bit CPU architecture and the re-written iOS 7 operating system is a consolation.

iPhone 5C for the budget conscious. But is it really affordable?

Comparing the iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C and the retired iPhone 5

If you go into details, the newly announced iPhone 5S is not so much different from its predecessor. How so? Here is how:

Credit to Tobey of The Washington Post

But if you've been one to fancy colourful choices, you are in for a treat. The iPhone 5C comes in 5 different colours - white, yellow, green, blue and pink.




Verdict: I've been anticipating a radical change from Apple by introducing iPhone 6 with slightly bigger screen, like 4.3" or 4.5", not just a refreshed iPhone 5S. I like them to maintain the form factor for now.

The display seems like a deal breaker for me, for now. But we'll see when it land on our shore. Like I mentioned earlier, I'm looking at replacing my 4S, so, it's an eager wait for me.


Price of the iPhone 5S? Expect a similar pricing with the iPhone 5: RM2,299 in Malaysia for the 16GB variant and ramp up as the storage gets bigger.

Apple launching iPhone 5S and another cheaper model: Report

Consumers will get to lay their hands on the new Samsung Galaxy S4 anytime now. Specs-wise, I must admit it is very impressive and I might be tempted to change side. Maybe.

In a bid to increase the company's market share and to catch up with Android-based mobile phone sales, Apple is said to be launching 2 new models of its flagship iPhone, one of which is dubbed iPhone 5S.

Apple is set to launch its next flagship smartphone this summer: Wall Street Journal

As at end-February 2013, Android-based phones dominates the market with more than half of the share, at least in the US:

Android smartphone sales  : 51.2%
Apple iPhone                    : 43.5%
Windows phones              : 4.1%
BlackBerry                       : 0.7%


Apple launching two iPhones this summer

A report in the Wall Street Journal claims that production of the next iPhone, dubbed the iPhone 5S, has already begun in time for its official unveiling this summer and that it will be joined by a cheaper version of the smartphone in order to increase the company's existing market share.

Rumours about both devices have been flying around since the end of 2012. However, when something appears in the Wall Street Journal or Bloomberg, it is taken seriously because, as well as a reputation for secrecy, Apple also has a reputation for 'leaking' stories to those two papers.

Unsurprisingly, unnamed sources reported in the article appear to confirm stories that first started circulating at the beginning of 2013 that suggested the next iPhone would simply be an incremental update of the existing flagship, but that it would be joined by a cheaper model - likened in appearance to an iPod Classic - aimed at emerging markets where Apple's premium price is still a hurdle to growing market share.

News that the next handset will be an incremental improvement will no doubt disappoint any number of analysts and investors who have been calling for the company to innovate for the past 12 months and in the process have driven the company's share price down by more than 50%. In particular, Forrester CEO George Colony will feel very let down.

Despite admitting that he knows very little about the technological mastery involved in achieving such a goal, he took to his Counterintuitive CEO blog this week and, within a post entitled "Apple's Foldable Future," called on Apple to make a seamless folding iPhone that opened out into a paper-thin widescreen tablet and that had a full-body screen without a bezel. - ©AFP/Relaxnews 2013

Source: TechCentral


TheGreenMechanics: More choices for consumers and hopefully cheaper, too.

Available now: iPhone 5 price in Malaysia - RM2,199

iPhone users looking to upgrade their handset in Malaysia can now do so with the announcement of its availability here today. I saw it in my mailbox and I thought I should share it with other readers.

The official pricing is out and it starts at RM2,199 for the 16GB variant.

The price start at exactly as I have predicted in my iPhone 5 pricing Malaysia article. The following is the official prices from Apple-store Malaysia:

Variant       Price
16GB   -    RM2,199
32GB   -    RM2,499
64GB   -    RM2,799

Just in case Apple decided to take down their pricing page in the future, here is the snapshot of the colour choices and prices:

You may also be interested to read:

1) iPhone 5 pricing in Malaysia - earlier prediction/extrapolation
2) New iPhone 5 is here. Should you upgrade from 4S? - comparing it with Samsung's

iPad Mini price in Malaysia: RM999

It was a pleasant surprise! The price starts at RM999.00, who could have predicted that?

iPad mini is here and Apple-store Malaysia has released the official prices for Apple's latest mini slab. Contrary to the earlier estimation that was based on UK and US prices, the iPad mini is priced more competitively:

iPad Mini prices:

Wi-Fi	US	Malaysia
16GB	$329	RM999
32GB	$429	RM1,299
64GB	$529	RM1,599
Wi-Fi + Cellular
16GB	$459	RM1,399
32GB	$559	RM1,699
64GB	$659	RM1,999

Still, it is priced more than Google Nexus 7 and Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0), but I would say the 16GB + Cellular variant is very close to Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0), which is selling for RM1,299. 

Check out this gadget at official Apple.store:

According to the official store, delivery is within 2 weeks but I'm quite sure your local retailers would be able to deliver them faster (in some cases).

iPad Mini launched & Prices

Apple Inc. unveiled the new tablet half the size of the existing iPad called "iPad Mini" on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012. Measured diagonally at 7.9 inch, it is obvious that it is aimed at competing with Kindle Fire and Google's Nexus 7.

iPad currently is the king of the tablet world, and it is evident the Mini iPad is made to dominate the 7-inch segment of the fast growing tablet market.

Not really a 7-inch tablet but looks easy on the hand.

iPad Mini build

The rounded edges reminds you of the iPhone 3G. Thickness (or rather thinness) is 7.2mm and weight is 308g. This means that the mini version is 23% thinner than the big iPad and weighs at half of the bigger sibling. The volume and screen-rotation lock buttons have moved to the right-hand side. Not a big deal to me, just a bit of getting use to.

Screen

The 7.9-inch display is LED-backlit. Because it is at almost 4:3 ratio it looks more squarish when compared to the bigger iPad. Screen resolution is 1024x768 at 163ppi which is similar to that of the iPad 2. Check out the picture below.

Camera

Main camera is iSight 5MP similar to the one on iPad 3. There is stabilization on video camera so it should be easier to take picture. Taking picture with the iPad 3 is easy, I expect it would be better with the smaller iPad.

Battery

Announced as up to 10 hours of surfing the web on WiFi, watching video, or listening to music. If you are on cellular data network, you can surf up to 9 hours. Of course, these are always based on ideal conditions but with my current iPad 3, I'm happy with the battery performance.


iPad Mini performance

The iPad Mini is using the A5 dual-core chip, similar to the one found in iPad 2. In comparison, the new iPad 3 is using dual-core A6X with quad-core graphics chip.

Heck, who'll be able to tell how it perform if one hasn't even fiddle with the slab for at least a day or two. But the mini is loaded with LTE which means faster communication through 4G network (in selected countries). Don't put your bet on that to happen very soon in Malaysia though. We have 4G here but there is still that nagging compatibility issues.

For gaming and ease of use, you will have to wait for early adopters to come out with their comments.

Will you go for it?

While it is too early to hand down a verdict, there is one obvious reason why people would pass this one: Prices are way too high! Base model starts from $329 / £269 (possibly RM1,299) and the top end 64GB WiFi + Cellular will set you back $659 / £529 (possibly RM2,599).

It's a big hindrance as Google's Nexus 7 is only $199 (RM600) and Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) at RM1,299. I am comfortable with my iPad 3, with the 9.7-inch display being just what I need to complement my smaller smartphone. I think I'll keep my saved cash for a newer iPad.

Scaled comparison of the iPad Mini with the bigger siblings. 

iPad Mini prices:

Wi-Fi	US	UK
16GB	$329	£269
32GB	$429	£349
64GB	$529	£429
Wi-Fi + Cellular
16GB	$459	£369
32GB	$559	£449
64GB	$659	£529

Malaysia prices? Check this site again soon, we'll make some interpolation and put our best prediction for Malaysia market.

The new iPhone (iPhone 5) is almost here

That's September 12.

And the Cupertino electronic giant is suggesting it will finally be a "5". Many expected the 4S to be a much redefined iteration when it was announced late last year, only to be (disappointed, are you?) with the same '4' with dual-core processor, a Siri and a better camera (8MP) as additional features to the squarish slab.

Today is September 11, so, That's tomorrow!

☺ UPDATES, UPDATES: ☺ 
1) Now that the iPhone 5 is here. Should you upgrade from iPhone 4S?
2) iPhone 5 prices in Malaysia?


No doubt the new iPhone 5 would catapult Apple sales but for now let's see some statistics for crunch. In the tablet market the iPad is still the king. But in the smartphone business, Samsung mobile phones remained the most popular in the US with 25.6% of the market (as at the end of July):

Samsung    - 25.6%
LG             - 18.4%
Apple         - 16.3%

Smartphones powered by Google's Android software continued to dominate the US market and elsewhere in the world. This is a case of 'open-source' Android versus propriety iOS system:

Android     - 52.2% (US market)
iOS           - 33.4%
Others      - 14.4% (Windows, Syambian, etc)

The iPhone progression: Nothing much has changed.

In order to achieve the much-talked 4" display, the iPhone 5 is said to become longer but no change in the width. How ugly could that be? But wait. The iPhone is always full of surprises. Let's see tomorrow if it is a pleasant one.

For now I am a happy user of the 4S.

20 MW Apple's NC Solar Farm?

Read the title or mention Apple and you immediately think about iPhone and iPad. You are not to blame for such alignment. In fact, to the people outside of the US these two products are the closest they could relate the blooming company to. Little known is Apple's green initiative for sustainable energy source in solar PV. The company is initiating a solar farm in North Carolina.

Mention Samsung to anyone anywhere in the world and chances are the person knows at least one or two of their telecommunication products. Apple and Samsung are two electronics giants that are shaping the way we communicate today. In their own right, they should be the front-runners in terms of sending the go-green message to the world. Let's look at how environmental-friendly they are.

Samsung's Green initiatives

Samsung Electronics' green initiatives are enveloped in its company-wide commitment called PlanetFirst^TM, a commitment to become one of the world’s most environmentally friendly companies by 2013.

Samsung's green initiatives. Click image for large view.

In order to make this commitment a reality, Samsung targeted four specific areas: reducing greenhouse emissions, offering more eco-friendly products, building eco-management partnerships around the world, and investing in eco-friendly R&D design facilities. Obviously, this is a huge project, but we are proud to share some of the outcomes - by samsungtomorrow.

Check out Samsung's PlanetFirst™ short video clip here.

To summarise things for this company, Samsung Electronics' Green Initiative have accumulated green management investment to a total of US$1.90billion since 2009.

Apple's 20MW Solar Farm?

While Samsung focus its green initiatives on products and procedures, Apple seem to be a step ahead in harnessing renewable energy to power up its operations.

RenewableEnergyWorld carried a report in its magazine revealing Apple's plan for a big solar project at its new data farm in North Carolina.

In February,  Apple disclosed plans to partly power its giant new data farm in Maiden, NC, with a 20 megawatt (MW) solar system. Also part of the plan is a smaller fuel cell system. Early March, there was a new filing with the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) that lays out more details about the proposed 100-acre project, including size, possible cost, and the main technology supplier.

Some of the information that can glean from the publicly available NCUC documents, filed under "SP-1642/Sub 0" are as follows:-

Size and scope: 
No of installations: 14 PV installations, though the final number is yet to be determined.
PV modules:  E20 435-watt photovoltaic modules, rated at 20% efficiency
Energy output: Planned  for 20MWl.

Timeline: 
Expected to start delivering power to the grid as early as October 2012,
Whole installation to go online by December 31.

What's not said:

The documents don't directly get into costs either for Apple or Duke, except to say that there will be no discernable impact on Duke Energy's expansion plans or costs. For Apple, all it reveals is that the project will be self-financed from both current assets and ongoing operations, and represents "less than a quarter of a percent of positive cash/securities balance." However, in Apple's latest public filing as of Sept. 2011 (also listed in the NCUC docs) that cash/securities number is listed as $97 billion, so 0.0025 percent out of that is roughly $242 million - source: RenewableEnergyWorld.com

TheGreenMechanics says: I believe it's their noble intention

Both Samsung and Apple have so far shown interest and investment (read commitments) in ensuring sustainable working environment, and products.  

On whether they are looking more at taking care of their bottom line, is remained to be seen but indications are that both electronics giants are also caring for a safer and sustainable environmental care.