Facebook’s Lifestage App Launched for Android

Facebook’s “teens-only” application “Lifestage” was made to compete with the Snapchat by giving younger users a place to connect out of Facebook’s vast social network. This application is now available for Android users. Earlier Lifestage was only available on iOS but as it has been launched for Android as well, it is going to have much bigger user base gradually.

Lifestage is considered one of the ways Facebook is trying to target user base of Snapchat. Facebook is well-aware of Snapchat’s camera-first design mechanism which makes it is one the social application’s main attraction.

In order to engage its users, Facebook is undertaking similar ways, the company bought photo and video filtering application MSQRD, then experimented with selfie filters on Facebook using that technology, along with “camera opening” right on top of the News Feed.

The company also internally tested a Snapchat replica named as “Facebook Stories.” And recently, Facebook is seen testing another Snapchat replica as a standalone application named as Messenger Day. Moreover, it released a Snapchat-type feature in Instagram by the name “Stories,” which has become a hit among users.

Now Facebook has a new weapon in its app arsenal called Lifestage to compete with Snapchat. However, the latest app is made limited to the high school folks only. In technical terms, this app is for 21 and below, but Facebook is expecting for it to get viral spread gradually.

 In Lifestage app, users will answer bio questions through videos, which will then unlock further questions. When a user will update the profile, he/she will see tiny sunglasses-smile emojis next to his/her name. If not updated, the smile will turn to a frown or even the emoji of poop. This is intended to encourage the user to be in regular touch with the app. Also, with Lifestage, users can swank what they like/dislike by sharing it to their profile.

Lifestage was launched this summer but has not been a great success. This is evident from a recent report which shows that the app ranking has dropped in the Social Networking category on iTunes. However, as this application is made available for Android users also, it should improve the ranking of this application but still age is one factor which will affect the potential of this app among users.

Apple iPod Turns 15

Fifteen years ago on October 23rd, 2001, Apple announced the birth of iPod which revolutionized the world of music and has transformed the people’s perception to music. Apple sold millions of devices and extended its reach to millions of people worldwide.

On the occasion of iPod turning 15, here is a look back at all the iPods starting from the physically scrolling wheel of the first iPod to the smooth finish and sturdy built of today’s iPod Touch.

1.) First Generation iPod (2001)

It’s been exactly 15 years since the launch of first generation iPod. Priced for $399 it had a 5GB hard drive space, a physically rotating scrolling wheel and a FireWire port for syncing.

2.) Third Generation iPod (2003)

The first major transformation for the iPod was made in 2003. In the 3rd generation, iPod media controls were designed as separate touch-sensitive buttons on top of the scroll wheel. It also introduced the 30-pin iPod connector.

3.) iPod Mini (2004)

The iPod mini was a thinner, smaller, iPod having less storage (4GB or 6GB). The plus point with this iPod was it different colorful bodies. Moreover, Apple introduced the click wheel with this iPod.

4.) Fourth Generation iPod (2004)

The 4th generation iPod is most likely the image that most people get in mind when someone talks about iPod. It featured a white plastic face with a gray click wheel.

5.) U2 Edition iPod (2004)

In 2004 only, Apple introduced U2 editions of the fourth-generation iPod and then a fifth-generation iPod in an exclusive red and black color combination.

6.) First Generation iPod Shuffle (2005)

iPod Shuffle was the first iPod to feature flash memory. It seems like a flash drive, fitted with removable USB cap. This one had no screen.

7.) First Generation iPod Nano (2005)

This iPod was small as its name suggested. It was absolutely thin measuring just 0.3 inches thick. The first gen Nano was available only in black or white, but its 2^nd gen version featured colorful aluminum casing.

8.) Fifth Generation iPod (2005)

The 5th generation iPod came with a wider body and screen as Apple made its focus to video, adding features such as TV shows, music videos, and later offered full movies to the iTunes Store. The 5th generation model also was the first full-size iPod model to be launched in black, along with the original white.

9.) First Generation iPod Touch (2007)

First gen iPod Touch was launched a few months after the original iPhone. It looked and felt like a phone.

10.) iPod Classic (2007)

iPod Classic was the last model of the original iPod. This iPod was a refreshed with software and got a replacement from the plastic front casing to aluminum. The highest capacity version came with 160GB of storage, which also remains the biggest capacity iPod ever sold. Unfortunately, it was discontinued in September 2014.

11.) 5^th Gen iPod Nano (2009)

2009 was the year for the launch of 5th Generation iPod Nano. A 5th Generation featured a video camera and a speaker.

12.) Fourth Generation iPod Touch (2010)

The 4th Gen iPod Touch was made more slimmer and featured front and rear facing cameras for FaceTime support and a Retina display.

13.) Fourth Generation iPod Shuffle (2010)

After the third-generation Shuffle, which was made button-less and had controls on headphone controls, the fourth-gen iPod Shuffle was launched with a clip-on device with hardware controls.

14.) Seventh Generation iPod Nano (2012)

This iPod Nano resembled the iPod Touch as it has a touch screen and home button, but didn’t provide much functionality.

15.) Sixth Generation iPod Touch (2015)

The latest sixth-generation iPod Touch model was launched last year which had a similar design but came with iPhone 6’s A8 chip processor.

It will be interesting to see what Apple will be offering in its next launch of iPod family.

Samsung’s Loss, Apple’s Gain!

Samsung Galaxy Note 7, one of the most anticipated phones of 2016 is under the cloud these days. As Samsung recalled the Note 7 last week after reports emerged of the phone exploding during or after charging.

Note 7 was unveiled in August 2016 as the successor to the Galaxy Note 5, and competitor for Apple’s iPhone 7 which launched last week only. The Note 7 has all the top-end specifications and an enhanced stylus which is the USP of this device. However, soon after the shipping of phone started, there were reports that some phones were catching fire or exploding during or just after charging. The Note 7 has a lithium-ion battery of 3,500 mAh with fast charging.

Samsung confirmed that battery issues were the reasons behind the phones catching fire, but as it was difficult to determine that which phones were affected among those sold, the South Korean company said it would replace all Galaxy Note 7 devices.

This embarrassment even affected the shares of Samsung Electronics Co. which dropped the most in last four-five years after regulators and airlines from the U.S. to Europe warned the passenger against the use of this Smartphone.

The troubles come at a crucial time for Samsung. The company launched the Note 7 last month to give it a head start against Apple’s new iPhone 7, which got unveiled last week. But that advantage has now fallen in the Apple’s court after Samsung has shed about $19 billion in market value.

And, now the questions remain on whether consumers will be really keen to buy this Android fueled Note 7 or they will turn their back on it and go for the latest iOS 10 powered iPhone 7 and 7Plus.

With the recall of all 2.5 million of the Note 7 which Samsung has already shipped, bearing a cost to the company estimated about $1 billion, it is really going to be a must and tough ask for Samsung to keep its consumer engaged.

Below are the features and specification of Galaxy Note 7 and iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.

Smartphone	Samsung Galaxy Note 7	Apple iPhone 7	Apple iPhone 7 Plus
Display	5.7 inch SUPER AMOLED, 2560 X 1440 pixels	4.7 inch IPS LCD, 750 X 1334 pixels	5.5 inches 1080 x 1920 pixels (401 ppi pixel density)
Dimensions	153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm, 169 grams	138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm, 138 grams	158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm, 188 grams
OS	Android v6.0 Marshmallow	iOS 10	iOS 10
Processor	Snapdragon 820, Exynos 8890	Apple A10 Fusion	Apple A10 Fusion
RAM	4GB RAM	2GB RAM	3GB Ram
Storage	64 GB, 256 GB micro SD support	32 / 128 / 256 GB	32 / 128/ 256 GB
Camera	12 MP f/1.7 aperture primary, 5MP front camera	12 MP f/1.8 aperture primary, 7MP f/2.2 front camera	Dual 12 MP, (f/1.8, 28mm and f/2.8, 56mm), 7 MP, f/2.2
Features	1/2.6″ sensor size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection, simultaneous 4K video and 9MP image recording, Auto HDR, panorama	1/3″ sensor size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection, simultaneous 4K video and 8MP image recording, HDR (photo/panorama)	Phase detection autofocus, 2x optical zoom, OIS, quad-LED (dual tone) flash 1080p@30fps, 720p@240fps, face detection, HDR, panorama
Networks	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / EVDO	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
Others	Iris scanner, fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2	Fingerprint, accelerometer, USB v2.0, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer	Fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, Geo-tagging, simultaneous 4K video and 8MP image recording, touch focus, face/smile detection, HDR (photo/panorama)
Battery	3500 mAh non-removable	Non-removable Up to 2 hours longer battery life than iPhone 6s	Non-removable Up to 1 hour longer battery life than iPhone 6s Plus