News from the AAL Helpdesk



Monday, October 17, 2016


Tiny Scanner: Turn Your iPhone or Android Phone into a Mobile Scanner

Have you ever needed to scan something at home, but you don’t have a scanner? Have you ever been frustrated with the scanner software on your computer at home if you do have one? Enter Tiny Scanner, an app for your iOS or Android phone that lets you take a picture of your document(s) and turn it into a PDF that you can send to Evernote, Dropbox, or Google Drive. With this app, you don’t have to freak out over the fact that you don’t have a scanner at home, there’s an app for that.


Check out the link here if you’re interested:
App Store
Google Play

By
Franklin Moy



Monday, October 10, 2016


Google Pixel Phone Review

Recently, Google has partnered up with HTC and launched their new phone brand, the Pixel and Pixel XL. Google plans on discontinuing their previous Nexus brand, and although the Nexus was cheaper, the Pixel has much more features. Here are the specifications and hardware for the Pixel and Pixel XL:
Google Pixel
  • Dimensions: 143.8 x 69.5 x 8.6 mm
  • Weight: 143g
  • Display: 5in 1920 x 1080 pixels
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 quad-core 2.1GHz
  • GPU: Adreno 530
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 32GB or 128GB
  • MicroSD: Up To 256GB
  • Rear Camera: 12MP
  • Front Camera: 8MP
  • Software: Android 7.1 Nougat
  • Battery: 2770mAh Quick Charge
  • Colours: Silver, Black
Google Pixel XL
  • Dimensions: 154.7 x 75.7 x 8.6mm
  • Weight: 168g
  • Display: 5.5in 2560 x 1440 pixels
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 quad-core 2.1GHz
  • GPU: Adreno 530
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 32GB or 128GB
  • MicroSD: Up To 256GB
  • Rear Camera: 12MP
  • Front Camera: 8MP
  • Software: Android 7.1 Nougat
  • Battery: 3450mAh Quick Charge
  • Colours: Silver, Black



One of the main points of speculation is the overall design. A fingerprint scanner has been strategically placed on the back of the phone, where it and the camera is surrounded by a piece of glass. The bottom half of the phone is cool metal to provide a nice feel for the grip. There is a bit of controversy about the glass finish, since it looks a bit like plastic. Some people love it, others don’t care for it. The power and volume buttons are located nicely on the right side of the phone while the nano SIM tray is on the left. For those who were upset about the lack of the headphone jack on the new iPhone 7, the Google Pixel has one, although the choice to place it on top of the phone may not have been the best decision.

The screen display is clear and in full HD. The Google Pixel already supports Daydream, Google’s new virtual reality platform, but some critics claim that the Pixel isn’t ideal for the software due to the display resolution. The experience won’t be terrible, but it’s optimal to use the Pixel XL, as the larger screen will give the consumer a more immersive view.

Just like how Apple has Siri and Windows has Cortana, the Google Pixel includes your very own Google Assistant. It’s designed to conform to its owner- it’s contextually aware to what the person is viewing on the screen, their location, and is able to follow a conversation and listen to complex commands. This feature can be accessed by either saying a ‘hot word’, which by default is “Okay Google”, or you can press and hold the home button.



Another feature Google is promoting is the battery life and camera. Its power pack is bigger than the iPhone 7, but smaller than the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the HTC 10. Nevertheless, charging for fifteen minutes and getting seven hours of usage in return is a pretty nice deal and should be able to last you a day without having to recharge. The 12.3MP rear camera was best rated according to a DxO result. The camera includes HDR+, which helps in low light settings by brightening up shadowed areas and reducing blurring.


Overall, the Google Pixel and Pixel XL seems like a pretty good phone. The phone comes in Quite Black, Very Silver, and Really Blue. It is a bit pricey, however, starting at $649 for the Pixel and $769 for the Pixel XL, so it’s up to the consumer to decide whether it’s worth the price or not. Google is going to have a lot of tough competition, seeing as it’s releasing around the same time as the iPhone 7, Samsung Galaxy S7, and the HTC 10, but let’s hope for the best.

(Full Articles can be found at techradar and knowyourmobile)
Tina Intarapanont

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