Friday 27 June 2014

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT GOOGLE i/O 14 THOUGHTS

Above: Countdown to Google i/O 2014 
Above: Pichai planning world domination...
SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
GOOGLE i/O CONFERENCE 2014: MY THOUGHTS...
#Google #i/o2014 #Android #Chrome #ChromeOS #AndroidWear #AndroidAuto #AndroidTV #Chromecast #Glass #Nexus #Silver

Good early morning, Synapse Circuit Readers. It is great to see you as always! I hope you are well and happy!

I’ve been thinking a lot about the Google i/O 2014... Here are my thoughts – before they become illegal.




BROKEN GLASS?

NO VISION?  

There was no mention of Google Glass – at least I didn’t hear anything. Did you? Have Google given up on this potentially groundbreaking project? Somehow I don’t think so. Yes, there has been a lot of negative press and that is largely because that is the very nature of the press: Creating controversy because it sells.

No doubt that Google will have to do more to win the media over. But we know that Glass has gotten an upgrade to 2GB and the 1GB version has gone on sale in the UK Play Store for £1000! That it has gone on sale in the UK shows me that Glass is still happening! I would imagine that Google are busy working on selling the idea based on quality apps that we never knew we wanted. So, do not count Glass out! I am quite sure that Google are tweaking it to perfection.

I have noticed that other manufacturers that are working on their own version of Glass are just waiting for Google to break through – they seemed to have gotten cold feet. Like Apple the other manufacturers are waiting for Google to create that market!


GOOGLE MINUS?

WIMPING OUT?

With Vic Gundotra out of the picture what’s going to happen with G+? We never heard anything about G+ at this year’s conference.

Rumour has it that G+ will become something of a gateway that links up Google services. I think that would be a shame. I think there is a lot of potential in G+ and I see it as being integrated into Google Glass like a Social Networking Operating System (you read it here from Synapse Circuit); I think G+ can do with an overhaul that makes use of the Material Design Paper concept.

I would hate to see G+ being shot down in flames but I get the impression that if something doesn’t take off immediately with Google they terminate with extreme prejudice! Some things take time! What I find missing from G+ is real social interaction that can be found on Facebook and old school MySpace before the redecoration. MySpace’s refurbishment is a lesson on how NOT to do it. Facebook is okay considering that it is being run awfully. Because Facebook was initially people oriented it suckered many of us in and then it revealed its true face (no pun intended). Google + was like that too but it showed its face quite early in the game... By showing its “true face” I mean that people could no longer use names that they prefer to go by and that it wanted to extract more about you too fast. That’s a faux pas! It’s the equivalent of asking someone you’ve just met to perform a sexual act on you: bold but incredibly stupid! G+ is the goofy looking Poindexter kid that is introduced to a new class and has the uncanny knack to alienate his or herself with social awkwardness. I haven’t bonded with people on G+ like I have on Facebook. G+ suffers a lot from angry Pointdexter’s that keep screaming “spam” at every opportunity. It is freaking annoying! G+ needs to relax a little and open up. G+ needs an overhaul that is inviting to all. Android as an operating system and handset is a great paradigm that has a solution for everyone!

Well, I find G+ to be better than Twitter!



MINUS CEO LARRY PAGE

HEALTH PROBLEMS?

I sincerely hope that Google CEO, Larry Page is getting better but I missed his presence at this year’s conference. His speech still rings in my ears regarding the notion of Tech bringing humanity together as opposed to all this Apple vs. Google vs. Oracle vs. Microsoft nonsense! I happen to think that it is sad that Tech is viewed as a corporate commodity to be torn apart between them. An image of a live chicken just came to mind whereby Apple, Microsoft and others are ripping it to shreds and not making use of the great potential presented. It’s a great big shame. I reckon that Google would like to use technology to enhance our lives and that involves us trusting that their intentions are good... What was their motto, “Don’t be evil”? Is that still their motto? Peace protestors managed to cause a little disruption due to Google “obliging the military contracts” that come with one of the robotic companies they’ve bought. Me too! I do not like the idea of Google getting mixed up in military projects that could potentially result in more deaths. This scenario reads like a Sci-Fi movie – I guess RoboCop reboot is the most appropriate analogy as the scientist, played by Gary Oldman, didn’t want his research and discoveries to be used by the military.

Google needs good PR behind it but not to deliver bullsquirt in the manner that Apple does. There are people out there who really believe that Google, Apple, Microsoft, etc are part of this “New World Order” and they make their presence known each day via the Internet with, ironically, the aid of YouTube and physically in protest. It wouldn’t surprise me if Tim Cook sent these protestors to cause some disruption! Ha! But seriously... ...after watching the Women in Tech at the Google conference I see hope... Hope that mankind is not going to destroy itself.



A LONG TIME COMING...

NUMBER 5 IS ALIVE

Yes, that’s right! I am talking about Android 5, Liquorice Allsorts, Lemon Meringue, Lemon Pie, Lemon Drops, Lollypop, Lime Cheesecake... That’s all the desserts I can think of beginning with the letter “L”.

The future of Android was the biggest news of this year’s conference! Quite right too! It seems like ages since we have something to dance about where Android is concerned. Don’t get me wrong, KitKat is awesome but now we know that Android is about to go supernova! The way it looks and the functionality is just mind blowing! We are witnessing great new Android devices by the likes of LG, Oppo and Samsung to name a few and the mind boggles as to where Android can go from version 5 onwards!

64-bit... Where can we go with 64-bit? Faster apps and games! Soon the PC will be a relic of the past! But if I understood the Android part of the conference correctly it should be possible to install Android on x86 PCs! I reckon all the major software players should be working on Android versions like Microsoft Office! But I think it may be too late for that now as Google Docs, Sheets and Slides can edit Office documents without having to convert. I can see better applications on the horizon for Android. I am really curious about the handsets to come around December this year... Will Samsung, LG and others release 64-bit devices? I know that Samsung have expressed a wish to go 64-bit and were waiting for Google... So, are Samsung (amongst others) ready? I reckon so! Like I said in the last article: there is a reason why Samsung and HTC have not yet released their “Prime” versions and it can be summed up in 64-bit!



iOS & THE APPLE BUSINESS MODEL

WHAT’S THE EXCUSE?

Here’s what Apple says about iOS 7 “Details make the experience. These details make it brilliant.

iOS 7 set the bar for how an operating system should be....”

Bold as brass! Ha ha! You can’t blame them for trying. There is no doubt that iOS 7 is a decent operating system – it does what it does but albeit at the expense of the user. What do I mean by that? Okay... When iPhone users received the iOS 7 upgrade it caused problems for many what with their whole music collection being lost and loss of general data such as contacts. And while it borrows a lot from Android iOS 7 still wants to keep the user in the Apple bubble – especially when it comes to sharing! I’ve never read or listened to anyone from Apple claiming that Android’s sharing routine is “stolen” from iOS.

iOS still isn’t able to offer the user a split screen to have two apps open at the same time. This version does not allow third party keyboards but version 8 will. So, when Apple says “iOS 7 sets the bar...” I am truly at a loss to see how. Look at the beauty of Android in that if you do not like the UI overlay one can use another from great sources such as Nova, Buzz and so many others; with iOS 7 and probably 8 too there is no way to replace the UI for one that is more conducive to the user. Android goes far beyond widgets! I think a lot of iPhone users do not understand that Android caters for a myriad of screen sizes (resolutions)! I understand that Android’s screen diversity makes it hard for developers but I think that this is soon becoming a thing of the past due to better development tools such as Android Studio! I do think that Cook and co takes every opportunity to slate Android apps for handset and tablet but when I look at the state of the Play Store today I can see that Cook and co are dead wrong!

Then there is this idea of “fragmentation...” Fragmentation is not such a big deal as Cook makes out because, as I have said many, many times, when someone purchases a budget handset with an older version of Android he or she is none the wiser: it works! But as time goes on “fragmentation” will be irrelevant. The big elephant sitting in the Apple Corporation is... ...wait for it... is... Everybody, say it with me: CANNIBALIZATION!  

Because Apple is one corporation whenever it puts out a smaller or bigger version of its bestseller the sales will eat into that of the original device. Thus the market for the original device becomes cannibalized. This is what has happened to the iPhone 5S with the advent of 5C and with the iPad when the Mini was released. So, when Apple puts out two different sizes of iPhone, 4.7” and 5.5”, it will – I predict – result in the two devices amounting to equal the sale of the original device – if that makes any sense. For example, the 5C was a success at the expense of the 5S. And it is the same for the iPad Mini; it sells well but it means fewer sales for the iPad. I talk to Apple users and they mostly say that the iPad 2 was a waste of money because it has depreciated badly over time: it became slower and the battery isn’t what it was. To buy another one is an expense that is frivolous. Whereas the Android tablet comes in at a more reasonable price point and, yes, it is possible that Android tablets (and handsets) can depreciate over time but it is expected and it can be less costly to replace. In my own experience I find that good Android products have a longer shelf life. My beloved Galaxy S2 works just like it did out of the box when I got it 5 years ago! There you go!



And because Google Android is free to manufacturers it means that it is up to them (the manufacturers) to create a market for themselves. One possible downside is that when a manufacturer puts out what is considered to be a “budget” handset where the customer can purchase it outright it would make more sense to invest that cash into a contract with yesteryear’s premium such as the Galaxy S3, Motorola Moto X and Sony Xperia M2 to name a few.

With Android it is the consumer that wins along with Google and manufacturers. Well, some manufacturers... But that’s another article for another time...

THANK YOU FOR READING!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

Yes, I am well aware that the site is due an update soon! It’s coming...

Synapse Circuit for tech news, opinions, articles, reviews and competitions. You will find interactive PDF magazines, videos and links to free legal software! Check it out at Synapse Circuit dot com

Wednesday 25 June 2014

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT GOOGLE i/O 14 REACTION

Above: Android 5 "L". Lollipop? Lemon Meringue Pie? Liquorice Allsorts?
Above: 64-bit at last! Move over iPhone and iPad!
Above: Sundar Pichai introduces Android One which is aimed at the World market.
Android One costs under $100!
SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
GOOGLE i/O CONFERENCE 2014, REACTION
#Google #i/o2014 #Android #Chrome #ChromeOS #AndroidWear #AndroidAuto #AndroidTV #Chromecast #Glass #Nexus #Silver

Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers. I hope that all is well with you! Did you catch the Google i/O Keynote? You didn’t? Ok... I will give you the rundown...

In short: Mind Blown - Again!


PREDICTIONS THAT CAME THROUGH...

ANDROID 5: LEMON MERINGUE PIE?

Shock, horror! I was pretty much spot on about much of the Google i/O developer conference. I knew that there would be no news of Nexus devices as Android 5, Lemon Meringue Pie(?) wasn’t hinted at. On the eve of the i/O there wasn’t the usual leaks with the coming of a new Android version. It was, as always, wishful thinking on my part that there would be some grand new toys! New toys always come with a new version of Android.

So, I reckon we’ll see new toys towards Christmas along with Android 5, Lollipop(?). And I bet that the reason why we haven’t seen the Galaxy S5 Prime and HTC’s Prime offering is because they want to take advantage of the 64-bit Android and will adopt 64-bit processors to keep up with the iPhone and iPad as far as 64-bit is concerned.

So, expect 64-bit handsets and tablets towards Christmas! It could very well be that Samsung will be releasing a 64-bit Galaxy Note 4 which would come in time to coincide with my next upgrade! Whoohoo! 


SUNDAR PICHAI
Unsurprisingly, the eloquent Sundar Pichai swept aside the bizarre remarks of Tim Cook. All Android users and those that know anything about technology would dismiss Cook’s comments outright when he talks about the competition. Pichai wisely did not bother to say anything derogatory about Apple, Cook and mobile devices and quite rightly went on to state facts about how Android is growing through handsets and tablets; the news is simple: Android Rules The World. No matter what Cook and co says nothing change that. Yes, there will probably be two iPhones this year, 4.7” and 5.5” but they – like iOS incarnations – have come too late. Too late for a corporation that claims “Android is a stolen technology...” as it is clear that the iPhone is trailing behind. The iPad’s edge is becoming duller by the month and by the end 2014 the iPad and apps is not going to matter. It’s great that Google is doing its own thing at their own pace which appears to be comfortable for them. They could have rushed the next version of Android but they take time to make sure it’s right from UI design looks to the functionality.



Above: Chrome for Android's new look!

MATERIALISM
I am looking forward to the release of Android 5, Liquorice Allsorts(?) due to new Material Design aspect to the UI (user interface) that acts like paper. Material Design just looks awesome! Icons, cards, notifications just look spectacular and I can’t wait to have it on my devices! Google are paying more attention to the design aspect of Android and “L” - as they refer to it – is going to blow away every other mobile operating system going.

I got that bit right and to be honest it wasn’t that difficult to predict due to the fact that Android releases have been slow to a crawl but one can see that this is for a reason. I knew that design and functionality was the reason and, of course, getting the 64-bit element in. There’s Project Volta to reduce battery strain and if it turns out like I think it will it means that a lot of us will be enjoying longer uses of our devices.

What I wanted to hear was the devices that will be compatible with Android 5, Lemon Drops(?) but there will no doubt be some casualties. There again many Android users do not really notice the difference between the different versions as Android as a whole works very well for most users. I would imagine that users with premium devices from 2011 may be in the safe zone! My Galaxy Note 2 could do with Android 5 as it crashes royally when using the i/O app to watch the live video streams. It is annoying to say the least. I can imagine how my devices would run on Android Lolly! Dare I say that some older devices may be saved by the likes of custom ROM creators?

DID I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY?
From what I gathered it looks like Android Lemon Pie will be able to run on other processors apart from ARM... x86 and MIPS. Does that mean that effectively Android could make better use of the PC and other computer systems? That would be something! I have always wanted an Android desktop for moments like this when I am sitting here typing-up my articles. Look at it this way: If the Galaxy S5 can shoot and edit 4K video then surely a dual core and quad core PC running Android 5 would prolong ageing desk and laptops. No doubt one would have to invest in a graphics card capable of 4K video.

CHROME
Yes, I almost got Chrome and Android right... Instead of Android adopting bits of Chrome it is quite the other way around. Chrome will be able to run some Android apps – at least I thought that’s what I understood.

Chromecast has more attributes to it such as allowing handsets to broadcast whatever is on the screen. Then there is Android TV – I am not too sure how that works... A lot of the tech press were predicting set-top boxes but none were mentioned. So, from what I have gathered Android TV will be built into Android 5 that allows users to stream from Google Play Movies and other sources through Chromecast. It sort of tallies up with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S media event and the focus on content!



Above: Android Auto.

ANDROID AUTO
No surprise that Google announced Android Auto for making interacting with the handset safer with voice commands whereby, for instance, you can ask for a place and get direction without touching the phone!  Cool!

I was hoping to hear more about their driverless cars. I guess that there will be more about their driverless cars later on.

PROJECT ARA & ROBOTICS
I was a little surprised that we didn’t learn more about Project Ara that allows folk to put their own handset together by removing and replacing modular components. Perhaps Google will have an Ara handset ready in time to coincide with Android 5!

We never got to learn what Google will do with those robots they’ve acquired! Bah!

SILVER NEXUS
The Nexus concept was hinted upon and that there is a possibility that we’ll see a Nexus 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 when – you’ve guessed it – Android 5 is released in the fall. At least it’ll coincide for Christmas – I hope! I envisage that we’ll be seeing a few Nexus devices to usher in Android 5 for sure.

There was no mention of the much rumoured “Silver” that is said to be replacing the Nexus concept. I can only imagine that it if Silver is on the horizon we won’t see it until the first quarter of 2015; I get the feeling that Google are planning something groundbreaking – again – to shake up the handsets and tablets that will make use of 64-bit processors and better hardware in general.



ANDROID WEAR
As predicted, Google showed off Android Wear, Google Fit and watches from LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live. The demonstration of Android Wear was awesome! Google have managed to beat Apple to the punch with releasing the Wear devices from LG and Samsung. Moto 360 will be released later on this summer. I think they have gotten the interface right! The wearable devices from LG and Samsung look very promising indeed... Just like the first wave of Android handsets I can see that there will be more manufacturers looking to take a slice of that pie! Therefore we will see a rapid development of design like we witnessed with the Android tablet only the wearable will develop faster! More so when these manufacturers work out the issues with producing these flexible screens!

There wasn’t any mention of Google Glass and I can only imagine that they are still perfecting it.

CONCLUSION

I really think that Apple stocks have gone down in value after this year’s Google i/O Keynote. Google are unstoppable! Google have so much going on that they do not have time to fit it all in!

THANK YOU FOR READING!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

Yes, I am well aware that the site is due an update soon! It’s coming...

Synapse Circuit for tech news, opinions, articles, reviews and competitions. You will find interactive PDF magazines, videos and links to free legal software! Check it out at Synapse Circuit dot com

Tuesday 24 June 2014

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT GOOGLE i/O CONFERENCE EVE 14



SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
GOOGLE i/O CONFERENCE 2014, THE EVE
#Google #i/o2014 #Android #Chrome #ChromeOS #Glass #Nexus #Silver

Good early evening, Synapse Circuit Readers. How are you? I hope that all is well! Yes, it is the eve of the Google i/O conference and it brings such excitement to us Tech Lovers! Google i/O is the new Christmas! Ha ha!

I’ve pretty much done my predictions and way ahead of any other tech magazine / blogger! Hee hee hee...


HAPPY
Yes, I am happy that not too many things have been “leaked”... Sure, it was common knowledge that there would be development with Android Wear, Chromebooks, and minor developments with Android and so on. Oh, Google Glass is on sale on the UK Play Store for £1k! Gosh! I’d love to have one!

We’ve not seen or heard anything on the next Nexus handset; it may not happen. It could very well be that a Motorola handset will replace the Nexus until this “Silver” concept has been ironed out. Ok, we’ve heard a little about HTC doing an 8” tablet but I reckon many of us would still welcome the Nexus 7 2014. But as we advance in Tech – especially with Android – the notion of the 7” tablet is becoming outdated; I believe Samsung is going to release a 7” handset. Can you believe it? Of course you do! Once upon a time we’d laugh at such a concept... A 7” handset! Golly gee! Thanks to Asus and the FonePad it changed a lot of our perceptions! I took a look at the FonePad and I almost got one! It is so inexpensive but at the same time the processor, Intel Atom™ Z2420 1.2 or 1.6 GHz, isn’t all that. I might have invested if it was a quad-core processor. I have the Intel RAZRi and I wished I hadn’t bothered as it is S... L... O... W... The screen is less responsive too! So, that’s why I probably will not go for a device containing an Intel chip – unless they bring out some decent processors. But rumour has it that Intel will team up with Samsung on a device – now this I have to see! But yes, if the spec was good, I would consider a 7” tablet capable of making calls.

Is that in the Google ethos? But I do wonder if Samsung will create a 7” Galaxy Tab S just for Google; it would make sense. It would also make sense if it were able to make calls too! 7” is the new phablet!

ANDROID
I am not expecting to hear of a new immediate Android release, no. What I am expecting is to hear of an incremental update i.e. 4.4.5 and 5 will be released towards the fall. What I think is happening is a design overhaul, more Google app tweaking / refinement, so we’ll see more of an improvement in notifications and overall speed. Google has been gearing up to a major release since Jelly Bean and it is continuing to get there.

Sundar Pitchai has revealed that he wants to do what Apple does in telling the world about what is coming instead of waiting until a release is ready. Yeah, the Apple smoke and mirrors machine is to announce “improvements to the best operating system in the world” that has been a staple of Android for years. It’s a good move to let the world know what is being planned as it shows where the innovation is coming from and I think it’ll help manufacturers plan new releases for the Christmas holidays for example.

Android and its survival depend upon manufacturers working together. At the moment Samsung is trying – and succeeding – to out punch Apple but this causes some friction with Google – not as much as the media would have us believe. Companies like Samsung need to innovate and develop their technology and with the advent of Tizen it will allow Samsung to express itself without limitation. I do think that Tizen threatens iOS more than it does Android. I don’t think Google have anything to worry about because it is easier to pick up a great brand new Android handset than it is to pick up any iPhone model. iOS and Windows mobile operating systems will face stiff competition from Tizen when it is fully operational. I own over 7 handsets (simply because they aren’t worth much after a 2 year contract, so I keep them, root and experiment) and they are all Android. Should Tizen prove to be a formidable operating system I’d try a handset. I do think that Samsung will end up pushing Google way beyond anything Apple can do. It’s what Google has done for Samsung! It wouldn’t surprise me to see in the not too distant future a dual screen handset that features both Android and Tizen.

Tizen makes me wonder if Samsung will eventually cease TouchWiz in favour of widgets. These widgets could be sold on the Play Store. I would imagine that a lot of time and effort goes into TouchWiz but if they are going to concentrate on Tizen it would make sense to turn some of those wonderful ideas into widgets that can be bought by Android users and therefore have another revenue stream.

GET READY FOR THE LAUNCH
I would really appreciate it if Google announced improvements to its launcher as I have it on one of my handsets. It’s on a phablet and therefore I do not need many homescreens. However, for my smaller handsets I wouldn’t mind being able to rotate my homescreens in an infinite scroll and to have a landscape mode. Fingers crossed! But who knows?

CONCLUSION

It is going to be a very exciting conference from Google this year as they keep pushing the boundaries of technology. We’ve yet to learn what these robots are going to do that they have recently acquired. I hope to learn more! Get ready!

IN THE MEANTIME...
Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

Yes, I am well aware that the site is due an update soon! It’s coming...

Synapse Circuit for tech news, opinions, articles, reviews and competitions. You will find interactive PDF magazines, videos and links to free legal software! Check it out at Synapse Circuit dot com

Monday 23 June 2014

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT CAUSTIC MUSIC APP THE BEST

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
ANDROID APPS
SINGLE CELL SOFTWARE
£5.99 UNLOCK KEY

Good evening or very early morning, Synapse Circuit Readers. I hope all is well with you! Fancy making music on the fly?

#Caustic #SingleCellSoftware #MusicApp #AndroidApps

CAUSTIC: LOVE
ANDROID APPS NOT AS GOOD AS iOS APPS? THINK AGAIN!


London, UK June 24th 2014 –
Hey! Do you remember when I said that iOS apps seem to have the edge over Android? Yeah, sometimes I look at the beautiful hardware that can only come from the Android stable i.e. the Galaxy Note phablets from the first inception to the latest and what’s coming; LG G3; the Samsung Galaxy Tab S; HTC One M8, etc. Great stuff! But when I look at the Apple ads for the iPad especially I see some great look apps – especially for music!

The iPad and iPhone ads prompted me to take another look at what’s out there for music making and I came across Caustic version 3.1 for Android, PC and iOS! Wow! The first sign that things were looking up for Android musicians was Image Line’s Fruity Studio Mobile that can be had for £12.95. The price is a bit steep in the world of apps whereby I reckon £8 to £10 pounds is the limit. Bear in mind that music has lost the edge and is no longer seen as a means to make money. If you believe what is said about Jay-Z and his connections it may be a waste of time to pursue a career in music unless intend to hook up that club. However, for those who love to make music and wish to do so with the Android handset-phab- tablet then Caustic 3.1 is definitely an app to check out!


Above: The FM Synth with pattern / MIDI editor and effect units. 


CAUSTIC

Nope, it’s nothing to do with the album by Palo Nutini! Iron Sky is quite a stand out track from that album – YouTube it! Caustic is the brilliant app by Single Cell Software that is very much like a combination of the popular music software that is Reason and Synapse (no relation) Audio’s Orion Studio for the PC. Therefore the Caustic interface is pretty easy to get to grips with. You can use up to 14 instruments and apply two effect units on each track. It comes across as limiting but I personally find that this is a good thing because people – including me – spend more time downloading free VST instruments and effects for our PC based music making software and do not get any music done! Caustic is a breath of fresh air to get back to the basics of music making without distractions!

What is a delight is that there is scope for automating the synthesizer and effect knobs so that they move on their own within a pattern and song for dynamism.



Above: The Caustic mastering effects and pattern sequencer! Works like a dream!


CONCLUSION

Caustic 3.1 is a great music app that works also with the PC version (there is no support for the PC version) so you can transfer files between the two platforms.

I used a Galaxy Note 2 to test Caustic and I had no problems with it.

I am also inclined to think that Caustic as great scope for yet another PC / MAC / Linux DAW (digital audio workstation) that can incorporate VST (virtual studio technology instruments and effects). In fact, I wonder how difficult it would be for the Android version to take advantage of the VST instruments and effects format. I would imagine that some of the premium quad-core handsets and tablets have the power to utilize VST but I could be wrong. Hmmmm… Sure, it comes across as contradicting what I stated earlier about “simplicity” but for those, like me, who have collected loads of VST instruments and effects over the years, would find it advantageous. But the bottom line is that Caustic is truly outstanding as it is!

There are great YouTube tutorials that go beyond the call of duty and explain not only how to use Caustic but the principals behind the synthesizers! Awesome!

Don’t forget that because you can export compositions in the MIDI file format you can import it into other DAWs! Excellent!

FEATURES

Subsynth - Virtual analog subtractive synthesizer

PCMSynth - Multi-sample wave synthesizer

BassLine - 303-like monosynth

BeatBox - 8-channel sampling drum machine

PadSynth - Harmonic table pad synthesizer

8BitSynth - 8bit equation solver synthesizer

Modular - Fully configurable and routable synthesizer

Organ - Hammond-like tonewheel organ with rotary speaker

Vocoder - 8-band harmonic vocoder

FMSynth - DX-style 3-operator fm synthesizer

KSSynth - Karplus-Strong string modeling synth (new!)

All files are stored on the user-accessible storage, and users can supply their own WAV files for use in the PCMSynth, BeatBox, and Vocoder.

Supports all uncompressed WAV files (8-16-24-32bit, any sampling rate).

The PCMSynth can also load SoundFont files (.sf2), SFZ and FL Studio mobile instruments (instr, .ZIP)

Class-compliant USB MIDI controllers can be connected via USB OTG cable on devices running at least Android 3.2 and supporting USB host mode.

See the in-app help section for tutorial videos and full online manual.

* PLUS!

There are sample packs that are either free or at a small cost to extend the capabilities.

MINIMUM DEVICE SPECS ARE:

1GHz ARMv7 processor
800 x 480 resolution screen
Headphones or external speakers

SCORE

5 / 5 PLATINUM


Go get the PC version here:
http://www.singlecellsoftware.com


THANKS FOR READING...
Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

Yes, I am well aware that the site is due an update soon! It’s coming...

Synapse Circuit for tech news, opinions, articles, reviews and competitions. You will find interactive PDF magazines, videos and links to free legal software! Check it out at Synapse Circuit dot com

Thursday 19 June 2014

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT MAGIX AUDIO CLEANING LAB 2014

Above: Magix Audio Cleaning Lab 2014; the best keeps getting better!
SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
NEWS!
NEW! MAGIX AUDIO CLEANING LAB 2014

Good day, Synapse Circuit Readers. I hope all is well with you and that the weather is lovely where you are! Here in London the Sun is on a break! Oh, well… Here’s some good news!

#Magix #AudioCleaningLab2014 #AudioEditing #AudioMastering

OPTIMIZE YOUR AUDIO TODAY!

London, UK June 19th 2014 -
MAGIX announces the release of the latest version of MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab. MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab 2014 has been developed for everyone who wants to get the most out of their audio material in the shortest amount of time. Thanks to the user-friendly interface you can digitize, edit and optimize your audio material with just a few clicks.

The new MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab 2014 enables fast and easy control of all the functions necessary for recording, cutting and optimizing your audio material. Thanks to a wide range of powerful presets even beginners can edit audio just like a pro

MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab is even more intuitive. With just a few clicks audio material can be digitized, cut and optimized - it's so easy, anybody can do it!

The new tools make sound optimization easier than ever before. For example the Auto Mastering tool optimally adjusts sound settings depending on the music style; hear the difference after just three clicks!

The integrated browser also enables all kinds of files to be directly imported and exported from the program using mobile devices, removing the need for extra dialogs.

Highlights:

NEW Optimize smartphone recordings

Auto Cleaning: Remove unwanted noise such as hissing, crackling and clicking etc.

NEW Auto Mastering: Sound optimization with just a few clicks

Wide range of presets for sound optimization

Track markers for dividing long recordings

Automatic completion of album information

Volume normalization

Clipping reduction

Add sound effects or audio commentary

Price & Availability:

Audio Cleaning Lab 2014 is now available from MAGIX on line and Amazon at £39.99 SRP

About MAGIX:

MAGIX is a leading international provider of high-quality software, online services and digital contents for multimedia communications. Since 1993, MAGIX has been developing leading technologies for creation, editing, management and presentation of photos and graphics, videos and music. Internationally, MAGIX operates from branches in the USA, Canada, the UK, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands. The product range is targeted towards laymen and professionals alike and goes beyond the PC range to include seamlessly integrated online and mobile applications.

According to its retail sales figures, MAGIX leads in the multimedia software sector in Germany and the most important European markets, and is one of the most successful competitors in the USA. Fifteen years of market presence as well as one thousand awards worldwide testify to the company's power of innovation.

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 Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

Yes, I am well aware that the site is due an update soon! It’s coming...

Synapse Circuit for tech news, opinions, articles, reviews and competitions. You will find interactive PDF magazines, videos and links to free legal software! Check it out at Synapse Circuit dot com

Monday 16 June 2014

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT MAGIX COMPETITION RESULTS

Above: Samplitude Music Studio interface showcasing the Mastering Suite 4 and Mixer.
SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
MAGIX COMPETITION!!!

Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers. I hope that all is well with you and that your week has gotten off to a great start! Well, your week

#MAGIX #SamplitudeMusicStudio #Competition #CompetitionResults

MAGIX SAMPLITUDE MUSIC STUDIO 2014 COMPETITION RESULTS!

London, UK (16th June 2014)
– Wow! What a response to this fantastic competition with this awesome prize, Magix Samplitude Music Studio 2014!

THE ANSWERS:-

A. DN-e1, Vita 2 & Power Guitar.

B. Mastering Suite 4.

C. Vintage Effects Suite & 10 Band EQ.


Well done to the winners:

L. Chapelle, Canada

M. Hunter, Leeds

S. Glover, Newport
J. Davies, London

Your prize will be with you soon.

Don’t forget the…

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT CRAZYTALK ANIMATOR PRO COMPETITION!

There is still time to enter and win! Here’s the link to the competition and article:

Reallusion CrazyTalk Animator Pro Review

CrazyTalk Animator Pro Competition


competition.synapse.circuit @gmail.com

GOOD LUCK!


THANKS FOR READING...
Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

Yes, I am well aware that the site is due an update soon! It’s coming...

Synapse Circuit for tech news, opinions, articles, reviews and competitions. You will find interactive PDF magazines, videos and links to free legal software! Check it out at Synapse Circuit dot com

Saturday 14 June 2014

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S NEXUS

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S – NEXUS?

Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers. If you are in the market for a tablet this year then check out this great bit of news!

#Samsung #GalaxyTabS #AndroidTablet #Nexus #Googlei/o2014

WILL GOOGLE ANNOUNCE NEXUS VERSIONS OF SAMSUNG’S GALAXY TAB S TABLETS?  

London (14th June 2014)
– Has the excitement died down from the 12th of June when Samsung revealed their Galaxy Tab S 8.4” and 10.5” iPad killing tablets? NO!!!! Lately there have been a wash of Android tablets coming to the market this year that are quite similarly specified which takes some of the shine off Android tablet market. It is hard to get excited where Android tablets are concerned as they are either very cheap and underpowered or expensive and a little lacking. The most value for money tablet is undoubtedly the Google Asus collaboration, Nexus 7. What I hate about the Nexus 7 is the horrid bezels! Samsung and LG have produced some fine looking tablet designs and with the Galaxy Tab S they have outdone themselves!

OBSERVATION
It didn’t escape my attention that Samsung had focused on open the consumer end of the tablet market. Why? Well, at the moment it is because the apps for the Android tablet have yet to reach the standards of the iPad. I have to say that the Apple ads are getting smarter by concentrating on productivity in music (of late), “Gigantic, Big, Big Love…” The Apple music productivity ads are so convincing that I momentarily think about getting an iPad! Lol! When will Android reach that plateau? Rest assured that it is getting there! I will cover more apps on Android in due course: WATCH THIS SPACE! ;)

So, for now, Samsung are concentrating on the consumer what with all those deals with Netflix, National Geographic, Marvel, Condé Nast (GQ, Wired, Vanity Fair, Vogue and Glamour to name a few popular magazine titles).

Samsung’s magazine service, “Papergarden” debuts on the Galaxy Tab S. An optimized viewing environment for digital interactive magazines, users will be able to view a wide range of popular magazines with vivid and true-to-life colors.

Samsung has also partnered with Google Play, Google’s online digital entertainment store offering apps, games, music, movies, books and magazines. To get Galaxy Tab S users started, Samsung and Google Play are offering several gifts: access to a range of movie and entertainment content, including the Warner Bros. Academy Award winning movie “Gravity” as well a variety of books and magazines from top publishers through the “My Library" widget.

IT’S ODD
Given that Samsung are proven pioneers in the field of productivity I think it is odd that they haven’t done for work / productivity as they have done for entertainment. The Galaxy Note 2 and 3 especially have managed to win iPhone users over with its Premium Suite of software including S Note, Easy Clip and so on. Today, Samsung seems to have gone quiet with its work / productivity apps – this is different from being able to hold a conference through WebEx (Cisco). Perhaps Samsung is leaving work productivity to Google to develop as they have QuickOffice which is the equivalent to Microsoft office. Not to mention Google Docs and Sheets. For some reason Google does not do a good job with their advertising as Apple. Yes, you have to give it to Apple for making their devices appear to be the best in the world and that there is no competition. I would like to see Google step to the plate and show the doubters what Android can do!

GOOGLE I / O 2014
I can’t help but speculate that Google will be announcing many enhancements to the Play Store in terms of high definition content. It appears as though Samsung has given some clues that the Play Store is about to get a major boost in content and perhaps a new interface design.

There has been a lot of speculation upon the next Nexus tablet… Some say that there will be no Nexus 7 2014 with an 8” tablet coming from HTC to replace it… And some say that there will be one last Nexus 7 before Google phases the Nexus concept out in favour of the “Silver” range of products to be launched early next year. If there is no Nexus 7 this year it could be that there is no significant upgrade to Android. Android releases have been very incremental of late and Google has a tendency to release new hardware to coincide with a new version of Android. I get the feeling that we may not be seeing a new version of Android until 2015. My bet is that we’ll see a preview of what is to come for Android and not much more.

So, with no new version of Android for 2014 I would imagine that Google would want to work with all its manufacturing partners / consortium to provide hardware that allows just a pure version of Android for the Play Store. That would make more sense than to deliver yet another Nexus 7 – if it isn’t to be this year.

It would be something if Samsung released a 7” version of the Galaxy Tab S to cover the Nexus 7 void! Can you imagine a Galaxy Tab S 7” with both WiFi and LTE? Wow! We also haven’t seen another Nexus 10 that was originally done by Samsung: Could this be the time for a new Nexus 10?

You just never know with Google and Samsung; as much as stuff is leaked to pique our imaginations they can surprise us!

The Google i / O is in 11 days! I think Google have reinvented Christmas!

THANKS FOR READING...

Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

Yes, I am well aware that the site is due an update soon! It’s coming...

Synapse Circuit for tech news, opinions, articles, reviews and competitions. You will find interactive PDF magazines, videos and links to free legal software! Check it out at Synapse Circuit dot com

Thursday 12 June 2014

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT SAMSUNG DELIVERS iPAD KILLER NO DOUBT

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S. Beautifully designed and crafted; slim bezels on a great tablet!
The pricing for the Galaxy Tab S looks to be very, very reasonable.
I wonder how much it'll cost for both LTE and WiFi.
Finger Print Scanner on the Galaxy Tab S can read up to 8 different users! A first on a tablet!
 SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
NEWS!
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S

Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers. If you are in the market for a tablet this year then check out this great bit of news!

#Samsung #GalaxyTabS #AndroidTablet

PRESENTING THE GALAXY TAB S

New York, Madison Square Garden (12th June 2014)
– The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and Galaxy Tab S 8.4 will come with two different chipset varieties. The LTE variants pack a Snapdragon 800 chipset with a 2.3GHz quad-core Krait 400 CPU, while the Wi-Fi version offers Samsung's Exynos 5 Octa chipset with a quad 1.3GHz Cortex-A7 and quad 1.9GHz Cortex-A15. All versions come with 3GB of RAM and 16GB / 32GB storage flavors. There's also a microSD card slot on board, allowing for up to 128GB of additional storage.

The display resolution on both is WQXGA (2560 x 1600 pixels). This results in a pixel density of 288ppi and 359ppi for the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and 8.4, respectively.

At the back, the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and 8.4 feature an 8MP camera with a 2.1MP at the front. Thanks to the slimmer Super AMOLED screen, both tablets measure just 6.6mm thick, which gets the 10.5" one close to the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet and its 6.4mm waistline.

The weight of the upcoming slates is impressive, too. The Galaxy Tab S 8.4 weighs just 294 grams (298 grams for the LTE version), 44 grams lighter than the LG G Pad 8.3. The Galaxy Tab S 10.5 measures 465 grams (Wi-Fi) and 467 grams (LTE).

In terms of battery size, naturally the 10.5" boasts a larger, 7900mAh Li-Ion battery, while the 8.4" features a 4900mAh unit - still respectable for a mid-sized slate.


Samsung will offer both tablets in bronze and white colors.

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT SAYS…

WOW! AMAZING!
What Samsung has done is to bring the Android tablet to a whole new level of quality that surpasses the iPad. The Galaxy Tab S is going to cause the Apple community to lose it! If you have been following the Apple vs. Samsung Tech War you will know that one of the conditions that came about through the trials is that Samsung has to inform Apple on what they are planning and therefore what we saw at the recent Apple WWDC conference earlier this month is really and truly Apple playing catch up!

This is the tablet that Android fans have been waiting for! All that poor journalism about Samsung leaving Android is just stupid! I think that the Galaxy Tab S is going to fly more than any other Android tablet this year.

Again, the only thing with Android tablets is that the applications are not yet on par with what is available for the iPad – well, at least in terms of music applications! When I get some spare time I compose original music on the PC and I am still looking for the ideal music app so that I can use my time on public transport more productively! But I have been witnessing more and more quality music apps coming to Android.

As you know I have been holding off buying a tablet and the Galaxy Tab S is THE tablet that I want right now! There is so much going for it! It is superb! Supreme on any tablet platform! 

Accept calls on the Galaxy Tab S! Gosh! 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S promises visibility in sunlight. This I have to see!

Here Side Sync allows for the Galaxy S5 to be emulated upon the Galaxy Tab S screen! 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S SuperAMOLED screen produces richer, natural images.

Longer battery life! Yes! 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S continues to pioneer split screen viewing.

Marvel's JARVIS from the Iron Man comics and movies makes an appearance.
Expect to see Samsung product placements within the upcoming Avengers sequel!

There will be high quality content available for the Galaxy Tab S. Great!




Some great looking accessories! Check out the Bluetooth keyboard below!


The Samsung Galaxy Tab S allows a maximum of 8 users to have their individual settings!
I think this is a first on a tablet! The Galaxy Tab S promises to be a boon for the family!

THANKS FOR READING...

Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

Yes, I am well aware that the site is due an update soon! It’s coming...

Synapse Circuit for tech news, opinions, articles, reviews and competitions. You will find interactive PDF magazines, videos and links to free legal software! Check it out at SynapseCircuit dot com