Is the iPhone worth 3 times its production cost?

This week in technology is all about the new iPhones, 5S and 5C. Apple had their biggest iPhone launch to date, selling over 9 million of their new models. Most people consider iPhone to be the superior mobile device, but how superior is it? And is its superiority worth charging 2 to 3 times the phones production worth?

The new apple iPhone 5S features a 64-bit apps processor and a fingerprint identification sensor. Apple has also made marked improvements to all iPhones with the new IOS 7. The 16 giga-byte iPhone 5S production costs are roughly $198 but its retail price is set at $649. The little brother to the 5S, the 5C, costs about $180 to produce and is sold at full retail price for $549. There is only an $18 dollar difference in the costs of production, but the 5S is selling for $100 more.

Apple made the decision to release two different phones to reach to two different consumers. The 5C, developed to target lower income per capita countries, comes in five different vibrant colors and is made of plastic. The new 5S, for the more elite Apple customers, looks similar to the iPhone 5 but is now sold in an attractive gold color.

With these new developments, apple has decided to stop the production of the iPhone 5 in effort to narrow their market.

So far, the idea of offering two different phones seems to be working for Apple. 

Written by : Tamara Carter, Dolphin Tech LLC.

References: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/iphone-5s-cost-make-199-iphone-5c-173-8C11256386

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The Fall of the Printed Book

In world where technology seems to advance from day to day, it should be of no surprise that traditional, paper books are seemingly phasing out. With the dawn of the “e-reader,” or better known kindle and nook devices, we can access virtually any book and download it entirely, in a matter of minutes. That’s great, right? It’s convenient…much more so than having to check books out at the library or buy them at the nearest bookstore but it has not been embraced by all.

  

As an “actual book enthusiast,” I have resisted the urge to switch to the kindle app on my tablet. Many of my fellow enthusiasts would agree with me on the fact that there’s nothing better than holding a book, smelling its pages, and feeling the parchment as you read the gripping,final pages of that thriller novel. It’s as much a sensory experience as it is intellectual and stimulatory. Books transcend time, they remind us of places, and take us to other worlds. So what’s the big deal? You can still experience these sentiments when reading an e-book, can’t you? Some have embraced the new way to read while others continue to resist the change and stay true to “actual” books.  I do fear that in ten or twenty years, libraries will only exist to rent e-books(which they’ve already begun doing) and bookstores will be more like hangouts, full of comfy chairs with bunches of people staring at their respective screens.

Switching to E-books can be a matter of preference, but it won’t do much for your pocket books. Popular e-book providers(kindle, iPad, nook) do offer thousands of titles at no charge, but the majority of the time, e-books cost the same as their printed companions. So, have you chosen to embrace tradition by sticking with printed books, or are you a techy that loves to download everything imaginable to your personal reading device?

Reference: e-books-vs-print-book-the-struggle-between-old-and-new-technology

Julia Brown: Columnist

Written by: Tamara Carter Dolphin Tech, LLC

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Facebook. Is It Bad For You?

Facebook was once considered a great tool to stay in touch, share memories, and connect with new people...Now, not so much. In a recent study published by the Public Library of Science, it was shown that those that spend more time on Facebook are less satisfied with their own lives.

This study, conducted by Dr. Ethan Kross and Dr. Philippe Verduyn was the first to follow Facebook users for an extended period. The researchers  recruited eighty-two twenty somethings for their study. The volunteers agreed to have their Facebook activity monitored for two weeks and to then report five times a day on their mental and emotional state. After analyzing the results, the researchers found that the volunteers were less satisfied with their lives after each of the five times they filled out a short questionnaire. Researchers also found that those who used the site less frequently were generally more content.

The most common emotions reported in the study were envy, isolation and depression. Overall, the study showed that the excessive use of Facebook did cause dissatisfaction, but partly because "Facebookers" tend to over exaggerate their winning qualities, so as to look happy and successful to their potential profile viewers. This is undoubtedly what causes the Facebook frequenters to become envious.

What do you think? Have you ever experienced jealousy from being on Facebook? Is Facebook still a positive, enjoyable part of your life?


Reference:http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21583593-using-social-network-seems-make-people-more-miserable-get-life

Written by: Tamara Carter: Dolphin Tech LLC