iOS 6 Coming To An iPhone Near You This Fall

If at all you are on the market for a Smartphone, don't pull the trigger on decision making until you have looked long and hard at the all new iOS 6  features announced at the WWDC 2012 by Apple yesterday, due to be released this fall.

For starters the Apple iOS 6 update will be compatible with the iPhone 3GS and newer, iPad 2 and newer and the fourth generation iPod Touch and newer.  The only drag with upgrading from a system which is say a couple of years old is the noticeable slowing in performance as the antiquated hardware labors to keep up with the new operating software.

Some of the new features are not revolutionary in themselves as Android Ice Cream Sandwich is already offering some of them, and the Microsoft mobile platform has plenty new features as well.  What usually sets Apple apart is the simple and elegant integration of all the different parts to provide an augmented user experience on a closed but secure  platform.

There are over 200 new features arriving with iOS 6 but here are just a few of the more exciting ones:

Passbook

An alternative to carrying a big wallet stacked with cards, Passbook will aggregate boarding passes, loyalty cards, shopping coupons etc in a way that will simplify the process of finding a needle in a haystack of cards from your wallet.  There is an App CardStar which I use now on my iPhone 4 though not as extensive in it's capability, provides an easy way to keep my loyalty cards in one place and I find it very useful.  Passbook seeks to go beyond that, where boarding passes and coupons will appear on your locked screen when you arrive at the airport or in the grocery store.

3D Maps

Google already provides StreetView in the Maps App, but here again Apple seems to forge ahead with relying less on it's main rival in the Smartphone market. The new Maps App will bring Text-to-Speech feature, which is a spoken turn-by-turn navigation instructions along with ability to do a birds eye view tour of cities. Now I am using Mapquest Mobile  which is a free navigation app that provides text-to-speech functionality and I must say works quite well.

Expanded Siri

Siri will now be available on the new iPad, in more languages and more countries.  And it will open Apps so you can tweet and update Facebook status by voice commands alone.  My buddy Stacy who upgraded from an old flip phone to the iPhone 4S looks so productive dictating his text messages and setting up reminders, he now swears by this feature.  If you are not big on typing on small touch screens you will appreciate this solution.

Facebook Integration

The lack of Facebook integration in the previous iOS iterations have always been one of my gripes with Apple but I can rest easy now that the same integration provided for the less popular twitter is extended to Facebook.

Facetime over Cellular Network

Now you can make Facetime calls over your Cellular network as well as over Wi-Fi.  It remains to be seen how practical making Facetime calls over the networks will be considering how expensive data is right now.

My friends on the Android platform will not trade in their phones for anything else and I find that to be the case with those using iOS.  If you are still  still on the fence deliberating which Smartphone to go with,   I recommend the iPhone only because I think it provides access to the largest App market and is also quite secure.  Plus I happen to own one, so excuse my bias.  The BlackBerry enthusiasts are also comfortable with their portion and I am happy for them.  Which ever platform you choose, don't look back after you make the decision and enjoy it for it's strengths.  Share your comments and thanks for reading...

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Dress Traditional With the Kaba and Slit Combination

With Traditional dresses, a beautiful cultural statement is made tastefully.  As you will see in the pictures below, the African prints are saturated with colour and heavy on pattern, that usually speaks to a particular theme.  Then it is the job of the seamstress to bring the colour and pattern of the fabric to life with styles customized to individual taste.

The typical traditional functions that call for the elaborate Kaba and Slit arrangement include weddings, engagements, outdoorings, baby dedications and funerals. The predominantly red and black prints are often worn at funerals while white prints are worn at engagements and outdoorings.

Now if I remember correctly, about 6 yards of fabric will get you the complete Kaba and Slit.  The Kaba is the top which uses up 2 yards, the bottom is the Slit which uses another 2 yards. The remaining 2 yards can be used for a head wrap or a shawl.  This 2 piece is really versatile as mothers will also carry their new borns on their back in a tight wrap with them.

Here are Ten traditional styles for you and your seamstress to ponder....

Black gold African brocade

Olive African print skirt and and top

Burgundy African brocade attire

Yellow Kaba and Slit

Blue Kaba and Slit

Elegant Senegalese African print with lace dress

African print with Satin skirt

Purple African print skirt and top

Elegant African lace

Purple Senegalese African brocade caftan dress

Photo credits www.dupsies.com

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Kanye West Gifted Lamborghini Aventador, Thanks To Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian made the point that like a Lamborghini, life is too fast and so expensive, a gesture I'm sure even the sometimes arrogant Kanye West will surely notice.

At 750 000 dollars, the Lamborghini Aventador is quite a beautiful beast, 700 horsepower, lunging from zero to sixty clicks in a mere 2.8 seconds.

These two have been an item since April, not long after Kim's marriage to Kris Humphries fell on the rocks. Here are a few pictures, evidence how quickly they have made ground dating...

Photo credits: US weekly

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Fifty Shades of Grey In The Spotlight For Being Heavy On The Darker Side

Fifty Shades of Grey authored by British E.L.James is an erotic fictional novel, the first of a trilogy of books that outperformed on several bestseller lists but also endured censorship at some local public libraries.  Just in case you lived under a rock and haven't heard about this book, chances are you are a) male or b) just like me, you don't particularly jump at the thought of reading novels, or both.

I haven't read a novel since I discovered The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield about 2 years ago.  A good read, I stumbled upon this book in the gym and was immediately drawn to it by the cover. I eventually got a pdf copy and read it cover to cover.  A rare feat indeed!

It is going to take another such inspirational moment to drive me to reading a novel again and it looks like the moment is now.  A few colleagues from work have announced glowing reviews only a few pages into their readings, and I never butted an eye.  Then Tara, a very good friend calls from St. John's, New Foundland.  She is already 300 pages into Fifty Shades of Grey.  She gives me a brief synopsis and I agree to find out why this book has captured the imagination of some and ignited the fantasies of others.

So anyways compliments Tara, I obtain a pdf copy and promptly loads it on the iPad.  One chapter into the novel and Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is under way so I suspend the reading as I hate missing live events, especially those of the Sports variety.

I imagine it will be a while before I get through this book at which point I will make a determination to complete the trilogy which includes two other volumes namely Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed.

In March 2012, A Florida Public Library removed Fifty Shades of Grey from their shelves arguing that it neither met their selection criteria nor did it receive favourable reviews, even though there was very high interest in the book from the county library patrons.  So thus more fuel was added to the fire of controversy shrouding this novel helping propel it to the top of bestseller lists in the US, UK and around the world. The Library will eventually succumb to pressure and popular demands and return the books to their shelves where they sit indexed in the categories Romance, Suspense and Erotica.

Apparently this book is very popular among thirty something year old moms, so if you fit the demographic you might want to check it out here.  So give it a read and draw your own conclusions...
And if you have already read, let us hear your thoughts about the book.

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Kate Middleton Fashion Icon Status Questioned

Kate Middleton the Duchess of Cambridge busting a red Alexander McQueen frock at the Queen's Jubilee Celebration drew a lot of wows, and some subdued em sneers for a lack of originality as reality star royalty Kim Kardashian already donned a shorter, sleeveless version of the frock, running errands. Yikes.

Photo credit, Huffingtonpost.com

So the natural question, who wore the frock better? Most of the commentary I read was more sympathetic to the Duchess, as many cited how much more classy she is than Kim Kardashian.  But I beg to differ.  This red frock is heavy on straight lines and in my view, not as complimenting on Kate's slender and boyish frame.  Straight line accents on dress work better on curvy body types as it provides a contrast in geometry.  Any body agree with me on this, or I am out to lunch?  Share your comments below.  Thanks for reading...

5 Gifts Dads Always Wanted For Father's Day

Father's Day, June 17th 2012, the third Sunday of June is set aside this year to celebrate fatherhood and to complement the better publicized Mother's Day.  Already celebrated by some countries such as Italy, Portugal, Germany, Russia and South Korea, The Americas along with scores of other countries will have their turn at the very commercialized celebration of Father's Day.

There will be exchange of goods and services. Sorry, I mean gifts. And knowing what to get that special Dad is key. Let me help you remove the guess work here.  It's gonna come down to Science.  A recent survey published by Harris Interactive for Ebates.com polled 2000 American adults and concluded that while a 60% majority of women thought that tickets to a sporting event will be the most desired Father's day gift, when men actually wanted a tablet or smartphone, 52% of them. Go figure.

Care to know the remainder of the top five gifts American Dad's secretly want?  Well second is a home cooked meal, then tickets to sporting events, power tools and finally a guilt-free weekend with friends.

iPhone4S, LG Optimus, HTC Evo 4G, Motorola Droids, BlackBerry

The Apple IPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab and Motorola Xoom

Home cooked stir fry

Sports Tickets

Power Tools

Personally I think most Dads will be happy with fresh sets of boxer briefs and socks so they can finally retire some of those old faithfuls with holes in them.  What are your thoughts on Father's Day gift ideas?  Don't hesitate to share your ideas in the comments below.  Thanks for stopping by...

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Seasonal Allergies Aint Nothing to Sniffle About

My Seasonal Allergies went into overdrive this  Spring and not even the knowledge that several other millions of people worldwide suffer similar torment will bring relief.  This little nag that also go by the name Hay Fever took three weeks of my spring away despite my protests, and now I am here to officially lodge a complaint to who ever will listen.  I thank you in advance for sympathizing.

I have endured the runny nose, congested sinuses, sore throat, sneezing and post-nasal drip.  The worst of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis for me is diminished sense of taste and smell, the double whammy that greatly interferes with my appetite.  And when I have trouble eating I quickly lose enthusiasm for the gym and my fitness suffers.

Hay fever symptoms are so similar to those of a Cold that it takes a an allergy expert to definitively tell them apart. So a combination of consistent symptoms and positive allergy test will draw the diagnosis. Cold symptoms often appear one at a time, first sneezing, then running nose then congestion while allergy symptoms will all hit you at once, Bam! And while cold symptoms will typical last 7 to 10 days and peaks during winter, allergy symptoms will persist as long as pollen exposure occurs usually in the spring and fall.

The culprit really is Pollen. In the spring, plants are aggressively spreading their pollen in a frenzied bid to cross-pollinate and perpetuate their species.  It is easy to get caught in this cross-fire of pollen during the spring plant reproductive frenzy. And if your immune system is a little on the sensitive side, then an exaggerated immune response will be your portion, aka hay fever.  Pollen is this powdery, egg-shaped grains released by flowering plants and carried by insects and/or air to cross-pollinate other plants of the same species.  when the pollen lands on your skin, eyes, nose or lungs the immune system elicits allergic reactions like allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and allergic asthma.

Tree pollen, grass pollen, ragweed pollen, and mold are the four main causes of seasonal allergies.

During the worst of my spring episode with pollen exposure, I did not wheeze with breathing and as long as I blew my nose and cleared my throat, I could breathe without a lot of obstruction.  But there are lots of people out there whose symptoms can be debilitating enough to warrant medical intervention.

The best non-medical remedy out there is avoidance.  You may avoid the outdoors in the mornings (between 5 and 10 am) when pollen concentration is at it's highest and windows and doors to the outside must be shut. Keep the car window closed when traveling and avoid freshly cut grass and let other people do the lawn mowing.  And you may also want to avoid hanging laundry outside, lest it collects pollen. But this evasive method is very limited in usefulness at best unless living in a bubble sounds appealing to you.

There are several over the counter medications available to blunt the immune response to pollen including eye drops, nasal spray and Antihistamine pills (Claritin, Benadaryl, Allegra). The Antihistamines are hard on the body and if you can do without them, you probably should.  Yup because take a look at some of the contraindications for using these pills: High Blood Pressure, Liver and Kidney disease, Heart disease, Enlarged prostate, Glaucoma, Thyroid problems etc.

I have used Claritin in the past to control my symptoms, but this season I practiced avoidance with mixed results.  I find that the weekend of the Lilac festival is usually when I take the hit.  I didn't attend the Lilac festival, Calgary, last weekend not because I was avoiding pollen, but man, these plants need to tone down their cross pollination business a couple notches here before I escalate my complaining...

Lilacs

Thanks for reading this post, please share your experience in the comments below.
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