Competition For Apple

Who'd Ever Think That Apple Might Have Some Serious Competition?

Samsung of South Korea is increasing its competition with Apple. Recently, the company gave a preview of the new Galaxy S4. However, Samsung's newest phone isn't the only thing that is driving competition against Apple.

Worldwide, Samsung Electronics is the top seller of smartphones. Yet, in the US Apple still dominates the smartphone industry. But how long will this be true?




Image from hothardware(dot)com


The preview for the Galaxy S4 took place in the US, more specifically Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Here new innovations for the Galaxy S4 are shown. One of them is the ability to control the phone by using hand gestures. Another is the phones ability to scroll a web screen when someone is looking at it and it is being tilted at an angle. If you've used or observed someone playing a Nintendo DS or DSI then you would be familiar with Group Play. Group Play is another feature on the S4; it allows those who have a Galaxy to connect and play group games with other people who have a Galaxy. This is made possible through WiFi, which is the same way players can connect using the Nintendo DS or DSI system.

What drives competition between Samsung and Apple?

Consider the holiday season.
According to the research firm IDC, for last years holiday quarter Samsung's shipment of phones went up 76 percent from the shipment percent recorded the year before. Apple only went up 29.2 percent from the previous year.



Here are some things to note (things that may point to why Samsung has greater market shares that Apple worldwide):

• Availability of smartphones in different sizes, varied prices and styles.
• Although Samsung may have 'stolen' some ideas from Apple (as they are accused of doing) Samsung has some innovation of its own. While most smartphones have a predictable size, the Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, and The Note II are phones that have larger screens than the average smartphone.

Thinking about purchasing the Galaxy S4. Then visit the S4's global site here. As a student considering working in the creative department team I like the availability of information and the bright pictures used for the global site.

Source: The New York Times

Testing The Waters In Photo Editing (Class Assignment)





This first image is from FotoFlexer. 

The original size of the image was decreased, then duplicated four times, I then used the rotation tool to create a reflection effect.







 

BEFORE









AFTER









BEFORE





The image to the left is an image I captured on my own a few summers ago. I cropped the image then duplicated one flower and added to the center of the picture.

 





 

AFTER



BEFORE



For the last one, I simply added text. ;)

AFTER



These photos have been edited by FotoFlexer, a free online image editor.

Guest Speaker From The Career Center

At St. John's University the students have the Career Center available for use. On Tuesday my multimedia communications class welcomed our guest speaker, Elisa Zervos, from the Career Center at St. John's.

I'm sure we all received helpful advice regarding our career paths, even if we are still in the beginning stages of it.

Here are some tips and suggestions I took note of as Zervos spoke:

• "Start from within" when looking for a career path. What are your passions and interests?
• Research the occupation you are interested in.
• Know the salary range of the position you are applying for so that you won't be cheated (receive wages less than the average amount).
• Set up a LinkedIn account. LinkedIn is like a professional-business like version of Facebook. Facebook is more for social relations with friends and family, where LinkedIn is for the purpose of finding a job. You can upload you resume and provide specific details that may qualify you for a job. I've heard many times from my professors that even employers search LinkedIn to find the next few individuals they will hire; so it's best to have ones profile filled with relative (to business/career) detail and to talk about ones passion in the summary section of your profile. Don't forget to upload a professional picture!

Zervos also gave some wonderful tips in attending career fairs

• Target 5 companies.
• Search the Internet for their available positions. Then while at the Career Fair as questions about the position(s) you are interested in.
• Dress professionally.
• Network! I've heard this probably a million times over the last six months. Professors stress the importance of networking because employers are most likely to hire someone that has been recommended for the job by someone that is already an employee. So while attending classes in college - NETWORK!  Even at Career Fairs - NETWORK! Ask for a business card, email or phone number. If you have a business card, or better yet your resume offer it to them.
• "Before leaving, say goodbye." Before going home to review all the information you received make one more round to say goodbye to all the people you spoke with.

What about the interview process?

• Think about specific questions you yourself may have to ask the person(s) interviewing you. Questions about the company or the position you're being interviewed for.
•  After an interview , if rejected, stay in contact by sending a thank you letter or email; most especially if they spent three to four hours with you.

Lastly, here are some websites to check out:

What Can I Do With My Major?

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

O*Net Online