Convenience over security

Internet has been the most useful technology of the modern times which helps us not only in our daily lives, but also our personal and professional lives developments. The internet helps us achieve this in several different ways. [http://www.yourmaindomain.com/web-articles/use-of-internet.asp]

Use of the internet will continue to expand and more businesses will venture into this unlimited access of information and border. Same goes to the bank or financial institutions. I believe, almost every financial institution in Malaysia now have their own website and provide online banking services. But, do all the customers using this service? I know I only use online banking of certain bank but it actually took me years to really believe in online banking and online purchasing. Despite all the convenience of using internet banking I don't really use online banking. Despite all the financial institution's effort to ensure the safety and security of performing online banking, why still people have less confidence towards it safety? Are they not doing enough to convince the customers?

One of my close friend never uses internet banking until recently. Reason being, he does not fully confident that the bank's firewall is strong enough to prevent unauthorized access, hackers etc. that will jeopardize his banking transactions. He rather goes to the bank to perform his banking activities. He missed his installment payment couple of times whenever he was too busy to go to the bank to perform his banking transaction not because he forgot but, he didn't have the confidence to perform his banking transaction online.   So, what actually made him start online banking and what type of transaction?

Convenience!  He always busy and  does not have enough time in the day to get everything he needs to do done.  He has son in college and used to excuse himself  during meeting and walk himself to the convenience store whenever his son asked him for prepaid top-up urgently.   That is why he started using online banking, because of its convenience.  Instead of walking down to the convenience store, he just need to login online and get his banking done at his convenient.  That's all and only that type of transaction.  It was a good start but still what made his resistance towards online banking or maybe online purchasing too intense?

Preference or performance : Part 2 - How I finally bought an iPhone.

In my previous entry, I mentioned how my preferences over smaller screen size phone win over bigger size screen phone despite performance.  Many might ask why I did not buy iPhone at the first place and went for other phone.  You must also still remember size come first, other features and factors come later. 
 

Okay, let's talk about the day I choose an iPhone.  It just about 2 years ago when I bought my Xperia and it started to become slower and turned off at no particular reason when I wanted to pick-up calls (happened randomly) therefore  I started to browse again.  That time, Nokia had come out with several improved style and competitive design,  Samsung Galaxy S4 was very attractive and HTC phones also had come out with thinner design.  But, I never thought of iPhone.  Despite the size that met my preference, I didn't really attracted to iPhone.  I owned an iPad but, something about iPhone that did not compel to me that time.  

Apple launched the original iPhone in June 2007 at very high price, $499 for the 4GB and $599 for the 8GB model, which instantly obsoleting other smartphone in the market that time. Over the next two years, with the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, Apple increased functionality while simultaneously lowering price, taking the smartphone fully out of the niche and making it mainstream.   It only arrived Malaysian market in March 2009, under carrier Maxis.  By that time, iPhone 2nd model,  iPhone 3G already launched.  Basically, iPhone 3G was the first iPhone  model to enter Malaysian smartphone market. [http://www.iphoneprice.com/category/iphone-price-in-malaysia/]

[Source : http://www.imore.com/history-iphone]

Despite all the wonderful thing about iPhone that time, I was not compelled to buy an iPhone. Probably because so many hear say about iPhone that stopped me.  One of the things was that, you require to buy the application from App Store else you need to 'jailbreak' the iPhone should you want to download without need to pay anything when you can simply download for free for other smartphone. Others, you cannot assigned ringtones for particular contact unless you buy the tones from iTunes.  You cannot just Bluetooth photos from iPhone to other device.  All other peripheral are locked inside its body and cannot easily take the battery out and in like in the other phones, so if the iPhone jam or hang, you can become helpless.  Lots more... 

I bought my iPhone 5, last year June.  Finally, after much consideration.  I was attracted to iPhone 5 because of the size (of course) and the then its camera actually.  It was during my department convention (April 2013), and a friend of mine sharing the picture of the event with me.  They were really good for me.  I know other android also able to capture good picture, but as I mentioned before, the size that's matter.  After using it,  I realized that, all the 'not so good things' I thought about iPhone before were not really true, at least for me.  Yes, there are some other thing that other phone  is better than iPhone, but overall, I am happy with my iPhone 5 for now.  I found the iPhone's interface is easy to handle and the multitasking function made operating an iPhone simpler.    Someone asked me, why not Samsung S4, it has 13 megapixel camera?.  We'll, iPhone 5 is taller but not wider, thinner and also lighter.  Most importantly, it can be handled single handed and sit nicely in my small skinny jeans pockets!  I also found iPhone 5 design more elegant especially its white body.  And about need to pay for the apps, I found that there are tonnes of free apps I can choose from iTunes.  I also able to transfer my purchase from iPad to my iPhone.

 

[Source : http://www.gizmag.com]

 

So, I guess I will be using iPhone for as long as the size remain the size of my palm.

Preference or performance : Part 1

When I first saw Samsung GALAXY Note advertisement in TV, it was about time for me to change my handphone (again).  I think it was somewhere 2011.  I've been using my Nokia E66  for about 3 years and it started to show signed of exhaustion.   The idea of using your smartphone/android to perform all sort of tasks (play games, web browsing, viewing photos or videos, modifying your hard work charts) on the go, really attract me.

"Okay, I've been using Nokia model for quite sometimes now, so how about switching to other brand?"(My last 4 models were all Nokia) and all at the size of my palm.  I started browsing for the information.  The first thing that came out in my mind that time was, how big is this GALAXY Note? From the advertisement I saw earlier, it did not look big.  5.3 inches? Oh, that is big for my hand. Never mind, maybe other features will be interesting enough for me to decide on the Note later.  It has many other interesting features though, but still I continue to search for other smaller size phone and end-up with Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray, which I know not as latest as the Note but much more smaller than the Note.

But, how about performance? Despite all the interesting and captivating features (at that time) of  GALAXY Note, what stopped me from choosing it was 'the size'.  At 5.3 inches, it require me to use both my hands to operate it. I am particularly choosy when it comes to the size of the phone.  Does it necessary for all the smartphones, androids to have big screen to give better performance?  It is pretty obvious that the phone/handphones manufacturers think that the bigger the phone size, the better and we've seen the phones size now are getting bigger and bigger, and it can be considered as tablet.   I do sometimes feel left out as I still prefer smaller screen phone, but not many models to choose from.  It is unlikely for me to put the size of tablet phones to my ears and talk!  I've seen that, and it just look funny at least on me.

Samsung GALAXY Note vs Xperia Ray

Design
Manufacture	Sony Ericsson	Samsung
Model	Xperia Ray	Galaxy Note
Form factor	Block	Block
Weight	100 gram	176 gram
Size (HxWxD)	111 x 53 x 9.4mm	146.85 x 82.95 x 9.65mm
Operating System	Android 2.3	Android 2.3
Communication
Networks	2G 850, 900, 1800, 19003G 850, 1900, 2100	2G 850, 900, 1800, 19003G 850, 900, 1900, 2100
HSCSD
GPRS
EDGE
UMTS
HSDPA
HSPA+
WiMAX
LTE (4G light)
WLAN / Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi Hotspot
Wi-Fi Direct
SMS
MMS
Email
Connectivity
HDMI out
USB port
MHL
Bluetooth
Bluetooth version	2.0	NA
DLNA
GPS
Glonass
ANT+
IrDA
NFC
Camera
3.5 mm audio connector
Camera
Camera resolution	8.1 megapixel, autofocus, face detection, geo tagging	8 megapixel
Image Stabilization
BSI sensor
Camera Flash/Light
Flash type	NA	NA
Video recording
Video capture resolution	720p	NA
Display
Second Camera	NA	2 megapixel
Display size	3.3 inches	5.3 inches
Touchscreen
Colour display
Number of colours	16,777,216	NA
Display resolution (WxH)	480 x 854 pixels	800 x 1280 pixels
PPI	297	285
Second Display	NA	NA
Hardware
CPU	1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255	1.4 GHz dual core
GPU	NA	NA
Memory	512 MB RAM. 1 GB storage where 300 MB is availble to user. Expandable up to 32 GB with microSD card. 4GB card included	16/32 GB internal. Expandable up to 32 GB with microSD card
Micro SIM
Dual SIM
Multimedia
MP3
Ringtones / Music file format	MP3	MP3, AAC, AMR, WMA, FLAC, OGG
Java
Games	Yes	Yes
FM Radio
Power management
Battery	1500 mAh	2500 mAh
Standby time (h)	430	570
Talktime (m)	420	780
Features
Wireless Charging
Browser	NA	Android HTML Webkit
Calendar
Voicedialing
IP Code	NA	NA
Predictive text
RSS reader
Voicememo
PC Synchronization
SyncML

 

 

Source: http://www.esato.com/phones/compare.php?phone=816&cp=852

Clear enough, the size of the phones determine the decision I made.  It has to be big enough just to fit my small palm/hand. And  it must be able to be operated with single hand.  Later, I will look at other features, specifications, practicality etc.

Furthermore, I already have a tablet, so why should I get bigger size phone? I am not a gadget freak, hence I do not really care about the software, applications, IOS, whatsoever.  I used the phone to make calls, messaging, viewing/reading emails and light web browsing. And, if the smaller phone functions better or at least at par with bigger screen phones,  might as well I choose smaller screen phone.  Many might not agree with me, but hey, this is a free world!

 

Performance of the phones not a determinant factor for me to choose a phone.  My preference over the smaller screen size does.