Yearly Archives: 2012
iPad Mini Rumor Roundup: What Is Out There
The rumor mill is churning out rumor after rumor at full speed about Apple’s purported smaller iPad. Indeed, even some friends who do not follow the latest developments in the tech industry have asked me when the iPad Mini might come out.
That, of course, still isn’t clear even to us who religiously track updates in the industry. What also struck me though is that these friends knew there are rumors about a certain “iPad Mini”, the name the blogosphere has christened this rumored smaller Apple tablet with.
As such, let us compile here what is currently out there about the iPad Mini.
The most recent word out there is that Apple has ordered over 10 million iPad Minis to be made. That reportedly comes from Asian suppliers Apple have, The Wall Street Journal says. This report also notes that “strong consumer demand for Samsung…and Amazon’s 7-inch [tablet computers] show that there is demand for a smaller tablet.” That makes sense.
Because Apple will be competing with surprisingly affordable smaller tablets from Samsung, Amazon and Asus (remember the Google Nexus 7?), the specifications sheet for the iPad Mini will not be that great, reports say. “Apple may need to limit its features, storage space, or processor speed,” MacWorld says.
MacRumors adds that the iPad Mini may run on Apple’s cheaper A5 chip. Not that something is wrong with that. It is just that people should not be expecting an A6 chip powering this tablet.
As for the screen, it is rumored it will have a 7- to 8-inch display panel, says Bloomberg in the report which was one of the starters of the rumor. The current buzz suggest that the new tablet may have a 7.85-inch unit, as the New York Times suggested. This screen size was also noted in a report from Taiwan United Daily News from October of last year saying Samsung and AU Optronics have sent Apple prototypes of a display panel of that size.
As mentioned above, though, Apple will be keeping costs down so no Retina Display is expected for the iPad Mini. But wouldn’t it be a deal maker if Apple chose to make the iPad Mini with a Retina Display and still have a low price?
Meanwhile, just for the fun of it, if you are looking for the first report that mentions a 7-inch screen for the iPad, iLounge said way, way back in 2009 that the iPad actually started as a 7-inch tablet. Of course, there is also DigiTimes which has been at it since 2010. The publication, which has had quite a lot of things reported right (and a lot of things wrong too though), said in April of 2010 that Apple may launch an iPad Mini in 2011 that has a screen that measures 5 to 7 inches diagonally.
There’s CNET which chimed in on November 2010 saying “lot of original design manufacturer activity around a 7-inch iPad” and Reuters which said in December 2010 that an iPad “about half the size of the current tablet computer” is being prepared.
DigiTimes also said last year that Apple may launch a 7.85-inch iPad during the fourth quarter of this year, which is now. Back in February, The Wall Street Journal said “people familiar with the situation” have told them Apple is making an iPad that has an 8-inch.
As for the unveiling date, it was said back in August that the iPad Mini may be released in October. In fact, there was buzz then that Apple may unveil its new tablet together with the iPhone 5. Alas, that rumor proved to be wrong. The sites which reported about this were All Things Digital and Bloomberg. Rumors point to this month as the most likely time frame that Apple will launch the new tablet with a release date two weeks after the launch date.
As for pricing and definite specifications, those are still up in the air.
How do you want the iPad Mini, if it really is being developed by Apple? Tell us in the comments below.
iPad Mini renderings from the talented Martin Hajek whose work you can see on Flickr here. This man previously got the iPhone 5 right and even managed to fool tech news sites, which he did not intend to do, into believing his renderings are really leaked photos of the iPhone 5.[cb]Apple[/cb]
Teardown Reveals Galaxy S III Display Is Better Than iPhone 5 Display
The iPhone 5 may have one of the most advanced displays in the whole of the smartphone industry but a recent teardown and analysis by IHS iSuppli says that the Galaxy S III display’s specifications still trump the specifications of the iPhone 5 display.
Apple’s iPhone 5 screen is the first product ever to sport a display panel that incorporates “in-cell” touch technology.
In fact, that’s one of the main reasons Vinita Jakhanwal, director for Small & Medium Displays at IHS, said in a press release as the reason the iPhone 5 screen is very advanced.
“As the first product with in-cell touch, the iPhone 5 represents a major achievement, improving the image quality and reducing the thickness of the smartphone compared to previous model,” Vinita Jakhanwal said.
By using in-cell technology for display panels, manufacturers are able to make thinner and lighter displays. This is because in-cell technology means a display does not need to have a separate layer where touch sensors are embedded. Instead, touch sensors are integrated onto the LCD stack of the display thus creating a slimmer and lighter panel.
However, an analysis of the iPhone 5 display reveals that it is still thicker than the AMOLED display of the Galaxy S III.
IHS iSuppli says that:
“The iPhone 5’s display is just 1.5 millimeters thick, a 0.6-millimeter reduction from 2.1 millimeters for the iPhone 4S, according to measurements from the IHS iSuppli Teardown Analysis Service. Meanwhile, the color gamut of the iPhone 5 has risen to 72 percent of the NTSC standard, compared to 50 percent for the 4S.
Even so, this falls short of the Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S III, which sports a display with a thickness of just 1.1 millimeters and a color gamut with full 100 percent NTSC.”
However, this may not result in a very distinct performance edge for the Galaxy S III. IHS iSuppli says:
The iPhone 5’s display still falls short of the NTSC color gamut mark achieved by the Galaxy III. However, from a user’s perspective, the lower color gamut measurement may not necessarily make the iPhone 5 display look worse than the Galaxy III. More accurate and realistic representation of image color and contrasts may be a result of better calibration, higher brightness and superior power efficiency of the display.
The IHS iSuppli report also comes off as negative to the advantages held by the specifications of the Galaxy S III display. It says:
“…As AMOLEDs don’t use a backlight unit, they potentially have better power efficiency than LCDs. However, there are concerns about differential aging of organic materials, which affects OLED lifetime and power efficiency. And although display power consumption is important, overall battery life of the device will still be dependent on many other factors…”
“…While the display is thicker than for the Samsung Galaxy III, the iPhone 5 as a whole is 1 millimeter thinner than the Galaxy S III, which measures 8.6 millimeters in total. The Galaxy S III’s greater girth is due to other factors separate from the display, most likely the thickness of the battery…”
Jakhanwal also says:
“Some user reviews indicate that colors presented on the Galaxy S III actually can look oversaturated and unrealistic… While it may be interesting to compare the display specifications for the two phones, the actual front-of-screen viewing experience could diverge for different users…”
“…And although the iPhone 5 still trails the Galaxy S III in the display specs race, the iPhone 5 overall remains thinner than the Galaxy S III, and its display color gamut is more than sufficient for most users. Such improvements on the iPhone 5 are consistent with Apple’s philosophy of selecting features designed to yield profitable products that deliver a superior customer experience, rather than of providing technology for technology’s sake…”
These differences may be too minute for users to note but it’s still interesting to say the least that the Galaxy S III display panel trumps the iPhone 5 display panel on paper. The report may have a point though.
Source: IHS iSuppli
[cb]Apple[/cb]
[cb]Samsung Electronics[/cb]
Posted in Gadgets
Tagged analysis, Apple, comparison, display, Galaxy S III, IHS iSuppli, iPhone 5, Samsung, showdown, specifications, teardown
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AVG Antivirus For Android
Since they have been invented, our electronical devices have had and will always experience some sort of problems. With computers it’s could be that the constant crashing, the screen freezing, loosing data and unwanted extra files. Luckily, Software that solves these and many other issues is constantly being developed and updated, so as to deal with the next one. One of the larger problems, particularly with the “age of the internet” is virus’ and the way Viruses work. It’s been a while since there was such a “plague” of viruses hitting computers all in such a short space of time, but the threat is ever present. And now we have the internet and emails on our smart phones, it is just as equally a valid threat for these.
Viruses are becoming a big threat for mobile operating systems as well specially Android OS. So, making sure that your device is safe from all types of malwares and viruses is a must. Falling prey to malwares means that all your phone data is at the risk of being stolen. To make sure that you’re safe from all types of viruses one must download an Anti-Virus software or app for your Android device.
AVG is one of the top names in the anti-virus business. The free software for PC is the best anti-virus program and now the company has released an Android app as well to protect your Android device from foul programs that pose a big threat to your device. The Android version of AVG is not just a simple Virus cleaner, it comes with more extra features and perks.
It has the the most-wanted feature of a Task Cleaner that closes any unwanted tasks to save memory and battery usage and you don’t have to install a different app for that purpose. It also has a new feature called App ocker that locks any app you don’t want other to use by protecting it with a password. It can also serve up as an App backer to back up your installed apps and data.
All in all AVG for Android is a must have for all the people who want to make sure that their devices stay clean from threatening malwares and viruses and make sure their data stays intact and protected all the time.
PowerA Moga Bluetooth Android Controller
Are you a fan of console gaming? Do you like to play your favorite games with a controller? Well, if you do then you would surely prefer a physical controller for your Android tablet as well. Touch controls just don’t cut it sometimes when you want to play some fast paced games like Asphalt or GTA III. So, in order to ease your problems we bring you that latest Moga Controller that is the best physical controller for your Android device and looks similar to Xbox 360 controller.
The Moga Controller looks like a good controller for playing fast pace games like racing, first person shooters, and action games where touch controls are not as good compared to physical buttons. It provides smooth and firm grip and the placement of buttons is spot-on.
I like the bigger controller with the digital Directional pad, two analog joystick, buttons, and hand grips more than the small controller which look goods for gaming on the go. Bigger controllers make it easier to play games that require multi input.
If the phone, or tablet is not too heavy, the controller seem to be able to act like a stand, or the user can use some sort of a clamp, or paper weight to hold down the controller, so it won’t tip over when you are not holding it, and leaving it on a table as a stand.
So, the Moga controller is a win-win even if you want a dock for your tablet/smartphone, you can get it and enjoy the extra perks of playing your games with ease. Check out the video below.
4-inch Galaxy S3 Coming Tomorrow?
JK Shin, head of Samsung Mobile Communication has confirmed on Wednesday that his company will be launching a 4-inch version of popular Galaxy S III smartphone. As previously rumoured, the handset will be released in Germany tomorrow.
Shin did not reveal the specifications or the exact name of the smartphone; however he did say the smartphone won’t come with entry-level hardware.
According to Shin, Samsung is seeing a lot of demand for 4-inch smartphones, thus this launch.
“We’ll be launching a 4-inch Galaxy S III on the 11th in Germany. There’s a lot of demand for a 4-inch screen device in Europe. Some call it an entry-level device but we call it ‘mini,” Shin said.
The previous reports indicate the smartphone will come with 4-inch Super AMOLED display, dual-core processor, and 5MP rear camera. We have already seen the press event invite, so it is just a matter of hours before the mini version Galaxy S III becomes official.
Apple Unveils The Bigger, Smaller iPhone 5
Apple has unveiled its newest smartphone, the bigger and at the same time smaller iPhone 5.
The iPhone 5 is bigger because of its headlining feature, a 4-inch Retina Display which features a 640 x 1,136 pixels resolution. This is the first time Apple has increased the display size of the iPhone since it debuted a 3.5-inch-screened iPhone in 2007.
Another main feature of the iPhone 5 is its A6 CPU which beats the A5 processor doubling the latter’s performance, Apple claims.
The iPhone 5 is smaller because it is now thinner. It’s about 20 percent thinner than the iPhone 4S. The new iPhone is now just 7.6mm.
The iPhone 5 now also has LTE built-in so no more jokes about Apple not having a 4G phone. Completing the major changes to the iPhone is the new Lightning dock which is smaller than the previous dock the iPod and iPhones of the past sported.
Here are the official photos of the new iPhone and catch Apple’s full press release after the break.
Just a note we’d like to make for the pricing is that the prices listed below are with new two-year contracts. Unlocked iPhone 5 units start at $645 (16GB) but if you can wait a little over a month, buy your iPhone 5 on the second week of November as prices are expected to drop then for a starting price of $445.
Thinnest, Lightest iPhone Ever Features All-New Aluminum Design, Stunning 4-Inch Retina Display, A6 Chip & Ultrafast Wireless
SAN FRANCISCO—September 12, 2012—Apple® today announced iPhone® 5, the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever, completely redesigned to feature a stunning new 4-inch Retina™ display; an Apple-designed A6 chip for blazing fast performance; and ultrafast wireless technology*—all while delivering even better battery life.** iPhone 5 comes with iOS 6, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features including: the all new Maps app with Apple-designed cartography and turn-by-turn navigation; Facebook integration; Passbook® organization; and even more Siri® features and languages.
“iPhone 5 is the most beautiful consumer device that we’ve ever created,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “We’ve packed an amazing amount of innovation and advanced technology into a thin and light, jewel-like device with a stunning 4-inch Retina display, blazing fast A6 chip, ultrafast wireless, even longer battery life; and we think customers are going to love it.”
iPhone 5 is the thinnest smartphone in the world, with an all-new 7.6 mm anodized aluminum body that is 18 percent thinner and 20 percent lighter than iPhone 4S. Designed with an unprecedented level of precision, iPhone 5 combines an anodized aluminum body with diamond cut chamfered edges and glass inlays for a truly incredible fit and finish.
The new 4-inch Retina display on iPhone 5 delivers even more pixels than iPhone 4S, making the already incredible Retina display even better. By making the screen taller, not wider, iPhone 5 is just as easy to use with one hand so you can tap, type and scroll the same way you always have, while enjoying even more of your content including amazing apps optimized for the larger Retina display, widescreen HD video, a full five days of your Calendar and more of every web page.
iPhone 5 supports ultrafast wireless standards including LTE and DC-HSDPA, so you can browse, download and stream content even faster. To support the latest LTE technology, Apple has pioneered a unique single-radio LTE solution that provides blazing fast speeds while fitting perfectly into the new remarkably thin design. iPhone 5 features dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi support for a wireless experience up to 150 Mbps.***
The all-new A6 chip was designed by Apple to maximize performance and power efficiency to support all the incredible new features in iPhone 5, including the stunning new 4-inch Retina display—all while delivering even better battery life. With up to twice the CPU and graphics performance, almost everything you do on iPhone 5 is blazing fast for launching apps, loading web pages and downloading email attachments.
The 8 megapixel iSight® camera is the most popular camera in the world and with iPhone 5, it’s even better. The new camera is completely redesigned with incredible optical performance, yet amazingly it’s 25 percent smaller than the camera in iPhone 4S. The new iSight camera in iPhone 5 features a sapphire crystal lens cover that is thinner and more durable than standard glass with the ability to provide crystal clear images. The new panorama feature lets you capture jaw-dropping panorama images of up to 28 megapixels by simply moving the camera across a scene in one smooth motion. New video features include improved stabilization, video face detection for up to 10 faces and the ability to take still photos as you record. A new FaceTime® HD front facing camera makes FaceTime calls incredibly clear and can also be used for self portraits and recording 720p HD video. iPhone 5 also allows you to share photos with friends and family using iCloud’s Shared Photo Streams.
iPhone 5 features the new Lightning™ connector that is smaller, smarter and more durable than the previous connector. The all-digital Lightning connector features an adaptive interface that uses only the signals that each accessory requires, and it’s reversible so you can instantly connect to your accessories. The Lightning-to-30-pin Adapter is also available to connect iPhone 5 to legacy 30-pin accessories.****
iPhone 5 introduces new enhanced audio features including a new beam-forming, directional microphone system for higher quality sound, while background noise fades away with new noise canceling technology. iPhone 5 now includes support for cellular wideband audio for crisper word clarity and more natural sounding speech. Wideband audio will be supported by over 20 carriers worldwide at launch. iPhone 5 comes with the new Apple EarPods™ featuring a breakthrough design for a more natural fit and increased durability, and an incredible acoustic quality typically reserved for higher-end earphones.
iPhone 5 comes with iOS 6, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new user features including: an all new Maps app with Apple-designed cartography, turn-by-turn navigation and an amazing new Flyover™ view; Facebook integration for Contacts and Calendar, with the ability to post directly from Notification Center; Passbook, the simplest way to get all your passes in one place; new Siri features, including support for more languages, easy access to sports scores, restaurant recommendations and movie listings;***** Siri and Facebook-enabled apps like Photos, Safari® and Maps; and Shared Photo Streams via iCloud®.
Pricing & Availability
iPhone 5 comes in either white & silver or black & slate, and will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model and $299 (US) for the 32GB model and $399 (US) for the 64GB model. iPhone 5 will be available from the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores, and through AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless and select Apple Authorized Resellers. iPhone 5 will be available in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the UK on Friday, September 21, and customers can pre-order their iPhone 5 beginning Friday, September 14. iPhone 4S will also be available for just $99 (US) and iPhone 4 will be available for free with a two-year contract.****** iOS 6 software will be available on Wednesday, September 19 as a free software update.
iPhone 5 will roll out worldwide to 22 more countries on September 28, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
* LTE is available through select carriers. Network speeds are dependent on carrier networks, check with your carrier for details.
** Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.
*** Based on theoretical speeds, actual speeds may vary.
**** Sold separately.
***** Not all features are supported in all countries.
****** Availability varies by carrier.
Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.
[cb]Apple[/cb]
Coding WordPress on Android
We already know that it is possible and pretty simple to code Wordpress on iPad but What about Android? Well, fortunately it is possible to code WP via Android OS as well. You can use a tablet or even a smartphone running the Android OS to code.
You need to download apps like ConnectBot that will allow you to install Wordpress via Android. Also, AndFTP to upload/download files through ftp directly from your Android device. You’ll also need a code editor app like DroidEdit to edit source code on Wordpress. Having the ability to code directly from a mobile device saves you a lot of time and sometimes even the hassle to hire others for doing the same work. Although, Wordpress developers for hire are professionals and have much better understanding of the platform than a newbie. So, if you’re not sure what to do then leave the work to them.
If you’re not that big fond of screen size than coding wordpress is possible on almost anything, well not a calculator but still any smart device can be used to code WP. So, next time you’re developing on WP make sure to use any device you want. It will save you a lot of time and using a tablet means that you have portability and can code anywhere you want, on the dinner table, coffee shop, toilet, etc
Apple CEO Tim Cook Recommends Google Maps…For Now
As we all know, Apple unveiled the iPhone 5 just recently and boy did that escalate quickly. However, if we’re talking about things escalating at a rate rivaling a space shuttle launch, iOS 6 and the new Apple Maps rivals the launch of the newest smartphone from Cupertino.
Simply put, Apple Maps was fine for many users but when it gave inaccurate information, it messed up big time.
Apple has always had a knack for making fine-tuned products. Attention to detail has always been one of the company’s advantages over the competition. Now that Apple messed up, people noticed and their customers complained.
Amid all the scandal iOS 6 maps has brought Apple, Tim Cook issued the following letter on Friday:
To our customers,
At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.
We launched Maps initially with the first version of iOS. As time progressed, we wanted to provide our customers with even better Maps including features such as turn-by-turn directions, voice integration, Flyover and vector-based maps. In order to do this, we had to create a new version of Maps from the ground up.
There are already more than 100 million iOS devices using the new Apple Maps, with more and more joining us every day. In just over a week, iOS users with the new Maps have already searched for nearly half a billion locations. The more our customers use our Maps the better it will get and we greatly appreciate all of the feedback we have received from you.
While we’re improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app.
Everything we do at Apple is aimed at making our products the best in the world. We know that you expect that from us, and we will keep working non-stop until Maps lives up to the same incredibly high standard.
Tim Cook
Apple’s CEO
An apology from a CEO of a big company that just launched a faulty product is not unheard of. However, it seems Apple’s chief also recommended other products for now.
Particularly interesting is this:
While we’re improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app.
Google Maps is exactly the service Apple wanted to move away from in iOS 6. It makes sense for them to lessen their dependence on Google as the internet search giant backs Android, the leading smartphone platform at the moment and the main rival of its iOS system.
However, because of this uproar created by iOS 6 maps, Tim Cook just recommended Google Maps again.
Source: Apple
Images from The Amazing iOS 6 Maps on Tumblr
[cb]Apple[/cb]
[cb]Google[/cb]
Posted in News
Tagged Apology, Apple Maps, CEO, iOS 6, maps, Recommendation, Timothy Cook
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WordPress for Android
Wordpress is the best blogging platform for bloggers and provides both self-hosted and free blogs. It also has an android app for blogging on the go. Wordpress for Android is the most convenient way to publish blog posts from your Android device directly to your WP blogs. If you own a blog on Wordpress.com or have self hosted blog powered by WP then Wordpress app is the best possible way to keep your blog up to date while on the go.
This app allows you to publish new blog posts on any number of your blogs, insert images into posts and edit already published posts directly from your Android device. You can also check stats for your blogs from the app and keep track of comments as well.
The app has a very friendly UI and easy to understand layout. You will find it very easy to use and publish blogs when you’re away from your PC. You can not manage plugins or install new plugins from the app but still you can post and edit from the app. You can add as many blogs as you want by entering the blog URL and your username and password for that blog. You can add videos and pages from the app as well, making it easy to shoot something interesting while on the go and publishing it directly to your blog in an instant. You can however not change anything like themes, widgets from the app. You’ll have to use the desktop version Dashboard to personalize your blog, like hosting themes, adding plugins, inserting widgets, etc
All in all the wordpress app for Android is a handy solution for bloggers using the WP platform. All you need is a an Android device (iOS version is also available) and start blogging directly from your mobile device.
Posted in Reviews
Tagged Android, iOS, wordpress, wordpress app, wordpress mobile app
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T-Mobile USA signs $2.4Bn deal with Crown Castle
T-Mobile has been in hot water ever since their merger with AT&T fell through and whilst they might not be on the way out there certainly not out of the woods. Recently they announced a new CEO of the company, John Legere, someone with years of experience in the field and now it looks like something is getting done as a result. On Friday, T-Mobile inked a deal with Crown Castle International that gives them the rights to operate 7,200 of T-Mo’s cell towers – for 28 years and when this time is up they have the option to buy the towers. John Legere has this to say of the new deal “T-Mobile USA is working aggressively to make our 4G network stronger, faster and more dependable for consumers, and this transaction will support our ongoing $4 billion network modernization initiative that is the cornerstone of this effort as we work tirelessly to continue to deliver our amazing 4G services nationwide.”
The deal has apparently been in the works since right after the AT&T fiasco however, it’s only just been finalised – whether or not this has much to do with Legere’s expertise of influence we don’t know but I doubt it had anything of a negative effect. It’s looking like T-Mobile’s new head man is on his way to doing big things and $2.4 Billion of hard cash will certainly help build out a better 4G network – something that they desperately need to stay relevant. It’s fantastic to see T-Mo starting the climb back to the top and whether they read the top or not is something we’ll have to wait for but, it’ll be a boon for their existing customers. Especially when you consider T-Mobile are the only company offering truly unlimited data packages.
