iPhone 5 review

The new iPhone is here – but is Apple in danger of delivering too little with its latest upgrade?

Design

We'll begin in the traditional manner: how the thing actually feels in the hand. With the iPhone 5 there will be many types of prospective buyer: the upgrader from the 4 (or more-money-than-sense iPhone 4S upgraders), those tired of their Android handset and those taking their first steps in the smartphone market and want to get one of them iThingies their friend/child has.

Well, all of those picking up the iPhone 5 will have the same reaction: this thing is amazingly light. You've probably heard the numbers by now (20 per cent lighter than the predecessor, as well as beating most of the opposition too at 112g
You'll obviously see the change in height too – the iPhone 5 stands 123.8mm tall to allow for the larger 4-inch screen. In truth, those not familiar with the iPhone 4S probably wouldn't notice the difference, which is why it's a good move from Apple to include the larger screen if it's not going put people off that hate larger phones.

The decision to stick at 4-inches is Apple's admission that while it recognizes people are all over the idea of having more screen real estate to play with it doesn't want to move away from the thumb-friendly nature of the device.
Through a mixture of moving the center of gravity slightly as well as repositioning the screen within the bezel, it's still possible to scroll your thumb mostly around the whole display one-handed, which Apple is clearly keen to keep hold of.

However, we're not convinced of that argument any more, and the power button was still a little out of reach when using the phone normally, as was anything in the top left-hand corner of the screen. #
This was no issue in reality, as scooting the phone down a touch in the palm is a natural action. But if that's the case, then why not offer a 4.3-inch screen at least?
There's more to a phone than a screen these days (although increasingly less and less) and the general construction of the iPhone 5 is excellent to say the least.

We've tested both the ceramic white version and the anodized black, and the two tone effect on the back of the phone is stunning, both visually and under the finger.
It doesn't beat the sheer beauty of the HTC One S, with its micro-arc oxidised back and rounded lines, but it's well-set in second place.

You always get the feeling that Apple saves what it can for the next iteration of the iPhone, and while there's nothing wrong with the current construction we can see the edge-to-edge screen becoming something amazing on the iPhone 6.

New ipads coming ?

Apple rumors never rest. Ever.
In the recent past we’ve been told something new is coming— from Digitimes — talk of a smaller sized ipad at just under 9″ inches and a potential market date of early 2012. The idea of a small iPad from Apple is a somewhat hard to fathom. Apple already said they think their pad is the right size. Period. And, we’re Apple. All knowing, and powerful, etc.

But recently,  Digitimes recanted from its recent ipad announcement with a refreshed note: Forget the small ipad: Apple will announce 2 fresh Retina-type iPads to serve the luxury segment, while the current iPad will do battle with the kindle and nook.
Apple’s products are often a bit more expensive than the competitors, but Apple likes to battle in accordance. Compare all of the different options Apple has with the ipads, iphone, ipods etc.

Digitimes claims that the new models will stay with Apple’s 9.7-inch screen, but with an improved resolution and better light bars. And if Digitimes can be believed, Sharp is now handling the panel supply, along with LG  and Samsung.
Said source has also touched on some new iPad batteries, saying that they should be roughly at the level of 13,000-14,000 mAh. And if even more: Digitimes says they know the launch date: The Iworld Conference in January, 2012.
Sure, this is quite a large sum of data and I’d bet that it’s not all perfect and 100% accurate. That being said, improved ipads to fit the market do make sense. The Kindle Fire is killing the market at it’s current price, and Apple is always dedicated to owning the market for it’s products. But Apple isn’t going to copy anyone any time soon.
The true war wager will be a price dump due to the recent economy, and from what we’ve seen occur with the iPhone 4 in the past it wouldn’t be shocking to witness the  iPad drop a few coins.
In order to battle with the $200 Kindle Fire, it’d might need to.

Top 10 Fun Iphone apps for 2011

Top 10 Fun Iphone apps for 2011
This post will make you happy when you are looking to spend your time in a much more interesting way. Here we are showcasing some fun apps for your iPhone or iPad to enjoy.

Hair MakeOver Lite

Do you want to find out what is the best hairstyle for you and your friends? With Hair MakeOver you can try on many different kind of hair styles and hair cuts in less than a minute on your iPhone. There are 32 32 hairstyles that you can try in this app. Def something my wife needs to check out.

Friends Around Me

Friends Around Me is a free app for locating friends 24/7 across social networks and for meeting new people nearby or across the world through an interactive location-based search. Also available in Spanish,  and Portuguese.

Mirror Mirror

A handy and FREE mirror application. Unlike other apps this has no bothersome frames to reduce your viewing area. Can you say: “where’s my makeup”?

Lie Detector Scan

I know I know..not always something everyone needs..I just do because I am SURROUNDED by liars..but, I digress: Lie Detector Scan can tell if a person is lying by the pulse and body heat from fingertips, not unlike a real lie detector. You can have your friends and family put their fingers on the scanner and start the interrogation.

Age Calculator

Want to know how TRULY old you are? You can now calculate your age in: Years, months, days, hours, minutes, or even seconds. Also equipped with Facebook, Twitter and Email options to share with significant (older) others.

Impossible-magic challenge

This could be your one of the best fun app in this list. You choose 1 out of six cards, The special magician located inside the app will read your mind directly from your iPhone, and then removes your card from the pile.

PhotoChop  (Editors fave!)

This app makes crazy funny pics of your friends or yourself in wild places. You can put them next to a wild bear, sumo, super hottie or wherever you desire.

Compass

 

Compass is a measuring tool which indicates the specific points under the sunlight. Perfect
for sailors or those who get lost often..

Voice Changer Plus

Would you like to change the sound of your voice in strange and crazy way? Voice Changer Plus lets you do this and more. Just pick a voice and make it work. If you want to try a different sound, there’s no need to do it again. Just pick a new voice and roll with it.

6501 Crazy Facts

 

6001 Crazy Facts are packed with more than 6001+ of facts, going from science to people and beyond, from weather to the human body, from animals to just weird facts.  And since there is no need for an internet connection for this app, you will always have these facts ready and waiting.

The iPhone 4S Is Finally Cleared For Launch In Mainland China

Here in the States we’ve been chatting it up with Siri on the iPhone 4S for months, but the folks over in mainland China — the biggest mobile market in the world, mind you — have yet to hear that 42 is the meaning of life. The 4S launched in Hong Kong just last month, and since then we’ve heard that it would show up on the mainland in December.
People’s Daily is now reporting that a phone with the model number A1431 has passed the final hurdle in its Chinese certification. That’s the same model number that Apple used to get a network entry permit for the 4S from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on December 6, so all signs point to iPhone.
Considering the timeline, that means the iPhone 4S will likely launch in China before the Chinese New Year on January 23, which is the equivalent of our Black Friday.
Seeing that the iPhone is basically a smash hit in China — over 10 million iPhones are in use on China Mobile’s network (even though it isn’t an official iPhone carrier) — Apple will likely be breaking even more records with the iPhone 4S come 2012. Especially if the alleged talks between China Mobile, the world’s largest mobile carrier, and Apple lead to something a bit more official.

iTunes launches 12 Days of Christmas giveaway

Apple iTunes will be running a 12 Days of Christmas event which will see users offered some brilliant content – including apps, TV shows, movies, books and music.
The 12 Days of Christmas offer will run from 26 Dec to 6 Jan and include high-profile content, with each offer available for just 24 hours.
Apple's iTunes is starting its offering with a Day Zero offer where Soundhound Infinity is being offered for nothing

12 Days of Christmas App

Apple has also made a special 12 Days of Christmas app to support the offering and make it easier to find them.
"Get our special 12 Days of Christmas app to make it even easier to access your gifts while you're on the go," adds Apple
"Don't have an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch? Don't worry. Come back 26 December to download gifts from your computer."
So – while you while away the time until the launch – you can download the official 12 Days of Christmas app.

iPhone 5′s Chip to be Made in Texas?

We all know the fact that Apple has been relying on its secret Asian manufacturers when it comes to production and assembly of its popular gadgets, but as it turns out, it looks like some important parts of the iPad and iPhone are actually made closer than anyone would have been expecting.
So what does closer to home actually mean? Well, the components are being manufactured by a $3.6 billion facility located in Austin, Texas. It seems that the A5 processor, the component responsible for all the actions of the iPhone 4S and the iPad 2 is the piece built in USA.
And surprise, surprise, who do you think is assembling this major parts? Well, it’s Apple’s sworn enemy, with whom it has been battling in courts around the world – Samsung. The A5 processor is built in a newly constructed $3.6 billion non-memory chip production line that reached full production in early December. Rumor has it, that Samsung started shipping from Austin this year.

When asked, Apple didn’t want to make any comments, on account that it’s not “polite” to reveal information about its business with suppliers. Samsung didn’t break the trust, and also declined to comment about any details of the chips that are being developed in Austin.
Companies seem to be attracted to Austin because of the big numbers of educated individuals the University of Texas is putting out on the market. Samsung added about 1,100 jobs which produce about 40,000 silicon wafers every month. Plus another 2,400 employees in Austin who work in its NAND flash memory factory by the logic chip factory. It seems the Korean company hasn’t wasted any time. The factory dates back from 1996.

Instagram, The iPhone App of The Year

Apple has just published the yearly top of the most popular music, movies, TV shows, podcasts and apps. At a first glance over the list with the most downloaded apps we notice Angry Birds taking almost every trophy available. Rovio’s beloved game, managed to rank highest in the lists of top paid iPhone apps as well as top paid and free iPad apps. Facebook won the top position in the free iPhone apps list.
On the other hand, Instagram, the photo sharing and manipulation app was declared “the iPhone app of the year”. this free app allows users to apply filters with a retro style. Another feature appealing to the users is the option of sharing pictures on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and other social networks. According Kevin Systrom, Instagram’s CEO Chief Executive, this app already reached to 14 – 15 million users. Kevin Systrom also suggested at the LeWeb conference in Paris that an Android version of Instagram is in the works and it will be released soon.

When explaining the company strategy related to Instagram development, Kevin Systrom pointed out that membership will be important. This will only be part of the company’s revenue, the other part will come from advertisement. Brands like Audi, Kate Spade, and Burberry joined Instagram in hope of exploiting new marketing tools to reach to the consumers. “They’re sharing pictures of products and the message of their brands. That shows we’re at the beginning of what will come with brands,” explained Systrom.
Apple used its privilege to choose its favorite apps from iTunes in different categories and declared Tiny Tower as the preferred game for iPhone. In the iPad category, Apple’s selections were another photo app, Snapseed, as the “iPad App of the Year” and Dead Space as “iPad Game of the Year.”

NFC iPhone 5 Closer to Reality

A while ago, there was a lot of buzz over the Internet about Apple’s plans related to what we know now as iPhone 4S. Some of the rumors pointed in the direction of Near Field Technology (NFC) but the most prudent analysts believed that there was not the right time for Apple to integrate in its iPhones a technology for which the market wasn’t ready. However, next year might be the right time to see an iPhone 5 with NFC support. Such a situation would not only be probable, but very close to a certainty.
DigiTimes, the Taiwanese technology website that is always quoting anonymous sources from inside Apple’s supply chain, suggests that Apple has in the works a next generation iPhone that integrates NFC technology. Not only that, but according to DigiTimes, if Apple would somehow miss this trend it would be a serious strategic error for the Cupertino based company.

Competitors like Samsung Electronics, HTC, Nokia and RIM already released top end smartphones featuring NFC technology. Moreover, powerful carriers from around the world, including AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Orange, Vodafone, Telefonica, Deutsche Telekom, Korea Telecom, Bharti Airtel, China Mobile and China United Network Communications, will bring this technology to the main stream very soon. Currently, only 10% of the smartphones enable NFC but, according to DigiTimes predictions, in the next two years more than half of the smartphones on the market will adopt the technology.
Apple is not expected to take the back seat allowing the competitors to get so much ahead. Particularly when Apple is sitting on a gold mine that could give a serious competitive edge to an e-payment application for an NFC enabled iPhone. Just think of those 200 million iTunes accounts with credit card information that Apple always bragged about but never knew how to turn them into a profit. This could be the beginning of an iWallet app.

New upcoming Iphone 5 features

Iphone 5 Features: What is expected with the new and upcoming iphone 5?
Apple fans are whining about iPhone 4S’ half-fudged Siri, the personal, voice-controlled, intelligent assistant, urging everyone to wonder when the technology monster will unwrap iPhone 5 and what added features it will have.
Rumors on iPhone 5 have become crazy on the Internet, especially after it was reported that Apple is going to nab Israeli flash storage maker Anobit for about $500 million. Naturally, many people are wondering whether this is the reason why iPhone 5 launch got shelved.

Dreams of iPhone fans were crushed when iPhone 5 didn’t get released in October this year and Apple pundits began predicting that iPhone 5 will come in the middle of 2012 – pobably in late spring or early summer.
#1 Siri- better.

#2 Larger screen. Think 4″++

#3 4G LTE Compatibility and World Phone.   Think globally. Act locally.

#5 Quad-core Processor A6 .  Gaming. Video.  More raw power.

#6 NFC (Near Field Communication).  Think radio. Think communication between devices.
IF just a portion of these new features come, the iphone 5 is sure to be a smash.

Iphone 5 Rumors | Iphone 5 | “Think Different” Apple ad campaign revisited

Forbes magazine published a long guest post from ad exec Rob Siltanen, one of the sole people to the creation of Apple’s popular “Think Different” promo campaign that had the company spin around following Steve Jobs’ comeback. In the interview, Siltanen highlights the details of promoting the idea to Jobs and his efforts on the “Here’s to the Crazy Ones” article.
Siltanen had the idea to write the article following the publication of Walter Isaacson’s authorized biography of none other than Steve Jobs, which repeats the claim that states the campaign was basically Jobs idea.
Steve was highly involved with the advertising and every facet of Apple’s business. But he was far from the mastermind behind the renowned launch spot. In fact, he was blatantly harsh on the commercial that would eventually play a pivotal role in helping Apple achieve one of the greatest corporate turnarounds in business history.
Siltanen goes on to describe how he and other representatives of the high-profile TBWA/Chiat/Day advertising firm were surprised that Jobs required them to pitch to win the contract with the then-struggling Apple. In dreaming up concepts to pitch to Jobs, the one that stood out was the “Think Different” tagline paired with photos and videos of famous creative thinkers. Jobs liked the campaign but initially worried that it would appear too egotistical. Within seconds, however, Jobs changed course and brought the firm on board to carry out the idea.

Siltanen used Robin Williams’ speeches from the movie Dead Poets Societyas inspiration for what became “Here’s to the Crazy Ones”. But when it was presented to Jobs in what turned out to eventually be nearly its final form, Jobs initially hated it.
We played the spot once, and when it finished, Jobs said, “It sucks! I hate it! It’s advertising agency ****! I thought you were going to write something like ‘Dead Poets Society!’ This is crap!”
Clow said something like, “Well, I take it you don’t want to see it again.” And Steve continued to go on a rant about how we should get the writers from “Dead Poets Society” or some “real writers” to write something.
Jobs soon his mind again, and the “Think Different” campaign was utilized and they never looked back

iTunes Match now official in the UK

Sign-up now for £21.99 a year

Apple has now officially rolled-out its iTunes Match subscription service in the UK, following 24 hours of confusion surrounding the launch.
iTunes Match appeared briefly to users in the UK, France and Australia on Wednesday before it was quickly pulled, with Apple promising to refund those who'd signed-up.
However, iTunes users in multiple territories are reporting that the iTunes Match tab has returned offering a year's subscription for £21.99 a year.
Not only is the service live but, lo-and-behold, it's actually working, users have told the MacRumors and Macgasm blogs.

Your music on the go

iTunes Match went live in the US last month.
The service scans your hard-drive for music and replaces your tired old MP3s with high-quality 256kbps tracks from iTunes.
Members can then stream their collection from iOS devices, Apple TV and iTunes-enabled Macs and PCs.
Apple hopes the service will keep users in the iTunes ecosystem rather than switching to alternative cloud lockers from Amazon and Google.

Apple iPhone 5 second 'fastest rising' search term on Google

Apple's yet-to-be-released iPhone 5 was the second "fastest rising" search term on Google in 2011, while users were also keen to learn about cookies and copyright.

Google has released its annual Zeitgeist report on the most popular search terms of this year.

The royal wedding in April between Prince William and Kate Middleton was the "fastest rising" search term of 2011, followed by "iPhone 5".

Apple was widely expected to launch the fifth generation of the iPhone in October, but the California technology giant instead launched the iPhone 4S, an update on last year's iPhone 4.

There has been further speculation that the iPhone 5 will follow next summer, so it is likely that the term will also feature highly on next year's Google Zeitgeist report.

Other technology terms in the "fastest rising" list included daily deals service Groupon, which is being investigated by the UK's Office of Fair Trading, and Apple's iPad 2, the tablet computer launched in March.

The full list runs as follows:

1. Royal wedding
2. iPhone 5
3. FIFA 12
4. Groupon
5. iPad 2
6. Ryan Dunn
7. Adele
8. Minecraft
9. Rebecca Black
10. Ed Sheeran

Google's top 10 "fastest rising" searches for consumer electronics or gadgets in 2011 was also led by a rumoured Apple product, the iPod Touch 5G.

The fifth generation of the market-leading multimedia player is expected to launch in March 2012, potentially alongside Apple's hotly-anticipated iPad 3.

Also on the list was the HP TouchPad, the tablet computer given a dramatic price cut following sluggish sales, and the ASUS Transformer, a hybrid between a tablet PC and a laptop that has received rave reviews this year.

The full list runs as follows:

1. iPod Touch 5G
2. HP Touchpad
3. Acer Aspire 5742
4. ASUS Transformer
5. Dell Inspiron Duo
6. Acer Iconia
7. Beats Headphones
8. Epson Printers
9. Netgear Router
10. 32-inch TV

Technology also featured in the 'What is..?' list, covering the most popular questions submitted by users.

This included an interest in internet cookies due to the new guidelines on how websites can use them, along with questions on copyright following various legal efforts to fight online and digital piracy.

The list also featured 'What is iCloud?', referring to the new cloud storage service introduced by Apple for iPhone and iPod users in the autumn.

Read the full list below:

1. What is AV?
2. What is scampi?
3. What are truffles?
4. What are piles?
5. What is 4D?
6. What are cookies?
7. What is copyright?
8. What is Zumba?
9. What is iCloud?
10. What is probate?

iPhone 4S SIM card problems reported

iPhone 4S users are reporting SIM card issues with their handsets.

A thread about the topic on the Apple support site has now accumulated more than 200 posts and 30,000 views, suggesting that the problem could be widespread.

Users claim that their devices power up, but are unable to read any micro-SIM cards. Some forum posters have speculated that the phones' SIM-card readers may be malfunctioning, but Apple is yet to confirm this.

The SIM problem is the latest in a string of technical woes for iPhone 4S owners. Voice command software Siri previously posed a security risk, scores of users reported battery issues, while other have had difficulties updating iOS 5.

The iPhone 4S launched around the world last month. It was previously rumoured that it could be succeeded by a 4G-powered handset in 2012.

Apple is yet to respond to the SIM issue reports.

Best iPhone apps for traveling in Asia

LIKE grains of sand on the seashore there are now so many iPhone Apps to help you with your travels, it gets a bit hard to know where to start looking.

However with that idea in mind – giving you a head start – here are some apps to consider for your next sojourn.

iTranslate
With the myriad of languages throughout Asia having an app to translate phrases is an absolute must. The iTranslate works with 42 languages and while it won’t replace an actual dictionary or phrasebook it might get you out of a few tricky situations – if you can work out how to pronounce the words correctly!FREE

Metro Asia
Take the ease out of metro/subway travel in Asia with all the maps and info on places like Beijing, Hong Kong, Tehran and Seoul on the Metro Asia app.US$2.99.

Wi-Fi Finder
This handy little app will help you find up to 500,000 free and paid Wi-Fi spots in over 144 countries. This is particularly handy if your hotel doesn’t offer some service or you forgot to made a note of other options. In this case the app lets your fingers do the walking first. FREE

XE Currency
Monitor up to 10 currencies at a time on this handy little app. The rates are up to the minute so you can check out the exchanges listed by airports, banks and other desks as you walk past them. Pretty handy. FREE

UNESCO World Heritage

If you have a thing for all things world heritage then this offer by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd is just the thing for you. All world heritage sites from 1978 to 2010 are covered with photographs and information on all of them. Thanks to the number of heritage sites in Asia you’ll be kept busy with this app. US$5.49.

FlightTrack

This app is the perfect accompaniment for those that wish to check out all aspects of domestic and international flights. This means gates, delays, cancellations and maps from 5,000 airports and 14,00 airlines. US$4.99.

Taxi Guide
HoodHot, Inc has designed this app to take the stress out of taxi travel. You simply show the driver the addresses in big, bold text so they know where to go. The apps work in specific cities in China but also Buenos Aires, Seoul, Cairo and Hong Kong. US$4.99-9.99.

International Calling Cards
You’ll never get your phone calls wrong again with the codes provided on this app. Type in the country name and select it from the list for all the information you need to make your call. FREE.

buUuk Restaurant and Bar Guide
This is an app that comes recommended by many for restaurants and bars around Asia, Australia, New Zealand and even the Middle East and South Africa. Need a sandwhich or a good coffee in Singapore or Seoul? Use this app and find out where to go. FREE.

AccuWeather for iPhone
Many people were probably used their website before this app came along and for good reason. Weather geeks will love it. There are storm alerts, multi day forecasts, radars, videos and satellite imaging.  FREE.

TC Gadgets Weekend Giveaway: An iPhone 4S

I gave my love a red, red rose but she actually wanted an iPhone 4S and now you, too, can hand over one of these exciting products to your loved one thanks to Rebtel. This weekend’s TC Gadgets giveaway is a fresh-in-box iPhone 4S (your carrier choice) and $100 worth of calling through Rebtel’s VOIP solution. Got your attention? Good.

The contest will run until noon Eastern on Monday, November 14. I will contact the winner then and update the post next week. To enter, comment below describing, in poem form, why you deserve an iPhone 4S. Limericks will be accepted but they must involve the man from Nantucket. Free or concrete verse is encouraged.

Enter only once. I’ll pick one winner at random and laugh at your entries on my own time. I reserve the right to sell your poems in a chapbook on the subway, calling them my collection of “urban folk poetry” and “prayers to the muse of poesy.”

Apple amends iPhone 4S battery issues with iOS 5 update

Apple has announced an iOS 5 update to amend the iPhone 4S battery drain issues.

Some users reported that their handsets suffered a dramatic drop in battery life, a problem which the platformer holder has attributed to software bugs.

Apple claims that the issue has affected "a small amount of customers" and promised to rectify the matter with a patch due in the coming weeks.

"A small number of customers have reported lower than expected battery life on iOS 5 devices," the firm said in a statement issued to AllThingsDigital. "We have found a few bugs that are affecting battery life and we will release a software update to address those in a few weeks."

iOS 5.0.1 Beta is already doing the rounds in the development community, according to AppleInsider. The update allegedly includes a host of new features in addition to the bug fixes.

The download reportedly "fixes bugs affecting battery life, adds Multitasking Gestures for original iPad, resolves bugs with Documents in the Cloud, improves voice recognition for Australian users using dictation, contains security improvements... iOS 5.0.1 beta introduces a new way for developers to specify files that should remain on device, even in low storage situations."

iOS 5.0.1 will be available to download in the coming weeks.

Apple underwhelm with IOS 5

Apple IOS5 underwhelm

Apple released the newest update to their mobile Operating System -IOS 5 yesterday.
Funny, I remember being a lot more excited about it when Steve Jobs talked about it a few months ago.
I upgraded my Iphone and Ipad 2 yesterday and it promptly blew awaya all my apps and data on both devices.
Nice.
Apart from that Major minor annoyance, I havent really noticed much utility from the upgrades (granted that it has only been a day).
Here are some of the new features.

 

apple icloud

True wireless updates – no longer do Apple fans have to plug in to Itunes. The updates are truly cloud pulls now. Your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad can now receive updates from Wi-Fi syncing or through the iCloud. You can back up your data on the iCloud, create playlists or photo albums.
iMessage. Much like the Blackberry messenger, the iMessage lets users share encrypted text, photos or videos between their iPad, iPhone and the iPod Touch. The messaging is free over Wi-Fi but carriers can charge if the app is used over 3G.
Notification Center. IOS 5 has a new notification bar that collects notices like missed calls, texts or voicemails in a discreet banner at the top of the screen. The user can access this Notification Center by swiping down from the top of the screen to show the notices the user didn’t access.
Newsstand. Newsstand is a virtual bookshelf that has all the user’s magazine or newspaper subscriptions. It’s basically a way to compile all the user’s digital magazine apps in one app. The app can download new issues automatically to be ready for the user’s perusal in the morning.
Twitter Integration. Twittheads with Apple devices will now be able to enjoy a better integration with their favorite social-network with iOS 5. Apple’s even made it easier by having the iOS5 keyboard easy access to commonly used Twitter symbols @ and #.
Upgraded Safari Browser.  The upgraded Safari browser app now has tabbed browsing and a smoother transition between windows. Two new features include the Safari Reader which allows the browser to show just the text and the Safari Reading List which lets users synch content among other devices.
Camera Shortcuts. Users can now take pictures without unlocking the screen and accessing the camera app. The camera can now be accessed with a simple click on the Volume Up button. Editing the photo will still have to be done via the Camera app including crop, rotate and reduce red-eye functions.
Better Game Center. There will be more social games available on the iOS 5. The Game Center app will allow gamers to share their game stats with their friends or recommend their favorite games to other friends.
Find My Friends. If you want to know where your friends are, then this new social app will make it even easier to track down friends in real-time. Any iOS device can now ask their friends their location on a map.
Updated Mail. The Mail in iOS 5 will have rich-text formatting like bold, italics and underline. Other features will include draggable addresses, message flagging and better security.
Basically, Icloud is the new center of the universe.
We’ll have to see how everything holds up now that Steve is gone. The truth is, things seemed to be better because he explained that they were.
Not proud of that statement but in light of his passing, seems all too true…Does this help or do you have a problem with this?

Windows Phone 8 has a new nemesis – Apple’s Siri

So Steve Jobs is gone and Microsoft (should) have an opportunity to get in there and out-innovate Apple right?
Well, not so fast.
Apple have introduced a very interesting new voice controlled AI feature called “Siri”.
Siri, (which is the name of the app Apple bought for a rumored $200 million last year) makes sense of what you’re asking (when you ask it a question) and presents you with results and actions.
In response to a standard question like “Do I have a meeting Friday at noon?” Siri checks the calendar and responds out loud.
“What time is it in Paris?” Siri shows you a world clock.
Siri is pretty sophisticated stuff and in my opinion, is yet  another obstacle to Microsoft dominating the phone market.
I swear, every time Microsoft start to come close, Apple do some crazy stuff and just pull away again.
So Microsoft Windows Phone 8 dev team, it’s back to the drawing board to counter this stuff. This is potentially a problem for both Microsoft and Android especially if the AI is as good as Apple claim it is.
If Apple perfect a voice recognizing personal assistant and have the patent for it, it’ll take a lot more than metro tiles to get anyone to buy a Windows Phone.

Branded iPhone 5 Release extended due to LTE, expected in 2012

Yes, you'll have to wait for the iPhone 5 for high-speed LTE, aka 4G.

(Credit: Apple)

An Apple phone branded as the iPhone 5 won't arrive until "4G" LTE technology is ready for compact smartphones, according to analysts.
Needless to say, the iPhone 5 did not make an appearance this year. Will Strauss, president of wireless chip market research firm Forward Concepts, says there is a very good reason that it was the 4S that showed up in September, 2011 and not the 5.
"They're saving iPhone 5 for the LTE version and that won't be out until next spring," said Strauss, who tracks companies like Qualcomm that supply the chips that power the 3G and 4G technology inside of phones. LTE offers, among other things, higher download and upload speeds compared to current 3G technologies.
Moreover, CEO Tim Cook has said in at least two earnings conference calls (when he was chief operating officer) that the "first generation of LTE chipsets force a lot of design compromises." He said that back in April.
And it's not necessarily Apple's fault, says Strauss, who says the current implementations of LTE in phones like the HTC Thunderbolt are too kludgy for Apple's tastes. "There's no way they could come out with LTE now," Strauss said. The Thunderbolt, for example, has an LTE baseband (modem) chip and a second 3G chip from Qualcomm for the voice functions.
That simply takes up too much room inside a relatively compact smartphone like the iPhone. Other experts agree. "The iPhone 4 PCB [printed circuit board] is already incredibly small, not leaving any room for an extra chip to enable LTE without shrinking the size of the battery (or increasing the thickness of the phone to accommodate both a larger PCB and a big battery)," wrote Anand Shimpi, a chip expert and CEO of Anandtech. His comments were posted in September 2011.
A Qualcomm chip--the MDM9615--will likely appear in the second quarter of next year built on a more advanced chip manufacturing process. The MDM9615 comes in a smaller chip package and is voice enabled, according to Anand.
"Apple (and all other smartphone makers) could [use]...the MDM9615 and have a 'single chip' LTE solution for smartphones...Next year (Q2 to be exact) should be when we can finally get LTE into something iPhone-sized," Anand wrote.
And the move to a more advanced chip manufacturing process will also reduce the power draw for these chips that are notorious battery-life killers. "Phones based on the MDM9615 will likely increase LTE battery life to reasonable levels rather than what we've seen from the first generation of devices," he wrote.
Another big reason to wait for LTE is coverage. There were lot of places in 2011 that LTE didn't reached, according to Strauss. See Verizon's "Check for 4G LTE coverage in my area" page.

iPhone 5 release date extended for 2012. “Siri” iPhone 4S plus Sprint Oct 14th.

Apple CEO Tim Cook unveils the iPhone 4S and leaves the iPhone 5 on the cutting room floor until a 2012 release date, promoting the “Siri” voice assistant feature of the iPhone 4S instead. The iPhone 4S goes on sale October 14th with preorders beginning on October 7th via AT&T and Verizon, with Sprint also joining the iPhone 4S picture a day after priceless pre-game chatter which incorrectly had the iPhone 5 going to Sprint exclusively. The 4S will run Apple’s new iOS 5 operating system, which will also be released for free for older iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices on October 12th. The iPhone 4 is sticking around at $99 (including “coming soon” for Sprint, Apple now says), and the iPhone 3GS as a “free with contract” phone. While packed with enough enticing morsels to keep us parsing them for some time, today’s event comes as a letdown for those who had been waiting for the iPhone 5 since this past summer, when Apple’s tradition of new iPhones every twelve months would have placed its launch timeframe. However, despite looking almost exactly like its iPhone 4 predecessor, the 4S is a hardware dynamo with upgraded specs and features in every category, many of which had been rumored for the iPhone 5 instead. The most likely explanation is that Apple, having failed to ready the iPhone 5 for a 2011 release date due to manufacturing or other issues, opted to pack most of the iPhone 5 features into a modestly overhauled iPhone 4 shell instead. The specs on the new “iPhone 4S” are impressive…