Thứ Năm, 9 tháng 6, 2011

iPhone 5 on September 13th: five reasons release isn’t worth waiting for

iPhone 5 on September 13th: five reasons release isn't worth waiting for

If the iPhone 5 really is to be a September baby, it'll be unveiled in September 13th. And that being the case, our official advice has changed: if you're sitting around waiting for more information on the iPhone5 in order to make a decision on whether to buy an iPhone 4 now or keep waiting, and it turns out the iPhone 5 really is coming in the fall instead of the summer, go ahead and take the plunge on the iPhone 4 now. Bear in mind that this advice is conditional upon the iPhone 5 being held back until the fall; if it does indeed arrive this June then you're best off simply waiting another six weeks. But Apple traditionally holds its fall press event on the second Tuesday of September, namely the 13th in 2011, and if that event is to be the first sign of the iPhone 5 along with the iPod models which will debut that day, don't bother waiting. Here's why.iPhone 4 rocks: Several members of the Beatweek staff have been using the iPhone 4 since last year, and while we'll likely all upgrade to the iPhone 5 as soon as it arrives, here's what we've learned about the iPhone 4 in the mean time. It's by far the most ideal smartphone on the market. It's faster, more versatile, thinner, and lighter than any previous iPhone model, and offers significantly more battery life with a much better screen. The supposed "iPhone 4 antenna issue" simply does not exist except in the minds of the deviants who concocted it. On its own merits, it's nearly the perfect smartphone; we'd be hard pressed to come with things we don't like about it.

4G pipedream: Even if the iPhone 5 does end up offering 4G networking, that'll only work in the scant areas in which Verizon and AT&T have actually built 4G networks. For the vast majority of iPhone 5 customers, it'll be the same 3G or even EDGE experience that they'd have gotten on the iPhone 4. Unless you live in one of a handful of big cities where 4G LTE will arrive early, this is not a reason to wait for the iPhone 5.

Verizon already has the iPhone: For those Verizon customers who wanted an iPhone but skipped the iPhone 4 because they thought the iPhone 5 was just around the corner, we'll ask you this: what exactly have you gained by waiting? A few more months of being stuck with your existing phone, which you clearly don't want? And now you're looking at another few more months of doing the same? You're not winning this battle.

Question marks: In other words, it's all we know about the iPhone 5. Will it offer better specs and features than the iPhone 4? Certainly. What will those specs and features be, and will any of them be relevant to you? No way of knowing. Waiting means you're gambling that the iPhone 5 will offer something over the iPhone 4 which will have justified your wait. Waiting does not equal playing it safe; it's just a different kind of gamble.

Have it both ways: The real clincher is that even if you buy an iPhone 4 now, you can still buy an iPhone 5 later. Sure, you'll end up paying $200 above sticker for the iPhone 5 because you'll have used up your upgrade cycle on the iPhone 4 purchase. But nothing says you can't turn around and sell your iPhone 4 in September (for more than you paid for it, thanks to the magic of unsubsidized pricing), and put that money toward paying your iPhone 5 ransom. You'll still end up having paid at least little bit for the privilege using an iPhone 4 between now and iPhone 5 launch day, but it won't preclude you from getting to experience both iPhone generations. Here's more on the iPhone 5.


Thứ Tư, 8 tháng 6, 2011

iPhone 5: iPod touch back, 3.7 inch display, gesture-based home button? (updated)

iPhone 5: iPod touch back, 3.7 inch display, gesture-based home button? (updated)

Update: MacRumors and people in the know who we have spoken to are having their doubts about this one.

This is my next drops a bombshell, claiming that the next-generation iPhone will not be a minimal departure from the iPhone 4, like others are saying, but will be a completely re-designed phone, as Engadget reported earlier this year. The iPhone 5 that the report describes is said to be a prototype in testing – we know that Apple tests many products before going to market – that features a body akin to that of the one found on the fourth-generation iPod touch. This design is said to also be "teardrop" like the late 2010 MacBook Air's design – thicker to thinner fr om top to bottom.

Even more interesting is that the next-generation iPhone is said to gain a larger home button on the bottom portion of the device and… it's gesture sensitive. This is my next points out that this could easily work hand-in-hand with some of those funky new gestures Apple is testing in iOS 4.3 with iOS App Store developers. The report also backs up a report from the Wall Street Journal, and says the screen will cover most of the device's front and the new phone will likely lack a true bezel. Even cooler is that This is my next says Apple is exploring ways to hide the earpiece and the iPhone 4′s famous sensors behind the screen.

Speaking of screens… the report says that it's not your everyday iPhone 3.5 inch display, but it's 3.7 inches and the pixels are staying the same. This will cause a drop in pixel density of 13 pixels-per-inch – but this will still be above the magic Retina mark of 300 pixels per inch. The screen will likely look the same to the human eye, and developers will not need to adjust their graphics. Perhaps they will have the option in the iPhone SDK to to take full advantage of the extra screen real estate. This is my next is also saying that this all-new-phone could possibly sport some sort of wireless/inductive charging and/or NFC, but that is less confirmed – on their part – compared to the rest of the story.

Finally, This is my next closes by making it clear that the described iPhone5 may never hit the streets, but it's certainly being toyed with at Apple HQ:

Now, keep in mind that this info isn't fact — we're getting lots of threads from lots of places and trying to make sense of the noise. The versions of devices our sources are seeing could be design prototypes and not production-ready phones. Still, there are strong indications that Apple will surprise a public that's expecting a bump more along the lines of the 3G to 3GS — and this is some insight into where those designs might be headed. We're working on a couple of other intriguing pieces of information concerning future Apple products… so stay tuned for much, much more.

Fake iPhone 4 Nano Being Sold in China for $60

Fake iPhone 4 Nano Being Sold in China for $60

With rumors flying about the iPhone 5, little attention has been paid to the iPhone Nano rumors that surfaced months ago. While the U.S. has remained quiet about a future iPhone Nano device, Chinese dealers are beginning to sell knock-off iPhone 4 Nano's to the tune of about $60 U.S.

These fake, mini iPhone devices run a Java-based iOS ripoff and behave a lot like the original iPhone. Most notably, these Chinese knock-offs are about 2/3 the size of the real iPhone 4

A Giz-China writer stumbled upon a dealer selling these fake iPhone Nano devices off-contract for about $60. He described the device as being small enough to fit inside the palm of his hand.

These fake iPhone Nanos sport a 1.3 megapixel rear-facing camera, and allegedly have a front-facing camera as well. Giz-China didn't get to try the front-facing camera.

Although the device's operating system distinctly resembled iOS, it was obvious that the fake iPhone in question was running a Java-based knock-off of Apple's iOS. Giz-China didn't get an extensive hands-on with the device, but they did provide some helpful insight into the fake iPhone market.

Devices like this remind us of the Sophone knock-off, but this fake iPhone Nano lacks the specs needed to make it a worthy iPhone competitor. The only thing it has going for it is price.

What do you think about this fake iPhone Nano? Apple probably has something much cooler up its sleeve.

Thứ Ba, 7 tháng 6, 2011

Dueling iPhone 5 Release Rumors; It’s Like Daisy Petal Picking

Dueling iPhone 5 Release Rumors; It's Like Daisy Petal Picking

It's coming in June; it's coming in June – not; it's coming in…..

Appleinsider's Neil Hughes says that rumors of a later-than-usual iPhone model revision for 2011 are being fueled by notoriously secretive Apple being even more secretive than usual in its dealings with overseas suppliers subcontracting to build the devices and their various components as regards the iPhone 5.

Hughes cites a note to investors by Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White, who is on a tech company visit sweep through Taiwan and China, commenting last Friday that "Apple is keeping its iPhone 5 cards extra close to the vest on this launch to avoid a falloff in iPhone 4 demand ahead of a refresh, especially given the February launch of the CDMA iPhone 4 with Verizon." However, White guesses there's still room for the iPhone 5 to still launch in June or July, consistent with Apple's usual calendar envelope for major iPhone announcements and revisions, and noting that there's really no solid evidence supporting either that postulate or a later iPhone 5 release in the fall.

TheStreet's James Rogers agrees with White, suggesting that with iPhone 5 rumors "ping-ponging" back and forth, the chatter, and in some instance angst, over a significant iPhone 5 release delay may be getting overblown.

On the other hand, Rogers notes — as I too have here previously — that Apple's press release for the June Worldwide Developers' Conference (WWDC), which in recent years has been a venue for iPhone revision announcements, made no reference to new hardware, a seemingly pointed omission, and affirmed instead that this year's WWDC will be focused on unveiling the future of iOS and Mac OS. Of course, we can't discount the possibility of a Steve Jobsian "one more thing" surprise announcement of the iPhone 5 at the keynote climax, whether or not the ailing (and we hope mending) Mr. Jobs is there to deliver it.

My takeaway is that while Apple's new and revised product releases are at least roughly predictable more often than not, attempting to pin them down to a precise time frame is a mug's game and an exercise in frustration and futility, compounded by the fact that from the moment the iPhone5 (launch of which is inevitable at some point in the not too distant future) is announced, new speculation will ramp up focusing on iPhone 6. Indeed, the iPad 2 announcement was still weeks in the future when prognostications about an iPhone 3 began circulating.

Waiting out anticipated product announcements can be frustrating, or part of the fun, depending on how you choose to look at it, but the upside is that current iPhone 4 is an excellent device that will do a fine job for you if you really need to make a purchase in the short term.

Dueling iPhone 5 Release Rumors; It’s Like Daisy Petal Picking

Dueling iPhone 5 Release Rumors; It's Like Daisy Petal Picking

It's coming in June; it's coming in June – not; it's coming in…..

Appleinsider's Neil Hughes says that rumors of a later-than-usual iPhone model revision for 2011 are being fueled by notoriously secretive Apple being even more secretive than usual in its dealings with overseas suppliers subcontracting to build the devices and their various components as regards the iPhone 5.

Hughes cites a note to investors by Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White, who is on a tech company visit sweep through Taiwan and China, commenting last Friday that "Apple is keeping its iPhone 5 cards extra close to the vest on this launch to avoid a falloff in iPhone 4 demand ahead of a refresh, especially given the February launch of the CDMA iPhone 4 with Verizon." However, White guesses there's still room for the iPhone 5 to still launch in June or July, consistent with Apple's usual calendar envelope for major iPhone announcements and revisions, and noting that there's really no solid evidence supporting either that postulate or a later iPhone 5 release in the fall.

TheStreet's James Rogers agrees with White, suggesting that with iPhone 5 rumors "ping-ponging" back and forth, the chatter, and in some instance angst, over a significant iPhone 5 release delay may be getting overblown.

On the other hand, Rogers notes — as I too have here previously — that Apple's press release for the June Worldwide Developers' Conference (WWDC), which in recent years has been a venue for iPhone revision announcements, made no reference to new hardware, a seemingly pointed omission, and affirmed instead that this year's WWDC will be focused on unveiling the future of iOS and Mac OS. Of course, we can't discount the possibility of a Steve Jobsian "one more thing" surprise announcement of the iPhone 5 at the keynote climax, whether or not the ailing (and we hope mending) Mr. Jobs is there to deliver it.

My takeaway is that while Apple's new and revised product releases are at least roughly predictable more often than not, attempting to pin them down to a precise time frame is a mug's game and an exercise in frustration and futility, compounded by the fact that from the moment the iPhone5 (launch of which is inevitable at some point in the not too distant future) is announced, new speculation will ramp up focusing on iPhone 6. Indeed, the iPad 2 announcement was still weeks in the future when prognostications about an iPhone 3 began circulating.

Waiting out anticipated product announcements can be frustrating, or part of the fun, depending on how you choose to look at it, but the upside is that current iPhone 4 is an excellent device that will do a fine job for you if you really need to make a purchase in the short term.

Chủ Nhật, 8 tháng 5, 2011

iPhone 5 Sunday Coffee Break: Are You Cloudy On “The Cloud?”

You’ve heard a lot about the iPhone 5 getting “cloud storage,” but is all this talk of clouds a bit foggy for you? Join the first in a new series of free-flowing Sunday discussions — dubbed the “iPhone 5 Sunday Coffee Break” — to share your thoughts and impressions on cloud computing, and what it will mean for the iPhone 5.
Among the many rumored iPhone 5 features out there, the one that confounds and confuses people the most is the rumor of “cloud memory” or “cloud storage.” Even if you’re not an IT professional, you’ve probably heard the term cloud computing bandied about, particularly when it comes to business solutions and internet technology. But for as much as multi-billion-dollar corporations are looking to tap into this elusive “cloud computing” technology, its benefits extend past the business world, offering some groundbreaking capabilities for the likes of mobile computing devices alla the iPhone 5.
So, what is cloud computing?
The simplest way to explain it is like this: “the cloud” is a term used to describe when a user (whether it is one person or an entire organization of users) have access to shared reasources on systems other than their own. In this way, instead of being limited by whatever your computer’s storage capabilities are, you instead have access to vast amounts of storage on mega-sized data centers, while still having instant access to the data and files.
A very Appl’ish example is the old iDisk and newer MobileMe, which allows you to store big files on Apple’s data center. I continue to use it to store large, uncompressed music audio files that are notoriously mammoth and suck up hard drive space quickly.
iPhone 5 and The Cloud
 Obviously, cloud storage on a home computer is convenient for exponentially expanding storage capacity. But mobile devices can benefit even more from cloud storage, since it allows the device’s design to remain lithe and streamlined, negating the need for battery-sucking onboard storage components. In this way, a cloud-ready iPhone user could tote around major data with them without needing a fanny pack-mounted hard drive tethered to their iPhone.
The good news is that the iPhone 5g is most likely getting this cloud thing.
There are plenty of reports out there that corroborate this claim: Apple’s eco-busting (just kidding) purchase of a huge data center in North Carolina, garnering of the catchy “iCloud” domain name and mentioning of iCloud in recent developer preview code for Mac OS X Lion, and a dandy report from our friends 9to5Mac that Apple and Verizon have been chatting about doing future iOS updates (ostensibly for the iPhone 5) over the air (OTA) — meaning that users will no longer have to plug into a computer to do their updates.
In this way, the cloud approach to storage and computing begins to fulfill Steve Jobs’ dream of mobile devices like the iPhone5 and iPad  that could truly replace the personal computer; if they no longer need to interface with a computer for anything, they indeed become standalone mobile computing devices.
But if all this cloud computing banter is just too esoteric for you, there’s one very straightforward way to look at it from the perspective of the iPhone 5: look for the iPhone memory capacity to bump up from 16/32 GB to 128GB, or maybe even 256GB. That’s a lotta iTunes!

You probably know more about the cloud than I do. Or, maybe you don’t. But it’s Sunday, so sit down with your cup of coffee and join the morning’s discussion about the cloud and how it may impact the iPhone 5. Feel free to let us know your coffee brand, too. I’m drinking Equal Exchange Organic Breakfast Blend — it’s great!
Tags: iphone 5, iphone5, iphone 5 rumors, iphone 5 2011, iphone 5g, i Phone 5, os 5, iphone 5 cases, jailbreak iphone 5, i phone 5, white iphone 5, iphone 5g release date, iphone 5 review, iphone 5 white, unlock iphone 5, iphone 5 price, iphone 5 unlock, iphone 5 accessories, iphone 5 bumper, iphone 5 deals, white iphone 5 release date, iphone 5 canada iphone 5 weiß, iphone 5 reviews, iphone 5 wallpaper, iphone 5 release date, buy iphone 5, best iphone 5 apps, iphone 5 covers, iphone 5 news, iphone 5 uk, iphone 5 specs, iphone 5 cover, iphone 5 wallpapers, iphone 5 australia, unlocked iphone 5, iphone 5 unlocked, iphone 5 g, iphone 5 pris, iphone 5 screen protector, iphone 5 32gb, iphone 5 bluetooth, iphone 5 kopen, iphone 5 antenna, iphone 5 white release date, iphone 5 battery life, Verizon iPhone 5, iPhone 5 in 2011, singtel iphone 5, iphone 5 dock, iphone 5 sim card, cheap iphone 5, iphone 5 resolution, iphone 5 update, iphone 5 manual, iphone 5 themes, iphone 5 features, iphone 5 pay as you go, free iphone 5, comprar iphone 5, best apps for iphone 5, iphone 5 wiki, iphon5, best iphone 5 cases, iphone 5 tethering, new iphone 5, incase iphone 5, problems with iphone 5, iphone 5 for sale, iphone 5 prices, iphone 5 cena, iphone 5 bumpers, iphone 5 vs samsung galaxys, iphone 5 availability, digi iphone 5, iphone 5 cost, iphone 5 camera, how much is the iphone 5, cases for iphone 5, iphone 5 battery, iphone 5 insurance, iphone 5 issues, iphone 5 skins, iphone 5s, iphone 5 tricks, rogers iphone 5, refurbished iphone 5, iphone 5 tips, iphone 5 reception, iphone 5 sim free, iphone 5 verizon, cheap iphone 5, iphone 4 vs iphone 5, iphone 5 resolution, iphone 5 prix, test iphone 5, iphone 5 features, iphone 5 pre order, free iphone 5, comprar iphone 5, etui iphone 5, best apps for iphone 5, phone 5, best iphone 5 cases, iphone 5 tethering, movistar iphone 5, new iphone 5, incase iphone 5, problems with iphone 5, case iphone 5, how to activate iphone 5, iphone 5 for sale, iphone 5 sim, ipone5, digi iphone 5, iphone 5 cost, how much is the iphone 5, forfait iphone 5, cases for iphone 5, iphone 5 t-mobile, iphone 5 battery, iphone 5 insurance, liberar iphone 5, iphone 5 vertrag, iphone 5 issues, cheapest iphone 5, blackberry torch vs iphone 5, iphone 5 in India, iphone 5g movistar, precio iphone 5, iphone 5 tricks, iphone 5 malaysia, iphone 5g white, refurbished iphone 5, iphone 5 tips, iphone os 5 release date, iphone 5 uk price, iphone 5 reception, iphone 5 sim free, iphone 5 games, iphone 5 without contract, iphone 5 user guide, iphone 5 os, iphone 5 release, iphone 5 plans, iphone 5 buy, iphone 5th generation, activate iphone 5, facetime iphone 5, tomtom iphone 5, iphone 5 problem, iphone 5 vs htc desire, iphone 5 clone, apps for iphone 5, top iphone 5 apps, downgrade iphone iphone 5 flash, unlocking iphone 5, iphone 5 youtube, iphone 5 applications, iphone 5 stock, iphone 5g unlocked, iphone 5 prijs, iphone 5 rogers, review iphone 5, iphone 5 contract, iphone 5 screen resolution, best iphone 5 deals, ifone 5, iphone 5 wifi, price of iphone 5, jail break iphone 5, android vs iphone 5, iphone 5 in Canada, iphone 5 antenna problem, iphone 5 car mount, acheter iphone 5, iphone 5 sales, pre order iphone 5, iphone 5 micro sim, iphone os 5 download, iphone 5 screen, iphone 5 processor, white iphone 5 release, iphone 5 theme, iphone 5 skin, iphone 5 upgrade, iphone 5 car charger, iphone 5 armband, iphone 5 preise, iphone 5 no contract, iphone 5 activation, iphone 5 comprar, iphone 5 spec, iphone 5 china, iphone 5 antenna fix, iphone 5 firmware, iphone 5 abonnement, iphone 5 singtel, iphone 5 screen size, jailbreaking iphone 5, samsung galaxy vs iphone 5, buy iphone 5g, iphone 5 proximity sensor, iphone 5 accessoires, iphone 5g 32gb, sim free iphone 5, iphone 5 pricing, griffin motif iphone 5, iphone 5 dimensions, blackberry vs iphone 5, iphone5 apps, accessories iphone5, accessories iphone 5, iphone 5 download, download iphone 5, download iphone5, iphone5 download, unlock iphone 5, iphone 5 unlock, unlock iphone5, iphone5 unlock, iphone 5news, iphone 5new, iphone5 new, iphone5 news, news iphone 5, news iphone5, iphone 5 covers, iphone 5 cover, jailbroken iPhone 5, iPhone 5 jailbroken, iphone 5 app

Thứ Tư, 4 tháng 5, 2011

Planny iPhone App Review – No Frills Planning

For me to use a to-do list on a regular basis it has to be easily accessible, simple to use and very reliable.  My life is not so complex that I need anything hugely complicated, and my job requires the same thing each day, so I rarely need to plan much in advance.  To this end, the standard Calendar app on my iPhoneis ideal as not only is it simple and easy to use, but it syncs with my Mac too.
If I were to swap over to a new planner, the app would have to be something very special indeed.  Will Planny be that app?  Let’s find out.
Released at the beginning of April, Planny promises to be a streamlined organizer that makes the most of the touchscreen interface.  As with most organizers, when you start the app you’re presented with a daily view split into hours, with the option of viewing your calendar by month too.  Handily you can set the hours displayed on a single page to those of your work, so there’s no unnecessary swiping.
Events appear inside circles  – although can be altered to a square, heart or hexagon – and a double tap shows all the relevant information.  Each appointment can be assigned a start time and a title, plus there is the option to add notes, set an alert or schedule a repeat.

With your appointment saved, you can assign a priority level.  This is then visually indicated on the daily view by both color – green for low importance, blue for medium and red for high priority – and by how high up the screen the appointment is.  This makes spotting the most important things in your day very easy, and is the best thing about Planny.  Switching to calendar view adds a small number alert on any days with appointments added.

If you need to move an appointment to a later time, you can tap and drag it across the screen to a new time, another excellent time saver.  At this point, Planny was proving useful, however, things stared to take a turn for the negative when I delved a little deeper.  That appointment I’d just dragged to a new time?  Fine if it’s on the same day, but if the appointment has moved to the next day, you have to fiddle about in the menu system.  I would have much preferred the ability to drag it over to the next calendar page manually.
Then there is the adding of a new appointment.  When you’ve been through everything and clicked ’save’ – which happens far too often – you’re returned to the current day planner; so if you want to check the appointment has been saved you have to either swipe through or visit the calendar overview.  Seeing as there is a Now button to return the view to the present day, I would have preferred to see what I’d just added and compare it with other events of that day.

But the biggest problem for Planny is the way it handles more than one appointment at the same time on the same day.  Instead of clearly overlapping them, it piles them up with very little indication there’s more than one appointment for that time, especially if they’re all the same level of priority.  This could lead to overbooking and missed appointments – defeating the point of an organizer!
These may seem like little niggles, but as I mentioned from the start, I need the least annoying system possible if I’m to use a planner – and although Planny started out well, I soon returned to the standard Calendar.  However, Planny gains a point for being a free app, and provided your schedule isn’t very busy or that likely to alter much, it’s a perfectly serviceable organizer.
Positives:

  • Fast recognition of important tasks.
  • Easy to drag appointments to new times on the same day.
  • No setup, minimal menus.
Negatives:
  • Difficult to spot multiple appointments for the same time with the same priority.
  • Appointments can’t be dragged to another day.
  • Not very visually impressive.
Overall: 3/5


Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,