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Posts Tagged ‘Apple-iOS’
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011
RIM has had to make some serious adjustments in recent years thanks to the onslaught of Android and iOS and while it has been pushing more touch oriented phones in the past months as well as the BlackBerry PlayBook which is set to compete with the likes of the iPad, Xoom and Galaxy Tab, they have still been losing market share. That said, it looks like the company could be making an about face in some sorts by offering one the most popular features from the Blackberry line on its competitors operating system.
That’s right folks, according to closes sources to the company, RIM is planning to offer a version of BlackBerry Messenger for the Android and iOS platform, albeit a stripped down version. In any case however, this would be great for many individuals who were loyal BlackBerry fans until recently when they decided to defect to the camps of Android and iOS.
According to the same sources, the Android version of the software is expected to hit the Android Marketplace before the end of the year while the iOS version is slated for some time next year due to Apple’s excessive rules and regulations.
While many analysts see might look at this as a sign of defeat, if played right, RIM could not only play both sides of the game, but they could influence many users on other platforms to try their software without having to use one of their devices. If this is the case, just like Microsoft which has taken a nonchalant approach to hardware, RIM could than use the extra leverage from the new base of loyal users to market new BlackBerry products to. Of course, all this is speculation and only time will tell if the rumors were true, but at any rate the idea of BBM on another platform does sound cool.
Source: Engadget
Tags: Apple-iOS, BlackBerry, BlackBerry-Messenger, google-android, RIM
Posted in Blackberry Phones | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 1st, 2011
Android has had gesture unlock since day one and it is one of the most unique features of Android. That said, if the screenshots above should prove to be true, it appears that the next version of the iPhone could sport a similar gesture unlock feature.
The screenshots you see were acquired by 9to5mac and are purportedly from an in house iPhone application which is being used by Apple employees. According to the article, it appears that the lock screen has the same nine dots interface found on the Android operating system and requires a minimum length of characters in order to unlock the device.
Of course this is hardly an official announcement that the feature could make it out of Cupertino, but it could hint at things to come and while we do admire the idea, we can’t help but wonder how this would implement as gesture unlock on Android has been receiving some media lashing of recently thanks to the fact that prolonged use can allow a person to see the pattern on a screen.
However it can be handy as a gesture is usually easier to remember than a password (unless that password is tied to a personal item, event etc.) On the downside, gesture unlock can be a lot harder to describe to a friend.
Either way we’ll have to wait until Apple’s announcement this Wednesday when iOS 4.3 will be announced as well as Apple’s plans for the Apple iPad 2. It could also lend shed some light as to what to exepct from the Apple iPhone 5 as well, and we would speculate that if gesture unlock does come to the iPhone 5, ten to one chances, said features will make it to the iPad 2 as well.
Source: 9to5Mac
Tags: Apple, Apple-iOS, Apple-iPad-2, Apple-iPhone, apple-iphone-5
Posted in Apple Phones | No Comments »
Thursday, November 25th, 2010
.jpg) According to reports, the next version of the Apple iOS will be version 4.3 and it will be coming out later this December. Considering that the most recent 4.2 update had little to offer to the users of the iPhone and the iPod Touch (since most of the updates were exclusively beneficial to the iPad touch screen tablet instead).
So far, the details on what the new Apple will have remains to be seen. The 4.2 update was released just a while back and it is unlikely that new content has been created (for the next version of the OS. Still, many are hoping that some much requested features will finally make it to the OS. According to some rumors, one of the key functions that the update will have should have something about RSS feeds, publications and being able to access and even provide content faster.
Of course, another good reason for Apple to launch the update is to discourage people from using the Jailbreak feature. This little crack has been a serious bane for the iTunes store. In fact, it has been confirmed just a while ago that the 4.2 version of the iOS has already been cracked –but only for the iPhone and the iPod Touch. So far, the 4.2 version of the iPad tablet has yet to be Jail broken; the same applies for the latest version of the iPhone (only the 3G and 3Gs are supported).
In other news, Apple’s iPad tablet is slowly losing ground to a large swath of Android devices that are breaching into tablet territory. All the new devices are sporting lower price tags (with the exception of the Samsung P1000 Galaxy Tab) and of course, they also have a browsing advantage over the iPad as the Android naturally supports Flash content online.
Tags: Apple, Apple-iOS, Apple-iPad, Apple-iPhone
Posted in Apple Phones | No Comments »
Monday, November 22nd, 2010
 Users of the Apple iOS in the UK will finally be able to enjoy the iAds system. This may seem odd as generally, not a lot of people will appreciate having more advertisements on their devices. However, the iAds system is so well implemented that the additional content has proved to actually attract more buyers when the iAds has been used in other regions.
LG Display, AB InBev, L’Oréal, Renault, Citi, Evian, Louis Vuitton, Nespresso, Perrier, Unilever, Turkish Airlines and Absolute Radio have all been confirmed as to have signed up for the Apple ad service.
According to a recent study by an advertising network, the Android mobile platform is able to attract as many web browsing users as the Apple iOS. This result has shown that despite the massive number of devices that Apple already has sold, Google is able to match that number. While Apple has enjoyed dominance in the field for a long period, more and more people are slowly learning to appreciate the Android OS.
This is the result of having the open source OS present in a large number of devices has help the Android –as well as the fact that Flash is supported by the platform. Apple’s lack of Flash format support has left that OS unable to satisfy the browsing needs of many users as a large chunk of web content is not viewable without Flash.
Research in Motion is supporting BBC’s special charity day by launching the Children in Need theme for the BlackBerry. The new theme give the OS a colorful new look complete with cute icons and fonts. While this may all seem like childish fun, the real feature here is an additional application that allows users of the handset to easily donate to the Children in Need charity. While users can also opt to phone in a pledge, the app can prove to be easier to access for most.
Tags: Apple-iAds, Apple-iOS, BlackBerry, google-android
Posted in Android Mobile Phones, Apple Phones, Blackberry Phones | No Comments »
Monday, November 22nd, 2010
 “Retcon” might not be the most fitting word, but it still certainly applies as Steve Wozniak has decided to deny the translations of his answers in a Dutch media interview. According to the real brains behind the first Macintosh and the Apple company as a whole, he was misquoted in the interview and that he “would never say that the Android is better than iOS”.
At least, he would never say it out loud.
But the fact remains that the interview translation, whether he owns up to it or not, is not really a point of opinion, but a series of actual facts regarding the smart phone industry. The reality is that Apple is starting to take the lower position behind Google as the Android developer is steamrolling its way to the top of the game.
Indeed, the Android smart phones of today are the PCs of the mobile industry. Android is doing what Microsoft achieved with Windows for the computer –create an OS that everyone would like to use and at the same time, attract plenty of third party software developers.
So what did Steve Wozniak really say?
At this point, it is really difficult to know. The nuances of language translations and the subtle implications that each word have can change the way a single sentence can be analyzed and most importantly, understood.
In the end, Wozniak did not officially state what he really said back at the interview. Considering that the man is still heavily associated with Apple (despite not being officially part of the company any longer), it is likely that he would never truly state or even say something that would imply that he feels or thinks that the Android OS is a better OS.
So far, the Dutch newspaper company has yet to make an official statement regarding the matter.
Tags: Apple, Apple-iOS, Google, google-android, Steve-Wozniak
Posted in Apple Phones | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 16th, 2010
 The open source, Linux based MeeGo operating system is not yet out, but it is already receiving a few changes to the system. A recent announcement by AMD has informed the mobile industry that the Linux developer will now be teaming up with both Nokia and Intel as they also join the MeeGo development team.
This latest update brings the upcoming MeeGo operating system as something that is far more than a foray by Nokia and Intel in the platform industry. AMD’s partnership with the two companies could mean that the OS will certainly be something we can all look forward to.
In Android related news, the 2.3 Gingerbread update is already making plenty of Google fans excited though the exact release date has yet to be officially pinned down, some speculations even stated that the OS upgrade would be released as soon as today. Of course, unless Google makes an official decision, it is impossible to make a final date. Naturally, devices under various networks would still have to rely on specific updates for their handset.
Speaking of which, HTC Legend owners under Vodafone UK will be happy to know that the update to version 2.2 Froyo is already underway for the smart phone. This confirms earlier reports that the Legend handset would also be getting a major OS update –the same report also stated that the HTC Wildfire might also get an update of its own.
Lastly, it seems that the iOS 4.2 update will not be available anytime soon. Cupertino based Apple has yet to make an official statement, but initial reports has indicated that the delay is being caused by WiFi issues. Once this error has been fixed, we can all expect to see the new OS upgrade to be released.
Tags: Android-2.2-Froyo, Android-2.3-gingerbread, Apple-iOS, google-android, HTC-Legend, MeeGo
Posted in Android Mobile Phones, HTC Phones, Nokia Phones | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 20th, 2010
It certainly did not surprise market analysts when Apple announced that they have sold about 14.1 million units this quarter alone –that brings a continued level of growth for the Cupertino based company. While the gross margin for Apple has dropped from 41.8% to 36.9% many believe that it will still pick up when the last quarter of the year rolls around.
In the meanwhile, CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs is busy once again making his stand about the concept of open source known. The man declared that Apple provides a more stable environment for end users as compared to the Android OS. This is quite true, considering that the number of customizable settings on the Apple iOS is quite limited, and the fact that the only way to use the iOS is on Apple devices, there is certainly a degree of uniformity to the way the experience is executed.
However, this does not support Steve’s argument that the iOS is more “open” than the already open source Google Android mobile platform.
 Moving on to more Apple related news, there is plenty of excitement over the latest released images of what might be the newest iPhone handset in the works. The initial screenshots reveal little other than the fact that the internal seems to have changed a bit from the iPhone 4. However, some state that the new handset may just as well be a second version of the iPhone 4 that addresses the antenna issue.
For those who missed out on the whole antennagate controversy; it has been proven that the hardware of the Apple iPhone 4 was badly designed in regards to the antenna. The device’s antenna has a weak spot that would lose signal strength when it comes into contact with the finger –and that spot is located on the side of the phone most likely to be held when making calls.
Tags: antenna, Apple, Apple-iOS, Apple-iPhone-4
Posted in Apple Phones | No Comments »
Thursday, October 14th, 2010
 It seems that an old patent that Apple has filed has recently been approved. According to reports, a patent for a phone feature that would monitor the content of text messages for adult oriented material was filed by Apple back in 2008. The patent has taken a while before it has been approved and now, a couple of smart phone generations later; the Cupertino based company has been given the green light on the feature.
But are we actually going to see this technology in play?
Apple has been known for having the habit of sitting on patented technology, and for the most part, they filed the patent two years ago –when the iPhone was first starting out, it is wholly possible that the concept that conceived for the very first generation of the Apple touch screen smart phone, but would have no place in with the new iOS.
Of course, many parents around the world would agree that there is a certain merit to such a function –especially today. It has been reported that sexting is a major issue among underage teens and a feature that would curb, limit or prevent the habit altogether would certainly be a welcome thing.
However, considering the concept of digital technology, it is likely that any form of electronic monitoring and censorship is more likely to be circumvented by the more tech savvy teens than their parents –thus rendering the feature moot.
There are also concerns as to whether such a feature could be used as a way to snoop on other people’s texting patterns and actual messages being sent –which is quite possible if the feature was to be altered or modified to a certain extent.
In any case, the patent has just been approved and Apple has yet to make an official statement regarding when and how they will make use of it.
Tags: Apple, Apple-iOS, Apple-iPhone, Apple-iPhone-4
Posted in Apple Phones | No Comments »
Monday, September 6th, 2010
 How much would spend on a tablet device? At a price tag of £679.99 the Galaxy Tab is hardly anything one would call budget friendly, but it certainly is a much better investment than the Apple iPad touch screen tablet.
The tablet industry is still small, in fact, without considering devices that are basically tablet computers, there are only two touch screen tablets available on the market: the Samsung Galaxy Tab and the much earlier released Apple iPad. In both cases, the devices have massive screens and custom user interfaces and operating systems. Though one makes use of the closed Apple iOS and the other is the open source Google Android.
There is no doubt that while the Apple is far more famous, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab is far more functional. Right off the bat, the Galaxy Tab is more portable than the iPad. While it may seem that the iPad’s large 9.7 inch touch screen display is an advantage over the Galaxy Tab, it is the opposite that is true.
The fact is that portable devices can only go so far with the screen. The Galaxy Tab emulates the size of a small paperback novel while the iPad seems more like a really thin almanac. eBook reading experiences aside, the fact is that portability is related to size.
Apps are a major factor when it comes to comparing the Apple iOS with the Google Android. As reported previously, the Android market is slowly growing, passing each benchmark count quickly in the past few weeks. The Apple iTunes store on the other hand, has a vast library of two years worth of apps and features. While the Android offers more practical tools and more free apps, the big value packs are more often in the iTunes store than anywhere else.
The bottom line here is that we would still recommend the Galaxy Tab over the iPad at any time. While Apple’s gadget is more famous, Samsung’s custom tablet is certainly a lot more functional and reliable.
Tags: Apple-iOS, Apple-iPad, google-android, samsung, Samsung-Galaxy-Tab, tablets
Posted in Samsung Phones | No Comments »
Friday, August 13th, 2010
The hacking game for Apple’s latest smart phone has officially begun. While it technically started with the very first version of an iPhone 4 jailbreak hack, the real game only being with Apple’s first act of defense: the new update for the iPhone 4 which seals up the security issue that originally allowed hackers to gain access to the system.
The world of hacking, homebrew app development and software piracy are all linked together in a bizarre chain that has left some rather inventive and impressive developers and programmers labeled in a bad light.
Technically speaking, jailbreaking itself is not as bad as it sounds –it simply allows the iPhone user to bypass the iTunes requirements for installing content on the Apple device. This is actually a great tool for anyone with custom made applications (such as homebrew) as it actually runs on the device. Otherwise, only iTunes downloaded applications can be installed on the phone.
Sadly jailbreaking has also been used to run not only homebrew content –but also official apps that have been unofficially distributed. Software piracy is one of the biggest issues affecting app developers and this has become more blatant with the introduction of jailbreaks.
A new update from Apple now prevents the most currently used method of jailbreaking the Apple iPhone by removing a security vulnerability that allowed users to make use of the PDF format to gain access to the system. It will be a while before hackers are able to come out with a new jailbreak tool.
The update not only fixes jailbreak access, but as Apple has announced it also seals up a much larger security hole. The issue originally allowed attackers access to the inner workings of the Apple iOS (which is how the jailbreak worked essentially) and that the weakness could also be exploited for other, more malicious intentions other than jail breaking.
Tags: Apple, Apple-iOS, Apple-iOS-4, Apple-iPhone-4, apple-itunes, Apps
Posted in Apple Phones | No Comments »
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