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Posts Tagged ‘Apple-iPhone’
Thursday, April 21st, 2011
It should not be too surprising that Apple would begin the legal battle concerning Android. While Microsoft who has also claimed that Android infringes on its patents for the most part has kept most of its legal battles outside of court, Apple has chosen to take its fights to the courts and it is doing so once again with Samsung.
According to Apple: “Rather than innovate and develop its own technology and a unique Samsung style for its smart phone products and computer tablets, Samsung chose to copy Apple’s technology, user interface and innovative style in these infringing products.”
The ironic thing is Samsung manufactures most of the flash memory, screens and other components used in the iPad, iPhone and other Apple products. But I’m sure Apple is not sitting well with Samsung’s sale records of last year (80 million Galaxy S smartphones). Either way, the lawsuit could be interpreted as Apple seeing Samsung as more than a partner and rather a rival.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Tags: Apple, Apple-iPhone, samsung, Samsung-Galaxy-S
Posted in Apple Phones, Samsung Phones | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 29th, 2011
 To date, American Express has been behind their two major competitors, Visa and Master Card, in authorizing online payments and moving into an era of cardless payment systems. However, today, that all changes as the company will be launching a new payment platform that is not only set to take on the likes of Master Card and Visa, but PayPal as well.
PayPal which has long established itself as the premier payment method for online transactions has so far received very little if any steep competition from the likes of MasterCard, Visa or American Express. For the most part, Visa and MasterCard have been busy expanding into other areas of payment such as contactless payment systems, i.e. NFC tech, while American Express has been doing Gog knows what. However, thanks to the launch of the Serve digital payment platform, American Express will hope to challenge PayPal on their own turf.
The platform which is provided by American Express Travel Related Services Company Inc. is mainly aimed after those who are looking to conduct business on the move. Users of the service can register for Serve and once registered will be able to send and receive money from friends and relatives as well as request money from individuals or groups, split the bill for group purchases, add funds to a Serve account and check balance and manage sub accounts.
Serve currently has apps for the iPhone and Android operating system and plans to introduce more features on a rapid basis. Currently it is only available to U.S residents but plans are underway to launch in Europe in the near future as well as other parts of the world. If American Express can leverage this well with NFC, we just might have a winner here!
Source: Engadget
Tags: American-Express, Apple-iPhone, Apps, google-android, PayPal
Posted in Industry News | 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 »
Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011
.jpg) For once in the industry, Apple is currently playing catch-up with cellphone tech. Even though the Cupertino based company is credited with the current push of graphical intensive applications for mobile devices, many manufacturers are currently moving ahead of the company. Take for instance LG which recently announced the Optimus Pad (tablet) and the Optimus 3D (Android powered smartphone). Both devices take full advantage of NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 technology and the Optimus 3D allows full 3D content sans glasses on the device. Not only that but shooting 3D content from the device itself is possible.
With the advent of Android’s exponential growth and no end in sight, t has put Apple at a disadvantage who has seen it’s so far unchallenged growth, finally coming within checks of Android especially with Android devices being within a wide range of form factors and price range.
This has led many “insiders” to come forward and claim that Apple is indeed working on the next iPhone (the iPhone 5) and according to sources, a cheaper version is being considered. While many users within the United States are used to contracts and thus the iPhone thrives well in such an ecosystem, many customers around the world such as here in the UK or Asia or Eastern Europe generally buy their phones off contract and shop around for a suitable contract.
Because of this, an iPhone off contract which can run in excess of £600 which is nearly impossible to compete with a sub £500 Android, Nokia or Windows Phone 7 units. According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple is working on bringing down the price of the iPhone which would better position it to compete against Nokia and Android units around the world. Other sources claim that the new iPhone is supposed to be announced sometime in June within the timeframe of its WWDC.
Tags: Apple, Apple-iPhone, apple-iphone-5
Posted in Apple Phones | No Comments »
Thursday, November 25th, 2010
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 »
Wednesday, November 24th, 2010
 For those who want to get the latest scoop on all of the biggest news stories of today, here’s a quick list of all the big headlines to keep you up to date.
iOS 4.2 update is out and it brings plenty of new features for the Apple iPad touch screen tablet. While the new version is good for the iPod Touch and the iPhone as well, the real focus here is with the 9.7 inch tablet. With new Android tablet devices coming out, that added functionality is going to be pretty useful once people start realizing that lacking Flash support is a major flaw.
Microsoft is facing a backlash from the tech industry as it has been reported that the micro SD card compatibility issues of the OS are pretty hard to fix. Unless Microsoft is able to find a way to fix the issue, many media loving smart phone users will be sticking to the Android or iPhone instead.
Acer is taking on Dell’s 5 inch Streak with a new, yet-to-be-named mobile phone. The touch screen smart phone is said to be running the Android OS on what appears to be a 4.8 inch touch screen display. It looks like the two computer manufacturers are all set to fill in the gap between smart phones and tablets pretty fast.
The Tegra 2 running Android smart phone from Motorola is getting a name and plenty of leaked images. The Olympus is said to be one impressive handset that Android fans should look out for as it may very well set the new bar for the next generation of devices. With all the odd devices they had come up recently (the Flip, Defy, etc), Motorola seems to be back with that innovative spirit once again. As for getting released in the UK, we will have to wait and see if the Olympus ends up as another pseudo-US exclusive handset for a couple of months.
Tags: Acer, Apple-iOS-4, Apple-iPad, Apple-iPhone, Motorola, Motorola-Olympus-Tegra-2
Posted in Acer Phones, Apple Phones, Motorola Phones | No Comments »
Friday, November 19th, 2010
 Gadgets manufacturer BoxWave has launched the Keyboard Buddy, a physical keyboard accessory for the Apple iPhone 4.
The device is what you would think it is: small, easy to carry around and hooks up to the iPhone4 through Bluetooth. It is shaped liked a regular QWERTY keyboard seen in most smart phones. And unlike other keyboard accessories, the Buddy actually functions a lot like a physical keyboard that is connected to the handset.
The device literally hooks up to the back of the iPhone; this doubles the function not only as a QWERTY slider, but also as a back casing for the handset as well. Do not worry about the speakers or the camera being covered by the buddy as it actually has provisions for the lens as well as for the speakers on the back on the device as well.
We certainly love this add on because a physical keyboard is one of those phone functions that Apple has never bothered venturing into. While other phone makers create a variety of handsets (take the X10 Mini and the X10 Mini Pro), Apple has stuck to one form factor since the launch of the first generation iPhone. It is unlikely that any change could happen now.
For those wondering how the physical keyboard feels: it is amazing. Not quite on the same level as BlackBerry’s keyboards, but it still comes pretty close. The buttons are responsive and evenly spaced –though as with all physical keyboards, it takes a few uses before your fingers get used to the placements of keys. The layout is a typical four row setup with numbers on the top.
Overall, this is the perfect addition to the Apple iPhone. If you have wanted to switch to a keyboard phone but have become too attached to the iOS, then this is the perfect match for you.
Tags: Apple, Apple-iPhone, Apple-iPhone-4, Bluetooth-Keyboard, QWERTY
Posted in Apple Phones, Mobile Phone Accessories | No Comments »
Friday, November 19th, 2010
 Apple’s new iAds system has already been around for several weeks now, but in the UK, the advertising add-on feature for the iOS has yet to be introduced. This new system for Apple allows sponsors to have their advertisements showcased in the mobile platform without being intrusive or bothersome to users.
So far, users who have seen the iAds feature in action in other countries have yet to raise a major complaint. In fact, many feel that the system is actually effective and is able to display advertisements that are relevant to the interests of the user or are appropriate to the current content being shown on the device.
With many large companies such as Unilever, Renault and Louis Vuitton now backing the service, iPhone users can expect to see some interesting ads once the system becomes fully active.
The white Apple iPhone 4 is not yet available on retail, but an American teen has managed to get in touch with a Foxconn contact in order to acquire official iPhone 4 front and back panels, in white.
The news came through the vine as the online site selling the parts has become quite famous in the past couple of days. Despite the fact that Apple has already sent letters to the site owner to stop selling the panels, the parts are still available today; considering how menacing the legal arm of Apple could be, the site might want to consider shutting down or end up paying a considerable amount of possible damages in court fees.
For those interested in the getting the panels, the front and back parts are being sold separately and as a set –which is perfect for those who want to maintain the older look of the original back panel that comes with the device. Since the parts are originally made for Apple, they fit perfectly with the iPhone 4.
Tags: Apple, Apple-iAds, Apple-iPhone, Apple-iPhone-4
Posted in Apple Phones | No Comments »
Thursday, October 28th, 2010
 One simply cannot avoid asking, is Apple a threat to Sony’s gaming division? The big skip to the bottom line simply reads yes, and a big one at that. Apple’s strong hold on the casual gaming market as well as the mobile phone industry is stealing the general user base that would have been attracted purchasing a PSP or a Nintendo DS.
But as for overall sales, the Playstation Portable does not need to worry about smart phones. Hard core gamers –that is the main target market for the gaming handheld would not be satisfied with the vanilla offerings on the iTunes store. Despite the presence of major companies such as Capcom, Namco Bandai and EA on Apple’s app market, the big consideration still lies in what kinds of apps are actually being launched in the first place.
Even ports of major game titles do not translate so well into touch phone controls. The use of tilt and touch is a novelty. And while it works for certain games, it certainly is a hassle for most. Try to get anyone to perform perfect maneuvers on Ace Combat Xi and they would need to spend plenty of time calibrating the tilt. The lack of a directional pad and actual buttons is a big deal.
Sadly for Sony, the market positioning of the Playstation Portable is not just games –it is also a multimedia device. It has a web browser, support for music and video playback; it even has a digital camera attachment for taking videos and images.
And this is where the iPhone’s overall practicality pushes in. The iPhone is still a phone and as such, sees far more practical use than the PSP. This is why the iPhone is selling in the millions over such a short period of time: because people will be using it more. Hard core gamers represent a small quantity of the overall market, and in that regard, Apple stands to make more money.
Tags: Apple, Apple-iPhone, Apple-iPhone-4, Sony-PSP
Posted in Apple Phones, Sony Ericsson Phones | No Comments »
Friday, October 22nd, 2010
To take the handset in a consumer perspective, any form of control and censorship is certainly a negative trait, but as for the manufacturer, a phone that is able to self check for content is something that could prove to be a very useful PR tool.
Meet the Apple iPhone. We all know the device and we all know what it can do. But add in the factor of a monitor for sexting and you have a device that can basically control what SMS messages you can send or receive.
The function is not yet implemented. In fact, Apple’s patent for the technology –which was filed a couple of years back has only recently been approved. But the fact that Apple has plans for it and seems to be intending to use the technology, is a sign that we could be very well seeing it in action pretty soon.
Many saw the anti-sexting angle as a great way to attract a certain market: parents. With sexting slowly proving to be prevalent problem among teens and pre-teens, the presence of an SMS monitor is certainly going to prove as a great feature.
And that is exactly what the patent truly is.
Monitoring explicit, sexual content may be good for stopping sexting habits. But the technology can also be used for monitoring other content as well. Such as politically or religiously inclined messages –making the iPhone a great fit for many countries that have very strict laws about what can be said or communicated.
Take the RIM BlackBerry for example. The handset is having problems penetrating the industry but if Apple’s iPhone can prove that it will not encourage dissident behavior from users, than there is no need for the handset to be banned in the first place.
What is truly alarming is if the technology becomes successful and the feature is expected of other smart phones as well.
Tags: Apple, Apple-iPhone, censorship, Sexting
Posted in Apple Phones | No Comments »
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