The Google Android operating system is going big with the upcoming launch of the Samsung Galaxy Tab. According to initial speculations, the new touch screen tablet will be sporting the new Android 2.2 Froyo operating system and the device will be supporting voice call functionality effectively making it one large mobile phone –which is probably why Samsung still includes the device in the Galaxy line up.
In any case, the Korean phone maker has yet to reveal other details about this upcoming gadget.
Speaking of upcoming, Apple has an interesting little patent that was put into focus by the tech website Patently Apple. The new technology being developed (on paper at least) is a way to combine the microphone with the audio jack.
The innovation will help mobile phones by adding in a secondary audio source and could be used to help filter out noise much like a dual speaker system would be capable of doing.
This technology seems to have been in the Apple patent cupboards for quite some time and it is actually quite a shame that they did not implement the technology on the recently released iPhone 4. Hopefully, other upcoming devices for Apple would be able to integrate the feature or some derivation of it.
Last on our news updates is a quick update from Nokia. Apparently, a Bulgarian operator accidentally placed the image of the Nokia C6-01 on an ad that was meant for the C6-00. The issue was quickly rectified and the image of the C6-01 is now associated with the right name.
While initial concepts for the Nokia C6-01 where showcasing a physical slide out QWERTY keyboard, the final product loses this add-on for a sleeker form factor. Since the older C6-00 already sports a keyboard, it is nice to see a small degree of variation when it comes to choosing a handset from the entire Nokia C-series.
Posts Tagged ‘Apple-iPhone-4’
Apple’s New Patent, Nokia C6-01 and Samsung’s G-Tab
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010This Week in Mobile: Samsung Tablet, Apple’s Anti Jailbreak
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010
Apple is about to take some very important steps in their war against jail breakers.
Anyone familiar with the smart phone industry would realize that apps are where the money is at these days. In fact, it has been reported that the general value of downloaded apps are slowly surpassing the profit generated by voice call technology. This has led to a deeper and stronger focus of many companies on the development of apps and related technology.
Jail breaking is a serious issue for Apple as it undermines the very structure of the iTunes store. Sure, not everyone wants to pay for certain apps, but being able to protect their developers is a prerogative that the company should take. On the other hand, the public announcement of the kill switch has led to plenty of concern from all iPhone users as it renders their device vulnerable.
In other mobile news, it seems that the Samsung Galaxy Tab device is finally in the testing phase as a recently uploaded video shows a man who was spotted as carrying the device around. While the video was shot on a train and was not as clear as we had hoped, the output remains the same: the Galaxy Tab is officially confirmed.
The device will sport a massive 7 inch capacitive touch screen display (no word yet if this will be using super AMOLED technology like the Galaxy S) and according to the initial spec sheet, it should be able to handle incoming and outgoing voice calls as well –making it the first tablet phone hybrid device.
Samsung’s Galaxy series of devices all use the Android operating system so expect to see Google’s mobile platform to fully support all the new features that are to be included in the tablet device. In terms of size, the Galaxy Tab is small but many believe that the 7 inch size is perfect in terms of ergonomics.
A Week of Mobile News Highlights
Thursday, August 19th, 2010
This is a very busy week for the mobile phone industry with one new announcement after another. Here is a quick list of all the big headlines for the past couple of days.
First off, Samsung has confirmed that they are going to be releasing a white version of the GT i9000 Galaxy S Android smart phone. No word yet on exactly when this phone will be on stock, but it will be coming. Many believe that Samsung is directly competing with the iPhone 4 (which has a white version that has been terribly delayed).
O2 and the UK police have teamed up to bring down nine individuals that have conspired to steal millions from network providers. The arrest was just made recently and is a major step in helping out the local phone operators from potentially losing millions in a major scam.
Orange Mobile UK has confirmed that the iPhone 4 is now available for free on certain plans and tariffs. The big offer can still be availed off –especially now that the demand for the smart phone has died down considerably. Just be certain to avail of the free iPhone 4 Bumper through the downloadable iTunes app.
It has been confirmed that the Android operating system is now one of the largest mobile platforms available with over 55 million units distributed in this year alone. This volume is almost six times more than the amount of Android shipped out last year. Currently, Google’s Android is second place only to the Symbian OS.
Sony has taken the first step in a marketing campaign that pits the PSP against casual titles on the mobile phone industry. Many, however, believe that this is just a prologue to the upcoming PSP2 smart phone-gaming handheld which is supposedly an Android device. Google is indeed with Talks with Sony and it is possible that there is more to this rumor than meets the eye.
Apple’s iAds: Successful and Slow
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
According to Nissan, the click through rates for the iAds content for their products are quite impressive, despite the marginally steep price that Apple demands for the service, the car manufacturer is certainly seeing a good return for its advertising based investment.
Other companies however, are seeing something to worry about: a very long production lead time. The fact is that Apple takes at least two months to create iAds content and sometimes, that value goes all the way up to 10 weeks. It is a hard call to make for some companies –while some that sell the same product or service for years would have not issue, those with regularly updated content would need something more dynamic.
In any case, it is surprising that the issue about iAds is not with consumers. Consumers are usually the first to go up in arms when it comes to advertisements being loaded into apps and games. Ironically, more people seem to prefer iAds on their iPhones over the conventional advertisements and this is a testament to the vision of the folks at Cupertino who saw the potential of such an ad platform.
Right now, Apple is still able to sell the ad system because it actually attracts more users. But with the Google ad service about to be implemented on the Android, the iOS needs to get the iAds system working faster.
Companies are still unsure about having Apple as part of the production process when it comes to ads -after all, marketing conceptualization is rarely something that companies would openly team up with Apple.
The system is about to be released in the UK later this year and we will finally get to see how practical the new ad system will be and whether local companies will adapt to the Apple advertising platform as well.
Apple Takes Decisive Action on Jailbreaking
Monday, August 16th, 2010Jailbreaking iPhones is a practice that has been around since the earliest versions of the Apple smart phone. While not officially allowed by Apple, it is something that is pretty common among users of the device, as it allows users to download content that is otherwise not sanctioned by Apple’s iTunes store or for using paid apps without having to pay the cost.
Both a tool for homebrew development and software piracy, the act of jailbreaking is often looked down upon by those who stick with the iTunes store offerings and of course, by developers who lose income due to their apps being downloaded for free. While Apple’s operating system already has security features in place to deter hackers, those who develop jailbreak software have shown grit and tenacity in their quest to break into Apple’s tough outer shell.
With the iPhone, that shell was cracked pretty early, with the jailbreak software officially confirmed working within the first week of launch and spreading across the internet by the second week.
However, the success of the jailbreak software is a double edged sword for many: it exposes a major vulnerability in the iOS 4. This vulnerability is being used by the jailbreak software to access the OS, but at the same time, other malicious content could do the same.
Apple is now encouraging users to update to version 4.0.2 of the iOS in order to remove the security issue. Of course, this latest version of the OS is also immune to the jailbreak software as well. This is because the same PDF issue that the jailbreak software uses is no longer present.
It will definitely be a while before the next form of the jailbreaking software gets released. In the meanwhile, Apple, and many developers, can celebrate the major step towards pushing out those who download paid content for free.
Apple Stops Jailbreaking Temporarily
Friday, August 13th, 2010The 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.
Apple iPhone 4 Now on Pay as You Go
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010Mobile network operator Vodafone UK has confirmed that they are offering Apple’s latest handset on pay as you go deals. The prices are pretty reasonable too. At £480, buyers will be able to get hold of the 16GB version while the 32GB version is up for £570. Reasonable, as long as the buyer does not mind buying a mobile phone with a badly designed antenna that loses signal and drops calls every now and then.
Yes, for those who might not have heard, the antenna issue is quite true. Apple even had an emergency press conference several weeks ago to discuss the matter (or rather, make excuses about the whole thing and simply hand out free iPhone 4 bumper cases for free). The issue with the phone is a hardware related problem, making a solution through software patches impossible. To truly fix this, Apple would need to start a recall of all devices and even set up a special repair program on all of their stores –quite an unlikely scenario since such a solution would cost the company plenty of money.
Instead, Apple has set up a special app at the iTunes store that users can download for free. Once the app is linked to the user’s iTunes account, they may sign up for the free bumper case (or get a refund if they have already bought one).
This however, does not fix the issue. Apple’s iPhone 4 loses signal when a portion of the lower left edge comes into contact with human touch. The casing only prevents direct contact with the area, but it will not resolve the issue. There are some improvised solutions available –a wide variety of items that can be used to block the exposed area, though owners are advised to follow more conventional solutions.
Apple iPhone 4: Coming this Friday on 3 UK
Thursday, July 29th, 2010Virtual mobile network operator 3 UK has confirmed that the Apple iPhone 4 is indeed coming to their network and that the smart phone will be ready for release on Friday.
The big launch is going to see 3 UK stores opening early and plenty of people queuing up for the device. However, 3’s representatives have announced that interested buyers should call ahead in order to schedule an appointment that would allow them to reserve a handset in advance. There is no official statement from Apple or 3 UK regarding how many stocks will be available in the stores so it is important for people to book in advance as queuing up will not ensure that buyers will receive an iPhone 4.
Considering how much issues the iPhone 4’s antenna has, it is surprising how the demand for the product has not gone down. According to reports, Apple’s stocks have taken a dip after the issue of the antenna problem got out of hand and that despite the large demand for the iPhone 4, Apple needs to consider changing their production methods.
A couple of weeks back, the Cupertino based company held an emergency conference with Steve Jobs at the helm of the event. According to Jobs, the antenna issue is something that affects all mobile phones and that this is not just a problem for Apple, but for the entire industry as well. However, it has to be noted that the average smart phone will lose about 10% to 30% of signal strength when the antenna comes into contact with human touch. The iPhone 4 however, loses a solid 90% due to the way that the antenna and the handset were designed.
Apple has since stated that they will be giving out free bumper cases for iPhone 4 owners. The bumper case will prevent the antenna from being accidentally touched during phone operation.
Apple Antenna Issue: German Testers Investigate
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010It is never a good thing to hear that the antenna issue is a challenge to the entire mobile phone industry. After all, avoiding the problem has never really been a good idea in the first place. But that is exactly what Apple is trying to do with their most recent statements regarding the iPhone 4 and its’ faulty antenna. However, these reasoning and arguments can only go so far, other mobile phone makers have given their reactions, and even consumer groups are taking an active role.
Take the German group, Stiftung Warentest. They recently took an Apple iPhone 4 and put it through heavy testing in order to determine what the problem truly is. According to the results, the Apple iPhone 4’s antenna is truly faulty –to a point that no other antenna has been designed that bad.
We all know that blocking, touching or interfering in any way with an antenna will affect signal strength. For mobile phones, this usually achieves a negative effect (with some radios, human contact might actually be a signal boost), and the entire industry is already aware of the situation. This is why most phones are designed with antennas that are out of the way, unlikely to be touched, and most importantly, does not lose much signal strength.
On an average, about 10 to 20% of signal strength can be lost if the device’s antenna is touched. For the Apple iPhone 4 however, the slightest contact with human skin will cause the device to drop about 90% of signal strength –enough to kill any network connection with a strength that is not at full signal.
One major factor here is that on an average, signal strength is anywhere from 70% to 90% in most urban areas, which means that even in these high signal areas, iPhone 4 smart phones will be completely useless unless fingers are kept away from the antenna.
UK iPhone Users Advised: Contact Network about High Roaming Charges
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010If you have been out of the country for any given amount of time and have spotted an increase in your mobile bills, then it might be a good idea to sit down and have a quick talk with a representative from your network service provider and discuss the details of the roaming charges that are present in your bill.
This is the latest advice being given out to UK iPhone owners, as a recent spike in the number of customer complaining about larger than usual bill charges that have been added on to their monthly bills after having spent time outside of the UK. What is slightly alarming is the fact that networks do not seem to have much of a problem with refunding clients who have already paid the excess amounts or are willing to write off any excess charges – which indicates that the problem might be something that networks are already familiar with and are simply not disclosing to the public.
The case is reported to be centered specifically on owners of the Apple iPhone handset. Not surprisingly, the biggest number of complaints arises from subscribers in the O2 network, but this is simply because O2 has the largest number of iPhone users in the UK. As some of you may remember, the local mobile network had exclusivity for the Apple smart phone for almost two years (which ended around October of last year). There are also complaints from subscribers from iPhone users on other networks as well.
According to experts, most smart phones – not just the Apple iPhone – have an option that enables or disables data roaming. This is an often ignored feature that users should familiarize themselves with and use when traveling in or out of the country. However, the excessive iPhone roaming charges appear to have affected even users who have turned off data roaming.