Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Saturday, 15 September 2012
Review: iPhone 5 blends beauty with versatility
Review: Latest iPhone possesses a mix of style and innovation that Steve Jobs would have loved
ref: yahoo, finance
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- As I played around with the iPhone 5, I wondered what the late Steve Jobs would have thought about the latest twist on Apple's best-selling device.
It didn't take long to conclude that Jobs would have been delighted with the iPhone 5's blend of beauty, utility and versatility.
Add in the more advanced technology and new features that went into this iPhone, and it's clear Apple has come up with another product that will compel hordes of people to line up outside its stores before its release next Friday.
After going on sale in the U.S., Japan, Britain, Germany, France and four other countries, the mad dash will be repeated again on Sept. 28 in 22 other countries. All iPhone 5 models will sell for the same prices as their predecessors, starting at $199 with a two-year data and calling plan.
An important caveat about these impressions: I was allotted only about 15 minutes with the iPhone 5 at Wednesday's launch event, not enough time to discover if it might have some technological bugs. I am sure that in the coming days, other reviewers will have the opportunity to give the phone a more thorough vetting.
For many people, the iPhone is going to be a case of love at first touch.
It is incredibly light and seems easier to hold. That means it might not be dropped as frequently as previous iPhones, reducing the chances of the glass on the display screen getting damaged.
One woman who also was testing out an iPhone 5 couldn't stop raving about how ideal the new design was for people with smaller hands.
The new iPhone also is easy on the eyes, thanks to a larger screen and its "Retina Display," the high-definition technology that Apple introduced in previous models. Video and photos look even lusher on the iPhone 5's bigger and better screen.
At 4 inches diagonally, the iPhone 5's screen is a half-inch larger than previous generations. That's still smaller than the one on Samsung's flagship Galaxy S III, but the iPhone 5 is lighter.
Apple made sure to take advantage of the larger display. The extra space means you can now see five rows of apps on the home screen instead of the previous four. Open the calendar and you can see five days of events on the screen in horizontal mode, instead of just three.
The larger screen really comes to life, though, with what is perhaps its coolest feature — a tool called Panorama that automatically stitches together a series of pictures into a majestic vista. Panorama can be turned on simply by going into the iPhone 5's camera mode and selecting it on an option menu.
Once it's activated, an arrow guides you as you slowly pan the camera around whatever scenery you desire. If you move too fast, Panorama tells you to slow down. It also advises you if you are moving the camera too high or low. Once you are done, you can look at the panoramic shot within seconds and zoom into whichever areas of the picture look most interesting.
Not surprisingly, watching video on the larger screen is also more pleasurable, although I still think the iPad and other tablet computers are a much better way to enjoy movies and TV shows on the go.
The device is also speedier because it has a more powerful processing chip and upgraded wireless technology that accelerates Web surfing.
Apple also has equipped the iPhone 5 with a superior sound system, courtesy of the new headphones that the company says it spent three years developing. The headphones, called EarPods, are a vast improvement on the earbuds that Apple has been giving away with its devices for more than a decade. The new headphones actually stay in your ears and make it seem as if the sound is playing inside your head. The EarPods come free with the iPhone 5, and they sounded as good as $100 headphones sold by a variety of other companies.
The new phone's operating system, iOS 6, also introduces another fun toy that makes it easy to share photos with your friends and family. Just select a picture, or even a series of photos, then email them to whomever you want, without the need for messy attachments.
Assuming the recipients also have Apple devices running on iOS 6, they will receive a notification asking if they would like to have the designated photos sent to their iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.
The recipients don't necessarily have to own an iPhone 5 for this photo-sharing feature because the new iOS can be downloaded for free beginning next Wednesday on a wide range of older Apple devices, including the three previous versions of the iPhone and the past two versions of the iPad. Those eligible will get a notification and will have to initiate the upgrade if they want it.
The new operating system also stands out for what's missing.
The pre-installed YouTube app that had been part of the iPhone since it came out in 2007 is gone. You'd need to download a new application made by YouTube owner Google Inc. in Apple's iTunes store.
Even more noticeable is the absence of Google Maps. Apple has cast aside one of Google's most popular services for its own mapping system. From what I saw, it looks like it's going to keep users happy. It offers aerial views, three-dimensional renderings of many major cities and, best of all, turn-by-turn directions narrated by the iPhone's virtual assistant, Siri. That was a feature Google had limited to competing devices running its Android system. Assuming the directions are accurate, I doubt Google Maps is going to be missed.
The new iOS also offers a feature called Passbook, where digital coupons, airline tickets and gift cards can be conveniently stored in one location. This, too, is going to be popular.
Yet, Passbook would be even handier if the iPhone 5 had a near-field communication chip to enable wireless payments at checkout stands equipped for the still-nascent technology. Some Android phones are able to process payments because they have the NFC chip.
Siri is also supposed to be smarter and even more helpful in the iPhone 5, although I didn't get a chance to challenge her in Apple's noisy testing room.
Too bad, as I would have liked to ask Siri what Steve Jobs might have thought of the iPhone 5. But, I am pretty sure I know the answer.
The iPhone 5 and LTE _ what it means for you
What LTE on the iPhone 5 will mean to you _ questions and answers
ref:yahoo, finance
NEW YORK (AP) -- The iPhone 5 is Apple's first mobile handset that uses new "LTE" wireless networks. What's LTE —and why should you care? Here are some answers.
Q: What does LTE stand for?
A: It's "Long-Term Evolution," but that doesn't really tell you anything. It's actually the latest and fastest way to transmit data from cellular towers to phones and other gadgets. It's one of two so-called "fourth-generation," or 4G, wireless technologies that have been deployed by various phone companies. (The other one is WiMax, which is available on Sprint phones. But WiMax coverage is low, isn't being expanded, and even Sprint is betting on LTE for the future).
Q: How fast is LTE? Will it make a difference to me?
A: LTE networks in the U.S. reach speeds up to 20 megabits per second. That's faster than most people get at home, with their cable or DSL services. It's also faster than older wireless networks, but the differences aren't always that big. Sprint and Verizon iPhone users should see a huge jump in speed with the new iPhone because their 3G networks are relatively slow. Downloads will be more than ten times faster where LTE is available. For AT&T users, downloads speeds should double or triple.
Q: Which phone companies have LTE, and where can I get it?
A: Verizon Wireless launched its LTE network nearly two years ago. It has the widest coverage, by far: 370 cities. AT&T is second, with 62 cities. Sprint is only in the early stages of its buildout, and LTE coverage is spotty, for now. It covers 19 cities, mostly in Texas and Georgia. But Sprint has said that it plans to fire up New York, Washington, Boston, Los Angeles and some other cities in the next few months.
Q: My iPhone 4S already says it connects to "4G." Doesn't that mean LTE?
A: No, AT&T jumped the gun a bit and called its upgraded, non-LTE network "4G" because the speeds were so much higher than before. Apple went along with this, so the AT&T iPhone 4S displays "4G" in the status bar at the top of the screen even though it's connecting to a 3G network.
Q: Is the iPhone 5 the first LTE phone?
A: No, Apple hasn't been a trailblazer here. The first LTE phones showed up a year and a half ago, from other manufacturers such as Samsung and HTC. This year, it's become a standard feature in high-end smartphones.
Q: Verizon and AT&T have been using different types of networks. Now they're both on LTE. Does that mean I can move phones between the companies?
A: Unfortunately, no. They use different frequencies for LTE, and the iPhone 5 will come in two different versions. One connects to AT&T's LTE bands, the other to Sprint's and Verizon's. (There will be a third one for overseas LTE networks.)
Q: Is there any downside to LTE?
A: Not really, but as you go from 3G to LTE, you might want to keep a closer eye on your data consumption for a while. Surveys show people have higher data usage on LTE, possibly because it lets you download more stuff, faster. It also makes it easier to enjoy video streaming and videoconferencing. AT&T and Verizon now limit monthly data usage (in practice, even for people who have the old "unlimited" plans), while Sprint still provides unlimited data.
Early LTE phones had shorter battery lives, but the chips now draw less power, and Apple promises the same amount of effective use time on LTE as on older networks.
Q: Will the LTE capability mean anything for phone calls?
A: For now, LTE networks carry only data, so the iPhone 5 will use older networks when connecting calls. In the future, LTE will likely be used for calls as well, and it's possible that could mean improved audio quality. (Apple has its own scheme for improving audio quality, unrelated to LTE. But it's unclear if U.S. carriers will support it.)
The iPhone 5 is a blend of beauty, utility and versatility.
The new Apple iPhone 5 is displayed Wednesday Sept. 12, 2012 following the introduction of new products in San Francisco. The iPhone 5 is a blend of beauty, utility and versatility. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
To Fans’ Delight, Apple Releases iPhone 5
Reference: www.pingler.com
Posted on13 September 2012.
The long awaited, highly anticipated launch of Apple’s iPhone 5 was held yesterday, September 12, in San Francisco. Apple fans from around the world have been anxiously waiting for the company to release their new gadgets, especially the most recent addition to the iPhone family. Apple is marketing the iPhone 5 as, “The biggest thing to happen to iPhone since iPhone.” Expectations were high, and fans don’t seem to be disappointed.What’s so great about the new iPhone 5?
The most obvious difference between other iPhone models and the iPhone 5 is the drastic change in size. This model offers a significantly larger screen (4 inches) for increased viewing pleasure. Not only does this model of the iPhone have the largest screen in Apple’s cell phone family, it is also being called the thinnest smartphone in the world–0.3 inches thick. In fact, the new model is 20% lighter and 18% thinner than its’ predecessors; it only weighs 112 grams.
The iPhone 5 is made completely of aluminum and glass. This revolutionary change in cell phone design is unlike any other technology currently circulating the industry. In comparison to the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, the new model is better, faster, and stronger.
Other features of the iPhone 5 include:
-Apple A6 processor for increased speed
-4G/LTE connection enabling faster web browsing
-Audio jack moved to the bottom
-Redesigned camera that performs well in low-lit environments, has improved noise reduction, and shoots in Panorama mode
-Upgraded Siri
-New apps and bonus features: extra row of icons, Passbook, 3-D digital maps and more
So what’s the catch?
For the most part, the release of the iPhone 5 was met with rave reviews from techies, fans, and Apple customers alike. Despite all of the positive buzz surrounding the new iPhone, most reviewers and customers will agree that the new iPhone has a few substantial drawbacks. For example, a 4G/LTE connection might be the quickest way to access the internet, but there are quite a few cellular providers who are unable to offer 4G service to their mobile customers.
By far, the largest issue consumers are complaining about is the new connector. Apple released a brand new connector model that is 80% smaller than the connector used by most other Apple devices. The new flat dock connector, nicknamed “Lightning“, is also reversible. What does that mean for customers? Sadly, it means that no previously released iDevice accessories are compatible with the iPhone 5. Apple customers who wish to continue using the 30 pin port found on older Apple gadgets will have to buy an adaptor. These adaptors will be sold exclusively by Apple and will cost customers $29 dollars. To top it all off, the adaptor will not be available to iPhone 5 users until October.
How much does the iPhone 5 cost?
The iPhone 5 will be available in the United States on September 21 (pre-orders start Friday). The cost of the new iPhone will begin at $200 with a two-year mobile contract. With the Christmas season coming up, the iPhone 5 is expected to be a popular stocking stuffer.
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
Hi!
check out the all new iPhone 5.
I will be sharing with you very important updates from the ICT world!
Be expectant!
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