iPhone 5

Instead of the ground-up redesign that some pundits were predicting, the iPhone 5 is just a rehash of the old iPhone 4. That's the easy verdict when viewing a picture of new iPhone 5. It presents itself as the familiar metal-banded slab. Only today, stretched and slimmed.

Because so many innovations have steadily trickled into one pocketable slab of damned usefulness, we eagerly await the annual update, expecting more and more again each year. Easy then to dismiss the iPhone 5 as the taller iPhone 4S with 4G that doesn't curretly work here. And a new dock port that obsoletes any other hardware expecting the classic version.

So the LTE modem doesn't do anything in the UK until one mobile operator, Orange and T-Mobile joint venture EE, switches on its network on some unannounced day that may be before Christmas 2012. 

iPhone 5 review: Features

The stand-out outward attribute of the iPhone 5 is its larger screen. Not a huge expanse of space in both directions as Google's hardware friends have uniformly decided is the way to sway tech-loving buyers – notably the Samsung Galaxy S3 with its extravagant 4.8in display. The iPhone 5 raises its screen estate by simply extending the screen's height by 14mm, keeping the width identical.

The new 640 x 1136-pixel display is still IPS, only even richer in colour saturation while still looking more natural than the slightly cloying OLED alternatives. And importantly the Apple iPhone 5's screen still has the pixel-hiding Retina resolution of 326ppi.

Operating the iPhone 5 with its longer screen is a doddle. Unlike the semi-tablet sized phones with 4.5in or larger screens, you really can reach the whole screen to operate it easily still with just one hand. Pick up an iPhone 5 though, and you'll notice a new featherweight quality. Down at 115g against the 4S' 141g, it feels wafer-like, almost too light in fact. Beautifully balanced, its mass is evenly distributed to offset any bias toward top or bottom.

The build quality has been described as jewel-like with reason. Swiss watch is another inescapable analogy, echoed from Apple's sound bite at the iPhone 5's launch.

The move to aluminium construction may be a step in the right direction though; and not just by helping to lose headline grams from the all-up weight. It provides a more handleable object for the fingertips. Hardened glass front and back didn't just lend the iPhone 4 chic obsidian bling – it could make the handset a slippery slab. The iPhone 5 is now built around an anodised aluminium backplate that allows a tad more purchase in the hand. Durability may suffer a little though. In the case of the black model especially, daily use is likely to create small nicks in the anodised coating, so to keep the iPhone 5 pristine a case is as useful as ever.

In white, the iPhone 5 looks less juvenile than the 4S blanc; diamond-polished bevelled edges and a satin aluminium back make it much more unisex now. In black, it's pure stealth bomber, mixing brushed metal slate-anodised back with mirror polished front bevels and gleaming black glass front.

This tech user is not so convinced by the drive for thin though. Given the still all-too short runtime of today's handsets – and that includes the iPhone, despite it out-lasting every average fizzling Android – we would rather keep with something like 9.5mm and 141g if it meant using the space and weight budget wisely, with a battery to comfortably last three rather than two days.

A phone as light as the iPhone 5 also seems to leave no sensation of its presence in the pocket. It's a a matter of taste whether you like this idea or prefer to have some subtle clue that the phone is still there... or not. The iPhone 5 carries the flag for the newly born iOS 6 operating system, and this gently tweaked system creates continuity from the user experience of previous iPhones. Alongside the metal-banded frame, the now-familar interface is a key point of reference for the mainstream audience, copied the world over with varying degrees of accuracy and resulting litigation.

iPhone 5 review: Video

Video: iPhone 5 review

iPhone 5 review: Cameras fore and aft

On the hardware side, the rear-facing camera is much the same as that in the iPhone 4S, able to shoot full-HD video at 30fps, with software image stabilisation. The change here is a new lens cover, now crafted from sapphire crystal for improved optical clarity and hopefully scratch resistance. The front-facing camera is now up to 1280 x 720-pixel resolution, which enables Apple's video chat service FaceTime in HD mode.

Attention to the human-device interface is found in various new audio systems, starting with an intriguing triple-mic assembly. This promises better fidelity through some kind of beamforming, a variation from earlier two-mic noise cancelling. As well as a new audio co-processor tucked inside, we're told there's support for Wideband audio, using more advanced data comms technology. It should expand the frequency range of the spoken voice to make conversation more life-like. Orange seems to be the only UK operator currently offering Wideband audio, and caller and callee both need compatible handsets.

The Wideband audio tech is not an Apple first, but given the handset's impeding uquity it should really encourage more networks to look into enabling the service.

iPhone 5 review: Lightning

Updating the standard 30-pin dock connector that's been so widely tapped into for nine years was always going to upset some people. Thankfully its replacement looks to be future-proofed to survive as long in this quick-changing tech world.

The supplied Lightning cable is USB 2.0 rather than USB 3.0, although since iCloud syncing came online there's less need to transfer files over cable now. It's possible that future iterations of the cable may introduce USB 3.0, to let the connection live up to its lightning name.

The Lightning plug itself is reversible, able to be inserted either way, and has pin contacts that can adapt to the needs of the device. In other words, it should adapt to the changing needs of users and their devices in the next few years to come.

iPhone 5 review: New SIM

As expected, the iPhone 5 is taking an even smaller SIM card than the already diminuitive micro-SIM.

The nano-SIM will be a minor inconvenient speed bump to quick'n'easy switching until you've traded in your current SIM. Cutting down a micro-SIM may just be possible but is not advised.

Apple has replaced the Google-supplied mapping data for the Maps app with its own new system. It now uses vector-based graphics and text, which all scale smoothly.

But popular features such as Street View are no longer available. More worrying is the misplacing of landscape features, or the complete absence of crucial details – like railway stations.

Satellite imagery is also of poorer quality than before, with some of the images we've seen of UK scenery looking quite dour.

iOS 6 review: Maps

The Flyover feature is an attractive way to see buildings in 3D relief, but this is only available in select larger cities. And not on the iPhone 4, for instance.

Flying around the Thames embankment is great eye candy though, using two fingers to circle around the London Eye, for example.

Apple has stated that its new Maps feature is a work in progress but that doesn’t help users who’ve upgraded and were expecting the same functionality they’ve become used to from the built-in mapping feature.

Until Apple fixes this crucial part of its mobile operating system, a stopgap can be found by making a Home screen shortcut for Google or Bing’s online maps.

That won't help in apps like Find My Friends, though, which are stuck with Apple's deficient mapping function. This app has now been updated for iOS 6, and can use geofencing to alert you when a friend arrives at or departs from a chosen location.

Impossible iPhone 5 concept we all want, ‘Rubberband Electronics’

"Rubberband Electronics" are this year's must-have (but undeniably impossible) dream feature of the upcoming iPhone.
In mere days, Apple will reveal the long-awaited iPhone 5 and put a stop to the endlessly entertaining guesswork leading up to its launch. So far we’ve had the obvious predictions like a bigger screen, longer battery life, and support for LTE. There’s also been talk of the iPhone losing its number system altogether. Similar to the new iPad, it would make sense for the next Apple smartphone to simply be named the new iPhone.
But this video by Aatma Studio shows us what the Cupertino company could do if it really wanted to push the limits of technology (and space and time). It imagines what would happen if Apple were able to thwart the basic rules of physics and uncover the hidden secrets of magic realism. The mock-up video (via AllThingsD) includes some admittedly awesome features that could potentially be built into the next iPhone like wireless charging (if Nokia can do it…), fingerprint scanning worthy of the CIA, and a Siri message center that would actually be useful. Around the minute mark, however, the video drops all pretence of being rooted in reality and teases us with a feature that would single handedly put Apple at the forefront of mobile devices forever. We won’t spoil it for you, but we will tell you it’s called “Rubberband Electronics” and it will never, ever happen. Never.
If you need to be comforted after seeing your dreams crushed, we’ve made a list that tackles some more realistic features Apple should introduce in the next iPhone to stay relevant and competitive in the marketplace. And, more importantly, to make the world want to spend some hard-eraned cash on it.

Facebook 'working on phone with HTC'

As Facebook prepares to announce its first financial results, sources have claimed the social network is working with manufacturer HTC to produce its own mobile phone

Facebook, which urgently needs to find a way to make money from its growing number of mobile phone visitors, has already hired former Apple employees who are believed to be working with HTC on the new project.The news comes as Facebook is due to announce its first financial results since its troubled flotation on the US stock market. Shares traded in the company on the German stock exchange fell €1.28 to €22.50 in anticipation today, as Facebook gaming firm Zynga announced disappointing results of its own. Facebook shares in New York are down by approximately a quarter compared to its May 17 flotation price.The social network is widely expected to announce it now has more than a billion users during its earnings call, but more than half of them access the site via mobile, and founder Mark Zuckerberg has identified the transition to mobile usage as his “greatest challenge”. None of the $3.15 billion in advertising sales last year came from advertising on phones.Building its own device could allow the site to collect revenue from its existing advertisers more effectively by making sure their commercial content was distributed throughout the phone’s different functions.HTC has already produced the first phones to feature a dedicated Facebook button, and is looking for a way to differentiate its products from those of rival manufacturer Samsung. Its flagship One X device has been dogged by bans on US sales following a patent dispute with Apple. Shares in HTC have dropped 43 per cent this year after it reported three consecutive quarters of profit decline.

Facebook already makes a series of applications for online chat and photography, and it recently purchased picture-enhancement app Instagram for $1 billion. Combining these apps with existing calendar functions mean the site already has the major components of a mobile phone operating system, and it could follow Amazon’s model and adapt Google’s Android OS.Facebook has also recently introduced the ‘App Centre’, which it could see as a rival to Apple’s App Store or Google Android’s Play marketplace. Last year, Facebook also bought Push Pop Press, a digital publishing software maker co-founded by Apple alumni Mike Matas and Kimon Tsinteris, two designers who helped build the look and feel of the iPhone and iPad software.In a statement Facebook said it did not comment on rumour and speculation, but added “Our mobile strategy is simple: We think every mobile device is better if it is deeply social. We’re working across the entire mobile industry to bring powerful social experiences to more people around the world.”

Mozilla's Firefox Mobile OS to battle an Android monopoly

The corporate chiefs of Apple, Google and Microsoft betting billions of dollars and thousands of highly-paid engineers on their competing mobile operating systems. Despite these high stakes, Mozilla, the non-profit organisation behind the open source Firefox web browser, is planning to take a seat at the table with its own smartphone software.

The first pictures of the underdog emerged this week and enthusiasts can now download early versions to test. At first glance, it looks every bit the modern smartphone operating system, with an interface that recalls elements of iOS, Android and Windows Phone.
The question is whether Mozilla, with 2011 revenues of $121m, can really compete with the big three, who between them enjoyed sales of more than $200bn last year.
Mozilla’s reason for taking on the task is clear. Its share of the desktop market is falling, thanks mainly to its biggest benefactor (via the deal that makes Google the default search engine for Firefox users), Google, and its rival software Chrome, which has enjoyed a rapid rise to become the world’s most popular web browser.
Meanwhile, as Mozilla loses ground on PCs, its corporate rivals are carving up the mobile market. Smartphones and tablets are now widely viewed as the most important computing platforms.
“A lot of the innovation, or even most of it, that we’re seeing now is happening in smartphones and tablets,” said Ian Fogg, a mobile analysts at IHS Screen Digest.
Mozilla’s mission is to popularise web standards and open source software, but just creating alternative browser apps for iOS, Android and Windows Phone is not going to do it.
Only Android rules allow Mozilla to offer a full mobile version of its browser anyway; Apple and Microsoft exercise stricter control over what capabilities third party apps can have. What’s more, although data is hard to come by, it’s clear only a small minority of smartphone owners ever switch from their default browser app.
So to stay relevant, Mozilla is creating its own mobile OS.
Like Android, Firefox Mobile OS, is based on Linux, the operating system that anyone can contribute to or adapt because the source code is free. Unlike Google’s leading mobile operating system, however, Firefox Mobile OS will not play host to “native apps” that are specially developed for it.
Instead, it will use the new web coding standard, HTML5, to allow developers to create apps that, in theory, could work on any operating system. Other smartphone operating systems can run web apps already, but they are typically less capable than native apps as they are unable to plug into the advanced software and hardware features. Mozilla says Firefox Mobile OS will be different.

“[It] unlocks many of the current limitations of web development on mobile, allowing HTML5 applications to access the underlying capabilities of a phone, previously only available to native applications,” it said.
That may make app creation simpler and so appeal to developers, although the crucial question of how they will get paid for their work remains open.
Mozilla has already won support for Firefox OS from another key constituency: mobile networks. This month it announced big names such as Deutsche Telekom, Etisalat, Sprint, and Telefónica were on board.
“The operators want there to be competition in smartphones,” explained Ian Fogg. “They don’t want a world where Apple and Google dominate everything.”
In the West, that is already the case, and given the financial mismatch, there is little chance of Mozilla matching the established players. But opportunities abound in the developing world, where cheap Android handsets are only now reaching the market, and Apple and Microsoft devices are attainable for only the very richest.
Mozilla is overt in its focus on this relatively untapped seam, boasting of the ability of its technology to “deliver compelling smartphone experiences at attainable prices”.
“As billions of users are expected to come online for the first time in the coming years, it is important to deliver a compelling smartphone experience that anyone can use,” said Gary Kovacs, Mozilla’s chief executive.
So while it might seem there is no space for yet another smartphone competitor here, industry watchers are keenly interested in Mozilla’s progress.
“There’s a risk Android could become a monopolistic player in these developing markets,” said Ian Fogg. “RIM is still popular there but it has real problems.”
“Mozilla have decided they aren’t going to go head to head with iOS and Android here. They’ve decided the way they can compete in mobile is to jump to the next big thing which is these developing markets.”
“They might find the Firefox Mobile OS is really good enough to match the established players down the line, and then they’ll have the innovator’s dilemma.”
But that is some years away. The first Firefox Mobile OS handsets are due out in Brazil early next year.

iPhone 5 vs Galaxy Note 2: Release Date Strategies of Apple & Samsung

Apple’s fabled device iPhone 5 is eagerly awaited by millions of fans around the world. Even tech firms and investors are betting high on the next generation smartphone. But it is not just Apple’s iPhone that is grabbing the eyeballs, Samsung is expected to release the much-awaited Samsung Galaxy Note 2 before the iPhone 5 release.

Several reliable reports on iPhone 5 and Galaxy Note 2 are frequently doing the internet rounds. Samsung is said to be upping their ante to cement its position in the smartphone market share before iPhone 5 takes away the show.

A report from iMore says, Apple is planning an event on September 12 where the next generation iPhone will possibly be introduced. Nine days later, that is September 21, the smartphone will be released. Reputed new agencies such as Reuters, the New York Times and the Bloomberg have independently reported that Apple will announce the release of the iPhone 5 on the 12th of September in a keynote speech.

It is not a rarity to see Apple making unanticipated moves when it comes to launching their products at different dates year after year. If iPhone 4 was unvieled in June 2010, iPhone 4S came up in October 2011 and now iPhone 5 during September 2012. All these events surely throws light on the smartphone war between Apple and Samsung. Both the giants have tasted success and downfalls in recent years. Taking a leaf from their on-going court disputes, the two tech manufacturers are playing it even while introducing their devices these days.

Speaking of Samsung Galaxy Note, its is one such hybrid device that has attracted positive response from all quarters. More than 7 million Galaxy Note have been sold. Surely, Galaxy Note’s small brother Galaxy S3 helped the cause to a great extent as iPhone sales in second quarter revealed that the Cupertino giant could only sell 26 million units compared to 33.1 million in first quarter.

And now another Samsung onslaught comes in the form of sequel to Galaxy Note. The upcoming Samsung Mobile Unpacked event, to take place at Berlin on August 29, will see the unveiling of all these new Samsung devices. The Press Conference is slated to begin on Thursday, August 30, starting at 11 AM. Besides smartphones, Samsung will also present products from the tablet, television and camera segments. Samsung’s full product lineup will be on display at Hall 20 and Hall 5.1 from August 31 until September 5. The livestream of the event will be showcased on “www.facebook.com/samsungmobile”.

Tech enthuasiasts are presuming that the event’s main show-stealer would be Galaxy Note 2 or Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. In the past too, the original Galaxy Note was announced by Samsung during IFA 2011 in Berlin and the device was released to the public starting with Germany in late October 2011. A month later, the device was rolled out to major markets like East Asia, Europe and India, but reached the US shores only in February 2012.

Reports point that Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy Note 10.1 are both inspired by Galaxy S3. Hence one can expect a familiar design seen on Galaxy S3 in both the upcoming devices. Similar to Galaxy S3, Samsung may launch dual-core version in US and the international model is expected to come with powerful Exynos 4 quad-core processor.

Rumors are also rife that Galaxy Note 2 will have 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 or 1680 x 1050 pixels. Other possible features include Ice Cream Sandwich OS, 1.5GB of RAM, 12-megapixel or 13-megapixel camera and 4G LTE connectivity. The camera details may be slightly overcooked as Samsung may opt for an 8-megapixel sensor in Note 2.

Meanwhile, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 which was leaked recently in Korea had Android 4.0.4, 10.1-inch 1280×800 PLS 150 ppi display, 1.4 GHz quad-core processor with Exynos 4412 chipset, 5-megapixel with LED flash, 2 GB RAM, 5-megapixel camera, 1.9-megapixel secondary camera and a 7000 mAh battery.

Coming to Apple’s event, it would showcase the much anticipated iPhone 5, the rumoured 7.85-inch iPad mini, iPod touch and the new iPod nano. Says iMore’s Rene Ritchie, “We haven’t heard a release date for the iPad mini yet, but it could be the same as the iPhone 5. It seems likely the new iPod touch will make an appearance on September 12 as well, though we haven’t heard any specific information about that yet either.”

Apple iPhone 5′s rumored features include iOS 6 operating system, new Apple 3D mapping system, video chat, 4G LTE, 4-inch plus screen, tall and slimmer than its predecessors, NFC like feature Passbook app, a 8-megapixel camera sensor and improved version of Siri with multiple language support.

As for pricing, Twitter was abuzz that the next iPhone 5 might cost close to $800 whereas Galaxy Note 2 is expected to sell at around $900-1000 without a contract, similar to the launch price of the original Note device.

In the next few weeks, both Apple’s and Samsung’s devices will be seen hogging the attention in the smartphone stage. It will perhaps set new records in both sales and profit.

4G-enabled BlackBerry PlayBook launching next week

RIM has confirmed that it will release a 4G-enabled version of its PlayBook tablet in Canada next week, with launches in the US, Europe, South Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean to follow.


Introduced more than a year ago RIM’s PlayBook has struggled to compete with marker front-runners like Apple’s iPad and Amazon’s Kindle Fire.


RIM famously launched the device without a native email client or 3G-connectivity, a move that backfired dramatically. The launch version of BlackBerry Tablet OS was not as polished as it should have been either, resulting in a less than satisfying user experience.


RIM did remedy much of the above with the release of BlackBerry Tablet OS 2.0, which brought with it native email, better stability and deeper social network support. The lack of applications available for the device is still a worry, however, and no amount of connectivity is going to change that.


‘The 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook tablet will come with 32GB of memory and will be available from major Canadian carriers like BCE Inc's Bell, Rogers Communications Inc and Telus Corp in Canada on August 9,’ reports Reuters.


There’s no word on when we’ll be seeing the 3G/4G-enabled version of the PlayBook in the UK, or how much the device will cost once launched. UK consumers can now pick up a 16GB version of the Wi-Fi-only PlayBook for as little as £128.


RIM also confirmed that its existing PlayBook devices would be getting upgraded to BlackBerry 10, making it one of the cheapest ways to get a taste of RIM’s new platform once it launches in Q1 of 2012, providing you go the Wi-Fi-only route, and actually care about BlackBerry 10.

Google's Nexus 7 a worthy iPad rival and at half the price

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Finally, a cheap tablet worth buying.


And not only is Google's Nexus 7 affordable at $209 for the eight-gigabyte version, or $259 for 16 gigabytes of storage, it's also a worthy rival to Apple's iPad.


With the Asus-manufactured Nexus 7, Google accomplishes what Research in Motion couldn't when it released its PlayBook back in Sept. 2010, which had a similar screen size of about 18 centimetres.


RIM's tablet was a buggy mess at launch, had few apps to offer consumers, and was priced in line with the iPad. While some did prefer its smaller size for carrying around versus the iPad's 25-centimetre screen, there were few other reasons to consider a PlayBook. It simply didn't come close to matching up. Software updates and price reductions have made it a more compelling option but it's still no iPad. There's been a slew of cut-rate tablets released since the PlayBook, most using Google's Android operating system, but none have really impressed.


The Nexus 7, on the other hand, is a formidable competitor to the latest iPad — and at about half the price. For browsing the web, playing games, watching videos and reading ebooks, it performs just about as well as the iPad. It also has a long battery life, with Google promising up to eight hours of video playback or 10 hours of book reading or web browsing on a charge.


One way Google kept the price of the Nexus 7 low was by not including the ability to connect to the Internet via mobile 3G or LTE networks. The only way to get online is with Wi-Fi, which may be a sticking point for some buyers. But those who find they almost always have a Wi-Fi network within range, or don't want to pay for a data plan anyway, won't mind.


The screen size is another polarizing feature. Some will find the smaller screen makes the Nexus 7 easier to commute with on a daily basis. It'll even — just barely — fit into some pants pockets. And even iPad users will probably find it doesn't take long to get used to the smaller screen, which still manages to do a good job of displaying websites. But some will no doubt find it just a little too small and will prefer sticking with a larger tablet.


And, of course, the other big difference between the Nexus 7 and the iPad is software. The Nexus 7 is preloaded with the latest version of Android, codenamed Jelly Bean, and it performs smoothly. Touch gestures feel almost as intuitive and slick as on Apple's iPads and iPhones — almost. But while the selection of apps, games, movies and books in Google's Play Store is strong and growing, it still isn't quite as robust as Apple's App Store.


There are persistent rumours that Apple is planning its own 18-centimetre iPad and that Google simply beat it to the punch. Apple's most hardcore loyalists probably won't pick up a Nexus 7 if they believe a similar-sized iPad will soon become available, and other consumers may also decide to wait.


Apple CEO Tim Cook bragged Tuesday that the market has been flooded with iPad rivals but none have sold really well.


"I still think ... most customers feel that they're not really looking for a tablet," Cook said, "they're just looking for an iPad."


But who knows if and when an "iPad Mini" might surface, and whether Apple will price a smaller tablet as low as the Nexus 7.


For anyone who wants to buy a tablet — right now — and is keen on saving some money, the Nexus 7 is an excellent choice. Even without taking price into consideration, it's a solid gadget that many will find is just about as good as an iPad.

BlackBerry 10 Alpha update brings Siri rival

We seem to have missed this one a few days back, but as you probably know since Apple delivered the Siri voice assistant on the iPhone 4S, other handset makers have all been rushing to deliver their own take on Siri, and it appears that Research In Motion is the latest to just aboard the virtual assistant loco.


According to an article over on iDownload Blog, by way of Crackberry, RIM has now added a Siri like rival to the latest BlackBerry 10 Alpha update, and we have a video evidence for your viewing consideration below.





However one does have to remember that this is a developer Alpha, and as such features could change drastically before the final release of BlackBerry 10, if of course RIM actually survives to ever deliver BlackBerry 10, as I’m sure you know the Canadian company has had quite a bad time of it recently.


Perhaps that’s why this video opens with the title The Rimpire Strikes Back, but one does have to wonder if the BlackBerry maker will ever regain the dominance they once had in the mobile space.


Apparently the BlackBerry 10 Alpha update delivered several new APIs for developers, but the main attraction in the footage is of course that Siri-like functionality.


So, with all that out the way, I’ll shut up and let you head on down to hit that play button so you can check out the BlackBerry 10 Alpha update voice assistant functionality for yourself…enjoy.

BlackBerry-maker RIM PlayBook hopes to reel ‘em in with movie store apps

Can Happy Feet and Sherlock Holmes help save the PlayBook?

BlackBerry maker Research in Motion has launched a new movie store app for owners of its tablet, which has struggled to gain market share since it launched last year.

The lack of a movie store and the lack of native e-mail were two of the chief criticisms of the tablet when it was first launched. The e-mail issue was solved this February with the unveiling of the new PlayBook 2.0 operating system.

The BlackBerry Video Store, run by Rovi Entertainment, was launched in the U.S. earlier this year, but made its Canadian debut Wednesday. According to a spokesperson, users can sample before they purchase, with movie and TV trailers available free of charge. Happy Feet 2 and Sherlock Holmes: Games of Shadows, were among the thousands of movies available for rent or purchase.

“Customers . . . can also begin watching media as soon as they start to download a file. They won’t have to wait for the entire file to transfer before they can begin enjoying great entertainment,” said spokesperson Nick Manning in an e-mailed statement.

According to a recent study from Strategy Analytics, Apple’s iPad has roughly 68 per cent of the global tablet market, with tablets running Google’s Android operating system in second, with 29.3 per cent. Microsoft tablets have 1.2 per cent share, while the “other” category, including PlayBook, also has 1.2 per cent.

Meanwhile, RIM’s BlackBerry took a hit in the content department Wednesday with news the New York Timeswas jettisoning its BlackBerry app, while keeping its iPhone and Android apps.

RIM executive Martyn Mallick said BlackBerry is still a good way for newspapers to engage their readers, despite the NYT decision.

“Our base of 78 million BlackBerry users worldwide represents a significant opportunity for content partners to reach their audiences. There are more than 2,100 News and Information apps for North America alone with millions of downloads to date,” Mallick said in an e-mailed statement.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Hits 10 Million Sales

A Samsung executive has confirmed that the Galaxy S3 has hit 10 million sales, making it the fastest-selling phone of the series so far.

President of Samsung's mobile communications division Shin Jong-kyun has confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy S3 has reached 10 million sales, within two months of its release. Numerous figures have been chucked about since the phone's release, including that is to ship 19 million in its first six months. However, "units shipped" is much less of a solid indicator of success than "phones sold". It's no surprise, but Shin Jong-kyun's figure is a confirmation that the Galaxy S3 is indeed a barnstormer.

The previous flagship phone in the Galaxy series, the Samsung Galaxy S2, took five months to reach the same milestone. Although Apple didn't make a similar announcement when the iPhone 4S reached 10 million, we expect it did so quicker than the Galaxy S3, having sold four million in its first weekend on sale.

Is the Samsung Galaxy S3 on track to become the most successful Samsung phone ever? It seems that way. In June 2012, Samsung revealed that the Galaxy S and S2 had sold a combined 50 million units - so it still has some way to go.

The Death Of The Blackberry

The Blackberry was once the most popular smartphone in the market but the mere mention of its name sends shudders around the room. What went wrong with one of the most successful devices and who is to blame for such a mishap? Research In Motion is taking its own time to introspect and avoid lawsuits at the same time but it appears not to have learnt from some of its gravest errors. Analysts believe that there were five key areas that RIM messed up in which led to the decline of the Blackberry. The company’s stock value has taken a nosedive and Blackberry numbers are down to 8.1% of the market now. RIM is taking drastic measures to steady itself, such as laying off employees and closing retail stores. The final nail in the coffin is that Blackberry 10 devices are going to be further delayed according to the company and in all probability the company will be broken up or sold all out in no more than two years.

One of the main reasons why the Blackberry device failed was because of trouble between the top management personnel and their clash of views. While one CEO believed the device is to be sold on a large scale and pushed forward the creation of specific services such as BBM Music which failed to take off miserably, another was intent on focusing on corporations. In reality, the Blackberry was a very good business device but when it tried to compete with others, it failed. Moreover, RIM remained based in Canada, which rendered deals with the company impossible from across the border where several high profile executives of large companies considered buying a stake in it as an entry into the mobile phone market.

RIM made two huge mistakes; not managing its products and people efficiently. When a company of its size develops a product that doesn’t sell, it is immediately discontinued but RIM increased inputs into the Blackberry Playbook and had to pay a toll of nearly $500mln due to unsold devices. The other mistake was hiring Thorsten Heins as CEO who made the grave mistake of making public statements claiming that there was nothing wrong with RIM. In all likelihood, this just cost the company some lawsuits from investors. The biggest mistake however would be that RIM ignored the application developers to a large extent who are now reluctant to spend time for a device that might not even be released. If nothing, a good app storehouse would have helped it.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Secret Codes

*#1234# (View SW Version PDA, CSC, MODEM)
*#0*# (General Test Mode)
*#12580369# (SW & HW Info)
*#197328640# (Service Mode)
*#0228# (ADC Reading)
*#32489# (Ciphering Info)
*#232337# (Bluetooth Address)
*#232331# (Bluetooth Test Mode)
*#232338# (WLAN MAC Address)
*#232339# (WLAN Test Mode)
*#0842# (Vibra Motor Test Mode)
*#0782# (Real Time Clock Test)
*#0673# (Audio Test Mode)
*#2263# (RF Band Selection)
*#9090# (Diagnostic ConfiguratioN)
*#7284# (USB I2C Mode Control)
*#872564# (USB Logging Control)
*#4238378# (GCF Configuration)
*#0283# (Audio Loopback Control)
*#1575# (GPS Control Menu)
*#3214789650# (LBS Test Mode)
*#745# (RIL Dump Menu)
*#746# (Debug Dump Menu)
*#9900# (System Dump Mode)
*#44336# (Sofware Version Info)
*#7780# (Factory Reset)
*27673855# (Full Factory Reset)
*#0289# (Melody Test Mode)
*#2663# (TSP / TSK firmware update)
*#03# (NAND Flash S/N)
*#0589# (Light Sensor Test Mode)
*#0588# (Proximity Sensor Test Mode)
*#2732832553282*# (Data Create Menu)
*#273283255663282*# (Data Create SD Card)
*#3282727336*# (Data Usage Status)
*#7594# (Remap Shutdown to End Call TSK)
*#34971539# (Camera Firmware Update)
*#526# (WLAN Engineering Mode)
*#528# (WLAN Engineering Mode)
*#7412365# (Camera Firmware Menu)
*#80# (Unknown)
*#07# (Test History)
*#3214789# (GCF Mode Status)
*#272886# (Auto Answer Selection)
*#8736364# (OTA Update Menu)
*#301279# (HSDPA/HSUPA Control Menu)
*#7353# (Quick Test Menu)
*27674387264636# (Sellout SMS / PCODE view)
*#7465625# (View Phone Lock Status)
*7465625638*# (Configure Network Lock MCC/MNC)
#7465625638*# (Insert Network Lock Keycode)
*7465625782*# (Configure Network Lock NSP)
#7465625782*# (Insert Partitial Network Lock Keycode)
*746562577*# (Insert Network Lock Keycode SP)
#746562577*# (Insert Operator Lock Keycode)
*746562527*# (Insert Network Lock Keycode NSP/CP)
#746562527*# (Insert Content Provider Keycode)
*#272imei#* Product code

iPhone Secret Codes

*3001#12345#* + tap Call. Enter Field Mode. Field mode contains lots of iPhone internal settings, especially newest network and cell information.
*#06# It shows your IMEI number. IMEI number is a unique identification number for your mobile phone hardware.
*777# + tap Call. It shows account balance for prepaid iPhone.
*225# + tap Call. It shows 'Bill Balance' for Postpaid only.
*646# + tap Call. Using this you can check remaining minutes (Postpaid only).
*#21# + tap Call. It is used to set interrogation for call forwards. It discover the settings for your call forwarding. Using this you can check whether you have voice, data, fax, SMS,sync, async, packet access, and pad access call forwarding enabled or disabled on your iPhone.
*#30# + tap Call. It is used for check the calling line presentation. This shows whether you have enabled or disabled the presentation of the calling line, presumably the number of the party placing the call.
*#76# + tap Call. It is used to check whether the connected line presentation is enabled or not.
*#43# + tap Call. It is used to check if call waiting is enabled for your iPhone or not. It also shows call waiting status for voice, data, fax, SMS, sync data, async data, packet access and pad access. Each item is either enabled or disabled.
*#61# + tap Call. Used to check the number for unanswered calls. It also show the number for voice call forwarding when a call is unanswered and also show the options for data, fax, SMS, sync, async, packet access and pad access.
*#62# + tap Call.  This code can be used to check the number for call forwarding if no service is available.
*#67# + tap Call. This code can be used to check the number for call forwarding when your iPhone is busy on another call.

Blackberry secret codes and Keys

You who happen to use the Blackberry as a means of communication, here are some information secret codes that you've probably never know. These codes may work in an emergency or even want to know the content or what was done (log) will be indicated by displaying the log report. While not all types of Blackberry support the code, but most can. But to consider if you're unsure, do not try before there is a backup.

• ALT-N-M-L-L 
• Function: Indicates the signal strength in dBm (not the 'trunk'). 

• ALT-V-A-L-D> in address book 
• function: Check the data inconsistencies in the address book. 

• ALT-R-B-L-D> in address book 
• function: Reorder the data structure in the address book. 

• Right-ALT-Shift-Del 
• Functions: HH soft reset it, similar to 'pull the battery'. 

• ALT-Shift-left-H 
• Function: Indicates important technical info about the HH. 

• ALT-R-B-V-S> in the browser 
• Functions: Shows source-code, from a web page 

• ALT-L-G-L-G 
• Function: record / log of the system event2 HH 

• *- # -0-6> on the home screen 
• Function: Indicates the handset IMEI code. 

• ALT + NMLL = know the capacity of the signal bars 

• ALT + V A L D = verification Address Book 

• ALT + R B L D = remodel Address Book 

• ALT + RBV = see source code in a Webpage 

• ALT + left Shift + H = press to know the technical info is in the Blackberry 

• * # 0 6 # = IMEI know who is on the Blackberry 

• ALT + Right Shift + Delete = know the simulation capacity of the battery is full 

• ALT + LGLG = find logs that have been done in Blackberry 

• ALT + NUM / Aa / Cap + H = knowing the Access to Information PIN - IMEI - Vendor ID - Free Memory - OS Version 

• MEPD on Sim Card = check the status of locked or unlocked Blackberry 

• ALT + Cap / Aa = Right + DEL to restart the Blackberry being hangs 

ALT-SMON WLAN wizard screen Enable simulated Wizard mode 

ALT-SMOF simulated WLAN wizard screen Disable mode Wizard 

MEPD Options> Advanced options> SIM card Display MEP info 

MEP1 Options> Advanced options> SIM card Disable SIM personalization 

MEP2 Options> Advanced options> SIM card Disable Network personalization 

MEP3 Options> Advanced options> SIM card Disable Network subset personalization 

MEP4 Options> Advanced options> SIM card Disable Service provider personalization 

MEP5 Options> Advanced options> SIM card Disable Corporate personalization 

All Blackberry Secret Codes -- Blackberry Curve

Blackberry Curve 8900 Tips & Tricks

How To Optimize BlackBerry Curve 8900 Memory Performance

The best way to optimize BlackBerry memory performance is to leave much more empty memeory on BlackBerry 8900. as I know, you should maintain at least 400 KB of application memory on your BlackBerry Curve 8900. To optimize BlackBerry8900 memory, you can try to delete items that you do not need from your BlackBerry Curve 8900 to increase the amount of application memory.

1. Delete old email and MMS messages on BlackBerry Curve 8900, especially messages with attachments.
2. If you recently updated the BlackBerry Curve 8900 Software over the wireless network, delete the previous version of the BlackBerry Device Software.
3. Clear the browser cache.
4. Delete contacts that are already in your organization’s address book.
5. Delete applications and languages that you do not use on BlackBerry Curve 8900.

To optimize BlackBerry8900 memory, you can try to change options for email messages, calendar entries, and media files to use less memory on BlackBerry Curve 8900. set it up as follows:

1. Reduce the amount of time that your BlackBerry Curve 8900 stores email messages and calendar entries.
2. If you changed the picture quality for pictures that you take, change the picture quality setting to Normal.
3. Stop forwarding email messages to your device when your BlackBerry Curve 8900 is connected to your computer.
4. Receive only the first section of long email messages.
5. Reduce the picture quality in the browser.

All Blackberry Secret Codes --- Blackberry Bold 2

Blackberry Bold 2 Tips & Tricks

ALT-CAP-H is a help screen
ALT-CAP-DEL performs a reset (like taking out the battery)
ALT-L-G-L-G shows a log file
ALT-N-M-L-L Turns signal strength into numbers (and a second time to return to bars)

Pressing the LEFT Alt, Left Shift and H button will show your Vendor ID, Platform, App Version, PIN, IMEI, Uptime, Signal Strength, Battery Level, File Free and File Total


Enterprise Activation

ALT-CNFG In Options -> Advanced Options -> Enterprise Activation Settings for Enterprise Activation

Address Book

ALT-VALD In address book list Validate the data structure and look for inconsistencies

ALT-RBLD In address book list Force a data structure rebuild

Browser

ALT-RBVS Any HTML/WML webpage View web page source code

Calendar
ALT+VIEW Inside any Calendar item Show extra info for a Calendar event

SYNC Calendar app>Options Enable Calendar slow sync

RSET Calendar app>Options Will prompt for a reload of the calendar from the BES

RCFG Calendar app>Options Request BES configuration

SCFG Calendar app>Options Send device configuration

DCFG Calendar app>Options Get CICAL configuration

SUPD Calendar app>Options Enable detailed Cal. report for backup

SUPS Calendar app>Options Disable detailed Cal. report for backup

SUPN Calendar app>Options Disable Cal. report database

LUID Calendar app>Options Enable view by UID

SRSL Calendar app>Options Show Reminder status log

Messaging

ALT + V I E W For messages, displays the RefId and FolderId for that particular message. For PIM items, displays only the RefId.

Search Application

ALT-ADVM Search Application Enabled Advanced Global Search

MMS

MMSC Options -> MMS Show MMS hidden options

Home Screen

ALT-JKVV Home Screen Display cause of PDP reject

ALT + CAP + H Home screen Displays the Help Me screen

ALT + E A C E Home screen Displays the Help Me screen

ALT + E S C R Home Screen Displays the Help Me screen

ALT + N M L L Home screen Switches the signal strength from bars to a numeric value.

ALT + L G L G Home screen Displays the Java™ event log.

WLAN

ALT-SMON WLAN wizard screen Enable simulated Wizard mode

ALT-SMOF WLAN wizard screen Disable simulated Wizard mode

Theme

ALT-THMN Any menu Change to no theme (B&W)

ALT-THMD Any menu Change to default theme

Date/Time

LOLO Options -> Date/Time Show Network time values

SIM CARD

MEPD Options>Advanced options>SIM card Display MEP info

MEP1 Options>Advanced options>SIM card Disable SIM personalization

MEP2 Options>Advanced options>SIM card Disable Network personalization

MEP3 Options>Advanced options>SIM card Disable Network subset personalization

MEP4 Options>Advanced options>SIM card Disable Service provider personalization

MEP5 Options>Advanced options>SIM card Disable Corporate personalization

----------------------------
Test Procedure
To perform a test using the hardware diagnostic tool on the BlackBerry smartphone, complete the following steps:

On the Home screen on the BlackBerry smartphone, Select Options / Status.
On the Status screen, TYPE test.
Note: On BlackBerry smartphones that support SureType® technology, use the multi-tap input method.
From the menu on the Device Self Test Application screen, select Start.

Music Control
During a song's playback, you can hold the volume button up or down to skip forward or back a song. This can be done at any screen.

N - Next Song (now playing screen)
P - Previous Song (now playing screen)

Mute Button - Mute Song
Space Bar - Stop / Play Music (in now playing screen)


Picture Viewing
R (3) - Zoom +
W (1) - Zoom -
S (4) - Pan Left
F (6) - Pan Right
E (2) - Pan Up
X (8) - Pan Down
L - Rotate Clockwise
N - Next Picture
P - Previous Picture

Clock
B - Enter Bedside Mode
S (4) - Stopwatch Mode
T - Timer

Hotspot Browser:
T - Scroll Up
Space - Scroll Down
U - Toggle Top Bar
V - Search For
R - Refresh
P - Page Properties
I - Zoom +
O - Zoom -
A - Add Bookmark
S (4) - Browser Options
D - Close Browser
H - Home
K - Bookmarks
Z - Toggle Text Sizing
C (9) - Connection Information
B - Scroll Down


Phone Information
ALT + Right Shift + H = Phone Information (Help Me!)