While the massive popularity of the iPhone 4S has been a great success for Apple, a growing number of iPhone 4S owners are complaining about battery life issues with the new smartphone.
According to a report from The Guardian, Apple engineers have started contacting vocal iPhone 4S owners that have been complaining about the rapidly draining iPhone 4S battery. During the initial iPhone 4S presentation earlier this month, Apple mentioned that standby time for the iPhone 4S battery was rated at about 200 hours or a bit over eight days. This is a large drop from the 300 hour standby time of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS, likely due to the upgrades to the internal hardware within the iPhone 4S. One iPhone 4S user reported that standby mode was eating up approximately ten percent of the battery power each hour and eventually draining the battery by the end of the workday.
iPhone-4S-battery-lifeWhile Apple engineers haven’t specifically identified the problem yet, many iPhone 4S users have collectively pointed to location services as the main culprit for the drain on the battery. Specifically, the “Setting Time Zone” function within iOS 5 that corrects the Time Zone as a user travels to different areas of the world is constantly attempting to check the current Time Zone. iPhone 4S owners who identified this problem see the purple, location arrow icon beside the toggle setting within the menu. This means that the Time Zone has been checked within the last 24 hours. Users that have turned off the Time Zone feature, as well as many other location functions of the phone, have reported vastly improved battery life on the iPhone 4S as well as other iPhones that have upgraded to iOS 5.
The “Setting Time Zone” function can be located within Settings, moving into “Location Services”, scrolling down to “System Services” and sliding the toggle on “Setting Time Zone”. Apple engineers will likely adjust settings within the next iOS 5 update to modify how often location-based apps are automatically updated to allow for greater battery life for all iPhone 4S users.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Google opens up to enterprises and apps
As promised at last week’s Web 2.0 Summit, Google has opened its social networking site to enterprises, via integration with Google Apps.
The move will see hundreds of companies pouring onto the social network and setting up business pages. Over the next few days customers of Google Apps for Business or free customers will get access to Google+. Mountain View is also opening up the service to universities that use Apps for Education – from the prestigious Notre Dame to Loughborough University in the UK.
“For those of you who’ve already started using Google+ with a personal Google Account and would prefer to use your Google Apps account, we’re building a migration tool to help you move over,” blogged Google Product Manager Ronald Ho. “With this tool, you won’t have to rebuild your circles, and people who’ve already added you to their circles will automatically be connected to your new profile.”
The tools would be rolled out over the next few weeks. Ho acknowledged that the company had hoped to have these features available sooner, but that they had proved more difficult to integrate than had first been thought. Part of the problem has been the rapid growth of the service, with Google saying it had exceeded all expectations – but then, it would say that.
Google is planning a whole range of communal working tools for the service, and as a first stage has released Creative kit, a basic photo editor. With over three billion photos on the website, in part due to Android phones automatically uploading them, Google is clearly looking for a prettier experience.
For consumers, Google+ now has a visualization tool to see how information spreads on the network, dubbed Ripples. Clicking on a public posting shows the rate of interest in a post, and who the key influencers have been since its creation. Expect marketing people to be firing a lot of discussion test balloons on the site while they try out new ideas and harvest data.
Both Apps users and businesses have expressed displeasure over the delay in this kind of linkage, considering how well Facebook has developed business integration. At last week’s conference, Sergey Brin and Vic Gundotra were asked pointed questions on the topic, and promised action within days – but it’s clear Google still has a lot of catching up to do.
The move will see hundreds of companies pouring onto the social network and setting up business pages. Over the next few days customers of Google Apps for Business or free customers will get access to Google+. Mountain View is also opening up the service to universities that use Apps for Education – from the prestigious Notre Dame to Loughborough University in the UK.
“For those of you who’ve already started using Google+ with a personal Google Account and would prefer to use your Google Apps account, we’re building a migration tool to help you move over,” blogged Google Product Manager Ronald Ho. “With this tool, you won’t have to rebuild your circles, and people who’ve already added you to their circles will automatically be connected to your new profile.”
The tools would be rolled out over the next few weeks. Ho acknowledged that the company had hoped to have these features available sooner, but that they had proved more difficult to integrate than had first been thought. Part of the problem has been the rapid growth of the service, with Google saying it had exceeded all expectations – but then, it would say that.
Google is planning a whole range of communal working tools for the service, and as a first stage has released Creative kit, a basic photo editor. With over three billion photos on the website, in part due to Android phones automatically uploading them, Google is clearly looking for a prettier experience.
For consumers, Google+ now has a visualization tool to see how information spreads on the network, dubbed Ripples. Clicking on a public posting shows the rate of interest in a post, and who the key influencers have been since its creation. Expect marketing people to be firing a lot of discussion test balloons on the site while they try out new ideas and harvest data.
Both Apps users and businesses have expressed displeasure over the delay in this kind of linkage, considering how well Facebook has developed business integration. At last week’s conference, Sergey Brin and Vic Gundotra were asked pointed questions on the topic, and promised action within days – but it’s clear Google still has a lot of catching up to do.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Battlefield 3 on Xbox Looks Awful Without HD Texture Pack
The world of non-HD Battlefield 3 is a very fuzzy place indeed.
Although Battlefield 3's PC graphics look amazing, things might be a little different for gamers playing the game on an Xbox. If your Xbox doesn't have Battlefield's HD texture pack installed - either because you don't have room or just don't have a hard drive - the graphics that you'll experience will be nothing like the gameplay we've seen up until now.
The attached video, recorded by WikiGamesGuide, shows what the Xbox Battlefield 3 looks like with and without the HD texture pack installed. I really don't know what business the non-texture pack version has looking so much worse than its HD counterpart; Battlefield: Bad Company 2 didn't look as good as the HD version of its sequel, but it didn't need any extras to maintain graphics superior to the non-HD display.
If you're planning on playing Battlefield 3 on an Xbox, it goes without saying that we'd recommend you make room for its HD texture pack on your hard drive. The video shows a non-HD world filled with disappearing graffiti, fuzzy tyres, floaty cardboard boxes and some generally very grainy gameplay that is to be avoided. The differences are really very stark, looking at times almost as if you're watching a modern gameplay video compared with one from several years ago. While it has to be said that this issue probably won't affect too many players, it does seem a little demanding. Though, that's probably what happens when you design a console game using the PC as your lead platform.
Although Battlefield 3's PC graphics look amazing, things might be a little different for gamers playing the game on an Xbox. If your Xbox doesn't have Battlefield's HD texture pack installed - either because you don't have room or just don't have a hard drive - the graphics that you'll experience will be nothing like the gameplay we've seen up until now.
The attached video, recorded by WikiGamesGuide, shows what the Xbox Battlefield 3 looks like with and without the HD texture pack installed. I really don't know what business the non-texture pack version has looking so much worse than its HD counterpart; Battlefield: Bad Company 2 didn't look as good as the HD version of its sequel, but it didn't need any extras to maintain graphics superior to the non-HD display.
If you're planning on playing Battlefield 3 on an Xbox, it goes without saying that we'd recommend you make room for its HD texture pack on your hard drive. The video shows a non-HD world filled with disappearing graffiti, fuzzy tyres, floaty cardboard boxes and some generally very grainy gameplay that is to be avoided. The differences are really very stark, looking at times almost as if you're watching a modern gameplay video compared with one from several years ago. While it has to be said that this issue probably won't affect too many players, it does seem a little demanding. Though, that's probably what happens when you design a console game using the PC as your lead platform.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
'Battlefield' throws down gauntlet before 'Warfare' lands
All apologies to Marvin Gaye, but war is what's going on in video games right now. And perhaps the biggest war game showdown to date kicks off this week with Electronic Arts' release of first-person combat game Battlefield 3, available Tuesday.
EA, the No. 2 publisher in the U.S., has Activision's multibillion-dollar Call of Duty franchise in its sights. Deploying Battlefield 3 two weeks before the Nov. 8 arrival of the next Call of Duty installment, Modern Warfare 3, is part of EA's extensive campaign to gain inroads into the $5 billion first-person shooter game market.
At stake is leadership in one of the hottest genres for the $60 billion global video game industry. First-person shooters currently account for about 16% of all console video game sales, and that's expected to increase, says Baird Equity Research analyst Colin Sebastian. Action games such as the Batman and Uncharted titles make up 22%, followed by 16% for sports games such as Madden NFL and NBA 2K
More than two years ago, EA began putting into place a strategy to loosen Call of Duty's grip on gamers. The first salvo was last fall's Medal of Honor, a reboot of the franchise that only a decade ago itself was the top first-person shooter franchise. Medal sold five million copies but amounted to a mere flesh wound, as Activision's 2010 release Call of Duty: Black Ops rolled on to set a sales record of 25 million copies.
Battlefield 3 appears to have more firepower. An on-the-rise development studio, DICE (Digital Illusions Creative Entertainment), has gradually built a following with its Battlefield series of games. Armed with its new Frostbite 2 technology to create Battlefield 3's cinematically fluid graphics, buzz has been building about the game. EA says pre-orders for Battlefield 3 are seven times that of previous Battlefield games and approach 3 million.
Stockholm-based DICE, acquired by EA in 2006, "set out to conquer a titan, to make a better game than the best shooter in the history of our industry, and do it by a wide margin," EA CEO John Riccitiello said recently on Fox Business News. "We set out to do something great here, and I think we have."
Battlefield's assault on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 "is certainly more aggressive than we have seen in the past," says Electronic Entertainment Design and Research (EEDAR) analyst Jesse Divnich. A recent trailer for the game, accompanied by the raucous Jay-Z track 99 Problems, carried a tagline of "Above and Beyond the Call."
And a future downloadable game map is called "Warfare." "EA is trying to position itself," he says, "so that when the next generation of consoles comes out, they can be there to innovate quicker and better than its competitors and, hopefully, overtake Call of Duty."
Even though Activision and EA are the top two U.S. game publishers, analysts don't think Battlefield 3 can contend with the next Call of Duty game.
For starters, Call of Duty is one of the top entertainment franchises of all time in terms of recurring revenue, Sebastian says. The last two Call of Duty games — 2010's Black Ops and 2009's Modern Warfare 2— have taken in $1.5 billion and $1.3 billion respectively at retail. That rivals the movie Titanic ($1.84 billion) and, combined, matches Avatar ($2.8 billion), Sebastian says.
EA is driving this idea of a "battle" between two powerhouses, he says. But that might be more corporate hype than reality. "Battlefield is a very strong video game franchise but not an entertainment juggernaut like Call of Duty," Sebastian says.
He expects Battlefield 3 to sell well, especially the PC version, but doesn't expect it to be a "must-have game for the holidays. …Call of Duty is a must-have game now."
Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter says EA has succeeded to a point by trying to "provoke Call of Duty players to check (Battlefield 3) out. … I don't think that they expect that this year, everybody is going to abandon Call of Duty and embrace Battlefield 3."
A win for EA, he says, would be to sell about half of what Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 does. "That would be a huge victory," Pachter says. "What EA doesn't want is Call of Duty to outsell them 4-to-1."
He notes that this is a battle that Activision itself had to fight years ago. In 1999, EA published the first Medal of Honor game for the original PlayStation. Originated by filmmaker Steven Spielberg, the World War II-based franchise has gone on to sell more than 30 million copies.
Among those who helped develop 2002's Medal of Honor: Allied Assault was a core group that left to found Infinity Ward, the studio that eventually created the Call of Duty franchise and the subsequent Modern Warfare games that dethroned Medal of Honor.
When Medal of Honor ruled, annual sales of a few million copies was considered a victory. In contrast, Modern Warfare 3 is projected to sell as many as 20 million copies by year's end.
What EA and DICE are trying to accomplish, "is essentially what Call of Duty did to Medal of Honor, but with much higher stakes," Pachter says. "And EA has more to lose, because it could screw up on Battlefield. Nobody knows if it's good."
Interest in shooter games is high enough, and "the market is big enough for both of them to exist and succeed," Divnich says. With the onslaught of advertising, new players may be recruited to one or both games.
"We expect each one to perform well in (its) own right," says Bob Puzon, vice president of merchandising for video game retail chain GameStop. More than 4,000 of its stores plan midnight launch events for both games. "They each have a large, loyal fan base, so the excitement and trash-talking is buzzing throughout the gaming world. I wouldn't say it is a clash — just two high-caliber shooters that gamers are passionate about and launching within a two-week period."
EA, the No. 2 publisher in the U.S., has Activision's multibillion-dollar Call of Duty franchise in its sights. Deploying Battlefield 3 two weeks before the Nov. 8 arrival of the next Call of Duty installment, Modern Warfare 3, is part of EA's extensive campaign to gain inroads into the $5 billion first-person shooter game market.
At stake is leadership in one of the hottest genres for the $60 billion global video game industry. First-person shooters currently account for about 16% of all console video game sales, and that's expected to increase, says Baird Equity Research analyst Colin Sebastian. Action games such as the Batman and Uncharted titles make up 22%, followed by 16% for sports games such as Madden NFL and NBA 2K
More than two years ago, EA began putting into place a strategy to loosen Call of Duty's grip on gamers. The first salvo was last fall's Medal of Honor, a reboot of the franchise that only a decade ago itself was the top first-person shooter franchise. Medal sold five million copies but amounted to a mere flesh wound, as Activision's 2010 release Call of Duty: Black Ops rolled on to set a sales record of 25 million copies.
Battlefield 3 appears to have more firepower. An on-the-rise development studio, DICE (Digital Illusions Creative Entertainment), has gradually built a following with its Battlefield series of games. Armed with its new Frostbite 2 technology to create Battlefield 3's cinematically fluid graphics, buzz has been building about the game. EA says pre-orders for Battlefield 3 are seven times that of previous Battlefield games and approach 3 million.
Stockholm-based DICE, acquired by EA in 2006, "set out to conquer a titan, to make a better game than the best shooter in the history of our industry, and do it by a wide margin," EA CEO John Riccitiello said recently on Fox Business News. "We set out to do something great here, and I think we have."
Battlefield's assault on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 "is certainly more aggressive than we have seen in the past," says Electronic Entertainment Design and Research (EEDAR) analyst Jesse Divnich. A recent trailer for the game, accompanied by the raucous Jay-Z track 99 Problems, carried a tagline of "Above and Beyond the Call."
And a future downloadable game map is called "Warfare." "EA is trying to position itself," he says, "so that when the next generation of consoles comes out, they can be there to innovate quicker and better than its competitors and, hopefully, overtake Call of Duty."
Even though Activision and EA are the top two U.S. game publishers, analysts don't think Battlefield 3 can contend with the next Call of Duty game.
For starters, Call of Duty is one of the top entertainment franchises of all time in terms of recurring revenue, Sebastian says. The last two Call of Duty games — 2010's Black Ops and 2009's Modern Warfare 2— have taken in $1.5 billion and $1.3 billion respectively at retail. That rivals the movie Titanic ($1.84 billion) and, combined, matches Avatar ($2.8 billion), Sebastian says.
EA is driving this idea of a "battle" between two powerhouses, he says. But that might be more corporate hype than reality. "Battlefield is a very strong video game franchise but not an entertainment juggernaut like Call of Duty," Sebastian says.
He expects Battlefield 3 to sell well, especially the PC version, but doesn't expect it to be a "must-have game for the holidays. …Call of Duty is a must-have game now."
Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter says EA has succeeded to a point by trying to "provoke Call of Duty players to check (Battlefield 3) out. … I don't think that they expect that this year, everybody is going to abandon Call of Duty and embrace Battlefield 3."
A win for EA, he says, would be to sell about half of what Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 does. "That would be a huge victory," Pachter says. "What EA doesn't want is Call of Duty to outsell them 4-to-1."
He notes that this is a battle that Activision itself had to fight years ago. In 1999, EA published the first Medal of Honor game for the original PlayStation. Originated by filmmaker Steven Spielberg, the World War II-based franchise has gone on to sell more than 30 million copies.
Among those who helped develop 2002's Medal of Honor: Allied Assault was a core group that left to found Infinity Ward, the studio that eventually created the Call of Duty franchise and the subsequent Modern Warfare games that dethroned Medal of Honor.
When Medal of Honor ruled, annual sales of a few million copies was considered a victory. In contrast, Modern Warfare 3 is projected to sell as many as 20 million copies by year's end.
What EA and DICE are trying to accomplish, "is essentially what Call of Duty did to Medal of Honor, but with much higher stakes," Pachter says. "And EA has more to lose, because it could screw up on Battlefield. Nobody knows if it's good."
Interest in shooter games is high enough, and "the market is big enough for both of them to exist and succeed," Divnich says. With the onslaught of advertising, new players may be recruited to one or both games.
"We expect each one to perform well in (its) own right," says Bob Puzon, vice president of merchandising for video game retail chain GameStop. More than 4,000 of its stores plan midnight launch events for both games. "They each have a large, loyal fan base, so the excitement and trash-talking is buzzing throughout the gaming world. I wouldn't say it is a clash — just two high-caliber shooters that gamers are passionate about and launching within a two-week period."
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Google, Samsung unveil Ice Cream Sandwich-powered Galaxy Nexus
The smartphone, unveiled at a Samsung event in Hong Kong today, marks the debut of the latest version of Android, known as Ice Cream Sandwich (each iteration of Android is named after a dessert).
For Samsung, the introduction of another flagship Google phone underscores its growing influence as an Android vendor. While the company was slow to shift away from basic phones and move into the smartphone game, it has more than made up for lost time with the success of its Galaxy line of Android mobile devices, particularly with its recent line of Galaxy S II phones in the U.S. It also made the previous Nexus phone, the Nexus S.
"Samsung and Google have closely collaborated to push the mobile experience forward," J.K. Shin, head of Samsung's mobile business, said in a statement.
Unlike previous versions, Ice Cream Sandwich will run on any mobile device.
"Ice Cream Sandwich demonstrates the Android platform's continued innovation with one release that works on phones and tablets and everything in between," Andy Rubin, head of Google's mobile business, said in a statement.
As with all Nexus phones, the Nexus Prime boasts some impressive specifications. The smartphone features a 1.2 gigahertz dual-core processor, a 4.65-inch Super Amoled screen with a resolution of 1280 by 720, 1 gigabyte of RAM, 32 gigabytes of storage, a 5-megapixel camera, and a pronounced curved shape that is intended to cradle the face. The body is a svelte 8.9 millimeters thick. The Nexus S also featured a subtle curve in its design.
The Nexus Prime debuts amid a number of other super smartphones. Earlier today, Verizon Wireless and Motorola unveiled the super-thin 4G LTE-enabled Droid Razr, a 7.1-millimeter thin phone that comes on the heels of the Droid Bionic. Apple, meanwhile, boasted of selling 4 million iPhones over the weekend after the 4S launched on Friday.
Since the first Nexus One from HTC, Google has used its line of Nexus phones as a showcase for the latest user interface and features available with the updated version of Android. In fact, the Nexus One was Google's stab at selling smartphones directly to consumers, although the lack of marketing and customer supported quickly forced the Internet giant to shutter those plans.
The anointed handset vendor partner, meanwhile, gets an early peek at those upgrades, useful for planning out the rest of its Android lineup. The Nexus S, for instance, was the first to have an integrated near-field communications chip, allowing it to use the Google Wallet mobile-payment system. The Galaxy Nexus will also have an NFC chip.
It's unclear how long Google will continue to pick its favorite Android partners; it plans to get into the hardware business itself with the planned $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility. Google, for its part, said it will remain a neutral partner to all of its vendors.
The pervasiveness of Android and Google's ability to work with multiple partners has fueled its ascent in the mobile world. The momentum has allowed it to take a dominant lead in the smartphone market even as Apple's iPhone remains the top-selling smartphone in the world. Google hopes the Nexus Prime will be able to sustain that strength.
For Samsung, the introduction of another flagship Google phone underscores its growing influence as an Android vendor. While the company was slow to shift away from basic phones and move into the smartphone game, it has more than made up for lost time with the success of its Galaxy line of Android mobile devices, particularly with its recent line of Galaxy S II phones in the U.S. It also made the previous Nexus phone, the Nexus S.
"Samsung and Google have closely collaborated to push the mobile experience forward," J.K. Shin, head of Samsung's mobile business, said in a statement.
Unlike previous versions, Ice Cream Sandwich will run on any mobile device.
"Ice Cream Sandwich demonstrates the Android platform's continued innovation with one release that works on phones and tablets and everything in between," Andy Rubin, head of Google's mobile business, said in a statement.
As with all Nexus phones, the Nexus Prime boasts some impressive specifications. The smartphone features a 1.2 gigahertz dual-core processor, a 4.65-inch Super Amoled screen with a resolution of 1280 by 720, 1 gigabyte of RAM, 32 gigabytes of storage, a 5-megapixel camera, and a pronounced curved shape that is intended to cradle the face. The body is a svelte 8.9 millimeters thick. The Nexus S also featured a subtle curve in its design.
The Nexus Prime debuts amid a number of other super smartphones. Earlier today, Verizon Wireless and Motorola unveiled the super-thin 4G LTE-enabled Droid Razr, a 7.1-millimeter thin phone that comes on the heels of the Droid Bionic. Apple, meanwhile, boasted of selling 4 million iPhones over the weekend after the 4S launched on Friday.
Since the first Nexus One from HTC, Google has used its line of Nexus phones as a showcase for the latest user interface and features available with the updated version of Android. In fact, the Nexus One was Google's stab at selling smartphones directly to consumers, although the lack of marketing and customer supported quickly forced the Internet giant to shutter those plans.
The anointed handset vendor partner, meanwhile, gets an early peek at those upgrades, useful for planning out the rest of its Android lineup. The Nexus S, for instance, was the first to have an integrated near-field communications chip, allowing it to use the Google Wallet mobile-payment system. The Galaxy Nexus will also have an NFC chip.
It's unclear how long Google will continue to pick its favorite Android partners; it plans to get into the hardware business itself with the planned $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility. Google, for its part, said it will remain a neutral partner to all of its vendors.
The pervasiveness of Android and Google's ability to work with multiple partners has fueled its ascent in the mobile world. The momentum has allowed it to take a dominant lead in the smartphone market even as Apple's iPhone remains the top-selling smartphone in the world. Google hopes the Nexus Prime will be able to sustain that strength.
Monday, October 17, 2011
BlackBerry maker offers free apps
TORONTO — Trying to make amends for massive outages last week, Research In Motion (RIM) on Monday promised BlackBerry users free premium apps and a month of technical support. But the apology is unlikely to placate miffed customers, many of whom are considering whether to part with the tarnished brand in favor of more popular devices such as Apple's newest iPhone.
Co-CEO Jim Balsillie acknowledged in an interview that RIM has come under intense pressure. Even so, he defended RIM's handling of the crisis, the company's worst outage ever.
The Canadian company said it will give BlackBerry users free apps worth more than $100. The apps will be available over the coming weeks on BlackBerry App World. They include iSpeech Translator, Bejeweled and Texas Hold'em Poker 2. The offer runs until the end of the year.
For its enterprise customers, Research in Motion will offer a month of free technical support.
Last week's blackout interrupted email and Internet services for tens of millions of users around the world and left RIM executives apologizing profusely days later.
"This is something we would like to offer as our form of thanks. It's $100 worth of premium apps. It's a substantial offer to our 70 million users around the world," Balsillie said.
Balsillie and co-CEO Mike Lazaridis came under fire last week, when they failed to talk publicly about the outages until Thursday morning, the fourth day of the service interruption.
Chris Allen, a 26-year-old cable technician in Fall River, Mass., said he was happy to get free apps for his personal BlackBerry but thinks the offer will miss the mark with core users.
"Most of the people that use BlackBerrys are business people and all they care about is: 'Does it work?' " Allen said.
Allen is pretty sure he'll get another BlackBerry when his phone contract is up next year, and the outage didn't change that.
"There's nothing that can beat a BlackBerry for productivity," Allen said.
In the Indian capital of New Delhi, Vandana Mehra, who works for the World Bank, thought the offer of free apps was "kind of ludicrous." The apps already on her phone tend to crash, and she doesn't use them much. The 46-year-old depends on her BlackBerry for communications and Web surfing, so the outage irritated her.
Peter Misek, an analyst at Jefferies & Co. in New York, said RIM had to figure out what was wrong before announcing anything. Misek said it was just the latest in a string of problems for RIM, which has faced product delays, poor reviews and disappointing sales. RIM's stock is down more than 80 percent from its high three years ago.
Misek said much of RIM's future depends on it releasing BlackBerrys with the company's new QNX operating system, designed to compete with iPhones and Android phones. RIM has delayed the launch of QNX phones for months, but Balsillie suggested there could be an announcement Tuesday when Lazaridis speaks at an apps-development conference in San Francisco.
Balsillie said the new software "leapfrogs the mobile industry" and positions RIM for the next decade.
Co-CEO Jim Balsillie acknowledged in an interview that RIM has come under intense pressure. Even so, he defended RIM's handling of the crisis, the company's worst outage ever.
The Canadian company said it will give BlackBerry users free apps worth more than $100. The apps will be available over the coming weeks on BlackBerry App World. They include iSpeech Translator, Bejeweled and Texas Hold'em Poker 2. The offer runs until the end of the year.
For its enterprise customers, Research in Motion will offer a month of free technical support.
Last week's blackout interrupted email and Internet services for tens of millions of users around the world and left RIM executives apologizing profusely days later.
"This is something we would like to offer as our form of thanks. It's $100 worth of premium apps. It's a substantial offer to our 70 million users around the world," Balsillie said.
Balsillie and co-CEO Mike Lazaridis came under fire last week, when they failed to talk publicly about the outages until Thursday morning, the fourth day of the service interruption.
Chris Allen, a 26-year-old cable technician in Fall River, Mass., said he was happy to get free apps for his personal BlackBerry but thinks the offer will miss the mark with core users.
"Most of the people that use BlackBerrys are business people and all they care about is: 'Does it work?' " Allen said.
Allen is pretty sure he'll get another BlackBerry when his phone contract is up next year, and the outage didn't change that.
"There's nothing that can beat a BlackBerry for productivity," Allen said.
In the Indian capital of New Delhi, Vandana Mehra, who works for the World Bank, thought the offer of free apps was "kind of ludicrous." The apps already on her phone tend to crash, and she doesn't use them much. The 46-year-old depends on her BlackBerry for communications and Web surfing, so the outage irritated her.
Peter Misek, an analyst at Jefferies & Co. in New York, said RIM had to figure out what was wrong before announcing anything. Misek said it was just the latest in a string of problems for RIM, which has faced product delays, poor reviews and disappointing sales. RIM's stock is down more than 80 percent from its high three years ago.
Misek said much of RIM's future depends on it releasing BlackBerrys with the company's new QNX operating system, designed to compete with iPhones and Android phones. RIM has delayed the launch of QNX phones for months, but Balsillie suggested there could be an announcement Tuesday when Lazaridis speaks at an apps-development conference in San Francisco.
Balsillie said the new software "leapfrogs the mobile industry" and positions RIM for the next decade.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
What iOS 5 brings to iPad
Whenever Apple company demonstrated away iOS four. two with regard to apple ipad this past year, these people held working about the indisputable fact that the program revise had been such as using a totally new apple ipad. These people launched multi-tasking, AirPrint, Files, AirPlay, Online game Middle, as well as e-mail threading, however to tell the truth, this did not alter the way in which We utilized the actual apple ipad in a substantial method.
Along with iOS 5, Apple company reduce the actual hyperbole (just a little) and shipped an excellent brand new OPERATING SYSTEM which truly starts upward brand new methods to make use of the apple ipad as well as reinforces the actual scarves in between matching Apple company products, such as the apple iphone, ipod itouch, as well as Apple company TELEVISION.
I am pleased to statement which Apple company didn't remember in order to mess more than proprietors from the unique apple ipad. Usually after i create these types of items these people begin beside me detailing the way the revise is just open to people who personal the newest edition from the gadget. Such a good shock to determine which iOS 5 is actually backed upon both apple ipad two and also the unique apple ipad, as well as the actual apple iphone, 3rd- as well as 4th-generation ipod itouch.
Because typical, upgrading the program demands hooking up the actual apple ipad for your pc as well as syncing via iTunes. Get rid of just a little emotional rip, although, because it might be the final period you will actually have to synchronize more than HARDWARE once again. Among the functions launched along with iOS 5 is actually a chance to revise the program within the atmosphere as well as synchronize along with iTunes more than your own house's Wi-Fi link. Apple company phone calls the actual function PC-Free.
The very first thing you will discover along with iOS 5 may be the add-on associated with 3 brand new applications in your house display: iMessages, Newsstand, as well as Memory joggers.
Along with iMessages, Apple company provides you with an immediate messaging answer which functions in between any kind of iOS gadget, such as apple ipad, apple iphone, as well as ipod itouch. You are able to immediately reveal textual content, pictures, or even movies. Messaging is actually free of charge more than Wi-Fi, however company costs might utilize if you are while using application more than 3G.
Messages provides just about all iOS customers the common I'M system with regard to delivering textual content, pictures, movies, hyperlinks, as well as areas.
(Credit score: Jesse Bell/CNET)
In the event that this had been every other organization, I would stop wasting time to indicate the actual restrictions of the messaging system which convey just along with 1 make of items (observe: Rim Messenger), however whenever you include collectively each and every apple iphone, apple ipad, as well as ipod itouch within the world--that's many people in order to talk to.
Within real life make use of, you will nevertheless most likely make use of the iPad's e-mail application with regard to the majority of your own conversation. Exactly where iMessages is available in useful tend to be individuals instances when you are in your sofa together with your apple ipad as well as wish to rapidly deliver away a note for your partner's apple iphone, or even news together with your buddies instantly.
The 2nd brand new application launched within iOS 5 is actually Newsstand. This particular Apple's try from taking advantage of the actual iPad's attractiveness like a electronic journal or even paper (as well as obtaining a reduce from the earnings). Such as the iBooks application, Newsstand is actually offered like a digital bookshelf which shows all of your electronic journal or even paper monthly subscriptions, and also a hyperlink in to a good Apple company storefront with regard to purchasing much more content material.
High of this content contained in the Newsstand shop may be right here just about all together. Truly this can be a adorable method to instantly team collectively current journal as well as paper applications which make use of in-app buying as well as monthly subscriptions. I'd as much good fortune discovering excellent electronic publications such as " cable " and also the Brand new Yorker through downloading it their own applications in the iPad's Application shop rather than discovering all of them with the Newsstand storefront (that is truly simply goes to some area inside the Application shop). In a nutshell, the actual Newsstand application is actually only a smart repackaging associated with current content material, however it might be simply the one thing to obtain individuals in the actual safe place associated with considering publications because some thing noticeably diverse from applications.
The actual iPad's brand new Memory joggers application had been additionally the allow down--at minimum initially. Think about this like a friend application with regard to Diary. It is a location to put in writing check-lists associated with every day duties which are not always planned (such as individuals in your diary). It is presently there for the buying listings, dried out cleansing, along with other common duties.
For that greatest period, I have been obtaining through placing these kinds of points during my diary as well as determining the arbitrary period. I possibly could observe personally choosing Memory joggers rather. They've the benefit of remaining in your radar before you examine all of them away. You may make several listings, and you will team all of them collectively close to ideas because high as well as long-term because state, "Life Goals" or even "Bucket List".
Additionally, due to iCloud assistance, Memory joggers may synchronize throughout all of your iOS products instantly.
The brand new pull-down notice eye-port within iOS 5 provides a fast look into brand new e-mail, twitter posts, iMessages, and much more.
(Credit score: Jesse Bell/CNET)
Although no application, an additional large brand new add-on in order to iOS is definitely an overhauled notice program that you could entry through swiping lower in the the surface of the display. Right here, you are able to rapidly look your own current e-mail, diary visits, iMessages, Memory joggers, along with other notifications, without having really taking within as well as from their own particular applications.
The brand new notice program additionally taps to the iPad's locking mechanism display, exactly where it may expensive several communications as well as visit memory joggers without having a person needing to swipe in order to uncover. Automatically, emails are not pressed towards the locking mechanism display, the industry great calculate with regard to privateness.
Below configurations you are able to separately personalize exactly what applications make the most of notices, exactly how individuals notices seem, as well as those allow it to be towards the locking mechanism display.
A lot may be made from Apple's free of charge iCloud storage space support, however typically it's integration along with iOS 5 seems unseen. That isn't a poor point.
Whenever you have a picture together with your apple iphone also it instantly seems inside your iPad's picture album--that's iCloud. Whenever you give a get in touch with in your apple ipad and it is immediately up-to-date in your ipod device Touch--that's iCloud. Whenever a audio buy in your ipod itouch is actually instantly drawn right down to your own apple iphone or even iPad--that's iCloud. This scarves all Apple's providers as well as products collectively, and you will most likely go with regard to given prior to the 7 days has ended.
Right now, on the planet associated with impair providers, exactly what iCloud provides is actually fairly acquire. You cannot by hand add essential documents or even sculpted songs as if you may along with Amazon's Impair Generate. You cannot selectively reveal your articles as if you may along with Dropbox. You cannot work with others upon paperwork such as Search engines Paperwork. You cannot use this like a long term store of the electronic pictures (iCloud is only going to maintain your own newest 1000 pictures) just like a Picassa or even Reddit.
However regardless of it's restrictions, iCloud will something which absolutely no additional support may do--it retains a regular back-up of the iPad's information as well as configurations. Which handles your own digital camera move, company accounts, paperwork, applications, bought press, as well as configurations. In case your apple ipad will get go beyond with a coach, you can enter a good Apple company Shop (nicely, let's assume that exact same coach skipped a person), purchase a brand new apple ipad, as well as properly presume which all your aged iPad's information may circulation lower out of your iCloud back-up such as absolutely nothing actually occurred. Let us hope which in no way occurs, however it is soothing to understand which Apple company offers this kind of insurance coverage free of charge.
Routing
Making your way around about the apple ipad is created just a little simpler within iOS 5. To begin with, the actual notices pull-down about the house display indicates much less period leaping in to e-mail along with other applications suitable for notices. A person provide this the look in support of leap to the applications whenever some thing essential pops up.
With regards to dishonoured in between applications (for example. multitasking) you no longer require in order to double-click the house switch just like a laboratory rat. Through putting 4 or 5 fingertips about the display as well as swiping remaining or even correct, you are able to rapidly switch via any kind of open up applications. Individually, I love to foot the actual display such as some type of bored stiff home kitty. Additionally, for that report, 6-10 fingertips will even have the desired effect, however you will appear truly foolish. All of us halted lacking screening 10 fingertips in addition 1 foot.
You are able to nevertheless double-tap the house switch to get into the actual holder associated with operating applications, however the exact same 4 or 5 hand swipe within an upwards path works equally well.
Last but not least, in order to help to make the house switch totally outdated, Apple company offers additional a chance to near applications having a five-finger touch. By using this method, any kind of operating application reduces aside in to absolutely nothing and also you seem like the lord.
The majority of iOS 5's enhancements tend to be little modifications. For instance, the actual iPad's "iPod" application may be renamed "Music", maintaining points in line with the actual apple iphone as well as ipod itouch. The actual application has additionally relocated from it's iTunes-esque appear in support of the solution, much more minimum (perhaps much less fascinating) style which includes the switch which straight hyperlinks to the actual iTunes application.
The actual Picture application right now provides an modifying choice upon person pictures, letting you harvest, turn, improve, as well as get rid of red-colored attention. The actual reveal choice inside Pictures may also be used right now in order to by hand produce photos through the begining, or even include pictures in order to leaving photos. Additionally, let us remember how the intro associated with iCloud provides a brand new Picture Flow tabs which shows pictures through all of your iCloud connected products. The apple ipad did not possess Picture Flow allowed automatically, however an easy fine-tune within the iPad's configurations menus created points correct.
The actual iPad's computer keyboard and today end up being divided aside with regard to much more comfortable usb inputting. This can be a benefit for anybody that seems foolish propping this particular point on the entered lower-leg or even another uncomfortable inputting placement. That is not saying which usb inputting with an apple ipad is not similarly uncomfortable, however occasionally this offers an additional modicum associated with self-esteem.
Within brand Apple company design (critically, it is most likely branded) the actual divided computer keyboard is actually utilized through actually tugging the actual computer keyboard aside together with your fingertips. You are able to go back to the conventional computer keyboard through pressing both attributes back again collectively. Through keeping the actual computer keyboard image within the base remaining part, you may also reposition the actual computer keyboard anyplace about the display, which may be useful once the secrets unintentionally imprecise a few crucial little bit of content material on the web site.
The actual iPad's Firefox internet browser offers benefitted through a number of improvements. Controlling several open up home windows isn't any lengthier dealt with through taking backwards and forwards in between thumbnail look at. Rather, the actual apple ipad right now sets apart webpages in to tab, because Lord meant. Critically although, the actual intro associated with tab provides the entire encounter a lot nearer to searching on the full-fledged pc. Right now, if perhaps this experienced Expensive (which a person's for those a person Google android fanboys).
An additional excellent add-on towards the iPad's Firefox internet browser is really a function known as Readers which changes any kind of web site right into a much more magazine-like design, draining aside advertisements as well as images as well as letting you very easily change font dimension. A brand new save menus known as Reading through Checklist has additionally already been additional, providing you with a fast method to put aside hyperlinks to see later on. As soon as these types of hyperlinks happen to be revisited, these people proceed away your own Reading through List's "Unread" line, however may be utilized later on from the individual "All" line.
The actual reveal switch inside Firefox right now features a "Tweet" switch with regard to immediately capturing away internet hyperlinks for your Tweets legions. Exactly the same Tweets integration may also be present in the actual iPad's Pictures application, letting you click an image as well as twitter this with no 3rd party applications.
As well as for those a person Apple company TELEVISION enthusiasts available, iOS 5 with regard to apple ipad provides cellular movie reflecting with regard to revealing content material in your TELEVISION. You need a good Apple company TELEVISION attached to your own tv to make this particular function, however when you perform, your own iPad's show is actually shown precisely in your TELEVISION. Which means video games in your TELEVISION, pictures, Internet, iTunes, something your own center wishes.
To learn more upon most of the scaled-down functions supplied within iOS 5 (such as computer keyboard cutting corners, Chart enhancements, Discover My personal Buddies, as well as Online game Middle, take a look at the overview of iOS 5 with regard to apple iphone.
The brand new apple ipad house display functions applications with regard to iMessages, Newsstand, as well as Memory joggers.
Personally, iOS5 is actually the most important revise I have observed for that apple ipad. The actual options that come with iOS four (AirPlay, AirPrint, Online game Middle) appeared awesome in writing, however We in no way experienced a lot make use of on their behalf during my everyday life.
In comparison, the truth that iCloud as well as Wi-Fi synchronize allow it to be to ensure that I might will never need for connecting my personal apple ipad to my personal pc in order to synchronize files--that modifications points personally. Over-the-air OPERATING SYSTEM improvements. Amen! Along with iMessages, I understand possess a common messaging system for those associated with my personal buddies operating iOS. The truth that Firefox with regard to apple ipad right now reacts just like a correct tabbed browser--that's substantial.
So that as worthless since it seems, having the ability to change in between applications through moving my personal hand over the display is really a night-and-day alter personally. It is quicker, much more visceral, and much more organic. You are able to travel for this point in ways a person could not prior to. This seems a lot more like the actual future--and let's not pretend, is not how the entire stage of the point?
Along with iOS 5, Apple company reduce the actual hyperbole (just a little) and shipped an excellent brand new OPERATING SYSTEM which truly starts upward brand new methods to make use of the apple ipad as well as reinforces the actual scarves in between matching Apple company products, such as the apple iphone, ipod itouch, as well as Apple company TELEVISION.
I am pleased to statement which Apple company didn't remember in order to mess more than proprietors from the unique apple ipad. Usually after i create these types of items these people begin beside me detailing the way the revise is just open to people who personal the newest edition from the gadget. Such a good shock to determine which iOS 5 is actually backed upon both apple ipad two and also the unique apple ipad, as well as the actual apple iphone, 3rd- as well as 4th-generation ipod itouch.
Because typical, upgrading the program demands hooking up the actual apple ipad for your pc as well as syncing via iTunes. Get rid of just a little emotional rip, although, because it might be the final period you will actually have to synchronize more than HARDWARE once again. Among the functions launched along with iOS 5 is actually a chance to revise the program within the atmosphere as well as synchronize along with iTunes more than your own house's Wi-Fi link. Apple company phone calls the actual function PC-Free.
The very first thing you will discover along with iOS 5 may be the add-on associated with 3 brand new applications in your house display: iMessages, Newsstand, as well as Memory joggers.
Along with iMessages, Apple company provides you with an immediate messaging answer which functions in between any kind of iOS gadget, such as apple ipad, apple iphone, as well as ipod itouch. You are able to immediately reveal textual content, pictures, or even movies. Messaging is actually free of charge more than Wi-Fi, however company costs might utilize if you are while using application more than 3G.
Messages provides just about all iOS customers the common I'M system with regard to delivering textual content, pictures, movies, hyperlinks, as well as areas.
(Credit score: Jesse Bell/CNET)
In the event that this had been every other organization, I would stop wasting time to indicate the actual restrictions of the messaging system which convey just along with 1 make of items (observe: Rim Messenger), however whenever you include collectively each and every apple iphone, apple ipad, as well as ipod itouch within the world--that's many people in order to talk to.
Within real life make use of, you will nevertheless most likely make use of the iPad's e-mail application with regard to the majority of your own conversation. Exactly where iMessages is available in useful tend to be individuals instances when you are in your sofa together with your apple ipad as well as wish to rapidly deliver away a note for your partner's apple iphone, or even news together with your buddies instantly.
The 2nd brand new application launched within iOS 5 is actually Newsstand. This particular Apple's try from taking advantage of the actual iPad's attractiveness like a electronic journal or even paper (as well as obtaining a reduce from the earnings). Such as the iBooks application, Newsstand is actually offered like a digital bookshelf which shows all of your electronic journal or even paper monthly subscriptions, and also a hyperlink in to a good Apple company storefront with regard to purchasing much more content material.
High of this content contained in the Newsstand shop may be right here just about all together. Truly this can be a adorable method to instantly team collectively current journal as well as paper applications which make use of in-app buying as well as monthly subscriptions. I'd as much good fortune discovering excellent electronic publications such as " cable " and also the Brand new Yorker through downloading it their own applications in the iPad's Application shop rather than discovering all of them with the Newsstand storefront (that is truly simply goes to some area inside the Application shop). In a nutshell, the actual Newsstand application is actually only a smart repackaging associated with current content material, however it might be simply the one thing to obtain individuals in the actual safe place associated with considering publications because some thing noticeably diverse from applications.
The actual iPad's brand new Memory joggers application had been additionally the allow down--at minimum initially. Think about this like a friend application with regard to Diary. It is a location to put in writing check-lists associated with every day duties which are not always planned (such as individuals in your diary). It is presently there for the buying listings, dried out cleansing, along with other common duties.
For that greatest period, I have been obtaining through placing these kinds of points during my diary as well as determining the arbitrary period. I possibly could observe personally choosing Memory joggers rather. They've the benefit of remaining in your radar before you examine all of them away. You may make several listings, and you will team all of them collectively close to ideas because high as well as long-term because state, "Life Goals" or even "Bucket List".
Additionally, due to iCloud assistance, Memory joggers may synchronize throughout all of your iOS products instantly.
The brand new pull-down notice eye-port within iOS 5 provides a fast look into brand new e-mail, twitter posts, iMessages, and much more.
(Credit score: Jesse Bell/CNET)
Although no application, an additional large brand new add-on in order to iOS is definitely an overhauled notice program that you could entry through swiping lower in the the surface of the display. Right here, you are able to rapidly look your own current e-mail, diary visits, iMessages, Memory joggers, along with other notifications, without having really taking within as well as from their own particular applications.
The brand new notice program additionally taps to the iPad's locking mechanism display, exactly where it may expensive several communications as well as visit memory joggers without having a person needing to swipe in order to uncover. Automatically, emails are not pressed towards the locking mechanism display, the industry great calculate with regard to privateness.
Below configurations you are able to separately personalize exactly what applications make the most of notices, exactly how individuals notices seem, as well as those allow it to be towards the locking mechanism display.
A lot may be made from Apple's free of charge iCloud storage space support, however typically it's integration along with iOS 5 seems unseen. That isn't a poor point.
Whenever you have a picture together with your apple iphone also it instantly seems inside your iPad's picture album--that's iCloud. Whenever you give a get in touch with in your apple ipad and it is immediately up-to-date in your ipod device Touch--that's iCloud. Whenever a audio buy in your ipod itouch is actually instantly drawn right down to your own apple iphone or even iPad--that's iCloud. This scarves all Apple's providers as well as products collectively, and you will most likely go with regard to given prior to the 7 days has ended.
Right now, on the planet associated with impair providers, exactly what iCloud provides is actually fairly acquire. You cannot by hand add essential documents or even sculpted songs as if you may along with Amazon's Impair Generate. You cannot selectively reveal your articles as if you may along with Dropbox. You cannot work with others upon paperwork such as Search engines Paperwork. You cannot use this like a long term store of the electronic pictures (iCloud is only going to maintain your own newest 1000 pictures) just like a Picassa or even Reddit.
However regardless of it's restrictions, iCloud will something which absolutely no additional support may do--it retains a regular back-up of the iPad's information as well as configurations. Which handles your own digital camera move, company accounts, paperwork, applications, bought press, as well as configurations. In case your apple ipad will get go beyond with a coach, you can enter a good Apple company Shop (nicely, let's assume that exact same coach skipped a person), purchase a brand new apple ipad, as well as properly presume which all your aged iPad's information may circulation lower out of your iCloud back-up such as absolutely nothing actually occurred. Let us hope which in no way occurs, however it is soothing to understand which Apple company offers this kind of insurance coverage free of charge.
Routing
Making your way around about the apple ipad is created just a little simpler within iOS 5. To begin with, the actual notices pull-down about the house display indicates much less period leaping in to e-mail along with other applications suitable for notices. A person provide this the look in support of leap to the applications whenever some thing essential pops up.
With regards to dishonoured in between applications (for example. multitasking) you no longer require in order to double-click the house switch just like a laboratory rat. Through putting 4 or 5 fingertips about the display as well as swiping remaining or even correct, you are able to rapidly switch via any kind of open up applications. Individually, I love to foot the actual display such as some type of bored stiff home kitty. Additionally, for that report, 6-10 fingertips will even have the desired effect, however you will appear truly foolish. All of us halted lacking screening 10 fingertips in addition 1 foot.
You are able to nevertheless double-tap the house switch to get into the actual holder associated with operating applications, however the exact same 4 or 5 hand swipe within an upwards path works equally well.
Last but not least, in order to help to make the house switch totally outdated, Apple company offers additional a chance to near applications having a five-finger touch. By using this method, any kind of operating application reduces aside in to absolutely nothing and also you seem like the lord.
The majority of iOS 5's enhancements tend to be little modifications. For instance, the actual iPad's "iPod" application may be renamed "Music", maintaining points in line with the actual apple iphone as well as ipod itouch. The actual application has additionally relocated from it's iTunes-esque appear in support of the solution, much more minimum (perhaps much less fascinating) style which includes the switch which straight hyperlinks to the actual iTunes application.
The actual Picture application right now provides an modifying choice upon person pictures, letting you harvest, turn, improve, as well as get rid of red-colored attention. The actual reveal choice inside Pictures may also be used right now in order to by hand produce photos through the begining, or even include pictures in order to leaving photos. Additionally, let us remember how the intro associated with iCloud provides a brand new Picture Flow tabs which shows pictures through all of your iCloud connected products. The apple ipad did not possess Picture Flow allowed automatically, however an easy fine-tune within the iPad's configurations menus created points correct.
The actual iPad's computer keyboard and today end up being divided aside with regard to much more comfortable usb inputting. This can be a benefit for anybody that seems foolish propping this particular point on the entered lower-leg or even another uncomfortable inputting placement. That is not saying which usb inputting with an apple ipad is not similarly uncomfortable, however occasionally this offers an additional modicum associated with self-esteem.
Within brand Apple company design (critically, it is most likely branded) the actual divided computer keyboard is actually utilized through actually tugging the actual computer keyboard aside together with your fingertips. You are able to go back to the conventional computer keyboard through pressing both attributes back again collectively. Through keeping the actual computer keyboard image within the base remaining part, you may also reposition the actual computer keyboard anyplace about the display, which may be useful once the secrets unintentionally imprecise a few crucial little bit of content material on the web site.
The actual iPad's Firefox internet browser offers benefitted through a number of improvements. Controlling several open up home windows isn't any lengthier dealt with through taking backwards and forwards in between thumbnail look at. Rather, the actual apple ipad right now sets apart webpages in to tab, because Lord meant. Critically although, the actual intro associated with tab provides the entire encounter a lot nearer to searching on the full-fledged pc. Right now, if perhaps this experienced Expensive (which a person's for those a person Google android fanboys).
An additional excellent add-on towards the iPad's Firefox internet browser is really a function known as Readers which changes any kind of web site right into a much more magazine-like design, draining aside advertisements as well as images as well as letting you very easily change font dimension. A brand new save menus known as Reading through Checklist has additionally already been additional, providing you with a fast method to put aside hyperlinks to see later on. As soon as these types of hyperlinks happen to be revisited, these people proceed away your own Reading through List's "Unread" line, however may be utilized later on from the individual "All" line.
The actual reveal switch inside Firefox right now features a "Tweet" switch with regard to immediately capturing away internet hyperlinks for your Tweets legions. Exactly the same Tweets integration may also be present in the actual iPad's Pictures application, letting you click an image as well as twitter this with no 3rd party applications.
As well as for those a person Apple company TELEVISION enthusiasts available, iOS 5 with regard to apple ipad provides cellular movie reflecting with regard to revealing content material in your TELEVISION. You need a good Apple company TELEVISION attached to your own tv to make this particular function, however when you perform, your own iPad's show is actually shown precisely in your TELEVISION. Which means video games in your TELEVISION, pictures, Internet, iTunes, something your own center wishes.
To learn more upon most of the scaled-down functions supplied within iOS 5 (such as computer keyboard cutting corners, Chart enhancements, Discover My personal Buddies, as well as Online game Middle, take a look at the overview of iOS 5 with regard to apple iphone.
The brand new apple ipad house display functions applications with regard to iMessages, Newsstand, as well as Memory joggers.
Personally, iOS5 is actually the most important revise I have observed for that apple ipad. The actual options that come with iOS four (AirPlay, AirPrint, Online game Middle) appeared awesome in writing, however We in no way experienced a lot make use of on their behalf during my everyday life.
In comparison, the truth that iCloud as well as Wi-Fi synchronize allow it to be to ensure that I might will never need for connecting my personal apple ipad to my personal pc in order to synchronize files--that modifications points personally. Over-the-air OPERATING SYSTEM improvements. Amen! Along with iMessages, I understand possess a common messaging system for those associated with my personal buddies operating iOS. The truth that Firefox with regard to apple ipad right now reacts just like a correct tabbed browser--that's substantial.
So that as worthless since it seems, having the ability to change in between applications through moving my personal hand over the display is really a night-and-day alter personally. It is quicker, much more visceral, and much more organic. You are able to travel for this point in ways a person could not prior to. This seems a lot more like the actual future--and let's not pretend, is not how the entire stage of the point?
Monday, October 10, 2011
Facebook releases iPad app
Facebook finally released its long-anticipated app for Apple's (AAPL) iPad Monday, promising a more visual, immersive and "fun" experience for tablet users, in tandem with new mobile features that could allow the social network to rival Apple and Google (GOOG) in selling access to games, movies, news and other content on mobile devices.
Facebook already has more than 350 million members who regularly access the social network through a smartphone or tablet, and it says those mobile users are more active than the average user who interacts only through a desktop computer. But until Monday, the full Facebook experience, such as the ability to see which games your friends are playing and join in, hasn't been fully available on a phone or tablet.
While the new features released Monday were aimed at Apple's mobile devices, Facebook said it would also extend support to additional mobile platforms, particularly Google's Android, "in the near future."
One big beneficiary of the Facebook changes are developers and companies that create mobile apps that can run within the Web browser of any mobile device using HTML5, the newest standard for the software language that underlies the Web. "HTML5 is the big winner today," said Scott Ellison, an analyst with the research firm IDC.
For software developers, the sheer size of Facebook's membership -- more than 750 million -- means increased demand for alternatives to "native" apps, which are tailored specifically for Apple's iOS or Google's Android mobile operating systems and are typically downloaded to a phone or tablet through those companies' proprietary app stores.
"What Facebook has done today is they have inserted themselves into the mobile discussion to a similar level as Google and Apple have," said Stewart Putney, CEO of Moblyng, a Redwood City company that has built several browser-based games for Facebook. "We're an HTML5 developer, so we've been betting on this. We bet our whole company on this a year ago, assuming it would happen, and we're glad that it did."
"Any modern smartphone can now become a Facebook phone, because you can get the full Facebook mobile experience," Putney said.
Ellison said Facebook's new mobile services also could push magazine publishers or other media companies to build Facebook apps that could run on any tablet, offering content that consumers could buy using Facebook Credits, its digital currency. Facebook gets a 30 percent cut of services bought with Credits, analysts say, and the payment service is a significant and growing share of Facebook's total revenue.
"Facebook will have an opportunity to one-up Apple," which is selling media subscriptions for the iPad, "just as Google has tried to do," Ellison said. "Magazines are just beginning to scrape the surface for what they can do with social sharing."
Facebook's iPad app was widely rumored to have been slated for a joint launch with Apple's iPhone 4S last week, and the timing of Monday's announcement reawakened speculation that Facebook delayed the app because of Steve Jobs' impeding death.
While the new features could help Facebook compete with Apple, the companies seem to have struck a compromise -- while Facebook Credits can be used in HTML5 apps, they can't be used in native iOS apps for iPhone and iPad.
"This reduces the conflict between Apple and Facebook regarding within-app payment -- at the expense of Facebook," Valdes said.
Facebook already has more than 350 million members who regularly access the social network through a smartphone or tablet, and it says those mobile users are more active than the average user who interacts only through a desktop computer. But until Monday, the full Facebook experience, such as the ability to see which games your friends are playing and join in, hasn't been fully available on a phone or tablet.
While the new features released Monday were aimed at Apple's mobile devices, Facebook said it would also extend support to additional mobile platforms, particularly Google's Android, "in the near future."
One big beneficiary of the Facebook changes are developers and companies that create mobile apps that can run within the Web browser of any mobile device using HTML5, the newest standard for the software language that underlies the Web. "HTML5 is the big winner today," said Scott Ellison, an analyst with the research firm IDC.
For software developers, the sheer size of Facebook's membership -- more than 750 million -- means increased demand for alternatives to "native" apps, which are tailored specifically for Apple's iOS or Google's Android mobile operating systems and are typically downloaded to a phone or tablet through those companies' proprietary app stores.
"What Facebook has done today is they have inserted themselves into the mobile discussion to a similar level as Google and Apple have," said Stewart Putney, CEO of Moblyng, a Redwood City company that has built several browser-based games for Facebook. "We're an HTML5 developer, so we've been betting on this. We bet our whole company on this a year ago, assuming it would happen, and we're glad that it did."
"Any modern smartphone can now become a Facebook phone, because you can get the full Facebook mobile experience," Putney said.
Ellison said Facebook's new mobile services also could push magazine publishers or other media companies to build Facebook apps that could run on any tablet, offering content that consumers could buy using Facebook Credits, its digital currency. Facebook gets a 30 percent cut of services bought with Credits, analysts say, and the payment service is a significant and growing share of Facebook's total revenue.
"Facebook will have an opportunity to one-up Apple," which is selling media subscriptions for the iPad, "just as Google has tried to do," Ellison said. "Magazines are just beginning to scrape the surface for what they can do with social sharing."
Facebook's iPad app was widely rumored to have been slated for a joint launch with Apple's iPhone 4S last week, and the timing of Monday's announcement reawakened speculation that Facebook delayed the app because of Steve Jobs' impeding death.
While the new features could help Facebook compete with Apple, the companies seem to have struck a compromise -- while Facebook Credits can be used in HTML5 apps, they can't be used in native iOS apps for iPhone and iPad.
"This reduces the conflict between Apple and Facebook regarding within-app payment -- at the expense of Facebook," Valdes said.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
iPhone 4S Launch Day Preorders Sold Out at Online Apple Store
As the adage goes, you snooze on an iPhone preorder, you lose on an iPhone preorder. The online Apple Store has updated its shipping estimates for the company's new iPhone 4S, and it appears that users ordering the device right now aren't going to be able to pick one up on launch day.
Previously, the Apple Store had listed a firm delivery date for those ordering: October 14, or next Friday, which marks the first day that consumers will be able to get their hands on the company's upgraded version of the iPhone 4. Apple has since updated its online store to indicate that customers preordering the new smartphone – as of this article's writing – can expect their devices to be shipped in anywhere from one to two weeks.
In other words, the launch day stock is sold out – via Apple's online store, at least.
Those looking to score an iPhone 4S can still attempt the tried-and-true method of getting to Apple stores super-early Friday morning and waiting in line. According to Mashable's Charlie White, there are already three people currently queuing for an iPhone 4S at Apple's 5th Avenue store in New York City. Two of them have been waiting for a total of 12 days.
While that sounds a little extreme, some kind of a camp out (or, at least, early arrival) might be worth the effort for interested iPhone 4S owners: According to AT&T, preorders for the smartphone have made the iPhone 4S the company's most successful iPhone launch to date. The carrier has racked up more than 200,000 preorders within the smartphone's first 12 hours of pre-availability, which officially began just this past Friday.
Both Verizon and Sprint – the other two announced carriers supporting the iPhone 4S – have not released presales figures at this point.
Analysts are expecting Apple to hit the ball out of the park this holiday quarter: Brian White, an analyst at Ticonderoga, is calling for total iPhone sales to reach around 27 million smartphones between October and December. That figure is relatively matched by estimates from Brad Gastwirth of ABR Investment Strategy, who puts total sales at 28 million iPhones in the fourth quarter – 10 million of which he's expecting to come from the iPhone 4S.
In total, IHS iSuppli Design is calling for the worldwide iPhone market to hit 83.6 million units in 2011.
Previously, the Apple Store had listed a firm delivery date for those ordering: October 14, or next Friday, which marks the first day that consumers will be able to get their hands on the company's upgraded version of the iPhone 4. Apple has since updated its online store to indicate that customers preordering the new smartphone – as of this article's writing – can expect their devices to be shipped in anywhere from one to two weeks.
In other words, the launch day stock is sold out – via Apple's online store, at least.
Those looking to score an iPhone 4S can still attempt the tried-and-true method of getting to Apple stores super-early Friday morning and waiting in line. According to Mashable's Charlie White, there are already three people currently queuing for an iPhone 4S at Apple's 5th Avenue store in New York City. Two of them have been waiting for a total of 12 days.
While that sounds a little extreme, some kind of a camp out (or, at least, early arrival) might be worth the effort for interested iPhone 4S owners: According to AT&T, preorders for the smartphone have made the iPhone 4S the company's most successful iPhone launch to date. The carrier has racked up more than 200,000 preorders within the smartphone's first 12 hours of pre-availability, which officially began just this past Friday.
Both Verizon and Sprint – the other two announced carriers supporting the iPhone 4S – have not released presales figures at this point.
Analysts are expecting Apple to hit the ball out of the park this holiday quarter: Brian White, an analyst at Ticonderoga, is calling for total iPhone sales to reach around 27 million smartphones between October and December. That figure is relatively matched by estimates from Brad Gastwirth of ABR Investment Strategy, who puts total sales at 28 million iPhones in the fourth quarter – 10 million of which he's expecting to come from the iPhone 4S.
In total, IHS iSuppli Design is calling for the worldwide iPhone market to hit 83.6 million units in 2011.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Will you buy iPhone 4S?
Apple's most recent smart phone -- not really that you could a lot inform this in the aged 1 -- is actually upward with regard to preorder Oct 7 as well as formally continues purchase 7 days later on. That is within Sydney, North america, Portugal, Indonesia, Asia, Uk as well as Usa. apple iphone 4S is going to be obtainable Oct twenty-eight within twenty two additional nations: Luxembourg, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland in europe, Italia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, South america, Holland, Norwegian, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, The country, Sweden as well as Europe.
Apple company will also reduce the cost upon old versions -- free of charge with regard to apple iphone as well as $99 with regard to apple iphone 4 (8GB). The actual four is going to be obtainable through Run combined with the 4S. The actual U . s . States' third-largest company has began getting preorders upon apple iphone 4. When it comes to more recent design, prices is similar to right now, however by having an additional SKU: 16GB, $199; 32GB, $299; 64GB, $399. Carrier-contractual obligations (2 yrs in the usa) affect obtain which prices. The actual query: Are you going to purchase apple iphone 4S?
We request this sort of purchasing queries along with a few rate of recurrence, however I am especially thinking about your own solution (within remarks and also the poll beneath) this particular circular simply because lots of people anticipated apple iphone 5. Rather, Apple company made a decision to help to make apple iphone 4 just a little much better. Is actually which sufficient in order to take out your own charge card?
The actual externals, such as spend as well as display would be the exact same, even though smart phone is actually brand new within. There is a quicker microprocessor (exact same A5 nick because apple ipad two), enhanced images, 8-megapixel digital camera, 1080p movie documenting capacity, Wireless bluetooth four. 0 along with other enhancements. However the large advantages tend to be i0S 5 as well as iCloud, each arriving Oct 12, as well as these types of is going to be readily available for apple iphone as well as four.
My personal friend Erectile dysfunction Oswald programs to purchase apple iphone 4S, however it is a no-brainer choice because he'll update in the 3GS. I am especially thinking about the actual programs associated with those who have apple iphone 4 -- or even individuals with Google android cell phones that experienced regarded as changing prior to Apple company introduced the brand new smart phone.
Upon Google+, We requested individuals regarding whether they may update. Jesper Lauridsen reacts: "iPhone 4S, my personal 3GS requirements the actual update".
Other people possess indicated frustration. Betanews commenter Aires laments regarding apple iphone 4S:
Not adequate enough, merely not adequate enough. Therefore really, really unsatisfactory. All of this will now's help to make me personally think about Home windows 7. 5 rather. This really is this type of skipped chance, it is not real. I'm certain this particular apple iphone is actually an excellent telephone, however it doesn't make an impression on me personally. Regardless of what is already been referred to over to be much better, quicker, more powerful, it doesn't make an impression on me personally. It doesn't make an impression on me personally sufficient to pay out my personal hard earned cash (believe in me personally, We function difficult with regard to my personal cash). I've a good apple iphone 3G -- not really a 3G Utes -- a good apple iphone 3G. We did not obtain the 3GS as well as We did not obtain apple iphone 4. We certain because heck defintely won't be obtaining apple iphone 4S.
Nicely, perhaps Ed's 3GS update in order to 4S is not this type of no-brainer, in the end.
"I phone this the actual Borephone 4S -- as well as I'm a good Apple company enthusiast. Critically, these people skipped the actual coach about this one", Aleic Give remarks.
Apple company will also reduce the cost upon old versions -- free of charge with regard to apple iphone as well as $99 with regard to apple iphone 4 (8GB). The actual four is going to be obtainable through Run combined with the 4S. The actual U . s . States' third-largest company has began getting preorders upon apple iphone 4. When it comes to more recent design, prices is similar to right now, however by having an additional SKU: 16GB, $199; 32GB, $299; 64GB, $399. Carrier-contractual obligations (2 yrs in the usa) affect obtain which prices. The actual query: Are you going to purchase apple iphone 4S?
We request this sort of purchasing queries along with a few rate of recurrence, however I am especially thinking about your own solution (within remarks and also the poll beneath) this particular circular simply because lots of people anticipated apple iphone 5. Rather, Apple company made a decision to help to make apple iphone 4 just a little much better. Is actually which sufficient in order to take out your own charge card?
The actual externals, such as spend as well as display would be the exact same, even though smart phone is actually brand new within. There is a quicker microprocessor (exact same A5 nick because apple ipad two), enhanced images, 8-megapixel digital camera, 1080p movie documenting capacity, Wireless bluetooth four. 0 along with other enhancements. However the large advantages tend to be i0S 5 as well as iCloud, each arriving Oct 12, as well as these types of is going to be readily available for apple iphone as well as four.
My personal friend Erectile dysfunction Oswald programs to purchase apple iphone 4S, however it is a no-brainer choice because he'll update in the 3GS. I am especially thinking about the actual programs associated with those who have apple iphone 4 -- or even individuals with Google android cell phones that experienced regarded as changing prior to Apple company introduced the brand new smart phone.
Upon Google+, We requested individuals regarding whether they may update. Jesper Lauridsen reacts: "iPhone 4S, my personal 3GS requirements the actual update".
Other people possess indicated frustration. Betanews commenter Aires laments regarding apple iphone 4S:
Not adequate enough, merely not adequate enough. Therefore really, really unsatisfactory. All of this will now's help to make me personally think about Home windows 7. 5 rather. This really is this type of skipped chance, it is not real. I'm certain this particular apple iphone is actually an excellent telephone, however it doesn't make an impression on me personally. Regardless of what is already been referred to over to be much better, quicker, more powerful, it doesn't make an impression on me personally. It doesn't make an impression on me personally sufficient to pay out my personal hard earned cash (believe in me personally, We function difficult with regard to my personal cash). I've a good apple iphone 3G -- not really a 3G Utes -- a good apple iphone 3G. We did not obtain the 3GS as well as We did not obtain apple iphone 4. We certain because heck defintely won't be obtaining apple iphone 4S.
Nicely, perhaps Ed's 3GS update in order to 4S is not this type of no-brainer, in the end.
"I phone this the actual Borephone 4S -- as well as I'm a good Apple company enthusiast. Critically, these people skipped the actual coach about this one", Aleic Give remarks.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Apple touts changes inside the iPhone 4S
This holiday season, Apple will have to prove that what's on the inside matters most.
With its iPhone 4S, Apple didn't tinker with the outside of the device, focusing instead on improving the processor, camera and software interface. The challenge will be persuading shoppers to upgrade to a new product that looks exactly like their old one.
Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook, in his first major product release since taking over for Steve Jobs, is counting on faster speed, voice recognition and the iCloud storage service to make the latest iPhone a success. The device, Apple's best-selling product, will face off against an army of fresh smart phones running Google's Android operating system, including Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S II and LG Electronics' Thrill 4G.
Apple "didn't quite understand how revved up expectations had gotten," said Frank Gillett, an analyst at Forrester Research. Some users were looking for a more revolutionary iPhone 5, rather than just a faster iPhone 4, he said. Instead, "Apple is asking people to appreciate and give them credit for a highly engineered and integrated set of products and services."
Cook also has to promote the new iPhone without as much day-to-day assistance from Jobs, whose expertise in marketing and design helped turn Apple into the world's most valuable technology company. Jobs, who stepped down as CEO on Aug. 24, didn't appear at the unveiling of the iPhone 4S on Tuesday.
Shares are strong
The success of the iPhone has helped Apple weather market turmoil and the resignation of Jobs, with the shares gaining 17 percent this year. Apple rose $5.75, or 1.5 percent, to close at $378.25 on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Apple touted the inside changes to the iPhone 4S at Tuesday's event, held at its headquarters in Cupertino. The A5 chip will make graphics seven times speedier and deliver twice the processing power. The model will cost $199, $299 and $399, depending on features, and will be available from Sprint Nextel Corp. for the first time. Apple already had agreements with AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless.
"Inside, it is all new," said Phil Schiller, a senior vice president in charge of product marketing.
At stake is leadership in the market for smart phones, which is projected to double by 2015, according to IDC. A billion of the handsets will be sold that year, the research firm estimates. While the iPhone is the world's most popular smart phone, the Android operating system is more widely used by the industry.
Google aims to bolster that position by purchasing its own mobile-phone manufacturer, Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. A full redesign under the iPhone 5 banner, along with a revamped iPhone 4, would have given Apple more ammunition to use against Google and its Android partners.
Even so, Apple benefits from more efficient manufacturing by keeping the same body design, Gillett said.
"One thing people don't understand about Apple is they don't just change the look for the heck of it," he said. "They think about it for a very long time."
The iPhone 4S, available Oct. 14, will have a camera that has 60 percent more pixels and can shoot high-definition video. The device also relies on an "intelligent antenna system" that's designed to improve call quality and works with both wireless standards. Users will have up to eight hours of talk time on one charge.
Camera upgrade
"For many customers, the iPhone 4S will be the best still camera they've ever owned, the best video camera they've ever owned, and it's with them all the time," Schiller said.
The new voice-recognition system will turn the device into a hands-free personal assistant. The technology lets users check weather, get directions or surf the Web using spoken commands. Apple already had basic voice-control abilities on the iPhone for placing a call or playing a song.
Last year, Apple acquired a speech-recognition software company called Siri, which helped it develop the new features. The system relies on artificial intelligence to handle questions. The features, combined with the prices, will give Apple an edge, said Andy Hargreaves, an analyst at Pacific Crest Securities in Portland, Ore.
"Siri is very unique from what I've seen, and should continue to differentiate them at the high end," he said.
The older iPhone 4 model will now cost $99, and the iPhone 3GS will be free with a wireless contract.
With its iPhone 4S, Apple didn't tinker with the outside of the device, focusing instead on improving the processor, camera and software interface. The challenge will be persuading shoppers to upgrade to a new product that looks exactly like their old one.
Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook, in his first major product release since taking over for Steve Jobs, is counting on faster speed, voice recognition and the iCloud storage service to make the latest iPhone a success. The device, Apple's best-selling product, will face off against an army of fresh smart phones running Google's Android operating system, including Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S II and LG Electronics' Thrill 4G.
Apple "didn't quite understand how revved up expectations had gotten," said Frank Gillett, an analyst at Forrester Research. Some users were looking for a more revolutionary iPhone 5, rather than just a faster iPhone 4, he said. Instead, "Apple is asking people to appreciate and give them credit for a highly engineered and integrated set of products and services."
Cook also has to promote the new iPhone without as much day-to-day assistance from Jobs, whose expertise in marketing and design helped turn Apple into the world's most valuable technology company. Jobs, who stepped down as CEO on Aug. 24, didn't appear at the unveiling of the iPhone 4S on Tuesday.
Shares are strong
The success of the iPhone has helped Apple weather market turmoil and the resignation of Jobs, with the shares gaining 17 percent this year. Apple rose $5.75, or 1.5 percent, to close at $378.25 on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Apple touted the inside changes to the iPhone 4S at Tuesday's event, held at its headquarters in Cupertino. The A5 chip will make graphics seven times speedier and deliver twice the processing power. The model will cost $199, $299 and $399, depending on features, and will be available from Sprint Nextel Corp. for the first time. Apple already had agreements with AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless.
"Inside, it is all new," said Phil Schiller, a senior vice president in charge of product marketing.
At stake is leadership in the market for smart phones, which is projected to double by 2015, according to IDC. A billion of the handsets will be sold that year, the research firm estimates. While the iPhone is the world's most popular smart phone, the Android operating system is more widely used by the industry.
Google aims to bolster that position by purchasing its own mobile-phone manufacturer, Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. A full redesign under the iPhone 5 banner, along with a revamped iPhone 4, would have given Apple more ammunition to use against Google and its Android partners.
Even so, Apple benefits from more efficient manufacturing by keeping the same body design, Gillett said.
"One thing people don't understand about Apple is they don't just change the look for the heck of it," he said. "They think about it for a very long time."
The iPhone 4S, available Oct. 14, will have a camera that has 60 percent more pixels and can shoot high-definition video. The device also relies on an "intelligent antenna system" that's designed to improve call quality and works with both wireless standards. Users will have up to eight hours of talk time on one charge.
Camera upgrade
"For many customers, the iPhone 4S will be the best still camera they've ever owned, the best video camera they've ever owned, and it's with them all the time," Schiller said.
The new voice-recognition system will turn the device into a hands-free personal assistant. The technology lets users check weather, get directions or surf the Web using spoken commands. Apple already had basic voice-control abilities on the iPhone for placing a call or playing a song.
Last year, Apple acquired a speech-recognition software company called Siri, which helped it develop the new features. The system relies on artificial intelligence to handle questions. The features, combined with the prices, will give Apple an edge, said Andy Hargreaves, an analyst at Pacific Crest Securities in Portland, Ore.
"Siri is very unique from what I've seen, and should continue to differentiate them at the high end," he said.
The older iPhone 4 model will now cost $99, and the iPhone 3GS will be free with a wireless contract.
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