iPhone 4S, News/Rumors

Apple’s names attract criticism

Apple has traditionally been a company to prefer  simplicity and brevity creating its products. This principle was used to name new devices, giving up high-profile names in favor of letters and numbers.

However, this approach is not approved by everyone. Former consultant Apple Ken Segall believes that the current practice of naming products harms the company. He is sure that the principle, when after every release of a new model a new update with the letter «S» comes out, looks rather awkward. Adding “S” to an already existing model  and releasing it on the market, looks like conferming that his model is not worthy a unique name, as it received only minor improvements.

lame-name-iphone-4s-130406

Ken Segall worked with Apple for a long period of time, first as a creative director of the advertising agency, and later as a consultant.  As a member of Jobs team, Segall took part in creation of the brand iMac and a famous campaign Think Different as well.

Criticism of the former employee came upon  the campaign on releasing new products with the prefix «new» in the title. It should be noted that using such step for the release of  the third generation «new iPad», the company did not practice it for the iPhone and iPad of the fourth generation.

Such criticism is controversial. We shouldn’t  forget that, despite the names of products, each new generation iPhone is sold better than the previous one.

iPhone, News/Rumors

The iPhone’s successful evolution from 2007 until today (The iPhone-era)

It’s clear that in 2007, Steve Jobs wanted to write history, to come up with something brand-new that would revolutionize the world of media. He may not have in mind the quote of the famous transcendentalist Emerson “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” but he surely wanted to create something that would last and make his name known, to launch him into immortality.

The original iPhone was released in June 2007 and by September 2007, 1 million samples were sold. Back then it was seen as a new toy that anyone should have and those that didn’t afford to buy one, dreamt of it. Statistics argue that the second iPhone, 3G, released in 2008 met success in a flash because it took 3 days to sell 1 million smartphones. In 2009, things were beginning to look brighter for the Apple Company but not so bright when it came to Steve Job’s health. Released on 19 June 2009, the next gadget iPhone 3GS managed to have the same amount of sale as in last year but this time in only 2 days.

Also,as expected, the year Apple invented the iPad was quite favorable for business. More precisely, in 2009, 600.000 samples were ordered before its release so the sale of 1 million smartphones was expected in that precise day. iPhone 4S is by far the smartphone that has enriched the Apple Company selling over 4 million gadgets in only 3 days after its release.

What can I say more, stay tuned for Apple’s next masterpiece release!

Source Picture: TechJournal, MacRumors

iPhone, News/Rumors

Siri (iPhone 4S) vs. S Voice (Samsung Galaxy S III)

We highlighted in a previous article that Samsung Galaxy S III has come with its own version of personal assistant that resembles quite well to Siri.

If you were to take a closer look at both Assistants, you would see that even though Samsung comes with unique features, it even has the same interface as the iPhone’s 4S version of assistant. Just like Siri, S Voice is able of composing text messages, provide accurate weather info, creating appointments and checking for interesting restaurants. S Voice can check your Gmail account or highlight a road with turn-to-turn navigation and Siri is expected to have these features in iOS 6.

For testing their capabilities and seeing which of the two is quicker in answers, we provided a video with both smartphones confronted.

 “What’s the forecast for tomorrow?”

Siri: 3.61 seconds – Although Siri does not offer a catchy graphic design of the weather; it shows the highs and lows for each day of the week unlike S Voice that shows only the predictions for the current day. S Voice completed its task in 3.77 seconds, offering a more detailed design.

Scheduling an Appointment

Siri completes its task is 8.80 sec while S Voice in 5.13 seconds. Both assistants ask the user to confirm their appointment after showing date, time of the meeting and name of your friend. A features that S Voice lacks is the impossibility of saying the name of the person invited out loud.

Getting Directions comes with advantages for Samsung’s assistant. S Voice completed the demand in 8.03 sec and Siri in 11.83 sec. Both parts offer the Google Map application but S Voice connects the smartphone to Google Navigation for audible turn-to-turn navigation. This feature in expected to arrive this fall with the new operating system iOS 6.

Each voice has special features that the other is not capable of executing.  For example, Siri has the ability to tell jokes or create reminders that ties in with your location. For example, you can tell your iPhone 4S to “Remind me to get milk when I get home”.

S Voice, on the other hand, can tweet something new, updates or cancel the tweet.

 

Accessories, iPhone

You’ll never lose your keys again thanks to Hone gadget for iPhone 4S & iPad 3

Remember the times when you were late at a meeting because you couldn’t find your keys? An American developer has come with a concept especially designed for the latest generation of iPhone and iPad, namely iPhone 4S and new iPad.

Hone is a Bluetooth low energy device for your keychain that glows and audibly vibrates when activated for finding your keys. One of its most important features is that the battery runs for 6 months on an included battery and provides 150+foot range.

You need to have installed the app on your Apple device for being able to cope with the gadget; so when you want to find your keys, just tap the Find button. If you don’t find it from the beginning, walk around with your iPhone for seeing if you’re getting closer or farther away thanks to the built-in proximity sensor. Hone is expected to daylight in October 2012. If you like the gadget you could make a pledge at Kickstarter.

News/Rumors

Tim Cook at All Things Digital: iPhone 4S, “S” stands for Siri. So what would iPhone 5 stand for?

At D10 conference, Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO argued about his experience at Apple, his new position and about Apple gadgets. When asked about the names of the devices, Cook  stated that they firstly named a product and afterwards started just updating them.  As for the iPhone they have a different strategy.

How does Apple name products, like iPad to iPad 2 to iPad?

“A lot of people ask me that about iPad,” Cook says. Cook notes that the same thing happened with iPod, with iPod mini, iPod nano, and then started just updating those.

Others are like that too, he says, pointing to the iMac and MacBook Air.

Of course, the company has done things differently with the iPhone.

“You can do it either way, is the real story,” Cook says.

The iPhone, for example, went from 3G to 3GS, with the letter “S” connoting speed. In 4 to 4S, the “S” stood more for Siri.

Tim Cook highlights the fact that Siri was the one that made the iPhone 4S so popular and Apple fans would be pleased to see the new things that it would be able to do in the coming months. “We have a lot going on on this”, meaning that the new version of the iPhone is only a few months away, probably this fall. It seems that Apple’s CEO is very secretive when it comes to revealing details about iPhone 5. As it’s used to say, secrecy is in Apple’s DNA.

Furthermore, Cook explains the importance of Siri on gadgets:

“This is something that people dreamed of for years, I think, and it is here. Yes, it can be broader and so forth, but we see unbelievable potential here.”

“I think you are going to be really pleased with where we take Siri.”

“Is it going to be bossier?” Kara asks.

“Is that what you are looking for?” Cook says.

“Always,” Kara says.

Source: All Things Digital

News/Rumors

The A5X chip used for the new iPad to improve graphics also on the new iPhone

Rumors are in the air that Apple is working on the technical development of the new iPhone, which might be available this June, using an iPhone 4 body. Anyway, it is said that this time, the design will not be the same as the previous one, used both for the iPhone 4 and 4S.

It seems that the only reason for which Apple needs to use the 4/4S design is to test the implementation of the A5X processor in the iPhone. It is well known that this type of processor is able to support the new iPad’s Retina Display, thus, a great curiosity rises: will the new iPhone integrate quad core graphics too and is it really necessary for such a display on an iPhone?

But Apple is not using the same A5X chip as in the new iPad to test the next-generation iPhone, but a different variation of it. Still, the iPhone prototype packs 1GB of RAM, the same as the new iPad.

Anyway, these are just some performance try-outs that only make us wonder.

Source: 9to5 Mac

Apple

Apple takes the lead after Monday trading stock

In the summer of 2011 Apple managed to break both its own limits and Exxon’s according to an elder article from AppleInsider:

“Apple’s market cap valuation, which ended the day at $337.2 billion, edged into the lead despite the stock falling down 2.8 percent today. Exxon was valued at $330.8 billion after its shares closed down 4.4 percent for the day.”

This situation was kept almost unchanged until last Thursday when Apple’s market capitalization reached $456 billion, beating both Google and Microsoft market values altogether.

“As of Thursday morning, Microsoft’s market cap was around $256.7 billion, while Google was valued at around $198.9 billion.”

And the circumstances are getting better. This Monday the stock closed at $502.60 and Apple turned into the world’s most wealthy company, followed by the Cupertino, Calif., who capitalized at $456 billion and by Exxon’s $400 billion.

Google Analysis real time data

Since the holiday gifting season the iPhone 4S, iPad2 and other hard drive selling went surprisingly well. Not even competition’s selling, such as Samsung smartphones and tablets and Amazon’s Kindle, influenced Apple’s success. Apple booked outstanding earnings which led to great profit at the end of its quarters, thus, the Monday trading results should not be a surprise.

Source: AppleInsider

Accessories, iPhone, News/Rumors

Give your iPhone a LifeProof™ shelter when the storm or other hazards are threatening

The smartphone cases market offers to consumers the possibility to choose from a large variety of cases and most of them are able to protect one’s device also from water, but none of them is waterproof. LifeProof™ designed a waterproof, dirtproof, snowproof and shockproof case for adventurer iPhone 4 and 4S owners.

LifeProof case is designed to fit and to seal perfectly your iPhone. Due to the rubber casing no dust or water grain will reach a corner of your device. The case does not interfere with the phone features; protection and functionality are assured at the same time. One can jog, dive, ski or cross the Rocky Mountains without worrying that the iPhone might suffer damages because once fitted, the case will shelter it from any harm. The protection and the shock degrees were tested to Military Specifications and it turned out that an iPhone can be submerged under 6 feet depth water for no matter how long period of time and can be dropped on all kind of surfaces and edges.

Paradoxically or not, this amazing protection is assured by a slim and lightweight case that weighs 28g. For the protection to be accurate the installing process must be achieved faultless and the case must not be removed more than few dozen times because this will damage the rubber casement.

Let it rain or let it snow, you can now care about it no more because the LifeProof™ case shelters your iPhone in a colorful way: you can pick a black, pink, purple or white one for $79,99 from LifeProof’s official store.

Source: LifeProof

iPhone

Siri isn’t perfect!

When Siri was first released on Apple’s latest gadget, iPhone 4S everyone had great expectations. Talking to a device would have sounded ridiculous years ago. It’s like the things you saw when you were little with robots and aliens coming true. So today we’re facing Siri in an attempt to embrace Future.
Indeed, Siri really does comes in handy, it reads out loud messages and even sends some if one does not have a time or simply wants to act like a boss. But as much as we wanted, Siri can’t just replace the user at every command. For example, when it comes to Connectivity issues can be encountered. As simple as it looks, Siri can’t turn on the Bluetooth feature for sending images or videos to a certain person. It’s also the case of Wi-Fi settings; it simply does not grasp the delivered message.

We’re pretty much sure that social media is a priority into one’s live. We all know that Siri is capable of sending a Friend Request via Facebook but when it comes to Twitter, Siri would decline respectfully “I can’t send tweets for you. Sorry about that.”

Read Notes “I can’t read your Notes to you” would be Siri’s answer if asked to go through Notes and Calendar and read them out loud.

“Sorry, I’m not allowed to…” is another sentence that your personal assistant would say. Contacts can’t be added to the address book, the user needs to do that in person.

Email Issue Siri is quite capable of sending emails and showing unread ones. We don’t grasp how come Siri is capable of reading messages but can’t read email. Maybe on the new version on the iPhone, the virtual assistant will be capable of doing more things.

For all that it does, Siri surely comes in handy, we only regret that it can’t cook dinner and pour us a glass of wine.