Apple iPhone 5C News

Home Security Infographic

2013-12-12T18:02:00.000-08:00

Put your iPhone away and listen - how safe is your home? Do ou even have an alarm system? We've made quite a few posts on this blog in order to discus matters of personal and home security, but infographics are a relatively new thing for our blog. The folks at Your Greatest Protection have sent a cool-looking poster our way, so we hope you'll find the information presented here rather useful! Here's the infographic:

Intenret Safety Tips

2013-12-02T20:36:00.000-08:00

We use this blog to mainly to talk about personal security and self-defense, but we have rarely considered our safety in the online world. Often people try to separate our online activity from our daily life by saying that the things we do on the computer are not a part of "real life". While it is easy to understand what this is supposed to mean, it is not entirely true. The Internet is an integrated part of our lives, especially among younger generations. We do our shopping on the Internet, we meet new people, organize events and so much more! So, how is it a fool's errand to think about one's safety on the Internet? Today, we will give you 5 fresh tips on how to stay safe on the Internet!

5 Tips to Keep Yourself Safe on the Internet

Number 1

Be careful where you shop! While nobody can steal your wallet online, they can certainly steal your credit card number, PIN code, account details, passwords or other sensitive data. So, how do you know if an online store is credible enough to do your shopping there? Well, search for obvious signs of trust. For example, our website YourGreatestProtection.Com has been online for quite a few years which is an obvious sign of trust. But aside from that, we use secure 128bit SSL connection during your shopping/checkout process. You can most easily see this in the URL. If the page where you are requires to enter your credit card details has an URL starting with "https://" you can be sure that your details are secured. You can read more about secure hyper text transfer protocol and SSL on WikiPedia.

Like in the "real world", you should observe things around you!

Number 2

Don't give your password to anyone and be careful where you enter it! Over the years scam artists and hackers have come up with a million ideas on how to steal passwords. However, over 90% ideas need to trick you in order to work. In the past a very popular method was sending fake email messages or hacking companies and using their email accounts to ask their clients to confirm their password details. Remember - never give your password to anyone, especially not via email! Email is just plain hypertext that can easily be stolen.

Another popular tactic is phishing. For this to work someone makes a fake website and has people put their personal details so that they can register or log-in. A very popular trick in 2009 was the "Facebook home page" scam. Hackers created a website that looked identically like facebook and has a domain name such as "faccebook.com" so that it was hard to spot the difference from the original website.

Number 3

Use strong passwords, and don't just have one master password! You should have strong passwords for your most important accounts, but they should all be different from each other. These don't have to be a random mix of characters, numbers and symbols. In general, it is a good idea to take some sort of long word (or two, three shorter ones) that holds some meaning to you and add some random numbers and symbols at the start and at the beginning of it. This is not the safest method, but it usually much better than what you already have, and it is easy to remembers.

A lot of people actually used these passwords and got hacked.

However, these words shouldn't be your nicknames, or the names of your loved ones. The numbers themselves should also not be a reference to some major date in your life such as the day of your marriage or the birth of your child.

Number 4

Have a good anti-virus program installed on your computer and be careful what your download. A lot of anti-virus software that we have today also provides you with protection while you surf the Internet. Even free software such as AVG or Avast has a special feature that warns you when you enter suspicious websites or download dangerous content. Make sure to keep your anti-virus updated and to scan your computer every two to three weeks.

Number 5

Get our free eBook on how to protect yourself from identity theft online and even get a 10% discount coupon! Identity theft is a rising concern and our free eBook is here to help you protect your identity and personal data. You can download our free eBook on this link and you will also get a special digital coupon that you can use to get a 10% discount for any purchase you make our webstore!

If you have any questions or comments and/or would like to share your own tips with us, post them in the comments bellow or contact us via any of these social media channels.

Thank you for reading this and have a wonderful day!

iPhone as a stun gun? A cool concept called the iStun

2013-11-21T19:24:00.002-08:00

Personal security is a major concern for a lot of people and the US is one of the countries that allows citizens to fight back with tools and weapons that were crafted to keep you safe, but also designed so that they are nonlethal. We are of course talking about chemicals such as pepper spray and electronic gadgets such as stun guns. Recently we came across a very interesting device by Guard Dog Security that is called the iStun smartphone stun gun. The basic idea was to create a device that that looks like an Apple smartphone, but is actually a powerful self-defense weapon which can easily give one the element of surprise. Now, the item is a bit bulky, but if this is something you need then it will do the job just nicely and still look fairly stylish and elegant. Let's have a look at the specs that the iStun had to offer!

The iStun is a powerful smartphone-like stun gun that was designed to look like popular Apple iPhones which is also suggested by the name itself. It comes with 3.8 million volts of power which will stop any attacker right in their tracks and prevent them from moving in any further. To provide increased utility, this device also comes with a fully functional LED flashlight.

You don't have to worry about batteries as the device can easily be recharged via the included charger and adapter. Generally, you should charge from time to time even if you are not using it. The electricity cost is rather insignificant and this will save you a lot of money since many stun guns still operate on batteries which can get exhausted fairly quickly.

A safety switch is present to prevent any accidental use of the iStun stun gun so you don't have to afraid of the device activating in your pocket or something as silly as that. The device also comes with a premium leather holster which will suit it very nicely as you can see on the photo above.

The product costs less than $50 and includes free shipping to most of the States. If you are interested, have a look at it here.

Bonus tip: This website has a mailing list which will give you a 10% coupon if you sign-up! That's a very good deal indeed!

iPhone 5C Price and Older iPhones?

2013-08-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

Whenever a new iPhone comes out logic dictates that ti takes the place of the older flagship models, which pushes the price of every older phone down. For example, once the the iPhone 5 came out all of the previous models dropped in price. However, so far Apple has only made new phones that were better than the previous ones and iPhone 5C is the first "mini" version of their main flagship. How will this less expensive model influence the cost of older iPhones? Will they slowly be removed from stock?

Most analysts and bloggers are suggesting a very interesting solution to this issue and I tend to agree with their analysis. Basically, they are expecting to see both an iPhone 5S and an iPhone 5C by the end of the year and this will shift everything down accordingly.

Thus the line-up would be like this: iPhone 5S > iPhone 5 > iPhone 5C > iPhone 4S > older models. When you think about it this is certainly the best choice and price-wise it means that the current flagship will be discounted along with the older models. This looks very good in theory, but this is just a simple blog and we cannot really say if this is the most profitable solution for Apple.

Along with this, it should also be noted that only a handful of details regarding the two upcoming iterations of the iPhone 5. Yesterday we actually had a very interesting post regarding the iPhone 5C price which actually fits very nicely with today's topic however, the numbers do not add up.

The current iPhone 4S costs $549 if you want to get it unlocked from the Apple store. Thus, if the 5C were to replace it then it would be too expensive to justify its own purpose as a budget phone. Therefor the 5C may not be as affordable as we were lead to think?

These things are, obviously, quite difficult to predict and talk about, especially in a blog post. So, what should you take away from this article? Well, you should understand that the future is quite uncertain and that you as the consumer are currently not in a very good spot. Thus, our advice is to wait the situation out until one of these devices gets released.

Another advice we can offer you is to not go for the iPhone 4S, even if it gets a major discount! It time for people to trade-in those old 30pin connectors and embrace the new tech that the company is working on.

iPhone 5C Price to be $399?

2013-08-22T19:00:00.000-07:00

These past couple of days Apple has been dominating the tech world as more news come in regarding the iPhone 5C release date, price and full specs. Another nice thing to note is that Apple's stocks have also been rising continuously in the past week. The increase in stock value doesn't really exceed 0.15% but it obvious that the new phone is drawing in more investors. Yesterday, we reported that Citi investment bank contacted Apple's share holders with a report round-up on where the company is going and you can read the full statement here.

Leaked iPhone 5C case

Speculations regarding the cost of the iPhone 5C have raged across blogs and even TV shows and it seems that everyone agrees that this will not be a cheap device. It will be less expensive than its bigger brother, but it will certainly not be a low budget phone. The current guess that most people have is that the price will be in the $399 to $499 range.

iPhone 5C Cost - Still a Mystery

This is, however, by no means "low budget" considering that an average smartphone costs around $250. However, I cannot really say that any of us should be surprised by this, after all this is Apple and they are known for both their quality and their high prices.

Today, an interesting article was published on Forbes discussing the price of the upcoming iPhone 5C and it seems that analysts Steve Milunoich of UBS and Katy Huberty of Morgan Stanly believe the price can be $399. I highly recommend you take the time and read the whole report here.

Apparently Huberty believes that this new device is meant to have major impact in China. Recent reports say that Apple is losing market share here very quickly to local Android phones thus it would make sense to retake more share in this market. If Apple goes for a $399 iPhone 5C they could certainly do this, but it doesn't necessarily mean that this will be the most profitable move.

Steve Milunovich from UBS seems to have a similar idea regarding Apple and their standings in Asia. He also believes that we can expect to see some sort of deal between Apple and China Mobile in 2014, something that has been rumored in the past.

iPhone 5C Release Date

2013-08-21T11:54:00.001-07:00

The upcoming iPhone 5C is really causing a lot of hype in the tech world, but is the device worthy of it? While we can speculate as much as we want, it seems that we will get our answers somewhere around September 10, which is the expected/rumored time for the iPhone 5C release date. This product is supposed to finally replace the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S in the lineup, but this brings us to the next point - what is the price going to be?

iPhone 5C concept design

While many have speculated that this is going to be Apple's low-budget device, it seems that it is only going to be a lower budget device. What's the difference between the two terms? Well, a low budget phone would go up to $250, but it seems that the iPhone 5C will cost roughly $450. The news regarding this "unexpected" price are unofficial and they have been published by Citi investment bank.

This company keeps contact with all of Apple's share holders and investors and tries to inform them about the industry and where Apple is going. In their statement they mentioned the $450 retail price as well as the release date. While they could not say anything specific, their claim that we can expect the iPhone 5C by the end of the year.

Along with this the bank also mentioned the rumored iPhone 6. As expected, this device will not be out in 2013 but it is very likely that we can expect it early in 2014. Another interesting thing is that it will be a much larger phone than we are used to seeing from Apple. While it has not been disclosed just how big the display will be, you can be sure that we are dealing with at least 4.5 inches. While this is certainly nothing in comparison to the Sony Xperia Z or the Galaxy Note 3, it seems that it is slowly getting there.

Top 10 iPhone 5 Wallpapers with Parallax Design

2013-08-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

Now that iOS7 has rolled out we had a great chance to the see the new parallax feature on the home screen. In order to activate this on your iPhone 5 or iPod Touch 5 the images need to be 1040x1526 which is quite a leap from the previous requirements for a simple wallpaper. Of course, this is an optional feature and you can stick do what you've got! However, if you are interested in using the parallax design then you have probably noticed that it is very hard to find a phone that is an exact match to the system requirements.

This is where we come in, and this is an amazing list of the top 10 iPhone 5 wallpapers with parallax design. Most of these were made by a lot of deviantArt members, but it hard to find their exact origin. The photos are a small preview so just click on them to open them in a higher resolution and then save them to your device.

The Unreal Nebula

This is an edited version of a very beautiful space art that you may have seen on the Internet in the past. It looks amazing and it seems like parallax was made just for the sake of using brilliant space backgrounds and designs.

A Green Galaxy

What did I tell you about space art being the ideal candidate for some of the best iPhone 5 wallpapers? These photos just look so great and their nature is great for a parrallax design.

Gentle Bliss

There is just something about this photo that makes it an ideal candidate for your next iPhone 5 wallpaper. It is a peaceful, calm scene composed of nothing but three major colors that provide little contrast and is thus are very pleasant to look at and relax.

The Sunset

This is a truly beautiful photograph and I would much rather have it on my room's wall than on my smartphone. However, since that is not exactly possible, I am more than glad to have this one on my iPhone 5.

Purple Blur

There is just something about blurred shapes and colors that make them look very good, especially as backgrounds. This purple mesh looks very good and I recommend you give it a try.

The Wave Wallpaper

It is already mid August and the summer is almost over, but that doesn't mean that you can't take a piece of the magic with you wherever you go! This amazing wave makes for a great iPhone 5 wallpaper and is certainly worth a look.

Grainy Mood

We saw that blurred colors look great, but what about adding texture and sharpness to color gradients? The result is this interesting wallpaper and I certainly recommend that you use it if minimalistic design is something that you are into.

Rainbow Splash

If you love colorful photos then this is a wallpaper for you! It is rather simple, but also quite playful and interesting. Give it a try and place it on your screen!

Grainy landscape

Here's another grainy, sharp photo for you to use a parallax wallpaper on your iPhone 5 device. It looks a bit sad and lonely, but one cannot deny that is also very beautiful, especially the sky.

Complex Geometry

This wallpaper, at first, gave me a bit of hard time to view and understand, but then I realized just how beautiful all of these complex geometry shapes and grids actually are. I certainly recommend this, although I understand a majority of people won't probably dig this style.

Want more amazing iPhone 5 wallpaper? Then click on this link to download all of the 10 images that we featured on this page along with another 10 bonus designs and photos that were discovered by The Next Web and remember to send those guys some love for all the great work they do.

Enjoy!

iPhone 5 Getting Discounted; iPhone 5S (or iPhone 6) on Its Way!

2013-06-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

I am sure that you are all aware that technology advances at a very fast pace every day and Apple's iPhone 5S is a prime example of that, along with Samsung's Galaxy series. Recently Samsung announced that they are cutting the production of the Galaxy S4 and stopping the production of the Galaxy S3. The competition on the market is just too strong for these devices to continue their domination and the same can be said for Apple and their latest flagship iPhone 5 which is quickly becoming outdated and this can be seen the latest sale figures.

A fan-made spec comparison for the iPhone 5 and the 5S

So, why is the iPhone 5 getting discounted? Well, over time the price will keep dropping. So far, it will just be Walmart that will permanently be cutting its price for the iPhone. Starting today the price of the iPhone 5 (at Walmart) will stand at $129 (the old price was $189) for the usual two-year contract (Verizon, AT&T or Sprint). Aside from the iPhone 5 getting this price cut, the iPhone 4S is also being lowered from $89 to $39. However, this latest offer will only be available in the stores themselves and not online.

Price cuts like this usually start when a company want to clear its stock. The permanent discount of the iPhone 5 suggests that the sales are dropping and that a new smartphone from Apple is on its way. We could say that this is the iPhone 5S that we spotted in rumored leaks this year, but this may not be true of course. Many people are also suggesting that is very likely that Apple might come up with a more advanced, new model - the iPhone 6, in order to defend its throne from Samsung and Google.

Why Google you ask? Well, it seems that they plan to start opening retail stores across the US to sell their Nexus devices as well as the new Chrome OS-powered laptops/notebooks. Several analysts have suggested that this could be a major threat for Apple and this is certainly something that they cannot afford to ignore.

iPhone 5S Prototype Spotted

2013-06-21T09:03:00.003-07:00

During this week we had a lot of iPhone 5S news coming in at an alarming rate. These news (or rather rumors) weren't just textual content, but a lot of leaked photos of the iPhone 5S in the works. The two most important rumors/leaks this week are certainly the iPhone 5S logic board and yesterday's leaked chassis. However, today's leak will certainly top all of these! So, what's the latest news on the wire? Well, today we have two photos of the actual iPhone 5S prototype which seems to look quite similar to the concepts posted in our previous posts. Here is the first photo:

Interesting prototype is it not? Click to zoom.

So, what is the photo above telling us? Mac Rumors has done a great job in highlighting some key area on the photo. The green is the location of parts/features that were rumored and confirmed by this leak while tech experts can't identify what the red areas are. They do not, however, claim that the photo is 100% authentic which is certainly something to keep in mind.

Now that the disclaimer is up there let us try to discus and analyze this rumored iPhone 5S prototype and see if there is anything interesting here that we can notice. From what I can see most of the build seems to correspond with previous rumors. The logic board, loudspeaker placement and SIM card tray are right there where they were supposed to be. Aside from this Apple Insider has also noticed that other smaller components such as the vibration motor are right where they should be according to previously leaked rumors.

It is strange that the processor is unlabeled and only has a small Apple logo. Does this suggest another generation of processors will be included with the iPhone 5S or is just there as a thorn in the eye? Either way, I am really impressed that the authors of Mac Rumors were able to notice that the CPU has screen-printed numbering that suggests it was produced somewhere in late October of 2012. Based on this some people have actually proposed a rumor that this is an early prototype of the iPhone 5 and not of the rumored 5S device.

In other iPhone 5S news, here is another leaked photo of the same prototype:

Click to zoom.

The second photo is part of the same set and is supposed to represent the iPhone 5S back casing. However, the photo does raise certain suspicion among tech savvy readers. Namely, the model numbers appears to read "A1214," which is a pattern never before seen on an iPhone. In case you don't know, the original iPhone and iPhone 3G bore "A12XX" model numbers, while the iPhone 3GS to 4S carried numbers in the "A13XX" range. Apple's GSM version of the iPhone 4S moved into the "A14XX" tier, which continues with the current iPhone 5. However, the text is quite blurry and hard to make out.

Another interesting thing to see on the photo above is the dual-flash positioned near the rear-facing camera. Will this actually be the feature of the new iPhone 5S? Either way, this is obviously some sort of prototype and we can only assume that is an early version of the iPhone 5S that Apple is using to built a bit of hype.

From we have seen so far, there is little innovation when it comes to the design, but the internal components will probably be getting a major upgrade. We will try to gather more news over time so in the meantime make sure you follow us via RSS or keep in touch with us via Twitter.

iPhone 5S doesn't looks very unique on the outside, however...

2013-06-19T11:41:00.001-07:00

Just yesterday we had a very interesting leak regarding the brand new iPhone 5S and it didn't look so promising. However, it is not like we have our hopes up or anything since nobody is really expecting the 5S model to be a huge leap from the model it is based on. Anyway, the iPhone 5S leaked photo showed an interesting logic board design, but didn't really looks anything different from the original board. The small differences here and there don't really mean much at this point as we can't really tell what they are and what purpose they serve.

Tech experts voiced their opinion over the past few hours via forums, but it is all just guesswork and speculation. However, today we have some more leaked photos from China which show the iPhone 5S. Here is the first photograph:

There isn't much of a difference so far, but the top part looks interesting.

The photo above is comparing the front panels of the two devices and was re-posted by CNET from a Chinese blog called FanaticFone which claims that the photo is 100% authentic. How they got it and what the purpose of the photograph itself is, they did not explain nor does it seem like any questions were asked it seems. From what we can see on this photo of the rumored iPhone 5S it seems that the body is a bit wider and there is something different at the top. The second photo gives us further insight into this:

A slight difference to the eye.

The only real difference here is the bit sticking out from the top above. This part, according to CNET, is the cable which ferries data to and from the screen to the processor,. Aside from this the plastic bits that clip the screen to the rest of the chassis are also different on the two phones.

So, the iPhone 5S won't look much different from the iPhone 5, right? And if so, who cares? The iPhone 5 looks very good as it is and what we really want to see is the changes in hardware and screen resolution and display quality. Right now the iPhone 5S needs to beat the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One in terms of display resolution and screen quality.

Agree or disagree? Post in the comments bellow!

Leaked pictures of the iPhone 5S logic board hit the Web

2013-06-17T21:54:00.003-07:00

Just a few days ago iOS 7 was released and the Internet started wondering whether or not a new iPhone will be hitting the stores any time soon. It is quite early for Apple to actually release any new phone and I fear that we might have to wait a bit longer until iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 actually come out. However, its never a slow news day when you follow the trends in the world of iOS! Just recently leaked photos of the iPhone 5S logic board have been published and tech experts and enthusiasts are trying to understand them.

The mysterious photo was published by a Japanese tech website which claims that their photo is authentic, but is not a representative of the final product. This is of course fairly obvious since we just said that it will be quite some time before the iPhone 5S is finished. Still, judging by the logic board it doesn't seem as though the new phone will actually bring in something fresh and new.

The new logic board does, however, hint at some minor changes, but it is very difficult to say what these changes could possibly be. These could be anything from new amazing features to just some optimization of the old hardware. Either way, there is no reason not to think that this logic board, assuming it is real, is actually meant for the iPhone 5 Mini. The buzz is mostly around the iPhone 5S, but I am personally more interested if Apple is really going to make a mini device for the iPhone. And if they do? Well, that would be an interesting surprise for me, but I doubt that this new mini phone could become more popular than the larger, more powerful iPhone 5S.

Either way, I am actually expecting something rather good from Apple this time around. The truth is that even the great tech giant can sometimes have financial problems. Their stock price is currently dropping and Samsung is doing their best to get back as them for all the law suits and prosecutions that Apple put them through.

It also seems that Apple is getting ready to make something great for 2014. It has been confirmed that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is building the A6x chip for the upcoming iOS models. The job won't be completed before 2014 and the new, better and more powerful chip will be exclusive for the latest iOS products.

Samsugn Galaxy S4 Already Coming Out?

2013-01-24T17:23:00.002-08:00

No matter what you are - an Android or an iOS fan, you have to admit that Samsung has a pretty good track record and a lot of customer loyalty. Unlike Apple who takes its time to release better, advanced models and technologies, Samsung is always planning miles ahead and working on something new. The Samsung Galaxy S4 has already been announced for 2013 and some are even suggesting that we might catch some first glimpse of it in February during the World Mobile Congress (WMC).

A leaked photo of the Galaxy S4

I personally doubt that this phone will really be presented so soon and if anything I expect Samsung to show it off during the summer or later. If, however, this phone gets released to the general public a lot sooner then this could spell trouble for Apple who has made no real announcements about a new iPhone in 2013.

There are a lot of good competitors on the market this year like the Sony Xperia L and the HTC Butterfly, and all of them feature a large 5-inch screen. The S4 is also expected to feature a 4,99" screen, which makes me wonder - why do people want their smartphones to get bigger and bigger? I even heard a rumor that Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 will be 6,3 inches!

So how long does it take before Apple follows the trend? The iPhone 5 has a 4 inch diagonal, which is a huge step from the previous 3,5 inch diagonal display. But will the new release make the iPhone even larger? Or will there perhaps be an advanced and bigger version such as the iPhone 5L? Well, only time will tell this for sure, in the meantime make sure to follow this blog!

If you are interested in the S4, then check out the latest Samsung Galaxy S4 news and photos!

iPhone 5 Users = Biggest Data Users in Europe?

2013-01-13T18:09:00.001-08:00

Bigger data usage = bigger bills right? Well, Apple iPhone 5 users in Europe have pretty big bills to pay then since it seems that they have "the most voracious appetite for data in Europe". This is quite from Yahoo News who reported that iPhone 5 users in Europe are consuming data on average more than four times than a regular iPhone 3G user! Four times the bigger bills? Ouch! Hopefully, European carriers have good data plans for their demanding consumers.

The iPhone 4S alongside its bigger brother

So how was this research deducted? Well, the mobile data analysis firm Arieso lead this research and they examined more than 1 million smartphone users over a 24h period in European 3G networks. They don't seem to be shocked by the results and they found out some other interesting things. Namely, phablets such as the Galaxy Note 2 or other great 5-inchers were also rising data consumers.

"One iPhone 5 user is effectively worth about 4 iPhone 3G users," report author Michael Flanagan said in an interview.

Their study also shows that an iPhone 5 users is also 50% more demanding than an iPhone 4S user in Europe and that no other smartphone other than the Galaxy S3 is coming anywhere close to ranking as high as this.

ZAGG Debuts iPhone 5 Integrated Dual Analog GamePad And Protective Case

2013-01-08T09:02:00.000-08:00

Hi there Apple iPhone 5 fans! As you probably already know, the awesome CES event in currently the main event in the mobile industry. Today we would like to tell you what iFrogz (a ZAGG brand) has been up to recently and what sort of awesome device they presented today. It might be that they have made a perfect iPhone 5 game pad and they called it the Caliber Advantage for iPhone 5. This awesome looking device sports two analog sticks, a D-pad, face and shoulder buttons.

From what we had a chance to see, the iFrogz Caliber Advantage for iPhone 5 features elegant design that incorporates itself into the iPhone 5 very well. The device is able to double as a slim protective case. As for the analog sticks - they seem quite responsive and somewhat resemble the Circle Pad from Nintendo’s 3DS.

“The Caliber Advantage is a game-changer for the mobile platform,” said Kent Wuthrich, executive vice president of marketing for ZAGG. “Everyone from hardcore gamers to casual players will enjoy and appreciate the control and function of the Caliber Advantage. We are committed to bringing creative product solutions to gaming with not only this revolutionary gaming controller, but also a full line-up of gaming specific audio products.”

The estimated MSRP for the Caliber Advantage is $69.99, and is expected to launch during the first half of 2013. I’d expect several more key developers to pledge support before it hits the market.

iPhone 5 Drop Test from 100,000 Feet!

2013-01-04T08:13:00.002-08:00

Ever though about sending your iPhone 5 into the atmosphere and then dropping it on the desert floor from up to 100,000 feet of distance? Me neither, but the creators of G-Form Xtreme iPhone 5 case though it would be an awesome way to present their $40 iPhone 5 case that is said to provide the ultimate protection to your iOS device. Sadly the video is not credible enough and doesn't really prove anything, although it is believable for a couple of reasons. Let us have a look at the suspicious video first:

As you can see the main issue with this video is that the camera suddenly shuts itself off which is due to extreme cold. Now, honestly I really do think that the phone was dropped from a fairly high distance and that this was not a lie. However, I believe that the iPhone 5 was attached to the balloon which slowly lost its altitude and provided the iPhone 5 with an easy and safe landing in the brush. The video has failed to prove anything and the integrity of the manufacturer is just being put on the line. If the marketing team really wanted to show how effective their case is, then perhaps all they had to do was drop the phone from 7 feet on concrete!

What do you guys think about the whole thing? Do you own any iPhone 5 cases and how have they been serving you?

iPhone 5 vs LG Intuition - Quality DOES Matter!

2013-01-03T19:23:00.002-08:00

When an average Joe looks at the specs of the LG Intuition he thinks that they are quite impressive and that they guarantee that his purchase will give him his money's worth. This is isn't just the case with this smartphone, but with just about any other high-end device on the market. However, this iPhone 5 vs LG Intuition showdown will do its best to show that Apple has clearly won this battle and that quality is something very important when buying a device that is this expensive. Granted, LG is a reputable firm and they are renown for making the LG Google Nexus 4 and Apple's reputation has been slipping lately. Several months ago, an interest article was published that highlighted all the top Apple iOS fails of the year so I will recommend you read that and I will say that I was not totally bias in this review.

iPhone 5 vs LG Intuition: The Showdown

iPhone 5 vs LG Intuition - the Design

We have to start from somewhere so it might as well be to discus how the device appear at first glance. As far as I am concerned the LG Intuition is not a very pretty device. Its large screen is certainly something a lot of people would like to have, but to me it just looks quite ugly. This is a personal opinion so I will not base any verdicts on it. However, I must point out some facts such as the fact that the iPhone 5 is much lighter and slimmer and most users prefer how it fits in your hand. A lot of users have complained about the 5-inch LG Intuition saying that it is hard to hold and operate on.

The Screen & Display

This is probably the first field in the LG Intuition vs iPhone 5 match that really interests most of us, and I agree that a good screen is very important. Apple's device has a 4-inch screen, while LG has launched a mini phablet that has 5-inch scree. Users have reported that the iPhone 5 has a much better graphics quality though and this is probably due to the 326 pixels per inch that this device's screen has. To compare things, the LG Intuition has only 256 ppi and only a slightly better resolution.

The General Specs

It is hard to say that one of these two is better when it comes to the specs and what is running inside of them. Both have a powerful dual-core processor and will offer you just about all the standard things that they are expected. However, I believe that the A6 processor is made of much better quality material.

In terms of the battery however, we will have to give a round of applause to LG Intuition since they beat the iPhone 5 when it comes to battery power by a long shot! LG's top gun was able to win this category thanks to its 2,080 mAh Li-Ion batteries.In comparison the Apple iPhone 5 has only one 1,404 mAh battery which is something that they promised would be fixed by the next time the new iPhone flushes out.

The Camera

Generally speaking the Apple iPhone 5 has a much better camera with a lot more options than a regular LG Intuition camera.It is also able to film brilliant HD video, while the LG cannot reach 1080p quality like the iPhone 5. All of the samples taken by the LG device didn't work out quite well and we are pleased to admit that the iPhone 5 is probably the better mobile phone out of the two.

What about your opinion on the iPhone vs LG Intuition fight? What is your experience with these two mobile devices?

New iPhone 5 Adverstiment - "Dream"

2013-01-01T17:56:00.002-08:00

On the behalf of our blog as well as the DigiTech Panda network we would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and it appears so would Apple, along with their new iPhone 5 advertisement. "Dream" is a very funny little ad that highlights a small, but very useful feature - do not disturb. In the commercial the narrator is having a very nice dream where he is playing (and winning!) a game of table tennis (ping pong) against the lovely Williams sisters. Here is this fresh new iPhone 5 ad:

Do you like it? We personally find it very creative and entertaining to say the least!

iPhone 5 vs HTC One S, a Quick Review

2012-11-19T15:54:00.002-08:00

Well, let us take a break from the Apple vs Samsung battles of which I am sure a lot of us got bored off. Instead let us focus on the devices themselves and see which is the best for your needs. Today on the menu we will present the iPhone 5 vs HTC One S duel and pit the two phones against each other. If you have been thinking which one to get out of the two then hopefully this review will help you decide. HTC is certainly a great manufacturer and their smartphones really deserve more attention then they are getting. But is the Android-powered HTC One S good enough to stand up to the latest iPhone 5 with iOS 6? Let us find out!

The One S on the left and the iPhone 5 on the right

iPhone 5 vs HTC One S: The basics, the design...

I have mentioned this on the blog several times: the iPhone 5 does not live up to its expectations when it comes to its design. The previous models looked amazing, but keeping the same design doesn't go well with this larger screen. On the other hand the One S isn't anything unique either. It is a concept that HTC has reused over and over, and a lot of other companies have used it in the past as well.

The iPhone 5 concept compared to previous models

When it comes to other physical attributes, the iPhone 5 prides itself for being 6.4 mm more narrow and 8 grams lights. The iPhone 5 is also 0.4 mm thinner which is again something you probably will not notice. What you will, however, feel when holding both of them is that the iPhone 5 has almost 20% less volume (55.1cm³ vs 68.3cm³) which will make it feel much more lighter and thinner than it really is.

The Screen/ Display

The iPhone 5 has a 4 inch screen while HTC One S has a 4.3 inch screen (7.5% larger) which isn't a lot to be honest and this alone doesn't make much of a difference when it comes to user experience. What will, however, make a difference is that fact that Apple's product has a higher resolution (640 x 1136 px vs 540 x 960 px) and has a much better pixel per inch density (326ppi vs 234ppi).

The Camera

People love the cameras on their smartphone devices and how could this iPhone 5 vs HTC One S review even be made if we didn't pit the cameras against each other? Right off the bat we should mention that both have a back and front camera. The HTC One S has a slightly better one, but you will hardly notice or care about the difference. When it comes to the back camera, iPhone 5 totally dominates the playing field. Unless you have bad luck with the iPhone purple flares the photos on your iPhone 5 should look much better and sharper than those on the HTC device.

A lovely iPhone 5 panorama, lick to zoom in on it!

The iPhone 5 can create panoramas, has adjustable ISO, a dedicated camera button, has manual white balance and features a powerful CMOS sensor. Both devices feature a 8 MP camera.

The Operating System

If we began trying to compare iOS with Android the task would take too long and we would not come to a definitive answer. This is why we consider this a matter of choice upon which we cannot look without being subjective. However, you should consider the fact that your HTC One S might come with a lot of carrier bloatware and will not recive official OS updates. The iPhone 5 however will run smoothly from day one and will receive all official updates as soon as they are released.

HTC One S vs iPhone: The Hardware

When it comes to the processor both are dual core. The HTC One S CPU is 1.5 GHz and iPhone 5 has a CPU speed of 1 GHz, however this doesn't mean that the HTC is faster as the iPhone 5's chip-set is quite powerful and will drain less battery. They both come with 1 GB of RAM and while the HTC One S has 16 GBs of internal memory, you can get the iPhone 5 with up to 64 GB of internal memory, however this will be much more expensive and it is much more easier to solve this issue on the One S because you can get cheap SD cards anywhere!

So, after all this iPhone 5 vs HTC One S review which one would you buy? While we are still iPhone 5 fans you must admit that the HTC One S is quite impressive for its low cost. Who is the winner here?

Jim Mergard joing Apple - Goodbye Samsung!

2012-10-23T14:51:00.000-07:00

Samsung made headlines recently because they decided to include additional members to its team of chip designers, who are based in Texas. Many of the additional members on the team have vast experience in chips that are meant for server systems. Now, one of those team members has decided to leave Samsung for greener pastures at Apple.

Jim Mergard, who has 16 years of experience in Advanced Micro Devices under his belt, was hired recently by gadget maker Apple. The chip designer held the position of chief engineer and vice president at Samsung before he decided to leave. One of his greatest achievements at his former company is spear-heading the creation of a sophisticated AMD chip. This AMD chip, which was code-named Brazos, was specifically designed for affordable portable computers.

Currently, there are numerous opportunities available for experienced engineers since their technical talent is in very high demand allowing for movement from one company to another. Moreover, movement of resources between Apple and Samsung could not have come at a more interesting time.

It is common knowledge that Samsung and Apple are rivals when it comes to smartphones. In addition, the two companies are battling each other in court for one reason or another. Apple has accused the South Korean giant of patent infringement and has thus taken them to court. As is to be expected, Samsung shot back with accusations of its own. Ironically, the two are also partners as Apple relies on Samsung to make their chips for their devices.

For both Samsung and Apple, chip design is becoming a very important factor. Samsung has claimed that they will up their game with regard to the development of microprocessors as well as other related items. Apple has also been positioning itself in the chip design field by increasing their chip designers over numerous years. As it were, both companies use ARM Holdings technology to develop their processors.

Patrick Moorhead, of Moor Insights & Strategy, was quoted saying that the latest addition to Apple’s chip design team, Jim Mergard, was a good choice because he brings vast knowledge in PC technology and SoCs. He goes on to say that Mergard’s talents might propel Apple’s Mac PC efforts to change the Intel chips on the Macs to SoCs.

It is still yet to be determined whether Mr. Mergard will be placed at Apple’s headquarters in California or he will stay in Austin, Texas. Since Apple purchased the start-up company Intrinsity in 2010, its presence in chip design has been felt along with the existence of a customer care center that has been in Austin for a while so the new addition to the team should feel right at home.

iPhone 5 users dominate Galaxy S3 users in web traffic!

2012-10-21T04:00:00.000-07:00

The on-going battle between Apple’s latest device, the iPhone 5 and Samsung’s forerunner, the Samsung Galaxy S3, has produced a new winner in the latest contest. Recently, a study was carried out by Chitika to find out which of the phones had more web traffic and the results they got proved to be very interesting.

The Galaxy S3 Sapphire Black

The expectation had been that the Samsung Galaxy S3 would have garnered another win seeing as how it was released in late May and the iPhone 5 was launched only a few weeks ago. However, according to the study performed by Chitika, that is not the case. In their study it became clear that the iPhone 5 won over the Galaxy S3! Or rather, the users did. Let us explain...

So far, the Samsung has managed to sell over 20 million units of the Galaxy S3 in comparison to the 5 million iPhone 5’s that have been sold since it was launched 3 weeks ago. In addition, the sales of the Galaxy S3 are still more than those of the iPhone 5 according to recent reports. Even with those outstanding numbers, the study revealed that users of the iPhone 5 are more active than the users of the Samsung Galaxy S3 with regard to web traffic.

The iPhone 5

The Chitika analysis was carried out over a 7-day period between October 3rd, 2012 and October 9th, 2012. The analysis was based on a large number of mobile advertisement impressions from both the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S3. From those statistics, the analysts were able to track the difference in Internet traffic volumes between the two phones.

It is expected that more studies will be conducted by Chitika as well as other companies to track various statistics for phones or devices that have been launched recently. The statistics are important because from them we are able to see how mobile development is growing. It is assumed that with time, mobile usage will surpass that of the PC, which may one day become obsolete.

Mobile advertisements are going to hold more weight as tablets and smartphones become increasingly available. From the data received by Chitika, it can be seen that search engines like Google would make more profits from mobile advertisements on the iPhone 5 rather than on the Samsung Galaxy S3.

iPhone 5 vs iPhone 4S - the Review

2012-10-20T04:00:00.000-07:00

With the launch of the new iPhone 5, many smartphone users, especially those who bought the iPhone 4S recently, have been left wondering whether it would be worth it to buy Apple’s latest device. To find out which of the two phones is better, we need to compare some of the similar features.

The iPhone 4S next to the larger iPhone 5

For starters, the difference between the size of the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5 is minimal-a 1/2inch vertically and over 1 inch in depth. Apple’s newest addition, the iPhone 5, is longer, thinner and has a longer widescreen display (16:9) as compared to the iPhone 4S.

360 degree view of the iPhone 5

With regard to design, both of these devices look amazing. The iPhone 4/4S has one of the best designs on any phone so far though it is rather easy to break due to the glass panels placed at the front and back. The iPhone 5’s design has somewhat remedied this problem as it has an aluminum panel at the back. In addition, its appearance is much better than that of the iPhone 4S because the finer points of the device and its overall shape have been devised with accuracy giving it a more stunning look.

The iPhone 5’s A6 ARM chip processor has the same design as that of the iPhone 4S though it has numerous modifications. These modifications make the phone’s processor better giving it an edge over the previous models. As for its camera, the iPhone 5 has disappointed many of its customers because the update on it is very slight. It still has the same lens speed and megapixel rating as that of the iPhone 4S. The only difference is the lens glass, which is important though not what was expected. And of course there is still the the issue of Purple Flares on the iPhone 5! However, here is a comparison that does show that there is some improvement from the previous model:

Another disappointing feature on the iPhone 5 is the flash memory storage. The cost to install flash storage on the phone is still very expensive and it hasn’t changed much since the previous models, going as far back as the iPhone 3GS. Therefore, for those who require faster data speeds and are on the Verizon network, it would be advisable to purchase the new iPhone 5. For users on AT&T and Sprint, it is recommended that you stick to the iPhone 4S until the next iPhone launch as it is not that different from the iPhone 5 as far as most users are concerned and educated.

Of course, you can always let it all go to hell and get the GooPhone I5, the iPhone 5 clone for $300 in China! Hahaha!

Awesome iPhone 5 Application to Play Around With!

2012-10-18T02:00:00.000-07:00

As is to be expected with the release of Apple’s iPhone 5, there is an influx of new apps into the market. Many of these new apps have been optimized to take advantage of the handset’s larger screen. Since games are a fantastic way to introduce a new gadget, there are quite a number that are being promoted by Apple so as to push its new product.

New Games for iPhone 5

Lili is an awesome 3D puzzle game for the iPhone 5!

So far, the most remarkable of these new apps for Apple’s latest device is Lili. Lili is the title of a game that has 3D graphics, which are similar to those of a game console like the Xbox or PlayStation. It is an RPG that lets you take control of the main character Lili as she explores the magic island. This game is user-friendly as it has a very easy control system that only requires you to tap items on the screen and drag as you solve the numerous puzzles and tasks.

Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP is another one of the amazing games available for the iPhone 5. The RPG, which also costs $5, has blocky graphics similar to those used in games produced during the early period of gaming though it is more complicated than Lili. To advance in the game, you will need to use magic and a sword. There is plenty of audio feedback and great albums on the game’s soundtrack therefore you will benefit from using headphones as you play. You can also join forces with friends on social sites such as Twitter.

Image Editing Apps

Aside from the great games available for the new iPhone 5, there are apps that are specifically designed to distort (or improve) the quality of the images taken with the iPhone’s exceptional camera. One of these great apps is the Halftone app, which turns your photographs into halftone images with spots similar to those found in a color comic book or magazine. The app lets you include captions, speech bubbles and so much more for only $1.

Another great app is E Color Splash, which allows the user to alter sections of an image to black and white while the rest of the image remains in color. It is a clever and innovative app that produces a film-like effect in a still photograph. Although some of the controls may be a little confusing, there is a built-in video tutorial that will give you all the necessary guidelines.

Do not expect any of these to help solve the Purple Flare problem that many have been experiencing with the iPhone 5 camera!

Useful Apps

Prismatic is one of the apps that have been optimized specifically for the screen of Apple’s latest device. The app calculates one’s interests based on their profiles at social sites, such as Facebook and Twitter. It is hard to say how accurate the application is, but it does seem like a bit of fun.

If you want to know the Internet speed capacity of your 4G iPhone 5 for cell phone data, you can use the SpeedTest.net app, which is free of charge and certainly were useful with the type of information that it provides.

iPad Mini to be Presented this month!

2012-10-17T03:00:00.000-07:00

There have been rumors circulating for months about the pending release of Apple’s new iPad Mini. Numerous devices are scheduled to be released in October and as the speculation goes, the iPad Mini is expected to be one of those devices.

Fortune had previously predicted that Apple would announce the release of the smaller iPad during an event on 17th October, 2012. The invites to the reporters were to go out on the 10th however the date has been changed to October 23rd. According to a very reliable technology website on all things Apple, the company is set to reveal the iPad Mini at a media event to be held in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The change of date from the 17th to the 23rd seems to make more sense since it would be too soon for Apple to announce their release of the new iPad since the invites have not yet been sent out. In addition, October 24th, 2012 is the set date for the launch of Windows 8 from Microsoft as well as the release of Microsoft’s Surface tablet later on in the week. Furthermore, Apple is to release its annual earnings on October 25th, which means that it would be better for the company to announce the release of the iPad Mini before then.

The iPad Mini will come with 3G/4G cellular connectivity, a smaller screen measuring 7.85 inches and a Lightning Dock Connector that is the same as the one on the new iPhone 5. Images of the smaller iPad have been doing the rounds on the Internet following a report from The Wall Street Journal a couple of weeks ago that mass production of the iPad Mini has already begun.

In September, Amazon’s new Kindle Fire HD was released starting at $199. The same price was quoted for the Google and Asus’ Nexus 7, which was released in June. About two weeks ago, Barnes & Noble launched the Nook HD and following the trend, it also started at $199. Although no price has been quoted for the iPad Mini, it is safe to assume that it might fall within this price range. So far, Apple has refused to comment on ABC News on the rumors about the iPad Mini. However, if the rumors are true, then more information can be expected from the company very soon.

iPhone 5 India Release Date

2012-10-15T14:53:00.003-07:00

According to reports by BGR India, Apple’s latest device, the iPhone 5, will be launched on October 26th, 2012. It is actually believed that Apple will introduce the phones in numerous countries in two phases-the first phase will begin on October 19th and the second phase will begin on October 26th, which is when the phones will arrive in India. However, the company refused to comment on the much-awaited iPhone 5 launch in India.

The Delhi-based executive editor of BGR India, Rajat Agrawal, confirmed that the iPhone 5 will indeed be launched on the last Friday of this month in India. This launch will differ from previous Apple launches because the company claims that they will handle the sales of the device directly other than partnering with Indian telecom firms like Aircel or Airtel. However, Mr. Agrawal said that he is uncertain about the number of units that will arrive in India due to the shortage of iPhone 5’s that Apple has been facing.

The price of the new iPhone 5 is yet to be set though most experts concur that the basic model will cost approximately Rs 45,000. This estimated cost is based on last year’s launch price for the iPhone 4S and the cost of an unlocked iPhone 5 in nations like Singapore, which is about Rs 43,600.

The iPhone 5 is selling like wildfire in the USA!

After the new iOS device was launched in the United States in September, mixed reviews from customers were received as some claimed that it was boring while other stated that the product was amazing. The iPhone 5 was available in other countries such as Britain, Australia, Hong Kong, France, Japan, Germany, Singapore and Canada by September 21st, 2012. In addition to those, the company plans to launch the device in 100 countries as soon as possible, which will make it the fastest unveiling of any iPhone so far.

The release of the iPhone 5 in India before the Diwali festival is expected to increase its sales. According to an IDC report, India doesn’t have the subsidized pricing benefits that are available in other markets and therefore the cost of purchasing this iPhone and its accessories will be very high. Due to this reason, it can be assumed that it will take a while before Apple becomes a key player in the telecommunications industry in India regardless of whether or not the sales of the new iPhone will surpass those of the iPhone 4S.

iPhone 5 Supply Running Short! Shortage may damage Apple!

2012-10-14T07:01:00.000-07:00

The current shortage of iPhone 5’s has caused great problems for Apple with regard to its investors and its customers as a whole. Gene Munster, the research analyst and managing director at Piper Jaffray, has attempted to purchase an iPhone 5 by logging on to the official Apple website at least an hour after Apple allows customers to reserve the devices, which are to be picked up the following day at Apple stores.

However, the attempt was not fruitful as he and even some of his co-workers, were unable to purchase the phone using that method.

Somehow, Gene Munster and his co-workers were able to reserve some iPhone 5’s to be picked up the next day, but they had to ensure that they logged on at exactly 10p.m. They tried to reserve some more phones later however they were unable to do so.

Mr. Munster stated that the trial was meant to confirm whether the more causal consumer was able to reserve the phone and his efforts proved otherwise. He was also quoted asking when it would be possible for a customer to simply walk in to an Apple store and purchase the phone since the shortage seems to be escalating whilst no solution is forthcoming.

Although in most cases, a high demand corresponding to a low supply is not necessarily a bad thing, but in Apple’s case it has led to a decline in its stock price. The company’s stock price had reached the $700 per share mark in September, decreased by 10% over the past few weeks. As at Tuesday, Apple’s stock price closed at a dismal $635.85. In addition, the company’s online stores have shown that shipping of the new iPhone 5 has been delayed by about 3-4 weeks, which is a very bad sign indeed.

The shortage of iPhone 5’s has generally eclipsed the sales lift that Apple would have otherwise gained from the release of the iPad Mini. The smaller and more affordable iPad is set to be released in the near future though the investors are still primarily focused on the supply problems with the iPhone 5.