iPhone Cruncher

Marriott International is finally going for the increasing number of smartphone users with a launch of mobile apps for three major platforms – iOS, Android and BlackBerry. Developed in partnership with ATT, the new application allows users to quickly find nearby hotels, book a room, check their upcoming reservation(s) and get details about their hotel all with the photos. What’s more, those with a Marriott Rewards account can access the benefits from their smartphone, while others (presuming they’re interested) can enroll right from within the application. Additionally, there are city guides with helpful tips, maps and the ability to call a Marriott hotel. Read More

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Although Apple is keeping the iPhone 5 shrouded in the kind of secrecy we have come to expect, there have been a number of juicy leaks outlining the potential features and functions which it might posses. Here is a quick overview of what the fifth iPhone may have under the hood.

The iPhone 5 launch date has been the subject of serious speculation after it was delayed and missed the usual summer window. September is looking to be the most likely month for its official unveiling, with some sources speculating that it could be posing for the cameras as early as the 5th.

In terms of hardware there is even more debate within the industry. Many originally contended that the fifth iPhone would bear the `4S` subtitle, indicating that it would be an incrementally updated version of the current iPhone 4 rather than an entirely new handset. This is something Apple has done previously with the iPhone 3GS, but steam gathering behind alternative rumours suggests that a much more revolutionary smartphone will be emerging this autumn.

Depending on who you believe, the iPhone 5 will have a larger display without actually having a larger chassis than its predecessors. This will be achieved by stretching the screen right to the very edge of the case with virtually no surrounding bezel at all. The iPhone 5 could therefore have 3.7 or 4 diagonal inches of onscreen real estate, up from 3.5 on all previous iterations. Someone was spotted out and about with a previously unseen Apple device in San Francisco which closely resembled these descriptions, so a bigger edge-to-edge screen is looking more likely than ever.

Processing power is a big concern in the modern market, with the first spate of dual core phones arriving from rival manufacturers. The iPad 2 already has a dual core chip inside and so most expect the iPhone 5 will follow suit. Some are even suggesting that it could be clocked at up to 1.2GHz on each physical core, which would put it in the same league as the Samsung Galaxy S2 and HTC Sensation in terms of raw clock cycles. An eight megapixel camera and full HD 1080p video capture are also expected.

The software available on the iPhone 5 is less of a mystery as Apple is committed to rolling out the iOS 5 platform this autumn. Although full details of the operating system remain a mystery, it seems likely that cloud-based services for data syncing, file access and security will be on the cards. This could make the onboard storage available on the iPhone 5 less relevant as information will be accessed over the airwaves rather than from flash memory on the phone itself.

Near Field Communication (NFC) technology is another mooted feature of the fifth iPhone, allowing for small payments to be made by users when they are out and about. This is essentially a digital wallet function and since Apple`s rival Google is already pushing this feature on Android handsets it would make sense for the next iPhone to retain a competitive edge. Of course with all this speculation and rumour there is no way of knowing for sure whether the iPhone 5 will be the size of a small TV or a credit card, but the wait is nearly over.

With the impending launch of the iPhone 5, which most predict will rear its head in September or October, there is a lot of hype surrounding Apple products. The iPad 2 was recently predicted to enjoy 10 years of dominance in the tablet market by analysts and the iPod Touch remains the portable media player to beat. Meanwhile the revelation that Apple actually holds more cash than the US government reflects just how important this company and its products have become in the modern world.

With hundreds of thousands of apps available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch and many new programs emerging each day, it can be difficult to pick out the ones that you might actually like to download. A quick dissection of the current market will help you choose and possibly discover some unknown gems that will enhance your life.

Recently images showcasing artwork for Cut The Rope 2, the sequel to one of the iPhone and iPad`s top casual gaming titles, hit the internet. The simplistic gameplay of the first title is likely to be retained, albeit with a few notable changes. With 25 million fans around the world the Cut The Rope franchise is arguably second only to Angry Birds when it comes to its iconic status on Apple devices and although the name of its successor is yet to be confirmed, excitement is brewing.

For fans of street art out there the new Banksy-Locations app might be worth splashing out £1.49 for, given its impressive catalogue of the mysterious man`s works and its ability to alert you to their positions so you can see them in person. It does more than just pinpoint each work on a map, it also shows you a gallery of the works and gives information about each. If your Apple device runs iOS 3.0 or later you can use this app to indulge your love of Banksy.

If you have an iPad and a TV tuner installed on your Windows PC then the new Hauppage app might be right up your street. It lets you control the channels and streams remotely so that you can watch content on your tablet without having to sit cramped up in your home office. It runs over your local Wi-Fi network and even operates via 3G if you have the top of the range iPad models so it is truly portable and convenient. This is understandably going to put a bit of strain on your iPad`s battery life and eat into your monthly data allowance, but if you do have Wi-Fi at home it will be an excellent entertainment tool.

Those who have a Kindle account with Amazon and enjoy reading books on their i Phone or iPad will be pleased to hear about the latest updates for the app which arrived in recent weeks. You can now not only view novels but also check up on any subscriptions to magazines and newspapers you may have via Kindle. This means there will be even more consistency and convenience when you switch between devices and consume your daily hit of news.

A Samsung QWERTY slider with Verizon Wireless branding was recently leaked by Android Central. The phone’s slide-out QWERTY keyboard and overall design make it look stunningly similar to the Epic 4G on Sprint, but it’s supposed to offer beefier hardware. Rumor has it the device will run on Verizon’s 4G LTE network and is powered by Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread). It’s equipped with a 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, possibly a Super AMOLED Plus display, an 1,800mAh battery, a 5-megapixel camera as well as a forward-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chats. If it does indeed pack a single-core processor, you can be rest assured this probably won’t launch as a modified Galaxy S II. Depending on the price and release date it looks like the phone could serve as a good option for those who want an alternative to the Motorola DROID 3. Read on for a two more images.

[Via Android and Me]

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Tags: 1GHz, 5 megapixel, Android 2.3, Android 2.3.4, Camera, Gingerbread, leak, leaked, Processor, QWERTY, Samsung, single core, Super AMOLED Plus, Verizon, verizon wireless

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It seems that the launch of the highly anticipated and much rumoured about Apple iPhone 5 will be delayed until the beginning of 2012. The reason we know this is because a major supplier of components for the iPhone, which is based in China, has leaked the fact that so far it has not received a firm order from Apple. This means that parts will not be ready for production of the phone to begin before that final quarter of 2011, meaning a launch date of the first quarter of 2012 at the very earliest.

It is rumoured that the new Apple operating system, iOS5, will be launched late in 2011, so will we see iPhone 4 models running iOS5? It does seem that this is a possibility, as iOS5 supposedly will run on the iPhone 4, although it is incompatible with the iPhone 3GS.

So what will the iPhone look like when it finally does arrive? We know that it will have an all aluminum back plate and it will also feature a curved glass display. We also know (because Apple has actually stated) that there will be substantial improvement to the camera.

Probably the most exciting development will be a processor that really does rock. The new processor is called the A5 and according to experts in the field it will be much faster than the current generation of ARM processors that are used in Android phones. If that is the case then it is a little surprising as already the Samsung Galaxy S II boasts a 1.2GZ dual core processor.

If the A5 can beat that, it is really going something, though there is some credence to this as Apple has announced that the subsequent chip will be the A6 which will be put into manufacture in 2012 and this will be a quad core device. However, we believe that the power consumption and heat generated by such a chip would preclude it from being used in a smartphone; it is more likely to be used in a future generation tablet.

If you want any information on the iphone 4 visit www.dialaphone.co.uk/.

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A new report suggests Apple’s next-gen iPad could boast “full” 3D capabilities.

“The fact that the iPad 3 is 3D is a dead certainty,” a Hollywood insider told Sylvie Barak of RCR Wireless.

The source added that numerous “big film studios” were frantically attempting to prepare 3D content in time for Apple’s next launch.

Meanwhile, additional sources at Foxconn appeared to confirm the report, telling industry insiders a 3D-enabled iPad is definitely in the works.

It should be noted that Apple was recently granted a patent for a projection system capable of allowing multiple users to simultaneously view 3D images without wearing pesky glasses.

Dubbed the “three-dimensional display system,” the patent provides “highly effective, practical, efficient, uncomplicated, and inexpensive autostereoscopic 3D displays that allow the observer complete and unencumbered freedom of movement.”

My take on a 3D iPad?

Clearly, Apple isn’t going to launch a 3D-enabled iPad unless it can be done right. ??And we all know that forcing consumers to wear a pair of ugly glasses from the 1950s is neither a feature nor a benefit.

That being said, a “glasses free” device isn’t an automatic recipe for success.

Remember, Nintendo 3DS sales have been rather lackluster, and there is no guarantee a 3D iPad will be seen as anything less than a gimmick.

Still, if executed and marketed properly, a 3D iPad is likely to appeal to a wider audience than the 3DS, as it will have a larger and crisper screen, and won’t just be limited to playing games.

Personally, I can’t wait for an iPad with a glasses-free 3D pico projector. But hey, I know that could take a while.

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Cats for example. You love them because they’re cuddly and cute, but you hate them because they urinate on the carpet, claw your curtains and puke on your doorstep.

The iPad 2 is a bit like that. It bestows you with the three p’s – power, pleasure and prestige – whilst simultaneously holding back the features that could have made it the best consumer electronics product of all time.

So one month (and a bit) after the UK launch of the iPad 2, what’s our long term verdict?

There’s no doubt that the iPad 2 is a darn sight nicer than the original model. It’s slimmer, it’s lighter, it’s got more grunt and it’s got two, albeit pathetically mediocre, cameras.

With regards to those slight cosmetic changes, it’s easy to overlook them. But it’s only when you’ve been using iPad 2 for a while and then pick up an original model that you realise just how bulky and heavy the sodding thing is.

A lot of iPad 2 apps require you to be able to wield the device in one hand, something that’s a lot more difficult to do with the original model – especially if you’re trying to support it primarily with your thumb (which you are forced to do when holding it with the screen facing downwards).

So that’s a big thumbs up for the aesthetic and ergonomic changes – on this score, we wouldn’t swap iPad 2 even for 2 iPad 1s.

Let us also pay tribute to the increase in power of iPad 2 with its dual-core processor. Launching and running apps is a lot smoother now. Even though you’re only saving fractions of a second at a time, the end user experience just feels a lot more slick.

Apps like Garage Band can be rather clunky on the first iPad, while they run smooth as you like on iPad 2.

And thirdly, there’s those cameras. Don’t get us wrong, we’re very grateful for them. Cameras open up a whole new

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During the BlackBerry World Keynote in Orlando this morning, Research In Motion announced that it is working with foursquare to include support for the social-network in an upcoming version of BlackBerry Messenger. Users will be able to share their location information as their BBM status, but RIM execs didn’t go into much detail on how check-ins will work or just how feature rich the implementation will be. The native foursquare client, for example, allows users to find nearby deals, compete with friends for check-in points, and more. RIM did not say when the client would make its debut, although we suspect it will be around the launch of its BlackBerry 7 powered Bold 9900, which will occur later this summer.

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(Fast Company) — Apple may be changing its usual iPhone update schedule to the fall, instead of a pre-summer launch in June/July — the news has popped up multiple times, and a source familiar with Apple’s plans has also confirmed it with Fast Company.

But Apple is a company that thrives on PR excitement…and the big hole in the update schedule before the iPhone 5 arrives could damage sales.

Hence Apple seems to be ready to release a barrage of new hardware, including the white version of the iPhone 4, to keep everyone’s pro-Apple sentiment topped up.

At the same time, there are many rumors about future Apple products, including the next-gen iPhone. Is all this deliberate spin? If so, it’s pretty clever.

It may even allow Apple to delay the really juicy new hardware until Steve Jobs is back from medical leave, and ready to hit the hot seat again.

Macs

Apple’s supply of iMacs in stores is dwindling and not being refreshed. This tallies with rumors the iMac line is getting a refresh next week, probably bringing Intel’s latest and greatest Sandy Bridge chips with it, as well as Apple’s new speedy interconnect protocol Thunderbolt.

Will the devices also get a design overhaul? They’re a little long in the tooth now. Maybe Apple will further reduce the iMac’s signature “chin” and skinny-up the chassis a little.

White iPhone 4

Now that Apple’s cracked its technical issues with the paint and light leakage into the white iPhone 4, it’s finally about to go on sale.

Stores in Belgium have already received their shipments. From the boxes, the design doesn’t seem to incorporate the new four-section antenna that the redesigned Verizon iPhone 4 sports.

In pretty much every significant way, the white iPhone 4 is just a white iPhone 4 — its only unique asset is the unusual,

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GEAR4 launches UnityRemote™, the device that turns an iPhone, iPod touch or an iPad into a universal remote control

LONDON (virtualpressoffice) – GEAR4, the leading innovators in iPhone, iPod and iPad accessories, announces the launch of the UnityRemote™, a device that allows people to control all of their electronic devices from their iPhone iPod touch or iPad.

The universal UnityRemote™ from GEAR4 was designed to make controlling multi-media devices as simple as possible. Using the UnityRemote™, iPhone, iPod touch and iPad owners can control everything from TVs to Hi-Fis, Blu-Ray players to digital TV boxes – anything that has an infrared receiver, using one single device. This makes the UnityRemoteTM? a convenient alternative to a collection of several large remote controls and if the iPhone gets lost down the back of the sofa, users can simply call their phone.

UnityRemote™ consists of two parts. The first is an app, which is downloaded for free from the Apple App Store. The second part is a small and sleek device that receives and transmits infrared and Bluetooth® signals. The iPhone, iPod touch and iPad can not currently send infrared signals, so this clever device works by receiving a Bluetooth® signal from the Apple device and sending an infrared instruction via four infrared transmitters that flood the room, to the device to be controlled.

The UnityRemote™ is easy to set up. After launching the app, users simply select the device to be controlled from a long list of all the manufacturers you’ve ever heard of, and even those you haven’t. If, for some reason, the device to control is not listed, the UnityRemote™ can ‘learn’ how to control the device.

Users can also set up ‘actions’ for the UnityRemote™ to control multiple devices simultaneously. From one touch, users can turn on their TV, DVD player, digital TV box and their home cinema sound system. There’s nothing to plug in to the iPhone and nothing to search for. Simply enter the room and use the iPhone as a remote control.

• UnityRemote™ is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad
• No power connection required (powered by three AA batteries)
• Easy to set up and use – uses Apple’s ‘gesture’ and ‘touch’ controls, which allow people to turn volumes up, or down, through simple finger movements on an iPhone screen
• Fully-customisable – the UnityRemote™ can be programmed to display only the buttons that are required at any one time. Plus, the screen can be set up to display buttons from multiple devices, so the ‘Play’ button for a Blu-Ray player can sit alongside the volume control for a home cinema system
• Recommended retail price: £99
• UnityRemote™ will be available exclusively at John Lewis from mid September 2010

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