Sunday, February 12, 2012

Ten reasons to pick the iPhone 4S over the Galaxy Nexus on Verizon

The Galaxy Nexus is finally available today on Verizon, but before you succumb to the hype make sure you seriously consider the Apple iPhone 4S.

The dramatic saga (at least according to phone geeks) of the Verizon Galaxy Nexus ends today as the device appears in stores for $299.99 with a 2-year contract. There has been loads of hype surrounding the device, but before you get too swept up on the moment I wanted to offer up ten reasons that I am sticking with my Apple iPhone 4S on Verizon. As regular readers know I have now had my own HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus for two weeks and can speak from experience with both devices.

There are a number of new Android devices on Verizon, but the only one that really impresses me is the Galaxy Nexus from Samsung with the latest Android operating system and outstanding specifications. Verizon also has the Apple iPhone 4S and I found the device and iOS 5 attractive enough to bring me back to iOS from Android. As a writer who focuses on mobile technology, I also am blessed (often it feels like cursed) to have a couple of wireless service providers so I have the Galaxy Nexus running on T-Mobile. I considered picking up the Verizon model to replace my iPhone 4S so I could then get a Windows Phone 7 device on T-Mobile.

Ten reasons to select the iPhone 4S

After sitting down and listing out pros and cons, here are ten reasons I have for choosing the iPhone 4S over the Galaxy Nexus. Keep in mind that some of these are subjective and my personal opinion, but I just wanted you to have some information to make an intelligent purchase decision and think before you leap. The Galaxy Nexus is priced the same as the 32GB iPhone 4S so I don’t consider cost as a factor.

Applications and services: The selection, quality, and design of applications is better on iOS devices. It seems that just about every day I find some fantastic apps for iOS that appear first on this platform and honestly if it wasn’t for all the apps and services I would likely get bored of iOS and move to another platform.
iPhone 4S quality is better: The iPhone 4S is an extremely well built phone with glass, plastic, and metal components. I have gotten used to my Galaxy Nexus, but it still feels a bit cheaper (Samsung Android phones are known for using thin plastics) and side-by-side you can feel the difference.
Apple has Siri and she is good: I am testing out a number of personal assistant applications on my Galaxy Nexus, but nothing can currently compare with the conversational nature of Siri. The ease with which I create reminders and appointments, call and text people, check weather for the places I travel, set alarms, create notes, and search the web has changed dramatically thanks to Siri’s advanced features.
iPhone 4S camera is better: I posted a basic comparison of several shots I took in “typical situations” with the iPhone 4S and Galaxy Nexus and while the Galaxy Nexus was not as bad as I was led to believe by reading some other sites, the iPhone 4S still performs much better. If taking photos and leaving your point and shoot camera behind is your plan then you will be MUCH happier with the iPhone 4S. I wish Samsung would have used a better camera module, even one just like their Galaxy S II would have been fine.
Galaxy Nexus speaker blows: The speaker on the Galaxy Nexus is basically useless and one of the worst speakers I have ever used on a phone. It is nearly impossible to use it as a speakerphone and forget about listening to music and podcasts without a headset or external speaker. Some have suggested it might be a software issue and I can only hope so since I can’t even use it with such low volume. The speakers on the iPhone 4S are much better and I have no complaints at all.
Galaxy Nexus display is too big: I have medium to large sized hands and even then I can only reach about 50% - 60% of the display with my thumb while holding the device in one hand. With the iPhone 4S I can cover 95% of the display so the Galaxy Nexus is definitely a two-handed device. My buddy Mickey Papillon was quite bothered by this and ended up getting rid of his Galaxy Nexus after about a week.
Android is still complicated: Ice Cream Sandwich is clearly the best version of the Android operating system. It is not perfect and lacks some polish, but there is more cohesiveness than before and more standardization. That said, it is still a rather complex and non-intuitive OS that can be overwhelming for some. I think it is way too much for someone like my mother-in-law and I actually just helped her order her first smartphone, the Apple iPhone 4S.
iPhone 4S is world phone: Unlike the CDMA/LTE only Galaxy Nexus, the iPhone 4S is a CDMA and quad-band GSM/UMTS device. As I detailed before my trip to London it is easy to use the iPhone 4S with an international microSIM card or here on the expansive CDMA Verizon network. The Galaxy Nexus from Verizon is limited to just Verizon here in the U.S. If you are a world traveler, then do what I did and consider the penta-band HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus.
Malware is growing on Android: Last weekend I had a conversation with a woman who owns an Android device and was extremely upset that “the little green man ate all my contacts” and all the data on her phone was wiped. Now, she was drunk at the time so I am not clear if a real green Android character appeared on her phone, but malware is definitely a growing concern (as reported by CNET) on the Android platform.
iOS web browser is better: The web browser in ICS is good and I appreciate the large display for surfing. However, there are some issues with how it handles text on many websites (no changing of settings cures the issue) and there are still some sites that do not render nearly as well as they do on iOS. ICS is also not as smooth as iOS and this is apparent when doing things like surfing the web.

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The Ten (10) Apple iPhone 4S Issues Apple Doesn`t Want You to Know About. (iOS, 5.0.1, jailbreak, unlock, repair, drmobiles, Auckland)

You can click here to read the full article.
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The Top Ten (10) for Samsung Galaxy S i9100 SII, 2 (tech, news, report, utilities, smartphone, repair, unlock, Auckland)

If you are fortunate to own a Samsung Galaxy S 2 then no doubt you will be looking for apps to take advantage of its 4.3″ WVGA SUPER AMOLED Plus display, the greater processing power of its dual core processor; its 8MP camera and its other impressive features. Here is a roundup of some great apps for the Samsung Galaxy S 2.

GasBuddy

If your ride is as figuratively large as the Screen on the Galaxy II then you should be more than concerned about the high cost of Gasoline. Even so, most of us wouldn’t mind getting a better price on the fuel we use in our vehicles. GasBuddy is the front-end of a user-generated database of gas stations and the price that they charge for regular, premium and diesel fuel.

Dropbox

Even though the Samsung Galaxy S II has lots of storage, chances are that it won’t be enough to store the large collection of pictures, music and video that you have in your collection. Ensure that you have access to all your files, from wherever you need them, with the Dropbox app.

After you install Dropbox onto your phone, computer and maybe a Tablet it will automatically sync files between each device and allow you to access your photos, documents and other media from anywhere you have Internet connection and perhaps share those files with others.

Slice It!

Sometimes you will find yourself with tons of time on your hands and nothing to do. If at those moments you like to do something mindlessly fun then perhaps you should consider installing Slice It!. The objective of the game is to simply slice each object into equal parts or the same ratio. It sounds simple enough, but subsequently level can be joyfully challenging.

Anti-Virus Free

Computers aren’t the only playground of viruses. Android viruses, malware and exploit exists, and so owners of Android phones and Tablets must install security software to protect their Androids. AVG Anti-Virus Free not only protects against malware but can also help the device owner to recover a lost or stolen phone, backup and restore files and remotely wipe sensitive information and data from the device if it is lost.

Go SMS Pro

If you aren’t particular fond about the stock SMS app that ships with Android devices then you may want to consider installing GO SMS Pro. With it you get backup and restore, data encryption, a cool UI, popup notification, and a privacy mode to keep a particular messaging session away from prying eyes.

ASTRO File Manager

If you plan on using your Galaxy S II phone to its full extent chances are that you will have lots of files on your computer. ASTRO File Manager has backup features to safeguard your files, a better search feature and the ability to handle attachments Tar and Zip files, as well as a better interface for exploring the Android file system.

Daily Bible

This is a way to ensure that you have access, at all times, to the most popular book that was ever written. With Daily Bible you can follow a daily reading plan or simply listen while verses are read to you.

Bubble Blast2

We couldn’t conclude our roundup of Samsung Galaxy S 2 Apps without including at least one fun app. The objective of Bubble Blast2 is to pop all the bubbles on screen with as few tries as possible. Once you pop a bubble the explosion pops nearby bubbles as well. The player has to be strategic in trying to make each pop burst as many adjacent bubbles as possible.

WiFi Analyzer

This app shows the Wi-Fi signals and channels that are within range. The app also shows the strength of the signals, the name of the network as well as helps to user to find the least crowded WiFi channel.

History Eraser

Despite best efforts your phone may find its way into the hands of someone you really don’t want seeing your personal web browsing history and call logs. Not only can History Eraser improve privacy and maybe keep you out of trouble, but it can be used to improve your phone’s performance by freeing up memory that may be used by SMS, cached files, web browsing history, market search history, the clipboard and apps.

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The Apple iPad is one of the best-selling tablets in the world, and the iPad 3 is one of the most anticipated devices from Apple this year. This article explains you about the new features that are to be included in theiPad 3.

In a nutshell, the Apple iPad3 will feature a new, thinner and sleeker design, down nearly 20 percent in size compared to the iPad 2. It will also support full touchscreen HD display with a screen resolution of 2048 x 1536.

Apart from that, the iPad 3 will have a lighter battery, reducing the weight of the tablet. However, the battery is reported to cost 20 to 30 percent more than the current iPad’s battery, and will also have a longer battery life.

It is also expected that the iPad 3 will have a wireless charging technology, which will be able to charge the battery and transfer data wirelessly.

iPad 3 Features

Let’s now take a look at all the features in depth:

A6 Processor

The current Apple iPad 2 has a 900MHz dual-core ARM Cortext-A9 processor, Apple A5 chipset and PowerVr SGX543MP2 GPU. This certainly made the Apple iPad 2 a powerful tablet and a main competitor in the world of tablets. Now Apple is aiming to make the competition tougher by sporting an A6 Quad-core Processor in the iPad 3. This would make the iPad 3 as powerful as any high-end desktop.

According to Linley Group senior analyst Kevin Krewell, “We expect the A6 will be a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 design, which would be competitive with next year’s best mobile processors. In 2012, Nvidia will offer a quad-core Cortex-A9 processor, and Qualcomm will have the aforementioned MSM8960, a dual-core A15-class processor operating at 1.7GHz. Fabricating Apple’s A6 in 28nm (instead of the 40nm process Nvidia is using for its quad-core part) will reduce both die cost and power, yielding a much better product.”

iOS 5

The iPad 3 will come with the latest iOS 5, which will host the multi-touch gesture technology. However, analyst and tech enthusiasts predict that Apple would introduce OS X Lion for the tablet, since it will be powered by a quad-core processor.

This will also include multitasking features, such as notifications, task-finishing, app-switching, location and background sound.

3D Feature and New Retina Display

Apple enthusiast expected the Retina Display feature on Apple iPad 2; however, Apple has been working majorly for an improved version of it to include it in the iPad 3. The iPhone 4 currently supports the Retina Display with a screen resolution of 960 x 640. Apple explains Retina Display as: “Developing pixels a mere 78 micrometers wide, Apple engineers were able to pack four times the number of pixels into the same 3.5-inch (diagonal) screen found on earlier iPhone models. The resulting pixel density of iPhone 4 – 326 pixels per inch – makes text and graphics look smooth and continuous at any size.”

With the Retina Display feature, the screen resolution of the iPad3 will be 2048 x 1536 pixels. However, it is said that the third version of the tablet is delayed due to Retina Display issues, and Apple is expected to ship the tablet in early 2012.

There are speculations that the tablet will display the 3D view. Although it’s too early to expect features like 3D display, devices like the LG Optimus can record videos in 3D, and output the same through HDMI.

Cloud Computing

Apple announced its Cloud services during the WWDC 2011, and will definitely include the iCloud technology both in the iPhone 5 and iPad 3. With iCloud users can store photos, apps, calendars and access songs on iTunes without having them to store in the phone’s memory.

Camera

The iPad 3 will come with an improved camera, since the previous version of the table didn’t seem impressive enough. Unlike the iPad 2, the new tablet will come with LED flash to support the camera. It is expected to have a 5MP camera with 1080p or 720p video recording quality of 60 frames per second. The technology made by OmniVision will help reduce the size of the table by 20 percent.

Fingerprint Proof

Apple has already been granted patents on this technology, and is working real hard to make the iPad3 fingerprint proof. The touch screen will be coated with oleophobic materials, which will reduce the oil and fingerprints on the screen.

Apple iPad 3 Release Date

There isn’t any official word from Apple on when the iPad 3 will be released; however, rumors indicate that it will be announced sometime early next year. Reports state the trial production is likely to start this October. One of the major reasons why the launch of the device has delayed is due to the Retina Display technology. It is also said that it could be delayed because of legal issues with one of Apple’s main supplier, Samsung.

The price and availability of the iPad 3 is still unknown. Please make sure that you keep visiting this page to stay updated.

Apple iPad 3 Price

Though the tablet promises quite a lot of new and exciting features, rumors indicate that it could be priced at a very high range. However, with the competition kicking in, I expect that the iPad 3 will be set at a reasonable price. Nevertheless, are you going to buy the new iPad 3? And what other iPad 3 features are you expecting?

What are the top 25 Apps for your Apple iPhone 4S for 2012? (iOS, review, repair, unlock, news, info, Auckland)

If you wonder what have been missing out on your spanking new Apple iPhone 4S since you bought it recently?

Look no further, you need to check what are the top 25 apss for your Apple iPhone 4S (iOS 5.0.1)

Google Android, Smartphone News: Pink Samsung Galaxy Note is on the way but will miss the Valentine. (phone, repair, unlock, upgrade)

We have always thought of the Samsung Galaxy Note as a male-oriented device, but it turns out we have underestimated it. The phoneblet obviously generates enough interest with the ladies to warrant its own feminine version, colored in Berry Pink.

We got a tip from an industry insider, containing a photo of the upcoming pink version of the Samsung Galaxy Note. Both the front and the back of the device will obviously be repainted, but we aren't sure if the S Pen (which is white in the white version) will get a similar treatment.

Unfortunately, the pink Samsung Galaxy Note won't make it in time for Valentine's day. The first samples of the device will arrive in the 8th week of the year, while public availability is scheduled for Week 9. That's exactly three weeks away now, so the wait won't be long.

Any takers among the ladies out there?

2012 Technology News: Acer CloudMobile Wins Award Even Before Announcement (Google, Android, repair, unlock, drmobiles, Auckland)

Acer has found a curious way to create buzz around its upcoming CloudMobile Android smartphone. The yet to be announced handset has just won an iF design award for it looks.

We know little about the device's specs at this point. The Acer CloudMobile is said to feature a 4.3" HD screen, Dolby sound, and a body less than 10mm thick.

On the software side, the Acer CloudMobile is said to run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box. The device will also be the first to implement Acer's own cloud technology.

Expect to see Acer CloudMobile get unveiled at MWC later this month with retail availability scheduled for Q3 this year.