Simple Knowing T-Mobile G2x

 

The T-Mobile G2x's feature set is an embarrassment of riches, with plenty of advanced smartphone technology that promises to provide speed and multimedia prowess. As we mentioned, it has the highly praised 1GHz Nvidia dual-core Tegra 2 processor. It does have only 512MB of RAM, but we didn't notice any performance drawbacks in real-world tests. Transitions between menus felt snappy, and we jumped through different points in an HD video clip with zero jittering.

To prove the strength of the Nvidia Tegra 2 processor even further, LG has included the Nvidia Tegra Zone app with the phone. The app lets you easily find, purchase, and download games that take advantage of the Nvidia processor. The G2x comes with Nova and Need for Speed Shift, and we have to say that both games performed very well in our initial tests. Graphics were very smooth and we experienced zero lag time during gameplay.
The touch screen is really responsive, requiring only a simple tap for a touch to register, and thanks to the dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, we were also amazed by how zippy the navigation felt. Simple tasks like scrolling through a Web page or launching an application felt that much quicker. Even the accelerometer kicked in faster when switching from portrait to landscape mode. The G2x comes with a gyroscopic sensor as well.
Beneath the display are the usual Android shortcut keys in the form of touch-sensitive buttons for menu, home, back, and search. On the top right of the phone is the front-facing camera. There are a couple of external speakers on the bottom along with the Micro-USB charging port. The volume rocker is on the right, and the 3.5mm headset jack, HDMI port, and power/screen lock button are on the top. The microSD card slot is located behind the battery cover, but you don't need to remove the battery to access it. On the back of the phone are the camera lens and LED flash.
T-Mobile packages the G2x with an AC adapter, a USB cable, and reference material.
Because of all this power, it's no surprise that the G2x comes equipped with multimedia features galore. It has a Micro-HDMI port so you can hook up the phone to a big-screen television, and with mirroring mode, you can see on the TV whatever is on your phone. If you want to go wireless, the G2x also supports DLNA, a technology that lets you share media on your phone with other DLNA devices wirelessly. The G2x also comes with T-Mobile TV, a T-Mobile service that gives you access to live and on-demand TV.
If you would rather watch your own movies, the G2x comes with 8GB of internal storage. This might not seem like a lot, but you can load additional media onto a microSD card--the phone supports up to 32GB of extra storage. To get content onto your device, you can treat the phone like a mass storage device by dragging and dropping media, or you can use the DoubleTwist software to sync content wirelessly.

Do You Like LG Genesis?

At first glance, the Genesis doesn't look too different from the most recent LG EnV phone, the LG EnV Touch. Both have a large touch-screen display dominating the front, and both have a somewhat clunky rectangular design. The Genesis even has the same shiny chrome border. However, at 4.72 inches long by 2.43 inches wide by 0.66 inch deep, the Genesis is much larger than the EnV Touch. In fact, at around 6 ounces, the Genesis is perhaps one of the bulkiest Android handsets we've held, with the possible exception of the Casio G'zOne Commando.
Despite its heft, you get a typical-size touch-screen display, measuring around 3.5 inches diagonally. The simple 480x800-pixel TFT display won't bowl you over like a Super AMOLED might, but we still found it usable thanks to the screen's 16 million colors. However, the screen suffers substantially under bright sunlight, which washes it out quite a lot.

Thankfully, the Genesis's capacitive display is miles better than the EnV Touch's resistive screen--no calibration required here. The interface mirrors that of the LG Optimus U, with five shortcuts along the bottom of the display that lead to the phone dialer, the phonebook, the main menu, the messaging inbox, and the Web browser. Those same five shortcuts stay at the bottom even when you're in the main menu. As for text input, the Genesis comes with both the standard multitouch Android keyboard and Swype. Aside from these few differences, the interface is not too different from default Android 2.2.
Beneath the display are the four Android keys corresponding to the menu, home, back, and search functions, separated into two long buttons. The 3.5mm headset jack and Micro-USB port are on the right spine, while the camera key, volume rocker, and screen lock/power key are on the left. The camera lens and LED flash sit on the back.
The reason the Genesis is so bulky is that it flips open to reveal yet another touch-screen display plus a five-row QWERTY keyboard. The hinge feels sturdy but is still easy enough to open and close without struggle. The screen flips open to two different positions--you can set it to a slight angle, which is the optimum position for when you want to use the keyboard, or you can open it up all the way so that it is flat. The reason you might want to do the latter is because the aforementioned controls on the left spine (volume, camera, and screen lock/power) are easier to access this way.
The internal display mirrors the external display, except that it measures 3.2 inches diagonally instead of 3.5. As you might expect, it also displays everything in landscape mode. Our biggest complaint about the internal display is that the lower portion of the screen is rather difficult to access, as our fingers kept bumping up against the top part of the keyboard even when the phone was opened up all the way.
Conveniently, the keyboard has a big square navigation pad on the far right to provide an alternative to the touch screen. Sitting above and below the navigation pad are the Send and End/Power buttons. On the far left of the keyboard are the four Android function keys--menu, home, back, and search--plus a dedicated voice command button.
We found the five-row QWERTY keyboard extremely roomy, even with the navigation controls on either side. There are a dedicated number row, a large Space key, shortcut keys to the browser, a new text message, and a .com button. The keys are well-spaced, and each key is raised above the surface for quick and easy typing.

The Samsung DoubleTime Information

The DoubleTime is a breath of fresh air for those of you (like me) who are a little tired of gazing upon the same tall, thin, black smartphone design. It's all white, with two sturdy hinges that swing open the 3.2-inch touch screen (at two different angles) to reveal an identical screen within, and a four-row QWERTY keyboard. Different, right?

The Samsung DoubleTime

At 4.5 inches tall by 2.4 inches wide and 0.6 inch thick, it's a relatively thick, compact device, so very different than razor-thin phones such as the Motorola Droid Razr and Samsung Galaxy Nexus. I don't mind the girth, in truth, especially since I enjoy the phone design. The width gives me something to grab hold of, and I was actually able to walk down the street shooting video and taking photos one-handed (while holding my lunch in the other), something I don't necessarily recommend, but something that is also more difficult to accomplish on thinner handsets. You may have to coax it into tighter pockets, but it fits fine in my cavernous purse and wasn't too uncomfortable hitching a ride in the back pocket of my trustiest pair of jeans.In addition to the bulkier design, the DoubleTime is weightier, too: 5.2 ounces. Again, the heft adds to a sense of durability that you don't always get with plastic phones.
Back to those twin screens. The DoubleTime's 3.2-inchers have an HVGA (480x320 pixels) resolution. Icons look a little small, and Web sites aren't as easy to read as on larger screens, but it looks colorful and bright enough as long as you're not in direct sunlight. Unfortunately, the phone only runs Android 2.2 Froyo, and Samsung says it doesn't have anything to announce just now about upgrades. While it's unlikely the phone will make the jump to Ice Cream Sandwich (at least not any time soon,) those of you who are happy with Gingerbread won't miss too much. The DoubleTime still supports most features, including hot-spot connectivity for up to five devices (when you subscribe to a separate monthly plan.)
A version of Samsung's TouchWiz interface rides atop Froyo. This gives you the ability to see an overview of your home screens (up to seven) when you pinch in, and access system settings when you pull down the notifications bar. It also has a stylized look and feel.
Below the external screen are four physical buttons that are nice and responsive--they pull up the menu, go Home, go back, and launch search. On the subtly textured backing is the 3.2-megapixel camera. You have to pop off the back cover to reach the microSD card slot. Although the DoubleTime comes with 2GB preinstalled (thanks, Samsung and AT&T!), you'll have to remove the battery to remove or replace the card. The phone takes up to 32GB in total.
The other external features are predictable: there's a nice volume rocker on the left spine, the power button and 3.5 millimeter headset jack up top, and the Micro-USB charging port on the bottom.
As I mentioned before, the screen flips open like a book to reveal the keyboard and second, internal screen. The keyboard manages to be both compact and roomy, with space between the squarish buttons. The proportion was just right for my hands, and although the backlit keys don't rise very high from the surface, the rubberized coating and responsive feedback helped me type with confidence. I also like the four physical navigation buttons above the QWERTY. All of the phone's physical buttons sport a bright pink accent, which won't appeal to all demographics.

The LG Revere Ships With A 1,000-entry Phone Book

The LG Revere ships with a 1,000-entry phone book, with room in each entry for five numbers, two e-mail addresses, an IM screen name, a street address, and notes. You can customize the contact with a photo for caller ID, and any of 27 different sounds for either a ringtone or a message alert tone. Each contact can also be organized into different caller groups.

 

Other basic features include a speakerphone, vibrate mode, a calculator, a tip calculator, a calendar, a to-do list, an alarm clock, a stopwatch, a world clock, and a notepad. The Revere also has voice commands, text and multimedia messaging, voice memo recording, GPS with VZ Navigator support, Bluetooth, and Info Search, which searches through the contents of your phone.

If you decide to connect to the Web, the Revere also offers a rudimentary mobile Web browser, mobile instant messaging, and mobile e-mail support. Verizon's Mobile Email application does require a subscription to use, but with it you can easily access all the popular Web e-mail services, including your own POP3 e-mails, as long as you have the server information. It does require a $5 monthly fee if you don't already have a $9.99-or-higher data plan.

On the front of the phone is a monochrome 0.98-inch external display. It shows the usual date and time information as well as remaining battery life, signal strength, and caller ID. Directly above the display is the camera lens. A 2.5mm headset jack sits on the left spine along with the volume rocker and Micro-USB charging port. On the right is the dedicated camera button.

The Revere flips open easily yet firmly thanks to its sturdy hinge. It seemed as though we could open and close the phone several times without ill effects. The internal display is pretty typical for a basic phone--it measures 2 inches diagonally, and has 262,000-color support and a 176x220-pixel resolution. We're actually quite pleased with how bright and colorful the display is considering the phone's entry-level status. The text and graphics aren't as sharp as we would like, but that's to be expected. You can adjust the banner, the backlight time, the brightness, the wallpaper, the display theme, the menu layout, the type and size of the font, and the internal clock.

Underneath the display is a navigation array that consists of two soft keys, a square toggle with a middle OK key, a dedicated speakerphone key, a Clear/voice command key, and the Send and End/Power keys. The toggle can double as shortcuts to three user-defined applications with the up, left, and down direction buttons. The right direction button brings up a customizable My Shortcuts menu that you can populate with even more shortcuts.

We found both the navigation array and the number keypad beneath it to be quite roomy. The keypad is just a tiny bit flatter than we would like, but it has enough separation between each key that we could still text and dial by feel. Each key is quite big, and when pressed, the keys click satisfyingly into place.

The iPhone 4 Is An Object Of Rare Beauty

ust as the frenzy of the iPad launch subsides, it is time for anti-Applefrothers to have a new device waved in their angry faces and for pro-Apple droolers to get verbally bitch-slapped in the blogosphere for falling once more for Steve Jobs's huckstering blandishments.

A year ago, iPhone 3GS was released with a new operating system and now iPhone 4 arrives with iOS 4.0, offering an array of long-awaited functions. Since that 2009 3GS launch, the Taiwanese manufacturer HTC in particular has upped its game and risen to Apple's challenge, producing handsets for the Android OS that offer slews of features, including free turn-by-turn navigation, multi-tasking, removable batteries and highly customisable interfaces. What can Apple do to wrench back the crown?

The iPhone 4 is an object of rare beauty. Noticeably slimmer but a trifle heavier than predecessors, its new heft only adds to the profound feeling of quality and precision that the device exudes. Sharper edged, it is girt by a stainless steel band which cleverly houses all the antennae required by a modern smartphone. Jobs himself made a comparison between iPhone 4 and a classic Leica. With this device in my hand, I feel that I am holding its designer Jonathan Ive's personal prototype, hand-machined as a proof-of-concept model. Ive is surely one of the most influential and gifted designers Britain has ever produced and the iPhone 4 may well be his masterpiece.

The phone is available unlocked in the UK. Mine came with a Vodafone mini-SIM which I swapped for an Orange, the network change working perfectly straight away. On the front can be discerned the lineaments of a forward-facing camera and, in the glorious glass obverse (which leads one to speculate that future models might allow solar charging), an extra eye reveals that LED flash has finally arrived. The existence of the front-facing camera allows video calling: Apple's new open standard for this, called FaceTime, neatly and transparently turns an initial mobile phone call into WiFi video chat, saving data charges.

Once I had located someone else with an iPhone 4 (not easy the week before launch), I found FaceTime worked with astounding ease and in very impressive resolution. The main camera has been upgraded to 5 megapixels (crucially, without diminution of pixel size) and produces stunning images that might be, for many, reason enough to upgrade, especially when you consider the iPhone 4's remarkable new Retina display. Retina delivers the crispest images I have ever seen on a smartphone. I found myself staring at onscreen text in disbelief.

Apple has produced, and third parties will doubtless emulate and improve, rubberised wraparound belts for iPhone 4 called Bumpers. They come in all kinds of colours and give the device great resilience. (I saw an Apple executive gleefully hurling his bumpered iPhone 4 across a room). With 720p HD video, a full-featured iMovie editing app, sweet multi-tasking, better mail, spellcheck, a bigger battery, inbuilt 3-axis gyroscope (wait for the gaming implications of that alone), extra pep and polish and that droolworthy form factor, Apple has once more leapfrogged the competition. HTC Android handsets still impress and offer a viable alternative for many, but iPhone 4's star quality is irresistible.

The Nice Way To Describe LG Esteem

The nice way to describe it is that the LG Esteem is a brick with racing stripes. It's a thick black square with sharp edges and thin silver metal accents down the spines (the square edges on the phone's face take some getting used to.) It's a hefty 6-ouncer, which we usually see when a phone is brimming with metal accents and a thick keyboard. There's no keyboard here, but the upside is that the phone is sturdy-strong and likely to take a little abuse before cracking.

Beaming up at you is a 4.3-inch WVGA touch screen (480x800-pixel resolution) with a Corning Gorilla Glass topper and support for 262,000 colors. The result is a bright, colorful, and sharp screen. The Esteem runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, with a subtle custom interface that adds just a few touches, like access to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, airplane mode, and so on from the pull-down notification bar. Swype comes preinstalled on the Esteem, but you can always switch to the standard Android keyboard if you'd prefer.

The Esteem, as we said, is a thick phone, and the dimensions match--5 inches tall, 2.6 inches wide, and 0.5-inch thick. It's a bit bulky for most pockets and the weight is significant--just know what you're getting into.

Below the screen are four touch-sensitive buttons: Menu, Home, Back, and Search. On the right side there's a covered Micro-HDMI adapter port and the volume rocker. On the left, you'll find the covered Micro-USB slot. Up top are the lock/power button and the 3.5-millimeter headset jack. The 5-megapixel camera lens is on the back, along with a flash (it does 720p HD video capture, too). Beneath the soft-touch back cover is the microSD card slot.

In addition to the rear-facing camera, there's a 1.3-megapixel lens above the display that's well-suited for self-portraits and video calls.

With Android, you know where you stand. As with the rest of the Gingerbread men, the Esteem has all the Google goodies--Google Maps, Gmail, turn-by-turn navigation, Google Places, YouTube, the works.

That subtle custom experience we mentioned also finds its way into other aspects of the phone, for instance the deep integration of several social networks. For example, when you begin adding accounts, you can sign into Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace apps that have been customized by LG to work on the phone. LG has also made Yahoo and Windows Live Hotmail accounts easy to sign into from the Accounts menu.

Back in the land of apps, LG and MetroPCS have laid down a thick welcome mat. The upside is that the phone looks less empty and more populated than it might otherwise. The downside is, if you don't like the selections, the prepopulated app tray may smack of uninstallable bloatware. For starters, there's Astro file manager, an application manager, Yahoo finance, Guided Tours, Loopt, Pocket Express, Polaris Office, and the Rhapsody music service.

There's also the SmartShare home networking app (the Esteem supports DLNA), and essentials like a clock, a calendar, a calculator, a newsreader, and a memo pad. MetroPCS has also added its regular complement of apps, including a browser, a navigator, a backup app, an online storefront for purchasing more ringtones and music, a 411 service, and a Wi-Fi sniffer. There's also the MasterCard-backed VCPay mobile app for MetroPCS customers to use for purchases--it's designed to be used as a debit card for those who don't have a credit card, and it requires a $1.49 monthly fee.

The Design Of Samsung Focus S

Classy, sleek, and open are three words I'd use to describe the Samsung Galaxy S II phones, and the same can be said of the Focus S. The all-black phone has rounded corners and flat sides. As with AT&T's Galaxy S II and slightly larger (and LTE-capable) Skyrocket, the handset has a slightly dimpled back cover and a slight rise where the cover snaps into place at the bottom of the phone. A larger handset, the Focus S measures nearly 5 inches tall by 2.6 inches wide by a svelte 0.3 inch thick. With its slimness and scant 3.9-ounce weight, it feels a little insubstantial, and I'm unconvinced of its ability to sustain casualties from butterfingers' repeated drops.

The Focus S has a gorgeous 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display with a WVGA resolution of 800x480 pixels, and support for 16 million colors. As with other phones with this screen technology, colors are vivid and stand out from the screen; it may make photos and video look more saturated on the screen than they are when viewed from your computer, so beware!

Running Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, the Focus S' interface is simply a single start screen populated with dynamic live tiles, many of which update with new information (this page is customizable to a degree--you can determine color and app order, and pin and unpin tiles). There's a second screen that shows your apps.

Above the display is the 1.3-megapixel camera. Below it are three touch-sensitive buttons that correspond to the back button, home, and search. Pressing and holding the back button also lets you switch among tasks. The same motion on the home key launches voice actions.

Windows Phones tend to have a few more physical buttons than phones on other platforms. Unfortunately, these buttons are rather cheap-looking lumps of plastic on the Focus S, and lack the polish found on the rest of the design. On the left is the volume rocker, and on the right spine you'll find the power and camera shutter buttons. The Micro-USB charging port is down below, and up top there's the 3.5mm headset jack. Flip the phone over to locate the 8-megapixel camera lens and LED flash.

Nokia 603

The Nokia 603 is supposed to be the workhorse of the new Symbian Belle portfolio, balancing the value-for-money virtue in the low mid-range spectrum. Thus it is pretty average in terms of specs – 3.5” display, 1GHz processor and 5MP camera with 720p video recording but no LED flash.

It shares the “brightest mobile display” of the Nokia 701, however, and has an abundance of swappable back covers in various colors for the joy of the teen market, but does it deserve its price point, and is it distinctive enough apart from those different shell paints? Read on our review to find out...

During an event in Turkey today, Nokia launched their latest Symbian Belle enabled handset the Nokia 603, a 3.5-inch touch screen smartphone that is billed as an affordable Nokia device with “leading edge features at a mid-range price point.”
According to the guys over at Nokia Conversations, the new Nokia 603 offers a ClearBlack nHD display, pentaband WCDMA 850/900/1700/1900/2100, GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 3G, and a 1Ghz processor.

The Nokia 630 also sports a 5 megapixel camera with 720p video, NFC, Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi, Symbian Belle OS obviously and comes preloaded with Angry Birds, Adobe PDF reader, Vlingo, Microsoft Office Communicator, Shazam and Fruit Ninja along with onboard photo and video editing software.

The Nokia 603 measures 113.8 x 57.1 x 12.7mm and weighs in at 106.9 grams and has a battery that is said to offer up to 7 hours talk time and up to 460 hours standby time.

The Nokia 603 will be available in both black and white but there are also 6 swappable back covers to choose from. As for when the Nokia 603 will become available it is expected to release on Q4 with an estimated price tag of roughly 200 Euros before carrier subsidies or local taxes.

Apple iPhone 4S

Millions of iPhone fans all over the world were slightly disappointed when Apple unveiled the iPhone 4S earlier this month instead of the highly anticipated iPhone 5. For months, tech experts and fans have been speculating about the possible design and features of the new iPhone, only to be met by an upgrade of last year’s iPhone offering. Many are still keeping to their old iPhone 4 units, arguing that they should not update because not much has changed anyway – we here at Mobile Phone Connect fall into this category. Having said that, Apple endowed the new iPhone with a couple of nifty features that can still impress the disappointed crowd who wanted the iPhone 5.

The iPhone 4S, for starters, come with a better and faster processor, a better performing camera, a smarter virtual assistant, and a larger storage space compared to the iPhone 4. We do not readily recommend the iPhone 4S for people who have bought last year’s iPhone, but if you are upgrading from the iPhone 3GS, then this is a very wise choice. Currently, the iPhone 4 is demoted to second-class status—a fact that has led iPhone fans that insist on having the best gadget all the time to snap up on this familiar-looking but internally better iPhone.

Every time Apple releases an iPhone, the company says that the latest version is the most amazing iPhone ever. They are not lying with the iPhone 4S, which is clearly the best of all its older siblings so far. At first glance, not much is different in the appearance of the iPhone 4S compared to its predecessor. However, the iPhone 4S is slightly heavier than its 137-gram sibling at 140 grams, which is barely detectable anyway. Antenna reception was one of the major complaints about last year’s iPhone 4, but it has significantly improved on this year’s release.

The main feature of the iPhone 4S is Siri, which is introduced this year along with the newest update on the iOS. The new operating system, iOS5, is improved and enhanced — a solid update that will never fail to impress iOS users that treat their iPhones as an extension of their professional and personal lives. Siri, on the other hand, is your own digital helper. It is a virtual assistant only found in the iPhone 4S, which will allow you some entertaining and informative functions. “She” can help you send texts and emails, find you the restaurants of your choice, and even help you find directions to get to your destination. Siri can be activated through voice, and Apple even took the care of imbuing Siri with the ability to interpret casually spoken English—and even figure out context in some instances. It’s amazing how a simple update can mean a lot in terms of the gadget’s usability, or perceived usability. Since in our eyes, Siri is nothing more than a gimmick. It can be useful yes, but it’s more of an evolution, rather than a revolution. After all, Nokia implemented voice activation over a decade ago. (Yes, we know this is much more sophisticated, but the core technology is the same).

Lets get down to what all you people want to know. Is the new iPhone 4S worth buying? Well, as already mentioned, the iPhone 4S is not a great leap from its predecessor, so if you have already got the iPhone 4, we’d say – don’t bother with the 4S. For the moment, you might want to upgrade to iOS 5 first and wait for next year’s iPhone upgrade. Of course, despite our conclusions, millions of current iPhone users will still go out and buy it, they are the type that just HAVE to have the latest iPhone. Fair enough.

But for those of you who have an iPhone prior to version 4, or if you’ve never owned an iPhone, and are looking for the best smartphone on the market, then it’s hard to argue against the iPhone 4S, and it’s resolution remains a beauty.

Specifications of Rugged Android Smartphone

Motorola has decided to put out one last set of Android-PoweredSmartphone before the inking of the deal between Motorola Mobility and Google. It is the new Motorola DEFY+ Rugged Android Smartphone which is said to be an upgrade to the recently released Motorola DEFY.

The new DEFY+ gets IP67 certification which means it is water resistant, scratch resistant and dust proof which makes it ideal for the outdoor enthusiasts. It measures 107 x 59 x 13.4 mm and weighs 118 grams and comes with a 3.7-inch touchscreen display with a 854×480 pixel resolution which is also protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. The Motorola DEFY+ gets powered by a 1GHz processor which is also an upgrade from the 800MHz found in the first DEFY, it comes with 2GB of internal storage, there is a 5-Megapixel camera with autofocus and flash, Bluetooth 2.1, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS and HSDPA connectivity.

According to the company, the Motorola DEFY+ offers faster Web-browsing, it supports Adobe Flash 10 which means you will be able to play some of your favorite web-based games, it comes with the socialnetworking tools and a battery life which delivers up to 7.1 hours of talk time and a 16 day standby time. It runs the Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS with Motorola’s custom UI. No pricing details has been announced but it will be available in Asia, Europe and Latin America starting early this fall.


Motorola Defy+ is now officially selling in the Indian market. Successor to Motorola's rugged Android smartphone Defy, like the original, it is scratch resistant, dust and water proof smartphone.

Motorola Defy+ runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread with a 1 GHz processor which is claimed to be 25 percent faster than Motorola Defy. It has a 5 megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a bigger 3.7 inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with a 480 x 854 pixel resolution. The battery is also on the higher side at 1700 mAh.

The Design Of Motorola Admiral

At first glance, the Admiral looks very much like a typical BlackBerry phone with its portrait QWERTY keyboard. Looking above the keyboard, however, there's no mistaking that it's an Android phone with its four buttons for Settings, Home, Back, and Search.
The phone's 3.1-inch, 480x640-pixel-resolution touch screen provides an alternative method of user input if you don't care to use the hardware keyboard. Beyond offering more choice, it's also a great way for long-term BlackBerry users to get acclimated to the touch screen.
The display, made of Corning Gorilla Glass, is responsive, bright, and clear, making even small fonts easy to read. It seems a little washed-out under bright sunlight, however, which happens to most cell phone screens at the same price point. The hardware keyboard, on the other hand, offers excellent performance all around, with great tactile response. The keyboard offers easy access to special yet frequently use symbols, such as @, #, %, and $. As a longtime iPhone user, I had no trouble using the hardware keyboard.
On the left side just below the volume rocker is the Direct Connect (DC) button. By default it's programmed to activate the phone's push-to-talk feature. You can, however, reprogram it to run any widgets or applications. The control is positioned right in the middle of the phone, making it easy to use when you're holding the handset in front of you. When you raise it near your ear, however, it's slightly awkward to use.
Also on the left side is a Micro-USB port for charging and connecting to a computer. It has a rubber cover to protect it from the elements, which is part of the Military Spec 810G spec trimmings; again, the phone can withstand dust, shock, solar radiation, vibration, low pressure, and high and low temperatures. Note that the Admiral, unfortunately, isn't water-resistant like the Droid Razr.
Up top are a power button, a 3.5mm headset port (also covered by a rubber lid), and a quick-silent button. The latter works only when the phone is unlocked to keep you from accidentally pressing a button when carrying the Admiral inside a pocket. On the right side, the phone has a camera shutter that quickly turns the feature on and snaps photos or starts recording a video.
The microSD slot is located inconveniently beneath the phone's battery. The back cover is coated with soft-finish texture, which along with the curved back makes the Admiral fit ergonomically in your palm. The Admiral measures 4.7 inches by 2.4 inches by 0.5 inch and weighs only 4.7 ounces.
Overall it's about the same size as the iPhone 4, just slightly thicker, but actually more comfortable to hold thanks to the tapered edges.

iPhone 4's new screen and Engineering

Apple, through powers of both good and evil, always finds a way to captivate like no other with their new product launches. But in unveiling the iPhone 4 today, they had an unfamiliar challenge to deal with: a world that has already seen in great detail the new product they were about to announce, thanks to Gizmodo's mega-leak in April. So this time around, Apple had something more to prove: what exactly about the new iPhone 4 is new today?

Screen
We knew the next iPhone would have a higher-resolution screen, but the specifics are in, and they're pretty impressive. 960-by-640 pixels crammed into the same 3.5-inch screen of the 3GS. They're calling it the "Retina Display," and claiming it's the highest resolution screen ever in a phone (it bests the HTC Evo 4G's ginormous 800-by-480, 4.3-inch screen in both resolution and pixel density). Apple is clearly looking to recreate the "wow" factor of the iPad's high-res, color-rich screen by bringing 78 percent of the iPad's total pixel count to a screen less than half its size. Jobs claimed on stage that the human eye, from 10 to 12 inches away, can discern detail in a screen at up to 300 pixels per inch. And the iPhone 4's screen has 326 ppi, which means sharper text and UI elements all around (which will be natively up-res'd to some extent in existing apps).

Engineering
Apple loves their engineering wizardry, and with the iPhone 4, those strange gaps in the side of the frame that to many seemed unfinished have been revealed as something a bit more interesting: the stainless steel rim of the phone does double duty as a multi-purpose antenna for the phone's wide range of radio communications. It's crazy to think of how much transmission takes place, with GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G data and cellular voice all having their own communications bands. Apple didn't hype any monumental gain in reception, but they did cite the antenna as the key to freeing up more room for a bigger battery that adds 40 percent more talk time.

Wow! 75% Chance Apple Phone In The World

Apple rumor sites have jumped on a Piper Jaffray buy recommendation, because it strongly supports the notion an iTunes compatible phone from the company could appear sooner than later.

Piper analyst Gene Munster wrote in research note to clients, "We believe Apple will benefit from the new Intel-based Mac's, along with what we estimate to be a 75 percent chance of a iPhone in the next 12 months."

While a couple of iTunes phones from Motorola are on the market, the ROKR E1 and SLVR VZ, neither captured the imagination the way iPod music players have or an Apple branded phone might. Some say it was because the first iTunes model, the ROKR, limited its song capacity to 100 songs and wasn't particularly appealing physically.

Rumors about an Apple-branded phone have been circulating for quite some time now. Apple registered the mobile-handset-friendly trademark phrase obile Me in January, covering a range of mobile devices and services. And then there's this concept-image of what supposed to be an Apple phone circulating.

The Nokia C2-00 Feature

The Nokia C2-00 is a typically Nokia styled handset which delivers impressive levels of performance, coupled with functionality which caters for most consumer requirements. The handset comes with dual SIM capability, whilst also offering multimedia functionality, all of which is contained within a unit which measures 108 mm x 45 mm wide whilst being 14 mm thick and weighing 74 g in weight.

The handset comes with a 1.8 inch TFT display screen, which offers simplistic imagery by virtue of the fact that within its 128 x 160 pixel screen resolution it is able to correctly display up to 65,000 colours. The unit comes with ring and vibration alert options with the ability to utilise MP3 ringtones, whilst a loudspeaker and a 3.5 mm jack offer a variety of benefits. The handset comes with a phone book which enables the user to retain up to 1000 entries, with the added benefit of photo call capability, whilst its call records feature offers the opportunity to retain information and review detail regarding calls that have been missed, received and dialled.
The unit comes with an array of connectivity options which include a class 12 version of GPRS, coupled with a class 6 version of EDGE, whilst also offering blue tooth and micro-USB connectivity. In addition the handset comes with a useful micro-SD card slot, which provides the opportunity to enhance the available memory capacity within the unit up to 32 GB, by making use of available cards.
The handset comes with a VGA style camera which operates at 640 x 480 pixels and which takes effective snapshot style imagery, whilst also offering the user the opportunity to record video as alternative, at QCIF quality and at 10 frames per second. The handset offers the usual elements of SMS, MMS or e-mail capability whilst also providing instant messaging functionality in conjunction with a WAP 2.0 browser.
Entertainment is provided by virtue of a stereo FM radio, which offers the opportunity to access available live broadcasts from a range of radio stations with ease, whilst a selection of games are provided in addition to an MP4/MP3 multimedia player.
The Nokia C2-00, which bears similarities to the Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type, is an engaging and useful handset which delivers simple yet affordable functionality within the palm of the consumer.

IPhone 4S Hits HongKong

Hong Kong was gripped by iPhone 4S fever on Thursday as more than 1,500 fans and resellers queued outside the Apple store ahead of the release of the smartphone in the southern Chinese city.

 The crowd – including the elderly and parents with children in tow – began to converge on a footbridge opposite Apple’s plush new harbor-side store on Monday, setting up tents with mats, chairs and blankets.
The iPhone 4S will be launched in Hong Kong on Friday at 7 a.m. (2300 GMT Thursday), in the latest phase of its rollout, which will also see it debut in South Korea and 13 other countries.
Would-be customers braved chilly weather and overnight rain, as well as gangs of resellers who were trying to muscle in on the queue to snap up phones for the grey market.
“A scuffle nearly broke out several times. It was such a mess, there was no proper arrangement,” said Man Chow, 33, a local bank worker who took leave to join the queue on Wednesday evening with a friend.
“We had to stand and queue last night even though it was raining and it was very cold. We don’t know whether there’s a quota for each customer but I want to get as many iPhone 4Ss as I can,” he said.
A man from mainland China who refused to give his name said he had been waiting all week.
“I’ll be very proud to own this latest phone. And I’ll be very embarrassed if I can’t get anything,” he said, adding he would buy as many as he could and sell those he didn’t want for himself.
Stunned tourist Dustin Moore said: “I’ll just wait for a few weeks or even a few months to get the phone. This is just crazy, I don’t know what to say.”
More than four million of the smartphones have been sold since its world debut in markets including Germany, Britain, France, Japan and Australia on October 14, according to the company.
The buyer frenzy comes despite software bugs that have caused some iPhone 4S owners to report lower than expected battery life, and reports that its Siri voice-recognition software may not cope well with foreign accents.
Consumer Reports, the influential magazine for product reviews, gave the new model a thumbs up on Tuesday after declining to recommend the previous iPhone version because of reception problems.
The iPhone 4S is already a hit on Hong Kong’s grey market, where they sell for up to six times the official price.
Those margins will shrink dramatically once the product is freely available in the city, but there will still be a market for people who are prepared to pay a premium to avoid the queues at the Apple store.
Other iPhone4Ss will end up on the grey market in nearby cities such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou in mainland China, where they have yet to be officially released.
Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines.

The most powerful iPhone ever with Dual-core A5 chip

　　Two cores in the A5 chip deliver up to two times more power and up to seven times faster graphics.2 And you’ll feel the effects. Fast. iPhone 4S is quick and responsive, which makes all the difference when you’re launching apps, browsing the web, gaming, and doing just about everything. And no matter what you’re doing, you can keep on doing it. Because the A5 chip is so power-efficient, iPhone 4S has outstanding battery life.

iPhone 4S is great for gamers. The A5 chip pushes graphics up to seven times faster. So games run smoother and they’re even more realistic. And graphics-intensive apps perform even better.

Nokia shows the way in London

　　
Nokia shows the way in London 　　London, long starved of Wi-fi hotspots, get a big boost this week. Nokia kicks off a large-scale trial of free Wi-fi in the capital, with plans for a wider roll-out early next year.
A two-month trial, in partnership with Wi-fi provider Spectrum Interactive, will operate in 12 key areas in central London, focusing on shopping centre Oxford Street and other popular locations such as Knightsbridge, Sloane Square, Victoria and Westminster, , reports AdAge magazine.
The trial is intended to help Nokia figure out usage patterns and consumer demand before the big roll-out next year . It will also promote use of Nokia's online services, principally Nokia Maps, which will shows the location of the 26 participating hotspots in case if you can't find one of the telephone boxes with the Spectrum Interactive logo, which house the access points.
The free Wi-fi is part of Nokia's "Amazing Everyday" marketing push, says the US magazine. Also in the mix: the launch of the Lumia Windows Phone in the U.K. on Nov. 16. This will be supported with a TV ad, part of a global $130 million campaign by London agency Inferno.
The spot highlights the countless small adventures hidden in ordinary daily activities, and ends with the tagline "Experience the amazing everyday. New
Nokia Lumia."
London has lagged behind other European cities such as Paris in the free Wi-fi business. In the French capital it is available in many cafes and restaurants. Starbucks offers free Wi-fi in the UK in partnership with BT - but users have to go through" a rigorous sign-up procedure to access the service," says Adage.
Nokia's free Wi-fi comes with few strings : You don't have to register; just log on to the network, accept the terms and conditions and begin browsing. Consumers will be able to pick up free Wi-fi from a radius of 50 to 100 meters from each hotspot.
In the City, The Cloud provides free Wi-fi (sponsored by Nokia) but with the Olympics next year more Wi-fi services to help visitors find their way around are clearly needed. There are negotiations to offer Wi-fi in underground stations .
John Nichols, Nokia's U.K. marketing director, said in a statement, "Nokia believes you can upgrade everyday moments to make them amazing. Providing free Wi-fi access to London commuters and visitors does just that. On-the-go internet access has become an indispensable part of modern life. We all depend on mobile to share our everyday experiences and enhance our lives."
Simon Alberga, executive chairman at Spectrum Interactive, said, It's great to be able to implement this service."

Leveraging Mobile Technology

With over 70 percent of 911 calls now being placed by wireless callers -- and no reliable way to pin a mobile phone number to a specific location -- it is difficult to see how next-generation mobile services can be life-saving. But they can, and here’s how.

Take, for example, the increase in Voice over IP (VoIP) phone services and 4G capabilities, such as sending an EMT a picture of an accident prior to their arrival or explaining emergency procedures with a caller via video. Such technologies can significantly improve mission-critical communication capabilities when data, images or video are transmitted in a 911 call to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). Compare this with today’s emergency services (E911), in which the public can only make emergency voice calls or teletype calls, both of which only deliver a minimal amount of data, and it’s a no-brainer.

However, integrating Emergency Services IP Networks, or ESInets, with legacy networks requires that PSAPs be able to handle video, streaming, data, texts and voice – not to mention the critical ability to identify the location of a mobile or VoIP phone – which is no easy feat. So how are public safety leaders addressing the challenges of how to move to next-generation emergency services, and what do they need to know in managing the transition?

The Future of Emergency Calling Standards

In an effort to improve emergency communications, the Next Generation 911 initiative (NG911), spearheaded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, offers great promise in dramatically improving emergency response capabilities. It has the goal of incorporating next-generation mobile capabilities into existing PSAPs as a way to expand the range of ways callers can transmit emergency information. In the NG911 environment, the public will be able to make a wide range of emergency “calls” including voice, text and video, from any device – wired or wireless – over Internet Protocol (IP) networks. In addition, PSAPs will be able to obtain data from personal safety devices like medical alert systems and sensors. Not only do these services support a constantly increasing mobile user base, but they also support the deaf and hearing impaired, who frequently communicate via text message, as well as non-English speaking callers.

The National Emergency Number Association (NENA) is also setting the stage for the future of emergency calling. Its recent approval of the i3 standard, a long-term plan to ensure that all public safety networks are transitioned successfully from legacy networks to next-generation IP networks, would allow for more advanced services like video, streaming, data, text and voice communications to be used in emergency calls. The protocol for delivering these “calls” across the ESInet will be the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), or IP Multimedia Subsystem (News - Alert) (IMS, which incorporates SIP). The functional and interface standards developed by NENA describe general SIP and IMS-based architectures that offer agencies flexibility in developing an infrastructure to support the envisioned future (and features) of NG911 calling.

Public safety agencies are thinking about how best to transition to NG911, but with over 6,000 PSAPs in the U.S., transitioning every single PSAP from TDM to IP comes with its challenges – budget being top of mind. The goal of many PSAPs is to become part of a larger regional network that include other PSAPs, thereby reducing the CapEx and OpEx burden and leveraging shared resources to connect various emergency call centers. This could take place in a physical or virtual manner, with several counties working together to consolidate their physical networks, or via virtual IP networks. If executed correctly, the economic and operational advantages of NG911 networks will be significant.

The TDM to IP Transition

There are two options for transitioning from TDM to IP. The first option is for public safety agencies to run two networks in parallel – a TDM and an IP network – until they do the switchover. However, this is hardware-intensive, so it can be very expensive and inefficient.

The second option considers not just the replication of what their networks can accomplish today, but what their networks can accomplish in the future. That way, as new services are introduced they can build on their network rather than having to recreate it again in the future. This option entails implementing the right network equipment that can support both TDM and IP services, so that they can complete today’s E911 services, while transitioning to new NG911 services – without incurring capital expenses. As such, this is a far more attractive option.

Building on Existing Networks: What to Consider

In considering building on top of their existing network, PSAPs should be aware of key network features that can support both TDM and IP. These include the following:

Mobile application consultant Jonathan Stark

Mobile application consultant Jonathan Stark, author of two iPhone and Android development books, explains his process for determining the best development approach for an app and discusses the best tools available right now

No matter how you measure it, mobile computing is growing astronomically. Daily usage, smartphone penetration, cellular subscriptions, search traffic, ad impressions, app sales: everything is up. It seems inevitable that mobile devices will overtake traditional desktop and laptop computers as our primary computing platform, perhaps in the relatively near future.
This massive growth presents software developers with amazing opportunities, but also significant challenges. The explosion of mobile platforms and devices has created an unprecedented level of fragmentation, and it's going to get worse before it gets better. Development, testing and distribution of an app for multiple platform/device combinations can be prohibitively expensive.
In this article, I'm going to share my process for determining the best development approach for an app and discuss some of the more popular tools that have emerged to address the fragmentation problem.
Spoiler alert: I'm not going to crown a winner at the end. The correct approach for your project will depend on your development resources, business model, target market and a half dozen other factors. My goal here is to provide information that will help you make an informed decision. For the sake of discussion, I'm going to assume that you are interested in developing apps for iOS, Android, and at least one more platform (eg Window Phone 7, BlackBerry, mobile web, etc...).

Nokia Corp

　　Nokia Corp. retained its leadership on the market of mobile phones in the third quarter as sales of smartphones in Q3 2011 slowed down. At the same time, shipments of Apple iPhones declined quarter-over-quarter and it may be the time for Samsung Electronics to try the crown of the largest smartphone vendor, a victory both for Samsung and Google Android.
The worldwide mobile phone market grew 12.8% year over year in the third quarter of 2011 (Q3 2011), as smartphone growth declined in key mature markets. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), vendors shipped 393.7 million units in Q3 2011 compared to 348.9 million units in the third quarter of 2010. However, the 12.8% growth was higher than IDC's forecast of 9.3% for the quarter and stronger than the 9.8% growth in Q2 2011.

　　It was also the second-lowest growth rate for the overall mobile phone market over the past two years; a reflection of delayed smartphone purchases and conservative consumer spending last quarter. Economically mature regions, such as the United States and Western Europe, were hardest hit as shipment volume to both regions declined on a year-over-year basis.
“The combination of economic uncertainty and anticipation over fourth quarter or late third quarter product releases caused some consumers to delay their smartphone purchases. Many waited for products such as the iPhone 4S, which was announced after the quarter closed, or Research in Motion's BlackBerry 7 phone series, which were released in the final weeks of the quarter,” said Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC's worldwide mobile phone tracker.

Steve Jobs Resisted Third-Party Apps On iPhone

　　iOS apps have become a booming business for Apple—mainly for their status as a selling point for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad devices rather than their direct revenues. Apple’s App Store is now past the 18 billion downloads mark, while $3 billion has been paid out to developers.
SEE ALSO: Does Apple CEO Tim Cook Also Want To Destroy Android?
　　Even so, Walter Isaacson’s authorised biography of former Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs—which is now on sale—explains that Jobs was initially unconvinced that apps would benefit Apple or its iOS platform.
“When it first came out in early 2007, there were no apps you could buy from outside developers, and Jobs initially resisted allowing them,” writes Isaacson. “He didn’t want outsiders to create applications for the iPhone that could mess it up, infect it with viruses, or pollute its integrity.”
Hence no external apps for the first iPhone. However, the book explains that behind the scenes, Apple board member Art Levinson and senior vice president of worldwide product marketing Phil Schiller were pressing Jobs to change his mind.
“I called him a half dozen times to lobby for the potential of the apps,” says Levinson, while Schiller adds that “I couldn’t imagine that we would create something as powerful as the iPhone and not empower developers to make lots of apps. I knew customers would love them.”
Though it is not mentioned in the book, there was pressure from outside too: sources from Apple have told the Guardian that the first request for access to the tools write a third-party app for the iPhone was filed with Apple before the end of Jobs’s keynote introducing the iPhone in January 2007.
The book claims that Jobs initially “quashed the discussion” to focus on the initial iPhone launch, with Schiller and Levinson both telling Isaacson that it was only once the device was available that Jobs relented.
“Every time the conversation happened, Steve seemed a little more open,” says Levinson, who goes on to describe Apple’s approvals policy on the App Store as “an absolutely magical solution that hit the sweet spot. It gave us the benefits of openness while retaining end-to-end control.”
Photo: Getty Images / Steve Jobs There is some more background to this in a recent BusinessWeek profile of Apple executive Scott Forstall, which describes the decision Jobs made in 2005 to assign the job of creating the iPhone’s software to a team led by Forstall trying to shrink Apple’s OS X operating system for a phone, rather than a rival team led by Tony Fadell using the iPod software as its base.
According to BusinessWeek, “Jobs preferred the former option [using OSX], since he would then have a mobile operating system he could customize for the many gizmos then on Apple’s drawing board”.
Externally-developed apps may not have been on his agenda in 2005, or even in 2007 when the first iPhone launched, but that decision proved crucial, because apps could thus be written in Objective-C with Apple’s existing developer tools.
There is also some good stuff in the book on Jobs’ negotiations with magazine and newspaper publishers to get them to offer their digital publications as iOS apps. It describes a conversation between Jobs and Isaacson in early 2010 about the New York Times: “One of my personal projects this year, I’ve decided, is to try and help – whether they want it or not – the Times. I think it’s important to the country for them to figure it out,” said Jobs.
The book describes the arguments between Jobs and publishers as he refused to give them access to the email addresses and credit card information of iTunes customers who subscribed to their apps.
“I’m not the one who got you into this jam,” Jobs told a NYT circulation executive. “You’re the ones who’ve spent the past five years giving away your paper online and not collecting anyone’s credit card information.”

Union Thinks AT&T/T-Mobile

　　
　　Associated PressThe phones at the Communications Workers of America headquarters were ringing early today after the union’s boss, Larry Cohen, appeared to veer off-script when discussing AT&T Inc.’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile USA.
The labor union has been a staunch supporter of AT&T’s proposed $39 billion deal, which the Justice Department is seeking to block on antitrust grounds.
But, on Sunday, Bloomberg referred to a story from a German magazine, Focus, in which Mr. Cohen was quoted as saying that AT&T had scant chance of prevailing in court.
According to the Bloomberg report, Mr. Cohen told Focus the deal is:
Unlikely to receive U.S. court approval at a February hearing.
While U.S. federal courts have in the past overruled the Justice Department, the chances it will happen this time are about 20 percent, Cohen said, according to the German magazine.
The union has been a major champion of the deal and a key plank in AT&T’s case that the merger will create a large number of jobs. (Mergers usually result in the elimination of jobs as companies do away with redundant offices.) So the union’s apparent loss of heart seemed like another big blow for AT&T’s deal. But CWA and AT&T swung into action to undo any damage.
Mr. Cohen gave Bloomberg what a union spokeswoman says was a clarification of his comments. Bloomberg published a second story, in which Mr. Cohen gave the deal rather better odds of surviving:

You will like it!

　　
　　The iPhone 4S wasn’t quite what many expected, and to be fair, we did contribute to the iPhone 5 hype by reporting on the various pre-launch rumors, but now the iPhone 4S is here, and it is selling well. The question is: how good is it, and is it for you? While the hardware changes are few, some are significant, and the iPhone 4S has the advantage of using a largely proven design, which is “mostly” compatible with existing accessories. It also has the most apps, and often the best apps. But is that enough to counter a relentless Android eco-system that improves day after day? After the announcement of the Droid RAZR and the Galaxy Nexus, this is a legitimate question.
In this review, I will go over the pros and cons of the iPhone 4S, including the new A5 processor, the low-light camera and of course… Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant. Are you ready? Let’s take the iPhone 4S for a ride.Context
We all use smartphones differently, so it’s important that I tell you what I do with my smartphone: I typically check my email often with the built-in email app (via Microsoft Exchange), and I reply moderately because the virtual keyboard is slow, even on large displays. I browse the web several times a day to check on news sites, but I rarely watch movies or play music. I don’t call much – maybe 10mn a day, if at all. On the “apps” side, I have a couple of social networks, a receipts manager, but I rarely play games or do something super-intensive. This usage pattern will affect battery life and the perception of what features are useful.

The mobile phone to life

　　Mobile search helps people find what they need in a snap. Whether they’re choosing between two restaurants, shopping for a new watch, or buying a movie ticket, people make better decisions when they have access to more information. Search ads are information—answers—and on mobile devices, they’re able to connect people and businesses in new, useful and relevant ways.
Today, we’re unveiling new mobile search ad formats and some new details about the ways many different businesses are benefiting from mobile advertising.
Search ads, meet mobile apps
We’re bringing the worlds of search and apps together with mobile advertising in a few ways:
Search ads in mobile apps: Lots of mobile apps give people the ability to search for information—like an app that lets you search for a restaurant nearby. Today we’re announcing Custom Search Ads for these apps. These ads provide useful and relevant answers, for people searching within a mobile app. Custom Search Ads will also help app developers earn more money to fund their apps and grow their businesses on mobile.

　　Custom Search Ads in mobile apps
Click to Download: Not surprisingly, many people use Google to search for information about mobile apps. This ad format helps consumers right when they're searching for information about an app, linking them directly to the App Store or Android Marketplace to download. We’ve recently enabled app developers to include app icons and information about the app in their ad unit so that people can make more informed decisions about whether they want to download the app.
Mobile App Extensions: This new, beta ad unit enables businesses to use mobile search ads to direct someone to a page within a mobile app already installed on their phone. For example, if someone searches for sneakers on a mobile device, they might see an ad that takes them directly into a cool shopping app they’ve installed on their phone.

New iphone for jobs

　　
　　It wasn't just the latest iPhone that drew people to Apple stores Friday.
Many consumers waited in lines for hours - sometimes enduring chilly temperatures and overnight thunderstorms - to remember Steve Jobs, Apple's visionary who died last week.
The company's first iPhone release since Jobs' death turned into another tribute. Some customers even joked that the new model 4S stood "for Steve."
Tony Medina, a student from Manhattan, stood outside Apple's flagship store on New York's Fifth Avenue for nine hours, waiting through rain. He had originally planned to order the phone online but decided to join a crowd of about 200 people to honor Jobs.
"For loyalty, I felt I had to do the line," he said. "I had to say thank you."
The new phone, which went on sale Friday in seven countries, is faster than the previous model and comes with better software and an improved camera. Yet the unveiling comes at a time when Apple is finding it difficult to maintain the excitement of previous iPhone introductions.
For starters, the phone is more widely available than in the past. In addition to Apple stores, it's also sold by three wireless carriers: AT&T Inc., Sprint Nextel Corp. and Verizon Wireless. Some Best Buy, Target and Walmart stores also carry the phones, as do authorized resellers.
Buyers were also able to preorder the phone on Apple's website and have it shipped to their homes or offices.
Many die-hard Apple fans and investors were disappointed that Apple did not launch a more radically redesigned new model - an iPhone 5. It's been more than a year since Apple's previous model was released.
That also may have contributed to smaller gatherings at some Apple locations.
"People are not as excited about this version as they might have been" if an iPhone 5 came out," said Charles Prosser, a retired teacher and computer technician from Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Even so, hundreds of buyers camped out in front of stores for hours to be among the first to get an iPhone 4S.
Steve Wozniak, who created Apple with Jobs in a Silicon Valley garage in 1976, was first in line at a store in Los Gatos, Calif., having arrived on his Segway the afternoon before.
Wozniak, who typically waits in line for new Apple products, said he barely slept Thursday night as he was busy chatting with Apple fans, taking photos and giving autographs. Wozniak pre-ordered two new iPhones. He bought two more Friday.
"I just want to be part of an important event, so I feel it more deeply," he said.
Many said the event resembled a remembrance to Jobs, who died a day after Apple Inc. announced the new phone.
Emily Smith, a Web designer, checked in to the line in New York on the location-centric social network Foursquare. She got a virtual Steve Jobs badge that read: "Here's to the crazy ones. ThankYouSteve."
In Chicago, Nicole Pacheco dragged her brother and a friend out to buy Apple's latest gadget.
"I wanted to see how it was, to come out here for once," she said as she looked at the line that stretched past her. "We're kind of a memory for Steve Jobs. It's one of his last inventions. It kind of motivated me to get the next one."
Apple and phone companies started taking orders for the iPhone 4S last Friday. Apple said Monday that more than 1 million orders came in, breaking the record set by last year's model, which was available in fewer countries and on fewer carriers.
And a representative for AT&T said Friday that as of 4:30 EDT, it had activated a record number of iPhones and was on track to double its previous single-day record for activations.
Jobs' death could be helping sales. Marketing experts say products designed by widely admired figures such as Jobs usually see an upsurge in sales after their death.
The base model of the iPhone 4S costs $199 in the U.S. with a two-year contract. It comes with 16 gigabytes of storage. Customers can get 32 gigabytes for $299 and 64 gigabytes for $399. The phones come in white or black.
The phones also debuted Friday in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Britain. They are coming to 22 more countries by the end of the month.
Besides a better processor and camera, the new phone has a new operating system that allows users to sync content without needing a computer. It also includes a futuristic, voice-activated service that responds to spoken commands and questions such as "Do I need an umbrella today?"
The new features appealed to Dina Nguyen, who came to the Apple store in Palo Alto, Calif., the same location where Jobs was known to show up on sale days. She and her brother, Kennedy, picked up four iPhones for their family.
The siblings said it was a bit sentimental to get the phones now, right after Jobs' death.
"He left a good legacy. He had a good life. He wanted to make people happy," Kennedy Nguyen said. "It's good to support that."

Filthy Phones: one In 6 cellular mobile phones Have Traces Of E. Coli Bacteria

About one in six cellphones tested in the U.K. had traces of E. coli bacteria from fecal matter, a new study released for Global Handwashing Day suggests.
Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Queen Mary, University of London travelled to 12 cities in Britain, took 390 samples from cellphones and hands and then analyzed the samples in the lab to record the type and number of germs.
The findings included:

- Although 95 per cent of people said they washed their hands with soap where possible, 92 per cent of phones and 82 per cent of hands had bacteria on them.
- 16 per cent of hands and 16 per cent of phones were found to harbour E. coli bacteria that are associated with stomach upsets.
- Those who had bacteria on their hands were three times as likely to have bacteria on their phones.
"The mobile phone is a lovely area for some of the bacteria that we actually started to grow," said Dr. Ron Cutler of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
"As you speak on your phone too much, it heats up."
Fecal bacteria can survive on hands and surfaces for hours, especially in warmer temperatures away from sunlight; it is easily transferred by touch to door handles, food and cellphones, the researchers said.
If ingested, E.coli can cause diarrhea, extreme abdominal cramping and pain, nausea and vomiting, and in extreme cases, death.
A strain of E. coli O157 was implicated in a fatal outbreak of food poisoning in Germany in June.
Cleaning and phones
Public health experts advise people to wash their hands carefully after using the washroom.
Handwashing tips include:
- Take time to wash properly — long enough the sing the Happy birthday song twice.
- Remove jewelry.
- Wash both the front and back of hands.
- Scrub fingers including under fingernails.
- Use soap and water.
In Calgary, Kevin Wolf was an eager iPhone enthusiast waiting in line for a new model.
"I bet you a lot of people use their phones in the bathroom," Wolf said when learning of the British findings. "That's really gross. Thanks for putting that in my mind."
Farther down the line, the results didn't seem to bother Joe Eisenlohr.
"As far as I am concerned, probably everything in the world has fecal matter on it. Just wash your hands and don't put things in your mouth I guess."
Besides handwashing, CBC medical specialist Dr. Karl Kabasele suggested keeping cellphones and workstations clean by wiping them down with solutions that contain at least 60 per cent alcohol to cut down on the spread of germs.
Every year, 3.5 million children under the age of five are killed by pneumonia and diarrheal diseases that can be prevented by handwashing, the researchers noted.
Global Handwashing Day, held on Oct. 15 every year, aims to make handwashing with soap an automatic behaviour.
The coalition behind the awareness campaign includes GlaxoSmithKline, Initial Washroom Solutions, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Sanofi Pasteur MSD, School Councils UK, Queen Mary, University of London, The Ideas Foundation and Wellcome Trust.

Retail Cost of Mobile Phones

　　When you decide to start an online business and go into drop shipping, it is essential to find a profitable product and a good supplier. Drop shipping is an ideal way to achieve this because it relieves you of ever having to store your own products. Drop shipping mobile phones can be successful because almost everyone can benefit from owning one.

　　
The retail cost of mobile phones depends on the brand of phone you wish to purchase or sell as well as the type of phone and what kind of services it offers. With a two-year contract, most Blackberrys can be purchased for under $100. Verizon Wireless offers its Motorola Droid mobile phone for $149.99 with a two-year contract while its prepaid mobile phone with no contract is only $39.99 to purchase.
The popular Apple iPhone is $149.99 with a new two-year contract as well. All mobile phones can also usually be purchased on Amazon, often at a slightly lower price point than in a retail store. Beware, however, that if you choose not to sign a standard two-year contract for a phone plan the retail value will increase significantly. Blackberrys, iPhones and other smart phones will sell between $300 and $500 without a plan.
Mobile phones are extremely popular and can be found in a variety of different retail stores. Best Buy is one of the largest retailers and usually sells several different brands. Mobile phones can also be purchased at their individual provider stores such as Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and US Cellular.
Wholesale Drop Shipping Costs of Mobile Phones
It is often cheaper and more profitable to purchase mobile phones at a wholesale price instead of at the retail value. Buying wholesale will allow you to purchase mobile phones in larger quantities, which you can then sell to customers for the product's suggested retail value.
Almost all drop shipping companies are different and will have varying prices for their mobile phones, so be sure to find the best company suited to your needs. Although prices will vary greatly, there are some companies that offer touchscreen mobile phones for under $100.
Selling Mobile Phones Online
Selling mobile phones online can be a lucrative way to make a profit. However, it is best if you focus only on drop shipping mobile phones. To do so, build a website that only caters to drop shipping mobile phones. When you have such a targeted audience, it will allow you to cater to everyone's specific needs and will improve your customer service, which is essential to selling anything online.
Since your website should focus only on the drop shipping needs, be sure to give your customers as focused of a site as possible. Especially try to keep your prices fair. Be sure to offer a wide variety of mobile phone brands such as T-Mobile or US Cellular so that your customers have a variety of brands to choose from. Also be sure to detail what each brand has to offer and what their best features are.

Green tech has erupted over the past few years

　　
　　
Green tech has erupted over the past few years. Many are pitching it to do their parts to see to it that the green techs that we need are being produced. There have been green techs that have initiated throughout the years that have been produced that have shown quite promise to the green tech market. Due to these recent developments in green tech, many are realizing the important of further use and creation of these green techs. So far, the green techs have only been used in order to make matters better, and most times that goal has been most successfully met. That has spurred the motivation necessary to really see that these green techs are soaring high. Many see the urgency for the need to produce these green techs, and are jumping on the bandwagon in an effort to join the ranks in doing so. And fortunately, more and more of the financial investments that are essential to the process of creating new green tech is being granted. Although we are not completely there yet, there is being some major progress being made in terms of green tech. Little by little, we are climbing higher to obtaining our ultimate goal.
1. One of the newest developments that have been made in the world of green tech has been done in an effort to save energy for some of the products that we use so much on a daily basis. The product on the market right now that probably gets the most use throughout society today is the cellular phone. So, it is only natural that in the efforts to develop new green tech, there would be several attempts at being the best green tech on the market to save energy in terms of charging capability.
2. The latest attempt at creating a green tech that will save energy in the charging of cellular phones has been composed out of rubber. The researchers that are responsible for this item of green tech are based out of Princeton and Caltech. The green tech is designed to charge a battery by using the power of nanoribbons. This allows the device to give off electrical power when pressure is applied to it. This will allow you the capability to charge a cellular phone when you are participating in your daily activities, which is as simple as the daily stroll that one takes at some point throughout the day. I would imagine that the added benefit is the walking and running activities that could potentially initiated on a daily basis during the process of charging your mobile devices.
3. These type of green techs offer additional benefits. If this device proves to work effectively, it can also work to charge other devices, as well. These types of green techs are projected to be right in the shoes of a person, giving them the ability the electric energy that they need to charge their devices. That is one of the many benefits of all green techs.

iPhone 5 Concept Leaked Expected Design

　　iPhone 5 Concept Leaked Expected Design : Apple’s iPhone 5 was originally said to have come in June 2011 but it seems it has been delayed. Will the 5th Gen Apple iPhone have slight change design from that of iPhone 4 or Completely modified design? Only time can tell.
But most of the web designers are already busy in estimating the design. We found few interesting looking images and we have selected to share with our audience. So have a look at what the internet community thinks iPhone 5 will be like…
iPhone 5 Concept Leaked Expected Design

Apple CEO Steve jobs has died

　　Steve Jobs, who built the world's most valuable technology company by creating devices that changed how people use electronics and revolutionised the computer, music and mobile phone industries, died. He was 56.
　　Jobs, who resigned as Apple chief executive officer on August 24, 2011, the Cupertino, California-based company said today. He was diagnosed in 2003 with a neuroendocrine tumour, a rare form of pancreatic cancer, and had a liver transplant in 2009. Apple disclosed Jobs's passing in a statement.
Jobs embodied the Silicon Valley entrepreneur. He was a long-haired counterculture technophile who dropped out of college and started a computer company in his parents' garage on April Fool's Day, 1976. He had no formal technical training and no real business experience.

　　Charming ... Steve Jobs. Photo: AFP
What he had instead was an appreciation of technology's elegance and a notion that computers could be more than a hobbyist's toy or a corporation's workhorse. These machines could be indispensable tools. A computer could be, he often said, "a bicycle for our minds." He was right - owing largely to a revolution he started.
Visionary to virtuoso
On his watch, Apple came to dominate the digital age, first through the creation of the Macintosh computer and later through the iPod digital music player, the iPhone wireless handset and more recently, the iPad tablet.

　　Steve Jobs unveils the iPad in January 2010. Photo: AFP
With each product, Jobs confronted new adversaries - from International Business Machines Corp. in computers to Microsoft in operating systems, to Sony in music players and Google in mobile software.
And Jobs would prove himself not just a techie visionary, but the virtuoso executive who built the world's second-most valuable company after Exxon Mobil.
The opening act of Jobs's professional ascent stretched from 1976 to 1984. He scored his first hit with the Apple II computer, a device that resonated with schools and some consumers and small businesses, and made Apple an alluring alternative to IBM, then the world's largest computer maker. Apple had its initial public offering in 1980 and the graphical Macintosh was born just over three years later.

About Mobile Choice magazine

About Mobile Choice magazine: Get a subscription to Mobile Choice magazine, the UK's number one consumer mobile phone magazine.
Each issue in a subscription to Mobile Choice magazine is packed with news and reviews of all the latest and greatest mobile phones on the market, together with an essential Buyer's Guide featuring reviews and verdicts for over 120 handsets.
Each monthly issue of a subscription is packed with everything you need to know about mobiles, including camera phones, music phones, operator deals, games reviews, competitions, sat-nav kit, Bluetooth headsets, 3G, mobile TV, smartphones, hints and tips and loads more...
Three great reasons to invest in a subscription to Mobile Choice magazine:
-Fantastic savings of more than 50% off
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So don’t hesitate, treat yourself to a subscription to Mobile Choice magazine today!

Much attention to market the iPhone5

　　Apple will introduce the iPhone 5 at its Cupertino headquarters in California on Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. (local time). The highly anticipated new model, which comes over one year after its predecessor in June of last year, will likely serve as a stress test for the popularity of Samsung's Galaxy S 2 and the new high-speed Galaxy S2 LTE, which runs on 4G tech.
The company has not yet disclosed the worldwide release date for the new model.
On Wednesday, Apple sent an email to U.S. media with the message "Let's talk iPhone," inviting reporters to an event for its new product. The company's new CEO Tim Cook will likely host the event, and Steve Jobs, who resigned last month, may appear via a video message, the foreign press reported.

　　Keeping with tradition, Apple has the model's dimensions and features strictly under wraps. The Wall Street Journal and other U.S. media are busy speculating on what may be in store for consumers based on information leaked by suppliers of iPhone parts, a case manufacturer and telecommunication companies.
They reported that the iPhone 5 will offer improved performance on a 4.2-inch screen with a dual-core processor. The prevailing assumption is that its edges will be rounder -- more like those of the iPhone 3G.
There are also rumors that Apple will introduce more than one smartphone this time around, possibly including a lower-priced model. These are largely based on comments by Apple board member Al Gore, the former U.S. vice president, who said recently that "new iPhones will be introduced," stressing the plural form.

If Apple does shoot for a new pricing policy and new technology, it would pose a fresh challenge to Samsung, which has seen surging sales for its Galaxy S 2 recently. The company has shifted 10 million units just five months after its release of the handset but still trails Apple.
Samsung has however bounced back with the Galaxy S series after the company faltered in the wake of the iPhone's cult-like popularity. The Korean tech giant secured 17.5 percent of the global smartphone market in the second quarter of this year, slightly behind Apple's 18.5 percent. This has led pundits to predict that Samsung will rank No. 1 in smartphone sales this year.
The release date of the iPhone 5 in Korea has not been set yet. SK Telecom and KT are discussing with Apple the prospect of issuing the phone in early November

French researchers have nearly succeeded in commercially developing

　　

　　Going green: The technology could lead to more environmentally friendly mobile phones.
PARIS: French researchers have nearly succeeded in commercially developing a hydrogen fuel cell for use as a backup power source for mobile phones, thus easing dependence on an electricity supply to charge the gadgets.
The miniature fuel cell uses a hydrogen-filled cartridge about the size of a small cigarette lighter, according to the researchers at the Atomic Energy Commission which has its headquarters in Saclay in northern France.
Hybrid handsets
They announced on Wednesday that the gadget, designed to be carried in a belt pouch, has been in gestation since 2005 with a semi-conductor technology company, STMicroelectronics.
The cartridges are being developed by the company Bic, which makes pens, lighters and razors.
The product is designed to be part of a "hybrid" system in which the cell phone first draws on the conventional battery for its power and then taps into the fuel cell if needed. Each cartridge gives the equivalent of three to five recharges of the traditional battery.
It is due to reach the market in early 2010, according to STMicroelectronics executive Igor Bimbaud, who declined to give its price.

The world’s first cellular Augmented fact unique newspaper Edition

Within a few years it will be common to use a mobile phone to interact with magazines in order to gain access to exclusive content. To give us a glimpse on what the future holds, Metaio has been working hard with SZ Magazine to give their readers an augmented reality experience they’ll never forget.
Tomorrow, over 550,000 households in Germany will get the latest edition of the Sueddeutsche Zeitung`s supplement magazine, which when viewed with Metaio’s junaio browser (available free for Android and iPhone) will reveal special content. What makes this project unique is it’s not just the cover or a few pages, but the entire magazine has been devoted to augmented reality.
The cover of the magazine shows Sandra Maischberger, the well known TV personality, hiding behind her raised hands. When viewed through the smartphone`s camera, however, the popular TV host appears smiling cheerfully at the viewer. Inside is a photo “interview without words” with Lena Meyer-Landrut, who recently won the European Song Contest. When looked at through the smartphone little speech bubbles appear with jibes and comments she couldn`t help making during the shooting (see image 1 + 2) . The famous column of Axel Hacke triggers a fantastic 3D animation by the illustrator Dirk Schmidt. Finally the editors and journalists of the SZ Magazine reveal their favourite spots in Munich, Berlin and Hamburg in a virtual city guide. Readers in those cities, who hold up their smartphone will see the camera view augmented with indicators pointing out restaurants, bars, clubs, shops and hotels around them (see image 3), courtesy of SZ Magazine.

New in Idols Mobile Magazine

　　New in Idols Mobile Magazine: all candidates carry mobile phones with which they create their own diary, including pictures and stories logged throughout the day. This unique user generated content makes viewers experience Idols much more intimately.
After the success of the X FACTOR Mobile Magazine that Service2Media introduced for RTL Nederland in 2006, Idols IV Mobile Magazine takes the concept to a higher level.
The Idols Mobile Magazine invites the viewer backstage and offers the viewer unique and exclusive content not showed on TV or the Internet. The Idols Mobile Magazine enables the user to access – anytime and anywhere – relevant information about the program, candidates, latest news, high quality pictures and video streams, and the fastquiz. Furthermore, the user can vote for their favorite candidate and order ringtones or wallpapers within the integrated mobile shop.

　　The most attractive feature of the Mobile Magazine is the ability to view the personal diaries of the candidates. The candidates have received free mobile phones (sponsored by Belcompany) with a special version of the Mobile Magazine installed. With this version they can create and upload their own personal content like pictures, videos and text. The diaries can be viewed exclusively by users of the Idols Mobile Magazine and are updated daily by the candidates themselves.
Exposure of the Idols Mobile Magazine was given live on TV, built into the format.

UK-based PLAY Magazine is the latest magazine to get their hands on Grand

　　UK-based PLAY Magazine is the latest magazine to get their hands on Grand Theft Auto IV. They have an eight-page multiplayer preview in their latest issue. There are no new screenshots, but there are some interesting (mostly minor) new details:

Multiplayer can be accessed via your mobile phone during single-player. Select the 'Multiplayer' option and from there you can select game types and send invites for your friends to join you.
The host can control things like time of day, vehicle classes (specifically for GTA Race mode), weapon types, traffic, the location of the match, the weather type and choose whether the game will feature police or not.

As mentioned previously, you can customise your online character. You start off with basic modifications such as sunglasses, hats, tops, trousers and so on, but the more you play the game, the more options you unlock.
PLAY Magazine saw a random pedestrian spraying graffiti on a shop. Pedestrians now have purpose. There are more unique moments.
Each game mode can support differents numbers of players, with 16 being the maximum. Click here for a summary of the eight game modes which PLAY got to experience.
Be sure to pick up a copy if you see one, it's well worth the read. Thanks to DeeperRed for the info.
And in other news, be sure to check out our new Music page, which details all of the game's radio stations that we know about so far.