Tags: apple / gadget / ipad / iPhone

What the iPhone killed

- Monday, 29 September 2014 No Comments

Do you know, what makes most of products from Apple Inc successful, in terms of revenue and popularity in spite of comparatively higher pricing they have? Well, simply put, they have a special touch on them — a touch of innovation and freshness! As you might know, Steve Jobs, one of the founders of Apple Inc, was the one who blended this touch of innovation for the first time, and devices that followed Macintosh did not hesitate to benefit this blend. Among all products of Apple Inc, however, iPhone is something exceptional. Albeit the fact that almost every product from that company had altered consumer electronics industry, in a way or another, Apple iPhone had totally transformed the Smartphone concept itself. And, now, we have iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus before us, with impressive and productive features. If it was multi-touch was in first iPhone, its ninth version has some productive features to offer!

Well, it has to be noted, however, that from its start, iPhone has been successful in killing technologies! Well, you did hear it right — Apple iPhone has killed a lot of technologies, products and services so far! For instance, before rise of iPhone, dedicated devices were used for satellite-based navigation, particularly in vehicles. Nevertheless, after Steve Jobs unveiled iPhone and it made its way to market, there was a noticeable decrease in popularity of such devices, as iPhone took that job. Similarly, there are a number of technologies that confronted decrease in popularity as a result of iPhone’s domination of market. In this infographic, we will have a look on those technologies, products & services. Furthermore, considering Apple’s foray into wearable technology, we will be able to add more to the killed list.

Although we cannot say these technologies were completely killed, it’s a matter of fact that iPhone had negative sort of effect on their popularity and prominence in market. Do you know about other technologies to be included in this list? We are waiting for your replies. By the way, we would like to show our gratitude to developers and designers at http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk, who made this wonderful infographic!

Apple updates iOS for iPhones, iPads

- Monday, 28 January 2013 No Comments

Apple has released a software update for iPhones and iPads that speeds up data downloads on some major overseas telecom networks and a handful of small US carriers.
Apple says iOS version 6.1 adds the ability to access the "LTE" networks of 36 additional iPhone carriers. Those include Alaska Communications, Bluegrass Cellular of Kentucky and C Spire of Mississippi. Internationally, they include major carriers in Italy, Denmark, Finland, Croatia, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

The update also includes the ability buy US movie tickets through the "Siri" voice-controlled assistant feature. Also, subscribers to "iTunes Match" will now be able to download individual songs from their online lockers to their phones.
The update is compatible with the iPod Touch as well.

Tags: apple / gadget / ipad / iPhone

Technical Differences Between an iPhone and iPad

- Sunday, 21 October 2012 No Comments

Are you wondering whether to get an iPhone or an iPad for your next big investment? (Or maybe just blowing an extra paycheck on something fun?) Maybe you’re wondering whether to buy an iPad or an iPhone. Most users will focus on the physical differences; i.e. the iPad is obviously designed as a tablet system, and the iPhone has a much smaller screen, hence the Smartphone label. However, there are more technical differences to consider before making your decision.

What the iPad Doesn’t Have

Let’s first focus on the limitations of the iPad system. For one thing there is a noticeable difference in video quality when using the iPad, since the aspect ratio is not widescreen and video output is supported at 480p, and nothing higher. Other missing features that you might mistakenly assume the system has include a GPS system as well a PC-friendly USB port. Thus, you will quickly realize that while the iPhone was clearly designed to be a mobile unit, the iPad is more conducive to interior use—as in a home, or even a hotel room.

The good news is that there are many business apps and hardware devices (not to mention accessories like the new keyboard plus docking center) that can make the iPad seem more home-friendly. You also have to consider the alarming fact that while the iPad does have a built-in microphone it does not have a built in camera.

Advantages to the iPhone

The iPhone, while a smaller unit, does boast some significant advantages over the iPad. The iPhone has 3G and sometimes 4G mobility, which is based on a cellular network not WI-FI. The iPad systems do offer 3G but these are more expensive units than the moderately priced WI-FI only iPad. On the other hand, the iPhone boasts 3G and 3GS with WI-FI and cellular compatibility. The 3G technology also provides the iPhone with a GPS system (built in as a chip), which will not work on the moderately priced iPad units. The iPhone also has a camera built in, (whether a 3 or 2 megapixel level) which it can use to capture video and photos.

Battery Power and Weight

What about battery power? The iPad battery can last up to 10 hours, and can be used for surfing, watching video or listening to MP3s. On the other hand, the iPhone can last up to six hours of web browsing time—significantly lower than the larger iPad. Weight and size are still significant issues, as the iPhone weighs 4.8 ounces (for the standard unit, with a 3.5 inch screen) versus the iPad which weighs 1.5 pounds and has a 9.7 inch screen. This will obviously make the iPad difficult to use as a phone.

Hardware Specifications

The iPad has a 2048-by-1536-pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch. This dwarfs the iPhone’s 1136-by-640 resolution. However, the newest Apple iPhone has an A6 dual core high performance chip which does provide faster performance than the iPad’s A5 chip, a generation behind.

When to Choose an iPad Over an iPhone

Why should you choose an iPad over an iPhone? One option may very well be price, since iPad WI-FI units are less expensive, and don’t have to involve a monthly fee like the iPhone. Of course, with iPads, you could use the system to surf the web, play games online, watch TV or cable, organize photos and enjoy a full entertainment center within the palm of your hand. (You could even perform these tasks while on the road if you have a 3G system)

An iPhone, however, might be the better choice if you are planning to do a lot of business on the road and take advantage of video conferencing features, and fast telephone communications. The only question left is, can the small screen suffice for your business agenda?

Helene Lazarenco is a dedicated writer at Kepard.com. She is passionate by Technology, Security software and Blogging. Don’t forget to try out a VPN service when need a reliable US VPN (warning: totally different.)

Tags: ipad

CNN buys iPad news reader Zite

- Wednesday, 31 August 2011 No Comments

US cable television network CNN announced Tuesday that it has bought Zite, a Canadian company that makes a personalized news reader for the iPad.

CNN did not say how much it paid for the San Francisco- and Vancouver-based Zite, which was launched in March, but technology blog All Things Digital put the purchase price at $20 million to $25 million.

CNN said Zite will be a wholly owned subsidiary of the Atlanta-based Cable News Network and will operate as a separate, stand-alone business.

"Zite represents the next generation of content discovery and personalized publishing, and CNN wants to help lead in that space," CNN digital manager KC Estenson said.

"We think we can advance the industry in a meaningful way that helps content creators expand their businesses while growing the distribution of a product that people already love," Estenson said in a press release.

Like other iPad news aggregators such as Flipboard, Pulse, Taptu and AOL's Editions, Zite uses algorithms to take a reader's interests and behavior into account in serving up their pages.

Zite's technology can "help CNN's websites and apps serve more personalized content, making our current digital services even better," CNN said.

Zite chief executive Mark Johnson said the acquisition by CNN "gives us the capital to grow Zite's business and continue to innovate in the space."

CNN said Johnson will continue to run Zite's day-to-day operations while Zite founder Ali Davar will remain as executive director.

Shortly after its launch, Zite was accused of copyright infringement by The Washington Post, Dow Jones, Time Inc. and other news organizations and told to stop displaying their articles.

Instead of directing a reader to the websites of the news organizations, where they display online advertising, Zite had been showing some articles reformatted in a pop-up window without ads.

After receiving the "cease-and-desist" letter, Zite began linking directly to the websites of the complaining publications

Tags: app / google / ipad

Google Launches iPad App for Browsing Catalogs

- Tuesday, 16 August 2011 No Comments

The iPad's popularity has prompted Google to revive a program that aggregated catalogs from major retailers.
The new app, called Google Catalogs, is designed for "all major tablet devices" though it is just available in an iPad version now. The app displays the catalogs in rich media. Dozens of retailers, including L.L. Bean, Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue are providing content for the app.
[More from Mashable: The 10 Most Expensive Google Acquisitions]
Google Catalogs includes features familiar with other tablet apps, like zooming and the ability to share content. But the app also lets you buy content via online stores. It also directs you to nearby brick-and-mortar locations.
Google shuttered a similar program, called Google Catalog Search, in 2009 because of a lack of consumer interest.

Tags: apple / cyber security / ipad / iPhone

Security holes discovered in iPhones, iPads

- Monday, 11 July 2011 No Comments

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A new security hole has opened up in Apple Inc.'s iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices, raising alarms about the susceptibility of some of the world's hottest tech gadgets to hacker attacks.

Flaws in the software running those devices came to light after a German security agency warned that criminals could use them to steal confidential data off the devices. Apple, the world's largest technology company by market value, said Thursday that it is working on a fix that will be distributed in an upcoming software upgrade.With the security hole, an attacker can get malicious software onto a device by tricking its owner into clicking an infected PDF file. Germany's Federal Office for Information Security called the flaws "critical weaknesses" in Apple's iOS operating system.

Internet-connected mobile devices are still subject to fewer attacks than personal computer, but they could eventually prove a juicy target for hackers because they are warehouses of confidential banking, e-mail, calendar, contact and other data.

Software vulnerabilities are discovered all the time. What makes the latest discovery alarming is that the weaknesses are already being actively exploited — albeit in a consensual way. The latest concerns were prompted by the emergence of a new version of a program to allow Apple devices to run any software and circumvent the restrictions that Apple notoriously retains over software distributed through its online store. There are security risks of doing so, but many people find it liberating to install their own software.

Although this program is something people would seek out, the weaknesses that its authors discovered could easily be used for malice, security experts say.

There is an irony in the controversy: The site distributing the program offers a fix for the problem, but to get the fix, a user has to first install the program in question. So a user must defy Apple's restrictions to get the protection until Apple comes up with a fix of its own.

Charlie Miller, a prominent hacker of Apple products, said it likely took months to develop the program to break Apple's restrictions, but a criminal might need only a day or two to modify it for nefarious purposes.

Apple Inc. spokeswoman Bethan Lloyd said Thursday the company is "aware of this reported issue and developing a fix." She would not say when the update will be available.

One reason for gadget owners to take heart: Attacks on smartphones and other Internet gadgets are still relatively rare. One reason is PC-based attacks are still highly lucrative. Still, vulnerabilities such as the ones Apple is confronting show that consumers should take care of securing their mobile devices as they would their home computer.

"These things are computers — they're just small, portable computers that happen to have a phone tacked onto them," said Marc Fossi, manager of research and development for Symantec Security Response. "You've got to treat them more like a computer than a phone. You have to be aware of what's going on with these devices."

Tags: apple / hackers / ipad / iPhone

Hackers expose flaw in Apple iPad, iPhone software

- Friday, 8 July 2011 No Comments

BOSTON (Reuters) - Hackers have disclosed a bug in software fromApple Inc that security experts said could be exploited by criminals looking to gain remote control over iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices.

The security flaw in Apple's iOS operating system came to light on Wednesday as the website www.jailbreakme.com released code that Apple customers can use to modify the iOS operating system through a process known as "jail breaking."Some Apple customers choose to jail break their devices so they can download and run applications that are not approved by Apple or use iPhone phones on networks of carriers that are not approved by Apple.

Security experts warned that criminal hackers could download that code, reverse engineer it to identify a hole in iOS security and build a piece of malicious software within a few days.

"If you are a malicious attacker, it is fairly doable," said Patrik Runald, a senior researcher with the Internet security firm Websense. Apple has yet to release an update to iOS that protects customers against malicious software that exploits the flaw.

Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said the company was aware of the problem.

"We are developing a fix that will be available to customers in an upcoming software update," Muller said. Apple has long been vocal against jail breaking, which if done voids the warranty on its devices. Any security flaw in iOS software -- which runs Apple's iPhone, iPad tablet and iPod Touch -- has the potential to affect millions of devices that are at the core of Apple's business. Apple has sold 25 million iPads since it launched last year. The company sold over 18 million of its popular iPhones in just the first three months of the year. Hackers can exploit the iOS vulnerability by creating a malicious PDF document file. It would infect Apple devices when users attempt to open that document, according to Runald.

Once the device is infected, hackers could "do anything they want," Runald said. That includes stealing passwords, documents and emails. Comex, a 19-year-old hacker from New York State who developed the jail-breaking tool, said that Apple might be able to patch the software before criminal hackers develop software that exploits the bug. Last time he put out a version of his jailbreaking software, Apple was able to issue a patch before anybody exploited the bug for malicious purposes. He said that Apple might not be able to move quickly enough this time.

Tags: apple / ipad / tablet

Apple Ipad 2

- Sunday, 8 May 2011 No Comments

The iPad 2 is the second generation of the iPad, a tablet computer designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It serves primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games and web content, and is available in black or white. TheFoxconn-manufactured iPad 2 has a lithium-polymer battery that lasts up to 10 hours, a new dual core Apple A5 processor and VGA front-facing and 720p rear-facing cameras designed for FaceTime video calling.
Apple unveiled the device on March 2, 2011, began selling it by website and retail stores on March 11, and released it in 25 other countries on March 25, including Australia, Britain and Canada. Apple announced that the iPad 2 will be released in Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore and other countries on April 29, 2011.

Software

The iPad 2 is currently supplied with iOS 4.3.1, a similar system to previous iOS versions. The 4.3.1 system fixed bug with the graphics on theiPod touch, bugs related to activating and connecting to some cellular networks, authenticating with some enterprise web services. A newer version, 4.3.3 is available for online download once an account is created with the iStore.

Hardware

The iPad 2 includes a new A5 processor, front and rear cameras plus a 3 axis gyroscope. Several components were made smaller to fit the new iPad.

Product specification

• 1GHz dual-core Apple A5 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip
• 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
• 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi)
• Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
• Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously
• Available as Wi-Fi only, and Wi-Fi/3G for Verizon and AT&T
• Wi-Fi Model Dimensions: 9.5”h X 7.31”w X 0.34” deep; 1.33 pounds
• Storage: 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB
• Wi-F 802.11 a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR technology
• Back camera: Video recording, HD (720p) up to 30 frames per second with audio; still camera with 5x digital zoom

• Front camera: Video recording, VGA up to 30 frames per second with audio; VGA-quality still camera
• Photo and video geotagging over Wi-Fi
• Built-in 25-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery with up to 10 hours of battery life for surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
• Sensors: 3-axis gyro, accelerometer, ambient light
• Location: Wi-Fi and digital compass
• Check the Apple iPad 2 page for more information about the Wi-Fi only model and the Wi-Fi/3G models

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