Business News Holding

Category: smartphone

  • Smartphone with Curved Displays to Be Released By Samsung


    Samsung has indicated that it is going to release a smartphone with curved displays in October. This is a revolutionary invention that is meant to segment its lead in the increasingly saturated market.

    The curved display is at the nascent stage that is shifting towards flexible displays that can even be folded. In January, Samsung released a prototype of products with flexible screens. However, it is faced with tremendous challenges in making other handset components such as batteries which can bed with the rest of the gadget.

    Curved displays are available in large screen televisions released by companies such as Samsung and LG. They are set to offer immense viewing but come at a significantly higher cost.

    In its quest to break new ground, Samsung early this month released the galaxy gear smart watch. It can take photos, and videos, check emails as well as make calls.

    The next frontier in consumer electronics is meant to be wearable computing, which includes goggle’s smart glasses.

    Samsungs watch received some scathing reviews and complains such as it only works together with the oversized Samsung Galaxy note III. However, Samsung is confident that critics will be won over when the gear and Galaxy note III are released in at the end of October.

    Image: IBTimes

  • New Desire 601 and Desire 300 Smartphones Released By HTC


    In its quest to bring better features to the mid range and entry-level market, HTC has unveiled two smartphones. These are the entry-level HTC Desire 300 and the mid-range HTC Desire 601.

    The new HTC Desire 601 borrows a lot of design features from the dual-SIM HTC Desire 600 that was previously announced. These features include 960×540 resolution screen and 4.5-inch size. The phone has a single sim slot and its actual dimensions are 134.5×66.7×9.88mm. It weighs 130 grams and it is slightly thicker than the Desire 600. However, it has a much better 2100mAh battery; Adreno 305 GPU paired up with 1GB of RAM as well as a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset with dual-core 1.4GHz CPU part.

    The Desire 601 also supports Video Highlights features as well as HTC Zoe. These features were available in the high end HTC One series smartphones. The phone also features 8GB internal memory, 5 megapixel rear camera as well as Bluetooth and 4.0 802.11bgn WiFi connectivity.

    The desire 300 is a standard entry Smartphone with 5-megapixel auto-focus rear camera and 4.3-inch 800×480 displays. It has a 4GB internal memory with room for expansion.

  • Z30 – Blackberry’s New Flagship Smartphone


    Blackberry has launched the Z30 as its flagship smartphone as it tries to capture back market share amid an uncertain future. Blackberry was once a pioneer in the smartphone arena but it has now indicated that it is weighing its options.

    The much anticipated Z30 is poised to take the crown from the previous Z10 as Blackberry’s top of the line device. It was launched at an event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The touch screen device features a five inch display as well as a 1.7 gigahertz processor. It is set to compete with the iPhone 5C, Samsung galaxy S4 as well as other android powered devices. 

    Wells Fargo analyst Maynard Um has indicated that the success of the Z30 will be based on the pricing, carrier ability as well as the pace of consumer adoption. Blackberry has for long been targeting to make Blackberry 10 the 3rd most popular operating system. However, Microsoft’s windows phone platform is poised to clinch this position.

    Although Blackberry’s new devices have received a good reception from consumers, many analysts think that it does not have the financial heft to fight off competition from the industry giants.

    Blackberry has indicated that the new Z30 smartphone will be available in stores in the UK and Middle East within the next few weeks. It will go on sale in selected retailers in other regions within the year.

  • Will the Newly Released iPhone 5c Appeal to Emerging Markets?


    According to a report published by USA TODAY, many analysts are skeptical that the iPhone 5c will have huge sales in the emerging markets. Just a day after the release of the high-end iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c (the cheaper one of the two), analysts are still concerned with the iPhone 5c retail prices. Without a contract, the phone is set to sell at $549 and $99 with a two-year contract.

    This Wednesday, Apple shares finished at $467.71, $26.93 down, amidst fears that the tech company might have placed a  very high cost on iPhone 5c, hence failing to capture the emerging markets. Michael Walkley, an analyst at Canaccord says that while the specifications of the 5c and 5s did not fall far from expectations, the price of the 5c was too far from what he expected.

    In recent years, Apple has lost ground to Samsung, Huawel and other android supported handsets that sell at cheaper prices and still offer ideal smartphone features. This concept is ideally true in emerging markets , especially in developing countries where use of smartphones is quickly becoming the norm. It is without a doubt that the iPhone 5c was specifically designed and manufactured to appeal to people in the emerging markets. However, with such a high price, we can only wait and see what fate has in store for the beautiful, features ladened phone.

  • Everything Apple Announced at Yesterday's iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c Event


    During yesterday's event that took place in Cuperino, Apple has finally unveiled the long-awaited new iPhones: iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c. 

    Apple's CEO Tim Cook kick-started the event, of course in his trademark uniform of a black button-up shirt and dark jeans. Most of the announcements he made seem directed at beating Google's Android platform at having the market share in new markets. The Android platform has been having a fast growth in emerging markets, especially Asia, and Apple now appears to have rededicated its efforts to penetrate these markets and expand its customer base.

    The highlights of the event were:

    • Launch of two new iPhones: iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S
    • iOS 7 release date announcement
    • iWork updates
    • Siri upgrade

    Apple Introduces 2 New iPhones

    Apple reached a new level of its iPhone business with the iPhone 5, and we have been expecting even better ever since. In the past, the release of a new iPhone has been accompanied by lowering of the price of the previous device. However, this year prices for iPhone 5 remain the same as it is replaced with two new designs.

    The two iPhones, iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S, will be available for pre-order on September 20. It is expected that they will be available in China too.

    iPhone 5S: Apple's New Flagship Phone

    The iPhone 5S has been labeled "the most forward-thinking phone ever made” even before it hits the stores. It is similar to the iPhone 5 in size and thickness, and it's available in three colors: gold, gray, and silver. It is made of high-grade aluminum, which Apple’s marketing chief Philip Schiller called "the gold standards in smartphones."

    The most outstanding thing about the iPhone 5S is its speed. With a 64-bit A7 chip – the first phone ever to use this kind of chip – the new iPhone has speeds that are 40 times greater than those of the first iPhone. The graphics power is also impressive; looking at the phone feels like looking on a PC gaming device.

    Battery life has been improved from iPhone 5. With the iPhone 5S, the battery can last 10 hours 3G talk time and its standby life is 250 hours. Monitoring motion will also be possible thanks to the new Apple M7 chip. It bears similarity to the X8 computing system used by Motorola for its Moto X. With this chip, app makers will be able to detect movement of the users throughout the day, like the total number of steps they take. It also saves on battery.

    The camera system has also been improved. It features an f.2.2 aperture for better night photos. It also features a dual-LED rear-camera flash for better photos in low light. This type of flash – dual-LED flash – extends the distance of the camera flash. Other new features are a 10 frames-per-second burst mode and a slow-motion video for 120 frames-per-second recording.

    As rumored, the home button for the screen is a fingerprint scanner Apple calls Touch ID. The security of the iPhone has just become better with Touch ID because you no longer have to worry about forgetting the passcode for the phone or go through the hassle of typing in a series of numbers just to get a weather update. You use Touch ID by clicking on the home button and holding down the finger for a couple seconds. It can read a finger at any angle and you can even teach it to recognize multiple fingers to allow other people access to the phone. In case you are concerned about security, Touch ID can be turned off.

    The iPhone 5S will be available for a two-year contract at a cost of $199 for 16 gigabytes, $299 for 32 gigabytes, and $399 for 64 gigabytes.

    iPhone 5C: Candy-Colored and Cheaper

    The iPhone 5C comes as was predicted, with a plastic body and 5 new bright colors: red, white, green, blue, and yellow. The face of the phone is black and no seams, joints or flat lines are visible even with close inspection. The inside also features a new construction. There is a 4-inch retina display, 8 megapixel camera, and a new FaceTime camera.

    Regarding cell service, Schiller said “It supports more LTE bands than any smartphone in the world.”

    The phone comes with a two-year contract at a cost of $99 for the 16 gigabytes version and $199 for the 32 gigabytes version. The predicted full price by analysts is $55o
    .
    Being the less expensive iPhone, it is expected that the iPhone 5C will be Apple's flag bearer in a number of emerging markets where the majority of customers cannot afford the current Apple products. These markets have hundreds of millions of people buying smartphones every year. They include China, India, and Russia.

    iOS 7 Coming Sept. 18

    The iOS 7, showcased earlier in June at the Worldwide Developers Conference, was unveiled today. It brings over 200 new features among them a design that makes the iPhone screen seem totally new. This design sports stark open white space that will be a welcome sight for users who want a the calming effect of white. With the thin iconography and the flat new design, iOS 7 is a far cry from its 1980s-era skeuomorphic.

    One of the features of iOS 7 is a live streaming music service Apple calls the iTunes Radio. Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president for software engineering, said that there are also several apps being developed around the new interface. A demo of the new Camera app showed that its speed beats that of the app in iOS 6. A slick user interface allows zooming out to a year view, with the user's photos showing in tiny icons. There is also built-in access to live photo filters and new organization capabilities for images by time and location.

    The new operating system is laden with processor-intense features and it offers full multitasking capabilities. This could adversely affect the battery life of iPhone 4S and other older iPhones, but we wait to see. Apple has maintained that this will be the most popular mobile OS.

    According to Federighi, “iOS 7 will be available — unbelievably, for free — on Sept. 18.”

    Shipping of the operating system will begin next month to iOS device users, making 700 million devices new for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users.

    At Last Siri Receives an Upgrade

    Apple has made this year Siri's year in the spotlight. The company released an upgrade for the popular voice-activated digital assistant so that iPhone users can get an improved Siri experience. The upgrade features a new male voice. There are also a number of new voice commands that include searching on a number of sites on the Web like Wikipedia.

    Over the last couple of years, Apple has been hard at work to improve Siri following negative feedback and reviews after he (Siri) could not understand some of the things customers were saying. The upgrade has also been influenced by the competition between Apple and giant rival Google Android operating system's voice command features.

    Apps on iWork Platform Now Free

    Cook also announced a few welcome updates for iWork. iWork is the productivity software for Apple responsible for the apps on iPhones and iPads. Some of these apps include the Keynote, Numbers, and Pages apps.

    Cook said that iPhoto, iMovie, Keynote, Numbers, and Pages were now available for free. Anyone with a new iPhone or iPad will be able to download these apps free of charge.

    He also said of iWork, “No other platform has any apps like these.”

    The London iTunes Festival

    One of the biggest announcements Mr. Cook made was of the iTunes Festival that is taking place in London from 1-30 September. The festival is an annual event that involves 30 nights of free live music performances. This year it unfolds at the Roundhouse art centre and some of the names Cook threw that will be performing were Lady Gaga, the curtain raiser, and Justin Timberlake. Among the other singers making appearances are Katy Perry, Queens of the Stone, and Kings of Leon.

    According to Cook, the concerts will be streamed live in over 100 countries across the world. After the performances, they will also be available on iTunes for free. Users of Apple TV, iPhones, iPads, iPod touch, and laptops will therefore not miss out on anything even if they don't make it to London. The number that has already applied for tickets to the event is so far 20 million.

    Cook also pointed out to Apple's retail growth by announcing a new Apple store that boasts a museum-like appearance with glass on three sides. Stanford, California is home to the store, which opened last weekend.

  • Nokia Lumia 925 Goes Live at AT&T Starting September 13th for $99.99, Pre-Orders Now Open

    Nokia Lumia 925 made its appearance at T-Mobile last month and now it is set to land at AT&T on September 13th. This is the first Lumia smartphone that features a metal design detail and it will be available for a monthly cost of $21 on AT$T Next plan or for $99.99 in a two-year agreement.

    AT&T Next is a new program that the company launched to allow its customers get a new device every year. Available only to upgrade eligible AT&T customers, AT&T Next lets you purchase a smartphone or tablet devoid of down payments, upgrade fees, and activation fees, and after paying 12 monthly installments you are allowed to trade it in and get a new device.

    Lumia 925, a Windows Phone that is slim, lightweight, and dominated by a 4.5-inch PureMotion HD + Gorilla Glass display, runs on AT&T's 4G LTE network. It sports an 8.7 megapixel camera that packs the usual high-performance optics and camera features Nokia is known for. At launch, the exclusive black version of the Lumia will be available to only AT$T customers.

    A couple of days obviously stand between the 4.5-inch aluminum-clad smartphone and its lovers but pre-orders already began.

  • Samsung Launches its Second Dual-Screen Flip-Phone: the Galaxy Golden


    In a span of weeks, Samsung has launched two new clamshells. The tech giant certainly thinks the flip-phone is not going anywhere any time soon.

    The Galaxy Golden has just been debuted and its similarity to the Folder is rather striking. The Folder was leaked a few weeks ago, just before the official arrival of the Hennessey, under an almost identical model number.

    The Galaxy Golden sports Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, dual 3.7-inch Super AMOLED screens, a 1.7GHz dual-core processor, and an 8 megapixel camera. It is also packed with features designed for the older generation including an "easy mode" that enables optimization of the home screen, an FM radio, a business card recognition function, and a pedometer that works with S Health.

    S Health is a personal wellness app that was initially demonstrated at the Unpacked launch of Samsung Galaxy S III. It is compatible with such healthcare sensors as body composition scales, blood pressure monitors, and blood glucose meters, and collects health data to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

    It can be expected that those Koreans who are in their golden years and can afford over $790 or about 790,000 won will appreciate the Galaxy Golden's tailored features and its aging form factor.

  • Blackberry Officially Launches 9720 Smartphone with Curve-era Specs


    Business has not been as usual at BlackBerry for a long time but the company continues to trudge on with constant new releases. The most recent of these releases is the heavily-leaked BlackBerry 9720, which has just been officially launched. Packed with popular social apps, this super social smartphone comes with a HHGA touchscreen and a premium look. It takes the specs of a starter smartphone to the next level.

    A re-engineered and distinctly curve-like thumbpad dominates the 2.8-inch 480×360 display, and 512 MB of RAM plus 5 megapixel camera complete the package. Photo sharing has been made easier with some tweaks to the OS that deliver an onscreen button (this is far from being called revolutionary). There is also a dedicated BBM key featured to take the user directly to the messaging app.

    The phone comes with the typical BlackBerry keyboard, optimal typing being a given thanks to its distinct keys. Easy navigation is facilitated by the 2.8-inch touchscreen and trackpad. With the BB 7.1 OS powering it, BlackBerry 9720 has brought an updated interface that enables you to unlock it or access the camera by swiping.

    The handset will be released in Latin America, Europe, and Asia in the coming weeks.

  • Nokia Lumia 625 Coming Early September, Features LTE and 4.7-inch Screen


    The leaked news of Nokia Lumia 625 turned out to be true. The 4.7-inch-screened Windows Phone will be released to O2, Vodafone, Phones4U, EE, and Carphone Warehouse early in September for £200 in the UK. Continental Europeans will get it for 220 Euros. It joins a growing series that saw Lumia 620 launched earlier in the year.

    Lumia 625 has retained the resolution of its predecessor of 800 x 480 but the processing power has been bumped up to dual-core Snapdragon S4. Even though it has a hulking LCD screen, its 0.36 inches (9.15mm) make it much thinner than Lumia 920. The camera is a 5-megapixel module featuring Lumia 925's Smart Camera app and the animated gif-making Cinemagraph. The storage is average with 8GB of internal memory, and behind the removable back is a microSD slot.

    Being a Nokia smartphone, Lumia 625 comes with plenty of HSPA radio gadgetry, as well as LTE. The customization options include green, black, orange, and yellow cases, though Lumia 620's turquoise shade is missing.

  • iOS 7 Beta 4 Featuring Long List of Bug Fixes and Improvements

    The beta version of the upcoming iOS 7 release contains several improvements and bug fixes, and is set to be deployed only on dedicated iOS 7 beta software development devices.

    Apple Inc is constantly hitting the market with its innovations and updates and it has done it again with the iOS 7. It's only a few days after the massive security overhaul of the developer center and three weeks following the last beta release, and now the company has made iOS 7 beta 4 available for downloads.

    The biggest update since the original SDK's debut, Cupertino's upcoming release has already hit the airwaves featuring an extremely long list of improvements and fixes. Registered developers are receiving alerts of the update on their handsets but not the entire list of changes. To check everything out and prep yourself for the new experience, you can hit up the company's website.