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  • Are we addicted to our smartphones?

    We live in a digital era where surfing on the Internet and checking for emails and any new notifications has become a never-ending habit. Even though we are not expecting a message, we feel "obliged" to check our smartphone.

    Time's Techland has conducted a big survey among 5,000 Americans, Chinese, Indians, South Koreans, Brazilians and South Africans and found out that we are indeed significantly addicted to our smartphones. According to the respondents of the poll:

    – 84% wouldn't live a day without a smartphone

    – 20% check the smartphone every 10 minutes

    – 50% of Americans sleep with their smartphone next to them

    – 32% prefers to communicate by text message

    – 17% checks the smartphone while eating, regardless of the person they are dining with.

    – 73% of Indians feel closer to their family with the use of technology

    – 79% of Chinese feel better informed about the latest news

    – 48% of South Koreans feel that they spend too much time on their smartphones, instead of observing the world

    – The average appropriate age for a child to have the first smartphone is considered the 13 years.

    The stats above indicate that smartphones have become part of our daily routines and even more, an extension to our life, our work, our social life. We cannot deny that times are changing and that the future will be even more digital. Technology has improved communication and we should embrace it, in order to improve our lives. However, it's up to us to decide the extent that we will use our smartphones, in order to balance our online and offline worlds.

    Don't let smartphones and the digital world take over your life. Instead, use them wisely and enjoy all their benefits. They are a lot!

  • LG sold 5 million LTE smartphones!

    LG is proud to announce that they managed to sell 5 million LTE smartphones, commenting on their strategy for "different phones for different consumer needs".

    It was just a month ago when they announced that they had sold  million LTE smartphones. Now, in just a month they managed to reach another milestone, selling almost one LTE smartphone every two and a half seconds! Their strategy is based on the diversity of their consumers, trying to offer a smartphone for every need. They already have 10 LTE smartphones, which are available in USA, Korea, Japan and several countries in Europe and Asia, where LTE services are available. The most popular LTE smartphone is definitely Optimus LTE, selling 2 million units, while Optimus Vu has sold 500,000 units. Another success was Optimus LTE II, the first LTE with 2GB RAM, which has already sold 500,000 units in just 70 days.
    LG is very optimistic about the future of LTE smartphones, feeling comfortable that these figures are just the beginning.
    According to the CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company, Dr. Jong-seok Park:

    “Sales of global LTE smartphones are expected to increase ten-fold this year from last year.”

    “With that in mind, we are planning to introduce an even more impressive LTE line-up in the next several months second to none.”

    According to a report by Jefferies & Company, LG is dominant in LTE patents globally, having a value of more than 8 billion dollars.

    It seems like LG has found a way to survive in the competitive smartphone market industry, hoping that LTEs will maintain and even increase their numbers in the following years.

  • The Top-Rated Vizio M3D470KD HDTV Set

    If you want a high quality HDTV device but can’t see yourself paying more than $1,000, do yourself a favor and check out the 47-inch Vizio M3D470KD. Coming in at a lean $900, this edge-lit LED delivers excellent image quality, intense colors, and fantastic wireless connectivity.

    Vizio’s solid new release centers around the remote control. It’s fitted with a full keyboard, so linking the set with an Apple TV and navigating streaming content is a breeze. It’s not fully without it’s flaws, as the sound from the built-in speakers isn’t fantastic, but you can’t do much better at this price point.

    The M3D470KD features both 2D and 3D viewing, and tests shows it performs well in either setting. And though the image does suffer from some softness depending on the content, it features a wide range of angles of acceptable viewing, which sets it apart from other LED competitors.

    Again, the big drawback is the sound. It distorts without being pushed very far, and the imitation surround sound system is just that. So if you’re looking for the full theatrical experience, it will best be paired with a set of quality speakers.

    It’s also quite green, having earned the Energy Star label. While it uses a fairly average amount of watts when turned on, when turned off it uses close to zero energy. The backlight adjusts to the amount of ambient light as well, so it won’t waste the juice if it’s unnecessary.

    Vizio’s new release isn’t the simplest HDTV to set up, but it comes with a wealth of installed features. You’ll access Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon and Vudu Pay-Per-View services and YouTube right out of the box, as well as direct access to many of the most popular websites in the world. You’ll even find a dedicated set of web video channels, pulled from sites like PBS, Vimeo and Funny or Die. So if you’re willing to pay for a solution to the audio issue, you’ll find yourself more than happy with the purchase.

  • Bose's Latest and Greatest HDTV Offering is the VideoWave II

    Bose is known internationally for their audio systems, but the VideoWave II, the next generation of their popular original home theater offering, gives users a 55-inch HDTV and all that is needed for a full home theater.

    As does the 46-inch in the first VideoWave, the larger HDTV now includes LED backlighting, a significant upgrade over their initial product line. And the 55-inch set features a slimmer profile, for better wall placement.

    The HDTV set has also been given a facelift, with an aluminum-finish bezel and matching click pad remote. The set handles full 1080p resolution and a solid 120 Hz front panel. The magic of Bose takes over in the rear, with their patented waveguide technology running six woofers. Add that to the PhaseGuide sound radiator and you’ve got the power and impact of seven distinct speakers.

    The software is just as smart as the hardware in the VideoWave II. Bose’s ADAPTIQ audio technology customizes the sound settings for maximum quality in the room. It actually bounces sound off the ceiling and the opposite wall, recreating a seamless surround sound experience. It’s a stunning effect, and removes all the clutter of speakers from your space.

    The HDTV set ships with a console unit that accepts inputs from a wide range of devices, including most cable and satellite boxes, Blu-Ray machines, mobile devices and game consoles. The remote has junked infrared reading in favor of radio frequencies, so anything you plug in can be safely stowed away without a connection loss. Add on a dedicated iPod dock, and you’ve truly got all you need for home entertainment.

    The price may be the best part, as purchase delivery and installation is only $5,999. It’s easily mounted on the wall, but also comes with a stand for your entertainment center.

  • Cloud Storage Service Carbonite Chastised for "Misleading" Advertising

    Now that there are a ton of affordable cloud storage options on the market, younger companies must find ways to break through the noise made by their much bigger counterparts. Carbonite, a relatively small American cloud storage company, declared on their UK website that users would enjoy unlimited online backup storage. Apparently, the Advertising Standards Authority has cried foul, and Carbonite is scrambling to explain the details.

    An anonymous third party made the ASA aware of the website’s claim, and declared that the wording of Carbonite’s promise was misleading. Apparently it violated several sections of the Code of Non-broadcast Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing, which weighs in on internet promotions. The ASA’s claim goes even further, declaring that Carbonite refused to help ASA investigate the situation.

    The problem is apparently in the details. The ASA found that unlimited data could be uploaded, but once a user exceeded 200GB of data, Carbonite would make less bandwith available. The slower backup process was not specified, leading to the rule breach.

    Carbonite was told to remove the statement from their site, but they instead released word saying they respectfully disagree with the ruling. Their statement suggested Carbonite was not made aware of the decision nor allowed to participate in the review process, so they will be contacting the ASA to look into the issue.

    Although Carbonite may not agree with the ruling, turning their back to it may bring dire consequences. The ASA has the power to submit an open case to the Office of Fair Trading, and they can have a company shut down. Possible civil claims by affected users are also always a possibility.

  • Nokia to Launch Windows Phone 8 Smartphone

    Nokia used to be dominant in the smartphone market share, but the arrival of iPhone has dropped their sales significantly. The company seems to insist in releasing Windows Phone handsets and that is why they are about to release Windows Phone 8 smartphone.

    Nokia realized that Symbian cannot compete with iOS and Android, so they decided to cooperate with Microsoft and launch Windows Phone handsets. Lumia 900 was quite a success, selling 4 million units during the Q2. Many customers turned to Nokia one more time, finding an alternative to iPhone, at a much lower price. However, the upcoming release of Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 from Microsoft has become a problem for Nokia. They decided to drop the price of Lumia 900 by 50$, but the fact that those who bought it were informed that they wouldn't be able to upgrade to Windows Phone 8, was rather disappointing. Hence, they seem to be preparing for the release of new smartphones, coming along with Windows Phone 8 and trying to save the game.

    Windows Phone 7, which became Windows Phone 7.5, has received good reviews and although it is still a new operating system, it has the potential to be competitive the next few years. Nokia believes that they can boost their sales with the support of Microsoft and they stick to Windows Phone handsets. During September we are expecting the announcement of the new smartphones and by the end of the year they will be available in the market.

    However, with the release of the highly anticipated new iPhone, is this a good time for a new smartphone? Actually, it might be. Not everyone can afford an iPhone and if Nokia can provide them with another good smartphone, why not buy it?

  • Box Raises $125 Million in Additional Capital

    There are many quality cloud storage companies out there, but Box has managed to distinguish itself by leaving private consumers alone and instead zeroing in on the business community. That small difference has led to a large amount of funding, but Box isn’t resting on its laurels. In order to take their business where they want it to go, Box is still looking for cash, and has been very successful in their search. Box recently announced a $125 million additional funding raise, bringing the total company valuation up to $1.33 billion.

    Several companies were involved in this latest fundraise, including Social+Capital Partnership, but it was General Atlantic that led the way. According to available data, this latest round of capital means Box has just about doubled in value, all during the last nine months. Back in the fall of 2011, Box was valued at $650 million.

    PrivCo, the research firm that released Box’s financial data, praised this latest move. Their CEO, Sam Hamadeh declared it proves that companies that have a strong model for revenue are still able to raise private capital at this scale, even during our economic recession.

    The Box board of directors will shift a bit now. Gary Reiner, one of General Atlantic’s investment partners and the former CIO of GE will join the board. And with their coffers full, Box will focus on building for the future. That means new technology, expansion into more regions of the world, and the capability to manage even larger corporate partners.

    According to Box CEO and co-founder Aaron Levie, the company is at the forefront of a software revolution. He envisions a time when every company in the world has balanced access to mobile technology, social media and cloud computing in order to keep pace with the direction of business.

  • Samsung Breaks the Shipping Record on Smartphones

    Samsung seems to enjoy its latest success on smartphones, with the numbers of the second quarter being more than satisfactory.

    As it seems, Samsung is finally a real competitor for Apple, with their recently popular Galaxy series selling even more than what they expected. According to Strategy Analytics, Samsung shipped in the second quarter 50.5 million smartphones, which is a new record in the shipments of smartphones. Meanwhile, Apple sold only half of Samsung's numbers, with just 26 million units. These recent stats indicate that Samsung holds the 35% of the global market in the second quarter, while Apple is behind, with the 18% of the market.

    What's more, Samsung had a 5.86$ billion profit, which is 79% more than the one they had just a year ago. Of course, Galaxy S has affected a lot the sales, since there are many customers that are preferring it over the anticipation of a new iPhone. As it seems, it is the only smartphone that can really compete with iPhone and Samsung seems to enjoy this privilege. However, how long is this heyday going to last?
    According to Neil Shah, Strategy Analytics analyst:

    “We believe Apple’s lackluster performance was driven by some Apple fans and operators holding off iPhone purchases in anticipation of a rumored new iPhone 5 model around September or October this year.”

    It cannot be denied that an Apple fan is on hold for the arrival of iPhone 5, but how will Apple react to the competition?

    Nobody can tell yet. For the time being, Samsung can celebrate on their quarterly victory. As for Apple, they are waiting for the next crucial quarter. 

  • Facebook smartphone denied by Zuckerberg

    There were many rumors the last months about a possible release of a Facebook smartphone in the near future. We even heard of its specifications. However, they do not seem to be realistic anymore.

    According to Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, "it wouldn't really make much sense" for such a move and the possibility of creating their own smartphone. This means that all the rumors all these months about a Facebook smartphone, its possible design and its specifications were nothing more than rumors, with no credibility at all. There was even a rumor about Facebook collaborating with HTC and employing engineers to build hardware, but Mark Zuckerberg was quite clear.

    Was he? Some Facebook "experts" believe that he might be hiding his plans, in order to surprise them all at a future announcement. Not many CEOs like to provide details about their plans and this might be another case of it. Even though they might not expect to release a Facebook smartphone right now, how can we be sure that they won't do it in the future?

    It is obvious that Facebook focuses a lot on mobile market lately, especially after the acquisition of Instagram for 1$ billion. This meant that they try to be part of the profitable mobile industry and the possibility of having their own smartphone to combat the others, and not just an application, might not be a bad idea. Of course the competition would be high and they already risked a lot with their IPO, but do such companies act with cautiousness?

  • UK's Rural Communities About to Experience Upgraded VoIP

    VoIP has become a prevalent digital solution in most parts of the world, offering quality phone service with the inexpensive convenience of the internet. But business owners in rural communities have not enjoyed the service as much as their urban counterparts. Well it seems like progress is being made, and soon more rural customers will enjoy VoIP service.

    The question was posed to Trefor Davies, a member of the Internet Services Providers’ Association UK, why is VoIP service in rural areas so complicated? He acknowledged that the issue is an incredibly important one, but as of now only about 66% of the populace can access the speedy broadband service necessary for quality VoIP connections.

    VoIP-List.com: extensive catalog of voip providers, available software and hardware resources

    Parliament is working hard to rectify the situation, which as with most other issues comes down to funding. But according to Davies, leading VoIP provider BT feels they can bring 90% of the country into the broadband fold, given enough resources. Their aim is to make that goal by the end of the current parliamentary period.

    Their hope is that those 90% of residences would have broadband service at speeds of 25 Mbps or better. The other 10% of people will continue to have spotty service, until more of the country’s infrastructure is invested in improving broadband.

    It’s a governmental issue, as VoIP is merely an update on traditional phone service, and will need to be accessible to the masses to take the next step. The sooner the private sector and the governmental funding bodies can get on the same page, the better for the country’s businesses, especially those operating well outside the major population centers.