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  • iPhone 5 to have short battery life?

    New rumors about iPhone 5 are spreading all over the internet and they refer to its possible short battery life. It is well known from the previous iPhones that battery drains easily, due to the heavy use. However, every year there is an optimism before the release of the new iPhone that battery life will be extended. And although developers try hard to satisfy the customers, multitasking always creates a longer need for battery's use.

    According to 9to5Mac, the iPhone 5 battery won't differ a lot from the one the iPhone 4 had, which might disappoint Apple's fans. Battery is rumored to be with a capacity of 1440 mAh, while the iPhone 4S had a capacity of 130 mAh.

    What's more, the fact that iPhone 5 will have a larger screen and LTE capability, means that battery life might be indeed shorter than what we were hoping. This can be guessed even without the rumors, as it happens with every new smartphone. Unfortunately, the fact that the smartphones are nowadays for various uses, makes them have their batteries draining every day, with the need of an extra battery increasing.

    Until the market finds a way to increase significantly the battery life of the smartphone, we have to deal with the current battery and focus on all the other features that iPhone 5 will have. There are so many advantages anyway that we don't have to be disappointed yet. At least, not without actually using it. Wait until September 12 then!

  • IRS Hires Unisys for Cloud Storage Services

    According to a recent press release from international IT company Unisys, it will begin working with the Internal Revenue Service to provide completely private cloud storage. Under the Enterprise Storage Acquisition task order, Unisys will manage all of the IRS’ records.

    Unisys won the contract, and will keep it for at least a year. After the initial year, they will have nine more one-year options. The contract, if it runs for the entire discussed decade, could net the Pennsylvania company $139 million. Each year of service is priced differently, based on an internal analysis the IRS ran estimating their required storage.

    According to Ted Davies, the president of the company’s Federal Systems division, deals like this could become more commonplace. Even the Internal Revenue Service is operating under significant budget restrictions, and outsourcing their cloud storage needs to partner companies is simply more cost effective.

    As the contract begins, Unisys will take on all of the storage assets that the IRS currently owns and manages, folding them into their own cloud storage network. All in all, Unisys will take on upwards of 7.5 petabytes of the IRS’ current storage space, held is a range of data centers.

    Unisys will then design, construct and launch a completely new storage environment for the IRS, moving all of their current data onto a private cloud service. The IRS will pay for the space they are currently using, and then will spend more as their storage needs increase. 

    The stock market responded well to the new announcement, as shares of Unisys stock rose by nearly 3% by the end of business on Thursday.

  • AirPlay Mirroring Versus AirParrot

    One of the biggest perks of Mountain Lion, Apple’s latest operating system release, is that it gives Mac users the ability to mirror whatever is on their screen straight through to their HDTV with an AppleTV. It’s great for presentations, broadcasting the iTunes visualizer, or streaming online video and games right onto the big screen. But it won’t work correctly for everyone.

    As long as you have a Mac that was manufactured in 2011 or later, AirPlay mirroring will work perfectly. But what if you have an older device? For those users, a startup called Squirrels offers an app that successfully mirrors off of older devices. But does it work just as well?

    It’s incredibly easy to use AirPlay Mirroring with a modern device. With a couple of quick menu selections, you’ll see your Mac monitor on your HDTV in perfect 1920×1080 resolution. If you want to adjust it, you also have that option.

    According to experts testing the device, it worked very well. The streamed video was sharp and clear, and the frame rate was smooth enough for any type of viewed material. It’s basically a wireless extension of the computer’s display.

    If you’re running an older device, all you need is to pay Squirrels $10 for a license to their shareware called AirParrot. Download it onto your desktop, and after a simple install you’ll select the AppleTV option for mirroring.

    You can run AirParrot using Snow Leopard, Lion or Mountain Lion, and it will run on any Mac that is powered by Intel. If you do have significantly older hardware, you might occasionally notice choppy steaming. But AirParrot even has a version that runs on Windows, for those users who haven’t yet made the full switch to Apple.

    AirParrot also has some neat extra features. You can set up your HDTV as an additional monitor for your computer, instead of a straight mirror. You can still adjust the frame rate and resolution, and switch out audio if necessary.

    The bottom line is, either one is a great option based on your current hardware. Although AirPlay will work more seamlessly and AirParrot will significantly tax your device, either one will fit the bill for your mirroring needs.

    [source: arstechnica]

  • RIM considered switching to Android OS

    Research in Motion, Blackberry's company, is trying to find a way to recover and one of their thoughts was to turn into Android.

    Blackberry used to be a very popular smartphone, but Apple's domination has significantly affected their sales. The popularity of iOS and Android did not leave any space for other operating systems. Thus, according to RIM CEO, Thorsten Heins and his recent interview to the Guardian, RIM did consider the prospect of using Android on their future smartphones. It could be a way to take advantage of Android's popularity and functionality, while combining it with Blackberry's experience in the smartphone market. However, they ultimately rejected the idea.

    “We took the conscious decision not to go Android. If you look at other suppliers’ ability to differentiate, there’s very little wiggle room. We looked at it seriously – but if you understand what the promise of BlackBerry is to its user base it’s all about getting stuff done. Games, media, we have to be good at it but we have to support those guys who are ahead of the game. Very little time to consume and enjoy content – if you stay true to that purpose you have to build on that basis. And if we want to serve that segment we can’t do it on a me-too approach.”

    Blackberry is mostly used for business reasons and this led RIM to stick to the Blackberry OS and the creation of the BB10, which will be perfect for multitasking. It is expected to arrive with the new smartphones in January and they have to prove that they do not need Android or any other operating system.

    Did they make the right choice? Time will tell. 

  • Arizona-Based Nextiva Expands VoIP Business

    As broadband phone services continue to rise in popularity, regional VoIP providers are finding the means to expand their businesses. Nextiva, a VoIP firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona, expects to hire an additional 100 employees by the end of the year. They specialize in providing VoIP for small and mid-sized businesses, two of the largest growth areas in the industry.

    Executives from Nextiva were happy to point out that VoIP is being adopted by even the largest companies in the world, including communications corporations such as AT&T, an idea that seemed complete implausible even a couple of years ago. Nextiva has used that growth to post annual revenues well in the millions of dollars, and currently count thousands of users internationally.

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

    According to Nextiva CIO Joshua Lesavoy, VoIP can save a business as much as 70% off their standard phone service. And since the service includes fax and text messages on top of traditional voice communication, there should be no limit to the potential growth in the sector.

    Nextiva was founded in 2006, and launched their VoIP service two years later. They are owned by UnitedWeb Inc., which is also based in Scottsdale, and earns several other technology companies. And while some communications traditionalists still believe that VoIP cannot be relied on, the quality of commercial broadband services now available means a standard that is well in line with if not better than traditional calling.

    In the past few years, Nextiva has grown from a staff of just a few engineers to more than 165 people, and they even handle their customer service internally with a fully staffed call center. With more than 25 million small businesses currently in existence, chances are this particular small business will grow consistently for years to come.

  • Dropbox Spam Attack Underlines Possible Security Issues with Cloud Storage

    Dropbox is currently one of the industry leaders in cloud storage, alongside products like RapidShare, Google Drive and MediaFire. But when Dropbox became the target of a fairly major spam attack, even those that promote cloud computing had to admit that cloud storage poses a real security issue for IT professionals.

    The spam attack that Dropbox users experienced was traced back to the source, specifically one particular user who didn’t follow the basic rules of password security. A hacker snagged several users’ log-in information off a wide range of site, including the info of a current Dropbox employee, and discovered that employee used the same password and login for his Dropbox account as he did on the other sites. He accessed the employee Dropbox account and discovered a document filed with email addresses for other users. The result was tons of spam messages pushing Dropbox users to gambling sites.

    Although this problem was fairly minor in the grand scheme of things, it underlines the larger problem. Something much more sinister could have been introduced to the system, or the hacker could have figured out how to access some of the data stored on the Dropbox cloud. It starts with the individual’s misuse of passwords, but it also suggests that cloud storage employees may not be taking their responsibilities as seriously as they should.

    This time it was a list of emails, and that list was included without an additional password or any sort of encryption. Next time it could be government paperwork, or banking and medical records. Dropbox responded strongly to the issue, declaring they will instantly be incorporating security changes.

    Those changes will include an additional piece of identity proof during the sign-in authentication process, automated checks through the system searching out suspicious actions, a way for users to review their log-in history, and frequent requests to change passwords.

    It’s never going to be foolproof, but it is a solid step in the right direction. IT administrators will need to take a lesson from the Dropbox fiasco, and remind their coworkers about the need for heightened security. With billions of files now stored on the cloud, there’s simply too much data at risk to stand idly by.

  • Logitech's HDTV Webcam Enables Home Theater Skype Connection

    Logitech has long led the industry in wireless technology, with a mouse and keyboard sure to be found in most offices and homes in America. Now they’re launching pushing into new wireless territory with the TV Cam HD, a webcam that can be mounted on your home theater system.

    The TV Cam HD is a fully standalone device that comes stock with Skype built in. You place it on top of your current HDTV and log on to your Skype account wirelessly through your home network. And with the remote control, you can take care of the whole process from the comfort of your couch.

    Logitech didn’t rush this latest device, and the details prove that out. The wide-angle lens is a Carl Zeiss, and you’ll find four internal microphones to allow for group conversations. The inclusion of Skype on the TV Cam HD sets this release apart from prior Logitech releases such as the standard TV Cam., which required an HDTV set that was compatible with the camera and already installed with Skype. That became a problem, as many of the biggest HDTV brands, such as Samsung, Panasonic and LG, offer sets that do not support webcams on their own.

    Other popular integrated video conferencing units include the Biscotti and the Tely Labs TelyHD. The former works with Google Talk, and the latter with Skype. But Logitech’s version integrates so seamlessly with HDTV units that it may give those competitors some serious fits moving forward.

    Consumers can grab the TV Cam HD starting this month for $199, making it middle-of-the-pack as far as pricing. But if you spend a great deal of time on Skype and want to experience it in full HDTV quality, the purchase will be more than worth it.

  • Half the World's Smartphones are Delivered by Samsung and Apple

    A few days after the rival Apple announced its less spectacular results, it is time for Samsung to disclose the official figures of the financial performance in the second quarter, and they are pretty impressive.

    Mobile market grew by only 1% in the second quarter of 2012, compared with 2011, and the giants Samsung and Apple have delivered almost half of the smartphones in the world, according to a recent IDC study.

    The two companies have doubled their market share over the past two years distanced themselves more and more from the competition, but at the same time has also increased the advantage of those from Samsung from the Cupertino-based company.

    Thus, in chapter smartphones, Samsung's market share in the second quarter was 32.6% , while of those from Apple was 16.9%. Samsung has also managed to achieve deliveries of 50.2 million units during this period.

    However, we must take into account the fact that Samsung has already launched the model that counts the most in this year, Samsung Galaxy S3 and Apple's iPhone 5 will likely see the light of the day later this year, with a market share of 6.6% and shipments of 10.1 million units, followed by HTC, with 5.7% and 8.8 million units sold.

    In total, global deliveries in the second quarter of 2012 have reached the impressive figure of 153.9 million smartphones, according to the same study conducted by the IDC.

    Samsung, Apple and Nokia are the top three producers with the most smartphones sold, but the surprise is ZTE, which climbed up to the fifth place in this ranking, with an increase of 300%.

  • Obi202 VoIP Adapter Allows for Free Local Calls

    A company called Obihai Technology has created the Obi202, a VoIP adapter that, when used in conjunction with Google Talk gives consumers the ability to make unlimited free local calls. Google will allow the service to run free of charge through the end of the year, and the Obi202 can be bought for a mere $75 on Amazon.com.

    The crux of the Obi202’s visibility comes through their partnership with Google Talk. There are many other VoIP adapters on the market, but with the Obi202, a user doesn’t even need a computer to make or receive calls. In addition, it will work with any standard telephone. You plug the device into your router, and you’re basically ready to use the service.

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

    Google has allowed free local calls with Google Talk since the summer of 2010, and they’ll continue to do so through the end of the year. At the end of each year they made an announcement about continued free service. So users will have to take a wait and see approach, as Google may end up offering another year of free local calls in the eleventh hour.

    Basic calling isn’t the only thing the Obi202 can do. Hop on your Android or iOs-powered device and download the OBiON app. It’s free as well, and will give you a fantastic additional service, the ability to bridge calls from your cell phone. That means even if you have a tablet or an iPod device with network service, you could then use it to make calls. And with a bit of extra code work, you could even receive incoming calls as well.

    Reviewers have been more than pleased with the latest version of the Obi202. The voice quality is impeccable, the router they ship is solid, and you can connect two different phone handsets and set up as many as four different VoIP accounts. It plugs right into a USB port, and can be connected to a hard drive that will then link into the router. Basically, it allows you to create your own cloud storage service, and you can link it up with Google Drive or Dropbox for added features.

  • Global VoIP Revenues on the Rise

    It seems as if 2012 will go down as a turning point in the rise of VoIP. According to a recent report by industry analyst Visiongain, global VoIP revenues will reach $65 billion in 2012.

    Telecom companies are probably going to be the biggest losers, as VoIP giants like Skype continue to increase market share and revenues. Mobile providers are doing their best to buck the trend, but it seems consumers, enjoying the inexpensive service and expanding capabilities of VoIP providers, are determined to move their business.

    The global financial picture remains murky, and VoIP service has built their reputation on cheap, reliable video and audio calling. Add that economic uncertainty to the increasing proliferation of tablets and smartphones, and you’ve got a situation where VoIP should only continue to grow.

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

    Visiongain authored a report that takes a look at the next five years in the VoIP market. According to their analysis, the potential for growth is limitless, and it is only missteps in strategy that could sink emerging and established companies. With an increasing user base and significant revenues, VoIP services can no longer be threatened by traditional operators. In fact, it is telecom companies that are facing the need to adapt.

    The detailed report brought together nearly sixty graphs, tables and charts to back up the accrued data. Visiongain projected market trends both internationally and in five particular regions. The report also took a look at some of the market’s leading companies, and interviewed key leaders in the VoIP landscape.

    Anyone interested in the changing trends, or considering investing in a VoIP provider would be wise to take a look at the compiled data. Elements of the report can be downloaded free of charge from the Visiongain website.