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Tag: apple

  • iPhone 5 to sell 58 million iPhones this year?

    iPhone craze hasn't stopped yet, with every tech fan discussing the announcement of the iPhone 5 and its features. Apple knows very well that this release will significantly boost their annual sales and this is what they are expecting anyway.

    However, who would have thought that iPhone 5 could become the fastest selling handset of all time? That's what analysts claim on Bloomberg, estimating that iPhone 5 is expected to sell 58 million units by the end of the year. This could bring a profit of 36.2$ billion for Apple, which is way higher than the initial sales of iPhone 4S, which had sold in the first quarter 37 million units.

    What's more, FBR Capital Markets analyst Craig Berger had already estimated that iPhone 5 will sell 250 million handsets in total, increasing Apple's profit by 144$ billion. Although this estimate seems rather optimistic, since it's three times the total revenue of iPhones in the last 5 years, it cannot be ignored. Apple is about to explore the Chinese market even more and due to the size of the market, the estimated 144$ billion profit might not be exaggerating.

    On the other hand, there are reviews that were not that positive about iPhone 5, since it has disappointed part of the loyal Apple fans. Apart from this, there is also Samsung that advertises Galaxy S III as a much better smartphone than iPhone 5, which might affect the estimated sales. Apple still dominates the smartphone market and it's time to prove they keep on selling handsets the way they did in the past. If the clients are still consistent in buying every iPhone product, there is no need to worry. All they need is to design the next generation of iPhone.

  • Apple unveils iPhone 5

    Apple finally presented the iPhone 5 and its new features and as it was expected, all the fans can't wait to buy it!

    In case you didn't hear the news yet, you might be wondering what is all the fuss about the iPhone 5. Here are the new features then:

    – Bigger Screen

    iPhone 5 now has a larger screen, which is not wider than the previous iPhones, with a resolution of 1136×640 and an aspect ratio that extends to 16:9.

    – LTE technology

    LTE technology is getting popular latel y and iPhone 5 will be the first iPhone that will have it integrated. It will work on Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and in other countries throughout the world. Moreover, there wil be different models of iPhones, according to the LTE bands.

    – iPhone gets thinner

    iPhone 5 will be thinner than the previous iPhones, being just 7.6 mm thin, which makes it 18% thinner than iPhone 4S.

    – A6 Chip

    A6 chip is proud to be faster than A5 chip, with 50% better performance in graphics, 22% smaller and what's more important, less battery consuming.

    – Smaller Connector

    The connector we all knew about iPhones has just changed. iPhone 5 has a smaller lighning connector, which makes previous handsets useless, although there will be compatible devices, too.

    – EarPods

    Earphones are changing, too, with the new EarPods having a much better design, deeper bass, fitting to every ear and every music taste.

    – Better Camera

    Camera is also improved, with the rear iSight remaining at 8 MP, although there is ow a built-in panorama mode that can merge photos into one of 28 MP.

    – Siri is improved

    Siri is more mature on iPhone 5, being able to launch apps, post tweets, Facebook updates and also understand sports scores.

    When can I buy it?

    iPhone 5 is expected on September 21 in USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. It will be available by the end of the year to more than 100 countries.

    How much will it cost?

    It is priced at $199 for 16GB (2-year contract), 299$ for 32GB and 399$ for 64GB.

  • Goophone I5: a Chinese iPhone 5 lookalike

    If you are among the Apple fans that simply cannot wait about the iPhone 5, imagine your reaction on hearing that you can get a first impression on it before anybody else.

    That's what some iPhone fans thought when they saw an iPhone 5 lookalike leaking on the Web, which is known as  Goophone.  Well, don't be fooled, this is not the iPhone 5, but it really looks a lot like it. Although Goophone seems identical to iPhone 5, it is definitely not one. Goophone I5 is a Chinese phone from the company Goophone that might look like an iPhone 5, but ironically it runs on Android software!

    Goophone I5 has a 4-inch screen, a 1280×720 pixel display, a Tegra 3 quad-core processor of 1.4GHz and a RAM of 1GB. What's more, it has an 8MP back camera and one in front of 1.3MP.  Except for the Android, the other difference with the iPhone 5 is that it does not have a bigger screen, which is expected on iPhone 5. As you can see from the picture, the resemblance with the iPhone is quite obvious, although we are not sure whether this will have any implications on them, similar to the ones that Samsung had recently. Apple knows that iPhone 5 is a much anticipated product and they significantly count on it for their annual sales.

    In addition, the Chinese market is really big to be ignored and the fact that some people will already hold such an iPhone 5 lookalike might affect their sales. However, Apple is planning a big collaboration with China Mobile in the near future, which might turn things around. For the time being, Apple fans are counting down the days to the release of iPhone 5 and hop they won't be disappointed!

  • iPhone 5 to sell 250 million units?

    iPhone is about to be released very soon, but the rumors keep going about it. This time there is an estimate of the units it will sell, which seem pretty impressive, if they are achieved of course.

    According to Craig Berger, an analyst from FBR Capital Markets, iPhone 5 will sell 250 million units, which will bring for Apple a revenue of $144 billion! And the numbers can be even more impressive, if you consider that Apple has made $50 million from the sales of all the previous iPhones in the US market, over the last 5 years!

    If you are wondering how he justifies his claims abou such a big increase in the sales, there are two major factors. The first one has to do with the loyalty of Apple's customers. When you own an iPhone you feel the need to buy the new one, evn though you might not need it and even more, even though it might not add any impressive features. This loyalty is important in the smartphone market, since Apple knows that their customers will follow them.

    However, it's not just loyalty that could boost so much the sales. The second factor is Apple's intention to cooperate with Chine Mobile, the biggest carrier in the world. This deal is expected in the beginning of 2013 and it will definitely boost Apple's sales in China, which is a huge market.

    Bearing these two factors in mind, Apple might see a rise in the sales with iPhone 5, but can they really sell 250 million units? Nobody can tell yet, but nobody would be really surprised either. We just have to wait for now!

  • Samsung to Pay $1 Billion to Apple

    Apple is finally the winner in the big patent war with Samsung, since the juries found that Samsung infringed Apple's patents.

    This decision is forcing all the manufacturers to avoid creating any smartphones that might even resemble to Apple's products, in order to avoid the consequences.

    Samsung is now expected to pay $1 Billion, which is a big loss for them. The fact that they were rising on the smartphone market is forcing them to reconsider on their future phones. As for the patent war and Apple's victory, they mentioned in a statement:

    "It is unfortunate that patent law can be manipulated to give one company a monopoly over rectangles with rounded corners, or technology that is being improved every day by Samsung and other companies. Consumers have the right to choices, and they know what they are buying when they purchase Samsung products. This is not the final word in this case or in battles being waged in courts and tribunals around the world, some of which have already rejected many of Apple’s claims. Samsung will continue to innovate and offer choices for the consumer.”

    Apple on the other hand should feel relieved from this decision, which might also boost their sales even more. According to Katie Cotton, Apple's spokeswoman, and her words in New York Times:

    "The lawsuits between Apple and Samsung were about much more than patents or money. They were about values. At Apple, we value originality and innovation and pour our lives into making the best products on earth. We make these products to delight our customers, not for our competitors to flagrantly copy. We applaud the court for finding Samsung’s behavior willful and for sending a loud and clear message that stealing isn’t right.”

    What is the future in the smartphone market after this decision?

  • Imo Pairs VoIP Capabilities With Its IM App

    Imo has been widely used for years now by fans of instant messaging looking to bring all their various accounts under one umbrella. The company recently announced that it is expanding its free VoIP calling service from an Android-only option to users on iOS devices as well.

    The Imo app can aggregate the eleven top IM applications into one easy service. And while Android clients have enjoyed free VoIP calling on top of all of that, any Apple users running iOS 3.1 or later who also have a 3G or better wireless connection will now be able to make their own VoIP calls.

    Users should take note that calls made while on your own 3G or 4G service will sap your data plan, and could be costly if you’re not too careful. Simply switching to an available Wi-Fi service will remove that concern.

    According to Imo representatives, the quality of the calling service should stand up to any traditional phone. Add that to the app’s voice-based IM service, photo sharing capability, and group messaging through Google Talk, Skype, Facebook Chat and many others, and you’ve got one powerful tool on your mobile device.

    The proof is in the numbers. To date, Imo has been downloaded more than four million times. And people are really using it as well. They average more than fifty million messages delivered each and every day, from over 700,000 regular users. Imo added VoIP calling to their Android app in February of this year, and it is a bit odd that it took them so long to figure it out for iOS customers. That delay may cost them some users, as there are now several other VoIP service apps for iOS devices that have already gained traction.

  • Is Apple Manufacturing an HDTV?

    Even though it’s yet an unconfirmed rumor, it’s difficult not to get excited. According to a series of Tweets from industry insiders and an upcoming report by Jeffries, Apple is currently in production on their own HDTV, to come to market in 2013.

    The Jeffries report has not yet been released, so regrettably none of the details can be confirmed. But according to an industry analyst with access to the report, Apple will partner with Verizon and AT&T to handle the service for the Apple HDTV, or iTV as it will be called.

    Customers who don’t want to change out their current cable provider will still be able to get on the Apple bandwagon. The iTV will also sell as a set-top box for Comcast and the other regional providers. Initial reports put the first iTV at a retail price of $1,250, and Apple expects to ship as many as two million units by the end of 2013.

    Of course, this isn’t the first report on an Apple HDTV to come from Jeffries. Near the beginning of the year they suggested a forthcoming product called the iPanel, at around that same price break, and that five million of the devices would be produced by the end of 2012.

    Those rumors seem to be picking up more support as the months pass. The Wall Street Journal has started discussing Apple’s HDTV release, even suggesting it would link directly to the iCloud, to allow for both live and on-demand television services.

    Time will tell if any of these rumors are true. Hopefully Apple will shed some further light on their HDTV at this fall’s new product release conference.

  • 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. 

  • 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!

  • 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]