Tag: iPhone

George Hotz (Geohot) joins Facebook as product developer

Internet’s more well-known celebrity iPhone and PlayStation hacker George “GeoHot” Hotz has gone to Facebook. Rumors say that he’s involved with product development for the company’s alleged iPad app. The news was confirmed by a quick visit to Hotz’s Facebook page, his work status shows “Facebook software engineer starting in May 2011”

Hotz himself is responsible for the outbreak of the Internet unlocking community due to his successful manipulations of both Apple iPhones and iPod Touches as well as Sony’s PlayStation 3. The latter caused a four-month legal battle between Sony and Hotz. The hacktivist group Anonymous launched a distributed denial of service attack against Sony in April to retaliate for the company going after Hotz.

June 27, 2011
Edit : Should You Buy The iPhone 3Gs?

The iPhone 3Gs was a hardware revision device for the iPhone 3G, bringing more CPU power and Ram to the equation. The iPhone 3GS also brought about a better 3.2mp camera with tap to focus.

We got information of the impending re-launch of the iPhone 3Gs on 24th June. Without fail the 3Gs reappeared at the new price point of 20k. Now the question remains does the iPhone 3Gs qualify as a good option? Does is present a value for money deal?

Here is what we think.

The iPhone 3GS was originally launched in 2009 in the US and 2010 in India. The Device features a 600 MHz ARM Cortex A8 processor, PowerVR SGX535 GPU, 256 MB RAM, and upto 32GB of storage. The device also currently features iOS 4 and works brilliantly with iOS 5 (we’ve tested it and can verify, that till beta 2 iOS 5 works great on 3GS).

Reading a whole bunch of articles written by Tech – Bloggers , I was shocked at how blatantly the iPhone 3GS was being shot down. Though in a personal opinion the 3GS is an old hardware based device and has specs which would disgruntle almost anyone looking for souped up smartphone. The iPhone 3Gs bring a lot more, than any device at the price point can.

Lets look at it point by point.

1. OS

iOS by far is the simplest of operating systems, designed to be used by a finger. The UI is fluid and begs you to interact with it. Currently multitasking between apps is great on iOS where most Android handsets in that price range don’t support true multitasking, the iPhone 3GS has it and it works great. Using the right setup you can do a lot of things on your device. Wireless sharing of emails, pictures and music, streaming internet radio and movies, home automation, wifi printing and even controlling a quadro-copter the hundreds of thousands of apps from the App Store let you make your imagination run wild, and then, there is an app for that. The Apps are designed to run perfects in harmony with the iOS infrastructure.

The best part (according to me) of iOS for someone who does not understand or have the time to understand the intricate details of technology, is that the system is safe and bug free. Because third party apps go through a strict verification process, seldom do you find an App which would slow your device down. So no matter what you install or how many you install, Apps will not slow down the OS. That makes perfect sense for someone who is not a techie.

On the other hand Android brings the ability to customize the OS, and play around with it, the more you edit and tweak the OS, the more your chances of a system restore appear. Now there is no need to throw a banter, you can be extremely safe with Android, you just have to know what you are installing and what all does it access. But in Android, third party apps can have a built in snooper sending all your information back to the designer of the app.

2. BUILD

While it isn’t an iPhone 4, the 3Gs is pretty solid when it comes to construction. One of the most beautiful phones available today the 3Gs is available in black and white and millions of customization options are available, from skins, decals to plain covers, flip covers, leather covers, plastic covers, branded covers and hard cases. The most number of accessories ever made for a phone? the iPhone stands at number one in that record.

3. Conclusion

When we first heard rumors of the iPhone 3Gs being relaunched, we heard a price point of about 16,500/-. But, when the actual price came to be 20,000/- we lost confidence that Apple would do well selling its last year legend. Sure there are those who would love to buy the 3GS for its “Brand” and its simplicity, there are also those who will buy it for the sheer number of apps and usability features that these apps will give.

There are better options in terms of hardware specs, the rugged motorola defy is much cheaper and its water proof, the Galaxy S, the Nexus S, The Galaxy Sl, Wave 2, Blackberry Bold 3, Nokia N8. Sure these devices have better hardware, But we can promise one thing No operating system in our opinion comes close to the smooth and lag free experience of the iOS running on the iPhone 3GS (Of-course we mean at that price point)

So if you don’t have time to mess with your device / Smartphone get the iPhone 3GS because it doesn’t get any better than this. But if you are more of a tech friendly person get an Android device you will be much happier with the open-ness of Android infrastructure.

[polldaddy poll=5183813]

June 27, 2011
App of the Day : Postale for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

Once in a while an app comes along that reminds of the good old times, Postale is that app. Possibly the easiest to use Postcard making and sharing app available in the App Store.

The app is simple to use and has a minimalist menu with just the right amount of selections. You select the layout and theme of your Postale card, place your photo just right, then type in your message. When you’re ready to share it, select one of the twelve retro-styled postage stamps to place on your postcard.

FEATURES

• 3 card layouts and 3 card themes
• Choose a photo from your Photo Library or snap a picture with your device’s camera from right inside the app
• Position, rotate, and scale your photo right onto the card
• Optionally change the color of your photo to Black & White or Sepia-Tone
• Type in your own custom title and message
• 5 fonts to choose from
• 12 retro-styled stamps
• Send right from the app via email, Facebook, or Twitter

It literally takes a few seconds to create a beautiful postcard and share it with your friends or favorite social networking sites.

iG Rating : 4/5

Download

Postale – 7twenty7 LLC

June 27, 2011
Apple Sues Samsung for the Second time , Now in Korea

Apple inc. has filed a suit for the second time, against Samsung for copying the iPhone’s design. The suit claims that the Samsung Galaxy S copies the third-generation iPhone.

“It is no coincidence that Samsung’s latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging,” an Apple spokesperson said regarding case

The suing war started back in April when Apple sued Samsung claiming it copied “Apple’s technology, user interface and innovative style in these infringing products.” Samsung responded just one week later by filing countersuits.

The interesting aspect behind all of this is that Apple is currently Samsung’s largest buyer of LCD components. Go figure !

June 25, 2011
Leaked iPhone 5 Images | Real – Fake ?

iGyaan got images from the popular supplier website Alibaba.com, for cases/screen protectors of the upcoming iPhone 5 ahead of time giving clear indication of the iPhone 5’s design.

As speculated the camera and flash module appear to be separate. and the rumors of dual led round flash seem to be true as well. Several vendors seem to be dealing in products pertaining to the iPhone 5. A quick look at the images reveals the form factor and the design elements as discussed in rumors prior to this.

Although the device in the images has the name iPhone Pro, which puts a big question mark on the authenticity of these images. But, the fact that these vendors are selling products and using a render image means that the device possibly is similar looking to the images if not precisely same.

The image below was found in May, this case had appeared on Alibaba.com which was later taken down.

June 24, 2011
iPhone 5 will have a Completely new Design, Will Launch in August

Several sources are reporting that the new iPhone 5 will come earlier than expected. There are several rumors suggesting that apple will hold a special event with a major overhaul in the hardware and design of the iPhone 5, killing all existing speculations and rumors. thisismynext.com rendered the iPhone in a unibody tear shape which might be thicker along the top and may reduce to bezel along the bottom part.

Higher specs are being quoted as always , A5 chip, 1GB of ram, Dedicated GPU performance, 32/64GB capacities , NFC, 8 mega pixel camera and of course iOS5. What needs to be seen is whether or not Apple will actually host an iPhone 5 /4s event in August and if it does, a new unibody iPhone with a larger screen and bumped up specs would definitely hold down competition for another year.

Heres Hoping….

June 22, 2011
iPhone 5 to have a Dual Led Flash: Rumor!

According to sources from within Apple, iTPro were able to find out that Apple is reducing the orders on current model of the iPhone 4 camera, indicating that both the camera and flash modules will come from somewhere other than the current supplier – Philips. Samsung CEO was caught quoting in the past that they are making the additional quantity

Recently Taiwanese website Apple.pro got hold of the iPhone 5 camera sensor which does not have an attached led flash. Rumors suggest that Apple may include a dual LED flash system which is further away from the primary camera lens adding to greater image – subject – illumination without bothering the lens cap. This additional hardware change would only set Apple back by a maximum of 2$ in component costs, but would drastically improve their camera and brand value as – already considered- best Camera phone in the market.

June 20, 2011
App A Day : Age Of The Zombies: Review : iPhone | iPad | iPod | Android

Halfbrick Studios’ Age of Zombies is a fun dual stick shooter with varied scenery, lots of weapons and thousands of zombies, ranging from cavemen to mobsters and even dinosaurs. It’s easy to play, oftentimes funny and quite intense. The Main Character of this game is Barry Steakfries, who grabs a pistol and is ready to kill zombies, with his i don’t give a monkey’s behind attitude.

The game is set in various locations and Barry travels through time to visit Prehistoric times, the 1930s and ancient Egypt, among other locations. Killing zombies along the way obviously. SMG, shotgun, grenades, a mini gun, buzz saw and flamethrowers pop up as bonuses during the game, but only one item at a time can be selected. The default pistol has unlimited ammo, but does not always get he work done.

If you play anything like us the game will last only a couple of hours and will entertain you throughout. The app can be had for US$ 2.99 and will not disappoint, if you are looking for a fun, fast action game with zombies and blood and lots of guns. If you are not looking for this, better look elsewhere.

We Rate it : 4.5/5

DOWNLOAD

Age of Zombies™ – Halfbrick Studios

Price: 2.99 US$

Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later

June 20, 2011
Innovation : iCard ECG Monitors your Heart on your iPhone

Now thats called innovation. The new iCard ECG uses an iDevice to monitor your heart through any clothing you may be wearing, It attaches to the back of your iPhone with a velcro strap and sends ECG data to an app on the device.

With the device attached to you iPhone just hold the mix to your chest and voila instant heart rate. Surprisingly there are already apps in the iOS AppStore and Android Market place that monitor your heart rate using the camera and flash on your portable smartphone, but those can be highly inaccurate.

June 18, 2011
Mercedes Benz India’s Website , Now Fully Compatible With Your Smartphone

Mercedes Benz is the first Car Company in India to now have a fully Mobile Phone Compatible Website, m.mercedes-benz.co.in. Customized for mobile viewing, the website presents a summary of the brand’s corporate website, which is designed to function like a virtual car showroom with information on product highlights, technical data, picture galleries, pricing and details on local service centers.

[quote]The mobile website reflects the contemporary nature of the Mercedes brand. Our mobile optimized website will ensure that customers and enthusiasts of the Mercedes brand can enjoy far greater levels of interactivity as compared to any other manufacturer in India. Features like- fast browsing, video and flash content, easy navigation and enhanced interface will further enhance browsing experience”Mercedes-Benz India has also upgraded its corporate website www.mercedes-benz.co.in. With optimized interface, easier navigation and features such as a full-screen viewing, bookmarks and downloads, the visitor experience has been significantly enhanced. Besides being the pioneers of luxury automobile Mercedes-Benz now also earns the distinction of pioneering the concept of mobile website in India that truly epitomizes the core brand philosophy of “The Best or Nothing”. Said Mr. Manas Dewan, General Manager, Corporate Communications & Strategic Planning, Mercedes-Benz India Ltd.[/quote]

June 16, 2011
Apple and Samsung will Defeat Nokia as the Top Phone Manufacturer by July

Looks like everyone in this world believes that Nokia is a dying breed. Analysts from Nomura Research say Nokia’s will lose the top spot this quarter for the first time since 1996. Its a shame really. Also, according to the Analysts the top two spots will had by Apple and Samsung pushing Nokia to No. 3.

[quote]“Nokia looks set to relinquish its smartphone crown to Samsung and Apple,” Nomura wrote in a note to investors on Monday. “Further emphasizing the shift in power to Asia is our forecast for HTC to almost match Nokia during 2012.” Nokia will retain its lead in overall cell phone sales, Nomura says[/quote]

June 14, 2011
Jailbroken iOS 5 Gets Custom Widgets in Notification Panel

Looks like the devs are on the move, the recently released jailbreak for the iOS5 has already been put to the test. This hack comes in the form of new third-party applications that allow users to tweak the Notification Center with new widgets.

UISettings : Allows users to add quick launch toggles – WiFi / Bluetooth / Data. etc

MusicCenter(upcoming) : Allows users to view names and thumbnails of the Artwork of the currently playing track.

[Via]

June 14, 2011
App a Day – 3D Board for iOS

Have you ever wanted to turn your iPhone screen into a 3D screen? Well now you can. With the 3D board application, your home screen turns into a glasses free 3D screen. The wallpaper moves and shifts based on how you’re holding the phone. It is available from the BigBoss repository in Cydia for $2.99. All in all its a fun application to fool your friends into thinking you’ve replaced your iPhone’s Retina Display with a 3D Retina Display. Check out the video for more info.

June 13, 2011
First iPhone in Space
The last space shuttle launch is scheduled towards the end of this year and its going to be carrying some special cargo. Two iPhone 4’s will be on board running special software designed by Odyssey Space Research.

Once the space shuttle docks with the International Space Station, the crew members will use the iPhones to conduct four experiments, using the iPhones’ cameras, gyroscopes, and other sensors.

[quote]”I’m pretty sure this is the very first iPhone to go into space,” said Odyssey CEO Brian Rishikof.[/quote]

The debut of the iPhone 4 in 2010 inspired the Odyssey team to create iOS based space experiments as the new phone had a built in gyroscope. The company has developed software and simulations for guidance and navigation used in several spacecraft; a gyroscope means that the iPhone could potentially be used to determine a vehicle’s orientation in space as well as its position.

The four experiments are:
- A “limb tracker,” which lets astronauts take a picture of the Earth’s limb (its curved edge). The app then estimates the iPhone’s altitude.
- A sensor calibration tool that uses camera images plus multiple sensors to calibrate the phone’s gyroscope and accelerometers.
- Latitude and longitude estimation using photos of the Earth and matching them to wireframes of coastlines.
- A test to see if space radiation affects computer memory by watching for unintended changes to single bits in the iPhones’ RAM.
June 13, 2011
iOS 5 Beta : Jailbroken courtesy Redsnow 0.9.8b1 for Mac

Did you update your iDevice to the iOS 5 BETA. Then this is possibly the best news for you. Redsn0w 0.9.8b1 has been released for Mac users, but given that it’s a tethered solution, you will have to plug in your phone everytime you need to boot up jailbroken.

This Jailbreak is meant only for developers who already have an activated iOS5 device. so make sure you know what you are doing before you take the plunge.

[Dev-Team Blog]

June 11, 2011