Tag: iPhone

Battery Management Lessons for iPhone users

It is a well known fact that we consider the iPhone as an amazing development made in technology, but it often becomes a slab of glass and metal once it’s drained out of battery.

And as irritating as it gets when we run out of battery, there are some easy ways of extending its battery for a while longer.

Here are some simple tricks and tips for iPhone users fed up with their phone’s battery:

Low Power Mode

The recent introduction of iOS 9 came with a special feature of a power saving mode. This update warns you with a message when your battery drops down to 20% and offers Low Power Mode. Activating Low Power Mode reduces animations throughout the system. It also decreases the time before the screen darkens and makes every effort to save your battery for a little longer. When power saving mode is activated, the battery indicator turns from either green or red, to yellow.

Also, Low Power Mode can be activated at other times: look for the option in the new Battery section of Settings once you’ve upgraded to iOS 9.

Toning down on visual effects in iOS 7 and iOS 8

The parallax effect introduced in iOS 7, which makes your icons and notifications appear to be floating, might be pretty and cool. But at the same time, it drains the battery of your phone like a vampire, by constantly using your phone’s graphics processor. So, when you’re` in a place where charging your phone would not be possible, you could save your battery by disabling this feature.

You can switch to static rather than dynamic wallpaper – the iOS 7-style wallpaper that moves around as you tilt your phone. This will cut down the power drain a little. When you set a new Wallpaper, tap where it says ‘Perspective Zoom: On’ to turn it off.

You can also go to Settings > General > Accessibility > and switch on Reduce Motion to temporarily turn off all the parallax effects.

Cool not Hot Phone

There is no other way to say this – heat is really bad for batteries. It would be wise not to leave your phone lying in direct sunlight. The ideal comfort zone claimed for its best performance is between 16° to 22° C (62° to 72° F). Exposing it to a temperature higher than 35° C (95° F) can permanently damage battery capacity, so battery won’t power your device for long on a given charge. Also, it is advised that the cases should be removed while charging, as certain cases tend to generate excess heat that can affect battery capacity.

Reduce Screen Brightness, Turn Off Vibration and AirDrop

A simple way of saving battery is by reducing the brightness level of your iPhone screen. The brighter the default setting for the screen, the more power it consumes.There are a number of ‘Beep’ and songs to choose from for message and call notifications. Leaving out the rattling of your phone when a call or a message comes can save a little of your battery.

Also, turning off bluetooth and AirDrop whenever it is not in use can help in retaining battery life. Next time you are done transferring photos and files to and from other phones, make sure your bluetooth and AirDrop is turned off immediately after.

Disable Siri Shortcut

Yes, even Siri can be a bit of a drain on battery life. You’ll find the ‘Raise to Speak’ option in Settings > General > Siri -if you aren’t using it, make sure to turn it off. That sensor is active whenever your phone is unlocked. If it detects you holding your phone next to your face, it will make Siri listen automatically.

Update manually, Avoid Background Refresh App

Although updating your phone automatically seems to be the easiest way of updating, it is best to update manually. As it is handled automatically within the device it eats up tremendous amount of battery.

Go to Settings> iTunes & App Store> In the Automatic Downloads section, find Updates> Move slider to off/white.

It is also advisable to not use background app Refresh. We know how convenient it is when your device automatically updates the most used apps for you -but for the love of battery- it is better if this is disabled.

Go to Settings> General> Handoff & Suggested Apps> Move the My Apps and App Store sliders to Off.

High-Impact Games

This comes as no surprise that games and apps with high-end graphics and quality tends to consume more battery. So when you are playing games with 3D image quality or apps like the GPS chip for maps, and location-based apps it consumes more battery than when you are reading a book on Kindle.

Follow these simple steps to prevent your iPhone from draining out of juice. Next time you land yourself in a dystopic world which lacks all forms of charging options, you’d know what to do.

October 19, 2015

Apple iPhone 6s Plus Unboxing and Hands On

Apple’s latest iPhone is all set to launch in India on the 16th of October. Pre orders have begun on major e-commerce websites, most of which promise to deliver the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus 2-4 days from launch. There is also a traditional launch which will happen in major cities, where people will cue up to buy the phone on the day of the launch.

Apple has not made major design changes, as a matter of fact the only design change is the fact that the new iPhone 6s is heavier and thicker than the iPhone 6 and so is the case of the iPhone 6s Plus when compared to predecessor iPhone 6 Plus.

The iPhone 6 plus with its added weight feels much better and sturdier to hold in the hands. The reinforced aluminium frame takes a lot more pressure and there is no more “Bendgate“.

The new 3D touch is something that could become a big deal when more apps start to leverage the tech. As you will see in the video, it takes a while to get used to it, but is a lot of fun to use.

The cameras are a big welcome change. The front camera gets 5 MP which means front portraits aka. SELFIES, are now much improved. However the front camera only shoots 720p video. Boo Apple!

The rear camera however, is now a 12 MP shooter with 4k Video capability, which was much needed. New Live photos and optical image stabalization. All of which will require a lot of space on your iPhone. Pro Tip : if you use the camera a lot, avoid the 16 GB variant of the iPhone 6s / 6s Plus.

Check out the hands on video above and stay tuned for more. Full Specs below:

Specifications	iPhone 6s	iPhone 6s Plus
Display	Retina HD display with 3D Touch, 4.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit widescreen	Retina HD display with 3D Touch, 5.5-inch LED-backlit widescreen
Resolution	1334 X 750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi	1920-by-1080-pixel resolution at 401 ppi
Processor	Embedded M9 motion coprocessor	Embedded M9 motion coprocessor
Chipset	A9 chip with 64-bit architecture	A9 chip with 64-bit architecture
OS	iOS 9	iOS 9
Internal Storage	16GB/64GB/128GB	16GB/64GB/128GB
Exapandibility	N/A	N/A
Rear camera	12-megapixel iSight camera with 1.22µ pixels, ƒ/2.2 aperture	12-megapixel iSight camera with 1.22µ pixels, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Optical image stabilization
Rear Camera Video	4K video recording (3840 by 2160) at 30 fps	Optical image stabilization for video, 4K video recording (3840 by 2160) at 30 fps
Front Camera	5-megapixel photos, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash	5-megapixel photos, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash
Front Camera Video	720p HD video recording	720p HD video recording
Body Dimensions	143 grams	192 grams
Special Features	Fingerprint sensor, 3D force touch, live photo	Fingerprint sensor, 3D force touch, live photo
Connectivity	23 LTE and faster Wi-Fi	23 LTE and faster Wi-Fi
Variants	Silver, Gold, Space Gray, Rose Gold	Silver, Gold, Space Gray, Rose Gold
Price	Rs. 62000, Rs. 72000 and Rs. 82000 for 16GB/64GB/128GB respectively unlocked	Rs. 72000, Rs. 82000 and Rs. 92000 for 16GB/64GB/128GB respectively unlocked

October 11, 2015

Travellers Asked to Declare iPhone 6s on Arrival in India

Those trying to get their hands on the latest iPhones from abroad via the grey route market could land in deep trouble. Also, those who bring in the phones from outside into India without paying duty are likely to be fined.

Mumbai Customs has seen a growth in the number of iPhones 6s and iPhone 6s Plus smuggled into the country. Since the 25th of last September, around 200 handsets have been seized at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai from foreign returning passengers.

“We seized 200 of the latest iPhone models, valued at Rs 1.23 crore, over the last week. They were being smuggled into India by fliers from Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Dubai, etc. We have increased screening of baggage, besides profiling of passengers,” said Milind Lanjewar, Additional Commissioner, Customs.

Customs has issued a press release informing fliers to “voluntarily declare iPhones to customs on arrival.” They also warned that passengers picked up from the Green Channel will be liable to pay a fine, and those carrying iPhones in commercial quantities are likely to be arrested.

“For goods above Rs 45,000, technically passengers have to declare but most people are not aware of it. A duty of 36% is levied on the amount above this limit,” Lanjewar said. This means that duty will be levied if a passenger is carrying even a single iPhone, if the value of it exceeds Rs. 45,000.

India prices released by Apple distributor Ingram Micro on Tuesday pegged the 16 GB iPhone 6s at Rs 62,000 and the 16 GB iPhone 6s Plus at Rs 72,000 with successive variants having higher price tags. Basically, all the prices exceed the permissible free duty limit.

“As the models are still to be launched in India, passengers are trying to smuggle these iPhones for monetary benefit by sale through grey market,” the authorities have said.

Other parts of the country are also tightening the noose and are on the look out for more such cases, which is expected to rise with only 10 days to go before the official launch in India. Apple has sold over 13 million units of these phones since the launch across US, UK, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico and Singapore.

October 7, 2015

iPhone 6s is Four Times More Popular Than the 6s Plus

If the research conducted by Localytics is to be believed, iPhone 6s is faring way better than iPhone 6s Plus with about 1.5% of all Apple users using it. This is in contrast with a puny 0.4% of 6s Plus. The heftier price tag of the latter could be one of the reasons why customers are reluctant to opt for the device, along with its increased physical size as well.The two devices have set unprecedented records in terms of sales at Apple. Just the first three days of the launch of the two smartphones brought with it 10 million sold devices. However, statistics also show that the most popular iPhone so far is iPhone 6, followed by 5s and 5.

Here is a specification sheet comparing the two:

Specifications	iPhone 6s	iPhone 6s Plus
Display	Retina HD display with 3D Touch, 4.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit widescreen	Retina HD display with 3D Touch, 5.5-inch LED-backlit widescreen
Resolution	1334 X 750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi	1920-by-1080-pixel resolution at 401 ppi
Processor	Embedded M9 motion coprocessor	Embedded M9 motion coprocessor
Chipset	A9 chip with 64-bit architecture	A9 chip with 64-bit architecture
OS	iOS 9	iOS 9
Internal Storage	16GB/64GB/128GB	16GB/64GB/128GB
Exapandibility	N/A	N/A
Rear camera	12-megapixel iSight camera with 1.22µ pixels, ƒ/2.2 aperture	12-megapixel iSight camera with 1.22µ pixels, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Optical image stabilization
Rear Camera Video	4K video recording (3840 by 2160) at 30 fps	Optical image stabilization for video, 4K video recording (3840 by 2160) at 30 fps
Front Camera	5-megapixel photos, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash	5-megapixel photos, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash
Front Camera Video	720p HD video recording	720p HD video recording
Body Dimensions	143 grams	192 grams
Special Features	Fingerprint sensor, 3D force touch, live photo	Fingerprint sensor, 3D force touch, live photo
Connectivity	23 LTE and faster Wi-Fi	23 LTE and faster Wi-Fi
Battery	1,715mAh	2,750mAh
Variants	Silver, Gold, Space Gray, Rose Gold	Silver, Gold, Space Gray, Rose Gold

As far as the price goes, iPhone 6s is expected to arrive with a price tag of Rs. 53,500 for the 16GB variant. The expected price of the 64GB version is Rs. 60,500 and Rs. 67,500 for the 128GB. Coming to the iPhone 6s Plus, the base model (16 GB) is expected to be priced at 62,500, 64GB at Rs. 69,500 and 128GB at Rs. 76,500.

All major retailers in India have begun with pre-bookings for the new iPhones – 6s and 6s Plus. As per an official statement by the company the smartphones go on sale 16th October. In addition to pre-booking with retailers across the country, the MobileStore has announced it will begin taking orders starting this Friday. Based in Mumbai, MobileStore has over 800 outlets, and pre-orders can be placed at any of these for Rs. 2,000 each up to 13th October. The devices will be made available on the night of 15th October.

October 5, 2015

Apple Set to Create New Sales Record with iPhone 6s

Apple is all set to create another record with the launch of the iPhone 6s that began on Friday. The sale of the latest device is estimated to fall between 11 to 13 million this weekend. Foursquare and Swarm are working together to find out the foot traffic at Apple retail stores across the world based on the information from their apps.

“Based off of early indicators, we predict that launch day traffic will be about 360 percent higher than preceding weeks. This likely means that iPhone sales will surpass previous records, in the 11 to 13 million range.” A report cited.

Sometimes it takes only one new feature to get Apple loyalists around the world excited about a launch. And the Force Touch feature in the latest iPhone devices is the clear winner. This feature, among others, is set to take the sales of the iPhone to an unprecedented new high. Other features also include iOS 9, hugely improved camera (both front and back), faster processors and better connectivity.

Other than a robot in Sydney, the general crowd lining up are pretty much all human. Meanwhile, Apple stores around the world are readying their shops for the potential crowd lining up outside. Here’s a video of store employees setting up iPhone displays in Japan on Thursday night.

If Apple does manage to sell between 11 to 13 million units this weekend, they would top last year’s iPhone 6 that managed 10 million units in its opening weekend. Furthermore, a 13 million sales weekend would represent a 30% increase in sales.

The pre-orders for the iPhone 6s has already seen a major increase since the last year, with the Rose Gold colour being the most popular choice, accounting for 30 to 40 percent of total units pre-ordered.

Source : [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.computerworld.com/article/2986321/apple-ios/apple-s-iphone-6s-is-setting-new-sales-records.html”]Computer World [/tw-button]

September 26, 2015
Here’s a Camera App that Can Make Your Pictures Look Professional

When we purchase a smartphone today, one of our primary concerns is having a phone with an excellent camera, especially for the amateur photographers and Instagrammers out there. Gone are the days of carrying around a separate digital camera, and rightly so if your phone has the capabilities of taking quality photographs almost as clear as a DSLR camera. And one cannot deny that today’s iPhones are winning in the camera department.

Tap, tap, tap, a company that created the third-party camera app, Camera+ for iOS users, is selling its app for free now. The app currently has a strong 14 million user base, and has earned $18 million dollars in sales. The app is useful for those who want a little more from their iPhones, providing a bunch of extra editing tools – both basic and advanced – such as special effects and lighting filters, an image stabilizer, and integrated sharing with Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter. But until now, the app was only available as a paid download.

Edited using Camera+

The company will continue to have the paid version for users who want the complete set of features. The free app will have most of the basic features for free and select advanced features via in-app purchases, which include manual shooting, advanced editing, and lossless TIFF, to name a few. The free app will be a great advantage for those iPhone users who have a hobby for photography and like to play around with various editing features without having to pay for it.

Edited using Camera+

The app has received favorable reviews. PC Advisor gave the app 4-and-a-half stars out of 5 and declared it a “must-have” app for iPhone photographers. Wired gave the app a 9 out of 10, describing it as a “secret weapon” for photographers, stating that it contained so much functionality that it was “too easy to get lost in the deeply layered menus or forget where you found that killer function the other day.”

Click here to download the app. Who knows, maybe you could start your very own phone photography blog and click amazing pictures like the ones given below:

Natali Prosvetova ~ This will be my monument

Claude Panneton ~ Abandoned

Source: [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://theawesomer.com/app-camera/44278/”][/tw-button]

[tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.pixelsatanexhibition.com/”][/tw-button]

September 11, 2015
Apple Hires Artificial Intelligence Experts to Up Siri’s Game

As Apple closes in on the much talked about launch on the 9^th of September, the company is already busy searching for artificial-intelligence experts to help improve Siri’s functionality that has become stale in comparison to Google Now and Microsoft’s Cortana. Both competitors believe that the customers want an AI system that provides information catered specifically to their time and location, something Siri has failed to deliver.

To up their game, Apple has decided to hire at least 86 AI experts to work on machine learning alone, as well as employees with doctorates specializing in AI. According to a report by Reuters, the company’s user privacy that limits the amount of data sent from the iPhone to the servers, which makes it a challenge to improve Siri’s AI.

“As part of its push, the company is currently trying to hire at least 86 more employees with expertise in the branch of artificial intelligence known as machine learning, according to a recent analysis of Apple job postings. The company has also stepped up its courtship of machine-learning PhD’s, joining Google, Amazon, Facebook and others in a fierce contest, leading academics say.” – Reuters

The major problems for Siri, at the moment, are that it is lacking in both personal touch and information. Responses provided by Siri are far too rigid, allowing for only a simple user-requested reply. Limited data to the servers mean a limited knowledge of individual users and tastes. While trying to maintain the same level of user privacy, Apple Inc. is looking for solutions that will go around it and still deliver a smarter, personal Siri.

In the upcoming launch on the 9^th of September, Apple hopes to bring a faster, smarter version of Siri with its iOS 9 upgrade, which will provide users with information based on time and location using a feature called Proactive. Commenting on the iOS 9, Craig Federighi, Apple’s SVP of software engineer said that it was “adding intelligence throughout the user experience in a way that enhances how you use your device but without compromising your privacy.” Though one may have to wait for the iPhone 7 (expected next year) for a fully improved Siri, the Apple has been teasing with a number of coy and witty replies when asked “Hey Siri, give us a hint” as part of Apple’s invites for the launch on the 9^th of September.

Yes Siri, we know – new iPhones arrive this week! In other news – @kalbereanimesh is the final winner of our 5-Day Karbonn Mach Five Giveaway, congratulations! #iGyaanLife #iPhone6s #Apple #TechLife

A photo posted by iGyaan Network (@igyaan) on Sep 6, 2015 at 9:21pm PDT

And with smarter, more cryptic replies such as:

A photo posted by iGyaan Network (@igyaan) on Sep 8, 2015 at 11:18pm PDT

These various responses hint at the possibility that a new and improved Siri might be here sooner than expected. Until then, you can poke Siri for more hints.

September 9, 2015

5 Things Everyone Has Forgotten About the First iPhone

The first or the ‘original’ iPhone was launched eight years ago in June, 2007. Responsible for about 90% of the profit of the smartphone industry annually now, iPhone toppled major brands like Nokia and Blackberry from their stable position in the industry eight years ago. With the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus launch merely hours away, we decided to take a look at how the iPhone journey started for Apple. Here’s a look at what things looked like in 2007:

Hardware and Operating System:

It was a first of the eight generations of iPhones, and was a GSM device. The operating system was iOS 1. The rest of the hardware included a processor of 412MHz, RAM 128MB and 4GB internal storage.

Steve Jobs holds up the 'original iPhone' — Steve Jobs holds up the ‘original iPhone’

Influence:

It was the first break-through in the smartphone industry with its multi-touch display. It provided the template for pretty much all other smartphones that were developed over the subsequent years.

Sales:

The fist iPhone sold about 270,000 handsets in its debut quarter in 2007. This is quite a contrast to the 74 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus sold in the past holiday quarter.

Camera:

As absurd as the idea might sound now, the iPhone had no front camera or flash less than a decade ago. It’s hard to imagine the existence of a smartphone in the mainstream tech world without the existence of selfies. Back in the day, an iPhone with a rear camera of barely 2 MP was enough to sweep customers off their feet.

Siri:

Siri, the intelligent personal assistant is a feature almost synonymous with iPhones now. An iPhone without Siri isn’t an iPhone at all. Therefore, it does sound like a parallel reality when we realise Siri was introduced as an iOS application available in the App Store as late as April, 2010, about three years post the launch of the first iPhone in 2007. Yes, there was a time when iPhones existed minus a digital voice assistant.

A photo posted by iGyaan Network (@igyaan) on Sep 6, 2015 at 9:21pm PDT

Apple has come a long way from the summer of 2007. As the world braces itself for the 9th of September, we continue to keep you updated about all the latest developments. Watch this space for more!

Here’s a look at the specs of the first iPhone

Display	TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Resolution	320 x 480 pixels
Platform	iOS, upgradable to iOS 3.1.3412 MHz ARM 11
Camera	2MP Primary
Memory	4/8/16 GB
Battery	1400mAh internal Li-Ion Polymer
Price	$399 (8GB)

Image Source: [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_self” link=”http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/iphone/5477324/Apples-iPhone-a-history-in-pictures.html?frame=1419283″]The Telegraph[/tw-button]

September 9, 2015

Report: iPhone Users Will Be Able to Use Samsung’s Gear S2

The Samsung Gear S2 was announced on the 31st of August, and has since been receiving relatively good feedback, as compared to Samsung’s previous smartwatches. It came with a 1.2” circular Super AMOLED display with 360 x 360 pixels, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset, a 250mAh battery, a rotating bezel, a stainless steel body with IP68 rating for water and dust resistance and most importantly was compatible with all Android devices with Android 4.4 and up with more than 1.56GB of RAM.

With all the above specifications and more, it seemed to have become a seemingly strong competitor to the Apple Watch. As mentioned above, it is compatible with all Android phones with Android 4.4 and up with more than 1.56GB of RAM. So, this category would easily cover, Asus, HTC, Huawei, Kyocera, Lenovo, LG, Motorola, Xiaomi etc. But, here’s the crazy new thing – Samsung is doing for its new smartwatch – it’s extending it’s compatibility to the iPhone. So, now iPhone users who are envying Samsung’s Gear S2 can actually use it now. Well, here’s to Samsung finally catching up.

Source: [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a666783/move-over-android-wear-samsung-has-confirmed-its-looking-at-gear-s2-iphone-support.html#~pnzH1mBFJgBe6L”]Digital Spy[/tw-button]

September 7, 2015
Apple iPad Pro Set to Arrive Alongside iPhone 6S on Sept 9th

Time for Apple loyalists to hold tight as details of one of the most anticipated events of the tech world are divulged. 9th September marks the day the new iPhone will be launched in markets all over the world. The San Francisco venue, the Bill Graham auditorium (shown below) a 7000-seat building, therefore becomes symbolic of the significance this event will have in the history of the company.

Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco

The event will mark not only the launch of a pair of new iPhones but also of an upgraded Apple TV set top box, and new bands for the Apple Watch. The launch of these gadgets will be followed by the much awaited iPad Pro, and a revamped version of the iPad mini for retail in the subsequent months, if rumours are to be believed.

Meanwhile, Apple is expected to showcase the two new iPads at the event next week. The iPad mini 4 will be a thinner version of the current iPad mini, including a faster A-series chip with support for split-screen apps first introduced in iOS 9. A pair of upgraded cameras is another likely addition. Codenamed J98/J99, iPad Pro will be the larger-sized tablet and will have iOS 9.1, support a Force Touch-based stylus, and include speakers on two sides for better sound quality. The new iOS 9.1 operating system is expected to provide the iPad Pro with new features that include optimised versions of the Siri and Notification Center interfaces.

The event is expected to surpass last year’s launch of the iPhone 6, Apple Watch and Apple Pay keynote at the Flint Centre in Cupertino, with an “unprecedented” range of product introductions. All eyes are now set on Apple to deliver a range of products as impressive as tech freaks across the globe expect them to be.

September 3, 2015
Microsoft’s New project To make 3D Scanning Possible On the iPhone Soon

Microsoft is now creating a camera for smartphones, that can also be a 3D scanner. The name of this project is – MobileFusion and the first research has been conducted on an iPhone 5S to scan objects by moving the phone around them. Kind of like the new pen scanner we just reported about.

The phone is said to be able to capture and track objects and then build up a model as the camera captures it from different angles. Microsoft has stated that no additional hardware would be required to turn the iPhone or any other smartphone into a 3D scanner. All the computation is done within the phone itself.

Microsoft’s project is quoted as being different from other projects such as, Google’s Tango project, which uses additional hardware. It has also been said, that Microsoft’s single camera should be enough to make models for printing or use in augmented reality gaming.

As of now, they are trying to get it running on the iOS, Android and Windows Phone.However, the date of release or any news of mass production is unavailable. Stay tuned and watch the video below:

August 25, 2015
Check Out Samsung’s Bold New Move To Challenge Apple Head-On

In a rather bold move by Samsung, the South Korean smartphone company has launched a new promotional offer that is aimed directly at iPhone users. They will now let iPhone users take one of the three new models for the “ultimate test drive” for a full month!

Customers will need to visit the special Samsung website from their iPhone in order to qualify for this offer. Once logged in, you will have your current carrier and then select which Galaxy model you would like to try. Currently, the Galaxy S6 Edge, S6 Edge+ and Note 5 are on the list.

After choosing the phone you will have to enter some basic information along with your credit card details. Those who continue to use the product beyond the 30-day trial period, will be charged the full price, while those who return it on time will only be charged $1.

After completing all the necessary steps, you will be charged $1 to verify your credit card details and then you should receive your test phone soon. The phone is said to come with a data plan, however, it has not yet been mentioned whether it will be a limited or special unlimited plan for testers.

So, iPhone users, are you ready to give Samsung a chance?

August 21, 2015
WhatsApp Opens Up its Web Service to iOS Users – Finally!

WhatsApp has recently opened up access to its web service for Apple iPhone users. This service allows you to send and receive messages on your computers and phones.

This function is still being rolled out, and hence may not be available to all users immediately, but those of you who have the latest version of the WhatsApp app should be able to find a “web” menu option under the “settings”.

“Our web client is simply an extension of your phone: the web browser mirrors conversations and messages from your mobile device – this means all of your messages still live on your phone.” – WhatsApp Blogspot

However, the feature works through the internet, so, the phone has to be connected to the internet, otherwise the conversation will drop out and all the users’ texts will remain on the phone. The web can sync data with the phone app that allows messages to be received and sent, within the browser. In order to sync your iPhone with the web client, you will first have to scan a QR code from WhatsApp’s website using your phone.

The WhatsApp web client had been launched in January 2015 and has since been available to Google, Windows, Blackberry and Nokia operating systems. However, this is the first time it has been available for Apple’s smartphone device.

August 20, 2015
Research : Almost All Fingerprint Sensors on Android Mobiles Can Be Hacked

New reports suggest that our fingerprints are not as unique and safe for security, as we might have otherwise believed. This makes almost all Android smartphones in the future susceptible to getting hacked. Studies by FireEye researchers Tao Wei and Yulong Zhang have outlined new ways to attack an Android device to extract the user’s fingerprint.

As of now, this threat is said to be confined to Android devices like Samsung, Huawei and HTC devices. The research shows four outlines for these hacks, and one them called the “fingerprint sensor spying attack”, is said to be able to “remotely harvest fingerprints on a large scale,” says Zhang.

Reports suggest that the two devices that have been hacked are – the HTC One Max and Samsung’s Galaxy S5. This happens because the device doesn’t fully lock down the sensor, allowing the hacker to acquire a fingerprint image.

“In this attack, victims’ fingerprint data directly fall into attacker’s hand. For the rest of the victim’s life, the attacker can keep using the fingerprint data to do other malicious things,” Zhang said.

As we know before fingerprint technology was used for mobile payments and unlocking devices, it had been previously used for identity, immigration, and for criminal records. However, researchers have not mentioned which device is more secure than the other, although they have mentioned that the iPhone is “quite secure” as it is encrypted by a fingerprint data from the scanner. So, “even if the attacker can directly read the sensor, without obtaining the crypto key, [the attacker] still cannot get the fingerprint image,” he said.

Research also says that this hack is susceptible to high-end laptop users with fingerprint sensors and advice users to use devices that are regularly updated and install apps only from reliable sources.

Source:[tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.zdnet.com/article/hackers-can-remotely-steal-fingerprints-from-android-phones/”] Zdnet[/tw-button]

August 7, 2015
New Feature on iOS 9 Automatically Switches to Cellular Data When Wifi is Poor

The new iOS 9 beta showed us two new interesting features – firstly it allows your phone connectivity to switch to your data connection, when the Wi-Fi signal is low and secondly, it allows Wi-Fi calling for AT&T subscribers.

As of now, the iPhone can connect, or attempt to connect to a known Wi-Fi hotspot that is within range, even if the connection is too weak to transmit data. So, the solution to this problem has been to disable the iPhone’s Wi-Fi radio. However, with the the “Wi-Fi Assist” option in the iOS 9 beta, one can go to the “Cellular” menu in the Settings app, and enable the feature, it will then force your device to switch to a 3G or 4G connection when the Wi-Fi signal drops. The feature also notifies you by making the icon turn grey, indicating that the Wi-Fi is being switched off.

Reports also suggest that the iOS 9 beta enables Wi-Fi calling for AT&T subscribers, providing them with incoming and outgoing calls to a local wireless network, and thereby offering a more reliable connection, enhanced audio quality and better battery performance.

However, the iOS 9 beta is exclusive to only developers, for now. Reports suggest that this has been done in order to “avoid causing too much aggravation with bugs or poor performance.” Therefore, one might have to wait for a few more days/weeks until the iOS 9 becomes public.

Source: [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://9to5mac.com/2015/08/06/everything-new-in-ios-9-beta-5/”]9to5mac[/tw-button]

August 7, 2015