Month: March 2012

Nokia says Apple’s Nano SIM card proposal is no good

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 22, 2012

Espoo, Finland-headquartered Nokia is officially opposing Apple's requirement for an emerging mobile industry standard basically calling for a miniaturized SIM module roughly a third smaller than the Micro SIM used with the iPhone 4/4S. A proposal put forth by Motorola, RIM and Nokia has some technical advantages over the Apple-backed nano SIM that requires a “drawer” to protect it.

As a result, cell phones would need to be re-engineered with this in mind. Nokia says its variant of the Nano SIM doesn't require a tray and is even smaller than Apple's. Both camps have tabled proposals to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). With 92 votes, Nokia is the largest ETSI voting body, so no wonder Apple has filed multiple membership applications in order to increase its voting power.

Nokia has explained its stance in a lengthy statement issued to The Verge just this morning...

Shocker: Running new iPad at full brightness kills run time by 20 percent

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 22, 2012

The interest surrounding the iPad overheating meme isn't vaning. Quite the contrary, folks are eager to get to the bottom of this thing. As we hold our breath for today's definite findings of "a battery of tests" conducted by Consumer Reports, a display expert sheds more light on how an improved LED backlighting system on the iPad's Retina display contributes to Heatgate and, specifically, the tablet's run time.

You've already seen heat maps which prove that the new A5X chip with its jumbo-sized quad-core GPU is the biggest heater in the new iPad. That said, its souped up LED backlighting is actually the No. 1 factor leading up to a faster battery drain and is partly to blame for the gizmo's five-degree Celsius temperature increase...

Angry Birds Space now available to download from the App Store

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

We told you recently that those Angry Birds were going to make their way into space, and today Rovio released the new game for iOS gamers.

Angry Birds Space is pretty much what you would expect: Angry birds trying to finish those pesky pigs off, but with a distinctly starry flavour.

Available for both the iPhone/iPod touch and the iPad, Angry Birds Space takes to the skies, with planets and their own gravitational pull adding something very different to the tried and tested Angry Birds formula that has already made Rovio's games extremely popular across a range of devices. From what we've seen, this space-flavored version will be just as popular...

Rumor: next iPhone to feature 4.6-inch display

Jake Smith ∙ March 21, 2012

Now that the rumors for the third-generation iPad are over, rumors regarding Apple's next iPhone are kicking in full swing. Reporting on a rumor that's been floating around for quite awhile, Maeil Business Newspaper (via Reuters) says that Apple's next iPhone will feature a 4.6-inch display.

The upgraded screen size has been rumored to be featured in the iPhone for quite awhile. Many Android devices include a larger 4-inch screen, including Samsung's popular Galaxy S II. The 4.6-inch display would be Retina quality and manufactured by Samsung and LG...

iPhoto for iOS gains 1 million users since launch

Jake Smith ∙ Updated February 13, 2018

There have been many mixed reviews over Apple's newest app, iPhoto for iOS. The app allows users to make quick edits to their photos and then share them across social networks. Some say they love it, while others say it's too clunky to use.

However, that's not stopping customers from downloading the new app. Apple told The Loop today that the $4.99 app is now being used by 1 million users, since its launch 10 days ago...

Netflix app updated for new iPad Retina display

Sébastien Page ∙ March 21, 2012

The Netflix app has just been updated with full support for the new iPad's Retina display. Available now in the App Store, this update brings:

Improved artwork for new iPad Retina Display Fixed VoiceOver support Improved playback on external displays Numerous fixes and stability improvements

Apple said to be reviewing components for upcoming LTE iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ March 21, 2012

AppleInsider is reporting today that it has obtained a research note from Barclays, an investment firm, that contains some interesting information regarding Apple's next iPhone.

The note states that Apple is moving along with development of its next iPhone, and is now in the process of reviewing components submitted by suppliers for use in the new handset...

Consumer Reports reviews the new Apple TV

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 21, 2018

Consumer Reports caused quite a stir yesterday when it reportedly found Apple's new iPad to have an overheating problem. While there's evidence that the tablet runs a tad warm, a lot of folks have called the report sensationalist.

Well the folks at CR are back again today with their review of the new Apple TV. And no, there's no mention of "heatgate" this time around. It actually sounds like they're genuinely impressed with Apple's latest set top box...

Why the new iPad gets hotter and how it’s being blown out of proportion

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 21, 2018

Image courtesy of GSM Arena

There's an awful lot of hoopla around the new iPad overheating. People are getting spooked by heat maps and that screenshot of standard iOS prompt saying "the iPad needs to cool down" average users rarely see. It goes without saying that the press immediately jumped on the opportunity to exploit the story in order to keep those eyeballs glued to the screen.

And with Consumer Reports now throwing its credibility behind Heatgate, it's easy to walk away under the impression that the new iPad comes with a major hardware flaw. Now, If you ever held a PS Vita, you can attest it runs a lot hotter than the iPad.

Still, it's hard to escape the notion the story is gaining traction because it's about the world's most powerful technology corporation that just released the third iteration of its category-defining gizmo everyone wants (it's selling like hotcakes). Yes, the new iPad is a bit toastier than its predecessor - full five degrees Celsius to be precise.

How exactly is this a big deal, you ask. Here's why the new iPad gets hotter, why it doesn't matter and how it's being blown out of proportion...

New Apple Supplier Responsibility report shows improvement

Cody Lee ∙ March 21, 2012

In wake of numerous reports on the poor working conditions at some of the factories in its supply chain, Apple erected a new section of its website entitled "Supplier Responsibility."

The page includes a number of resources, including monthly reports showing the company's progress. And according to the latest update, working conditions are already improving...

Microsoft sees Windows Phone passing the iPhone in China

Cody Lee ∙ March 21, 2012

Apparently China is a hot topic today in the smartphone world. Earlier, we reported that the country's Android and iOS device activations finally passed up those in the US. And now it looks like Microsoft wants in.

The company's chief executive officer for the greater China region, Simon Leung, told Bloomberg this morning that Windows Phone will surpass the iPhone in smartphone market share in China by 2016...

China passes up the US for iOS and Android activations

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 12, 2018

With over a billion wireless subscribers, China is certainly one of the most sought-after mobile markets. Heck, China Mobile (the world's largest carrier) alone has over 650 million customers.

Now it looks like that market just got even more valuable. According to Flurry, a mobile analytics company, China is now the world's fastest growing smart device market as well...