Android And Blackberry Update

SLiM stand makes iPad look like mini iMac

We always enjoy bringing readers details of new Kickstarter projects and today we’re looking at the SLiM stand that makes an iPad look like a mini iMac. We think this is a very neat accessory that has real appeal and we think you’ll agree when you read about it. You may also want to view the video that we’ve embedded for you below this story.
Many of you will know that Kickstarter is a site dedicated to funding new product ideas, giving backers the chance to raise a target amount by the deadline in order to put a project into production. The SLiM Stand Like iMac is by Footmarker who set themselves a number of challenges for the stand. It had to have a simple design (inspired by the iMac), be simple to use and set up, and have an affordable price.
It looks as though they’ve achieved all of that and in fact they have designed two different SLiMs, the SLiM for iPad (or other tablets that have a flat surface) and the SLiM-mini (for the iPad mini). The stand is sanded-anodized aluminum based, has an iMac style design, a hole for the cable so that it goes neatly through the back, and foam pads that attach the tablet or anchor it on the desk. It’s said to be strong with no wobble or shake, and if it stands up to these claims we think it’s something that could attract a lot of buyers.
The short demo video below shows how easy it is to use the stand. At the time of writing a total of $5,162 has been raised from a target of $14,000 and there are still 20 days to go until the deadline. You may also be interested in two other Kickstarter projects for Apple devices, the iPhone 5 Craftwerk Aluminum case and the iPhone FUMM universal mount accessory.
We’d like to know what you think about the SLiM stand for iPad. Does this accessory appeal to you? Maybe you’ll be backing the project yourself? Let us have your comments on this.

iPhone 5 vs. 4S, 4 on new iOS 7 beta update

Since Apple unveiled what is coming with the next update to its iOS operating system there have been a lot of users looking forward to the changes that it will bring to their mobile device. While we wait for iOS 7 to be released today we have the iPhone 5 vs. 4S, and iPhone 4 running the new beta update.
First up we have the iPhone 5 running iOS 7 with a build number of 11A4400f that brings some new features to the handset, and the latest beta release includes the return of the Voice Memos application. This is demonstrated and once you have recorded a message you can easily send it to your friends via email or message.
Siri now has new male and female voices that can be quickly changed by the user via the settings option of the app, and the app has been improved from the current offering. In the Control Centre at the bottom there is also a new icon for the clock, and the weather app has a new option for adding more cities.
With iMessage in a group chat you now get avatars and can also see the time and the lock screen has got slightly quicker from the previous beta of iOS 7. The FaceTime app has been tweaked with a transparent look that has also featured in the keyboard.
The iCloud settings now have the option at the bottom of finding your iPhone remotely and new wallpapers have been added on a different page along with multitasking now being quicker. The other videos run through the changes on both the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S that include some of the same changes made in the iPhone 5 version.
Obviously some of these are hardware specific such as the Siri app but the Safari browser now features some quick short cuts when it is opened for the first time, and loads up pretty quick on the handset, especially compared to the iPhone 4.
The camera app panorama mode has been updated for both the iPhone 5 and 4S making it easier to use, but it has to be remembered that this software is still a beta so will have some minor glitches or bugs. Watch the videos in full and tell us what new features of iOS 7 you are most looking forward to.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Developer Edition price on Verizon

If you are in the US and have been waiting for the Samsung Galaxy S4 Developer Edition then we have some good news, as the Verizon variant is now available from Samsung. We have some details of this as well as the price of the Galaxy S4 Developer Edition on Verizon.
The Samsung website now lists the Verizon version of the Galaxy S4 Developer Edition. When this first appeared on the site, the AT&T version was also listed but that Developer Edition model has since been removed for the time being. The Verizon GS4 Developer smartphone still listed though and is virtually the same as a standard unlocked Galaxy S4. However, the Developer Edition does have an unlocked bootloader, enabling developers to easily use custom ROMs or hacks.
Specs of the Developer Edition (SCH-I545) include a 1.9GHz quad-core processor, 5-inch Super AMOLED full HD display with resolution of 1920 x 1080 and 441 ppi, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD. It has a 13-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel front-facing shooter, and runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean skinned with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI.
Features include Air Gestures, Smart Scroll, Smart Pause, and Smart Unlock, along with much more. The Galaxy S4 Developer Edition on Verizon is priced at $649.99, and this model is only available in Black Mist. We should point out that this is not the same as the Galaxy S4 Google Edition that will release, as that phone will run stock Android Jelly Bean.
If you want to see more about the Samsung Galaxy S4 Developer Edition on Verizon, head to this Samsung product page. We have noticed though that currently this is on back order as it is out of stock. Will you be ordering the Developer Edition of this phone on Big Red? Let us know with your comments.

iPad 5 confidence in features after release failure

Earlier this month executives from Apple took to the stage for its annual WWDC keynote speech and while the company may have unveiled some new Macs and software, no new mobile devices were revealed. There were some though leading up to the event that showed confidence in the release of the iPad 5 and its features, but this obviously didn’t happen.
A few days before the WWDC event a case manufacturer seemed pretty confident that we were about to see the launch of the Apple iPad 5, and took the gamble of putting these products up on its website, which are still available even now.
The company seem pretty confident that its Gumdrop Cases will sync with the final design of the iPad 5 when it is eventually released by Apple, with the company even stating they are confident of the final dimensions of the device.
It has gone stuff wrong in the past regarding upcoming Apple products by designing a case more in line with the iPhone 5 only for the iPhone 4S to be released. The iPad cases fit in with rumours surrounding the release of the iPad 5 that will be thinner and smaller than the current full sized model, and borrow design ideas from the iPad mini with smaller bezels.
There has been talk that the displays for the iPad 5 will use the Sharp IGZO technology that can use a lot less power than current versions available, and it is thought the iPad 5 release date will come around the same time as the iPhone 5S and iPad mini 2, which will also mark the public release of iOS 7.
We often see other case manufacturers launching products for mobile devices before they have even been launched based on rumours, especially in China.

HTC Butterfly S vs Sony Xperia Z Ultra vs Galaxy Note 3

There are some very notable Android smartphones due for release over the next few months, and today we want to consider three of them. We’re looking at the HTC Butterfly S vs. Sony Xperia Z Ultra vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and we’ll give you some key specs, although we’re particularly interested in considering the display sizes of these.
The HTC Butterfly S and Sony Xperia Z Ultra have now been formally introduced, so we have official specs on these two devices. However, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has not been unveiled yet, so for now we can only give you rumored specs of this device. The Butterfly S is due to release from the middle of July, first in some Asia Pacific countries, and then following to more regions. Meanwhile the Xperia Z Ultra is releasing at some point in Q3. No release date has yet been announced for the Galaxy Note 3, but it’s widely expected to be debuted at IFA in Berlin that takes place in September.
We’ll begin with the HTC Butterfly S, and this phone is powered by a 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor with Adreno 320 graphics, has a 5-inch Super LCD3 display with resolution of 1920 x 1080 and 441 ppi, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD to 64GB). It also has a 4-megapixel UltraPixel rear camera, 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera, and 3200 mAh battery, and it runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean overlaid with HTC Sense 5.
Moving on to the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, this phone has a 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, a 6.4-inch display with resolution of 1920 x 1080 and 344 ppi, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD up to 64GB). It also totes an 8-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel front-facing camera, 3050 mAh battery and it runs the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system.
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As we previously stated, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has not been officially announced yet but leaked and rumored specs so far include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor or Exynos 5 octa-processor, a 13-megapixel camera, and the likelihood that it will run on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, although that could well be Android 4.3 when it finally arrives. For some time now, leaks and sources suggested the display size would increase again from the Galaxy Note 2 to 5.99 or 6-inches, although a more recent leak suggested it may be 5.7-inches.
We cannot give full specs and features of each device here, but hopefully we’ve given enough to give you some idea of what each phone has to offer. They will all be top-end devices and no doubt there will be pros and cons for each. Of course, personal preference of design and the price will also play an important factor in any choice between these three devices. What we really want to focus on at the moment though, is display size.
When the original Samsung Galaxy Note appeared it had a screen size of 5.3-inches, and at that time this triggered quite a debate about whether a phone with such a large display would ever catch on. Many felt that this was way too large and almost saw the Note as a gimmick, and it was soon dubbed a ‘phablet,’ suggesting a hybrid of a phone and tablet. However the huge success of the first Galaxy Note soon dispelled these concerns, and in fact a trend soon followed for smartphones with much larger displays.
Consider the display sizes the of the Butterfly S at 5-inches, the whopping 6.4-inch display of the Xperia Z Ultra and the Galaxy Note, expected to be between 5.7 and 6-inches, and you can see a wide variety of display sizes to suit everybody. Indeed the 5-inch screen of the Butterfly S now looks positively small when considering the Z Ultra. As these three smartphones will all have impressive specs, it could well be the display size that plays a major part in choosing one of them over the other two. If you want to check out some videos of the Butterfly S then you may be interested in our previous article here, or for the Xperia Z Ultra here. We’ve also embedded two more videos for you below this story, one on the Butterfly S and the other on the Xperia Z Ultra.
It seems that ultimately the consumer wins, as these three phones represent a wide variety of display sizes, but we’d really like to know what you think about this. Does the display size of a smartphone now influence your decision about which to purchase? Are you a fan of larger or smaller displays? If you could pick the HTC Butterfly S, the Sony Xperia Z Ultra or the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and adjust the display size to suit you, what size would you choose? Send your comments to let us know.

BlackBerry Q10 vs. Z10 and iPhone 5

A few months ago BlackBerry launched its new operating system and compatible hardware to the world as it looks to regain some of its lost market share. Today, we take a look at how the BlackBerry Q10 stacks up against the BlackBerry Z10 and Apple iPhone 5. Our first three videos will look at the BlackBerry Q10 vs. Z10, and then these are followed with some comparisons looking at the BlackBerry Q10 vs. iPhone 5.
BlackBerry got things started with the launch of the touchscreen Z10 but more recently returned to its roots with the QWERTY sporting BlackBerry Q10. But how do they compare? There is a good chance that BlackBerry fans would have picked either one of the handsets based on their love for a touchscreen or a physical keyboard.
The first three videos that we have embedded for you below are comparing the two BB10 handsets, and it quickly becomes apparent how much squarer the Q10 display is while obviously being smaller. This also means that there are less apps displayed on the screen at the same time so more sideways scrolling is needed.
The slide up action that lets you return to the home page or look at messages is a lot easier on the BlackBerry Z10 as the keyboard can sometimes get in the way on the other device. The bundled keyboard on the Z10 is pretty good and better than some stock Android offerings, but still lags behind the likes of SwiftKey.
iphone 5 vs bb10

While the physical keyboard on the Q10 still comes with dictionary predictions and other features you would expect on a virtual keyboard, but can be very hit or miss at times. One clever feature of the Q10 is that when you are holding the device normally and taking a video the handset is shooting it in landscape mode, and all three of the first videos find positives and negatives for both handsets when compared against each other.
We then move on to the comparisons of the BlackBerry Q10 and the iPhone 5 that may not seem fair as many that have set their heart on one of the devices may not consider the other handset. The multitasking on the new BB10 is arguably the best that has been made available so far and also features a voice control system.
This was found not to be nowhere near as good as Siri on the iPhone 5 and spec wise the rear facing cameras on the handsets match up, but in use while both devices offer good quality images the iPhone 5 produces a more vibrant and vivid image which is probably down to the lens.
The BlackBerry Q10 was found to be a worthy handset in our recent hands on review with the operating system to be the biggest positive, and once larger BB10 displays become available more consumers will hopefully give the platform some consideration.
Watch the videos and tell us what you think about the three handsets.

Sony Xperia SP M35t, C S39h specs and Chinese release

We have some details today of two upcoming Sony smartphones, the Sony Xperia SP M35t and C S39h. We’ll give some specs for each device and news on their China release. The M35t is specifically for China but there’s no news yet on whether the C S39h will release in other regions.
First we’ll tell you a little about the Sony Xperia SP M35t. This is for the market in China, and is enabled with TD-LTE as a variant of the Xperia SP. The M35t with TD-LTE is compatible with the 4G network of China Mobile. It has a 1.7GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro dual-core Krait processor, a 4.6-inch 720p display, and the bottom of the device features a transparent LED strip, which can be customized. This one runs the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS and will be available in black, white or pink color options.

The Xperia C S39h is a dual-SIM smartphone and is powered by a 1.2GHz MediaTek quad-core processor, and has a 5-inch qHD display with resolution of 960 x 540. It also has an 8-megapixel rear camera with Exmor R sensor and runs the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system. The C S39h will be exclusive to China Unicom and comes in white, purple or black color options.
There are no specific release dates for China just yet, and no news on pricing either. You can be sure we’ll pass that on to you as we hear more. We’d like to hear your thoughts on these smartphones so let us have your comments.
Source: Engadget (1) (2)