If we’ve said it once then we’ve said it a thousand times. Dual-core processors are cool, quad-core processors are cooler and neither of them are 100% necessary in the current mobile market. Yes, they’re faster and can handle more complex calculations. They also allow for better and faster apps to be developed. But right now there just aren’t that many available apps that require that much raw power.
Apple announced the New iPad today and we have to say that overall we’re very happy with the sound of it. Other than the name, which is actually “New iPad” we feel any huge disappointments or mind-breakingly confusing issues with the announcement. Yes, the New iPad only sports a dual-core processor, unlike the quad-core of many Android tablets that are on their way, but we’re actually happy about that. We’ll tell you why in the next post but right now we’re going to go over some of the basic specs and upgrades found in the New iPad.
The web is buzzing today over a purported leaked photo of the upcoming iPad 3’s casing. As always with Apple rumors, we suggest you don’t put too much stock in this as it’s currently totally unsubstantiated. However, the images do convey some surprising information, should they turn out to be the real-deal.
Amongst the bevy of retina screen/to-the-edge displays/super battery/keyboard/even more outlandish iPad rumors from last season one in particular seemed to be the most wide-spread: the iPad Mini. We thought the rumor had died, due to no other evidence than it inexplicably disappearing from tech blogs and geek forums alike.
The iPhone 4S, as part of the iconic iPhone line, is obviously doing very well for itself in the market. However, directly after its release there was a lot of discontentment demonstrated throughout the online community. While the negative reactions were initially more abundant that one might expect for an Apple product, things seem to be quieting down a bit now as people come to terms with the fact that there isn’t going to be any iPhone 5 this time around.
There’s been a lot of recent news regarding iOS 5 and its various updates. First there was the big release, then iOS 5.0.1 came short on its heels due to some battery issues. Next we received a report that the iOS 5.0.2 fix, that was designed to rectify issues with iOS 5.0.1, had been delayed. Now we’ve received news that the iOS 5.1update has already been seeded to developers. Don’t worry, we’re having trouble keeping up too.
If it seems like only yesterday that iOS 5 was finally released with all its upgraded notification/integration splendor then that’s because you’re not far off the mark. In the short time since iOS 5’s release Apple has not only had to hastily release the 5.0.1 patch to fix some pretty varying battery-life issues, but also begin some even hastier work on 5.0.2 to fix the issues that were created or worsened by the introduction of 5.0.1.
Let’s face it, the iOS rumor mill is never going to stop. This week we’ve got a few new ones to report on. If you haven’t heard of Siri then we’d usually ask you where you’ve been hiding yourself for the last couple of months, but seeing as we have a bit to go through we’ll just quickly fill you in. Siri is Apple’s brand new Native Talk app, that allows users an impressive range of functionality simply by speaking to their iPhone 4S handsets. We know what you’re thinking; that you’ve heard this all before and voice-command interfaces always turn out to be all talk and no action. Well by all accounts Siri actually works really well and seems to be the most impressive voice recognition integration anyone has yet seen on a smartphone.
Tim Cook, new CEO of Apple, made his first big product announcement at the Let’s Talk Apple event. Among the announcements were iCloud, iOS5, the iPod Touch 5, some upgrades to the iPod Shuffle and Nano series and the long awaited… iPhone 4S. The sigh around the internet was almost audible when it became apparent that we would not be seeing the iPhone 5 this time around. Most fans were hoping for at least an external design change from the iPhone 4. Of course we went through exactly the same thing a bit over 2 years ago with the iPhone 3GS, but the extended wait for the iPhone 4S had many thinking that we were going to see something totally new this time around, rather than another upgrade with an identical form-factor.
Hundreds of cell phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.