Ask Andru: Where is Apple’s innovation? It takes time

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Editorial, Features, Handhelds,

The day after Apple's latest earnings call, I got an email from a reader that asked if the days of Apple leading the world in consumer electronics innovation has come to an end, and if the playing field is leveling out:

Q: What's up with Apple? It seems the stock is down, profits are great, and products are stagnant, only seeing revisions rather than new product categories. Have they gotten too big to be as nimble as they used to be?

Coincidentally, I was browsing Facebook earlier, and I came across a post where a friend was very unimpressed by Apple's announcement of the 128 GB iPad:

Maybe it's the jet lag, but the latest 'New Thing' is a 128GB iPad?

This is it?

Where's Apple innovation?

I dunno, it seems that people expect way more from Apple than any other company. They update their iOS products on a yearly cycle, and they even updated the iPad mid-cycle last time (which people got upset about too, because it was too soon. Wait, what?)

Do people forget that the original iPod was released in 2001, and then the iPhone 6 years later, and then the iPad another three years after that? The iPad isn't even three years old yet, and people are saying Apple has lost something. Big, game-changing products like this take time.

Click to continue reading Ask Andru: Where is Apple’s innovation? It takes time

LG Optimus G review

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Features, Google, Handhelds, Product Reviews,

The LG Optimus G was released a couple of months ago, and was a statement from LG that it would no longer be seen as a mid-range smartphone manufacturer. The company took its time with this one, focusing on a few key areas that it felt would set this phone apart from the wildly crowded Android smartphone pack, where Samsung has been recognized as the leader. The phone is available on both Sprint and AT&T for $199 with a two-year contract. The question is, did LG deliver? On the surface, it seems to have checked all the right boxes, what with 4G LTE, quad-core processor, Corning Gorilla Glass 2, and a 4.7-inch True HD IPS Plus display. Is it enough? Follow along with us in our full LG Optimus G review for the answer.

Click to continue reading LG Optimus G review

iPhone 5 vs BlackBerry Z10 comparison video

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Videos,

Check out this performance comparison between the iPhone 5 and the upcoming BlackBerry Z10 running BlackBerry 10 OS. The hardware is rocking a 4.2-inch 1280x768 display at 355 dpi. It also has HDMI and USB conectivity, as well as micro SIM and micro SD, with an 1800 mAh battery. In addition, some are suggesting that it includes two 2GB of RAM and 1.5 dual-core processor and 8MP camera. Check out the video after the break.

Click to continue reading iPhone 5 vs BlackBerry Z10 comparison video

Read More | Telekom Presse

Amazon MP3 Store now optimized for iPhone & iPod touch

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Internet, Music,

Amazon has just launched a version of its MP3 catalog that is made ready to use for the iPhone or iPod Touch mobile Safari with use of the open standards of HTML5. This is a way for Amazon to avoid the App Store cut of 30% with selling music to iOS users. Customers can view purchases and stream the music via the Amazon Cloud Player app avaible in the App Store.

For the first time ever, iPhone and iPod touch users can discover and buy digital music from Amazon’s 22-million song catalog using the Safari browser. Customers also have access to favorite Amazon features like personalized recommendations, best-seller lists and Amazon customer ratings. Music purchases are automatically saved to customers' Cloud Player libraries and can be downloaded or played instantly from any iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Kindle Fire, Android phone or tablet, Roku, Sonos home entertainment system,  any web browser, giving customers the freedom to enjoy more music, from more devices than any other major cloud music service."

Since the launch of the Amazon Cloud Player app for iPhone and iPod touch, a top request from customers has been the ability to buy music from Amazon right from their devices. For the first time ever, iOS users have a way do that – now they can access Amazon’s huge catalog of music, features like personalized recommendations, deals like albums for $5, songs for $0.69, and they can buy their music once and use it everywhere. - Amazon

Read More | Amazon

Unannounced leaked BlackBerry Z10 purportedly demoed on video

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors, Videos,

Research In Motion's BlackBerry 10 mobile OS, formally QNX, has been widely publicized; however, little is known about RIM's other ability, hardware, until now. A video has been posted to YouTube of an iPhone-esque phone with a BlackBerry logo allegedly dub the BlackBerry Z10. To be clear, this is not the demo units that were given to developers for the purpose of making apps and taking the OS for a spin. Perhaps, this is a unit that is slated for mass production? We will soon find out as RIM has an event scheduled for later this month. Until then, check out the video leak.

Click to continue reading Unannounced leaked BlackBerry Z10 purportedly demoed on video

Read More | Telekom Presse

AT&T now allowing FaceTime over Cellular for iOS users on any tiered plan

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Wireless / WiFi,

AT&T has just announced it is making good on its promise to allow devices like the iPhone 4S, as long as it's on a tiered or data share plan, the ability to utilize Apple's FaceTime video calling service on its cellular network. The rollout is slated to take several months and will be applied automatically by AT&T for eligible customers. Still, those out there like myself who have a kung-fu grip on their unlimited plans are left out in the cold. AT&T did state in their blog recently that they would assess FaceTime impact for unlimited users on its network. So, hopefully, the AT&T network isn't as fragile as they are alluding to and can hold up enough so that their most loyal customers, like myself, won't be out of the loop for too long. Fingers crossed.

When FaceTime over Cellular launched in September 2012, we explained that we wanted to roll it out gradually to ensure the service had minimal impact on the mobile experience for all of our customers.

As a result of ongoing testing, we’re announcing AT&T will enable FaceTime over Cellular at no extra charge for customers with any tiered data plan using a compatible iOS device.

This means iPhone 4S customers with tiered plans will be able to make FaceTime calls over the AT&T cellular network.  AT&T previously made FaceTime over Cellular available to customers with a Mobile Share plan and those with an LTE device on tiered plans.

Of course, FaceTime over Wi-Fi remains available for all customers who have a compatible iPhone or iPad.

We have already begun updating our systems and processes and expect to start rolling the update out to customers on an ongoing basis beginning in the next couple of weeks.  Customers do not need to do anything—the update will be applied automatically over the next few months.

Only AT&T offers benefits like the ability to talk and surf at the same time, the fastest download speeds using AT&T 4G LTE, and a variety of flexible plan options to meet customers’ needs. - AT&T

Read More | AT&T

AT&T Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro Jelly Bean update now available

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds, Software,

All you Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro users on AT&T, listen up! We just got word from your carrier that the long-awaited update that'll allow you to upgrade your device to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is now available. That means that your push-to-talk capable device will now let you use feature like Google Now, Quick Settings, and even DriveMode, which aims to prevent texting while driving. When you're ready to upgrade, just hit the link below.

Read More | Galaxy Rugby Pro Android 4.1 upgrade

Sprint readies FM Radio and Entertain Me packages for Android and Windows Phones

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Music,

Sprint is bringing FM radio to select Android and Windows Phone devices this year with the NextRadio tuner app. This move makes Sprint the first US carrier to herald FM radio in such fashion, and shows the amount of faith the carrier puts in a format some might say is already dead.

Sprint also revealed an application bundle for the Sprint Zone on Android dubbed "Entertain Me." The bundle will feature Sprint TV and Movies, Sprint Music Plus, Spotify, Slacker, iHeartRadio, Shazam, and Rumpus.

iPhone set to launch on T-Mobile in “three to four months”, maybe

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Corporate News, Rumors,

T-Mobile's John Legere revealed to Reuters that his network's iPhone launch will happen within the next "three to four months" rather than the next "six to nine." This estimated time frame, while not the most accurate, coincides well with T-Mobile's LTE rollout and network reframing.

"If the old industry structure chooses to ignore what we do," said Leger, "that's a potential."

Read More | Reuters

Watch NVIDIA’s CES 2013 keynote video

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Smartphones, CES, CES 2013, PC / Laptop, Video Games, Videos,

If you're weren't lucky enough to attend 2013's Consumer Electronics Show, then you can catch up on NVIDIA's keynote here. The company had a fairly talked about showing, revealing a similarly praised and criticized product in its Project Shield, Android-based gaming console. NVIDIA also revealed its new Tegra 4 processor, all of which you can see in its entirety in the video after the break.

Click to continue reading Watch NVIDIA’s CES 2013 keynote video

Read More | Twitch TV