0 Apple to Discontinue the Original iPhone

By Admin_AT | At 2:44 PM | Label : apple , iPhone | 0 Comments

The original iPhone was released in 2007. It was both a big surprise and an expected event. Apple had been rumored to be releasing a combination of the iPod and a phone, but we weren't expecting anything like the iPhone. As impressive as it was, all products eventually become obsolete, and in the case of Apple, this is an official designation, and the iPhone will get that on June 11th. After that date, Apple will no longer service the first iPhone, nor replace parts for it. Of course, there are always third party options you could try, but a new iPhone would probably cost less than repairing the first one anyway. Besides, how many people bought the first iPhone and never bought another one?

The date comes the day after Apple will announce the updated versions of Mac OS X and iOS at WWDC, on June 10th. They'll also be making the first Mac Pro, late 2006 Xserve, and mid 2007 iMacs obsolete on that day. iOS 7 won't work on the original iPhone, but then again, iOS 4, 5, and 6 didn't either. So, I don't think these discontinuations have anything to do with operating system updates, just that the products are old, few people have or use them anymore, and Apple can't continue to support them. But still, the first iOS device is being discontinued. Perhaps it could symbolically represent the end of an era, or the beginning of a new one.

via TUAW

 

0 Samsung Galaxy S4 Less Durable than S3

By Admin_AT | At 6:26 PM | Label : apple , durability , Galaxy S3 , galaxy s4 , iPhone , Samsung | 0 Comments

The Samsung Galaxy S4 just can't catch a break. Well, that might be a poor choice of words, considering this is the second test that shows that the Galaxy S4 could break easily. Squaretrade's system rates a phone's durability on a scale from 1-10, with 10 being the worst score. The brand new Samsung Galaxy S4 scored a 7 on that chart. Meanwhile, the S3 from last year got a better score, 6.5. In comparison, the iPhone 5 scored a 5.

The thinner design, plastic body, and larger screen are the most likely culprits of the Galaxy's reduced durability. Squaretrade agreed with previous reviews that mentioned the slipperiness of the plastic phone case. That means people could be dropping their fragile S4s very often. It's not all bad news though, the S4 did score better on the water submersion test than the S3 did.

After facing so much criticism over the plastic case, storage space, durability, texture, software, and even the rear facing speaker, Samsung will probably come back next year with a very different phone. Don't be surprised if they release an all metal phone like their competitors. Then again, I also wouldn't be surprised if they release a phone that's just like the S4, only with a slightly bigger screen and faster processor, but spend millions on "marketing".

Squaretrade estimates that despite the issues facing the Galaxy S4, one in five people will buy one anyway. Of those who buy one, they also estimate that one in eight will break their phone within six months of owning it. The odds aren't terrible, but not something I'd bet more than $200 on, and that's for the base model.

Via Bloomberg

 

0 iOS 7 Will Feature a Fresh Yet Familiar Look

By Admin_AT | At 5:01 PM | Label : apple , iOS , ios 7 , rumor | 0 Comments

It looks like iOS 7 will be the first to contain design elements approved by Sir Jony Ive after all. According to a number of anonymous sources who have seen it, the new operating system will feature a brand new look, with flat design elements. Skeuomorphism, glass, and 3D designs will be a thing of the past, replaced instead with very clean, flat design. The app icons will be getting a face lift to fit with these flatter themes.

Above, there's the old podcast app on the left, and the new one on the right. Here you can plainly see how Apple's new guidelines for a cleaner, skeuomorphism-free design. Gone is the out of place tapedeck metaphor, replaced by something that's a bit more useful: the image for the podcast. The controls are also cleaner, and feel less cramped. Expect a similar makeover on iOS.

Apple has also been looking into designing interface elements that are more "glanceable". Basically, they're hoping to make it easier to find information, without paging or scrolling around. Apple has also focused intensely on making sure the OS still is easy to use, and functions in a familiar way to old users, while still being able to attract new users. Although they admit that the new look may be jarring to long time iOS users, they'll still feel at home with how the operating system works.

I'm certainly excited to see what Apple's cooking up. I've been using iOS since the first iPod touch, and I think it's time it takes a leap forward. Don't get me wrong, I still think it's the greatest mobile operating system, but who doesn't want to see the best get even better?

via 9to5Mac

 

0 Samsung Galaxy S4 is "Like Nothing You've Ever Seen Before"... Unless you Saw the S3

By Admin_AT | At 3:37 PM | Label : apple , galaxy s4 , htc , htc one , marketing , Samsung | 0 Comments

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is out, and reviews for it have been mixed. It's not very tough, and is made of a plastic that David Pierce of The Verge called unpleasant to hold, even saying that it felt slippery and slimy. With the superior looks of the iPhone and HTC One, Samsung has been feeling the pressure of their competitors. Rather than turn to designing better products, Samsung has turned to their usual method for boosting sales: marketing. Not only that, but marketing that takes a page out of Apple's play book. How original.

Samsung released a video, much like the ones Apple releases with each product launch. Although, unlike Apple, Samsung opted to show as little of their hardware as possible, instead featuring people talking about it, along with some light music and B-roll footage of people and scenery. At one point, they even say that it's unlike anything you've ever seen, showing a whole new level of denial. It's pretty clear that they're trying to refute the numerous comments from Internet users and reviewers, stating that the new S4 is nothing more than a small upgrade over the S3. They're both in the picture above, or did you think they were the same phones?

Other manufacturers have managed to make plastic phones that looked decent enough. Samsung, on the other hand, hasn't impressed with the Samsung Galaxy S4. With Apple and HTC using aluminum in the designs of their hardware, rather than plastic, Samsung phones will appear cheap. But they're probably just hoping that a huge marketing budget can make up for that.

via TheVerge

 

0 iPhone VS Samsung Galaxy S4 Drop Test

By Admin_AT | At 3:16 PM | Label : apple , drop test , durability , galaxy s4 , iPhone , Samsung | 0 Comments

The video above is a little over 10 minutes long, which can be a bit long for an Internet video. Still, I recommend checking it out, at least skimming through it. Basically, TechSmartt tried to simulate some stereotypical drop situations. They dropped both an iPhone and a Samsung Galaxy S4 from various drop heights, the pocket, chest height, over the head, and from 10 feet. Each time, they examined the phones after they were dropped, and compared the damage. You'll have to check out the video for the full details, but there's a summary below.

Both the screen and camera were shattered early in the tests for Samsung's newest phone. Though they're using gorilla glass for the screen, they've surrounded it with cheap plastic and poor build quality. As a result, the screen shatters when dropped from about 7 feet.

The iPhone, however, is a completely different story. The screen never breaks from their drop tests. The sapphire camera lens never shatters, cracks, or even gets a scratch on it from the drops. In fact, the iPhone 5 survived so well, they decided to run it over with a car. No, really, they ran it over with an SUV. The iPhone even managed to survive that, without the screen breaking, and with no damage to the phone itself or the camera.

Now, you shouldn't go throwing your iPhone around like this, but it's good to know that it's a very durable phone. If you want a phone that's durable enough to last you until your next phone, the iPhone 5 is the right choice. The aluminum unibody construction, gorilla glass, sapphire camera lens, and amazing build quality make the iPhone 5 one tough phone. The plastic Samsung Galaxy S4, on the other hand, did well for a plastic phone, surviving the more frequent drop types. However, in terms of durability, it can't even begin to compete with the iPhone.

via TechnoBuffalo

 

0 iPhone Marketshare to Surpass Android in 2016

By Admin_AT | At 2:08 PM | Label : android , apple , customer satisfaction , google , iPhone , Marketshare | 0 Comments

According to the Yankee Group, marketshare for the iPhone will surpass Android by 2016. Their prediction is based on data they collected from a survey of 16,000 people over the past year. Form the chart above, you can see the iPhone stealing marketshare from non-smartphone devices, and a single percentage point from Blackberry. Thanks to customer loyalty towards Apple, and a number of Android users looking to switch to iOS, iPhone marketshare should grow in the next few years, while Android marketshare will remain stagnant.

There are two main reasons for the Yankee Group's predictions. First, iPhone customer satisfaction and loyalty is much higher than Android's. In fact, 91% of iPhone owners say their next phone will be an iPhone. Comparatively, only 75% of Android users want another Android phone, and most are heading to iOS. Only 6% of iPhone users said they were considering Android, while 18% of Android owners said they were going to get an iPhone. That alone is a good indicator of customer satisfaction on these two platforms.

Beyond that, currently consumers seem split down the middle, at first glance, anyway. 42% of people are planning on getting an iPhone, and 42% are buying an Android device. However, buying intention vs ownership is higher on the iPhone. That means iPhone marketshare is going to grow fire than Android marketshare.

With so many Android users switching to iOS, and so many iPhone users who only want an iPhone, it seems pretty obvious that if this trend continues, iOS will get the lead. The Yankee Group says that will happen by 2016, and the results of their survey could be a good indicator of the future.

via AllThingsD

 

0 iPad Tops Customer Satisfaction Survey

By Admin_AT | At 12:40 PM | Label : apple , customer satisfaction , ipad | 0 Comments

I've posted numerous stories about this before. Apple seems to top the customer satisfaction surveys in every product category they enter. It's no surprise that the iPad would do the same for tablets. J.D. Power surveyed 1857 tablet users to figure out what customers love their tablets the most.

In the categories of performance, design, ease of use, and features, the iPad was on top. It only lost out to the Kindle Fire in one category, cost. Which, since the Kindle Fire costs so much less than the iPad, there's no surprise there. But, perhaps you get what you pay for?

via Today'siPhone