Huawei Ascend P6 vs iPhone 5: do similarities go just skin deep?

With the release of the first teaser images of the Huawei Ascend P6, it was instantly apparent that the manufacturer was gunning for the successful hardware build of the iPhone 5. This device had the same metal rim, the same glass up front, and the same metal back – it was – and is – even working with what appears to be the same brushed metal components. But what you’re not seeing on the surface is this: even in an iPhone-dominated landscape, a brand line Huawei can one-up the competition.

With the Huawei Ascend P6 you’ve got a machine that’s the “world’s slimmest” – another record earned by the company that’s on more than one occasion scooped up this record before. You’ve got a light machine as well, one thats aiming to be a robust presentation made to the world for an expanding brand. One day Huawei aims to be as prevalent in the mobile device universe as Apple or Samsung – the latter being their biggest competitor in Android.

But how does a device that’s aiming – at first – only for China and parts of Europe plan on appearing to be a real competitor for Apple’s singular hero? Have a peek at these specifications and see what you make of them:

Huawei Ascend P6
Apple iPhone 5

Display: 4-inches, 1136 x 650 pixel resolution (326 PPI)
Display: 4.7-inches, 720 x 1280 pixel resolution (312 PPI)

Body: 4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30 in, 3.95 oz
Body: 5.22 x 2.58 x 0.24 in, 4.23 oz

Operating System: iOS 6 (iOS 7 later this year)
Operating System: Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with Huawei Emotion UI

Release: Out now – USA, Europe, China
Release: June for China, July for Europe, no USA release scheduled

Cameras: back-facing 8-megapixel, front-facing 1.2-megapixel
Cameras: back-facing 8-megapixel, front-facing 5-megapixel

Battery: 1440mAh
Battery: 2000mAh

Huawei is making extra efforts with this release to make sure they’re seen as an “industry leading” brand, bringing an industry-first 5-megapixel camera to the front of the device, claiming the “slimmest” crown once again, and making sure they’ve got not just white, not just black, but pink in the mix as well.

The hardware similarities to the iPhone 5, though, are inescapable. It’s clear that Huawei has at least been inspired by the industrial design of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 in one way or another – have a peek at the hands-on photos we’ve prepared above and below and let it be known if you agree.

You’ll be able to see a whole lot more on the Huawei Ascend P6 in our hands-on presentation today if you do so please. For more information on the iPhone 5, head back to our iPhone 5 review as well as our iPhone 5 tag portal and dive in deep.

Article source: http://www.slashgear.com/huawei-ascend-p6-vs-iphone-5-do-similarities-go-just-skin-deep-18286871/

The ‘Budget’ iPhone Is Rounder, Slightly Thicker Than The iPhone 5

With the iPhone 5S shaping up to be pretty much an identical device to last year’s iPhone 5 except a marginally faster processor and (fingers crossed!) some cool new fingerprint sensor technology, eyes are on the so-called “budget iPhone” as 2013′s new hotness.

Although the ‘budget iPhone’ will address the mid-market, it’s still an exciting device, rumored to be the first iPhone to come in an iPod-palette of colors. Otherwise, though, we don’t know a lot about what it looks like.

Far East case makers might, though. MGM Corporation, an Asian casemaker, has posted a first look at a case for the budget iPhone. It doesn’t show much, except that the budget iPhone is about 2mm thicker than the iPhone 5, and has rounded corners instead of the iPhone 5′s square shape.

Here’s some video, showing it from all sides.

Case makers, of course, often make bets on upcoming Apple designs, and sometimes lose hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to get a jump on competitors by ordering cases for rumored iOS designs that don’t end up panning out. So take with a grain of salt.

Still, that is a very lithe, attractive shape for an iPhone to have, especially for a few hundred dollars less than the iPhone 5. What do you think?

Source: Macotakara
Thanks: Danbo!

Article source: http://www.cultofmac.com/232309/the-budget-iphone-is-rounder-slightly-thicker-than-the-iphone-5-image/

Wireless Charging on the Go for the iPhone 5

The PowerSnap Kit from Duracell.

Duracell wants to make sure you never have to beg for a phone charger or hunt for a power outlet again.

The copper-top battery maker recently introduced a charging case for the iPhone 5 that works with its Powermat, a charging station for mobile devices that was introduced in 2009.

The Powermat charges devices that are laid on it through inductive technology. Unfortunately, that technology has yet to be incorporated into Apple devices, so Duracell has come up with the PowerSnap Kit, which includes an AccessCase and a SnapBattery, both designed for the iPhone 5.

The case comes in two parts: the top snaps on the phone and the bottom includes a Lightning connector. They clip together, but a single unit would have been better. The case feels fragile, as if it would crack easily if the phone were dropped.

Once encased, the phone will charge when placed on a Powermat. A magnet ensures the phone is aligned properly; the mat chirps when the alignment is correct, and again when the phone is removed. I was able to fully charge my phone on the Powermat in two hours.

If a Powermat is not available, the SnapBattery is a capable backup. It attaches to the back of the AccessCase, adding a little bulk but also more protection. It was a little tricky to slide into place, but once it was there, it held firm. The battery can be charged on a Powermat or via a USB cable.

The PowerSnap Kit costs $100; it is available on Duracell’s e-commerce site and at other retailers. The Powermat is sold separately, but Duracell has partnerships with sporting arenas and airports to install Powermat stations that are free to use.

Duracell is also testing the Powermat in Starbucks locations in the Boston area. On a recent trip to Boston, I took the opportunity to check out the Powermat stations, which were inlaid in a long table inside a Starbucks. They worked remarkably well, even the one that was cracked, charging my phone the instant I laid it down.

Duracell is negotiating with wireless carriers to incorporate the technology inside smartphones, but it faces competition. Wireless charging stations could become as ubiquitous as Wi-Fi hot spots, but it remains to be seen whether Powermat will dominate.

Article source: http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/18/wireless-charging-on-the-go-for-the-iphone-5/

Logitech iPhone Game Controller Allegedly Leaks With Lightning Dock Connector

We heard about Samsung’s game pad controller just as the Galaxy S4 was announced, and now it looks like Apple fans may have a new video game accessory to look forward to. Created by Logitech, the purported device is large enough to fit an iPhone 5 and comes with a built-in Lightning dock connector, Kotaku reports.

According to the allegedly leaked image, the accessory snaps on to the device and houses the smartphone in its center, placing action buttons and a D-Pad on either side of the display. This is different from the design of Samsung’s wireless remote, which looks similar to an Xbox 360 controller with a holster for the handset just above its controls.

 There’s also a “G” logo just underneath the directional buttons on the purported iOS accessory, which is likely to be a symbol for the name of the device. From the image, we can’t decipher whether or not the controller features other buttons on its rear or sides. 

The unconfirmed leak comes just after Apple unveiled iOS 7– announcing that the OS comes with support for third-party game controllers. Although the controller isn’t made by Apple, such an accessory could give the iOS platform a stronger foothold in the mobile gaming space. Android has taken the lead in this area more recently, with accessories such as the MOGA controller and Nvidia’s upcoming Shield gaming handheld hogging the spotlight. 

• Top 10 Features of Apple iOS 7
  
• 25 Best iPhone 5 Apps
• Nvidia Shield Hands-On: What You Get For $350

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Article source: http://blog.laptopmag.com/iphone-game-controller-leaks

MyCharge Freedom 2000 (for iPhone 5)

By the numbers, the MyCharge Freedom 2000 ($79.99 direct) should provide more than double the battery life to a connected iPhone 5. But, as we’ve found with some of its competitors, double the capacity doesn’t equal double the battery life. Still, the Freedom 2000 provides enough charge to comfortably get you through a day of moderate to heavy use, and its unique design makes it possible to use headphones or Lightning-enabled accessories without having to remove the case. It’s a good battery case, but it’s not the best—that distinction remains with our Editors’ Choice Mophie Juice Pack Helium, which adds more battery life in a sleeker and more attractive package.

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Design and Features
The Freedom 2000 looks more like Unu’s Ecopak power solution, which was more of an external battery slapped onto a case than a traditional battery case. It’s a single-piece design, measuring 5.1 by 2.5 by .6 inches (HWD) and weighing 2.88 ounces, with rubber sides that flex to let you easily slip an iPhone 5 into place. It’s easily the shortest battery case for the iPhone 5, which is an important distinction since I found that cases like the Helium push the limit for shallower pockets. Inside is impact absorbing foam, while the back is covered in a glossy plastic material with inlaid concentric circles—reminiscent of the texture on Asus Zenbook laptop lids. The whole case looks too boxy, and I personally prefer the gently tapered, soft-touch back of the Juice Pack line. There are cutouts for the camera, Volume buttons, and silent switch, while a rubber button along the top lets you easily press the Power button.   

Unlike other battery cases, the Freedom 2000 leaves the bottom edge of the iPhone 5 open—meaning you won’t have to fiddle with a 3.5mm headphone extender like with every other case we’ve tested. Instead, MyCharge built a flexible and stowable Lightning cable that you plug into your iPhone when you need some extra juice. When not in use, simply slide the cable back into its slot where it stays hidden from view.

To the left of the Lightning cable is a flap that covers a micro USB port for charging the battery back. You can charge just the Freedom 2000, or connect the Lightning cable and charge the phone and battery case using the micro USB power source. The micro USB port is a bit recessed in the Freedom 2000, so while it works fine with the bundled cable, I found that even slightly bulkier cables didn’t quite fit—negating some of the benefits of using the more ubiquitous micro USB standard. Around back is a Power button, which you press and hold to activate the flow of juice or press once to check battery status. It’ll glow or blink green or orange depending on charge, but it’s not quite as useful or easy to decipher as the status LEDs on the Mophie Juice Packs or the PowerSkin case.

Performance and Conclusions
Though it packs a sizeable 2000mAh battery, compared with the 1500mAh battery found in the Mophie Juice Pack Helium, the MyCharge Freedom 2000 fell short of expectations. In my tests, making a continuous call with LTE enabled with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth switched off, the Freedom 2000 added 5 hours, 35 minutes of talk time to my completely drained ATT iPhone 5. The Helium, meanwhile, added 6 hours, 20 minutes on the same test. It did, however, best the PowerSkin’s 4 hours, 28 minutes.

The MyCharge Freedom 2000 offers power when you need it, and open access to all ports when you don’t. It’s also a good deal shorter than other options, but I can’t help feeling like it’s a glorified external battery grafted onto a normal iPhone 5 case—like the Unu Ecopak but with a built-in Lightning cable. On top of that, despite its high capacity battery, it wasn’t able to best the Mophie Juice Pack Helium in our battery rundown tests. If you value having easy access to your ports, the Freedom 2000 is a good choice, but if you’re looking for the best battery case, our Editors’ Choice remains the Helium.

Article source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2420476,00.asp

AT&T rolls out mandatory emergency alerts for iPhone 5, 4S users – The Huntsville Times

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – If you’re an iPhone 5 or 4S user, you
may have received a software update over the weekend for wireless emergency
alerts. The ATT update, mandated by law, sends government-issued safety messages,
such as AMBER, emergency or presidential warnings, directly to your device.

An iPhone screenshot shows how to turn off the Wireless Emergency Alerts. (Contributed photo)

ATT announced the software update, which is part of the Federal
Communications Commission’s Commercial Mobile Telephone Alerts program, on Friday
on its website. The alerts, with the exception of presidential, can be turned
on or off by going to Settings Notifications Turn On/Off.

Once the update is received, ATT said users will see a message
confirming installation is complete. The software update is free and does not impact a user’s
messaging or data plan.

The software update will be distributed to users with iOS
6.1 or higher. Although it was initially rolled out to iPhone 5 and 4S
users, Apple Insider reports that some iPhone 4 owners are also receiving the
update.

Some users might be suspicious of the alerts since 29-year-old
former Booz Allen Hamilton employee Edward Snowden leaked sensitive national security
details to the media, but FCC officials said in a FAQ that the warnings do not track the location of any user who receives them.

Article source: http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2013/06/att_rolls_out_emergency_alerts.html