Reporter’s Notebook: iPhone 4s, iOS 5 worth the hype

Apple has once again lived up to the slogan “best iPhone yet” in
its newest iteration and operating system version rolled out about
two weeks ago.

Upgrading from the iPhone 3Gs, there are vast hardware
improvements, but once current iPhone 4 users upgrade to iOS 5 -
the new operating system – most of the benefits become
available.

Most were expecting an iPhone 5, especially the blogging techies
and technology pundits, with a new form factor and radical changes.
Apple, though, saw fit to only deliver a speedy version – months
behind anticipated schedule. Upgrading from earlier iPhone versions
should be considered a “no brainer” for Apple fans, but for iPhone
4 owners, as long as users upgrade to iOS 5 – available for free to
all users with at least a 3Gs model – the only missing pieces are
speedier processors and Apple’s revolutionary inclusion of Siri’s
voice command functions.

When deciding whether I would purchase the 4s or opt for an
Android competitor, like the Samsung Galaxy S II or the Nexus, I
figured if I decided on the iPhone, the coolest function I would
never use would be the new voice command systems. However, after
nearly two weeks, Siri is a part of my daily life. I haven’t texted
behind the wheel, even while stopped at a red light, since the new
Apple iDevice landed in my eager hands.

Giving commands to the phone in common language, rather than the
robotic method all other phones require, is a breathe of fresh air.
Siri is intertwined with the new operating system. Directions,
songs and Google-worthy questions are all just a simple voice
command away. The best part? “It just works,” to steal a line from
Apple. Out of the box, it was surprisingly accurate and after
prolonged use, Apple’s promise of learning your voice syntax and
diction was also as on point.

The other major development: A brand new high-def 8 megapixel
camera. I’ve used the iPhone 4′s 5 megapixel camera and have seen
images on the new “Retina” high-def screen – also present on the 4s
- and the pictures were good, but the newest version blew me away.
As an amateur photographer who sometimes dreads lugging a DSLR and
multiple lenses around to events that are supposed to be more fun
than work, the new camera will more than suffice.

The ability alone to take HDR shots – two pictures taken nearly
simultaneously at different contrast levels and then stitched
together – is simply amazing and something usually only common in
high-end cameras. Although iOS 4.1 allowed HDR photography for the
iPhone 4, the new camera and software were built to take even more
advantage of the dual digital picture technology. But advanced
photography not withstanding, the 3 megapixel bump over iPhone 4
and the addition of a f/2.4 fixed focal point lens is revolutionary
in a mobile device that can instantly e-mail, text or FaceBook
images. Not to mention, video capturing is at full 1080p HD at
30fps, significantly eclipsing its predecessor.

The new iPhone also sports the same dual-core A5 processors that
inhabit Apple’s iPad 2. Although the RAM is the same between both
the iPhones using the “4″ moniker, the processors alone make a
massive difference when multitasking or running processor-intensive
programs like photo editing or video games.

Apple’s new mobile gadget isn’t a true “4G” Internet device, but
the mobile speeds are considerably faster, specifically on my
ATT model with its new HSPA+ broadband network.

Aside from the new hardware unveiled, the operating system could
easily steal the show. The cleaner interface, smoother
multitasking, addition of a reminders app that can give you
notifications based on your geographic location, free texting
between iPhone users, a new notifications management system and
most notoriously to anyone who has seen an iPhone 4s commercial,
the Cloud.

Of the more than 200 new additions in iOS 5, the Cloud is easily
the biggest addition. Apple has finally cut the cord, so to speak.
No longer do users need to constantly sync their contacts, e-mails,
notes, documents or pretty much anything else on an iDevice via a
computer, iTunes and a cable. Your device will constantly update
your pictures and other vital information to your “cloud” that will
be downloaded to any of your other devices linked to that account.
Never again will you have to worry about losing phone numbers,
addresses or pictures. Even when updating future iterations of the
operating system, your new iOS 5 device will be able to handle the
task without being connected to a computer.

Former MobileMe customers might be skeptical, but this time it
actually works.

I upgraded my old 3GS to iOS 5 before going on vacation and
purchasing my new phone. Since everything was already synched to
the Cloud, upon starting the phone for the first time, it asked if
I would like to log in to my account and sync my phones. I figured
it might half work or attempt to create a mirror version of my
phone, but to my surprise, everything it was supposed to sync
worked. The only downfall Apple might need to address in the future
is synching music between devices, but because of the high cost of
mobile bandwidth and potential size of a music library, it is
understandable that music synching could be some time off.

The bottom line: If you have an older iPhone or smartphone, or
are just joining the latest craze in mobile computers – welcome to
2005 – this is definitely a strong choice. There are comparable
competitors that should be looked at, but after years of dealing
with Apple, when the Cupertino-based company says something would
“just work,” it’s (usually) always true. For those with relatively
new Android phones or the iPhone 4, consider holding off until the
mythical unicorn that is iPhone 5 appears. The biggest let down,
besides a new form factor and bloggers’ unreasonable graphics
expectations, is that the screen is still only 3.5 inches large, as
opposed to some of the considerably larger Android handsets.
Regardless, all Apple users should be on iOS 5 and benefiting from
our newly unplugged life.

Note: Some retailers in Midland have said it could take up to a
month to receive the iPhone 4s. Currently on Apple’s website, one
can be obtained within one to two weeks.

James Cannon can be reached at jcannon@mrt.com.

Article source: http://www.mywesttexas.com/business/article_d97e96a7-0cae-5e77-9717-2c1e4c1ef089.html

iPhone 5 Release Date: Experts Predict LTE Capable iPhone in 2012

Industry insiders expect Apple to adopt 4G LTE capabilities for the iPhone by 2012 as major carriers in the United States set up new LTE networks.

• Technology

Digitimes, a technology website, reported through several sources that Apple is “expected to join the LTE club in 2012.”

Prior rumors have also speculated that the next-generation iPhone will feature LTE capability.

The recently released iPhone 4S has been advertised as having 4G-like speeds on its GSM network due to an updated HSDPA compatible antenna. However, the CDMA network, on which carriers Sprint and Verizon are powered, run at slightly slower speeds.

LTE capability would bring theoretical download speeds of up to 14.4Mbps to all U.S. carriers of the iPhone. Currently, there are approximately 35 LTE networks on-line worldwide.

There are expected to be more than 100 networks by 2012, reaching 290 million people and propelling LTE smartphone sales to over 154 million units, according to Digitimes.

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At a quarterly conference call earlier this year, then Chief Operating Officer for Apple, Tim Cook explained that the company has not adopted LTE capability for the iPhone due to a number of issues with the current technology, including poor battery life.

“The first generation of LTE chipsets force a lot of design compromises with the handset, and some of those we are just not willing to make,” said Cook.

Cook is Apple’s current CEO.

Article source: http://global.christianpost.com/news/iphone-5-release-date-experts-predict-lte-capable-iphone-in-2012-60144/

iPhone 4S upgrade – 5 ways to transfer your data

So, you’ve decided to upgrade to an iPhone 4S. Now for the sticky matter of transferring all your contacts, texts, pictures, videos and music. It can be a little painful, particularly if you’re coming from an Android phone or some other platform. We’ve got five methods that should ensure minimal disruption.

Backup
If you’re upgrading from an iPhone 3GS or an iPhone 4 (or any other iPhone for that matter) the faithful old computer-based backup remains a fine option. Just hook your phone up to your computer, go into iTunes and select the backup option. Once you have everything you need, it’s a simple matter of plugging your new iPhone 4S, at which point you’ll be prompted to restore all your carefully accumulated data to your shiny new phone.

iCloud
Your other option if upgrading from an iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4 is to rely on the newfangled iCloud. Assuming you’ve activated it after having updated to iOS 5 (just enable backup in Settings iCloud Backup Storage) all your data will be whizzing about in Apple’s secure servers. Just remember that your phone will only update this data store automatically when it’s plugged into a power source, has a Wi-Fi connection and is not in use i.e. it has to be locked. When you get your iPhone 4S, you’ll be able to ”Restore from iCloud Backup” when you go through the Setup Assistant.

YOU SHOULD READ — iPhone 4S review

Cloud services
Of course, iCloud isn’t the first and only cloud-based data transfer solution – which is good news if you’re coming from Android, for example. Services like Flickr will preserve your photos online for access from any new phone (and there’s an iPhone app for it too), while if you’re using Gmail for email and calendar then all of the information will be in the cloud. Your iPhone 4S will play perfectly nicely with these when you setup email. Follow this guidance to have your Gmail contacts synced too.

If you’ve been using something like Amazon MP3 on Android for your music, your best bet is to log in on your computer and sync your purchases with iTunes (you can download the Amazon MP3 downloader from Amazon that will handle that for you).

Contact transfer apps
There are various non-cloud based apps on the App Store that cater for those wishing to back up their data and transfer it across Apple devices. We’d recommend something like My Contacts Backup for – you guessed it – backing up your contacts. It does so through a simple email-based system, so you’ll always have a copy of your contact data to hand.

Vodafone Tech Team
For Vodafone customers, the solution is even simpler. It’s just launched the Tech Team initiative, which provides “free expert technical help and advice available for all customers online, on the phone and in-store”. Even better than that, though, it also supplies each Vodafone store with a so-called ‘Red Box’. This piece of wonder-kit can transfer contacts, texts, pictures, videos and music between devices while you wait. It even works on different mobile operating systems across some 3,500 different devices.

Pop into your local Vodafone store to take advantaged of this Red Box, and transfer that precious data the easy way.

Article source: http://www.fonehome.co.uk/2011/11/01/5-ways-to-protect-your-androismartphone-data/