Pinch and pull with this iMac companion

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA

APPLE has unveiled the latest update to its line of desktop computers, promising faster speeds and offering the option of multi-touch controls, similar to those used on the iPhone. Apple said its new line of iMac desktops, with new processors from Intel and new graphics chips, are the company’s fastest, AP reported.

The iMacs, which tuck the inner workings of the computer behind the flat-screen monitor, cost US$1,199 (S$1,635) to US$1,999, depending on speed and screen size.

Windows computer makers, such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard, have turned their similar all-in-one desktop computers into touch-screen media centres, where families can, for example, browse through photos and play music.

Apple, however, has maintained that, while touch screens work well on the iPhone and the iPad, they do not make sense on a Mac.

Its MacBook laptops have track pads that respond to the two-finger pinch-and-pull controls of the iPhone.

Now, Mac buyers can also pay an extra US$69 for what Apple calls the Magic Trackpad, a sleek, glass-topped aluminium touch pad that connects to Apple computers using wireless Bluetooth technology, PCWorld reported.

The standalone device works with all of Apple’s computers and runs on two AA batteries.

The Magic Trackpad is likely to please fans such as PCWorld writer Harry McCracken, who described it as appealing and stylish.

He wrote: “I’m not exactly anti-mouse, but mice take up a lot of space, have a nasty habit of colliding with papers and other items, and are sometimes hostile to southpaws like me.”

Mr McCracken even proposed that Apple actively promote its Magic Trackpad by making it the default pointing device that ships with iMacs and Mac Pros.

Apple on Tuesday also released a new line of Mac Pro desktops, which resemble a traditional boxy PC and require a separate monitor.

Like the new iMacs, Apple said that the latest Pro computers carry faster processors – the brains of a computer – as well as new graphics chips that produce a sharper display, according to AP.

Additionally, the company has released a new standalone 27-inch LED screen for US$999, which can be hooked up to a laptop or desktop.

Apple said that the display is 60 per cent bigger than its 24-inch LED display.

AGENCIES

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Smartphone Review: Samsung Galaxy S

Shooting to a promising start

THE Samsung Galaxy S looks like the Apple iPhone. It has a curved back, a silver lining around the screen, and rounded squares framing each icon on the app pages.

But this Android 2.1 device can hold its own against the competition.

For starters, it's fast. The capacitive display is very responsive, and apps launch with minimal delay. Though there's a slight lag when loading photos, it still feels zippier than some other Android phones running on a 1GHz processor. At 9.9mm and 119g, the Galaxy S feels really light, too.

Though its huge four-inch screen means you need big hands to be able to hold it comfortably and deep pockets to tug it away snugly, it does improve the typing and web-surfing experience. The Super AMOLED display is gorgeous - sharper and brighter than other screens I have encountered.

Besides the roomy 16GB internal memory, most of the other specs for the Galaxy are standard smartphone fare - a 5-megapixel autofocus camera that can capture high-definition 720p videos and a microSD card slot (supports up to 32GB).

Samsung has made an effort in customising the Android OS for the Galaxy S. Besides the usual tweaks to the onscreen keyboard and adding icons for various connectivity options to turn them on and off easily, it has included things like the Daily Briefing feature. This compiles weather information from AccuWeather.com, AP Mobile news, stocks from Yahoo! Finance and the phone calendar. You can add a widget to one of the seven home screens to see all these updates at a glance. But the lack of customisation is disappointing - you cannot change or add any other service provider for these information.

Your communication with each person via various channels such as Facebook, email and SMS, as well as their social media updates, are integrated in the phonebook. A useful feature is the built-in Swype text input service, which allows you to glide your fingers across the keyboard instead of typing. It made messaging on the onscreen keyboard more fun and less frustrating.

One gripe about this handset is that the proximity sensor doesn't seem to work very well - there are buttons like "mute" onscreen when a call is in progress, and I have accidentally ended or muted a conversation more than once.

The phone comes preloaded with quite a few apps. Besides the usual Google ones like YouTube and Gmail, there is ThinkFree for editing and viewing Microsoft Office documents, a pretty ebook app called Aldiko and a file manager, among others.

The Galaxy's battery life fared well in tests - it lasted right about 15 hours when I had WiFi and Bluetooth on, music playing on loop, push mail and a Twitter client updating feeds in the background. The phone had enough juice to keep going for an impressive 24 hours with normal use - I left the WiFi on, surfed the web and posted status updates on social networks, on top of the usual calling and messaging.

The Samsung Galaxy S is available exclusively from SingTel at $0 to $768 with contract, depending on the type of plan. MAY CHUA


Smartphone Review: Samsung Galaxy S
by May Chua
05:55 AM Jul 02, 2010

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Pioneer audio and video docks for iPhone and iPod

iPhone, iPod docks for home theatres

THE iPod and iPhone have become such fixtures in the lives of so many people that a whole industry catering to their integration with other products has sprung up.

Pioneer’s XW-NAV1 and XW-NA55 seek to integrate the Apple devices with home Audioand-video systems.

Plug the iPod/iPhone into the XW-NAV1 and you can play music through built-in speakers. You can also play video on the TV via a composite-video output on the XW-NAV1.

The XW-NAV1 is also a fully functional DVD player that upscales output with an HDMI
slot for use with high-definition TV sets.

USB playback of AVI videos, MP3 or WMA music files plus JPEG pictures is also available.

The XW-NA55 is more focused on good sound reproduction. It has a 2.1 channel fullrange speaker, a down-firing subwoofer, and component and composite-video outputs to connect to other devices.

How much: XW-NAV1 ($399),
XW-NA55 ($699)

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26% of iPhones spoilt in 2 years

SAN FRANCISCO

OWNERS of Apple’s iPhone, take note: More than one in four of the smartphones break or fail within two years, a company that provides after-sales warranties said on Tuesday.

SquareTrade, which sells extended warranties for iPhones, said in a Computerworld report that 26 per cent of the devices break down – or break – in the first two years of ownership.

Nevertheless, the figure is “actually pretty good”, said Mr Vince Tseng, vice-president of marketing at SquareTrade, adding that it is encouraging that the failure rates have fallen.

Computerworld said a similar SquareTrade analysis last year found that 31 per cent of all iPhones failed or broke within the first 24 months of purchase.

In the 24 months preceding last summer, 21 per cent and 10 per cent of warranty claims had been for accidental damage – when a phone was dropped – and for hardware failure respectively.

The claims fell to 18.1 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively in the 22 months prior to this month, said Computerworld, which studied more than 25,000 warranty claims.

Mr Tseng said the decline was due mainly to improvements that Apple made in the iPhone’s touchscreen when it developed the 3GS model.

Quoting SquareTrade, Computerworld said the iPhone 3GS is more reliable and, apparently, sturdier than its predecessors, the iPhone 3G and the original iPhone. Mr Tseng said the improvements will likely continue
with the launch of the iPhone 4.

“Apple has got its manufacturing lines in shape, and failure rates have dropped year to year,” he was quoted by Computerworld as saying.

He added that the iPhone 4 “should be a good, solid device”, but was concerned about the all-glass back.

According to Computerworld, industry watchers have speculated that Apple switched from plastic to glass to improve voice and data reception.

And the best way to protect any iPhone? Use a cover, case or silicon skin, said Mr Tseng, especially if the iPhone is more than two years old. 

According to SquareTrade, three-year-old iPhones will experience a failure rate of 35 per cent to 40 per cent.

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More devices set to Skype

ALL ANDROID phones will be able to make free 3G voice calls through Skype by the end of the year, Internet communications company Skype announced at CommunicAsia on Tuesday.

Skype is a peer-to-peer software that allows users to make video and voice calls, send instant messages and share files.

Previously, only the Apple iPhone and selected models of Android, Symbian and BlackBerry phones have this capability. Three Sony Ericsson Symbian^1 smartphones — the Satio, Vivaz and Vivaz Pro — joined the list this week. However, two-way Skype video calls through 3G will remain exclusive to the Nokia Maemobased N900 handset for now.

Skype’s general manager (Mobile) Russ Shaw said that Skype is working with handset makers and telcos to ensure smooth 3G video-calling experience before this functionality is rolled out to other devices, such as the iPhone 4.

“We would love to be part of Face- Time,” said Mr Shaw, referring to the video-call function of iPhone 4.

“As Apple has said, it will initially let iPhone 4 users call each other on WiFi ...Hopefully, we can work with Apple to leverage Skype’s user base.”

Starting next Monday, Panasonic Viera Cast-enabled TV owners will also be able to make free Skype voice and video calls over WiFi using a Panasonic USB communication camera (price unavailable). Skype-enabled LG and Samsung HD TVs are slated to come later this year.

Sim Cheng Kai

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Anatomy of the next iPhone

What's new? Is it worth the upgrade? Take a look at the key new features of the Apple iPhone 4 and decide

by Hedirman Supian

05:55 AM Jun 11, 2010

 

Design

At 9.3mm, the svelte design of the iPhone 4 contributes to its much improved form factor. And the hardy custom glass screen that covers its front and back is the same material used in the windshields of helicopters and high-speed trains. The stainless steel band that wraps along the sides of the phone is reportedly five times stronger than standard steel and also doubles as its wireless antenna.



Retina Display

Dubbed so because it has four times the resolution of its predecessor, the bright, ultra-high resolution display delivers a wide viewing angle and renders text as sharp as print.



FaceTime

FaceTime is what Apple calls its new video call function. Higher in quality than standard 3G video calls, it can only be used over WiFi and between the new iPhones. But Apple is working with telcos to use it over their cellular networks, and will push it as an open standard that can be used by other devices. Switch between the front and back cameras with just one tap.



iOS 4

The updated operating system enables multitasking, so several apps can run in the background. The built-in email app now features a universal inbox and threaded emails. To better handle the burgeoning number of apps you might have, you can now organise them easily into folders.



5-megapixel camera and high-definition video capture

To put it simply, the higher-resolution camera sensor can absorb more light, resulting in better pictures. There's also an LED flash that can be used for photos and videos. High-definition video is captured at 720p resolution, at 30 frames per second. Using the iPhone's GPS feature, movies and photos will be automatically geo-tagged with location information as well.



Other hardware improvements

The iPhone 4 has the same efficient processor as the iPad, so you can expect speedier performance. There's also an extra mic on the iPhone that enables noise cancellation for clearer calls. The inclusion of a gyroscope makes the smartphone even more sensitive to motion controls that can be employed in games and other apps. The phone also supports the wireless 802.11n standard for wider range and faster file transfers.



Worth the upgrade?

You can almost picture hardcore geeks the world over collectively rolling their eyes as Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone 4 at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference this week. After all, the new features - such as high-definition video capture and high-quality video calls - are already available on many smartphones.

But while the features aren't new, Apple is counting on luring consumers by delivering a smooth and immersive user experience. FaceTime, for instance, one-ups the conventional 3G video call by making it a breeze to talk to your loved ones "face to face", and have them see what you're seeing on a big, bright screen. If you're a travelling parent or caught in a long-distance relationship, FaceTime could be reason enough to upgrade.

If you have an iPhone 3GS, you'll get the software improvements that come with iOS 4 (out on June 21), but you won't get the sharper screen and other hardware improvements that come with iPhone 4. iPhone 3G owners can update to the new OS but you won't be allowed to multitask apps because of the device's slower processor.

According to Apple, the iPhone 4 will arrive on our shores next month. With all three telcos here offering the iPhone, consumers will also need to consider the cost of the subscription plans. And keep in mind that the iPad will see its official launch here around the same time - us mortals with not-so-deep pockets have a tough decision indeed.

 

http://www.todayonline.com/Tech/EDC100611-0000071/Anatomy-of-the-next-iPhone

 

 

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iPhone fans: Get ready for July

SINGAPORE — The first shipments of the new iPhone 4 will arrive in Singapore as early as next month but local telecommunications companies yesterday said it could be several months before it goes on sale.

Apple’s latest smartphone will debut on June 24 in the United States, France, Germany, United Kingdom and Japan at a price of US$199 ($282) for a 16-gigabyte model and US$299 for a 32-gigabyte model, chief executive Steve Jobs announced on Monday. Local pricing of the device was unavailable, however.

Telco SingTel said it was in the final stages of discussions with Apple to bring the handset to Singapore, while StarHub and M1 said they hoped to bring in the product in the coming months.

Singapore was one of 17 countries slated to receive shipments next month during a presentation by Mr Jobs at Apple’s annual conference for software developers in San Francisco. By September, the phone will be
available in 88 countries, which Mr Jobs said was Apple’s “fastest roll out ever”.

The iPhone 4 boasts a higher-resolution screen, longer battery life and most notably, a camera on the front that can be used for video-conferencing, in addition to a 5-megapixel camera on the back.

Some of the mystery surrounding Apple’s latest was punctured in April, when the tech blog Gizmodo bought a lost iPhone prototype for US$5,000 and posted pictures online.

The iPhone 4 is sleeker than previous models and comes in black or white, though it has a more angular look. Its front and back are covered with glass, and it is rimmed with stainless steel that acts as part of the phone’s antenna. It is about 0.93cm thick; 24 per cent thinner than previous models. It can shoot high-definition video,
catching up with other smart phones.

The new phone will run the latest version of Apple’s mobile software, the iOS4, which allows for multi-tasking. Older iPhones and iPod Touch devices will be able to get iOS4 as a free download on June 21,
though not all features will work on them.

The iPhone 4 should help Apple reestablish its leadership, some analysts said. “When it ships, it will be the best smart phone on the market,” said Mr Tim Bajarin, an analyst with Creative Strategies. “It gives Apple a year’s lead on competitors, if not  more.” AGENCIES

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Apple to launch new iPhone

05:55 AM Jun 08, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO - Apple chief executive Steve Jobs was poised to unveil yesterday (this morning, Singapore time) the fourth version of the company's hugely-popular iPhone - including a screen with up to four times more detail, a camera flash, noise cancellation and longer battery life.

The announcement was expected at the company's Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco, which has drawn thousands of programmers keen to write programs - apps - for the device.

More than 51 million iPhones have been sold since its launch in June 2007, and a number of developers have made thousands of pounds from selling apps through Apple's App Store.

But for Mr Jobs the unveiling would be something of an anti-climax - many details about the phone leaked out in mid-April after one of his staff lost a prototype in a bar near the company's headquarters. It was sold to gadget blog Gizmodo, where blogger Jason Chen took it apart and posted a video declaring: "You are looking at Apple's next iPhone."

While analysts are therefore expecting few surprises from Apple, they believe improvements to the iPhone will help to keep it at the forefront of mobile phone innovation.

"We'll see the evolution of an established and hugely successful product rather than a revolutionary new device," said Mr Geoff Blaber, an analyst with CCS Insight.

"Apple has to continue improving. It's facing a barrage of competition that didn't exist three years ago when the first iPhone was launched. Google's Android platform is gaining in momentum and popularity, and is an increasingly capable operating system," he said.

The new iPhone OS 4.0 software also features iAd, Apple's new mobile advertising platform. The company has ambitious plans to dominate advertising on the mobile web in much the same way as Google dominates desktop advertising.

Mr Jobs prefers to keep details of upcoming products under wraps to heighten expectations. But with more details known about the new iPhone than any previous model, some of that effect is likely to be diminished.

Yet Apple can revel in having passed Microsoft as the most valuable technology company based on market capitalisation, and having sold two million of its iPad tablet computers worldwide since they went on sale in the US on April 3. Agencies

 

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