Apple shares fall 12% on growth fears

 

Apple Inc.

Apple shares have tumbled 12% as investors fret over whether the company could lose its dominance in the smartphone market.

About $50bn (£32bn) was wiped off Apple's value after the biggest daily drop in the firm's stock in four years.

Flat profits and record quarterly revenue of $55bn were not enough to overcome disappointment over sales of the company's new iPhone 5.

Analysts said the firm was in danger of becoming a victim of its own success.

Earlier, shares in some of Apple's key Asian suppliers also fell.

LG, which provides displays for Apple products, fell 3.1%, and Hon Hai, which assembles iPhones and iPads, dropped 3.2%.

at the same time Nokia are in profit and Samsung at now the  biggest phone manufacture in the world.

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The 10 greatest gadgets of 2012

 

The world may have not come to an end as Mayan naysayers contended, but the year certainly has. As we move onto 2013 and all the tech to come, we’re taking a look back at the year that was, and the top ten gadgets of the last twelve months. Read on to see what made the cut, and chip in with your thoughts in the comments.

Apple iPad mini

It was slated on launch for its high pricetag compared to seven inch rivals, but Apple’s trimmed down tablet proved its worth with its pure power and premium build. Make no mistake, at some point soon this will soon be the iPad that everyone thinks of as the iPad.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

It’s rare for a company to invent a whole new category of phone, yet that’s exactly what Samsung’s done with its giant Galaxy Note series. Not only is the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 turbo-charged with fantastic, speedy software, it’s single-handedly resurrected the stylus and put it to good use. Or two-handedly, anyway.

Google Nexus 7

Asus stunned pundits with its low price seven inch Android tablet this summer. Its speedy software puts Amazon’s Kindle Fire efforts to shame, and six months on – a century in tech terms – it’s still the best slate in its class. At £159, it’s a feat of engineering and software married together that’s worthy of Apple.

Humax DTR-1000 YouView

It was almost lost in all the media hubbub about tablets, iCloud and Android, but 2012 also saw the launch of YouView, the Freeview HD service with a twist. It beautifully integrates all your favourite catch-up service right into the EPG, so you can even watch the shows you forgot to record. Seriously classy TV.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime

It seems like a lifetime ago, but at the start of the year, Asus was the first to prove that somebody could create a tablet at the same price as an iPad that would actually sell. It was beautiful, thin and scorchingly fast, and regularly and promptly updated by Asus – if you were prepared to shell out for extra it even had a keyboard dock accessory to turn it into a laptop. A year on, the Google Nexus 10 has superseded it, but it was still an awesome tablet tech milestone.

Nintendo Wii U

If you didn’t get a Wii U this Christmas, it was only because it’s as rare as gold dust already. While the new console has its flaws, it’s wonderful to finally see Nintendo’s characters rendered in glorious HD, and it’s clear the Japanese gaming giant is only just getting started: the potential for the GamePad controller is vast. It also marks the start of the next generation of console wars, and we can’t wait to see what Microsoft and Sony are readying in response.

Nokia 808 PureView

Yes, as a phone, the Symbian-powered (or crippled) 808 PureView is awful. But as an example of what camera phones can be capable of, the 41 megapixel sensor around back is nothing short of breathtaking. Stunning detail and amazing low light performance point the way forward for 2013, and we’re already starting to see the tech emerge in Nokia’s more usable Windows Phones, like the Lumia 920.

Samsung Galaxy S3

With the epic, speedy Galaxy S3, Samsung finally arrived. The 4.8-inch beast is every bit the rival to the iPhone 4, especially now you can pick it up with 4G super speed connectivity. It’s a shame that Siri-rival S-Voice is utterly useless, but at least Google’s since filled that void with its own impressive Google Now service.

HTC One X+

One of the true tragedies of tech in 2012 has been the sidelining of HTC. The Taiwanese gadget company’s phones this year were nothing short of beautiful, and the beefed up HTC One X+ made this spring’s One X even better. With up to date Android Jelly Bean, a faster processor and new look, this is one future-proofed phone for design aficionados. Ignore at your peril.

Roku LT

The £49.99 Roku LT might just be the most improved gadget of 2012. Since launch earlier this year, the little HD rival to the Apple TV has been bolstered with extra channels and new services. But with a huge investment from Sky, it’s only going to get better next year: the Now TV channel will soon get sport and drama too, making it the world’s cheapest Sky box.

What were your favourite gadgets of 2012? Did we miss any? Let’s hear your views in the comments below!

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10 amazing things you can do with your new iPad mini

 

Unwrapped a brand new iPad mini for Christmas? Have we got a treat for you: it may be small, but it can pull off some big gadget feats. Here are ten things you might never know your iPad mini can do.

1. Video chat

Chat away to friends and family with the built-in front-facing camera using apps such as FaceTime or Skype, letting you keep in touch with loved-ones all over the world.

2. Control your Xbox

Microsoft’s SmartGlass has just been released, and lets you control your Xbox from the comfort of your new iPad mini. Use it to go through media on your Xbox, as a keyboard and mouse for Internet Explorer or just as a companion for when you’re gaming.

3. Makeshift set-top box

Combine your new iPad with an Apple TV and stream whatever you have on your iPad straight to the big screen, making it a makeshift smart TV. Combine that with Netflix or TVCatchup and you’ll never need a Sky box or DVD player ever again.

4. Comic book reader

With a plethora of comic apps in the App Store, you can turn your new device into a comic-breathing wonder device, letting you munch through comics like chocolates on Christmas day and making traditional comic books all but redundant.

5. TV Remote

OK, it might not be able to control your tradition infra-red TV set, but if it’s hooked up to a YouView box or a Plex media centre , then you can control what appears on your TV straight from your brand new slate.

6. Fitness

Keep in shape by using all manner of fitness apps available in the App Store, such as My Fitness Pal, which lets you track both what you’re eating and activity – plus you can make use of the built-in camera to log your progress in photos.

7. Arcade machine

Of course, who could forget, your new iPad mini is capable of playing all sorts of games. From Angry Birds to Cut The Rope, to even more graphics intensive games like Real Racing or Infinity Blade, there’s bound to be something in the App Store to keep your thumbs busy.

8. Drawing tool

While the popularity of Draw Something has waned, the screen size of the iPad mini lends itself well to little doodles. Using apps such as Paper will let you turn your device into a digital easel, where you can paint and draw to your heart’s content.

9. Digital photo frame

If you need to put your device down for a few minutes, why not make use of its size to turn it into a digital photo frame? Prop it on its side, get the slideshow going, and feel free to discuss/bore your latest holiday with the family.

10. Cookbook

The kitchen is a busy place, and there might not be room for a full fledged laptop, or even a larger iPad. The iPad mini, however, can lend its svelte size to the eager chef by serving as a cookbook. With apps such as Epicurious, or even Jamie Oliver’s Recipes, plus the whole internet at your fingertips, your new iPad mini is the ultimate cookbook to outdo Delia with

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Tech trends: The biggest gadget shake ups of 2012

Time flies, eh? Almost as quickly as the gadget industry moves. As we draw to the end of 2012, we take a look back at the biggest trends of the year, from phablets to touchscreens in the place you’d least expect.

The seven inch tablet comes of age

Seven inch tablets have been around for years, but they didn’t mature until this summer, when Asus unleashed the super fact, super value Nexus 7 on the world. Rivals were quick to follow, with Amazon unleashing the Kindle Fire HD and Barnes & Noble the Nook HD. Even Apple weighed in with its 7.9-inch iPad mini. Make no mistake, this smaller, more portable sized tablet will soon become the standard for slates.

Android finds a size that fits

Apple’s arch rivals figured out something important not too long ago: not everyone likes the iPhone’s small screen size. So why compete? The likes of Samsung and HTC reacted with jumbo phones with screens measuring 4.7 inches across and beyond – and Samsung at least cleaned house with them. We’ve even seen the emergence of a new 5-inch-plus phablet category with the release of Samsung’s hotcake-selling Galaxy Note 2 – expect a slew of imitations to follow from everyone but Apple.

Laptops go touch

Windows 8 arrived in October, and with it a quiet revolution began: soon, you won’t be able to find a single decent new machine that doesn’t sport a touchscreen, from laptop to all-in-one. And why not? It’s just one extra way to interact, and with Windows 8’s huge, finger friendly icons, it’s a useful one too. Even Google is rumoured to be working on a touchscreen Chromebook running Chrome OS. How long before we see the same happen on Mac?

Voice recognition goes mainstream

The Siri voice assistant for iOS got a big update with iOS 6 this summer, bringing it to iPad and iPod touch, and adding some smart new commands. But it wasn’t alone. Google unleashed its new Google Now service in the summer that comes built into every Android 4.1 device: its voice recognition skills are phenomenally accurate and fast (and now also available on iPhone for those who are interested). As we move into 2013, expect voice to become one of the core inputs for tablets and phones.

Filters everywhere

Image sharing network Instagram struck gold this year – literally – when Facebook acquired it in a billion dollar deal in spring. The service, which specialises in providing retro image filters to tart up your camera phone snaps, passed the 100 million user mark, and soon attracted some stuff competition, when Twitter introduced image filters of its own to its mobile apps. Will it be enough? Time will tell.

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Samsung's Galaxy S3 beats Apple's iPhone in Q3 sales

 

Samsung Galaxy S3's best-selling position is likely to be short-lived

South Korean electronics firm Samsung's Galaxy S3 has outsold Apple's iPhone 4S for the first time, becoming the world's best-selling smartphone, says research firm Strategy Analytics.

Samsung sold 18 million models, compared with Apple's 16.2 million sales, in the third quarter of 2012.

The Galaxy S3 "has proven wildly popular with consumers and operators," said Strategy Analytics' Neil Mawston.

However, Apple's new iPhone 5 is widely expected to reclaim the top sales spot.

Strong Galaxy smartphone sales helped Samsung report record profits in the three months to September. Net profit was 6.5tn won ($5.9bn; £3.7bn), up 91% from a year earlier.

But analysts say that one reason Samsung's phone was able to wrest the top sales spot from Apple's iPhone 4 was because many customers were waiting for the iPhone 5, which was launched during the third quarter.

The Apple iPhone 5 has already got off to a solid start and "we expect the new iPhone 5 to out-ship Samsung's Galaxy S3 in the coming fourth quarter", said Neil Mawston.

"Apple should soon reclaim the title of the world's most popular smartphone model," he added.

Legal struggle

Samsung and its rival Apple have been locked in a series of ongoing legal battles over patent infringement claims in various countries.

In October, sales bans in the US on Samsung's Galaxy Nexus phone and its Galaxy 10.1 tablet computer were lifted, in a blow to Apple.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, a US court awarded Apple $1.05bn (£652m) in damages, after ruling several of its software and design technologies had been infringed by Samsung.

Samsung has challenged that verdict and called for a retrial.

Analysts say that given the tremendous growth potential of the sector, the two firms' legal battle is likely to continue.

iPhone 5 up for UK pre-order: Will you be buying?

 

Phone 5 up for UK pre-order: Will you be buying?

The iPhone 5 is on sale a week today, but if you really want to be sure of landing one on day one, you don’t need to queue – pre-orders on several UK networks have opened already. Will you be getting one?

While EE and O2 are all keeping their cards close to their chest when it comes to iPhone 5 pricing, Three, Vodafone, Orange and T-Mobile UK have all put the iPhone 5 in all its flavours up for pre-order already.

Prices on contract at Orange and T-Mobile are almost identical, as you’d expect since they’re owned by the same company: the 16GB model starts at £109.99 on a £36 per month two year contract with 1GB of data.

Vodafone meanwhile has a slightly cheaper offer if you’re prepared to use less data on the go. You can get a 16GB iPhone 5 for £25 per month on a two year contract by paying £249 on contract. For the unlimited text and call package with 1GB of data though, you’re looking at £37 per month for £99 upfront.

Want one? You’d better act fast. Over in the US, pre-orders for the iPhone 5 have sold out in just a few short hours.

Will you be getting an iPhone 5? Is it Android all the way for you? Let’s hear where you stand in the comments.

Virtual Projected Keyboard

 

Virtual Projected Keyboard

The Celluon MAGIC CUBE Virtual Keyboard is a startling fresh alternative to using a standard keyboard and mouse with your mobile device or computer. The MAGIC CUBE projects a laser onto a flat opaque surface to provide you with a virtual keyboard. You can type on top of the surface of your desk and you can also use the MAGIC CUBE as a mouse. The MAGIC CUBE is powered by a Lithium-Polymer battery and comes with a mini-USB to USB cable for recharging it from your computer. It works with the iPad, iPhone 4, mobile devices running Android 2, 2.1, or 2.2 as well as any device that supports Bluetooth 2.0 or greater, such as a desktop or notebook computer

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Samsung to fix Galaxy S3 search function removal mistake

 

 

Samsung has admitted it made a mistake in releasing a software update that removed a search function from international versions of its flagship smartphone.

The "stability update" disabled the Galaxy S3's ability to search the web, contacts, apps and other on-device material through a single interface.

The move had been thought to be linked to Apple's claim that the innovation infringed one of its US patents.

Samsung said a fix was imminent.

"The most recent software upgrade for the Galaxy S3 in the UK included the inadvertent removal of the universal search function," it said in a statement.

"Samsung will provide the correct software upgrade within the next few days."

Patent dispute

Users who downloaded the update had not been warned that it would remove the advanced search function when the software was installed on GT-i9300 (S3) models available in the UK and other places outside the US.

It appears the firm meant only to prevent some US models from being able to use a Google-powered search tool to show information sourced from within the phone's memory in its results.

Apple has claimed the technology infringed its patent to a unified search interface which it uses in its Siri app to collate results from a range of sources.

The iPhone maker has launched a lawsuit over the matter in the US and had briefly secured a sales ban of another Samsung handset - the Galaxy Nexus - on the basis that the inclusion of the feature threatened "irreparable harm".

A Washington-based court will review the case on 20 August.

Apple iPad 3 is coming: Here's what you might be getting

Apple’s iPad 2 was revealed on March 2 2011, so if the company follows suit with the follow-up we should be seeing the iPad 3 very soon indeed. With that in mind, what are we hoping to see from the next slab of Apple loveliness?

The iPad 2 has sold like the proverbial hotcakes over the past year, even though (as seems to have been forgotten) it was seen by many as a bit of a modest overhaul of the original device. We’ve been told that the iPad 3 could be the one to watch. Here’s what we might be getting…

HD screen
The main reason some people were a bit miffed with the iPad 2 (though we love ours to bits) isn’t because of a misplaced sense of entitlement or the curious need to diss Apple at every turn. Oh no. It was because the screen was absolutely identical to the original iPad’s.

That won’t cut the mustard for a third year running, which is why we’re expecting Apple to provide a major screen overhaul. We’re talking an HD display with double the resolution of the previous models, which should provide a picture that’s almost as sharp as the iPhone 4S.

Quad-core processor
Dual-core mobile processors are so 2011, darling. This year will see the emergence of quad-core smartphones and tablets, and the iPad 3 will almost definitely be at the forefront of that progression.
All reports are suggesting that the next Apple tablet will feature a new A6 chip with double the processor cores of the iPad 2. Considering how powerful last year’s model is, that’s quite a prospect – we’re approaching laptop speeds here.

Slightly bulkier body
For all its internal changes and that shiny new screen, we’re not actually expecting the iPad 3 to change all the much on the outside. Indeed, there have been rumours that a real working iPad 3 was out on the floor of CES last month, but that no one noticed because it was so similar to the iPad 2.
Regardless of the truth of that tantalising claim, it has been suggested that the only difference in the iPad 3’s design will be a slightly thicker body. Well, with a high def screen and a souped up camera to squeeze in, what did you expect?

iPhone 4S-standard camera
The iPad 2 introduced a camera to the Apple tablet range, but in truth it was only really any good at shooting videos – and even then it wasn’t the sort of thing that could replace your camcorder. The iPad 3 should change all that.

We’re expecting the iPad 3 camera to be very similar to the iPhone 4S’s – which means it’ll be one of the best 8-megapixel smart device cameras around. We could also get an HD front-facing camera in a bid to sharpen up FaceTime performance.

Siri
Apple’s voice-operated assistant, Siri, was the star of the iPhone 4S show. For the first time, voice recognition actually seems to have a practical use on a mobile device, such is Siri’s knack for understanding what you want and offering a shortcut to it.

Not only would it be logical for Apple to include its smart new tool with the iPad 3, there have also been mentions of Siri on iPad spotted in a beta version of the next iOS, 5.1.

iPhone 5 camera to pack groundbreaking focus technology

Information about Apple’s next big phone may be thin on the ground, but we can be certain that its camera looks destined for a major upgrade. Each new iPhone has seen improvements to its camera, but the next iPhone could see the biggest change yet. Read on to find out more about the iPhone 5 and its groundbreaking camera tech.

Rather than ramming up the megapixel count, which may also happen, Apple is believed to be working with the makers of the very clever Lytro camera to develop the kind of photo-taking tech unseen in camera phones.

The claims come from Forbes magazine writer Adam Lashinky’s book “Inside Apple” in which it is claimed that the late Steve Jobs met with Ren Ng, the founder of Lytro – makers of a very clever light field camera that manages to squeeze in some amazing photographic focussing technology inside very small cameras.

Put two and two together and Lytro would appear a perfect for Apple’s ambitions. The Lytro camera, earlier nominated as one of CES 2012’s most innovative gadgets delivers a new way to take photos by letting you re-focus on subjects after a shot a shot has been taken.

What does that mean? Well, with no need to focus, or autofocus you could take a photo of anything, even fast-moving objects and have your photos continue to look fantastic regardless of the conditions – a perfect fit for smartphone photography.

Fitting such technology inside the Apple iPhone 5 could be just what Apple has on the cards.

Top 5 dual-core smartphones of 2011

 

 

When the curtain closes on a gadget-filled year, 2011 will be remembered as the year that smartphones stepped up and delivered more power, better graphics and more features than inside Mary Poppins’ handbag.

With that in mind, in no particular order, we felt it was time to look back on some of the best dual-core smartphones of 2011. Here are our picks.

Apple iPhone 4S

OK, so it’s not quite the iPhone 5 that many Apple fans were hoping for, but it’s still quicker, and more feature filled than its predecessor. It comes with Apple’s dual-core A5 chip that Apple claims delivers twice the power and up to seven times faster graphics than the iPhone 4. Launching apps, games and browsing the web is noticeably quicker without having a drain on battery life. The addition of voice assistant Siri, a better eight-megapixel camera with 1080p high definition video recording and Apple’s iCloud cloud storage service makes the iPhone 4S a phone to beat.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus is a high-class performer packing a dual-core 1.2GHz processor. That means everything boots up and runs quicker than they would on non-dual-core smartphones, even when running multiple apps. Meanwhile the new Android Ice Cream Sandwich operating system makes the Nexus a pleasure to use. A new feature will even let you unlock the Galaxy Nexus by recognising your face. Like the iPhone 4S, it too records 1080p HD video.

Motorola Atrix

Shown-off at the start of the year, the Motorola Atrix may be forgotten by some, but this is one powerful smartphone that claimed to put the power of a PC in users pockets. It could be used with optional docks that enhanced its talents. It features a full Mozilla Firefox browser, Flash, and is adept at creating and editing documents on the go. Other features such as fingerprint recognition, faster web browsing and widgets made it one of the year’s best.

Samsung Galaxy SII

As feature sets go, the Samsung Galaxy S II is one of the smartphones of the year. On top of its dual-core processor, it features 16GB of memory built in, with capacity to upgrade to twice that. An eight-megapixel camera takes some great photos. If you’re not shy, a front-facing camera takes care of video calls. It also records full 1080p high definition, which look fantastic on the Galaxy S II’s 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display.

HTC Sensation XE

The HTC Sensation XE is a bit of an upgrade to the earlier released original Sensation, launched earlier in the year. It packs a punch, and features a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, and comes bundled with Beats Audio headphones that deliver some serious bass. Those looking for a top-notch phone perfect for browsing the web, watching videos and listening to music won’t find many better.

Apple iPad 3: What we’d like to see



Next year looks set to be a corker for tablets. In 2012 we could see the launch of the Amazon Kindle Fire in the UK, a new Microsoft tablet with WIndows 8 and of course, the Apple iPad 3. Join us after the break to find out the features we’d like to see on the Apple iPad 3.

Apple’s iPad 2 delivered on many of the upgrades fans wanted, but not quite all of them. Will the iPad 3 deliver? Here are a few things we’d like to see in the Apple iPad 3.

Retina display or equivalent 
Many believed that the Apple iPad 2 would be getting the patented best-in-class Retina Display that graced the iPhone 4. It didn’t. However Apple’s multi-touch capacitive screen is in need of an upgrade and a Retina Display or equivalent is a must.


A Better camera 
OK, so using the iPad 2 camera to take photos may draw glancing looks, but if it’s going to be there, it may as well be as spiffy as possible. Photo quality isn’t the best, especially at coping with indoor lighting. The iPad 2 does better with video. It can record in high definition at 720p, but we’d like to see the iPad 3 record in 1080p high definition – the same as the iPhone 4S. 




SD card slot 
Currently Apple mobile devices do not have an SD card slot. To get around this Apple stock a Camera Connection kit that lets users plug in an SD card reader and USB dongle. But if the Apple iPad 3 is to be the best standalone device it could be, there needs to be removable storage.

Apple A6 processor
Apple is said to be working on an A6 quad-core processor due for launch in Spring 2012. If ready in time, it would be a tremendous boost to the Apple iPad 3 and ensure that it would be more than a vanity upgrade. Webpages, applications and games will load much quicker, and really take the iPad 3 on par with laptops in terms of speed.

Siri voice integration 
This one looks a cert. Voice assistant Siri was one of the iPhone 4S’ flagship features, and we see no reason why Siri won’t appear on the Apple iPad 3. The iPad 3 has gained in popularity as a device to take to work, so the addition of Siri to create reminders, set alarms and organise one’s calendar sounds completely possible.

What else would you like to see in the Apple iPad 3? Let us know in the comments section below

The best Apple iPhone 4S apps of 2011

 

 

Apple’s iPhone 4S is the latest Apple iPhone upgrade, bringing with it new features such as its voice assistant Siri, an eight-megapixel camera and 1080i video recording. Download apps and the iPhone 4S becomes even more fun. With that in mind we’ve picked out some of the best iPhone 4S apps of 2011.

Galaxy on Fire 2 HD Galaxy on Fire 2 HD is a souped up version of the iOS space shooter optimised for the iPhone 4S and iPad 2. Galaxy on Fire boasts over 10 explosion-filled hours of gameplay in a 3D universe spanning over 20 star systems. It’s a blast.

Instagram 
One of the good things about the iPhone upgrade is a better camera. With 8 megapixels to play with camera apps such as Instagram are given a new lease of life. Those rose-tinted Instagram photos look positively rosier.

Find My FriendsFind My Friends makes it easy to locate friends and family with your iPhone 4S. All you need to do is send a friend or family member a request to see their location and have them accept. A temporary sharing location can be activated on days visiting friends to let them know if you’ll make it on time, or to let them see that you’ve made it home safely.

iMovie 
iMovie has always been around, but if you own an Apple iPhone 4S, iMovie is even better by the 1080i video recording skills of the latest iPhone. As usual, owners can add sound effects, photos and trim the length of clips in just a few swipes of the finger, before sharing via YouTube.

Real Racing 2Real Racing 2 is one of the best racing games for iPhone 4S, if not the best. It features updated graphics especially for the iPhone 4S and over 10 hours of racing gameplay, 16-player online races and 15 locations to race in.

Modern CombatLike console versions, first-person games done correctly on mobile phones are good fun to play. Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation is one of them. It can be played with more than one player over 13 missions full of memorable scenes of action. Multiplayer mode is played out by 12 players across six exclusive maps. As iPhone 4S games go this is a complete package.

Cards 
This brand new app lets iPhone 4S owners create and send greeting cards with personalised greetings, photos and text to paste to pre-made cards that can be ordered from the app. Cards can be sent to anywhere in the world. Simply place your order and enter your Apple ID password.

Infinity Blade 2The most highly-rated game on the iPhone finally gets a sequel. And guess what? It’s even better, with new environments, three new combat styles and the fun gameplay fans remember. A must-have game for the iPhone 4S.

Shazam 
Shazam isn’t a new app by any means by it’s still one of the most handy to have around. It’s a music discovery app that tells you the name of any piece of music playing in the vicinity, the artist and album.

My Xbox LIVE
The My Xbox LIVE app has finally reached iOS devices. If you own an Xbox 360 and regularly play games over Xbox LIVE, you need this app. It lets you view and customise your avatar, check your Xbox Achievements and those of your friends. You’ll can even send messages to those on your Xbox LIVE friend list.

Top 5 Apple accessories every Apple fan would love by

 

Whether you own an Apple iPhone 4S, an iPad 2 or a MacBook Pro there are plenty of accessories you can buy for each. What’s more, with Christmas just around the corner, you’ve just enough time to get them on your list for Santa. Check out the Top 5 Apple accessories every Apple fan would love!

From keyboard docks to earphones, we’ve selected five accessories for Apple gadgets any Apple fan would love to receive. Read on for our top five Apple accessory picks and potential stocking filler ideas for the Apple fan.

Apple iPad keyboard dock

If you’ve got an Apple iPad you’ll find typing on its screen takes some getting used to. Thankfully you can buy a keyboard attachment that docks onto the bottom of the iPad – keeping it upright while allowing you to type away. The official keyboard docks are very compact, are made from aluminium, and have low profile keys. It’s also small enough to pop in your bag with your iPad 2.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air

OK, so we’re using the term ‘accessory’ loosely here, but if you already own an iPhone or iPod Touch, the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air is one of the best pieces of kit for getting the most from your iTunes music collection. It looks and sounds fantastic. The latest model features AirPlay, letting you stream music from any Apple computer to the Zeppelin Air to fill up the room with sound. 



SoundMagic E10

Apple’s portable range of gadgets are well made, have some great features and are capable of delivering top-notch sound. But only if you’ve got a decent pair of earphones. The standard Apple earphones that come bundled do a job, but aren’t of the best quality. For fantastic-sounding earphones without the high cost check out the SoundMagic’s E10 earphones are the best in its class. They cost just £35 but to do the job of earphones up to three times the cost.

iPad Smart Cover

Got an Apple iPad 2? If so, these iPad Smart Covers are very good for protecting your tablet without the unnecessary bulk that usually comes with covers. A clever design neatly folds against the iPad 2 to protect its screen. The Smart cover even doubles up as a keyboard stand that folds into an upright position for comfortable typing.

Apple Magic Mouse

For Apple MacBooks and and the iMac Apple’s Magic Mouse is a wonderful accessory that uses the same multi-touch technology you’ll find in the iPhone. Apple’s Magic Mouse introduced the first range of multi-touch mouse that you don’t need to move to scroll through pages. It combines the same functionality of a two-button mouse without the buttons.

Got a favourite Apple accessory you’ve added to your Christmas list? Let us know about it in the Comments below.

Microsoft set to launch Mango before iOS 5?

 

It’s looking increasingly likely that Apple will launch its next-gen iPhone and iOS 5 in the next couple of weeks, and Microsoft doesn’t want to be left behind. As such, the software giant is readying Mango – the latest version of Windows Phone, and it could also be here at the beginning of October.

Microsoft have been left in Apple’s wake before, spending years coming up with a product that could finally compete with iOS – Windows 7 – when it came to usability.

With Apple’s 5th iteration of iOS likely to launch in the next two weeks or so, Microsoft needs to avoid being left behind again, which is where Mango comes in.

Mango is the latest version of Windows Phone, offering over 500 changes and improvements over earlier iterations.

It won’t just be buyers of new handsets that benefit, either, with Eric Hautala, the General Manager of Customer Experience Engineering at Microsoft, pointing out that “firmware has been painstakingly tuned so your phone-and apps-work with all the new features of Windows Phone 7.5”.

With Apple now expected to launch its iOS platform and next-generation iPhone on the 4th October, we wouldn’t be surprised if Microsoft beat them to the punch by a day or two. The launch of Mango also means that Nokia can start its own revolution, with a host of Mango-based handsets set to hit the shops.

Would you consider opting for Windows Phone over iOS? Or will you wait and see what both new versions have to offer? Leave a comment and let us know.