Six ways Jony Ive can make iPhone 6 the ultimate phone

 

Six ways Jony Ive can make iPhone 6 the ultimate phone

Make no mistake, the iPhone 5 is the best Apple handset yet. But it’s far from perfect.

The good news is that due to a shakeup over at Apple HQ, design supremo Jony Ive is now in charge of all of the company’s “human interface”, which means – yes – hardware and software. But how can Ive make sure the company’s next blower is king of the mobile jungle?

Here are six ways we think he could make it happen.

1 Icons that come alive

Apple’s interface still looks as good as ever in screenshots, but when you get the device in your hand, it seems a little dated. Especially after seeing Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 or RIM’s BB10 in action. Both of these feature icons that update live right in front of you, bringing the home screen alive and giving you info without you having to open the app. Which is a great timesaver. Come on Apple, make it so.

2 More forward-looking design

When it comes to software, Apple’s design philosophy is known as ‘skeuomorphic’ – that means its programs take on an old-fashioned look, with retro-style dials and plenty of leather and brass. It’s meant to make technophobes more comfortable using the device, and not alienate them by looking too ‘techy’. Which is all well and good. But it’s getting a little long in the tooth nowadays and could do with a refresh. The iPhone was aimed at people who were turned off by how complicated other smartphones were, but now the smartie is no longer a niche product, it’s time Apple binned the look and chose a new direction.

3 Sort out the maps

Let’s be honest: Apple Maps was a disaster. Apple gave Google Maps the boot in favour of its own mapping app in iOS 6, and the reaction was so severe that CEO Tim Cook posted an apology to customers, suggesting alternatives. Many think this marked a turning point for Apple, that it was now so big it’d rather pursue its vendetta with Google even if customers suffered. Apple needs to sort out Apple Maps sharpish. There’s no shortage of competing mapping apps on iOS, after all.

4 Wireless charging

Nokia is looking to the future with its Lumia 920, offering a wireless charger. All you have to do is plonk your handset on it, and it’ll juice it up; no fiddling with annoying connectors required. Apple, however, went the other route with the iPhone 5, introducing a new Lightning connection that renders old accessories and chargers redundant without an adapter. Apple, it’s these kinds of decisions that turn people off.

5 NFC

Apple has so far chosen not to add Near Field Communications (NFC) to the iPhone. NFC lets you pay for items using your handset, share files with other devices, and read tags set up on posters to unlock other related content. Instead, Apple has stuck with its own technology, using its Passbook app to let you call up a boarding pass, discount voucher, or loyalty card. But it’s a lot more limited than NFC, which everyone else has adopted.

6 Bigger screen

The iPhone 5’s 4-inch screen is a step-up from the 4S’s 3.5-incher, but it’s still tiny compared to the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S3, with its 4.8-inches. (Watch a YouTube video on both side-by-side in landscape mode to really see the difference.) The trend is for bigger blowers too, with the Galaxy Note 2 at a mammoth 5.5-inches, and the 5-inch HTC Deluxe rumoured to be hitting UK shores soon. If the iPhone 6 isn’t larger than 4-inches, it’s going to look pretty puny compared to the big boys.

mobile Apps For Your Business

 

If your business is not mobile now, it will be someday soon – or you will lose out to those businesses that are.

Promote your Business and Build Loyalty

It's incredible how fast mobile browsing has gone from something very clunky, to something we all do. Here are just 3 stats that show how fast our behaviour is changing due to this evolving technology:

a, 40% of mobile phone owners now say their phone is “the most important device for accessing the internet” – something that looked very unlikely just a couple of years ago.
b, Alongside that, 42% of us regularly use social networks via our phones, 51% watch video clips, and 51% use our phones to read email.
c, One in five of us use our phones to research products while watching TV.

Whereas desktop and laptop browsing is an activity in itself, many of us use tablets and mobile devices alongside other activities. We are more likely to purchase via mobile at weekends and tablet owners tend to shop while watching TV at home.

Mobile commerce is predicted to grow 39% each year from now until 2016.

 

mobile app

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 tipped for October release, iPhone in its sights

 

The Samsung Galaxy S3 may have already hit the stores as competition to the iPhone, but don’t think Samsung is stopping there. Another stab at the iPhone will see Samsung launch a second Galaxy Note, with a flexible display, thinner design, quad-core processor, and a 12-megapixel camera to coincide with the launch of the iPhone 5, says a report.



And forget Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The new Samsung Galaxy Note successor will instead run the new Android Jelly Bean operating system, says an MK Business News report. 
 Samsung is already enjoying huge success with its Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone – the most -pre-ordered phone so far this year is being tipped as many peoples phone of the year.

Wanting to build on that, it appears Samsung is hoping to spoil Apple’s party by launching the new Galaxy Note in October – around the same Apple is believed to be launching its new iPhone.

So what can we expect from a Samsung Galaxy Note 2? Rumoured specs include an ‘unbreakable plane display,’ said to be a flexible display, thinner in design to make room for a better processor inside.

The report also mentions a display said to exceed the 5.3-inches of the current Galaxy Note, burring the line between tablet and smartphone, a longer battery life, and a quad-core processor just like the Samsung Galaxy S3. And of course that new Jelly Bean operating system from launch.

Samsung has yet to confirm the above, but would it be fair to call a device exceeding 5.3-inches competition to an iPhone 5? It sounds more like a mini tablet to us.

A (rumoured) leaked iPhone 5 blueprint recently hinted that Apple will go with a 4-inch display for its new smartphone. That’s still over an inch less than the Samsung Galaxy Note, and nearly an inch smaller than the Samsung Galaxy S3’s 4.8-inch Super AMOLED screen.

Isn’t 5.3-inches plus just too big for a smartphone? What do you think?

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iPhone 5: suspected blueprint appears online, reveals larger screen

 

As Apple iPhone 5 rumours continue to fly in, a blueprint said to be that of the iPhone 5 has appeared online hinting at some of the design changes we can expect to see on Apple’s newest iPhone. If authentic, the iPhone 5 will feature a larger screen, and a few more aesthetic and functional tweaks to improve on the existing design.

One of the more regular rumours is that the iPhone 5 will have a larger 4-inch screen, adding an extra half inch to the current size. The blueprints would appear to support such claims, with measurements going just over 4-inches.

Apple iPhone 5: 4-inch rumours gather pace

The most current iPhones have a 3.5-inch display. Apple has in the past suggested its size is a perfect combination of portability, while offering enough room to enjoy watching movies and playing games.

However, as streaming video content such as movies and TV shows to multiple devices becomes more popular, the iPhone is in danger of being left behind in the entertainment stakes by phones with larger screens, such as the Samsung Galaxy S3, which has a 4.8-inch screen. Previous reports from the Wall Street Journal have also indicated that Apple is fixed on the idea of a 4-inch screen.

The suspected iPhone 5 blueprints are also said to suggest redesigned speaker grills, earphone jack and FaceTime camera. Whether the above turns out to be true or not, it’s likely we’ll see any design changes to the next iPhone, as Apple looks to react to the increasing popularity of Android smartphones, and the threat of Windows Phone.

What would you most like to see Apple do different with the iPhone 5?


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Best Apple iPad yet: Everything you need to know

 

Apple has unveiled the next generation of iPad. It’s more powerful, has a better screen and an improved camera. But is it the upgrade Apple fans were dreaming of? Read on and we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the new iPad.

It really is called the new iPad

During Apple’s presentation we were waiting on tenterhooks to hear the name of the new iPad. As it turns out that is exactly what it’s called. Not the iPad HD, or iPad 3. Say hello to the new iPad.

High resolution Retina Display

The new iPad boasts a 9.7-inch 2048×1536 pixel Retina Display that Apple claims makes text look sharper than it does on a newspaper. Gaming should look a treat on it.

A powerful new chip and processor

To cope with the demands you’re going to push on your new iPad, Apple has developed a new AX5 dual-core CPU. With the Retina Display graphics power is key and to keep things nice and smooth an on-board quad-core GPU has been fitted. Overall, you’ll find a 4x speed boost over that of the iPad 2.

A better camera

The new iPad has a 5-megapixel camera featuring auto exposure, auto-focus and auto-face detection. The new iPad now also records video in full HD (1080p), and uses video stabilisation and noise reduction tech to deliver top-notch high quality video.

Battery life

Battery life will remain as impressive as ever. Apple promises a 10-hour battery life and nine hours while powering away over 3G.

4G LTE

The new iPad will be 4G LTE compatible in the US, and 3G ready world-wide. We don’t have 4G in the UK just yet, but trials are already taking place that could see 4G connectivity trickle throughout the UK later this year.

New iPad UK release date

It will go on sale in the UK from 16 March 2012, so there’s not long to wait. Those wanting a piece of the action can pre-order one from the Apple Store website right now. Prices start from £399.

What do you think? Are you impressed by the new iPad? Are there enough changes to warrant an upgrade? Let us know on the comments

Archos Child Pad: £99 Android tablet for kids

To a child a tablet looks like a fascinating little plaything. But with the cost of such devices going into the £££ we know that’s far from the case. Archos has gone some way to resolving that little dilemma by announcing a £99 Android tablet called the Child Pad. It even has the latest Android 4.0 operating system. What else? Read on…

At £99, the Archos Child Pad is definitely one of the cheapest tablets we’ve seen. Even so, the specs, for such a cheap tablet are rather impressive. The Child Pad features a 7-inch screen, a 1GHz processor and 1GB of RAM. So performance should be pretty quick – an essential if it is to be used by impatient youngsters.

 

We’re also impressed to discover that the Archos Child Pad will feature Android 4.0 – the latest update to the Android operating system built-in from day one. Albeit a more child-friendly version of the OS.

Custom skins and pre-loaded games such as Angry Birds provide the fun. And parental controls. Those are there too. Very important, those. The Archos Child Pad will begin shipping at the end of March.

It may not be the most advanced or desirable tablet around, but for £99, it sounds like a bargain. It’s not just for kids, right?

Then again, wait one month and you may be able to pick up a brand new iPad for just £100 more, following rumours that Apple is to release a 7.85-inch iPad.