500px photography app compatible with iPhone 5 and iOS 6

More and more of us are making use of smartphone apps and so here at Phones Review we like to keep readers informed about the latest ones available. Today we have news that a long-awaited app for the iOS platform is now available, a photography app called 500px and news of its arrival at the App Store should please many people.

500px is a photo-sharing platform that appeals to both professional photographers and those who would like to be. This is the first time that the popular Flow timeline feature has been optimized for mobile devices and the 500px app version 2.0 has been especially designed for the iPhone and iPad. It’s a free app and suitable for iOS devices running iOS 5.0 or later and you can download it from the App Store here. Compatibility for the iPhone 5 and iOS 6 has also been added to this latest version of 500px.
One of the features of this app is that users can browse through community-selected galleries and editors’ picks and comment on the photographs or add them to their favorite lists to view later. When a member of the community comments on your photos you’ll also receive notification. The popular Flow feature, for use with the iPhone only at present, enables users to check on their friends’ activity. Meanwhile for those who are using an iPad, you are able to purchase and download high-resolution digital photos on the 500px Market.

Apart from bringing compatibility to the iPhone 5 and iOS 6, version 2.0 of 500px for iOS has been completely revamped for the iPhone and is also enhanced for the iPad. It also features Avatar upload for profiles so that you can customize how you appear on 500px directly from your device. Check out this link to the 500px website to find out much more about this photography community and see some wonderful examples of some of the best photos you’ll find.
We’d like to hear your thoughts on 500px. Are you a long-time enthusiast of this community and happy to see app compatibility for the iPhone 5 and iOS 6? Maybe you haven’t heard of 500px before but are impressed by what you see? Let us know with your comments.

Play Windows 95 or 98 games on Android using Winulator

Many people now prefer to play games using their smartphone so they can get their gaming action on when out and about rather than being tied to their desktop computer. But there are a great deal of older Windows games that can’t work on a smartphone. However there is a possibility that could soon change and Windows 95 and 98 games might be able to play on Android handsets.

We have a demonstration video for your viewing consideration below, that shows that there is a tool currently being developed called Winulator, which enables some Windows 95 and Windows 98 games to play nice on the Android platform.
Unfortunately anyone wishing they could play old Windows games on their Android device will have a bit of a wait on their hands, because Winulator isn’t available to Android just yet as it is still in development, but the developer does plan to release both free and paid apps to Google Play at some point in the future.

Currently not all older games are supported by Winulator, and the sound doesn’t work either. The Winulator is a wrapper application, and in the footage below you will see a Windows 98 game called Caesar 3 running on an Android slate, the Asus Transformer, and also on a Samsung Galaxy handset, and it looks to work rather well.
Currently there are several apps that allow the user to emulate a DOS environment so you can run old PC games on the Android platform; however the Winulator app does look promising and a tool that could eventually let the Android gamers get to grips with classic Windows 95 and 98 games.
Anyway enough from me, I’ll leave it there and let you head on down to hit that play button and check out Winulator in action…enjoy.
Any of our Android readers hoping Winulator will hit Google Play soon so they can play older Windows games on their Android device?

LiGo Bluewave Link to Mobile Hub: Hands-on Review

There are so many gadgets not only for your mobile phone but also your house phone as well, but what if you could find an accessory that would bring the two together? Thankfully this is something that we no longer have to think about because Konector were kind enough to send us over the LiGo Bluewave Link to Mobile Hub, which basically allows you to make and receive mobile phone calls on your home phone.

When we first thought about it we could not see a reason why we would need such a gadget, but after spending some time with it we could see why there would be a need after all – but one has to wonder how popular such a gadget would be?
This is a Bluetooth device so will only work with mobile phones that support this feature – which will be most modern ones. We were a little apprehensive at first because it’s hard to imagine how such a device would work, but we’re pleased that we were sent the LiGo Bluewave Link to Mobile Hub because there’s nothing better than seeing a new accessory doing well.

First Impressions
Looking at the box it looks like a very simply device to set up, but we were a little worried at how cheap the device looked on the box. Upon unpacking we found that the hub was made from plastic and did not have a quality feel to it, but then again this matches most home phones these days.

The Design
Okay, so we’re not a fan of the cheap plastic finish, but it doesn’t matter because it will just be placed in the corner and left to do its own thing. We have noticed how similar this gadget is to a number of broadband hubs on the market, so would look pretty cool when placed next to them. However, we would like to inform you that it’s not as large as it looks in many of the images you see on the Internet, so will not look overpowering in your home.

The Key Features
There are so many key features for this device, but we’ll point out some of the more important ones. Firstly it’s Bluetooth and will support up to three mobile phones at once, and so that you do not get confused you can customize your ringtones so you can tell if it’s a mobile or house phone call coming through. There’s also call waiting for each mobile phone and you can even use this if you do not have a landline. This is ideal if you cannot get a landline where you live, but still struggle to get used to a mobile phone, so you could still use a simple home phone, but instead you will just be receiving calls from your mobile instead – this is an ideal feature for the elderly. The size for the LiGo Bluewave Link to Mobile Hub is 120h x 120w x 45d.

The Positives
Having spent time with the gadget it’s clear to see the benefits, such as if you are elderly (as mentioned above) and if you have left your mobile phone downstairs and need to get to the phone quick. It’s also very quick and easy to set up (which we did with an iPhone 5) and because it’s small, it’s not too imposing wherever you place it in your home.

The Negatives
You may have guessed that we are not fans of the cheap finish, and because of this one would presume that the device would be cheaper than what it is (we’ll get to the price soon), but then again because it’s new it could come down at a later date. We were also unimpressed with the quality of the call when testing it out, as it did not have much depth to it. Now one would presume that this could be down to the home phone (which it is not) or the network (O2) could have been having an issue (which could have been a possibility). We did try making and receiving calls several times and the results were always the same, it was more like a call you would get from a cheap Bluetooth headset.

Phones Review Overall Summary
Okay so it’s clear to see that the LiGo Bluewave Link to Mobile Hub is not perfect and the fact that we pointed out a number of issues that we had with the device. Having said that, we would still recommend this because the issue with the call quality could have been down to other factors, we say this because overall the response from those who have already purchased the device have been pretty positive. We also love the idea if you live in a large house and you are charging your mobile phone in a dock in one room, but are able to take an important call while in another, say at the top of the house. We were clear that we were not convinced that such a device would be needed, but after spending some time with it – well we’d say you’d wonder how you did without it for so long.

Where to Buy and Price
There are a number of online retailers selling the LiGo Bluewave Link to Mobile Hub, but we would suggest going direct to LiGo and use their online store. They are currently selling their latest gadget for £99.99, which is the same price as Amazon UK.
Other photos and a video

New hope for iOS 6 untethered iPhone 5 jailbreak via video

The Apple iPhone 5 and iOS 6 operating system has been with us for around two months now, and that elusive untethered jailbreak for the handset still hasn’t appeared even though it is obvious the jailbreaking team will be hard at work trying to find a solution, but there is new hope for an iOS 6 untethered iPhone 5 jailbreak following a video that has emerged.

We have been trying to keep you all informed with the latest news regarding the eagerly awaited jailbreak, and there has been many scams and false hopes about the availability of an untethered iOS 6 or 6.01 jailbreak for the likes of the iPhone 5 and iPad 3.
Now a video has appeared from the @ArDevTeam that is hinting of the upcoming availability of their jailbreak, and shows the user experiencing the slow process of loading Cydia. This seems on face value to be proof of an iOS 6 untethered jailbreak for the iPhone 5,4S, iPad 3 and other hardware.
The video shows what seems to be an iPhone 4S running on iOS 6.01 with Cydia that as you all know is normally associated with a jailbreak, and the person that has uploaded the video is the founder of the ARB Dev Team.

According to their Twitter profile they are an iOS and OSX development team, and many users may have never heard of them, but if this is the real deal, all be it on the iPhone 4S, such a jailbreak for the iPhone 5 may be getting a lot closer.
The team has tweeted stating that the jailbreak is tethered for the Apple A6 chip, and while there is no proof that it is running on an iOS device using an A6 processor, it could be that it is actually an iPhone 5 jailbreak.
There are many though that are suggesting this video is actually fake, and at the end of the day many of the jailbreaking team members will have full time jobs and work on offering a jailbreaking solution in the spare time for the benefit of users.
Many iPhone 5 users though that want to jailbreak the device are thinking of ditching the handset in favour of the Android platform, but those that are sticking with it will just have to wait unfortunately. Do you think this video is fake?

Targus iNotebook case makes love with iPad & iPad Mini

If you happen to own an iOS tablet and on the lookout for a case that makes your slate look like a notebook there are quite a few already available in the mobile space. However those cases wont let you transfer your notebook notes over to your iPad, but there is a case that will let you do so, and that case is called the Targus iNotebook.

The Targus iNotebook features a classic design with Bluetooth tech that enables the user to write notes on normal notebook paper and it will then transfer those notes in real time to your Apple iPad, and the iPad Mini because of Bluetooth and there is an iOS app of course.
Apparently the Targus iNotebook recognizes the letters on the paper and will even transfer them to your Apple iPad when the slate isn’t with you, and can store in excess of one hundred notes and transfer them to your iOS tablet when desired.

It all works by using a Bluetooth enabled stylus/ink hybrid pen that shoots off the info to your iOS slate so that whatever you write is instantly transformed into digital , whilst the device also has integrated memory so you can take notes offline and transfer later.
The iNotebook iOS app enables the user to annotate pages, organise notes and share docs with other users, whilst featuring voice recording, the ability to print, searchable text boxes, and store files on Dropbox, and is compatible with standard A5 and 8 x 5-inch notepads, along with being Airplay compatible.
The iNoteBook iOS app is available to download for free from iTunes, whilst the Targus iNotebook case comes supplied with the pen, one hundred sheets of paper, and three ink refills, and is available in both black and white models from the Targus website, commanding a price tag of $179.99.
Any of our US iPad owning readers going to be purchasing the Targus iNotebook case?

Toshiba 13MP CMOS Color Noise Reduction camera Sensor for Phones

As well as bringing you news on the latest smartphones and tablets we also like to inform readers about new component parts for devices. Today it’s the turn of Toshiba as the company has come up with a next-generation camera sensor for phones. The TK437 is a 13-megapixel CMOS color noise reduction sensor and test samples are due in December for companies to try out.

It’s likely to be several months before we see the first devices sporting the TK437 CMOS 1.12 micrometer with back side illumination, as well as on-circuit color noise reduction to lower pixel noise. The sensor will give enhanced image quality with Toshiba claiming that it will match the high-image quality of a 1.4 micrometer pixel image sensor. The TK437 CMOS sensor will fit an 8.5mm x 8.5mm camera module and will also deliver in low-light conditions.
Where BSI technology will improve sensitivity it’s not so hot on improving image quality so the new sensor has been developed with BSI and CNR (color noise reduction) integration to handle low-light sensitivity as well as SNR (signal to noise reduction). Toshiba explains that this results in a CMOS sensor that gives around 1.5 times higher SNR value than a 1.12 pixel image sensor without CNR.

The first samples of part number TK437 will be sent out in December with sample pricing starting at $20. It doesn’t seem too long ago that we were all impressed with 8-megapixel cameras on smartphones and pretty soon it looks as though it will be commonplace to see 13-megapixel cameras on our mobile devices.
We’re interested to hear what readers think about the new 13-megapixel camera sensor with integrated color noise reduction? We also wonder which smartphones next year might be the first to benefit from one of these 13-megapixel camera sensors? Let us know with your comments.

Satechi ST-URB1 iPhone remote control with RemoteBean app

It would appear that the age of the standalone remote control has just about had its day, as the smartphone seems to be taking its place. Which of course makes it easier for smartphone users as they can control all their gear from their handset. If you happen to own an iDevice, the Satechi ST-URB1 iPhone remote control might suit your needs.

The Satechi ST-URB1 iPhone remote control can transform your iPhone or Apple iPad into a universal multimedia remote control system, and all you do is connect the Satechi ST-URB1to the 3.5mm headphone jack, download the RemoteBean iOS application, and simply enter the activation code when prompted to do so.
The RemoteBean iOS app will then guide you through each room of your dwelling enabling the user to program almost any device that comes with a remote control, and the app contains a database of all major manufactures along with tens of thousands of products.

Furthermore if you happen to own a product that isn’t on the database the RemoteBean app lets you teach the application to control the unlisted device via the learning function adapter.
The Satechi ST-URB1 is compatible with the iPhone 3G, 3GS, iPhone 4, 4S, and iPhone 5 along with the iPad, iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, and the iPad mini, and the iPod Touch.
With the RemoteBean app there is no need to learn a new universal remote interface, it controls devices with infrared capabilities, and a communications distance of up to 15 metres, and is a free app available to download from iTunes.
Satechi ST-URB1 iPhone remote control is available to purchase from the Satechi website, and usually commands a price tag of $39.99, but currently is being offered for $24.99.