iOS 6.1 release closer as Beta 5 arrives

With the iOS platform there isn’t so much fragmentation with the operating system when compared to Android, but that doesn’t mean the software doesn’t have issues at times. There are many users of Apple mobile devices waiting for the next update in the firmware, and it seems that the iOS 6.1 release is closer as Beta 5 arrives to developers.

Yesterday Apple released the fifth iOS 6.1 beta to developers which sees the testing phase for the software continue, and this latest version of the mobile operating system will bring with it better Siri integration and improved mapping features.
Previously there were thoughts that Apple would provide the Golden Master for the software that would have meant a release was about to take place, but with the availability of this latest beta will mean a final build release is getting ever closer.
The company got the ball rolling back in November of last year with the release of the first beta for iOS 6.1, which came a couple of months users got access to iOS 6.1. This new update will bring improvements to the much criticised Apple Maps application that replaced the popular Google Maps solution that was originally the installed option with iOS, but has since returned to the App Store.
There will also be more Facebook integration along with Passbook, Photo Stream, and much more. Previous betas have shown that iOS 6.1 will feature an improved Map Kit framework, which allows users to search for things more simply.
This latest beta comes after the last one was released during December and can be found on the Apple’s developer’s website. iOS 6.1 isn’t going to be a major software upgrade and besides the new features will contain a number of bug fixes found with the current version of the OS.
The news comes after we recently told you that Apple were looking for software engineers to work on iOS 7, and yesterday we heard rumours about some of the mobile products we could be seeing this year from Apple. Source: AppleInsider.

Samsung Galaxy Note Jelly Bean nears with manual update

Smartphone manufacturer Samsung has been busy in the last few months updating some of its range to the Android Jelly Bean operating system. This has mainly focused on last year’s flagship models such as the Galaxy S3, while owners of older models up until recently have been left waiting, but now it seems that the Samsung Galaxy Note Android Jelly Bean firmware is closer following a manual update and some news from Canadian carrier TELUS.

The company recently started to push out the new operating system to another 2011 flagship device, the Galaxy S2, and now Samsung has updated the user manual for the GT-N7000 Galaxy Note. The support page for the handset now has a new user manual that includes the Jelly Bean firmware, and is dated January 25th, 2013.
This manual has been updated to include the changes that the firmware update will bring to the device, and namely what Samsung are calling the Premium Suite. This includes a number of new features such as Google Now, and the Samsung Multi View feature.
In another piece of news that further shows the update is almost here, Canadian carrier TELUS has officially revealed when it will start updating both the Galaxy Note and the Galaxy S2. The carrier will begin rolling out the Jelly Bean update during next month, so users could be only a couple of weeks away from receiving the new OS.
Both handsets are down to receive Android 4.1 at anytime during the month, but it does say that dates and versions numbers may change or vary by device. It is not known if these updates will be available as an over the air update or via the Samsung KIES desktop application, but at least it seems the handsets are getting closer to experiencing arguably the best Android OS so far.
Once Samsung does release Jelly Bean for the Galaxy Note it will also be the case of waiting for carrier specific versions to receive the software, as many of you will be well aware some carriers can take ages updating handsets to later software. Sources: Samsung and TELUS.
Which of the new features are you looking forward to most with the Android Jelly Bean update?

iPhone 5S / 6 supposed components add to the mix

There are countless rumors surrounding Apple’s next iPhone and even confusion about the name the device will have. Initially we were unsure if it would be the iPhone 5S or whether Apple would jump straight to the iPhone 6 but more recently it seems that both could be appearing this year. Now we have heard that some supposed components from both the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 have emerged, adding more speculation to the mix.

It was only a week ago that we learned of overseas reports saying that there would in fact be three iPhone releases this year. Two of those were said to be an iPhone 5S and another the iPhone Math, both due to launch by the end of June. Another model with a 12-megapixel camera was also reported to be due for release before the end of 2013. We were skeptical about an iPhone Math and we had previously heard about the possibility of a cheaper iPhone but none of these really seemed to fit that idea.
Following this we heard more speculation that an iPhone 5S, possibly with a 13-megapixel camera may be released in July but this didn’t fit with the previous rumor about the iPhone 5S, said to have an 8-megapixel camera. You can see then that this issue is already very complicated and going by all of the conjecture so far it’s impossible to know exactly what is on the way as there are so many conflicting stories. Very often when a new iPhone is on the way we begin seeing leaked images of components for the device and these photos came to light on a French tech blog, NoWhereElse.fr, as reported by Apple Insider.
It’s claimed that the images came from an inside source with Apple supplier connections and are of the loud speaker modules for the iPhone 5S and also the iPhone 6, one of which will be coming out in the next few months. Again, reports of three iPhones launching this year are repeated and it’s stated that the iPhone 5S will be a minor upgrade to the iPhone 5 while the iPhone 6 will be a more major overhaul. The iPhone Math also gets another mention as the third model and it’s said that this will have a larger display as was previously claimed, to contend more with the increasingly common ‘phablet’ smartphones.
This latest report varies from previously on release timeframes with one phone said to be arriving between March and July and the second launching in the late part of the year. It’s not possible for us to verify the component image, which is rather blurred but as we said earlier, many of these component image leaks do eventually turn out to be accurate. The image we’ve included above is supposedly the loudspeaker module for the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 6 superimposed with the comparative component for the iPhone 5.
It’s a very muddled story right now then regarding iPhone names, models and release schedules for the year ahead and we shall continue following developments on this. With Apple’s reputation for secrecy surrounding future products it may be a while before we hear anything concrete but for many waiting iPhone enthusiasts that time cannot come soon enough. Are you waiting for the next iPhone? Do you think there’s any truth in the claims that 3 iPhone’s will release during 2013? Let us know with your comments.

Samsung Galaxy S3 vs Galaxy S4, a question of timing

The initial Samsung Galaxy S3 model was released way back at the end of May 2012 with other variants to follow over several months. It has been another major success in the Samsung Galaxy S line and is still selling in big numbers but if you were thinking of purchasing one now you may want to hold back for the Samsung Galaxy S4. This is thought to be due for a release in the coming months so we thought we’d look at the Galaxy S3 vs. Galaxy S4 and the question of timing.

We’ll give you a refresher on the key specs and features of the Galaxy S3 (S III) and then tell you what we’ve heard so far about the Galaxy S4 to see how much extra it is likely to offer. As the Galaxy S4 (S IV) has not yet been officially announced anything we can tell you about this handset is unconfirmed. However we’ve written many posts now about leaked and rumored specs for the S4 and as is often the case in these pre-release rumors, many turn out to be accurate with only the occasional wild one that comes to nothing. At least it should give you an idea of what to expect when the next flagship Samsung smartphone finally appears.
The Galaxy S3 has only been out for around 8 months then but although that sounds very recent it’s quite a time in the world of smartphones and many consumers who were just getting round to the idea of buying the S3 may not realize how close we are to the Galaxy S4. The S4 on the other hand is heading for a spring release and we’ve heard rumors of a Samsung Unpacked Event to be held on March 22 with a release around April 15 although this is unsubstantiated so far. We also saw a leaked image of the Galaxy S4 showing a date of April 22 just to confuse issues further but whether this is a clue to the date of an announcement, date of release or in fact neither, remains to be seen.
Key specs and features of the Galaxy S3 include a 1.4GHz Exynos quad-core processor although US variants of the phone carry a 1.5GHz Qualcomm S4 dual-core processor. It also has a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED display with resolution of 1280 x 720 and 306 ppi, 1GB of RAM (2GB for US models) and options of 16, 32 of 64GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD. There’s also an 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, autofocus and 1080p video capture as well as a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera. Battery capacity is 2100 mAh and the Galaxy S3 released on Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, although this is upgradable to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean now. It also features the Samsung Touchwiz user interface.
So let’s take a look at what we know, or think we know, about the Galaxy S4 so far. One of the most obvious inclusions is the new Exynos processor that Samsung just showed off at CES 2013 and leaked benchmark results recently appeared to show the Samsung Galaxy S4 using the 1.8GHz Exynos 5 Octa CPU. This processor would be a real step up for the next Galaxy S4 providing a better performance while using less power. It uses two sets of quad-core processors but is not ‘true’ octa-core as only one set is used at any one time. Other likely specs for the Galaxy S4 are a 4.99-inch Super AMOLED full HD display with an incredible ppi of 440, so an increase in both the size and the quality of the display and there should also be 2GB of RAM. We’ve not heard much about internal storage so can only imagine it will probably have the same as the Galaxy S3.
Other widely reported expectations are that the Galaxy S4 will have a 13-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel front-facing camera and a 2600 mAh battery. We had initially anticipated it might release running Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie but it looks as though the handset might release now before the next major Android update arrives. Now it seems more likely that it will launch on Android Jelly Bean 4.2.1. More fanciful additions that have been rumored are wireless charging, a flexible display, use of a stylus (as used with the Galaxy Note) and black or white color options.
As you can see, at this stage it looks as though the Galaxy S4 will have some major upgrades from the S3 such as the full HD display, step up in processor, 13-megapixel rear camera from the current 8-megapixels, increased RAM, larger battery capacity and more. The above photo shows a purported image of the Galaxy S4 against the current Galaxy S3. This Galaxy S4 image cannot be verified though but if this is the real deal the S4 has slimmer bezels, squarer edges and a larger home button but otherwise resembles the Galaxy S3.
If you already have the Galaxy S3 only you can decide if these additions will make it worth your while to upgrade to the Galaxy S4. If you were considering purchasing the Galaxy S3 though, then it seems to us that it would be a good idea to wait a little longer to see exactly what the Galaxy S4 will offer when it is announced. Remember specs for the S4 that we have given here are so far unofficial. Ultimately the Galaxy S3 vs. Galaxy S4 really does seem to be a question of timing but if you’ve waited this long before deciding to purchase the Galaxy S3 it would seem wise to wait a little longer for the Galaxy S4 in our opinion.
We’d like to hear your thoughts on this. Were you just about to purchase the Galaxy S3 but didn’t realize the Galaxy S4 may not be too far away? Maybe you’re going to stick with the S3 as there’s no guarantee on when the Galaxy S4 will show up? Perhaps you feel the potential of the Galaxy S4 is too good to consider buying the S3 now? Let us know with your comments.

Galaxy S4 vs Note 3 vs BlackBerry Z10: Event Expectations

There are some hugely significant smartphones coming out this year that are likely to have notable impacts on the market. Two of these are Samsung flagship devices, the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3, major players for the Android platform. Another is the BlackBerry Z10 and the importance of this one cannot be underestimated. It’s the first handset that will be released running the upcoming BlackBerry 10 OS, the success of which is crucial to RIM. Today we’re looking at the Galaxy S4 vs. Note 3 vs. BlackBerry Z10 and event expectations.

Obviously the next Apple iPhone will also have a big impression on the smartphone market and we already gave readers the latest news on that earlier today so we haven’t included it here. Although none of the three phones we’re looking at here have been made official yet, we do have a good idea of what to expect from leaks and rumors, the majority of which usually turn out to be fairly accurate. We’ll give you a brief idea of what to expect for each device as well as what we anticipate as far as launch events are concerned.
Firstly the Samsung Galaxy S4 (S IV) and we’ve posted numerous articles on likely inclusions for this handset. Its success is already assured, being the next in the very popular Galaxy S line and specs-wise it’s likely to include a 1.8GHz Exynos 5 Octa processor 4.99-inch full HD Super AMOLED display with a whopping 440 ppi, 2GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel front-facing camera. Other things mentioned for the Galaxy S4 are a 2600 mAh battery and it’s likely to launch running the Android Jelly Bean OS while wireless charging has also been rumored.
The Galaxy S4 is expected to be released sometime in spring and although many were hoping to see it debuted at MWC in Barcelona next month (February 25 to 28) it’s much more likely to be officially introduced at an exclusive event. We recently heard claims that a Samsung Unpacked event could be taking place in the U.S. on March 22 with a possible release date for the Galaxy S4 around April 15. However, just to confuse the issue we then heard of a purported image of the Galaxy s4 where the handset shows a date of April 22. This could mean nothing but it could also be a clue to an announcement date or a release date so at the moment we can only wait and see.
The Galaxy Note 3 is also drawing a lot of attention as the next in the line of Samsung’s ‘phablet’ handsets. Rumored specs so far include the new Exynos 5 Octa processor, as with the Galaxy S4, an increase in screen size to a massive 6.3-inches and possible flexible display. As the Galaxy Note 3 is likely to launch in the later part of the year it also looks likely that it will be running Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie.
Again, some were hopeful of seeing the Galaxy Note 3 at MWC in Barcelona next month but as this device isn’t expected to release until later in the year it seems more likely that it will be made official at IFA in Berlin, which runs between September 6 and 11. The initial Galaxy Note 2 model released in September last year and so this event would tie in nicely with a yearly release cycle, with the phone possibly hitting the shelves very shortly after an announcement.
Now on to the BlackBerry Z10 and this is something we’re pretty excited about. This is the first smartphone that will launch running BlackBerry 10, the completely overhauled BlackBerry operating system. We’ve been detailing the importance of BB10 and the devices that will run it for some time as RIM really needs a big success to revive its fortunes. The Z10 is likely to have a 1.5GHz TI OMAP dual-core or Snapdragon MSM8960 processor, 4.2-inch display with resolution of 1280 x 768 and 356ppi, 2GB of RAM and 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD. Other leaked specs include an 8-megapixel rear camera with 1080p video capture and 2-megapixel front-facing camera and also a 1800 mAh removable battery, LTE connectivity and NFC.
For the BlackBerry Z10 we already know when the big event to reveal it will be as it’s only two days away. On January 30 RIM is holding a media event in New York to introduce the new BlackBerry 10 operating system and some of the first devices so the Z10 should become official and we’ll know all the confirmed details. We’ve heard of a rumored release date for the BlackBerry Z10 in February or March but hopefully this will also be confirmed at the event.
Remember that the specs for all three devices we’ve looked at are not confirmed yet and based on widely reported leaks or rumors. Nevertheless we would expect many to turn out to be accurate and it will at least give you some awareness of what to expect. We’d like to hear from you about your thoughts on these three smartphones? Is there one of the three that you’re looking forward to hearing about most? Are you drawn to Samsung’s Android offerings or open to what the new BB10 OS and BlackBerry Z10 may bring? Send your comments to let us know.

Micromax A116 Canvas HD vs Karbonn S1 Titanium: Indian Showdown

There are two new smartphones that were announced recently that we believe can take on each other in a fair specs game, we will discuss a little about each device and then leave it up to you what you would prefer. This is the Karbonn S1 Titanium vs Micromax A116 Canvas HD. Those of you that reside in India, what will you be choosing?

We believe the Karbonn Karbonn S1 Titanium is ready to go up against the Micromax A116 Canvas HD, when it comes to the specifications there is not a lot in it. Both smartphones run Android Jelly Bean 4.1 and powered by Quad-core 1.2 GHz, they also have 1 GB RAM, so far the same on both devices.
When it comes to the camera side of things the Karbonn S1 Titanium boasts a 4.5-inch display at 960 x 540 pixels resolution and the A116 Canvas HD has a larger 5-inch capacitive touchscreen with 1280 x 720 pixels (HD) resolution so in the sense of the camera the Canvas has this in the bag.
When we look at the memory both smartphones have 4 GB in-built memory as well as a microSD slot for external memory up to 32GB. There is a 2100 mAh battery on the A116 and a 1600 mAh battery on the S1 Titanium.
Karbonn S1 Titanium Key Specs Include: 4.5 -inch qHD (960×540) multi-touch capacitive touch display, 1.2 GHz quad-core processor, Expandable memory up to 32GB via microSD with 4GB built in, 5-megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash, VGA front camera, Android 4.1, Dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) with dual standby, 1,600 mAh battery, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, 3G, and Bluetooth with A2DP, EDGE, GPRS, GPS.
Micromax A116 Canvas HD Key Specs Include: 5-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD IPS display, 1GB RAM, 1.2 GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6589 processor, 8-megapixel rear camera, VGA front camera, 4GB internal memory, expandable up to 32GB, Android 4.1 and a 2100 mAh battery.
Phones Review Say’s: The Micromax A116 Canvas HD in our minds beats the Karbonn S1 Titanium by a fraction when it comes to specs, it is a matter of what brand you prefer.

Nexus 4 heated hype with T-Mobile & Google Play

It seems the LG Nexus 4 hype continues and this has started heated discussions from around the world, is this smartphone really the one worth waiting for? Personally there are many other smartphones out there that are just as good if not better, but we will converse a few things that our readers have hit on and what they think about the Nexus 4 and all the excitement.

On Saturday 28th we reported some appealing news about the Nexus 4 and further disappointment for US with a little twist to boot, it seems that this handset is very hard to own. Many consumers would rather buy the Nexus 4 via Google Play and that is understandable because they was selling outright for only £239 ($376) for the 8GB model, we say “Was’ because they are still out of stock. The news we provided Saturday was mainly about T-Mobile US having the handset in stock and then they were out of stock, but it seems on the T-Mobile website they are back in stock again.
The downside to buying elsewhere rather than Google Play is the money difference, with Google Play you can buy the Nexus 4 outright, buy direct from the likes of T-Mobile and you will have to go the contract route, which is not cheap at all. We can see over on T-Mobile that the cheapest option is the ‘Classic 500 Minute / Talk’ and this will set you back $39.99 per month, add that up over one year is a staggering $479.88 but times that by two because they are on a 2 year agreement and you will pay $959.76, ouch is what we say here, it makes sense to wait for Google Play to get more stock in.
Now we move onto the Nexus 4 hype train, what is all the hype about? We have had many comments fly in over the last few months and we really want to share them on a wider scale so that you can answer them right here, instead of looking at our multiple articles that we have published.
One reader mentioned – “What is all this hype about?” The reader said that they purchased the Nexus 4 after owning the Galaxy Nexus, and said it is a great handset that is faster as well as having a better camera, but it is not exactly and God send. They also mentioned that the Nexus 4 is not like going from the Motorola’s RAZR to the Original iPhone, what do you think about this statement from one of our readers?
Another reader said that if the Nexus 4 is in popular demand, both LG and Google should ramp up production, if they did this they might have an iPhone killer on their hands. When they say iPhone killer they mean one smartphone against another, not the iPhone against all Android phones. Another interesting comment we read was a reader quoting “It’s all about value. Nexus 4 has nearly the same specs as the Galaxy S3, yet costs half as much.”
It does not matter to the buyer who is to blame being it Google or LG, what matters is the Nexus 4 is one of the most sought after handsets on the market and both firms need to capitalise on this and get more stock in. It is a very stupid saga that could damage both Google’s and LG’s credibility.
We here at Phones Review would love to know if you are now considering forgetting the LG Nexus 4 and thinking about purchasing a different phone altogether, if you have anything to say about the Nexus 4 please do share with us. How long will the Nexus 4 hype continue?