The show-stopping debut for the release of the Blackberry Z10 last week has brought Blackberry back into the forefront of the smart phone market with a bang, and reminded us of why we once loved our Blackberries.

It has never been more important for Blackberry to get a new release exactly right in order to climb up the technology ramps again, due to the loss in sales over that past couple of years. The new mobile will soon become available worldwide as deals are worked out with providers. To grab one of these beauties for yourself, keep an eye out for Virgin Mobile phone deals here.

The Blackberry Z10 has now been successfully released to the grateful applause of those true fans, but the question is, what do we think?

What do we think?

User Operating Systems and Software

Blackberry is in a fantastic position within the market as unlike most, they have their own operating systems and software. This is only matched by Apple who also have their own systems and software.

The beauty of owning a Blackberry is that you can be assured that the company is keeping an eye on how their software is working at all times, which can only lead to a great level of customer service if there are ever issues.

Phone Interface

The design of the Z10 has made a significant leap from the traditional Blackberry look: it is bigger, it has less curves and it is thinner, matching its rivals from Samsung and Apple.

The screen size has been amplified to 4.2″, but they have definitely designed this phone as a competitive consumer smartphone, moving behind on their usual trend to design classic phones for business.

The Z10 has no home button and the interface design is very different to any other available at the moment. There is in fact no home screen, so what you view on your phone is recently used apps or favourites that you assign yourself. This has caused some confusion in an age where we are used to being able to use technology straight out of the box.

However, once you get your head around this new way of using a phone it is a very neat design. To exit a page or return to menus you simply have to make a set of specific gestures. The fact that it is solely controlled by our gestures makes this a much more intimate phone than simply just being the latest device.

The Hub

The key to using this handset to the best of its capabilities is to get your head around the Blackberry HUB.

This is what replaces the home screen and is the place that all your details, calendars, emails and apps are stored. It is very intuitive and will tell you which are your most used items, helping you get the most out of your phone. Whatever you are doing on the phone, the hub is always there in the background, meaning that you have quick and easy access to all the parts that you may need.

To access the hub you simply slide upwards on the screen and it will appear, swipe down to go back to whatever you were doing – simple and easy to navigate!

The main difference between The Hub on Blackberry and Apples phones, is that you don’t have to close down the programme you are using to take a peek at the rest of your phone, once you swipe off the HUB you will be straight back to where you were!

Jennifer Cole is a tech journalist by day and an avid gamer by night. With a BA in English Literature and five years of experience, she is in constant search of the latest news and reviews.

Technorati: BlackBerry, BlackBerry 10, BlackBerry Z10

Release of the Blackberry Z10 – the one we’ve been waiting for

Jailbreak tool evasi0n for iOS 6.x has finally been released. While the iOS 6 jailbreak have been available for pre-A5 Apple device users via Redsn0w, evasi0n is the first jailbreak tool to support the latest devices.

Evasi0n performs an untethered jailbreak, which means that users do not have to tether the device to a computer whenever they need to restart, and compatible with the iPhone, iPad, iPad mini, and iPod touch running iOS 6 or iOS 6.1 operation system.

The evasi0n tool was put together by a team of iOS hackers calling themselves Evad3rs. While the name isn’t very familiar for many, the names of its four members might: @pimskeks, @planetbeing, @pod2g, and @MuscleNerd.

First sighting of the jailbroken iPhone 5 was spotted just hours after the release back in September. While this proved that jailbreaking the latest Apple devices was certainly possible, evidently the exploit was so good that the team decided to hold onto it for future use. They went ahead to search for another exploit and when they did find one, pending the imminent release of the iOS 6.1, the team decided to wait until Apple released its latest update.

Apple released the iOS 6.1 on January 28 and the Evad3rs promised to deliver the jailbreak within a week. Exactly 7 days after the announcement the team delivered Evasi0n, an untethered jailbreak tool available for the latest Apple devices including the iPhone 5, fourth-generation iPad, and the iPad mini.

You could download the evasi0n jailbreak tool here for free (users can support the team financially by donating via Paypal from their site), and it works on Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Applying the jailbreak is simple. In a nutshell, make sure that you backed up your iPhone/iPad/iPad mini/iPod Touch and run the evasi0n tool. Check out a more detailed set of instructions on Cult of Mac as well as their list of awesome iOS 6-compatible jailbreak tweaks in Cydia.

Technorati: Apple, Evasi0n, Featured, iOS, iOS 6, iPad, iPad 4, iPad mini, iPhone, iPhone 5, iPod Touch, Jailbreak

Evasi0n, the first untethered iOS 6 jailbreak arrives for iPhone 5, iPad Mini and more.

App Store developers rejoice! Apple recently launched a neat perk for its developers – a short “AppStore.com” vanity URL available for use for both iOS and Mac apps.

AppStore.com URL made its first grand appearance last night, during the Super Bowl ad spot for Paramount’s upcoming “Star Trek: Into Darkness” film. The commercial finished with a quick promotion to its iOS app, http://AppStore.com/StarTrekApp, sporting the brand new AppStore.com URL.

AppStore.com itself takes the users directly to the iTunes site, and developers are able to add whatever comes after AppStore.com. Apple updated its Apple Developer documentation on January 31 to reflect the changes, along with the following introduction:

You can also create easy-to-read links to your app using App Store Short Links, which use the AppStore.com base URL plus a specific form of your app or company name. This provides a simple way for users to find your apps on the App Store directly from your website or marketing campaigns. These short links are ideal for use in offline communications materials like print ads, TV spots, app trailers, radio ads and billboards.

Developers can now secure the vanity URL for their iOS and Mac apps when submitting, and further, they’re able to point the URL to their company’s webpage as well.

CNET notes that the AppStore.com domain was a personal gift to late Steve Jobs from Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff back in 2008.

via TechCrunch

Technorati: Apple, AppStore

Apple quietly introduces AppStore.com short URL for developers during a Star Trek Super Bowl ad

Twine, the sensor block that raised $556,541 by 3,966 backers on Kickstarter last year, received a sweet update today.

Dubbed Twine 1.2, the update includes the following:

1. Vibration sensor functionality

2. Several small reductions in power consumptions

3. Celsius temperature readings

4. UI improvements, including Wi-Fi signal and battery lift bars and an improved fast mode switch.

*Users could update to Twine 1.2 simply by re-saving the existing rules on your Twine from the Dashboard.

Most notable change to this update is the vibration detection capability of our green sensor block. The dashboard now includes an indicator showing how many milli-gs (g = gravity) the Twine is experiencing. The indicator is updated every 45 seconds in normal mode and every 5 seconds in fast mode. Users will be able to set a vibration threshold to set rules for alerts.

Twine allows ample space for creativity. Twine folks have demonstrated how they would use the vibration sensors to work in their laundry alert demo and others use it to get alerts when their garage door’s left open.

How do you use your Twine? Join other fellow Twine users on their Community forums or leave a comment below!

via Twine

Technorati: Kickstarter, Sensor, Twine

Twine updated to 1.2, includes vibration sensors and UI improvements

Today, Apple released the iOS 6.1 update for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. After months of testing, the update is currently available for over-the-air download via Software Update on Apple’s iOS devices.

The 6.1 update includes several bug fixes as well as new features. Most prominently, the update brings LTE compatibility to 36 new iPhone carriers and 23 new iPad carriers worldwide, allowing users with compatible devices such as the iPhone 5, 4th generation iPad, and iPad Mini to take advantage of the faster LTE wireless speeds.

In addition to the LTE improvements, iOS 6.1 update includes Siri-enabled movie ticket purchases via Fandango and support for individual songs downloads from iCloud for iTunes Match subscribers.

The update also adds a new button that lets you reset the Advertising Identifier ( Settings > General > About > Advertising ). Apple explains as follows:

iOS 6 introduces the Advertising Identifier, a non-permanent, non-personal, device identifier, that apps will use to give you more control over advertisers’ ability to use tracking methods. You can reset a device’s Advertising Identifier at any time. And, if you choose to limit ad tracking, apps are not permitted to use the Advertising Identifier to serve you targeted ads. In the future all apps will be required to use the Advertising Identifier. However, until then you may still receive targeted ads.

In addition to the bug fixes and new features, iOS 6.1 packs a variety of security updates for the WebKit, Wi-Fi, as well as other services.

via Apple, AllThingsD

Technorati: Apple, iOS, iOS 6.1, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, iTunes, LTE, Siri, Wi-Fi

Apple releases iOS 6.1 update, bringing new LTE carriers, Siri, iTunes Match features.

RIM will be launching its new OS, BlackBerry 10 along with the BlackBerry Z10 and X10 handsets during its multi-city event on January 30, 2013.

Today, folks over at BGR released a set of 100 photos of the new BlackBerry 10 OS platform. The images detail every screen, every option menu, along with notable features like RIM’s voice recognition assistant, BlackBerry Hub, and BlackBerry’s new NFC features.

From the screenshots, the BlackBerry 10 appears to work similar to an Android – perhaps a hybrid between the older BlackBerry OS and Android could be a way of looking at it. Gestures are expected to take a prominent role in how the device operates; however without a video demonstration, it’s difficult to say how great the user experience would be.

RIM has already announced carrier partnerships including all 4 major US carriers for the launch. According to BGR’s sources, pricing for the new Z10 and X10 will be set lower than the usual $199 on-contract prices, putting itself in a strategic price point below the more popular Android and iPhone handsets.

via BGR

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• RIM to introduce both BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry X10 next week; contract price will be below $199

Technorati: BlackBerry, Research In Motion, RIM

Latest screenshot leak of the BlackBerry 10 OS show off Siri-like voice assistant, NFC, and more

Samsung will be launching a new variant of the Samsung Galaxy S3 mini by the end of January. Dubbed GT-I8190N, the ‘new’ mini will come with NFC capabilities along with Samsung’s new file transfer feature, S-Beam.

Standard OEM Android smartphones have been using Google’s Android Beam method to transfer files using NFC + Bluetooth; however Samsung’s S-Beam utilizes a NFC + WiFi Direct protocol that reportedly allows for insanely fast transfer speeds between devices. Samsung boasts that S-Beam can transfer a 10MB music file in 2 seconds, as an example.

Apart from the NFC upgrade, the new variant should remain the same – 4″ SuperAMOLED display ( 480 x 800 resolution ), Dual-Core 1GHz CPU with 1GB RAM, 5 MP camera with 720p HD video, front-facing camera, and Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.

via SamMobile

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Technorati: NFC, S-Beam, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy, Samsung Galaxy S III

Samsung Galaxy S III Mini to receive NFC & S-Beam updates this month

Korea’s ETNews reports that Samsung is planning to introduce the Samsung Galaxy S IV equipped with an S Pen in 2013.

Display

Samsung Mobile has reportedly revamped its operations for an April 2013 launch for the Galaxy S IV. The next generation Galaxy S model is reported to be equipped with a 5-inch AMOLED display with a Full HD 1080×1920, 441ppi resolution, which is much higher than that of iPhone 5′s retina display of 326ppi resolution.

New Sensors – IR LED Proximity Sensors

The Galaxy S IV will also come equipped with an IR LED proximity sensor, possibly to enable a direction-enabled motion detection feature. The IR LED sensors are twice as fast as conventional camera sensors currently equipped in most smartphones. Sources say that Maxim Integrated will be supplying the chips for the sensors.

Hardware and Operating System

Galaxy S IV will come with Android Jelly Bean, powered by ARM-based Quad-core Exynos 5440 big.LITTLE architecture equipped with 2 quad-core CPUs (a 1.8GHz ARM Cortex-A15 for high performance processes and a 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A7 for power-saving processes).

Camera and Thickness

Galaxy S4 will equip a 13-megapixels rear camera and a 2-megapixels Full HD front camera. Due to the 13-megapixels camera modules, the S IV will be slightly thicker than its predecessor, Galaxy S3, at 9.2mm.

via ETNews

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Technorati: Featured, Galaxy S4, Rumors, Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S4 aimed for April ’13 launch, to come with S Pen, 441ppi, and 9.2mm thick

Cycloramic is a $0.99 app for the iPhone 5 that takes a 360-degree video by using its vibration and sensors to rotate itself. Cool, isn’t it? It’s been stirring up some attention since its launch earlier this month – even Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak took a video of it in action:

Gathered around a dinner table, in a bar, in a club, at home, at a conference table, or at a historical monument? Cycloramic allows you to capture the moment (handsfree) in a unique and fun way whilst making you and your phone the talk of the event

Using the app is quite simple. Place your iPhone 5 upright on a smooth flat surface, and press the middle of the screen. The app counts down from three and starts spinning.

There are, however, a couple things to note before you head over to the App Store:

1. Cycloramic currently only supports the iPhone 5. You could open/install the app on other iOS devices; however the settings are specific for the iPhone 5 so chances are, it won’t work on your iPod Touch.

2. No panorama pic! Some of the reviews hint that users mistakenly purchased the app hoping that it would take panorama pictures – it won’t. Cycloramic is an app that takes 360-degree videos, not photos. Don’t hold your breath on panorama pic feature as well. Due to its vibration-motor-based mechanism, you probably won’t get a clear panorama pic anyway.

That said, Cycloramic is one of those rare apps that strikes originality and creativity. For just $0.99, I think it’s certainly worth a spin (pun intended ).

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• What? iPhone 5 automatically rotates using Cycloramic App.

Technorati: App Store, Apple, Cycloramic, iOS, iPhone, iPhone 5

Cycloramic app spins the iPhone around itself to take a panorama video

BBM Video appears to be on its way very soon, according to several leaked slides on the CrackBerry forums. The intro screenshot appear to have been removed by request; however a post on CrackBerry shows that BBM Video will allow users to “chat with a colleague or customer then transition to a video call for improved collaboration and share a presentation or spreadsheet instantly to help get the message across more clearly – all at the push of a button.”

The feature should mimic the likes of Skype and FaceTime, adding video to RIM’s successful BBM Voice that was recently launched.

Screenshot of the removed image show the video covering the entire screen with your image placed in a small window to the bottom left. The combination of BBM’s messaging features, Voice, and now Video, RIM appears to be focusing on a conference-capable service that’s completely portable for its users.

RIM will be unveiling the BlackBerry 10 for global launch on January 30, 2013.

via CrackBerry, MobileSyrup

Image Credit: Slackgear, TheNextWeb

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Technorati: BBM, Research In Motion, RIM, Rumors

Leaked images show BBM Video for BlackBerry 10, to compete with Skype, FaceTime, and Google Talk

Following Tim Cook’s announcement in early December that Apple plans to produce one of its Mac computers exclusively in the U.S., Digitimes now reports that the lineup would be the Mac Mini and not the Mac Pro as previously speculated.

According to the hit-and-miss publication, Foxconn Electronics will be responsible for manufacturing the Mac Mini units in its operating bases in the U.S.

Currently, Foxconn has about 15 operating bases in the US and the company reportedly plans to start recruiting workers in 2013 for new automated production lines.

Digitimes also added that Mac Mini shipments will reach 1.8 million units in 2013, up 30% from 2012.

via 9to5Mac, Digitimes

Image credit: Flickr @meewosh

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• Apple to produce line of Macs in the US next year

Technorati: Apple, Apple Mac Mini, Mac Mini, Mac Pro

Mac Mini speculated to be manufactured in the U.S. in 2013

AT&T announced that it will roll out an update for the Samsung Galaxy Note II to enable multi-window support. Multi-window is a split-screen feature that allows users to view two apps at once.

The update will be offered over the air on December 27, which means that users will not need to hook up their phabulet to the Samsung’s proprietary Kies desktop software. AT&T may be rolling out the updates in phases so don’t be concerned if you don’t see an update notification right away.

Multi-window support is a nifty feature that was introduced with the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update for the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3. The feature splits the Note II’s screen in half, allowing users to assign an app to each half of the screen.

via TechnoBuffalo, Engadget

Image: TheAndroidCop

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• AT&T’s version of the Samsung GALAXY Note II to get Multi-Window update on Thursday

Technorati: Android, AT&T, phabulet, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy Note II

AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note II to receive Multi-Window update on Thursday

Twitter user @waxpancake posted an interested Tweet this Christmas “First tweet from my new iPad/Surface/Kindle/Nexus!”.

As shown above, over the span of 24 hours on Christmas Eve 2012, a search of “First tweet from [tablet]” resulted with the Apple iPad on top, followed by the Amazon Kindle, Google Nexus, and Microsoft Surface tablet.

While the number of Tweets does not necessary represent the actual market figures, it seems pretty safe to say that the iPad is the popular tablet amongst others.

The previous estimated figures for the iPad sold in Q4 2012 was 24-26 million, Kindle Fire at around 6 million units, Google Nexus 7 around 2-3 million, and Microsoft Surface coming in at under 1 million.

via Twitter

Sources: Tech-Thoughts, BGR, DroidDog

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Technorati: Amazon, Amazon Kindle, Apple, Christmas, Google, iPad, Microsoft, Microsoft Surface, Nexus, Surface, Tablet computer

“First Tweets from…” for tablets puts iPad as most popular for XMas

Apple’s iOS app switcher has been around since iOS 4 and hasn’t really changed much. It does everything that it’s meant to; however leaves much to be desired from its simple form.

@Sentry_NC, an interface designer, and two app developers teamed to bring Auxo – a brand new take on the iOS app switcher.

Auxo utilizes intuitive touch gestures to display and control multitasking apps among other unique features. For example, double tapping the Home button displays a preview of the specific apps and swiping down on an app closes it. Swiping left reveals a brand new music control function that allows a preview of the cover art and volume/music controls. Auxo also has controls for adjusting brightness and turning Wi-Fi on and off.

Auxo is currently available on Cydia; however it’s important to note that it is currently only compatible with iOS 6 and only for the iPhone and iPod Touch. iPad support may be coming later. If you’re still on iOS 5, an updated is expected to be released next week along with support for older devices.

Jailbreak is currently available for A4 devices running iOS 6, on a tethered Redsn0w jailbreak, so it appears like many of us will be waiting a while longer.

If you’re one of the lucky folks with a compatible phone, you could grab Auxo right now for $1.99 from the BigBoss repo on Cydia.

via TechnoBuffalo, iDownloadBlog

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Technorati: Apple, Cydia, iOS, iPhone, Jailbreak

Auxo, a brand new take on iPhone’s App Switcher – Revolutionary!

When Apple released its 4th generation iPad in October, there were speculations as to whether Apple would be sticking with a sub-1-year upgrade cycle with their flagship tablet device with a prediction of a 5th generation iPad due in Spring 2013.

According to Macotakara, a Japanese blog that has a hit-and-miss record of supply chain leaks, the next iPad will be thinner and lighter with a launch dated slated for March 2013.

The 9.7-inch tablet is expected to be 4 mm shorter, 2 mm thinner, and 17 mm narrower – simply put, you could expect it to look similar to the iPad mini, except slightly larger.

The report adds that Apple have accelerated its cycle in response to its competitors such as the Google Nexus 7 and Microsoft Surface.

via 9to5Mac

Image credit: GDeluxe

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Technorati: Apple, Featured, iPad, News, Rumors

Rumor: New thinner, lighter iPad 5 slated for March 2013 release