Government consultancy of 25,000 workers leaves BlackBerry for iPhone and Android

Research in Motion has been in free fall in the last couple of months, and that slump is simply not slowing down. Now, Government consultancy Booz Allen Hamilton, with staff of around 25,000 employees is ditching BlackBerry for Android and iPhone in what is another huge blow to RIM.

Booz Allen has already started giving out new Android devices and iPhones to its staff, and those who still own BlackBerries soon won’t be able to access their corporate mailbox.

A RIM spokesperson however stressed that the company still has over 1 million customers in the US Government, one of its last strongholds. That is swiftly changing, though, and if BlackBerry 10 disappoints or doesn’t come soon enough, the Canadians might well losing customers even more rapidly.

source: Bloomberg via BGR

Samsung Nexus tablet slated for introduction on October 29th along with other surprises

It looks like Google has another product announcement that it will make at its October 29th media event. Besides the LG Nexus 4 smartphone, there is now speculation that the rumored 10 inch Samsung Nexus tablet will also be announced during the event. Earlier this month, it appeared as though we wouldn't be seeing this device until the first half of 2013, but that now seems like misinformation designed to throw us off the trail.

The four faces of the LG Nexus 4

The Samsung Nexus tablet is expected to have a 10 inch screen with resolution of 2560 x 1600 which leaves it with a higher pixel density at 300ppi than the 264ppi belonging to the third-generation iPad. It will be powered by the Android 4.2 OS that is also expected to be part of the event. As far as a name is concerned, the source for The Next Web could not confirm if the tablet will be called the Nexus 10. Inside the Korean manufacturer, the tablet is known as "Manta".

What other surprises does Google have for us on October 29th? We do expect to see the 32GB Google Nexus 7 tablet that already has been sold at one Staples store, although there is talk that a version of the 32GB model will be made available with HSPA+ connectivity, which is something that fans of the tablet have wanted to see. After all, you can't rely on Wi-Fi everywhere you go.

Invitation to the October 29th Google event

The source also has the final specs for the LG Nexus 4, which includes the 4.7 inch 768 x 1280 display, the quad-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, 8MP rear facing camera and a 1.3MP front facing camera. A 2100mAh battery is keeping the lights on and Android 4.2 will be installed.

Android 4.2 will introduce ‘Content in the center,’ which is a way for users to access Google Play Store via a widget. Tablet Sharing’ will let multiple users access a tablet each with their own email and app settings. Competing with iOS 6, the new OS build will include an update to the panoramic camera settings which will now support both horizontal and vertical movement as the default setting.

source: TheNextWeb via SammyHub

Is your Verizon iPhone 5 displaying time and date incorrectly?

Oh boy, here we go again! Apparently, the iPhone 5 has troubles telling what time and date it is, and those who suffered from the infamous alarm clock bug in iOS might be getting a feeling of déjà vu right now. There is a 21 page long thread on Apple Discussions about a glitch affecting some iPhone 5 owners, predominantly Verizon users. And according to those users, the date and time in iOS are being displayed incorrectly – off by days behind or ahead in some cases, when the smartphone is set to adjust those settings automatically.

The first report of the problem was posted on September 24, which is actually the day Apple released the iPhone 5. Since then, the list of people who have noticed the glitch has been growing steadily. Surprisingly, only the iPhone 5 seems to be affected, judging by what people have been sharing on the forum thread. Users of older iPhone models, including those who have upgraded to iOS 6, have not reported any time or date issues yet.

What has been causing the iPhone 5 to report date and time incorrectly is not yet clear, although some speculate it might have something to do with Verizon's network. In particular, the CDMA towers receive the current time and date data via GPS so that the network can stay in sync. That data is than sent to the devices connected to the network. However, something might be causing the iPhone 5 to misinterpret the data being sent, or the towers themselves are somehow sending incorrect data. But that's just a theory.

Whatever the case may be, we'll be keeping an eye on the situation. In the mean time, if you own an iPhone 5, let us know whether it has been reporting the date and time correctly.

source: Apple Discussions via Apple Insider

Facebook has 1 billion active users, 60% used mobile

Facebook is a beast of a site, and we all knew this moment was coming. Facebook has finally hit 1 billion "active users" on the site. That means that according to Facebook statistics, that means that 1 out of every 7 people on the planet use the site each month. Even more impressive is that over half of those users are on mobile.

According to the new stats released by Facebook, the breakdown of users hasn't changed too much recently, despite breaking the 1 billion active monthly user mark. 81% of active users are still located outside of the U.S. & Canada, and the site still sees the same number of active daily users at 552 million. 

The big news from our perspective wasn't the 1 billion mark, but that 60% of those users accessed Facebook through a mobile product. That's 600 million active monthly users on mobile. Given a number like that, it makes plenty of sense that Zuck had said a couple days ago that Facebook sees more users accessing the mobile website than through the iOS and Android apps combined. 

Sure, we don't exactly know how many of the 1 billion active monthly users are spam accounts, some estimates put the number at around 40%, but it's still an impressive feat for the social network. 

source: Facebook & The Today Show via The Next Web

iPad Mini's design to outshine the new iPad, claims analyst

We've already reported tens, if not hundreds of rumors about the iPad mini, and we can safely say that we'll be continuing to do so until Apple finally makes the thing official. Until then, here's a new one!

According to Tokepa analyst Brian White, Apple is putting quite a lot of effort into the design of the iPad Mini, potentially outdoing its achievements in the new iPad. Now, there's a reason to believe White, as he's been traveling around Taipei, talking to various component makers, trying to squeeze every single bit of information possible. Well, he hasn't been able to collect much info, but there are still some interesting details that make the iPad Mini sound like a very promising device:

Apple did not skimp on the aesthetics of the much anticipated iPad Mini. In fact, we believe the ‘iPad Mini’ could outshine the new iPad in terms of how the device feels in a consumer’s hands. - Tokepa analyst Brian White

According to AllThingsD, White's sources have a decent track record, so this might as well turn out true. There's one other bit, though - it seems like the new, probably even more "magical" iPad will be quite difficult to produce, which may translate into some very limited stock during the first weeks, maybe even months of the device.

source: AllThingsD

Apple iPhone 5 Review REVIEW INDEX Posted: 22 Sep 2012, 17:25 , by John V.

Introduction:

They come hard, they come strong! That’s simply the reality of things nowadays for Apple, as competition from all corners has seemingly caught up with the iPhone 4S, and in some cases, surpassed it even. Not only are these competing devices boasting larger displays, faster processors, and higher capacity storage on paper than what the iPhone 4S had to provide, Apple’s pride and joy still somehow managed to stiffen the competition with its imposing mindshare. Last year, when Apple unveiled the iPhone 4S, many were wondering if the renowned company has lost its magical touch – maybe from all the years of being complacent with its past laurels and successes.

Perhaps, that kind of attitude was the requisite inspiration that spurred its rivals to fight back with a vengeance. And boy did they come with arms up and fists slamming, since for the very first time ever, the iPhone’s impenetrable façade exhibited subtle signs of fragility – a miniscule crack that blossomed into a gash, which shook its foundations tremendously. Whatever it was, there was no denying that innovation was now being seen by competitive devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S III, HTC One X, and Nokia Lumia 900 to name a few, which rose to prominence and established their presence in the landscape.

Despite the underwhelming response by critics alike, the iPhone 4S still managed to sell healthily, but under the surface, it still didn’t have enough substance to satiate the demands of hungry consumers looking for the most cutting-edge thing. Regardless of that, Apple managed to address some of the previous concerns, as the iPhone 5 is positioned to be the best iPhone since, well, the iPhone itself.

Interestingly enough this time around, it seems as though Apple is the one that’s actually catching up to the competition, since they’ve finally brought a bigger screen and speedy 4G LTE connectivity to the iPhone 5 – while continuing to improve with a retooled camera lens and new chipset. Add in that it’s flaunting a new design, though still iconic at heart, it would seem that the highly anticipated iPhone 5 is finally that cutting-edge device we drool over in our dreams. Of course, there’s the matter regarding its performance and software experience, which sees the normal tweaks here and there. Surely though, there’s no denying the anticipation riding on the back of this one – so with that, let’s dive in and see if it can continue the legacy.

The package contains:

• Lightning USB cable
• Wall Charger
• Earpods with Remote and Mic
• Quick Start Guide
• Apple Decals

Design:

After seeing a stream of leaks showing off the design of the iPhone 5 from the front, we have to admit that we were somewhat initially disappointed, mainly because they showed that the iPhone 5 would merely look like a stretched out iPhone 4/4S. To our shock, that’s exactly how it turned out! But as we now reflect and gaze over its intricate design and attention to detail, we’re actually quite fond of it – as in thoroughly impressed! For the most part, the iPhone 5 maintains the familiar styling of previous iPhones, which in turn, gives it that distinguishable iconic look. Simply, it oozes in every aspect with a genuine love for design that’s unmatched by any other smartphone maker.

Indeed, the handset’s length has been extended to 4.87-inches in contrast to the 4.54-inch length of its predecessor, but we’re comforted to find that its width has been maintained at 2.31-inches. Essentially, the added space enables the device to accommodate a larger 4-inch screen, without compromising on its comfortable grip in the hand. Furthermore, it’s both skinnier (0.3” thin) and lighter (3.95 oz) than its predecessor, which is a welcomed sight for the natural design progression of today’s smartphones.

The Apple iPhone 5’s length has been extended to 4.87-inches in contrast to the 4.54-inch length of its predecessor

Cementing its status as being regarded as one of the most elegant devices on the market, the iPhone 5 looks and feels like a high luxury item that’s instantly recognizable anywhere you take it. Gone is the glass surface in the rear used by the last two iPhones, and instead, it’s been replaced by a brushed aluminum casing that further ensures its rock solid construction – while the same metallic bezel wraps around the entire thing to keep it soundly intact. However, if there’s one qualm we have with the design of the iPhone 5, it has to be the sharp feel of the metallic bezel’s diamond cut chamfered edge. Overall, it’s still an instantly recognizable iPhone at heart, but the new backing combined with its more streamlined figure makes the redesign endearing enough for us to fall in love all over again.

You can compare the Apple iPhone 5 with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.

Being a staple with the iPhone’s design throughout the years, the slightly recessed, yet springy home button is once again positioned in its familiar slot right below the display. Needless to say, we can’t complain about it, since it’s easily pressed and all. On the opposite edge, we’re greeted to its narrow looking earpiece, light sensor, proximity sensor, and front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera, which so happens to now capture video in 720p.

	The home button	1.3MP camera

Just like its predecessor, both its separated volume controls and mute switch are placed on the left side of the handset’s bezel. Thankfully, the rounded volume buttons are distinctive enough to feel out – while still exhibiting a comforting clicky response when pressed. Although the right edge of the handset appears to be clean, it’s where we find the discrete nano-SIM slot, which is again accessed by inserting the SIM removal tool or a clip into the pinhole.

The left side	Volume controls one the left	The right edge

Interestingly enough, the top edge is home to only the raised and sufficiently sized power button, while the3.5mm headset jack has been moved towards the bottom where it’s nearby the speaker, microphone, and Apple’s new proprietary Lightning dock port. With the latter, it’s one of the biggest changes seen on the iPhone 5, since for many years now, Apple’s 30-pin port has been a familiar figure. No doubt, there are going to be some inconvenienced by this, especially when many accessories have been fitted to use the 30-pin port, but nevertheless, an optional adapter can be purchased to make them compatible with Apple’s newest toy. In the end, the Lightning jack merely enables Apple to reduce the iPhone 5’s overall size, since you know, it’s now occupying a small amount of real estate.

Top side	Bottom

And finally, the rear of the iPhone 5 is home to the updated 8-megapixel iSight camera with LED flash and noise-cancellation microphone. Even though the megapixel count is the same as its predecessor, it’s been blessed with an improved backside-illuminated sensor and retooled lens, which are safely guarded by a durable sapphire crystal glass. We know you’re dying to know how it fares, but we’ll get into those details a bit later on.

The rear of the iPhone 5 is home to the updated 8-megapixel iSight camera with LED flash

Display:

Finally! Some will applaud, some will cry, but whatever you feel, the iPhone is now on the bandwagon of believing that bigger is better. Simply without saying, the iPhone 5 sheds the consistent 3.5-inch display of yesterday’s iPhones, and instead, and replaces it with a more modestly sized 4-inch Retina Display. Indeed, it’s now better equipped to tangle with some of the smartphones out there with ginormous displays on them, but one thing’s absolute – it’s nice that only the length of the handset has been extended. The 640 x 1136 resolution of the iPhone 5’s Retina Display results in a 326 ppi pixel density, same as the previous iPhone – it is detailed enough for our aging eyes to visibly make out fine details in the web browser and everywhere else with little issue.

Viewing the iPhone 5's display from different angles

Being a noteworthy thing to mention as well, the iPhone 5 employs an in-cell touchscreen that merely shaves off a layer, thus, bringing the display closer to the surface. However, it’s almost negligible to the eye because we didn’t notice much of a difference compared to the iPhone 4S Retina Display. Another thing about the display, its color production is noticeably warmer looking than previous efforts – giving it a more vibrant output than before. The colors are now more saturated, but still not too oversaturated as those of most AMOLED displays, which may seem more attractive, but aren't as accurate. Rounding things out, its strong brightness output combined with its superb viewing angles make it relatively easy for outdoor usage with the sun present. Frankly, we appreciate the change in scenery with the larger Retina Display on the iPhone 5, as it’s complemented by an arsenal of great qualities about it, like its detail and superior clarity.

The display's color production is noticeably warmer looking than previous efforts – giving it a more vibrant output than before

Apple iPhone 5

Web Browser comparison: iPhone 5 vs Galaxy S III vs One X vs Lumia 900

No longer a concern for the world’s most popular smartphone, Apple’s always-beloved iPhone has finally been outfitted with 4G LTE connectivity to present itself in the same light as some of its renowned rivals in the landscape. Naturally, the ability to browse the web is arguably one of the most prized features with today’s modern smartphones, as they can now take advantage of speedy LTE networks littered throughout the world. However, if we take cellular connectivity out of the equation, mainly because LTE isn’t prevalent in many markets, we’re pitting some of the best smartphones out now against one another to find out exactly which one provides us with the most balanced experience.

On tap for this web browsing comparison, we’ve got the Apple iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S III, HTC One X, and the Nokia Lumia 900. Broadening the scope as usual, all three major platforms are well represented in this faceoff – giving us a good idea on how they all perform against one another. In addition to the customary benchmark tests, which gives us insights to their technical prowess, there are other factors that we explain that help to refine and complement the true web browsing experience we desperately crave. So without any further ado, let’s dive in and see what these beauties have to offer.

The Contenders:

• Safari (iPhone 5)
• ICS Stock Android Browser (Galaxy S III and One X)
• Internet Explorer (Lumia 900)

Benchmarks:

	BrowserMark	Ringmark (features/tests)
Apple iPhone 5	186,755	55/263
Samsung Galaxy S III	103,091	55/236
HTC One X	96,118	55/236
Nokia Lumia 900	31,862	26/95

Before we dive right into the nitty and gritty, we decided to run a couple of browser benchmark tests to show us on paper how this quartet fares against one another. However, as we should point out before proceeding, it’s worth knowing that these benchmark tests don’t necessarily represent the true performance of these browsers on an everyday, normal basis. First up on the chopping block is Ringmark, which basically checks whether a specific browser supports a variety of basic and advanced protocols/technologies that many apps nowadays rely on – such as HTML 5. Meanwhile, Browsermark works on the same premise, since it measures the performance of things like CSS, HTML5, JavaScript, and WebGL. Although the iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S III, and HTC One X all perform almost similarly to one another with Ringmark, while the Nokia Lumia 900 seems to be left in the dust, it’s Apple’s pride and joy that blows away the competition in the Browsermark benchmark test.

Apple iPhone 5		Samsung Galaxy S III

Page Loads:

	PhoneArena.com	NYTimes.com	NationalGeographic.com	IMDB.com	Average
iPhone 5	17.1s	7,5s	9,9s	5,6s	10,02s
Galaxy S III	30.7s	6,8s	8,1s	5,9s	12,87s
Galaxy S III (no flash)	20.5s	3,8s	2,6s	4,5s	7,85s
One X	1min7s	30,8s	8,9s	7,5s	28,55s
One X      (no flash)	50.2s	4,8s	3,7s	3,8s	15,62s
Lumia 900	53.5s	14,9s	30,8s	19,3s	29,62s

 
Alrighty folks, without question, the first thing we have to check out before anything else, which is also probably the most important item with most people, is none other than page loads. As we all know too well, all four smartphones are 4G LTE capable, but seeing there are many discrepancies that can arise from that, we decided to test out page loads via Wi-Fi connectivity – to make it a bit more fair, since it’s relying on the same connection. One by one, we loaded up our web site and some other highly visited ones as well, to see how they fare against one another.

Amazingly, it seems as though the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S III cough up the fastest speeds, while the Nokia Lumia 900 seems to take a significant amount of time with most of the sites we checked out. Strangely though, the HTC One X took an extraordinary amount of time loading our web site, but didn’t seem too strained by the others. Worth noting in this comparison, we had both Android smartphones enabled for Adobe Flash support, which of course, contributes to longer times than its Flash-less rivals in Safari and Internet Explorer.

HTC One X		Nokia Lumia 900

Navigational Controls:

If there’s one thing we can agree upon with all four devices, we have to say that navigational control is no problem whatsoever with them. In fact, all four smartphones are soundly responsive with their navigation – providing that oh-so lovable amount of movement with things such as kinetic scrolling and pinch zooming. However, considering we have to be a bit more meticulous comparing the four, we find the HTC One X dishing up the least amount of fluidity with its performance. Honestly, it’s not bad at all and almost negligible, but when the other three handsets exhibit buttery smooth executions, the HTC One X’s minor blemish does stand out a bit more.


Rendering on the go:

Showing no pause or delay with its rendering of complex web sites, both the Apple iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S III take a commanding lead in this department, as they’re both adept in rendering on the fly. Whether it’s zooming in/out or merely scrolling to the bottom of a page like a mad man, these two class-leading smartphones are supremely quick in rendering text and various multimedia content. With Internet Explorer on the Nokia Lumia 900, it maintains a very similar performance, but on very few occasions, there is a slight delay before it’s able to render – resulting in a one-second delay in displaying items on-screen. Unfortunately for HTC’s flagship, it clearly has some nagging hitches to its rendering performance, since it’s occasionally delayed. Specifically, it’s most noticeable when pinch zooming with its blinking like actions.


Real Estate & Detail:

In terms of details and clarity, the iPhone 5 undoubtedly has the edge there with its highest pixel density amongst the bunch – while the Nokia Lumia 900’s WVGA resolution softens things up tremendously. And of course, with the two Android smartphones in this comparison, they have the balanced combination of high resolutions and large screen sizes to make them the ideal candidates.


Other Noteworthy Features:

Indeed, a lot of emphasis is placed on each handset’s web browsing performance, since as we all know, it’s the bread and butter in what makes the experience so meaningful. Still, there are other tertiary features that aid to complement the experience. With the two Android smartphones, they have support for Adobe Flash to give them that desktop-like experience. Yes, Adobe’s long famous multimedia platform has already made its exodus from the Android scene, but nevertheless, it’s available on these two beauties.

Interestingly enough, all four smartphones employ their own interpretation with sharing functionality – like being able to share a page via Twitter, Facebook, email, text, etc. However, the Samsung Galaxy S III and HTC One X boast the deepest level of sharing versus the bunch, since they’re Android devices and all. Additionally, with the exception of the Nokia Lumia 900, all the other smartphones have a “Reading Mode” that makes pages easier to read.


Conclusion:

Here we are, at the end of a long journey finding out exactly which handset packs along the overall best web browsing experience. Taking all things into consideration, we have to say that the most balanced device for the occasion, has to be Samsung’s offering in the Galaxy S III – though, all are undeniably proficient with the job on hand. Speedy load times, admirable benchmark scores, ginormous display, deep sharing functionality, and a high resolution display pushes the Samsung Galaxy S III just a smidgen ahead of its rivals. Being the new kid on the block, the iPhone 5 flexes its muscles with its commanding benchmark scores, superb details, and speedy performance – making it a great all-around performer as well. Obviously, seeing it’s part of the Android family, the HTC One X is still a wonderful device as well, but there are some rendering issues that prevent it from rising higher. And finally, there’s the sole Windows Phone included in the mix, the Nokia Lumia 900, which is capable of getting the job done – albeit, it doesn’t push the envelope as much as its competitors.