Posted on 2012 under Mobile News | Comments are off
Unveiled officially at the CES 2012 press conference in Las Vegas, the Nokia Lumia 900 is the first smartphone in the Lumia series to enter America. Designed as the first real Windows Phone smartphone designed for the US market, the Nokia Lumia 900 offers some nice upgrades from the UK release of the last quarter. Can we expect a Nokia Lumia 900 release date for the UK any time soon?
Larger Screen
The most notable change from Lumia 800 to 900 is the larger 4.3 inch AMOLED Clear Black display compared to the Lumia 800’s respectable 3.7 inches. The increase in size may raise concern over the performance and battery life of the Nokia Lumia 900; though don’t panic! Firstly the AMOLED Clear Black display offers a bright display without exhausting the battery. Encased within the Nokia Lumia 900, is an 1830 mAh battery which gives an extra 25% kick compared to its predecessor (The Nokia Lumia 800 had a 1450 mAh battery).
Front Facing Camera
The Nokia Lumia 900 also comes with a secondary camera that Lumia fans have been shouting for. Whereas the Lumia 800 lacked a front facing camera, Nokia’s latest release has a 1 megapixel camera suitable for video calls. Not only does the front facing camera have a large aperture to let in more light, its wide angle lens takes in more picture, so you can video call a friend, with another friend by your side! As with the Lumia 800, the 8 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics is still present on the rear of the handset.
Windows Phone Mango OS
Running the same Windows Phone OS as the Lumia 800, the People Hub feature seems a great tool for integrating together your favourite contacts across the wide range of platforms we all use. By linking Facebook updates, Twitter feeds, emails and texts across your chosen friends, it’s even easier to stay in touch and in the know. The People Hub even integrates Facebook chat without the need to download another app. At the CES conference, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, promised revolutionary apps on the Windows Phone Marketplace including 20 titles from games giants EA; apps not available on iOS or Android.
A UK release for the Nokia Lumia 900?
Built as a 4G LTE smartphone for high performance browsing and video and audio streaming, the UK’s online connection speed is currently too slow to utilise the Nokia Lumia 900’s performance fully. With a 4G network not expected for completion in the UK until 2015 (Ofcom), will this phone even grace our shores? A UK release of this handset would lack the advanced connectivity but a tweaked version of the Nokia Lumia 900 including a larger battery, screen and front facing camera would be welcome advancement from the . We hope to see a UK release around autumn 2012. The additional features are steps in the right direction to help Windows Phone OS expand and Nokia to reclaim lost ground from the likes of Apple and Samsung.
EDIT 24/01/2012 – Internet pre-order websites suggest the Nokia Lumia 900 will see a UK release date in June.
For this jailbreak I will be using redsn0w for the Mac to jailbreak a first generation iPad running iOS 5.0.1. Most steps are the same on a PC and for other devices such as iPhone3GS, iPhone4, iPhone4-CDMA, iPod touch 3G, & iPod touch 4G. NOTE: iPhone 4S and iPad 2 are not supported at this time.
First you should make sure you are upgraded to firmware iOS 5.0.1. Just go to your Settings app, then General, then Software Update.
Next, sync & back up your device with your computer or iCloud. Now you can download the program redsn0w to your computer. The download links can be found here: Once downloaded you’ll need to unzip the file and move the app to your applications folder. Run redsn0w to begin the jailbreak!
You’ll need to turn off your device and be ready to put it into DFU mode. Follow the instructions in the app on how to do that.
On the next screen you will need to make sure “Install Cydia” is checked and click next. Don’t worry about “Enable Multitasking Gestures” because that is part of the new iOS firmware 5.0.1. Now just click next and wait for the software to do the rest. You will see a few crazy screen shown below but soon your device will reboot and you will have a new application called Cydia where you can install all kinda of hacks and mods no available in the Apple App Store.
Note: A few parts of the process may seem like you device freezes up but things like “Moving Applications” and other steps just take a while. Be patient!
The start of a New Year naturally brings on an opportunity for self-reflection and change. Maybe you want to spend this year discovering new music? If every day you love your Kaiser Chief collection less and less, now’s a great time to blow away those audio cobwebs. 2012 is the time to use your smartphone and expand your musical horizons with a selection of our best apps for music lovers.
Shazam Encore (Android £2.99, iOS £3.99 , Windows £4.99)
You’ll often stumble across your new favourite song when you least suspect it; during an advert, on the radio, in a pub. If you’re not told who it is, how are you supposed to download and experience more music by this artist? The first of our best apps, Shazam Encore has this covered. All you have to do is hold your phone towards the speaker and Shazam will recognise the song and artist in seconds. Once you have this info, you can buy the track through Amazon, see related YouTube videos or even view the lyrics. Magical. For convenience and a rapid response, Shazam Encore is the first in our best music apps list.
Like this music app? Download Shazam from the App markets:
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Ghostly Discovery (Free music app for iOS)
Our music tastes can vary depending on our state of mind or mood. Ghostly Discovery will factor this in your endeavour for all things electronic. After setting the mood wheel to a colour that reflects your state of mind, hook up to your headphones and enjoy a streamed audio archive of Ghostly International and Spectral Sound catalogues. Tailor your playlist between Digital versus Organic sounds and fast versus slow pace, as you position a slider between these extremes. iTunes integration opens the possibility to download the songs you like.
Like this music app? Download Ghostly Discovery from the iTunes Stores:
TuneIn Radio (Free music app for iOS ,Android, Windows)
For radio stations beyond dance, the TuneIn Radio app offers free access to over 50,000 radio stations. Wherever you are, tune into local or global radio to find a sound to quench your ear drums. Beyond music, there are even sport and news stations available to keep you in the loop. With so much choice at hand, our best app for radio ensures you’ll never skip a beat in your quest for new music. Purchasing the TuneIn Radio Pro for under £0.70 gives you the added bonus of recording, so you can listen to your favourite clips time after time
Like this music app? Download Ghostly Discovery from the App markets:
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Spotify (Free music app for Android, iOS & Windows, Subscription required after trial period)
If you want instant access to over 15 million tracks you can stream online, create into playlists and share with your friends, Spotify is the ultimate music app. With a subscription fee of £10 per month, it’s legal and great value for those who find their headphones soldered to their skull. Built for social integration with Facebook and Last.fm, Spotify keeps your friends in the know of your new favourite sounds. For those after one of the best apps around, Spotify is a great choice for the ultimate music search party.
Like this music app? Download Spotify from the App markets:
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iAmBeatBox (Free music app for iOS)
Ok, I admit this probably hinders your quest for new music rather than help but with so much fresh music trickling into your brain, you may feel an urge of inspiration to make your own sounds. Produced by savageapps, it’s free, popular and allows you to enjoy the art of beat boxing at the swipe of a finger. Using a diamond icon, scratch your way around the screen to a plethora of samples, rhythms and beats. Simple and addictive, it makes the last entry in our best apps list.
Like this music app? Download iAmBeatBox from the iTunes Store:
So there’s our run down of our best apps for music lovers. We’d love to know which apps you use in your hunt for new music. Why not let us know on our page
Tempted by these? Get yourself a new phone from mobiles.co.uk’s .
Posted on 2012 under Uncategorized | Comments are off
Apple today announced that iPhone 4S will be available in China and 21 additional countries on Friday, January 13. iPhone 4S features Apple’s dual-core A5 chip for fast performance and stunning graphics; an all-new 8-megapixel camera with advanced optics; full 1080p HD-resolution video recording; and Siri, an intelligent assistant that helps you get things done just by asking. “Customer response to our products in China has been off the charts,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “With the launch in China next week, iPhone 4S will be available in over 90 countries, making this our fastest iPhone rollout ever.”
