iPhone 5: My Expectations

Everyone is excited for one of Apple's iconic devices, the iPhone 5. Though no one knows for sure, we have our "expectations" of what will be packed within Apple's new iPhone. Sometimes the rumors are true. Sometimes the rumors are not. This is what I expect to see in Apple's latest iPhone. 

One of the most expected features of the next generation iPhone is the new Apple A5 chip. The current version of the iPhone has the A4 chip. The A5 chip is one of my most expected features. The iPad has it and many other phones have dual core processors. Why not the iPhone since Apple likes having the best? I also expect to see the iPhone in white this time. The white iPhone 4 was introduced, but never released. I think Apple is waiting for the iPhone 5 to release a white version. I definately expect to see 4G HSPA+ in the AT&T model of the iPhone. It's possible it with support both LTE and HSPA+, but I'm pretty sure we'll at least get HSPA+. iOS 5 should be released sometime during the release as well, so I'm expecting that. I also expect FaceTime over 3G/4G, longer battery life, and additional carriers such as Sprint. 

These are just my expectations. We'll find out if the iPhone 5 will have these features, or better yet, if the next generation iPhone will be called the 'iPhone 5'. We can only hope these features are included, but I'm sure Apple will find something to win us over with.

AT&T Buys T-Mobile

AT&T buys T-Mobile, these are my thoughts on the subject.

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Firesheep your FireFox to Hack Facebook

I'm all against hacking and using exploits for personal gain. However, I'd like you to know that there is a FireFox extension called Firesheep that enables you to hack into anyone's Facebook account if you are in an unprotected wireless hotspot. What Firesheep allows you to do is to use cached information that is stored within that wireless hotspot to enable you to access their photos, personal information, etc., but they cannot change your password.

This video from HouseHoldHacker provides more information:

You may not want to use a public wireless hotspot that isn't protected now. Before you stop taking your laptop or iPad out to a local coffee shop, you may want to consider using a MIFI or mobile WIFI device that is protected and uses 3G to connect to the web. It's inexpensive, very mobile and can save you from giving your personal information to a complete stranger. 

In the UK you can pick one up from 3 for as little as £70 that includes 3GB of data off contract. In the US, you can pick up a MIFI for $99 on Verizon with a 2 year contract. It may sound expensive but you'll have mobile broadband where ever you are and it's a great deal if you travel a lot.

Stay protected and don't go spreading your information to people you don't know!

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Square: Accept Payments Anywhere

 

We’re living in the digital age, and more and more people are moving towards electronic payment. Well Square is a nifty little product that allows anybody to become a merchant on the go. Square works with iPhone and Android. Downloading the free Square app from the App Store and signing up for an account will allow you to accept payments anywhere for anything. You can use the actual Square Card Reader, which plugs into your phone’s headphone jack, and acts as a credit card reader, which you can just swipe credit cards through. The Square app lets you enter the amount, enter a description or include a picture of the product and lets the buyer sign for their purchase. After the transaction is complete, you can email them a receipt with a map showing where their purchase was made.

In conclusion, Square is a really great service which eliminates the need for cash. As the service becomes more popular, more businesses and entrepreneurs are likely to pick up this service and really make it. So check out Square at SquareUp.com. It’s a really great service that more people should learn about.

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This Week in Phones #1 - iPhone Alternatives

With all the hype around the possible leaked 4th Generation iPhone, I think a lot of people are forgetting about other handsets recently released that kind of blow the iPhone out of the dust.

 HTC Evo 4G

The Evo 4G, on Sprint, is designed by HTC with power in mind. Sporting a gorgeous (and huge) 4.3 inch display, dual cameras including a front facing camera, and a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, the Evo is an absolute screamer! The Evo also has the ability to connect up to 8-wifi enabled devices, similar to what we’ve seen in other Palm devices. Being the first mobile phone to feature 4G technology, the phone is always fast! Most importantly, the Evo is on a better network than the iPhone, so you can really take advantage of 4G strengths, which AT&T does not offer. Pricing for this phone has not been announced, but is expected to be released sometime this Summer.

 HTC Droid Incredible

Phone manufacturers have to be pretty bold to name their phone “Incredible” but apparently HTC hit the mark. With a 3.7 inch AMOLED display and an 8-megapixel camera (which seems to be becoming the norm now a days), the Incredible really ones-up the iPhone. The Incredible is also on a much better network, that being Verizon Wireless, so you can really take advantage of faster data speeds.

 Nexus One

Google’s Nexus One, toted as “The Google Experience”, is a very powerful Android phone. The Nexus One is available on multiple carriers, T-Mobile and AT&T (AT&T unlocked only) makes it a very versatile phone available to customers on different networks. The Nexus One offers a 3.7 inch AMOLED display, a 5-megapixel camera and a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, so it has a very large feature set.

 In conclusion, those are just a few iPhone alternatives, all with much different feature sets than the iPhone and all on a better cellular networks. Even though the iPhone conveys a certain socioeconomic status to others, other manufacturers are developing phones with a better feature set, so next time you’re shopping for a mobile phones, look into some other iPhone alternatives.

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