martes, 13 de noviembre de 2012

iPad By Davis: “Why Apple couldn't make the iPad mini with a Retina display” plus 19 more

iPad By Davis: “Why Apple couldn't make the iPad mini with a Retina display” plus 19 more


Why Apple couldn't make the iPad mini with a Retina display

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 07:40 PM PST

Why Apple couldn't make the iPad mini with a Retina display

The iPad mini doesn't have a Retina display, and that's left it and Apple open to a lot of criticism. It's easy to say the iPad mini should have a Retina display, but unfortunately for Apple and for us, it's not so easy to engineer. It comes at a cost. I've mentioned that before in passing, but given the press it's still getting, over a week over launch, it bears repeating.

If you're not familiar with the term Retina display, it's the marketing jargon Apple uses to describe HiDPI (high dots-per-inch), or screens that have pixels so small they "disappear", providing a more enjoyable, more photographic experience. Instead of the dots that make up the face or text or character you're looking at, you just see the face or text or character. Apple achieves Retina display while maintaining software compatibility by pixel doubling both horizontal and vertical resolution. 1 pixel at standard density becomes divided into 4 pixels at Retina density.

The iPhone and iPod touch went from 480x320 at 163ppi to 960x640 at 326 dpi Retina in the summer and fall of 2010. The full sized iPad went from 1024x768 at 132 ppi to 2048x1536 Retina in March of 2012. The last time Apple released a non-Retina iOS device was the iPad 2 in March of 2011 (and that's the device upon which the iPad mini is based). And, as John Gruber of Daring Fireball points out, there's a direct parallel between those devices and Retina displays as well:

I don't see how the non-retina iPad Mini shipping seven months after the retina iPad 3 is any different than the non-retina iPad 2 shipping nine months after the retina iPhone 4 was unveiled. Retina spoils you. If Apple could go retina across the board in one fell swoop — all iPhones, all iPads, all Macs — they would. But they can't.

Exactly. And it comes down to technology and price. The goal of the iPad mini was thinness and lightness. When the full-sized iPad went Retina, it actually got slightly thicker and heavier.

Now, you might be tempted to call foul and point out that both the iPhone 5 and the iPod touch 5 have Retina displays and both have become increasingly, ludicrously thin over time. But here's the thing, iPhones and iPods have far, far fewer pixels than iPads. Retina iPhones and iPods have roughly the same pixel count as NON-Retuna iPads. Right now the non-Retina iPad mini has a pixel count of 786,432 (1024x768) compared to the iPhone 5's pixel count of 727,040 (1136x640). A Retina iPad mini would shoot up to 3,145,728 (2048x1536). Lighting and powering that many pixels requires a lot of LED and a lot of battery.

The iPad mini is as thin as the iPod touch 4, in part, because their pixel densities are very similar, Retina or no Retina. Apple might have been able to put a Retina display in the iPad mini, but it would required it to be as thick and almost as heavy, and cost almost as much, as the iPad 4. That's not the device Apple wanted to make, and likely not the device most of us would want to buy. So Apple compromised on screen density in order to deliver a thinner, lighter, cheaper iPad mini today. When technology and costs allow for a thin, light, cheap iPad mini with a Retina display, we'll get one.

Here's a comparison between raw pixel resolution (top) and pixel density (bottom), for the iPad 2 (green), iPad mini (red), iPad 4 (blue), and iPhone 5 (purple) (from left to right). I've added 44x44 point squares (standard tap target size in iOS) over the screens, so you can see how the relative pixel and touch sizes change when the displays are at physical scale (bottom).

Because the iPad mini packs those 1024x768 non-Retina pixels into 7.9-inches rather than 9.7-inches, it is slightly denser than the iPad 2, namely 163 ppi rather than 132 ppi. Not coincidentally, 163 ppi is exactly the same screen density Apple manufactured for years for the original iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPhone 3GS (which continued to be sold until September, 2012). So if you've used any of those early iPhones (or iPod touches), you have a rough idea what a 163 ppi screen looks like.

Here's a look at the Settings, Sound screen from iOS 6 on the iPhone 5 (left), iPad mini (center), and iPad 4 (right) at relative physical scale, with a 44 point grid overlaid on top of them. (The Retina iPhone 5 and Retina iPad 4 have faint 44 pixel grids as well, for consistency with previous diagrams.)

If you're curious, here's how the iPad mini (red) compares to the Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7 (black) in terms of both pixel resolution (left) and pixel density at physical scale (right). (With the same iOS-standard 44px tap target size grid in place.)

Personally, the lack of Retina on the iPad mini really bothered me a lot at first. Now I barely notice it unless I'm doing something very text- or line-work-centric. When I'm watching video or playing games, I don't notice it at all. I do notice the compactness, the thinness, and especially the lightness all the time. They are profound enough that Apple's compromise on Retina turns out to be the same compromise I'm willing to make.

(This post is an excerpt, in part, of my iPad mini review)




Iterate 33: Brent Simmons of Sepia Labs

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:56 PM PST

Iterate 31: Vermette

Marc, Seth, Dave, and Rene talk about 1080p displays on mobile, Twitter on Dribble, and sharing design, and interview Brent Simmons of Sepia Labs about Glassboard. This is Iterate.

Show notes

Hosts

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Meet new people to chat with with Jingu Friends for iPhone

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 05:45 PM PST

Jingu Friends is an IM app for iPhone that helps you find friends to chat with on other IM clients like WhatsApp and Kik. The interface is very basic, yet very modern and polished. Jingu Friends simply features one main stream of chat called The Lounge where you can view current conversations or bring up a topic of your own. Swiping left or right on a post will reveal actions to reply, view conversations, and ways to contact the user via another IM client.

Jingu Friends supports WhatsApp, Kik, Hootk, & LiveProfile. If you don't want to reveal information about other IM clients you can keep it private (and require users to request it). If you prefer to use Jingu Friends as a standalone app, you can do that, too, but all your conversations will remain public. If you're a big fan of chat and making new friends, give Jingu Friends a try -- it's free!

Free - Download Now




Learn about great new music and artists with Band of the Day for iPhone and iPad

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 04:55 PM PST

Love music but struggling with staying up to speed on the latest artists and bands? Band of the Day for iPhone and iPad focuses on a new artist everyday and allows you to listen to their music for free, view videos and photography, read their biography, and more. You can also explore 100's of previously featured bands, similar bands, and the top-rated bands across a wide-variety of genres. If you just want to sit back and listen to music, the Mix Tip will also allow you enjoy over 5 hours of interrupted listening.

Not only does Band of the Day include all of these great features, but it looks amazing at the same time with its stunning user interface.

If you pick this one up, let us know what you think!

Free - Download now




Forums: iOS 6 Beta 2 discussion, Happy with your iPad mini purchase?

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 04:34 PM PST

From the iMore Forums

Found an interesting article you want to share with iMore? Have a burning question about that feature you just can't figure out? There is ALWAYS more happening just a click away in the forums. You can always head over and join in the conversation, search for answers, or lend your expertise to other members of our community. You check out some of the threads below:

If you're not already a member of the iMore Forums, register now!




Facebook Messenger update allows users to give feedback about the app

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 03:28 PM PST

Facebook Messenger for iPhone has released another update that is notably special because it allows users to give feedback about the app. So although we love to complain with you about the woes and troubles of the various Facebook apps for iPhone, now you can send your complaints directly to Facebook as well! Well, you can complain about Facebook Messenger, that is.

To give feedback, simply swipe to the left to reveal your list of friends and tap the Settings button in the upper right. There will be a new section called "Give Feedback" that will allow you to type in your praises or complaints about Facebook Messenger that will be sent directly to Facebook.

I will admit that when I first saw the update notes, I thought it was for the main Facebook app and got excited because I have plenty of complaints I'd love to send to Facebook, but unfortunately, no such feature exists on the main Facebook iPhone app, yet. This is a step in the right direction, though, and I can only hope that the ability to submit feedback will be added to the rest of the Facebook iPhone app family soon.

Do you have any complaints and/or praises about Facebook Messenger for iPhone that you plan to send to Facebook? What about the main Facebook app? If and when the feature is added to Facebook for iPhone, what will you submit to Facebook?

Free - Download Now




UK Courts still not happy with Apple's statement, orders them to pay Samsung's legal fees

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 02:52 PM PST

UK Courts still not happy with Apple's statement, orders them to pay Samsung's legal fees

Apple's [last court-ordered apology to Samsung](http://www.imore.com/apple-alters-apology-samsung-their-uk-site-comply-court-still wasn't enough to appease the UK courts, so they've now been ordered to pay Samsung's legal fees from parking tickets to Porsches for all the lawyers. Philip Elmer-DeWitt of Fortune has the details.

Ordered to post a two-paragraph corrective on its website and in the British press, Apple not only dragged its heels, but it broke up the required paragraphs and interspersed language of its own devising -- including a bit about a judge ruling that the Samsung Galaxy Tab was "not as cool" as the iPad -- language that was, according to Samsung, false and misleading.

Fortune has more quotes and excerpts from both Apple and the court via the link below below as well as the complete text of the Apple issued statement that was rejected by the courts.

So, is the court being too fussy or is Apple being too flippant?

Source: Fortune




Apple pulls AppleCare protection plans from Apple stores and authorized resellers in Italy

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 02:22 PM PST

Apple pulls AppleCare protection plans from Apple stores and authorized resellers in Italy

Apple has pulled AppleCare protection plans off their retail store shelves in Italy as well as advising authorized resellers not to offer them any further. Due to warranty protection set in place by the EU, Apple had recently faced the possibility of a temporary ban on their products in Italy. As of now, the only way for Italian customers to purchase AppleCare protection plans is online.

Apple was previously fined $1.2M for not making customers aware that they have a 2 year warranty period on their devices which is mandated by EU Law. A lot of the issue with Apple care and the manufacturer's warranty extended to the wording and the transparency they felt Apple was not providing to Italian customers regarding their rights.

The memo that went out to distributors read as follows:

Cork, 9th November 2012

Notice: AppleCare Protection Plan (APP) in Italy

As of November 9, 2012, Apple stopped selling AppleCare Protection Plan in Italian Apple Store and the distribution of the APP program at Apple Authorized Resellers (including Telephone Operators and Apple Authorized Service Centers).

The Apple Authorized Resellers in Italy can stop the sale of APP both box and auto-enroll (without box) versions, starting today you can return the stocked products back to Apple by 10 December 2012.

Customers wishing to purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan will continue to do so through the Apple Online Store.

It's unclear if the AppleCare changes will hit other countries at this point or if only Italian customers will be impacted. If you are an Italian iPhone user, do you see a benefit in purchasing AppleCare or is the 2 year warranty you are given reason enough not to purchase it?

Source: SetteB.IT via 9to5Mac




iPhone 5 delivery estimates slightly improve to 2-3 weeks

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 01:41 PM PST

iPhone 5 delivery estimates slightly improve to 2-3 weeks

If you've been waiting to get your hands on an iPhone 5, you can now get one from the Apple Store online in about 2-3 weeks instead of previous delivery times of over a month.

Apple has had a hard time keeping up with the demand for the iPhone 5 but it looks like they're slowly catching up with delivery estimates falling to 2-3 weeks. Whether you're picking one up for a loved one or want one for yourself, you should be able to get your hands on one before the holiday season if you're ordering through Apple.

In the mean time, you can check out our reviews and buyers guide via the links below.

Additional resources:




Review: HumanToolz Mobile Stand for iPad –So Great but So Disappointing

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 12:27 PM PST

HumanToolz Mobile Stand for iPad

It's said that a picture is worth a thousand words. The photo above says almost all you need to know about my time with the HumanToolz Mobile Stand for iPad – it's broken. It's the first iPad stand I've ever broken, and I've used quite a few and never even come close to breaking one before.

The HumanToolz Mobile Stand started off as a Kickstarter project. It was and still is touted as the most versatile mobile stand for iPad. I loved the look and idea of the stand and became a backer of the Kickstarter project. As an early backer of the project I received my Mobile Stand a little over 10 days ago.

My first impressions of the stand were all very good. I thought it looked sleek and attractive. I was pleasantly surprised at how minimal it is. My iPad 3 fit right into it with ease and felt extremely secure within the stand right away. What I didn't realize right away is that it was actually far too secure within the stand.

(...)
Read the rest of Review: HumanToolz Mobile Stand for iPad –So Great but So Disappointing (708 words)


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How to use the VIP inbox on your iPhone and iPad

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 11:37 AM PST

How to use the VIP inbox on your iPhone and iPad

The VIP inbox in iOS allows you to favorite specific Contacts so their messages get filter into their own, special inbox in your Mail app and are always easy to find. If that's not enough, you also have the ability to set up specific tones and alerts for your VIP contacts which makes knowing who is contacting you easier than ever, and lets you stay on top of your email like never before.

How to add contacts to your VIP list on iPhone and iPad

  1. Launch the Mail app from the Home screen of your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap on VIP inbox directly underneath your regular inbox.
  3. Tap on the blue arrow on the right.
  4. Tap Add VIP.
  5. Find the contact that you'd like to add to VIP and tap on their name. (If a contact is grayed out, it means you're missing their email address and can't add them until you enter it.

After you tap on their name they'll be automatically added to your VIP inbox.

How to set custom alert tones for your VIP inbox on iPhone and iPad

  1. Launch the Mail app from the Home screen of your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap on VIP inbox directly underneath your regular inbox.
  3. Tap on the blue arrow on the right.
  4. Tap on VIP alerts towards the bottom.
  5. The Notification Center alert settings for VIP inbox will automatically open.
  6. Adjust banners, badges, and sounds for your VIP inbox.

Tweak any settings you'd like to differentiate your VIP inbox from standard mail alerts.




Apple releases iOS 6.1 beta 2 for developers

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 11:17 AM PST

Apple releases iOS 6.1 beta 2 for developers

Apple has just released iOS 6.1 beta 2, build 10B51505c to developers. iOS 6.1 beta 2 is available for iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPad 4, iPad 3, iPad 2, iPad mini, iPod touch 5 and iPod touch 4.

iOS 6.1 beta 2 comes a mere 11 days after the release of iOS 6.1 beta 1.

If you're already on the iOS 6.1 beta, you can upgrade on-device and over-the-air (OTA) by going to Settings > General > Software update. Otherwise you can, as always, download the beta from developer.apple.com




Mobile Nations Passport Contest: Win the Ultimate iOS Prize Pack!

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 10:46 AM PST

Last week we rolled our new Mobile Nations Passport account system, which makes it easy for any member of iMore to also participate across our other sites. With Passport, you have one account and to rule them all!

In honor of the successful roll out of Passport and thanks to our awesome friends at Gogo, we're celebrating with an amazing cross site contest. Each of our sites is running a contest giving away an Ultimate Prize Pack for their platform. And thanks to Passport, you can easily enter for a shot at winning each prize pack on each site.

Thanks Gogo!

How to Enter: 

Step 1: Login to iMore and leave a comment to this post to be entered to win the Ultimate iOS Prize Pack!

Register or Login using the links at the top right corner of this site (see where it says Passport Is Live)

 

Step 2: Also enter to Win the Ultimate Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and webOS Wildcard Prize Packs:

Click on over to Android Central, CrackBerryWindows Phone Central and webOS Nation (<-- on those links) to go straight to the respective contest post for that site. Simply login on each site -- which is painless thanks to Passport -- and leave a comment there, as you're doing here, and you'll be entered to win that prize pack. 

 

Step 3: Like Gogo on Facebook!

Our friends at Gogo -- the KINGS of Inflight Internet -- made it possible for us to run this Mobile Nations Contest. Gogo ROCKs. So be sure to click the button below and like them on Facebook. Your comment to this post is enough to be entered to win, but we'll love you, and Gogo will love you, if you like them (if the button doesn't work in your region, don't panic).

Beyond the Grand Prize, we have awesome runner up prizes as well. Keep reading for more info on the prizes and for the full contest details. Contest is open worldwide and ends at Noon PT on Monday, November 19th. Don't waste time... Enter now! Good Luck! 

 

Mobile Nations Passport Contest - Full Contest Details 

Prize Packs:

Click the Prize Pack links to jump over to that site to enter to win it! 

Runner Up:
- Nexus 7 Tablet (32GB) - 5 Gogo passes

 

Runner Up:
- BlackBerry PlayBook (64GB)
- 5 Gogo passes

 

Runner Up:
- iPod Touch (32GB)
- 5 Gogo passes

 

Runner Up:
- JBL PowerUp Speaker
- 5 Gogo passes

 

Runner Up:
- Take your pick of any of the Runner Up Prizes we're offering for Android, iOS, Windows Phone and BlackBerry

 

 

Contest Rules & Fine Print:

Nothing to hide here, but these are the things to know! 

  • Contest is being run by Mobile Nations
  • Only enter one comment per contest post on each site. If you enter additional comments, only your first comment will be counted towards entry of the contest.
  • Contest is open worldwide.
  • Contest ends at 12 Noon PT on Monday, November 19th, 2012.
  • Contest winners will be drawn and random and announced on all Mobile Nations sites soon after.
  • We will do our best to reach out to all contest winners. If a contest winner for whatever reason does not reply within a month of the winners announcement, Mobile Nations reserves the right to select a new winner for that contest prize.
  • Individual prize winners are responsible for any taxes due on prize total if required by local laws.
  • If the prize is not available at the time of winners announcement (example - a BlackBerry 10 phone), the prize will be delivered soon after it becomes available on the market for purchase.

Any questions? Email contest@mobilenations.com




New York Times App Updated for the iPad mini

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 10:26 AM PST

NYTimes for iPad

The New York Times' iPad app – NYTimes for iPad – has been updated today, to Version 2.5.3.

Here's the entire change list for the update:

– Optimized for the iPad mini

Pretty impressive to see one of the US' most prestigious newspapers updating their iPad app specifically for the iPad mini less than two weeks after the device's release.

I'm not a frequent enough user of the NYTimes for iPad app to comment on how good, bad, or mediocre the update is – but it's good to see the NYT giving some love to the iPad mini.


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Samsung hikes processor fabrication prices on Apple by 20%

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 09:42 AM PST

Samsung raises their prices on Apple processors

Samsung has reportedly raised the prices they charge for manufacturing chipsets like the iPhone 5's Apple A6 by a whopping 20%. While no reason for the increase was given, Apple's increased demand for processors, as many as 200 million chips this year, up from 130 million last year, could be a factor. Whatever the case may be, Apple seems to have little choice but to agree to the price hike, having no viable alternative suppliers at this point. MarketWatch reports:

According to the report, Apple buys all APs used for production of iPhone and iPad from Samsung Electronics with the volume estimated to be 130 million units last year and more than 200 million units this year.

Samsung Electronics has a long-term contract to supply APs to Apple until 2014, the report added.

There have been rumors that Apple will be switching away from Samsung for future processors. Apple's contract with Samsung may throw some doubt on previous reports that a switch to a new manufacturer would come by the end of next year. However, it is not stated whether or not Samsung's contract is exclusive, and in any case, if Apple were to make a transition to a new chip manufacturer, they would probably still need Samsung to produce their older chips, so it's no surprise that a contract is in place through 2014.

There may be concerns that older chips like the A5 may have some Samsung design elements, and are in some way subject to Samsung's patents. This would make it difficult for Apple to have them made by another supplier without paying Samsung a fee, or else opening themselves up to a lawsuit.

This incident demonstrates why it is necessary for Apple to not only move away from a rival for a part of their most important business, but also why it is important to have more than one supplier of key components.

Source: MarketWatch




iMore show 325: iPad mini review

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 09:32 AM PST

Rene and Seth review the iPad mini, including the design, non-Retina display, screen size, radios, stereo speakers, Lightning connector, interface, apps, accessories, price, and more. This is the iMore show!

Show notes

Hosts

Credits

You can reach all of us on Twitter @iMore, or you can email us at podcast@imore.com or just leave us a comment below.

For all our podcasts -- audio and video -- including the iMore show, ZEN and TECH, Iterate, and more, see MobileNations.com/shows




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2 New TV Ads for the iPad mini: Books and Photos

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 09:51 AM PST

iPad mini Books TV ad

Apple has released a couple of new TV ads for the iPad mini – titled 'Books' and 'Photos'.

The two new ads carry on theme of the first iPad mini TV ad, 'Piano' – showing a full-size iPad screen alongside the mini while they both run the same app. The Piano ad showcased Garageband and these two highlight the iBooks and iPhoto apps on the iPad mini.

I think this another good iPad campaign, with the focus staying nicely on apps and the cool things you can do with them on the iPad, big or small. I also especially like the old-school song selection for the Photos ad.

I couldn't embed the videos here, but you can check them out at Apple's iPad mini TV ads page.

What do you all think of these 2 new ones and the iPad mini ad series so far?


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iPhone 5 vs. Lumia 920: Which phone should you get?

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 08:22 AM PST

iPhone 5 vs. Lumia 920: Which phone should you get?

Apple has released the iPhone 5 and Nokia and Microsoft have now matched it with their flagship Lumia 920. Where Apple's offering is unbelievably sleek and slim, Nokia's is proudly big and thick. Where Apple is glass and aluminum, Nokia is a polycarbonate that feel not of this earth. Where Apple made their camera thinner, Nokia made theirs much, much better. Where Apple offers the textures and gradients of iOS, Nokia is all in on the flat panoramas of Windows Phone. Physically and philosophically, the iPhone 5 and Lumia 920 couldn't be more different in every way but their relentless pursuit of ease of use. So how can you choose between them?

Let's find out!

Nokia Lumia 920

The Lumia 920 is a lot of phone. (A lot of phone.) While it may look a lot like last year's Lumia 900, component-wise there's been some serious escalation. It has a large 4.5 in IPS display at 768x1280, which is 720p with room to stretch. The body is polycarbonate, and comes in glossy white, yellow, and red, or matt gray, black, or cyan. And inside that body, the Lumia 920 is running on a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU with 1GB of RAM. The big deal, though, is the PureView camera. It has optical image stabilization (OIS), which physically "floats" the lens, allowing the aperture to stay open longer and collect more light. It doesn't make a huge difference to still pictures during the day, but it makes a world of difference for low-light photos or moving video. There's also Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, LTE, and wireless charging. On the downside, on-board storage tops out at 32GB and it's not expandable.

Windows Phone 8 builds on Windows Phone 7, extending the aesthetic while ramping up the capabilities. First and foremost, Windows Phone 8 brings Microsoft's famed NT kernel to their mobile operating system, and a slew of improvements to along with it. You've got Live Tiles and Live Apps, so your Home screen has even more and better glance-able information and customizability. There's Microsoft Wallet for mobile payments, and both Bing and Internet Explorer got a boost. Unfortunately, Microsoft didn't have time to finish their version of Notification Center, so you'll have to wait on that.

In the Nokia Lumia 920 review Daniel Rubino of Windows Phone Central summed it up like this:

The Lumia 920 is the pinnacle of Nokia engineering. It has great build quality, filled with the latest technology and it also looks really good while doing it. We found nary any issues with the hardware and if you're comfortable with Windows Phone 8, this phone is your best option…if you want the best. The PureView camera, while not perfect, gives outstanding night photos and shoots the best video of any phone on the market today. The plethora of Nokia software like GPS navigation only sweetens the deal.

Like Apple, Microsoft has a retail store presence now, though they aren't as plentiful yet. They also have an ecosystem that, while nowhere near as big for mobile, does include the massive Windows 8, all the Live online services you can throw data at, and the popular Xbox gaming lines.

In the U.S., the Nokia Lumia 920 is exclusive to AT&T, but they're offering it at a really cheap on-contract price, only $99 for 32GB. Of course, any up-front savings are obliterated by the cost of a voice and data plan over 2 years, but it's a nice way to get people in the door.

Apple iPhone 5

The iPhone 5 has a completely re-engineered unibody aluminum chassis to allow for a bigger 4-inch screen in a phone that's 12% smaller by volume. It's taller but not wider, thinner and also lighter. That 4-inch screen uses in-cell technology to combine the touch sensor right into the LCD so the pixels look painted on. At 1136x640 and 326ppi, it's still backlit LED, and still IPS, and technically the best, most advanced panel on the planet for now. Apple also rolled their own, manually-set Apple A6 processor this time, based on ARM v7s, for amazing performance and excellent power management.There is CDMA, HSPA, and international LTE. And you can get it in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB versions. There's still no NFC or wireless charging, however.

iOS 6 comes loaded on the iPhone 5, and includes a new, controversial Maps app, some great extensions to Apple's virtual assistant, Siri, deep Facebook integration, Passbook for tickets and vouchers, and enhancements to FaceTime, Mail, Safari, Photo Stream, Panorama, and Accessibility. And because Apple makes both the hardware and the software, there's no integration cost, no added interface layers, and a seamless experience overall.

iTunes has the biggest international content footprint, so if you're into buying your music, TV, and movies, there's a better chance Apple will take your money than anyone else. They also have the free iCloud service for backup, restore, and sync, as well as Apple Retail Stores with Genius Bars which, if you ever break your phone, you'll absolutely consider a killer service.

In the iPhone 5 review, I summed it up as follows:

Taller, thinner, faster, lighter, brighter; the iPhone 5 represents nothing more nor less than the latest, relentless iteration on the Platonic ideal Apple has been striving towards for almost a decade. Redesigned in every way but shape, compromised but true to its purpose, the iPhone 5 is once again the best iPhone Apple has ever made, and one of the best phones ever made. Period.

The price on-contract price for an iPhone 5 is $199 for 16GB, $299 for 32GB, and $399 for 64GB, unlocked and off-contract is $650, $750, and $850 respectively.

Apple iPhone 5 vs. Nokia Lumia 920: The bottom line

If you're all-in on Microsoft and Xbox, however, if you want a phone that's as big and bad-ass as they come, if you can live with 32GB of storage even with arguably the best camera to found on a phone, if you want something that's not the mainstream, that's actually thought out differently from the iPhone, and if app quantity and visual variety isn't a big deal for you, the Nokia Lumina 920 might just be for you.

If you're all-in on iTunes and you want a phone that's big enough yet ludicrously thin and light, and built like nothing else on the market, if you want an option for 64GB of storage and access to 700,000+ apps, each one with the potential for a radically different look and feel, and the most music, movies, and TV shows in the most international markets, if you want something a little more fleshed out and feature rich, the iPhone 5 is still king of the mainstream smartphones.

In other words, you want something hugely different and just plain huge, get an Nokia Lumia 920. Otherwise, stick with an iPhone 5.

More help

Need more help choosing between the iPhone 5 and the Nokia Lumia 920? Here's where you can have your questions answered!




Monday Brief: iPad 4, iPad mini, Nexus 4, Lumia 920 and more!

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:53 AM PST

Mobile Nations




    Deal of the Day: 40% off the Seidio SURFACE Reveal Case for iPhone 5

    Posted: 12 Nov 2012 07:05 AM PST

    Today Only: Buy the Seidio SURFACE Reveal Case for iPhone 5 and save $11.95!

    The SURFACE Reveal is perfect for those who want to protect their iPhone 5 with a slim case. With this redesign of the popular SURFACE Case, you'll discover a hard case that is even thinner, with a cut-out revealing the Apple logo. Familiar features, such as Seidio's soft-touch coating, felt-lining interior and slide-in design, enhance the look and protect your iPhone 5. Comes in a variety of colors to choose from.

    List Price: $29.95     Today's Price: $18.00

    Learn More and Buy Now

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