martes, 30 de abril de 2013

iPad By Davis: “Contest Winners: Mail Pilot for iPhone and iPad!” plus 17 more

iPad By Davis: “Contest Winners: Mail Pilot for iPhone and iPad!” plus 17 more


Contest Winners: Mail Pilot for iPhone and iPad!

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 12:50 AM PDT

Mail Pilot

If there's one thing iMore loves even more than iPhones and iPads (and iPods!), it's giving cool iPhone and iPad accessories and apps to our awesome readers. This week we have codes for Mail Pilot! The winners are:

  • ckillam3
  • Donald Croce
  • LazyMe
  • Mat Banke
  • sanibel
  • traveling2

Congratulations everyone! Winners will be contacted via email in the next few days. Looking for another chance to win? We always have a contest underway for something cool, so keep your eyes on the blogs for those announcements.

    


Horizon Calendar review: Check the weather at the location of your next appointment

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 10:55 PM PDT

Horizon Calendar by Applause Code is an innovative calendar app that includes natural language parsing, a clean design, intuitive gestures, and forecasted weather associated with each of your events.

Just like the Mac OSX Calendar and the popular iPhone calendar Fantastical, Horizon Calendar uses natural language parsing when adding an event. For example, instead of meticulously adding each detail of your event, you simply type "meeting on tuesday with Rene at Starbucks from 1-2p" and Horizon will fill take care of the rest. It's incredibly fast and incredibly easy.

But Horizon takes it a step further. As you start typing "Starbucks", the locations nearby that match will pop up above the keyboard, so you can select exactly which Starbucks you're meeting at. Choosing one will help Horizon better accurately predict the weather.

Which leads me to Horizon's next awesome feature -- weather! The main view of Horizons simply lists out out your days one after another. With each day on the list, the high/low and an icon representing the weather is displayed. If you tap on the day, more details regarding the weather for each event is shown above the list of events for the day. Scrolling through the weather will scroll through your events and tapping on an event will bring up the event details and edit screen.

Horizon Calendar is also rich with gestures: slide down from the tool bar to bring down the month view, swipe to the left to delete an event, slide down from new event entry to edit the details, and rotate your phone to bring up the yearly calendar. Horizon is also integrated with Check the Weather and will launch the app when tapping the weather icon next to an event.

The good

  • Syncs with native calendar
  • Weather for all events up to 14 days out
  • Natural Language Parsing with Intelligent Lookup
  • Intuitive gestures
  • Clean design
  • Option to show date in icon badge
  • Optional night mode
  • Support for metric system

The bad

  • Only one alarm can be set per event
  • No custom repeat options (only every day, week, 2 weeks, month, and year)
  • Only integrates with Check the Weather. Would love to have more apps to choose from in Settings.

The bottom line

I'm not going to lie; when a developer for Horizon Calendar first contacted me, I thought "great, another calendar app", but I was pleasantly surprised with what it turned out to be. I'm actually very excited about this calendar and a little shocked to admit that it will be replacing Fantastical as my primary iPhone calendar. The addition of more alarms and custom repeat options would make Horizon nearly perfect.

Seriously, if you're looking for a new calendar, definitely give Horizon Calendar a shot.

    


The Mailbox security failure that wasn’t

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 06:38 PM PDT

The Mailbox security fail that wasn't

A few days ago it was reported that the popular Mailbox app was falling short on protecting user data. Developer Subhransu Behera published a post on his blog outlining what he considered to be security failures on the part of Mailbox.

Using iExplorer, Subhransu was able to extract the SQLite database out of Mailbox and view its contents, which consisted of all of the contact information and emails from the app. The conclusion to the article was the belief that Mailbox needs to be doing more to secure this user data, specifically by employing methods in the iOS SDK which would prevent being able to access this data with tools like iExplorer. After being posted on Hacker News, a number of people reported trouble reproducing Subhransu's results.

This isn't the first time we've seen confusion about this sort of thing. Not too long ago there was a lot of fuss about an iOS lock screen bypass bug that exposed the device's filesystem. It turned out that claim wasn't at all accurate. The cause of confusion over that lock screen bypass may be the same source of the confusion here.

When you plug your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch into your computer for the first time, the device will exchange keys with the computer that allow the two devices to talk to each other. If you have a passcode on your device the first time you plug it into your computer, iTunes will give you an alert message saying you need to enter your passcode on the device first. This is because the device's contents are encrypted and iTunes (or any other app for that matter) has no way to read the contents of the device. Once you enter your passcode, your device and computer can exchange keys as mentioned above and only then are they able to start communicating. These keys mean that even if the device is locked in the future, if you plug it into that same computer, iTunes (along with other apps) can still communicate with the device.

This can cause some confusion when somebody plugs a locked device into a computer it has previously been plugged in to. The misconception is that because a locked device is plugged into a computer and the contents of the device are readable, that the contents of that device would be readable on any computer that the device is plugged in to; but this is not reality. If you were to lose your phone on the street, then somebody else picked it up, took it home, plugged it into their computer and fired up iExplorer, they would just see a screen telling them to plug in a device. iExplorer has no way to talk to that device until the device has been unlocked, plugged into the computer, and the keys have been exchanged. You can reproduce this behavior on a computer that the device has already been plugged into by going to the '/private/var/db/lockdown' directory on the computer ('%AllUsersProfile%\Apple\Lockdown\' in Windows) and deleting the plist file in that directory that has your device's UDID in the filename.

This of course raises the question of what about a device that doesn't have a passcode? While it's true that somebody could copy the SQLite database off in that scenario, it's also true that the person could just launch the Mailbox app and view the same information in the app itself. Mailbox could provide a little extra protection by encrypting the locally stored database. This would provide an extra level of protection for users so that in the event that an attacker momentarily had access to an unlocked device, they could not just copy the database off, allowing them to take their time looking through it later. However, it's debatable if not having such a protection qualifies as a security fail. And it's certainly questionable if it warrants deleting the app off of you device as Subhransu did. Especially in a case where you've trusted a 3rd party service with accessing your email accounts and storing your email on their servers in the first place.

Not to mention that Gmail's own iPhone app stores cached email in pretty much the same way.

    


Microsoft makes Windows Phone commercial, sells iPhone instead

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 04:21 PM PDT

Microsoft has released a new commercial for the Windows Phone Nokia Lumia 920, and in it they show off both Apple's iPhone 5 and Samsung's Galaxy S. A lot. So much, in fact, it's hard to know what the commercial is about until the very end, when the Lumia 920 finally makes an appearance. Anyone outside Microsoft see the problem there?

The theme is: Don't fight. Switch. The setting is a wedding where the groom and the bride's side both use different phone platforms, and quickly get into a heated, and pretty funny war of insults that escalates into full-blown Mobile Kombat. When nothing but dust and decimation remains, the waiters wonder if Lumia couldn't just help them all get along.

Here's what Microsoft's Michael Stroh had to say on the Windows Blog:

I chuckled when I first saw the spot. As you'll see, it plays off the strong—even irrationally strong—feelings some of us harbor about the technology in our purses and pockets. You might recognize someone you've met among the wedding guests. You might see shades of yourself. I sure did—and smiled.

I did as well. And it wouldn't be out of place on a late night comedy show. Actually, it would kill as comedy. But this isn't comedy, it's the real, brutal, smartphone market, and here is that Microsoft is promoting Apple and Samsung over their own brands, and that's exactly what happens to them in the market already. Apple had a "switcher" campaign for the Mac many years ago, and while they had a generic "PC" character, he was seldom if ever branded, and there certainly wasn't ever any recognizable, competing hardware in the frame.

Ultimately, however, I didn't really end up caring any more about Windows Phone than I did at the beginning, and that makes it a pretty ineffective commercial. Give it a watch and tell me what you think. Anything there that's better than, I don't know, say Microsoft actually releasing an XPhone Halo edition?

Source: Windows Phone via WPCentral

    


Apple set to focus on "power users" with 10.9, but whither the regular folks?

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 03:29 PM PDT

WWDC will bring with it the first developer's looks at new versions of OS X and iOS; Apple VP Phil Schiller said so when the company announced WWDC's dates. According to Mark Gurman of 9to5Mac, OS X 10.9 will tout features geared toward "power users," among them better Spaces management for multi-monitor systems, tabbed browsing and more.

As a power user, I'm encouraged by the idea that Apple is dedicating time and resources to helping me get more out of the OS X user experience. That's a good start, but I hope Apple doesn't lose the forest through the trees. As intuitive as it is for many of us to use, OS X can still be daunting for new users, especially the new users assimilated by the "halo effect" of iOS devices they're already using.

Macs are supposed to "just work," but as the operating system has evolved so has the complexity of the Mac's interactions with the world around it. iCloud is still subject to random outages and problems - I spent hours last week trying to figure out why my wife's calendar and e-mail weren't synching, only to find after all that that my calendar had fallen out of sync as well. I've worked with users new to the platform that have absolutely no idea how to get their iPad to synchronize with their Mac.

iTunes is a horrible, bloated beast, and while its upgrade cycle isn't implictly tied to the operating system update schedule, that seems like a good time to deconstruct things a bit. iTunes has become this massive digital cloaca through which all information flows to iOS devices, and, oh yeah, it plays music and videos too. Maybe it's time for Apple to start breaking apart these features into separate applications, or just figuring out a less unwieldy way to let iTunes manage it all. And don't even get me started on iPhoto.

Jony Ive is responsible for the direction of Apple's Human Interface teams, and is apparently putting his stamp on iOS 7. I hope he's doing the same with OS X, because his minimalist sensibility is definitely needed in areas where OS X has become anything but minimal.

Source: 9to5Mac

    


TodoMovies for iPhone review: Get notified of release dates, track watched movies, and more

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 02:58 PM PDT

TodoMovies for iPhone review: Get notified of release dates, track watched movies, and more

If you're a movie buff and enjoy going to movies often, you can of course use services like Siri to look up movie times and even buy tickets but what if you want more information or to keep track of movies you've already seen? TodoMovies offers just that straight on your iPhone. Not only can you view trailers, ratings, and more on movies, but you can choose to save movies to your watch list and be notified when they come out in theaters.

I've always had a hard time finding an app that manages movies well. Services like Fandango and some others allow you to track movies, like them, and watch trailers but it requires another account login for me to remember. TodoMovies doesn't require me to do any of that or log in with a social service. I can just start adding movies the minute I launch the app. Not only that, native iCloud sync keeps your movies backed up and synced across all your iOS devices.

When looking for movies to add to your watch list, you can view movie trailers, gallery photos, ratings, and even App Store recommendations. This is one thing that really intrigued me since I typically do like to take a look at movie soundtracks or iBooks occasionally. While viewing any particular movie, just tap on the shop bag and you'll be shown any relevant iTunes or App Store items that TodoMovies can find based on that movie. I have found some quirks and things that may not necessarily belong but overall, it does a pretty good job at filtering in relevant soundtracks and books.

TodoMovies can notify you when a movie releases in a theater if you add it to your watch list. By default you'll be asked if you'd like to receive notifications for each and every movie that isn't out yet but you can easily remedy this by hopping into settings and disabling the notification prompt. You can either tell it to remind you each time or you can turn notifications off completely for TodoMovies in settings.

Once you've watched a movie, tap on it from your watch list and tap the check mark which will move it from your watch list to the already watched section of TodoMovies. This is a great place to keep track of all the movies you've seen.

The good

  • Ratings from both Rotten Tomatoes and Movie Database
  • High quality trailers built right in
  • App Store recommendations including albums, books, and apps that may be relevant to that particular movie
  • Notifications for movie release date reminders
  • iCloud sync

The bad

  • No ability to rate movies within TodoMovies
  • Sometimes App Store and iTunes recommendations can be a bit flaky and produce irrelevant results in some situations
  • No showtime support with local theaters

The bottom line

If you're looking for a movie tracking app that allows you to keep track of your personal watching experiences, TodoMovies is it. There aren't any pesky signups to complete or social network requirements. Your movies are just that, your movies.

With the added benefits of being able to view ratings, photos, trailers, and extras, TodoMovies is one of the best options available, especially if you don't fancy creating new accounts or sharing with your social networks. The only thing I'd really like to see in an update is the ability to view showtimes at local theaters without having to open a separate app.

    


Jony Ive once again rumored to be painting a kinder, flatter iOS 7 interface

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 02:39 PM PDT

Jony Ive once again rumored to be painting a kinder, flatter iOS 7 interface

We've been hearing about Jony Ive taking a sand blaster to iOS 7 -- removing a lot of the heavier textures, gradients, shadows, and skeuomorphs that built up at Apple under Steve Jobs and Scott Forstall. According to what I've been hearing), iOS 7 will make fans of the richer design style cry. 9to5Mac's ace reporter, Mark Gurman, calls it Windows Phone-like, and what's more:

In addition to losing the complex interface design characteristics from earlier versions of iOS, Apple has been discussing and testing ways to add more 'glance-able' information and system options panels, like Notification Center, to the software. While it is still uncertain if Apple will end up including such new functionality in iOS 7, or how the Company will implement the potential addition, one of the early ideas was to implement the new panels via swipes from the left and right side of an iOS device's display. This would be similar to the gesture on Apple's Mac trackpads for accessing Notification Center in Mountain Lion, but what, specifically, the iOS gesture could access is uncertain.

Gurman also says that iOS 7 is code-named Innsbruck, and includes a full set of newly redesigned icons for the built-in Apple apps. As that suggests, and as I've heard as well, the base Springboard launcher and its grid aren't going anywhere any time soon, so those hoping for an entirely new Home screen experience will be disappointed. That's not to say there won't be, as Gurman alludes to in his post, that Apple won't introduce new or modified sliding panels like Notification Center to add to or enhance functionality, but when you hit Home, currently, you still see Home. That's important for the hundreds of millions of existing iOS users.

What it means for developers and designers, however, will depend on how they've built their apps to date. Those who have stuck to UIKit will get a lot of the new look, including all the new stock interface elements, "for free". Those who have replicated UIKit elements in order to change them more substantially will have to re-replicate them. Those who have completely customized their interfaces, and who want to fit the new aesthetic, will have a lot of graphics to redraw come WWDC.

Ironically, Windows Phone and Android went flat to overcome performance issues. Compositing, masking, and shadow effects takes cycles. Flat interface can be thrown around much faster. Yet, because they've done it more recently, and because it stands in stark contrast to the more elaborate 2007-esque iOS interface, it looks "new". Their constraints brought out a cleanness and modernness that became fashionable, and as a result made Apple look decidedly unfashionable.

It'd be tempting to call the move reactionary -- a new look by new management to deal with new tastes in the market -- but for that new management being headed by Jony Ive. Apple's senior vice president of design has tastes that are well known, minimalist and timeless. He values getting everything, every distraction, out of the way until only the essential nature of the object remains. Now we're seeing that vision, Ive's vision, in charge of software for the first time. That it's such a stark contrast, and likely a welcome change for many from the status quo, could simply be a bonus.

Check out Gurman's article for more on iOS 7's new look, and then come back here and let me know what you think. If Apple goes flat, should they go very flat?

Source: 9to5Mac

    


How to create your own stations in the Podcasts app for iPhone and iPad

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 02:11 PM PDT

How to create your own stations in the Podcasts app for iPhone and iPad

If you use the Podcasts app to listen and watch podcasts, you can also create custom stations that'll filter in podcasts based on which subscriptions you add to that section. You can think of stations as nothing more than creating playlists just like you do in the Music app.

Here's how:

  1. Launch the Podcasts app from the Home screen of your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap on the My Stations tab along the bottom of the screen.
  3. Now tap on the New Station button.
  4. Name your station and then tap Save.
  5. You'll now be taken to a screen where you can add from your current subscriptions to that station. Once you're done, just tap the blue Done button in the upper right hand corner.

That's all there is to it. Notice you'll have to be subscribed to podcasts in order to create stations, so make sure you do that first before you attempt to create custom stations.

    


Rovio's Angry Birds Friends slingshots onto iOS on May 2

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 11:39 AM PDT

It's tough to imagine a mobile life without Angry Birds in it anymore. Does that mean we're done with them, though? Rovio clearly doesn't think so, and has announced that the latest in the series of Angry Birds games will be coming to iOS on May 2.

Angry Birds Friends is the mobile version of the Facebook version of Angry Birds. As you might imagine, being a Facebook game, there's a sizeable social element to proceedings. And, it's been as successful as anything else Rovio has turned their hands to. So, if you're ready for some more, keep your eyes on the App Store on May 2.

Source: Rovio (Twitter)

    


Iterate 45: Briana Wu and Amanda Warner of Revolution 60

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 09:40 AM PDT

Iterate 45: Briana Wu and Amanda Warner of Revolution 60

Brianna Wu and Amanda Warner of Giant Spacekat talk to Marc, Seth, and Rene about their upcoming video game, Revolution 60, working with the Unreal engine, character and game design, and the frenzy over freemium.

Show notes

Guests

Hosts

Feedback

Yell at us on Twitter/ADN via the above accounts. Loudly.

    


This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Reeder iPhone App Adds First Google Reader Replacement Sync Service

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 09:20 AM PDT

Reeder iPad app

The Reeder iPhone app has added a first Google Reader alternative sync service.

In a recent update the Reeder iPhone app has added support for both Feedbin as a third party sync service to replace Google Reader, which Google is going to shutdown on July 1, and for using Reeder as a local / standalone RSS app, with no syncing.

These features have not yet been added to the Reeder for iPad app, but the iPhone app update shows that Reeder is making quick progress on the changes promised last month in response to the news that Google Reader was being killed off. The developer also made clear that these changes, and likely support for more than one alternative RSS sync service, will be coming to the Reeder for iPad soon too.

So, the iPhone app update is good news for all of us Reeder for iPad users who are keen to stay with the app even after the demise of Google Reader.


©...

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This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Google Now Added to Google Search iPad App

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 07:58 AM PDT

Google Now iPad app

Google Now has been added in an update to the Google Search iPad app today.

Here's the change list for Version 3.0.0:

Get just the right information at just the right time with Google Now.
• weather and traffic conditions before you start your day
• updates on your favorite sports teams and breaking news stories as they happen

Google Now is often compared to Siri and many believe it's far more capable than the iOS voice assistant. I've been using a couple of new Android devices lately, primarily the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, but I haven't used Google Now enough just yet to have much of an opinion on it.

Here's a little detail, via The Verge, on how Google Now on iOS compares to the experience on an Android device:

Google is making it official: with an update to the Google Search application, Google Now is available on iOS. Compatible with both the iPhone and...

Read the whole entry... »

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Square Register updated with item libraries for iPhone, custom tipping, kitchen tickets, and more

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 07:37 AM PDT

Square Register updated with item libraries for iPhone, custom tipping, kitchen tickets, and more

Square Register for iPhone and iPad has just received an update that adds new features to both iPhone and iPad. For the iPhone, you can finally view your item libraries which means no more having to key in manual amounts. On the iPad you'll now have the ability to create kitchen tickets to keep your line of customers moving faster as well as the ability to pair your Bluetooth barcode scanner.

This update is probably the most exciting for anyone using an iPhone with Square Register considering the fact that you've always had to manually key in amounts and never could create or view item libraries you may have on an iPad. If you've already got an item library set up, it'll automatically import into the iPhone version of Square Register. If you don't use the iPad version, you can now create items directly from your iPhone.

The iPad version of Square Register has also been updated to include order modifiers, customizable kitchen tickets, and the ability to pair Bluetooth barcode readers to keep your line moving even faster. If you already use Square Register for your business and plan on using any of these features, let us know how it goes in the comments!

    


Google Search for iOS gets Google Now! All the great features of Android... locked in one little app

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 07:22 AM PDT

Google Search updated with weather, traffic, and sports information

Google Search has just been updated and the big news is, it now includes Google Now! Yes, the card-style informational service, which includes traffic and weather updates, as well as information about sports teams and breaking news. That means iPhone and iPad owners get a taste of the same features Android users having been enjoying in Jelly Bean for almost a year.

Voice remains one of the core elements of Google Search, and works with the new Google Now features so, when Google isn't already serving up what you want, you can simply ask for it. For example, the traffic condition update can give you information on how long your commute will be before you leave for the day.

Unlike stock Android, where Google Now is a core service, on iOS it's locked inside the Google Search app, which limits its scope and convenience. Lack of Push Notification support makes that worse than it might otherwise be.

And, of course, you have to be willing to log into your Google account and give them access to location and other forms of data. That's the price of the virtual assistant. It knows all about you. If you don't want that, you don't get that.

Thanks Eric for the tip!

    


Deal of the Day: 50% off BodyGuardz HD Anti-glare ScreenGuardz for iPhone 5

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 07:05 AM PDT

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iMore show 347: Freemium frenzy

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 06:07 AM PDT

Georgia from ZEN & TECH joins Rene to talk about the true cost of freemium iPhone and iPad games. Why did freemium games come into being, how did they grow to dominate the charts, what causes us to keep feeding them, and when do they cross the line? Also: A surprise visit from Kevin Michaluk of CrackBerry!

Guests

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, Debug, Ad hoc, and more, see MobileNations.com/shows

iMore show 340: Nerd Talking

    


This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Samsung design video: High on lifestyle companionship, low on rationale for cheap plastics

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 05:50 AM PDT

Apple typically accompanies the announcement of a new iPhone 5 with a video showcasing their design and manufacturing processes. Samsung has now done something similar for their just-released Galaxy S4. So how do the two videos compare, and what, if anything, do they tell us about the respective companies and phones?

Before we get to the videos, it's worthwhile taking a quick look at how Apple and Samsung handle the devices in general. Here's Apple's phone product logo, which uses a single typeface, compared to Samsung's, which uses different typefaces for both Galaxy and 4, and a highly stylized S in between:

Galaxy S4 vs. iPhone 5 logos

In Samsung's video, which includes the now oft-repeated "Life Companion" tag line, they start off with a quick series of initially unidentified people (we later find out they're UX -- user experience -- designers), who set the stage for a) wanting to go deeper into people's lives, b) be more evolutionary than radically different, c) be like nothing anyone has ever seen before, and d) change people's lives for the better. (Note: the video is in Korean with English subtitles, so there could be cultural differences and contexts that are lost in translation.)

Apple's video, which is actually more of a general product video that also touches on design, begins with Jony Ive, senior vice president of industrial design, who sets up a) the phone as the most-used object in people's lives, b) how seriously Apple takes that relationship, and c) how Apple's goal is not to make something new but something much better.

Samsung's video includes people set in more realistic environments, and a ton of b-roll showing stars, cityscapes, and other dramatic visuals. Apple's video sets everyone on backgrounds of pure white, and b-roll consists exclusively of shots of the iPhone itself, the technology inside it, and the equipment used to manufacture it.

Samsung's UX designers go on to describe how the phone has evolved from information system to life companion, and how they began to think about how they could use it to offer more meaningful value. They showcase features like the eye-tracking page scrolling and video pausing, and the on-hover contextual popups. And they call out the automatic photo album generation.

Apple's Jony Ive explains their decision to increase the screen size to 4-inches by making it taller but not wider (the old one-handed-ease-of-use argument). Bob Mansfield, senior vice-president (of technology) explains some of the new hardware features like LTE and the Apple A6, and Lightning connector. Scott Forstall, former vice president of iOS, then goes over iOS 6 software features like Maps, Panorama photos, Siri enhancements like sports and restaurant reservations, Facebook integration, and FaceTime over celular.

Samsung's Hyoungshin Park, product designer, explains that while the Galaxy S3 had more nature-centric design cues, the Galaxy S4 was meant to be more "rationale" in approach (that has to be a translation glitch, right?) and with more emotional CMF (?). Jongbo Jung, product designer, then describes the GS4 as a precious gem glittering in the dark or stars sparkling in the night sky. They paid attention to the smallest detail and refined it to perfection. They wanted to find the perfect line.

Apple returns to Jonny Ive, who talks not only about the very nearly insane precision of the manufacturing process, but about how the iPhone feels in your hand, and the importance of the materials they use -- glass and aluminum.

Samsung says nothing about the feeling or importance of their plastics. They do repeat the importance of making people's lives better. Mihnyouk Lee, vice president of product design, says Samsung believes they can create something new and valuable.

Apple's Jony Ive says they began the iPhone 5 with a design they loved, but to implement it, it took everything they'd learned to date. Simple, clear, truly extraordinary.

Samsung ends with: Life Companion, for a richer, simpler, fuller life.

Apple ends with: Apple logo.

Samsung's video does make Apple's look clinical, almost sterile at times, but the simplicity Apple brings to every element makes Samsung look undisciplined, almost unrefined.

What's most interesting is that two companies with such different styles and products are both sitting atop the smartphone space right now.

Via: Android Central

    


Verizon BlackBerry Z10 ad running as pre-roll on Apple's iPhone 5 YouTube video

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 05:00 AM PDT

Verizon BlackBerry Z10 ads running as pre-roll on Apple YouTube videos

I wanted to watch Apple's iPhone 5 product design video again this morning so I went over to YouTube/Apple, found it, clicked "Play"... and was greeted with a pre-roll ad for the Verizon BlackBerry Z10.

Apple has no control over who buys or gets assigned pre-roll advertising on their YouTube videos -- that's all Google -- but Apple does have the ability to turn off pre-roll ads for the video in general. I can't imagine, even on millions of views, Apple gains any significant (for them) revenue from pre-roll ads on their videos, so turning them off would not only prevent competitions -- and carrier partners like Verizon -- from hijacking their viewers, but also protect their brand in general.

BlackBerry Z10 probably won't reach iPhone level sales any time soon, but what if it were Samsung buying those ads for the Galaxy S4? (Maybe they have already?)

Source: YouTube

    


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