Apple’s iPhone 4 was the leading mobile phone in the U.S., despite being a phone launched mid-way through 2010, according to a new Nielsen report. The iPhone helped propel smartphone usage in the U.S. to new heights during the past year.
Smartphone penetration rose significantly compared to two years ago, Nielsen noted. In 2009, just 18 percent of mobile phone users were packing smart devices, while in 2011, that number had risen to 44 percent of U.S. residents, with more than half of adults between 18 and 34 counted among them. The iPhone in general has done a lot to propel that adoption.
Credit: Nielsen
Of individual device vendors, Apple is still very much on top, despite the fact that Android as a platform has eclipsed its market share on devices. Apple’s iPhones account for 28.6 percent of all postpaid smartphone subscribers, compared to 15.8 percent for BlackBerry, the next closest competitor, and 15.8 percent for HTC, the Android handset-maker with the largest manufacturer share. All together, Android devices accounted for 44.2 percent of U.S. postpaid plans between August and October 2011.
Nielsen takes its results from monthly surveys of more than 300,000 consumers, as well as data from devices belonging to users who opted into market research and data from phone bills from 65,000 volunteers.
Read also
http://sdfrc.org/index.php?p=blogs/viewstory/10342
http://egypt4.me/jcow/index.php?p=blogs/viewstory/50509
пʼятниця, 16 грудня 2011 р.
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2012 Looking Copacetic for iPhone, iPad Sales
Apple's iPhone and iPad will be seeing increased competition in the coming year, but it's not likely to rain on the company's parade. Analyst forecasts for sales of the devices appear to run the gamut from excellent to stupendous. The latest -- and perhaps most bullish -- assessment came from Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty, who told clients that iPhone sales could hit the 190 million mark next year.
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Morgan Stanley is decidedly bullish about Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) near future. It will sell more iPhones and iPads than expected over the next few quarters, Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty told clients in a research note that has been widely reported in the press. Her findings were based on the results of an AlphaWise survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers over the age of 18, conducted the week after Thanksgiving.
Shipments of the iPhone may reach 36 million this quarter, Huberty said, rather than the 30 million she forecast earlier, with unit sales for the year soaring to an estimated 190 million.
Strong sales of the iPad are also expected. Twenty-seven percent of survey respondents said they intended to buy an iPad next year, she noted, while only 8 percent already owned one. That suggests up to 63 million purchases, compared with the 26.5 million iPads that have been sold in the six quarters it's been available.
Amazon's (Nasdaq: AMZN) Kindle Fire is not a significant threat to the iPad, in Huberty's view -- it's sales have shaved a mere 4 points off Apple's take.
If Apple were to cut its iPad price by US$100, it could expect to sell 15 million more iPads, she ventured.
Huberty did not respond to our request to comment for this story.
Increased Competition
Not all sales projections for the iPhone and the iPad are as optimistic as Morgan Stanley's.
"My forecasts for Apple are a bit lower than these, but Apple has always shown that it has the ability to surprise," Allen Nogee, principal analyst for wireless technology at In-Stat, told MacNewsWorld.
Apple will be facing more competition going forward, Nogee pointed out.
"We have Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) Phone kicking in, Bada from Samsung, and a few others, but I think Apple, with its one-smartphone-at-a-time philosophy, can keep up with the best of them," said Nogee.
Where Apple lags is in the lower end of the market, a segment that remains very vibrant, he observed. "The low-cost area, [with] smartphones costing $150 or less without subsidies ... will be one of the fastest-growing segments going forward, and Apple doesn't compete there yet."
Lower Expectations
Far more conservative than Morgan Stanley's estimates are ABI Research's projections. "We're seeing a potential 25 million for this quarter," Michael Morgan, senior analyst, mobile devices, told MacNewsWorld. "For 2012, we're seeing 120 million. That's still a sizable gain."
Although ABI's projections are lower than Morgan Stanley's, "they did a good job on their research, and I know why their numbers are high," said Morgan. "They used a survey of intents to buy. If you use intents to buy, you could come up with that number."
However, everyone who intends to buy doesn't actually buy, he emphasized. "The laws of economics still apply, even to Apple. Half to 75 percent of intents actually follow through."
It's doubtful that RIM's new phones will put much of a dent in Apple, said Morgan, although they're still a big unknown.
"RIM has officially become the dark horse," he said. "They're developing their own platform Integrated solutions for turnkey web stores and e-commerce platforms. Learn more. and it looks better than its old platform. They're hooking onto the Android ecosystem with one-click porting. That means they won't have to develop their own ecosystem."
Still, the really competitive pushback against apple will come from Samsung, in Morgan's view.
Par for Apple's Course
Generally speaking, the Morgan Stanley numbers -- even thought they are large -- are not getting criticized on the analyst beat.
"Nothing is actually surprising here," Steven Savage, technology project manager and Geek 2.0 blogger, told MacNewsWorld. "Apple has a good reputation -- the iPhone has expanded to more outlets and networks."
There is little that could substantially change this outlook, maintained Savage.
"Apple has a lot of established market share and mind share," he said. "It'd take a huge shakeup to make people stop thinking about Apple -- and Apple doesn't do huge shakeups."
New tablets could possibly affect the outlook, he conceded.
"The Kindle Fire is certainly a player, though initial reviews are mixed," said Savage. "I don't see any new phones challenging Apple. I'm not betting on RIM at all."
Read also
http://sdfrc.org/index.php?p=blogs/viewstory/10342
http://egypt4.me/jcow/index.php?p=blogs/viewstory/50509
Go Wild! Entrust Wildcard SSL Certificates
Versatile, scalable security for your entire domain. Secure an entire domain with one certificate. Allows for the addition of up to nine sub-domains as SANs. From $699/year. Learn more.
Morgan Stanley is decidedly bullish about Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) near future. It will sell more iPhones and iPads than expected over the next few quarters, Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty told clients in a research note that has been widely reported in the press. Her findings were based on the results of an AlphaWise survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers over the age of 18, conducted the week after Thanksgiving.
Shipments of the iPhone may reach 36 million this quarter, Huberty said, rather than the 30 million she forecast earlier, with unit sales for the year soaring to an estimated 190 million.
Strong sales of the iPad are also expected. Twenty-seven percent of survey respondents said they intended to buy an iPad next year, she noted, while only 8 percent already owned one. That suggests up to 63 million purchases, compared with the 26.5 million iPads that have been sold in the six quarters it's been available.
Amazon's (Nasdaq: AMZN) Kindle Fire is not a significant threat to the iPad, in Huberty's view -- it's sales have shaved a mere 4 points off Apple's take.
If Apple were to cut its iPad price by US$100, it could expect to sell 15 million more iPads, she ventured.
Huberty did not respond to our request to comment for this story.
Increased Competition
Not all sales projections for the iPhone and the iPad are as optimistic as Morgan Stanley's.
"My forecasts for Apple are a bit lower than these, but Apple has always shown that it has the ability to surprise," Allen Nogee, principal analyst for wireless technology at In-Stat, told MacNewsWorld.
Apple will be facing more competition going forward, Nogee pointed out.
"We have Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) Phone kicking in, Bada from Samsung, and a few others, but I think Apple, with its one-smartphone-at-a-time philosophy, can keep up with the best of them," said Nogee.
Where Apple lags is in the lower end of the market, a segment that remains very vibrant, he observed. "The low-cost area, [with] smartphones costing $150 or less without subsidies ... will be one of the fastest-growing segments going forward, and Apple doesn't compete there yet."
Lower Expectations
Far more conservative than Morgan Stanley's estimates are ABI Research's projections. "We're seeing a potential 25 million for this quarter," Michael Morgan, senior analyst, mobile devices, told MacNewsWorld. "For 2012, we're seeing 120 million. That's still a sizable gain."
Although ABI's projections are lower than Morgan Stanley's, "they did a good job on their research, and I know why their numbers are high," said Morgan. "They used a survey of intents to buy. If you use intents to buy, you could come up with that number."
However, everyone who intends to buy doesn't actually buy, he emphasized. "The laws of economics still apply, even to Apple. Half to 75 percent of intents actually follow through."
It's doubtful that RIM's new phones will put much of a dent in Apple, said Morgan, although they're still a big unknown.
"RIM has officially become the dark horse," he said. "They're developing their own platform Integrated solutions for turnkey web stores and e-commerce platforms. Learn more. and it looks better than its old platform. They're hooking onto the Android ecosystem with one-click porting. That means they won't have to develop their own ecosystem."
Still, the really competitive pushback against apple will come from Samsung, in Morgan's view.
Par for Apple's Course
Generally speaking, the Morgan Stanley numbers -- even thought they are large -- are not getting criticized on the analyst beat.
"Nothing is actually surprising here," Steven Savage, technology project manager and Geek 2.0 blogger, told MacNewsWorld. "Apple has a good reputation -- the iPhone has expanded to more outlets and networks."
There is little that could substantially change this outlook, maintained Savage.
"Apple has a lot of established market share and mind share," he said. "It'd take a huge shakeup to make people stop thinking about Apple -- and Apple doesn't do huge shakeups."
New tablets could possibly affect the outlook, he conceded.
"The Kindle Fire is certainly a player, though initial reviews are mixed," said Savage. "I don't see any new phones challenging Apple. I'm not betting on RIM at all."
Read also
http://sdfrc.org/index.php?p=blogs/viewstory/10342
http://egypt4.me/jcow/index.php?p=blogs/viewstory/50509
Shoot 360-degree iPhone 4/4S videos with Kogeto Dot and GoPano Micro
The iPhone camera does a lot on its own, but it can’t do everything. Shooting 360-degree, panoramic videos is one example. But addressing that missing feature is as simple as snapping a specially designed lens onto your phone's camera. I took a look at two available options—Kogeto’s $79 Dot and EyeSee360’s $80 GoPano Micro—to see how they fare. Both are compatible with the iPhone 4 and 4S, and are used in conjunction with iOS apps that allow you to shoot, view, and share your interactive panoramic videos.
The Dot is a simple accessory with a plastic lens and a snap-on clip that attaches to the back of your iPhone. The lens makes it possible to capture a video with a 360-degree view. Though the results are far from professional-grade, it’s a fun novelty item, especially for people who like to take and share casual videos of lively events such as concerts, sporting contests, and parties.
To use Dot, you’ll need to snap it onto the back of your phone and download Kogeto’s accompanying Looker iPhone app. All Dot videos must be shot in the app’s Shoot mode, which currently allows three minutes maximum of footage. Since the lens is shooting a 360-degree panorama, the video looks like a warped circle of your surroundings—you won’t be able to see what you’re shooting (which is not really a problem with the app since you’ll need to hold the phone face-down while shooting anyway. More on that later.) Once you’re done, the app quickly de-warps your video and uploads it into your Looker library.
On the iPhone app, you can watch your video in an interactive mode where you swipe through to change the viewing angle. If you load the video onto a computer—by sharing via Facebook, Twitter, email, or by uploading it to Kogeto’s Dotspots website—you will also be able to view it in panoramic mode, which lets you see the entire scene in one wide shot. Kogeto plans an update to Looker so that you can switch videos into panoramic mode in the app as well.
Warped Shoot: In the Looker app’s Shoot mode, you'll see a wormhole view of your scene on the screen. But since you have to hold the iPhone facedown, when shooting, you're really not seeing anything.
Dot captures the scene around its lens, so if you hold the phone vertically as you normally would when shooting video, Looker will de-warp your video strangely; plus, you’ll mostly capture video of the ceiling and floor. Instead, you need to hold the phone face down when shooting, making sure not to grip your iPhone’s edges; otherwise, your fingers will have a starring role in your video.
To take videos that make any sense and don’t include your fingers, you need to place the iPhone face-down on a flat surface, or hold it flat on your palm. The latter method doesn’t feel very natural and isn’t the best way to keep your iPhone safe from drops while walking. Since Dot isn’t compatible with any cases, this is particularly problematic. When I was shooting video on the San Francisco streets, I just ended up letting my fingers get into the shot. As noted above, this means you can’t actually see what you’re shooting while you’re shooting.
Dot is super easy to clip on and take off of your iPhone, and comes with a microfiber carrying case that doubles as a lens-cleaning cloth. It's available in four colors—black, pink, red, and green. Overall, it captures decent-quality videos. The main problem with video quality is that the plastic lens creates a reflection in every video that varies depending on the lighting. And while the accessory is designed to be very secure when attached to the iPhone, the actual process of capturing videos feels clumsy. If you can get past having to hold your phone in an awkward position, Kogeto’s Dot does a pretty good job at shooting 360-degree videos. Here's a sample video:
To see more videos shot with Dot, check out Kogeto's Dotspots site.
GoPano Micro
EyeSee360’s GoPano Micro is a miniature version of the company’s GoPano lens for digital cameras, made just for the iPhone 4 and 4S. Like Kogeto’s Dot, GoPano Micro lets you shoot panoramic 360-degree videos by attaching a plastic lens to your iPhone’s camera. In order to use GoPano Micro, you need to attach a custom-designed case that comes with the lens. Once that’s on your iPhone, you plug the lens into the case, download the GoPano app, and start shooting.
The GoPano Micro case is well designed—all ports and buttons are easily accessible, and it offers decent protection for the back and edges of the iPhone. I felt totally comfortable using the case, instead of my standard Speck CandyShell case, during the time I tested out the lens. Another bonus with this system is that the lens is attached to the case in a way that makes it possible to capture 360-degree video while holding the phone vertically. You can comfortably grip the phone as you capture video, making for steadier shots.
Full-Frontal Action: In GoPano's Record mode, you can see a dewarped shot of what's directly in front of you. You won't be able to switch the view to face any other directions though.
To shoot with GoPano Micro, you'll need to download the accompanying GoPano app. Tap the Record Video button and you’ll be taken to the video capture screen. The great thing about the GoPano app is that it provides a live, de-warped view of what you’re shooting. You’ll only be able to see what’s directly in front of you, but even this helps, since you’ll know how high or low to frame your shot.
Once you’re done, the video is instantly saved—there’s virtually no wait for the app to de-warp or load the footage into your video library. You can share the video by uploading it to the GoPano website, copying it to your iPhone Camera Roll, or by sharing it via iTunes file sharing. (In order to share on GoPano’s website, you will need to sign up for an account and enter in a registration code that comes with the device.)
When you’re watching videos on the app, you can either swipe to change viewing angles, or just pan your iPhone from left to right. The latter feature makes watching the video much more immersive, adding that feeling of “being there” to the experience—you can also better control the speed at which you move across the scene than with finger swiping. If you want to watch a video in full panoramic mode, you’ll need to save it to your Camera Roll, which will export it as a flat scene with a 360-degree veiw.
The way the accessory is designed makes it nearly impossible to get any fingerprints on the lens. The design also leads to great video quality—GoPano Micro captures clear, reflection-free shots of a scene. On the flip side, it can be hard to clean the lens if you do happen to get a lot of dust or an unfortunate spill onto it. Luckily, the GoPano Micro does come with a microfiber pouch that can be used as a cleaning cloth for such situations.
The biggest drawback to the GoPano Micro is the way the lens fits into its case. You need to push the lens into the case’s camera opening, which is somewhat difficult on its own. And when the lens is plugged in, it’s not very secure. Give your iPhone a quick shake and the lens will fall out of the case. I can imagine in crowded places, where you’re likely to bump into people, that it’ll be hard to keep the lens securely on the phone's camera. But as long as you pan slowly and hold your iPhone steadily, there won’t be a problem.
Read also
http://thehomecoverage.com/index.php?p=blogs/viewstory/4859
http://mygamezoneonline.com/thezone/index.php?p=blogs/viewstory/3829
The Dot is a simple accessory with a plastic lens and a snap-on clip that attaches to the back of your iPhone. The lens makes it possible to capture a video with a 360-degree view. Though the results are far from professional-grade, it’s a fun novelty item, especially for people who like to take and share casual videos of lively events such as concerts, sporting contests, and parties.
To use Dot, you’ll need to snap it onto the back of your phone and download Kogeto’s accompanying Looker iPhone app. All Dot videos must be shot in the app’s Shoot mode, which currently allows three minutes maximum of footage. Since the lens is shooting a 360-degree panorama, the video looks like a warped circle of your surroundings—you won’t be able to see what you’re shooting (which is not really a problem with the app since you’ll need to hold the phone face-down while shooting anyway. More on that later.) Once you’re done, the app quickly de-warps your video and uploads it into your Looker library.
On the iPhone app, you can watch your video in an interactive mode where you swipe through to change the viewing angle. If you load the video onto a computer—by sharing via Facebook, Twitter, email, or by uploading it to Kogeto’s Dotspots website—you will also be able to view it in panoramic mode, which lets you see the entire scene in one wide shot. Kogeto plans an update to Looker so that you can switch videos into panoramic mode in the app as well.
Warped Shoot: In the Looker app’s Shoot mode, you'll see a wormhole view of your scene on the screen. But since you have to hold the iPhone facedown, when shooting, you're really not seeing anything.
Dot captures the scene around its lens, so if you hold the phone vertically as you normally would when shooting video, Looker will de-warp your video strangely; plus, you’ll mostly capture video of the ceiling and floor. Instead, you need to hold the phone face down when shooting, making sure not to grip your iPhone’s edges; otherwise, your fingers will have a starring role in your video.
To take videos that make any sense and don’t include your fingers, you need to place the iPhone face-down on a flat surface, or hold it flat on your palm. The latter method doesn’t feel very natural and isn’t the best way to keep your iPhone safe from drops while walking. Since Dot isn’t compatible with any cases, this is particularly problematic. When I was shooting video on the San Francisco streets, I just ended up letting my fingers get into the shot. As noted above, this means you can’t actually see what you’re shooting while you’re shooting.
Dot is super easy to clip on and take off of your iPhone, and comes with a microfiber carrying case that doubles as a lens-cleaning cloth. It's available in four colors—black, pink, red, and green. Overall, it captures decent-quality videos. The main problem with video quality is that the plastic lens creates a reflection in every video that varies depending on the lighting. And while the accessory is designed to be very secure when attached to the iPhone, the actual process of capturing videos feels clumsy. If you can get past having to hold your phone in an awkward position, Kogeto’s Dot does a pretty good job at shooting 360-degree videos. Here's a sample video:
To see more videos shot with Dot, check out Kogeto's Dotspots site.
GoPano Micro
EyeSee360’s GoPano Micro is a miniature version of the company’s GoPano lens for digital cameras, made just for the iPhone 4 and 4S. Like Kogeto’s Dot, GoPano Micro lets you shoot panoramic 360-degree videos by attaching a plastic lens to your iPhone’s camera. In order to use GoPano Micro, you need to attach a custom-designed case that comes with the lens. Once that’s on your iPhone, you plug the lens into the case, download the GoPano app, and start shooting.
The GoPano Micro case is well designed—all ports and buttons are easily accessible, and it offers decent protection for the back and edges of the iPhone. I felt totally comfortable using the case, instead of my standard Speck CandyShell case, during the time I tested out the lens. Another bonus with this system is that the lens is attached to the case in a way that makes it possible to capture 360-degree video while holding the phone vertically. You can comfortably grip the phone as you capture video, making for steadier shots.
Full-Frontal Action: In GoPano's Record mode, you can see a dewarped shot of what's directly in front of you. You won't be able to switch the view to face any other directions though.
To shoot with GoPano Micro, you'll need to download the accompanying GoPano app. Tap the Record Video button and you’ll be taken to the video capture screen. The great thing about the GoPano app is that it provides a live, de-warped view of what you’re shooting. You’ll only be able to see what’s directly in front of you, but even this helps, since you’ll know how high or low to frame your shot.
Once you’re done, the video is instantly saved—there’s virtually no wait for the app to de-warp or load the footage into your video library. You can share the video by uploading it to the GoPano website, copying it to your iPhone Camera Roll, or by sharing it via iTunes file sharing. (In order to share on GoPano’s website, you will need to sign up for an account and enter in a registration code that comes with the device.)
When you’re watching videos on the app, you can either swipe to change viewing angles, or just pan your iPhone from left to right. The latter feature makes watching the video much more immersive, adding that feeling of “being there” to the experience—you can also better control the speed at which you move across the scene than with finger swiping. If you want to watch a video in full panoramic mode, you’ll need to save it to your Camera Roll, which will export it as a flat scene with a 360-degree veiw.
The way the accessory is designed makes it nearly impossible to get any fingerprints on the lens. The design also leads to great video quality—GoPano Micro captures clear, reflection-free shots of a scene. On the flip side, it can be hard to clean the lens if you do happen to get a lot of dust or an unfortunate spill onto it. Luckily, the GoPano Micro does come with a microfiber pouch that can be used as a cleaning cloth for such situations.
The biggest drawback to the GoPano Micro is the way the lens fits into its case. You need to push the lens into the case’s camera opening, which is somewhat difficult on its own. And when the lens is plugged in, it’s not very secure. Give your iPhone a quick shake and the lens will fall out of the case. I can imagine in crowded places, where you’re likely to bump into people, that it’ll be hard to keep the lens securely on the phone's camera. But as long as you pan slowly and hold your iPhone steadily, there won’t be a problem.
Read also
http://thehomecoverage.com/index.php?p=blogs/viewstory/4859
http://mygamezoneonline.com/thezone/index.php?p=blogs/viewstory/3829
Report: Siri ports to iPhone 4 now legal
The one feature that really, truly distinguishes the iPhone 4S from its predecessor, the iPhone 4, is the digital-assistant software Siri. To this point, it’s been possible--but illegal --to shoehorn the helpful program onto the older phone.
With Apple’s latest update, however, Cult of Mac reports that home hackers will be able to pull the files for a Siri port without running afoul of Apple’s copyright.
Dozens of new smartphones are vying for consumers’ attention. Learn about the unique features of some of the hottest phones on the market.
In the past, those looking to put the program on anything that wasn’t an iPhone 4S had to resort to methods such as illegally tricking Apple’s servers into recognizing their older devices as the latest handset. Now, the report says, thanks to the iOS 5.0.1 update that Apple pushed out on Thursday, the files that operate Siri are wide open.
News of this possibility was first tweeted by a prominent hacker who is part of a group that makes software for jailbroken iPhones.
Cult of Mac says it’s not clear why, exactly, the files have been suddenly made accessible, and notes that it’s possible that Apple will put up its walls again in its next software update.
But, for now, the doors are open to the hacking community to make Siri on older Apple devices a legal possibility.
Read also
http://matlit.com/snagar/blogs/entry/Baic-Info-on-Laptop-or-ComputerSpyware-malware
http://toopals.com//index.php?p=blogs/viewstory/2305
With Apple’s latest update, however, Cult of Mac reports that home hackers will be able to pull the files for a Siri port without running afoul of Apple’s copyright.
Dozens of new smartphones are vying for consumers’ attention. Learn about the unique features of some of the hottest phones on the market.
In the past, those looking to put the program on anything that wasn’t an iPhone 4S had to resort to methods such as illegally tricking Apple’s servers into recognizing their older devices as the latest handset. Now, the report says, thanks to the iOS 5.0.1 update that Apple pushed out on Thursday, the files that operate Siri are wide open.
News of this possibility was first tweeted by a prominent hacker who is part of a group that makes software for jailbroken iPhones.
Cult of Mac says it’s not clear why, exactly, the files have been suddenly made accessible, and notes that it’s possible that Apple will put up its walls again in its next software update.
But, for now, the doors are open to the hacking community to make Siri on older Apple devices a legal possibility.
Read also
http://matlit.com/snagar/blogs/entry/Baic-Info-on-Laptop-or-ComputerSpyware-malware
http://toopals.com//index.php?p=blogs/viewstory/2305
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