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The Latest Rivals of The iPhone 5
The mobile gadget world is very eagerly awaiting the release of the iPhone 5 or the new iPhone later this month and it is safe to say that there is a lot riding for Apple on this release. However, some of the main rivals of Apple seem to be worried that the iPhone 5, as predicted, will be a runaway hit. This seems like a fair assumption considering the track record Apple has established over the years. Their only consolation seems to have come by taking the first shot in this mobile devices fight by releasing their devices earlier than the iPhone. We are of course talking about the latest releases of Motorola and Nokia, the once world leaders in mobile phones.
Windows 8 Phones from Nokia
Nokia has come up with two new devices that are powered by their latest version of mobile software, Windows 8. Although the release seems to a bit premature considering that Nokia could have done well by waiting for the iPhone to release and modifying the features so that they usurp iPhone’s, it seems that Nokia is taking a leap of faith. Windows 8 has gained thumbs up with experts and critics for its new user interface and the features and it seems that Nokia is hoping to gain a user base before the iPhone 5 comes into the scene and dominates.
Going into the specifics, one of the new phones is from the Lumia flagship that is titled Lumia 920. Nokia Lumia series was the first range of Windows phones and the latest addition seems to be an attempt to make it a synonymous name with Nokia. To target the customers who are not looking at very expensive phones, Nokia also unveiled a toned down version of the 920, the Nokia Lumia 820. The only discernible feature difference between the 920 and 820 at this point of time is the lack of a special camera on the 820.
A Lot Riding on This Release for Microsoft
Microsoft has also been having a bad time as over the past five years, they have not made any significant contribution to the consumer market. Although they have been trying hard, it is Google and Apple who have been calling the shots in mobile operating system market. This time around, Microsoft developers have also outdone themselves with the new OS and its features. Stephen Elop, the chief executive officer of Nokia also mentioned this during the release and said that although the hardware is impressive, Microsoft tells the rest of the story through their software.
Google Planning A few Releases in Tandem with Apple
Ever since Google bought Motorola, there have been various statements by both companies about how they are planning to convert this merger into a mobile superpower. Android is still the world leader in mobile operating system and if they manage to outdo Apple on this instance, Google will reaffirm its position at the top of the ladder. However, judging by the looks of it, it seems that the iPhone 5 will blow our minds away with its impressiveness.
More Info About iPhone 5 Components Leaked
Ever since the video of the chassis of the iPhone 5 was leaked, there have been regular reports of more leaked parts. At the present rate at which the details are being leaked, when the iPhone 5 is released this September, Tim Cook might start his address by saying ‘as you all probably know’! However, we cannot say with 100% assurance that these leaks are authentic. But looking at the consistency which the leaked videos and images have and considering the other associating factors, we can be fairly sure that the information is accurate to a certain degree at least.
This article will take you through the latest info about iPhone 5 parts and see how they match up with the previous reports we had.
The 19-Pin Connector Dock
The biggest concern for the fans was the new connector dock that would be present on the new iPhone and it seems that it is definitely going to be there, after all. The leaked video of the parts shows the connector dock as a separated part from the iPhone. This is because the video has supposedly come from an Apple parts supplier which further adds to the authenticity of the leak. This seems to be a bid from Apple to provide a universal port for all its devices.
When the chassis image of the iPhone 5 was leaked, we did notice that the holes in the chassis looked like the connector dock will be narrower and smaller compared to the wider 30-pin dock. This particular leak also shows that the connector dock is in line with the hole we saw in the chassis leak. So we can say with a fair degree of certainty that the 30-pin connector is history when the iPhone 5 is released.
The Logic Board Also in Line with Chassis Design
With the connector dock, there was a picture of the new logic board that was leaked and this also seems to be fairly accurate. Although there was no way of determining the exact function of that logic board, we can see a couple of processors and a few electronic components. One of the reasons the logic board design is also authentic is that the holes for holding the logic board in place on the chassis are in line with the screw slots which are present on the leaked chassis design.
NFC Chip?
One of the new features that will be present on the new iPhone is the NFC feature. The logic board has a processor chip which is similar to the NFC chip that can be found in the market. However, the iPhone 5 will supposedly be thinner than the iPhone 4S and hence, we will have to wait and see if that bulky NFC chip will be incorporated in the new mobile device to be released from Apple. There have also been issues about the lack of security in the NFC chip on the Samsung Galaxy S III, the biggest competitor to the iPhone 5. So, we will have to wait and see if Apple will use the same prototype or add more security features to the NFC on the iPhone 5, although it seems highly unlikely.
Does Improved Security Fix the Phishing Hole in iOS?
Apple is known for its insistence on high security and going to any lengths to ensure that its consumers get the best security features possible. A few weeks ago, a leading technology site had exposed a glaring hole in the existing iOS version where phishing could easily be carried out. In the developers’ conference where the new version of iOS was released, Apple’s representatives stressed that the company’s developers had laid a lot of emphasis on security features and the new iOS will have the best possible security measures. But will it fix the phishing hole? We will have to wait and see when the iPhone 5 is released.
What exactly is SMS Phishing?
If you are thinking that this might be a small security flaw that is of no consequence, and that is the reason Apple has not paid any attention to it, think again. In SMS phishing, the sender of a text message can make use of the flaw in the OS to change the reply-to number while sending the SMS. This will allow the user to employ any number he/she fancies and this allows them to carry on a wide range of malicious activities, limited only by creativity.
For example, the most commonly seen exploitation of this security flaw is some miscreants using the reply number of the bank to ask some of the customers to send in their login details and other confidential information. This would then be used to steal the money from banks. There were also reported cases of identity thefts where the miscreants had used this security flaw in the iOS.
Other Operating Systems Are Safe In This Aspect
When the website that exposed this major flaw in the iOS tested other phones also for this particular security flaw, the other mobile operating systems passed with flying colors. None of the major OS like Blackberry, Android, Symbian and Windows Mobile had this particular flaw. During the test, the website noticed a very interesting methodology of how these operating systems dodged the flaw. They did not display the reply to address at all, thus giving no chance for hackers to change the reply-to address.
Apple Stresses on Usage of iMessage
When Apple’s representatives were questioned about this particular security flaw, they insisted that iMessage service was the safest service for Apple users to send text messages to each other. But they failed to notice the fact that not every mobile user employs an Apple device. Even today, the leading operating system in the world is Android. So, users need to use the SMS service if they have to send messages to other non-Apple users.
Impact on Sales of iPhone 5
This particular flaw has not had much impact on the sales of the iPhone and by what we can judge from Apple’s history, we can be fairly certain that the flaw will be fixed in the iPhone 5. However, the security awareness is growing among the mobile users’ community and people will question the safety of the iPhone 5 if this flaw is not fixed. A few months down the line, the sales might be effected if the security flaw remains in the version of iOS on the iPhone 5.
Siri 2.0 on the iPhone 5
When Apple announced the launch of the new iOS version at the developers’ conference, people were excited about all the possible upgrades that could have been done. But none of them was more exciting than the incorporation of Siri into the OS, which would not only enhance its capabilities but would also give more room for Apple to include additional features. We can say with a fair degree of certainty that Siri 2.0 will be very different and more efficient than the existing Siri.
Siri 2.0
When the iPhone 4S was released, people were not just excited about the faster processor and host of other features in the iPhone 4S. The biggest draw of the iPhone 4S was Siri, the one of its kind voice based response system. All you had to do was tell Siri what to do and it would execute the task. This technology was similar to robotic tech where you speak out what you want and the device would execute it. The customers loved it and enjoyed it, but with time, they did encounter quite a few bugs. Although Apple released a few updates, it failed to fix the bugs and eventually, the customers got tired of it. To appease its customers, Apple is supposedly going to release a new version of Siri, which is tentatively title Siri 2.0.
Developed Integrated to iOS
When Apple unveiled the new iOS at the developers’ conference, there were signs that the iOS was closely associated with Siri. This seems to be a logical choice for the Apple engineers as integrated software will not only perform well but will also have lesser bearing on memory and other features, ceasing to make it a bloatware. Siri 2.0 will supposedly be integrated into iOS and it comes with a whole new range of features. Not only has Apple worked hard to fix the bugs but has also improved the functionality of Siri. The new software will respond faster, the responses will be more accurate and the interaction will be more detailed.
Stiff Competition from Google and Microsoft
When Siri was launched for the first time, it was one of its kind and people were amazed by it. No other software available on a smartphone could double up as a digital assistant. However, competitors of Apple (Google and Microsoft) started making efforts on developing similar software and the results are now in the market. With Android 4.0 Jelly Bean, Google has released its own version of digital assistant, Google Now. This has been received well by the Android users. The Bing Voice on Windows 8 phones is Microsoft’s version of Siri. Users and experts are impressed by Bing Voice and it is going to pose a serious challenge to Siri.
If all the rumors about Siri 2.0 are true, then we can expect an almost artificial intelligence kind of software in the iPhone 5. Keeping in mind that Apple likes to push the boundaries and give the users more than what they can expect, don’t be surprised if Siri 2.0 is almost capable of giving you ideas!
4G LTE Capability for iPhone 5 Confirmed
Apple has always carried a reputation that the devices it releases will be up to date with all the latest technologies, to ensure that it is one step ahead of its competitors. However, one of the trends that we noticed was Apple’s reluctance to incorporate 4G LTE technology into its devices. This is surprising indeed, considering Apple’s eagerness to move on to newer technology and leaving behind the older ones. Steve Jobs called it ‘the evolution’ of technology and even after his passing, Apple has tried to stick true to his words in terms of both the hardware and software used. Keeping up with this trend, experts were of the opinion that iPhone 5 will come with 4G LTE capability.
Apple Talks with Korean Mobile Carriers to Provide 4G LTE for iPhone 5
A Korean newspaper has reported that Apple representatives have been in talks with Korean mobile service providers for 4G LTE support for the iPhone 5. This is not surprising considering Apple plans to be the world leader in mobile devices and expand its reach outside the United States, where it is the undisputed leader. The sources are reliable representatives of KT and SK Telecom and reliable, but they requested their names to be kept out of the news. They said that Apple was requesting the usage of 1.8 GHz frequency to be used when the iPhone 5 will be released.
4G LTE is Tricky to Implement
Although providing the phone with 4G LTE capability is not a big issue for Apple, having networks which support the same would be a tricky matter indeed. Each network carrier can choose their own frequency when providing with 4G LTE capability. In the United States, the 700 MHz band is used by Verizon, while and AT & T uses both the 2.1GHz and 700MHz bands. Apple must manufacture phones which are compatible with the networks they are being used with. This means that they would have to distribute phones in association with the mobile service providers. If Apple is in talks with the Korean mobile network providers, then we can safely assume that the rumor is true.
Why is 4G LTE Important for Apple?
A recent survey that was conducted a couple of months ago asked mobile users, especially in European countries, why they chose Android based phones over Apple phones. Out of all the android users, more than 80% of them had phones with 4G LTE capability which was an astonishing figure indeed. With time, people have got used to the internet so much that there is a requirement for more data and faster speeds. That is exactly what 4G LTE can offer and if iPhone can offer 4G, there is no reason why they cannot force more customers to switch over from Android to the iPhone. With a mission to dominate the mobile world, this seems to be a strategic move from Apple .
We will only have to wait for a few more weeks before the iPhone 5 will be released. And then, all these doubts and rumors will be either confirmed or dispelled.
