iPhone 5C, a Slightly Cheaper and Redesigned Version of iPhone Gets Unveiled

The iPhone 5C was undoubtedly the more anticipated version of the iPhone in today’s event. The cheaper model of the series replaces the iPhone 5 (4S will continue though) and features an all new design which waves goodbye to the usual design language.

Design and Display

The iPhone 5C features the first plastic design in an iPhone for years. While the front is still glass, of course, the back is a single piece of hard-coated polycarbonate plastic, made stronger by a reinforced steel structure. iPhone 5C will be available in White, Yellow, Green, Red and Blue.

The Retina display measures 4 inches diagonally, the same as the iPhone 5 and 5S, having resolution of 640 x 1136 pixels. The 5C is also made of compounds which are Arsenic-free, Mercury-free and “Android-free”.

Hardware

The iPhone 5C is powered by an Apple A6 processor, the same breed in the line of processors which ran on the iPhone 5.

Software

The phone will come with iOS 7 pre-installed which will definitely match the colorful identity of the device it’s running on.

Apple claimed that iPhone 5C will be vivid realization of hardware and software together in one device.
Apple’s own productivity-boosting software, i.e. iWork, iPhoto, iMovie, Keynote and Pages and Numbers will also be free for this device.

Camera

The camera on the iPhone 5C is also an 8 megapixel BSI sensor with 5-element lens. It does 1080p Full HD videos at 30fps too. The front-facing camera is also improved to perform better in low-lighting conditions.

Miscellaneous

The battery of the iPhone 5C is not-disclosed right now but can last 10 hours during 3G talk-time and 250 hours on standby. Bluetooth 4.0, Lightning Port, dual-band Wi-Fi, LTE and headset jack is used for connectivity.

Pricing and Availability
The price of the iPhone 5C is set at $99 and $199 on contract for 16 and 32 GB versions. At launch, it will cost around 70,000 PKR in Pakistan but that figure will settle down later. Optional cases will cost $29.
As you might’ve noticed, the iPhone 5C is a lot like the phone it’s replacing. It does bring a new design however and maybe that will be one of its key selling factors. Being an Apple product, it is priced highly and of course, you can buy a 4S or a used 5 for much cheaper but for those who are buying an iPhone and planning to keep it longer, the 5C is probably your safer bet.

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BlackBerry New Announces the Z30 Smartphone

While the BB10 OS was meant to turn the smartphone battle into a four-horse race, the response of the phones running it so far has been lukewarm. Lack of quality apps and high price have plagued the sales of the OS and as the market has become more and more saturated with time, there’s really not that much of a need for another mobile OS.

Still, the company has taken to the challenge by announcing its 4th smartphone running BB10 called the Z30. The smartphone isn’t radically different from the Z10 and comes with a larger display and SnapDragon S4 Pro processor.

The design of the phone is based on the Z10 and comes with no hardware buttons at the front. The 5 inch 720p display takes up a large part of it with the speaker, front 2 mp HD camera and a notification LED at the top. The display is a Super AMOLED panel.

The processor inside is of Qualcomm SnapDragon S4 Pro variety, clocked at 1.7Ghz. It’s followed by 2 GB of RAM, Adreno 320 GPU and 16 GB of storage, which also happens to be expandable this time.

The camera at the back is the same 8 megapixel unit with LED Flash and 1080p Full HD video. For connectivity, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB 2.0, NFC, dual-band Wi-Fi and LTE are used.

There are some minor changes compared to the previous smartphones though. Running OS version 10.2, it comes with BB Priority Hub which is BlackBerry’s take on Gmail’s Priority Inbox and this time, the BB10 messages can be sent without having to close the current running app. Incoming messages can be seen directly from the lockscreen, while support for Wi-Fi Direct and multiple alarms is also home.
The 10.2 update is coming to the Q10 and Z10 smartphones in October.
Here are the full specs of the BlackBerry Z30:

• BlackBerry 10.2 OS running
• 5 inch 720p display with 1280 x 720 resolution
• 9.4mm thick
• 1.7Ghz Qualcomm SnapDragon S4 Pro, Adreno 320
• 2 GB RAM with 16GB expandable storage
• 8 megapixel back-camera with LED Flash, f2.2 aperture and 1080p Full HD video recording
• 2 megapixel HD front-camera
• Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB 2.0, NFC, dual-band Wi-Fi, LTE
• 2880 mAh battery

The phone is expected to hit the markets in the coming few weeks. Pricing is unknown as of now.

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Jolla Phone, Compatible with Android Apps,New Made by Ex-Nokia Employees, Revealed

It has been almost 4 months since the Jolla phone running on Sailfish OS surfaced but its full specs are only being revealed now. The phone made by a small group of ex-Nokia employees (their company is also called Jolla) has been inspired by the great Nokia N9, and its abandoned Meego OS taken by the team to make Sailfish OS which runs on the Jolla.

One of the biggest benefits which this Linux-based OS will bring will be Android app capability. So while it is new, the OS won’t face any lack of apps. How well they’ll run is another point however.

As for the hardware, it comes with a 4.5 inch Estrade Display with qHD resolution of 540 x 960 pixels. Under the hood, it will boast a 1.4Ghz Qualcomm SnapDragon processor with 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB worth internal storage which will be expandable.

At the back sits an 8 megapixel camera with an LED Flash. At the front is also a 2 megapixel camera. A 2100 mAh battery will power up the Jolla.

Perhaps one of the team’s biggest achievement is the tight integration between the software and the hardware. The phone’s backplate comes in four different colours (red, orange, light blue and white). As soon as any of those are changed, the software of the phone updates itself with that particular color scheme. For example, if you’ve installed a red backplate on the back of your Jolla, the OS will turn into red, or shades of red too.

This peculiar feature prompted this small team of engineers to run an extensive online campaign termed “I am the other half”. And of course, the OS itself is gesture-based, given the inspiration and the history (that is, the N9 and Meego.)

When it will hit the markets at the end of the year, it will cost around 400 Euros or around 60,000 PKR. That’s a lot of money of course but fans of Meego should definitely give it a go if they feel adventurous (or if they want to stand out from the usual crowd of iPhones, Galaxies and Lumias.)

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Dell Leaves Microsoft as the Only Company to Offer Windows RT Tabs

Dell has become another Microsoft OEM to drop the Windows RT platform as it pulls its XPS 10 tablet from the shelves.

This leaves Microsoft as the only company which is still making tablets running on Windows RT now.

Dell’s official website now lists XPS 10 Tablet, which is a 10 inch tablet running on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 processor, as “unavailable”. It instead recommends users to buy the Latitude 10, another 10-inch tablet but running on Windows 8, thanks to an Intel Atom processor.

The news comes merely days after Microsoft announced the second-generation Surface tablets running on Windows RT and 8.

Still, while another Windows RT tablet is not off the cards completely, hardly anyone is expecting a product running on a failed operating system from a company which has seen a rebirth recently.

Until now, companies like Samsung, ASUS and Lenovo have already said no to the Windows RT long ago and one can’t expect a tablet from them either, probably they’ll return if the Surface 2 becomes an unexpected success.

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Nokia Lumia 925 New Launched in Pakistan

Nokia has introduced the Nokia Lumia 925, a new interpretation of its award-winning flagship, the Nokia Lumia 920 in Pakistan.

The Nokia Lumia 925 introduces a metal design and showcases the latest PureView camera innovation, new features and third party applications coming to the Nokia Lumia range.

The Nokia Lumia 925 includes the most advanced lens technology and next generation imaging software to capture clearer, sharper pictures and video, including the best low light images.

The Nokia Lumia 925 also introduces the new Nokia Smart Camera mode, coming as an update to all Lumia Windows Phone 8 smartphones. Nokia Smart Camera offers an easy way to capture ten images at once and edit the pictures with options like Best Shot, Action Shot, and Motion Focus for creating the perfect high quality image.

Nokia also announced Hipstamatic’s new app, Oggl, will arrive on Nokia Lumia smartphones, allowing people to take and share high quality pictures with like-minded creatives and photography enthusiasts from around the world. In addition to sharing photos on Oggl, users can simultaneously share photos on social networks including Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Instagram, Tumblr and Flickr.

“We keep innovating,” said Arif Shafique, country general manager of Nokia Pakistan & Afghanistan. “We’re advancing experiences on the Nokia Lumia portfolio whether that means great new benefits for an existing Lumia owner, or bringing new showcase devices like the Nokia Lumia 925.”

He further added: “We continue to change the way people think about smartphone cameras. The work Nokia has done with the Lumia 925 further enhances the imaging capabilities of the Lumia smartphones.”

A wireless charging cover can be clipped onto the back of the phone to take advantage of Nokia’s extensive wireless charging accessories and ecosystem.

The Nokia Lumia 925 introduces metal for the first time to the Nokia Lumia range, bringing appeal and unique benefits like increased robustness. The polycarbonate back comes in white, grey or black.

Currently the price for Nokia Lumia 925 in Pakistan is Rs. 53,000. Covers, sold separately, come in white, black, yellow, and red.

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iPhone new 5S vs the Competition

Apple’s newly announced iPhone 5S is a pretty great update to the iPhone, thanks to its first-of-a-kind Apple A7 chip, the M7 motion co-processor and an improved camera with tricks you can actually use but how does it fare against the competition?
Let the specs comparison chart decide that for you.

	Apple iPhone 5S	LG G2	HTC One	Sony Xperia Z	Samsung Galaxy S 4
Weight	112g	143g	143g	146g	130g
Thickness	7.6mm	8.9mm	9.3mm	7.96mm	7.9mm
Pre-installed OS	iOS 7	Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean	Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean	Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean	Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
Display size	4 inches	5.2 inches	4.7 inches	5 inches	5 inches
Resolution	640 x 1136 pixels	1080 x 1920 pixels	1080 x 1920 pixels	1080 x 1920 pixels	1080 x 1920 pixels
CPU	64-bit Apple A7, M7 motion co-processor	2.26Ghz quad-core Krait	Quad-core 1.7 Ghz Krait	Quad-core 1.5 Ghz Krait	1.6Ghz quad-core Cortex A15 and 1.2Ghz quad-core Cortex A7
GPU	Undisclosed but 2X faster than before	Adreno 330	Adreno 320	Adreno 320	PowerVR SGX 544MP3
RAM	-	2 GB	2GB	2GB	2GB
Storage	16/32/64 GB	32 GB	32/64GB	16GB	16/32/64GB
Expandable	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Rear-camera	8 mp, True Tone Flash, 1080p video at 30fps	13 mp, Full HD 1080p video at 60fps	4 mp Ultrapixel, Full HD 1080p video at 30fps	13 mp, Full HD 1080p video at 30fps	13 mp, Full HD 1080p video at 30fps
Front-camera	1.2 mp HD	2.1 mp Full HD	2.1 mp Full HD	2.2 mp Full HD	2 mp Full HD
Connectivity	Lightning Port, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi,	Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, Infrared, Wifi Hotspot, microUSB 2.0, USB-OTG	Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB 2.0, Wifi Hotspot, optional NFC, Infrared	Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB 2.0, Wifi Hotspot, NFC	Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, microUSB 2.0, USB OTG, Infrared, Wifi Hotspot,
Battery	1440 mAh	3000 mAh	2300 mAh	2330 mAh	2600 mAh
Exclusive Features	iOS, Touch ID, Siri, 64-bit processor, M7 processor	Rear-buttons, SnapDragon 800, software tricks	HTC Sense, Zoe, Blinkfeed, Ultra-Pixel camera	IP57-certified	Octa-core CPU, Software tricks

Some people might’ve been pondering over the inclusion of iOS as an exclusive feature but then again, the ecosystem and experience it provides is pretty much unmatched elsewhere (despite getting surpassed by Google Play recently).
Except for the 4 inch display, most of the things are changed, maybe not so in the naming department but certainly under the hood.
Also the Touch ID is quite an interesting addition which will certainly help in the popularizing of the technology. If you think that these additions make your life easier then you should go ahead and stand in the long queue, but if not, then the list of competitors isn’t short either.

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iPhone 5s vs 5c: What is Changed and Which one is For You?

Apple recently unveiled two new iPhones for the first time ever, creating a stir worldwide in smartphone markets. While the iPhone 5s is mostly well-received and is enjoying much fanfare already, the iPhone 5c is a bit controversial. It brings a new design and is supposedly aimed towards new markets, in short, the cheaper version. Despite this, it comes with a hard-to-swallow price tag.

But regardless of anything, iPhone 5C is cheaper than the iPhone 5s. Which one should you be buying? Your decision should depend on the following factors:

Design

The iPhone 5s looks better than the previous iPhone 5 and also better than the 5c (despite the fact that it’s actually 5c which is replacing the 5). It is quite sleek, weighing in at just 112g and being 7.6mm thick. Compared to that, the 5c is a bit chubby at 132g heavy and 9mm thick.

Also, while the 5s is made of premium materials (high-grade aluminium), the 5c is made of polycarbonate plastic. But don’t let that fool you. We haven’t handled it ourselves yet but since it uses a reinforced steel structure within, it’s one of the sturdiest plastic phones yet. (At least according to journalists who’ve used it.) It still won’t be beating aluminium though.

The 5c comes in a wide range of colours (five to be precise) while the 5s comes in three colour combinations, which come with more serious looks.

As for the screen, both have 4 inch Retina Displays with Gorilla Glass.

One huge addition on the 5s is Touch ID, which is a great substitute for passwords. The fingerprint scanner can memorize multiple fingerprints, is made of sapphire and has 500 pixels per inch. That is something not found on the 5c.

Internals

This is probably where the 5s has taken the biggest strides. The new A7 is the first 64-bit processor in a smartphone which is twice as fast as the A6 found in the 5c. Graphics are twice as fast too. Also making an entry is the M7 motion co-processor.

Now, of course, the A6 is not too bad either and will get the job done if you plan on playing casual games but to really believe in the A7, you have to see the Infinity Blade III demo. If that doesn’t impress you, nothing will.

Software

On the software side, both the 5s and 5c are almost similar, with the former getting an edge due to the Touch ID. The technology has been incorporated cleverly in several aspects of the user interface such as software and music purchases in App Store and iTunes.

The iWork suite and iMovie & iPhoto are free too which should really boost productivity from your iOS device.

Camera

The cameras on both the 5s and 5c are of 8 megapixels. But again, the camera on the 5s is better, with a larger sensor, larger pixel size and a True Tone dual-led Flash. It also does 720p videos at 120fps, slow motion videos and of course, 1080p videos at 30fps. The 5c can only stand its ground in that last instance.

Pricing

The iPhone 5c is considerably cheaper, at $549 for the starting model. The 5s however, will be starting at around $700 for the starting model. That’s a difference of around 20,000 PKR when the phones will hit the Pakistani market initially.

Conclusion

The difference of 20,000 PKR is quite a lot but spending that extra money gets justified easily in the case of 5s. The upper-end model easily outclasses its younger brother in virtually every category.

Or you may as well get the iPhone 5 which can be found for even cheaper. It won’t be supported by its manufacturer as much though. One last choice is the 4S which is the cheapest right now but its aging hardware makes it a less than ideal choice.

And lastly, here’s the recap:

Why should I choose iPhone 5S

• More serious design
• Thinner, Lighter
• Touch ID, Better home button
• Apple A7, M7 processor
• Better 8 megapixel camera, True Tone, Slow-motion videos

Why should I choose iPhone 5C

• Cheaper
• More colorful, youthful and glossy
• Plastic can take more hits on the ground
• Basically a redesigned iPhone 5 (if that’s a plus point for you)

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