List of Top 10 Ten World Best SmartPhone 2010

01 Apple iPhone 4

The king of smartphones is reborn, but does the fourth incarnation of the iPhone do enough to stop gadgeteers from signing up to the Android army?

02 HTC Desire  

The latest A-list Android smartie is here with a big AMOLED screen and HTC Sense. But can the Desire match the Nexus One?

03 Samsung Galaxy S

The Galaxy S takes the familiar iPhone format and tries to improve it with some eye-catching screen tech. But has it worked?

04 HTC Legend  

The aluminium Legend is the successor to HTC's Hero and runs the latest version of Android. But does it live up to its name?

05 HTC Touch HD2

The HD2 gives Windows Mobile a serious lick of paint and a capacitive touch screen. Should the iPhone be worried?

06 Nokia E72  

 The ultra slimline Nokia E71 broke BlackBerry’s monopoly on mobile email. Can its successor continue its good work ?

07 BlackBerry Bold 9700 

The BlackBerry Bold was one of the world’s finest messaging smartphones. But is its successor, the fitter, leaner looking 9700, a worthy successor?

08 Sony Ericsson Xperia X 10  

Sony Ericsson's first Android mobile is a headlong dive into the waters of Google's OS. But can it match Google's Nexus One?

09 Palm Pre   

It’s smarter than the average phone but has the Palm Pre got what it takes to topple the mighty iPhone 3G S?

10 Samsung Wave   

With an eye-grabbing screen, HD video and a catwalk-slim design, Samsung’s first Bada OS phone has the iPhone 4 in its sights

Apple expected to launch iPhone 4 64GB and 128GB in 2011 ?

This is a purely speculative story – so take it with as much salt as you like

So far, Apple’s iPhone models are available in 16 GB and 32 GB versions. It is normal to assume that Steve Jobs would want the next version of the iPhone – often called the iPhone 4G in the rumours – will go for a 64 GB storage. But will it happen?

Possibly. Very likely. The reason is, Toshiba, which supplies the 16 GB and 32 GB NAND flash memory module to Apple, has just announced a 64 GB NAND flash package. Mass production of the 64GB module will begin in Q3 2010 – it makes sense to believe that Apple would be one of the first customers for this one! Or would they decide to get two of the 64GB modules and offer us a 128 GB iPhone? Oh, the possibilities. The iPod Touch too should benefit from all the extra storage capacity.

Of course, the whole point of a 64 GB iPhone from Apple is a bit pathetic – Jobs has in his infinite wisdom decided not to give us a SD card expansion slot which would have enabled us to increase our storage as we wish.

Storing hours of high definition video or a humungous amount of music will be possible if Apple actually goes in for this. Anyway, it is time for a fourth generation iPhone and Apple fanboys are saving up money for a 2010 purchase.

It is not just Toshiba but Samsung too who have 64 GB flash memory storage, but so far Apple has preferred to go with Samsung. On the other hand, there are a range of devices – like the Zune HD or any number of smartphones – which would be perfect candidates for a memory upgrade. But an iPhone 64Gb is what makes news, so there you have it. There is no point in mentioning prices or specifications for a 4G Apple iPhone with 64GB or 12GB memory for now, anyway.

Review of iPhone 4 Made Simple

iPhone 4 Made Simple.  In simple terms, that should tell you all you need to know.  If you read that title, and think, “The iPhone 4 already is simple.  Why do I need a book?” then you’re probably right.  If you read that title, and think, “Finally, something to help explain just what the heck I can do with this thing!” then you are also probably right.

This is the ultimate YMMV (your mileage may vary) purchase.  The ones who would get the most out of this book are the ones who mix with technology like oil and water.  And believe me, there is a lot to be got.

The first thing you’ll notice about the book is its girth.  This book is huge, clocking in at 809 pages spread over 30 chapters.  It should be noted, however, that there are plenty of pictures and illustrations that help the reader every step of the way.  So don’t think that there are over 800 pages of reading here.  It’s broken up quite nicely.

From cover-to-cover, no stone was left unturned in examining the iPhone 4.  Everything is covered – from the simple (making a phone call, taking a photo, sending a text) to the not-so-simple (setting up Skype, creating custom ringtones for free in iTunes, and editing movies using the iMovie app).  There are chapters dedicated to playing music, using the iPhone as a phone (a novel concept for some), how to sync your phone, and many, many more.

There’s no doubt that power iPhone, Apple, or cell phone users are not the target of this book.  It’s intended for the casual buyer of electronic goods.  For almost all readers of and writers for this site, 11 pages on SMS and MMS (Chapter 11) seems like a bit much.  But for the user who has, for example, never owned a smart phone, this kind of step-by-step guide will definitely be helpful.

If you’re the type of person who knows their iPhone inside and out, then this book is definitely not for you.  But despite its potentially off-putting size, this book really does make using the iPhone 4 simple.  Potential readers would be doing themselves a disservice by dismissing this book for that reason.  The size explanation is simple – you can do a lot with the iPhone, and this book covers virtually everything.

Perhaps my favorite part is that this book does not stop at explaining the iPhone in the state it ships.  Instead, it also covers some popular downloadable apps; including Skype, a few Twitter clients, Facebook, Evernote, and more.

Unless you don’t mind explaining the thousands and thousands of functions of the iPhone to them, this book would make a great gift for the not-so-tech-savvy person in your life who just purchased an iPhone.  Its chock-full of great information that helps you get the most out of your iPhone.

iPhone 4 new iOS 4.1 reviewed

UPDATE: Apple will release the first major software update to its iPhone operating system, iOS 4, tomorrow.

Apple will release the first major software update to its iPhone operating system, iOS 4. We take a look inside to see what the updates mean for you.

Some of the major changes you will find in iOS 4.1 include the addition of HDR (high dynamic range) photography, a new Game Centre for social gaming, HD video uploads and fixes for some major bugs.

iOS 4.1 brings with it Apple's Game Centre, a social gaming hub that automatically matches you with friends or strangers around the world when you want to play (selected compatible) multiplayer games.

Budding photographers with an iPhone 4 will be able to automatically capture HDR photos on their device and upload the high-definition videos they take to YouTube or MobileMe via a WiFi connection.

Users who have been struggling with the proximity sensor when making a call (letting their cheek decide when to end the call) will be happy to know Apple has finally addressed the issue in iOS 4.1. iPhone 3G performance issues have also been addressed.

In May Google released its Android 2.2 OS (aka Froyo), an update which included tethering, mobile hotspot functionality, support for Flash Player 10.1, a Google Search Bar, and higher quality YouTube video viewing.

The next Android update (Gingerbread) is expected to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Apple's iOS 4.1 is a free update. It is expected to become available for most iPhone and iPod touch devices on Sept 9, however not all features are supported on all models

French watchdog warns of iPhone hacker glitch

SECURITY FLAW: French authorities and experts say hackers could gain control of iPhones and other Apple gadgets through the Internet. - AP

French authorities and experts warned on July 26 that hackers could gain control of iPhones and other gadgets made by US tech giant Apple through the Internet, plundering users' data and tapping their calls.

"Two vulnerabilities have been discovered" in Apple's operating system for the iPhone, iPad tablet computer and iPod music player, the French government computer security agency CERTA said on its website.

Apple did not immediately respond when asked to comment on the alert, which was issued by CERTA following a warning by experts at the computer security firm Vupen Securities.

One of the soft spots is caused by a glitch triggered when a user views data in PDF-formatted documents, they said.

Hackers could lure web users on their Apple devices onto special websites where they could exploit the PDF glitch to gain access to the device remotely, said Vupen's chief executive Chaouki Bekrar.

A second soft spot involves a data error in one of the devices' components which could allow hackers to increase their control once they have gained access to the device, he said.

The two glitches combined could allow a hacker "to access all of the information" on the device, including contacts, e-mail messages, documents and functions such as the camera, microphone and GPS navigation, CERTA said.

CERTA said the problems affected iPhones running versions 3.1.2 to 4.0.1 of Apple's operating system, iPads with versions 3.2 to 3.2.1 and iPod touch devices with version 3.1.2 to 4.0.

"Pending corrective measures by Apple, great care is recommended while opening PDF files," for example by only opening files from known senders, the government watchdog warned.

Apple devices "are generally very secure," but "are becoming a popular target for hackers," who could tap users' telephone conversations or send messages from their mailboxes, Bekrar said.

He said the glitches were brought to light by the online service Jailbreakme which allows owners of the gadgets to download applications other than the ones sold by Apple in its official App Store.

Iphone 4 to start Mobile video convergence

Everybody is very exciting when Apple has recently launched their latest machine, Iphone 4 at WorldWide Developer Conference 2010 (WWDC), June 7, 2010. The latest Iphone model is being loaded with owesome features like multitasking (capable to open more than one application at one time) and mostly capability to handle video call or video chat. Not only with video call capability ,  the latest model is powered by Retina Display, the 960 X 640 backlit LCD display boasts a pixel density of 326 pixels per inch, making it the highest-resolution phone screen ever. To achieve this, Apple engineers developed pixels so small — a mere 78 micrometers across — that the human eye can’t distinguish individual pixels. That makes text remarkably sharp and graphics incredibly vivid. IPS technology also provides excellent color and contrast from almost any viewing angle.

The most significant outcome is that Apple is focusing attention on the iPhone 4’s video calling capabilities, apparently making “the dream of video calling a reality”. In typical Cupertino fashion, this conveniently overlooks the fact that video calling has been a reality for a long time. The front end camera with 5 Mega-pixel resolution is capable of shooting 720p30 HD video. Video Call can be made from Iphone to Iphone through WIFI, yet still not capable to deal with skype.

Another important improvements is the A4 processor the iPhone 4 now will shares with the iPad. While Apple was happy to declare the 1GHz clock speed of the iPad, it has been less forthcoming with the iPhone 4, and it’s very possible the chip has been downclocked somewhat to conserve battery life. Either way, the chip itself is a tighter package that uses less power while running faster than the processor in the 3GS, and that’s always a good thing.

Wait the sec. Just heard that Nokia says about their new N920. The new N920 / RX-57 will have OMAP 4440 processor, which means they have capability to support 1080p30 with HDMI 1.3, yet will eat up battery life (hope they can increase battery also). The processor  versions are dual core SMP enabled ARM Cortex A9 processors on a 45-nm die. Both OMAP processors have dedicated graphics cores to off load the encode/decode of various video codecs and APIs like OpenGL, which (IMHO) makes the OMAP processor the best choice for the computing devices in this category. Are they really real? Are all High Definition (HD) for Iphone 4 and/or N920 just for real? Will you experience the same as what you with get with 32″ HD TV? just with small screen and try to make video call, not only local processing is required, but also compression method to transfer video from one the another. Yet pretty much depending on the Link (WIFI or 3G) reliability.

Review : iPhone 4 - Dreams Come True !

1. Video Call Over Wifi

People have been dreaming about video calling for decades. iPhone 4 makes it a reality. With the tap of a button, you can wave hello to your kids, share a smile from across the globe, or watch your best friend laugh at your stories — iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 over Wi-Fi. No other phone makes staying in touch this much fun.

FaceTime works right out of the box — no need to set up a special account or screen name. And using FaceTime is as easy as it gets. Let’s say you want to start a video call with your best friend. Just find her entry in your Contacts and tap the FaceTime button. Or maybe you’re already on a voice call with her and you want to switch to video. Just tap the FaceTime button on the Phone screen. Either way, an invitation pops up on her iPhone 4 screen asking if she wants to join you. When she accepts, the video call begins. It’s all perfectly seamless. And it works in both portrait and landscape modes.

2. Retina Display

Thanks to the Retina display, everything you see and do on iPhone 4 looks amazing. Text in books, web pages, and email is crisp at any size. Images in movies and photos are stunning at almost any angle. That’s because the Retina display’s pixel density is so high, your eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels.

By developing pixels a mere 78 micrometers wide, Apple engineers were able to pack four times the number of pixels into the same 3.5-inch (diagonal) screen found on earlier iPhone models. The resulting pixel density of iPhone 4 — 326 pixels per inch — makes text and graphics look smooth and continuous at any size

Take a closer look
at the Retina display

3. Powerful Multi Tasking

Now you can run your favorite third-party apps — and switch between them instantly — without slowing down the performance of the foreground app or draining the battery unnecessarily.* This smarter approach to multitasking is available only on iPhone.

How it works

Switch between apps quickly.

The multitasking user interface allows you to quickly switch between recently used apps. Just double-click the Home button to reveal your recently used apps. Scroll right to see more apps, then tap one to reopen it. No need to wait for the app to reload.

And pick up right where you left off.

Apps can remember where you left off. So when you return to the app, you can jump right back into playing your game, reading the news, finding a restaurant, or whatever you were doing.

4. HD Video Recording

Because your iPhone goes with you everywhere, you’re always ready to capture every moment. And with iPhone 4, you can do it in stunning high definition. Its advanced backside illumination sensor delivers great-looking video in both bright and low-light settings. And in dark environments, you can brighten the scene with the built-in LED light.

Edit video right on iPhone.

No need to wait until you’re back at your computer to edit video. You can perform basic editing right in the Camera app. Just drag to select start and end points on a filmstrip.

Turn your video clips into a finished movie. With iMovie on iPhone 4.

You’re on vacation, and you want to create a video postcard of everything you did that day and share it with your family. Just use the iMovie app — coming soon to the App Store for just $4.99. Built just for iPhone 4, iMovie lets you combine and edit video clips, polish your movies with dynamic themes and transitions, add music and photos, and share your finished movies with the world.

Source : apple.com

iPhone 4 is slimmer, big on features

The new iPhone comes out June 24 and will have a higher-resolution screen, longer battery life and thinner design.

CEO Steve Jobs opened Apple Inc's annual conference for software developers yesterday by demonstrating the iPhone 4, which will cost US$199 or US$299 (RM700 or RM1,000) in the United States, with a two-year cellular service contract, depending on the capacity.

The iPhone 3GS, which made its debut last year, will still be available and for US$99 (RM340) in the States.

Some of the mystery surrounding Apple's latest creation had been punctured in April, when the tech blog Gizmodo bought a lost iPhone prototype for US$5,000 (RM17,000) and posted pictures of the unit.

Apple demanded it back, and authorities have been investigating whether a Gizmodo editor broke any laws.

"Stop me if you've already seen this," Jobs said yesterday as he started his demo.

The iPhone 4 is sleeker and more advanced than the original iPhone that came out in 2007. Like the iPhone 3GS, it comes in black or white, though it has a more angular look.

Its front and back are covered with glass, and it is rimmed with stainless steel that acts as part of the phone's antenna.

It is about three-eighths of an inch thick; the iPhone 3GS is nearly half an inch. It can shoot high-definition video, catching up to some other smartphones.

It has a gyroscope in addition to other sensors, to enable more advanced motion-sensing applications, such as games and mapping services.

The display on the iPhone remains 3.5in (8.9cm) diagonally, but Jobs noted that it can show four times as many pixels - the individual coloured dots that make up an image - as the previous screen. That makes for a sharper appearance.

SLIMMER: A close up of the new iPhone 4 at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco. - AP

One of the most noticeable changes is the iPhone's new camera on the front that can be used for videoconferencing, in addition to a 5.0-megapixel camera and a flash on the back.

For now, the videoconferencing function, FaceTime, works only if both parties to the call have an iPhone 4 and are connected over WiFi rather than a cellphone network.

Jobs indicated that FaceTime will eventually work over cellular networks, saying Apple needs to "work a little bit" with wireless providers to make it "ready for the future."

The battery on the new iPhone will allow up to seven hours of talk time - an improvement over five hours on the last model. It can handle up to six hours of web browsing over cellular networks or 10 hours over WiFi.

The new phone will run the latest version of Apple's mobile software, now called iOS4, which Apple unveiled in April to offer such features as the ability to operate more than one program at a time.

Older iPhones and iPod Touch devices will be able to get iOS4 as a free download June 21, though not all features will work on them.

New applications for the device will include a version of the popular game Farmville and one from Netflix (available only in the United States) that lets people watch streaming video where they left off on their TV.

TWO COLOURS: The new Apple iPhone 4 in black and white. - AP

Apple is trying to tighten the links between the iPhone and its iPad tablet, which came out April 3. It is releasing a version of its iBooks e-reading application for the iPhone, which means people could buy an e-book from Apple on either device and read it on either one as well.

Michael Gartenberg, a partner at analyst firm Altimeter Group, said the iPhone upgrade puts pressure on smartphone makers that use Google's Android operating software.

Android, which was first released on a phone in 2008, has been gaining popularity as major phone makers such have Motorola Inc have relied on the software for iPhone rivals such as the Droid.

"I think Apple knows how to teach people about things they don't yet know they want," he said. - AP

Iphone 4 to start Mobile video convergence

Everybody is very exciting when Apple has recently launched their latest machine, Iphone 4 at WorldWide Developer Conference 2010 (WWDC). The latest Iphone model is being loaded with owesome features like multitasking (capable to open more than one application at one time) and mostly capability to handle video call or video chat. Not only with video call capability ,  the latest model is powered by Retina Display, the 960 X 640 backlit LCD display boasts a pixel density of 326 pixels per inch, making it the highest-resolution phone screen ever. To achieve this, Apple engineers developed pixels so small — a mere 78 micrometers across — that the human eye can’t distinguish individual pixels. That makes text remarkably sharp and graphics incredibly vivid. IPS technology also provides excellent color and contrast from almost any viewing angle.

The most significant outcome is that Apple is focusing attention on the iPhone 4’s video calling capabilities, apparently making “the dream of video calling a reality”. In typical Cupertino fashion, this conveniently overlooks the fact that video calling has been a reality for a long time. The front end camera with 5 Mega-pixel resolution is capable of shooting 720p30 HD video. Video Call can be made from Iphone to Iphone through WIFI, yet still not capable to deal with skype.

Another important improvements is the A4 processor the iPhone 4 now shares with the iPad. While Apple was happy to declare the 1GHz clock speed of the iPad, it has been less forthcoming with the iPhone 4, and it’s very possible the chip has been downclocked somewhat to conserve battery life. Either way, the chip itself is a tighter package that uses less power while running faster than the processor in the 3GS, and that’s always a good thing.

Wait the sec. Just heard that Nokia says about their new N920. The new N920 / RX-57 will have OMAP 4440 processor, which means they have capability to support 1080p30 with HDMI 1.3, yet will eat up battery life (hope they can increase battery also). The processor  versions are dual core SMP enabled ARM Cortex A9 processors on a 45-nm die. Both OMAP processors have dedicated graphics cores to off load the encode/decode of various video codecs and APIs like OpenGL, which (IMHO) makes the OMAP processor the best choice for the computing devices in this category. Are they really real? Are all High Definition (HD) for Iphone 4 and/or N920 just for real? Will you experience the same as what you with get with 32″ HD TV? just with small screen and try to make video call, not only local processing is required, but also compression method to transfer video from one the another. Yet pretty much depending on the Link (WIFI or 3G) reliability