Galaxy S4's new ad

Samsung Galaxy S4's new ad labels iPhone as old

Surbhi Chawla, May 06, 2013

The Samsung launch party seems incomplete without Apple bashing ads and it came as a bit of a surprise that Samsung had not launched any such combative television commercials for Samsung Galaxy S4. Until now.

The Korean smartphone maker has launched a new television commercial that talks about the new features in the Galaxy S4 and mocks Apple iPhone 5. The ad even goes on to state some smartphones (read Galaxy S4) are smarter than others (iPhone 5).

The ad begins with a graduation party taking place and people seem to be enjoying food and jumping into the pool - kids being kids. In the party, the students are shown using the Samsung Galaxy S4, while their parents and teachers (the older lot) are shown using the iPhone.

The television unfolds to demonstrate the Air Gesture feature as the person eating a juicy piece of ribs is able to answer the call by merely waving at the device. Also the pictures clicked at the graduation party are shared between devices using the S Bean functionality of the Samsung Galaxy S4. It further goes on to how the Samsung Galaxy S4 can control an HDTV and recommend TV shows to you.

Samsung has also released a 30 second video that continues with the graduation theme to showcase the eraser shot feature of Samsung Galaxy S4. In this short television commercial, Samsung does not make fun of Apple's iPhone.

Mocking competitive products in a television commercial is not a new concept in the smartphone space. A few days ago, Microsoft has rolled out a new television commercial for Nokia Lumia 920. In this ad, Microsoft seems to be mocking the rivalry between Apple and Samsung to drive home the "Switch to Lumia" message.

However, the current Samsung Galaxy S4 is not as quirky and quick-paced as the Microsoft one.

iPhone 5S

iPhone 5S rumoured to be announced on June 20

Anupam Saxena, May 01, 2013

The next generation iPhone could be announced as soon as June 20 if a new report is to be believed.

French publication NoWhereElse.fr (via UberGizmo) claims to have got access to a document from Japanese mobile carrier, KDDI, which mentions that Apple's next iPhone, iPhone 5S, will be announced on June 20 and will go on sale by July.

The document also suggests that the phone will run iOS 7 (of course), the next iteration of Apple's mobile operating system and feature an upgraded 13-megapixel camera lens.
 
We'd advise you to take this information with a heap of salt as it's difficult to authenticate the reliability of the document.

While earlier rumours had suggested that we could see a summer announcement for the iPhone, new reports point towards a late release. Just a few days back, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo came out with a new research report that said that the Phone 5S, low-cost iPhone and iPad mini 2 will begin shipping later than what was previously expected. Ming-Chi Kuo had not shared any specific time frame for the new iPhone's launch. 

Recently, iMore's Rene Ritchie also said that the next iPhone, iPhone 5S, is likely to release in August. But John Gruber of Daring Fireball had mentioned that iOS 7 was running behind. 

Prior to that Morgan Stanley's Katy Huberty had released a report, in which she predicted that Apple will launch the new iPhone in September 2013 after previewing the iOS 7 in June at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

The only thing that goes in favour of the report is that the alleged announcement date is pretty close to the World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC). Apple is widely expected to showcase iOS 7 at WWDC, which will be held between June 10 and 14 at its usual venue, Moscone West in San Francisco, California. 

It's worth noting that Apple had shipped its last two phones, the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5, in fall. Apple CEO Tim Cook also stressed the fall period of this year during a Q&A after this quarter's earnings call,saying,  "I'm just saying we've got some really great stuff coming in the fall and across all of 2014."

iPhone 5S

iPhone 5S rumoured specs: Apple A7 quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 12-megapixel camera

NDTV Correspondent, April 16, 2013

iPhone 5S release date has been the subject of a lot of speculation off-late. While some reports have indicated the phone may launch in June-July, others insist that the next generation iPhone will release in August. However, there has been very little information coming out in terms of the purported specs of the phone. Until now.

The folks over at DroidGator have come across a picture of what they claim is a iPhone 5Smotherboard. They add that the picture was sent to them from an IP belonging to Apple HQ in Cupertino, thereby lending credence to the image. The website says the new motherboard is similar in size to the iPhone 4S motherboard, which "may mean that the future iPhone 5S should arrive with the same touchscreen that the previous handset has: 4 inches."

The picture also shows a A7 chip, which the website claims is a quad-core processor, clocked at 1.2GHz. Other rumoured specs include 2GB RAM and Power SGX554MP4 GPU. The website also claims the new iPhone will ship with a faster Siri, with support for additional languages.

Additionally, Redmond Pie is reporting via Tinhte.vn that the iPhone 5S will ship with a 12-megapixel camera with improved low-light performance.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reports that Foxconn, the company that manufacturers iPhone and other Apple products in China, has stepped up hiring at its Zhengzhou plant. The company said Monday it has added about 10,000 assembly-line workers a week in Zhengzhou, its major production facility for iPhones. This increase in hiring is being seen as a sign that Apple is gearing up to produce the new iPhone.

"We have been very busy recently as we will start mass-producing the new iPhone soon," a Zhengzhou-based Foxconn executive with direct knowledge of production plans told WSJ.

Apple still on top

Apple still on top, but showing signs of vulnerability

Agence France-Presse, November 10, 2012

Apple, the world's biggest and perhaps most admired company, seems to have lost some of its luster.

Despite the hugely successful launch of the iPhone 5 and iPad mini tablet, shares in the California tech giant have slid some 20 percent from all-time highs, and analysts are questioning whether Apple remains the leader in "innovation."

A flubbed mobile maps program and a major shakeup in key management have also tarnished the image of the firm that had seemed nearly invincible just months earlier.

A more competitive landscape for mobile phones and tablets, including the surge in devices using the Google Android operating system, have also changed the outlook for Apple.

Last month, Apple parted ways with Scott Forstall, the executive in charge of mobile software, following embarrassments over its glitch-ridden maps program, as well as John Browett, who headed Apple's real-world shops.

Some analysts say the company lacks the vision and commitment to excellence after the death last year of its admired chief Steve Jobs.

Apple stock hit a record high above $700 in September, but have since slumped more than 20 percent to $547.06 on Friday.

"Investors are confused and have lost faith in Apple management," said Trip Chowdhry, analyst at Global Equities Research.

"Apple today is not as customer centric as it used to be, and the rate of innovation is declining when the rate of innovation of competitors has dramatically risen."

Others argue that it is too soon to say Apple has peaked.

Charles Golvin at Forrester Research said that in a season filled with product launches from Amazon, Motorola, Nokia and others, Apple has been able "to exert a superior gravitational pull on its customers and partners than its competitors."

And Forrester's Sarah Rotman Epps said Apple "is entering the 2012 holiday season with its strongest product lineup ever, with wider retail distribution than it has ever had.

"Apple is already leading every game it plays. But these products will maintain Apple's momentum," she added.

Yet Apple has lost market share both in the tablet market, which it created with the iPad, and in smartphones.

Research firm IDC said Apple held a 50.4 percent of the tablet market in the third quarter from more than 65 percent in the second quarter, as rivals like Amazon and Google gained in the growing market.

IDC's Tom Mainelli said many consumers interested in buying a tablet "sat out the third quarter" waiting for the new iPad mini.

"We expect Apple to have a very good quarter. However, we believe the mini's relatively high $329 starting price leaves plenty of room for Android vendors to build upon the success they achieved in the third quarter," Mainelli said.

In smartphones, it was a similar story with Android grabbing 75 percent of the market and the Samsung Galaxy S3 getting the crown as the world's top selling smartphone, based on surveys.

IDC said Apple's smartphone market share slipped to 14.9 percent in the third quarter from 16.9 percent the prior period.

Even though the figures came as Apple launched the iPhone 5 -- which combined with the iPhone 4S, outsold the Samsung flagship -- the news was sobering for the Cupertino, California firm.

Many analysts remain bullish on Apple and say the recent stock slump is nothing to fret over.

"The selloff in Apple's stock in recent weeks has spooked investors but this correction is similar to the three others experienced over the past 13 months, all of which proved to be attractive buying opportunities," said Brian White at Topeka Capital Markets.

Gregori Volokhine of the investment firm Meeschaert said one problem for investors is that Apple, because of its huge success in recent years, has become the largest holding for nearly every investment fund in the US and elsewhere.

That means any move is likely to be amplified as investors follow the trend.

"Having too much of one stock means portfolio managers will sell on declines to reduce exposure," Volokhine said. "It's a vicious circle."

Angry Birds Star Wars

Angry Birds Star Wars becomes top iPhone, iPad app within hours of release

NDTV Correspondent, November 08, 2012

It's barely been a few hours since the latest edition of the Angry Birds franchise was released, and it has already become the top paid app for iPhone and iPad.

Rovio released Angry Birds Star Wars Thursday for iOS, Android, Amazon Kindle, Windows Phone 8, Windows 8, Mac and PC. In case the name doesn't make it clear, the game combines two of your favourite franchises: Angry Birds and Star Wars. The game is set in a galaxy far, far away, where a group of desperate rebel birds face off against a galactic menace: the Empire's evil Pigtroopers.

Rebel birds, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Imperial Pigs. During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire's ultimate weapon, the PIG STAR, and are racing to deliver the plans to the Rebel Birds. You are armed with Star Wars themed weapons from 'The Force' to the lightsaber, in your quest to blast away the Pigtroopers on an intergalactic journey from the deserts of Tatooine to the depths of the Pig Star. Your ultimate face off is against, who else, but Darth Vader, the Dark Lord of the Pigs.

Angry Birds Star Wars is available as a free download on Android, $0.99 on iPhone and Windows Phone 8, $2.99 on iPad and Kindle Tablet, $0.99 on PC and $4.99 on Mac.

Head to Rovio's website to download the game.