1. Subscribe to my youtube channel
2. Leave a comment on the giveaway video

That is all you have to do. (For an extra entry use social media to share the giveaway with your friends) The winner will be chosen after Christmas and I expect to ship the the phone before New Years. All entrants will be placed in a word document and I will use random.org to choose the winner.

Please remember this giveaway is for the US only, if you are international I will not be able to ship the phone to you. Sorry friends.

Warm wishes and happy holidays everyone.

Camerabag comes preloaded with a myriad of filters to choose from. From ‘Hipster’ to ‘Italiano’, ‘Magazine’ to ‘Wedding’ you are bound to enjoy the built in styles. What’s even better is the multi-filtering power of Camerabag. Users are able to layer filters creating a nearly limitless array of possibilites. With just a few clicks you can take a simple picture and turn it into a masterpiece.

Although Camerabag is dead simple to use it also has several high-end features as well. Do you need to process a large bundle of pictures? No problem. Simply select an image, make your customizations, and then batch process the entire folder. In addition, have you created the perfect collection of filters and want to use it again? No problem. Simply save it for future use. You can even download custom filters from other users online.

Overall Camerabag is an exceptional application for photo manipulation. For only $19 you can purchase Camerabag 1.5 today with a free upgrade to version 2 (demoed in video) when it is released. Or if you want to try the application before you buy, download the beta build of Camerabag and try out all the features for free. Camerabag is an excellent application saving you time and frustration when editing pictures.

So called heavy users are receiving text message notifications from AT&T informing them of the upcoming data speed penalties.

Your data usage is among the top 5 percent of users. Data speeds for the rest of your current bill cycle may be reduced.

Consumers who are using limited data plans should not worry about being throttled. However it is clear customers do not like data caps nor do they like throttling. Although AT&T is set to report record sales this quarter it seems logical that Sprint’s “truly unlimited” plans could draw extra attention in the wake of AT&T’s throttling.

Officially launched on November 16th, Google Music has remained much of the same. Users can still upload 20,000 songs for free. Moreover the web interface was refined to make it easier to upload, sort, and share. The biggest improvement is the ability to purchase songs directly from Google for a flat rate of $.99. These 320kbps songs are then made instantly available in your cloud and on your android device. It simply works. Google also announced exclusive tracks from a myriad of artists including the Rolling Stones, Coldplay, and Dave Matthews Band among others.

The most interesting part of Google Music is the social aspect. With just a few clicks you can share a full preview of the song or album you purchased with your friends on Google+ or via email. This makes it easier then ever to recommend music to your friends. Google is entering an already crowded market and only by implementing strong social tools can the service succeed.

Alright alright, hold on a second. Nokia does have a pretty aggressive rollout plan over the next two months. WP7-Nokia devices will shortly launch in several strategic countries. However, Nokia smartphones have never been strongly adopted in the US. That is a significant issue. The American market is one of the most important international markets and Nokia is not making it a priority to appease US carriers and consumers.

Granted I can not ignore Nokia’s comment on the United States launch.

Nokia also announced its plans to introduce a portfolio of products into the US in early 2012 and into mainland China in the first half of 2012. In addition to the existing products, which include coverage for WCDMA and HSPA, Nokia also plans LTE and CDMA products to address specific local market requirements.

Clearly Nokia is working hard to gain traction in the United States. However, enough is enough. How many times can Nokia delay rollout in the US. The N9 was an extremely appealing device when it was announced. A couple days later it was confirmed the N9 would never come to the US. This comes when many American journalists were particularly interested in the N9. Nokia had a chance to reclaim some market share and they balked.

Many of the most successful smartphone launches occur in the United States. Look at the iPhone. Apple has always focused on the US market and has consistently recorded blockbuster sales in the US. Why? Regardless of where you fall on the iPhone debate it is clear Apple does an exceptional job marketing their US product launches. The success the iPhone gains in the US trickles down to Apple’s international markets. The hype is built in the US and spreads across the world. Nokia is trying to build hype world-wide and then attack the US market. A strategy they tried with symbian powered smartphones. A strategy that failed.

By the time Nokia launches a WP7 device in the United States several dual-core, LTE android devices will hit the market. Moreover, I wouldn’t be surprised if 4G WP7 devices ship by then as well. In 2012 it could be too late for a newcomer to shake up the market. There is no doubt in my mind that Nokia builds extremely good hardware but the question remains, when will US consumers finally get their hands on that hardware? Whenever it launches, it better be impressive. And whenever it launches there better be several carrier-subsidized choices available.

In an email to all Apple Employees current CEO Tim Cook sadly confirmed the rumors. “Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being.” He said. “Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.”

Bill Gates, Founder of Microsoft, commented that he is “truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’s death.” He went on to say, “The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.”
Steve stepped down as Apple CEO in August and was immediately appointed chairmen of the Apple board of directors. At that time he said in an open letter, “I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it…and I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.” Mr. Jobs was optimistic about the future and was excited for new opportunities.

Mr. Jobs is credited with shaping the iPod, iPhone and iPad lines. Through his innovation Apple evolved from a struggling computer manufacturer in the 1990s to become the leader of the consumer electronic market. Earlier this year Apple Inc. briefly passed Exxon Mobil as the most valuable company in the United States. Mr. Jobs is widely considered the most influential CEO of his era.

It is truly a sad day in Cupertino and around the world. No one else could have founded a company quite like Apple. Always thinking different, always striving for a higher grade of quality. Job’s influence will be felt for decades as many of our daily luxuries stem from Apple’s unquestioned leader. But we must move one. In the words of Steve himself, “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish.

If you would like to write a few words in Steve’s memory, you can email rememberingsteve@apple.com

Rest in Peace Mr. Jobs. You will be missed.

Steve P. Jobs
1955-2011

• Apple A5 Dual Core CPU
• 8 hours of talk time
• 14.4mbps HSDPA
• Improved antenna performance

One of the most interesting feature is the new 8MP camera. Capturing pictures has never been simpler, and with a CMOS backlight sensor, low light performance is improved dramatically. Not only does it capture full HD 1080p video clips but it does so with real-time image stabilization and real-time noise reductions technologies. Essentially, cell phone video have never looked this professional.

However, the main feature for the iPhone 4s is Siri, the personal assistant. Siri responds to your voice commands in a fluid way, there are no predetermined commands meaning Siri actually ‘understands’ your language. You can ask Siri how the stock market is doing or to find you a local restaurant for dinner. Siri also can read you your messages and send replies in a pinch. This service also connects to Wikipedia and Wolfram Alpha so any question you need solved, Siri can solve it.

The iPhone 4s will ship on October 14th, with pre-orders starting October 7th. The iPhone 4s will launch in white and black at $199 for the 16gb model, $299 for the 32gb model, and $399 for the 64gb model. The iPhone 4s will launch on AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and Sprint in the USA. There will also be an 8gb iPhone 4 on sale for $99 and an 8gb iPhone 3gs for free on contract.

iOS 5 will also ship preinstalled on the iPhone 4s. iOS 5, highlighted by a much improved notifications system and deep twitter integration, was announced this summer. The new software also includes the news-stand magazine subscription center, iMessage, and tabbed web browsing. iOS 5 will launch on current hardware October 12th.

Apple also slightly refreshed their iPod line. The new iPod Nano includes some UI tweaks to make navigation easier while the new iPod Touch ships in white. The Nano will sell for $129 for the 8gb model and $149 for the 16gb model. The iPod Touch will ship in black and white for $199 for 8gb model, $299 for the 32gb model, and $399 for the 64gb model.

BGR goes on to independently confirm the rumor and supply a little more detail. Their report suggests two iPhones will be launched tomorrow: again an iPhone 4s for all carriers and the 4G iPhone 5 for Sprint. The iPhone 4s falls in line with the latest rumors: A5 CPU, 8MP camera, NFC, and a metal back.The speculated iPhone 5 would include an even faster CPU, a larger 4″ retina display, improved battery life, a WiMax radio, and would solely launch with the rumored ‘assistant’ voice control system.

BGR goes on to report that the iPhone 5 would launch with LTE support in Q1 2012 on AT&T and VZW. The device would also launch with HSPA+ support for international carriers at that time.

The rumors here are extremely difficult to take in. For one thing, why would Apple want to limit their new flagship device to users on one carrier? Think about it. Only Sprint users would have the new device through 2011. No one else in the USA or around the world. It seems highly unlikely Apple would limit their market penetration. Plus, who would buy an iPhone 4s knowing what the iPhone 5 looks like? Apple would take a hit on two fronts. From the other side a $20 billion guarantee is quite interesting. That is cash in the bank. However, a sprint exclusive iPhone 5 still seems highly unlikely to me.

For more information check back tomorrow for Apple’s official word on the next iPhone incarnation. In the interim check out the video bellow highlighting my rumor roundup for Apple’s “Let’s talk iPhone” media event.

Partition

The first thing we need to do to prepare our computer is to partition our hard drive. Partitioning essentially splits your hard drive up into two virtual drives that run independently of one another. Right now you probably have one partition where Snow Leopard and all your files are stored. Creating another one for Lion is very simple.

1. Close all open applications
2. Launch Disk Utility
3. Select your internal hard drive in the left sidebar
4. Choose the partition tab
5. Click the plus button to create a new partition
6. Name and size your new partition
7. Click apply and let disk utility run

It’s really that easy to set-up a new partition in Mac OS X.

Launch Installer

Now that your partition is complete you’ll want to being the installation process. Open the Mac OS X Installer you downloaded from the Mac App Store. Agree to the terms of service but when the installer asks you to begin installation make sure to click “Show All Disks”. This will allow you to select the new partition you just created instead of your Snow Leopard partition.

You will also notice a customize button in the bottom left of your screen. From there you can personalize your Lion installation to include Lion server and such. Moreover, installation will take less than thirty minutes because the installer is stored locally on your hard drive and not on a DVD. The system will automatically restart and complete installation so feel free to get up and leave while the software is installed.

That’s it, you can boot into either Snow Leopard or Lion. To choose, simply hold down the option key while booting and you’ll see a nice graphic allowing you to select whichever operating system you want. Furthermore, you can go to system preference and startup disk to choose your default boot OS. Very easy, and very painless. Enjoy Lion everyone!

Nokia also announced that the long awaited Symbian Anna update would be preloaded on new N8′s, E7′s, C7′s, and C6-01′s starting in July. Current users will be able to update their software in August. For a company struggling to remain relevant this slow update cycle is not helping their cause. In order for Nokia to remain significant they need a solid portfolio of hardware and software with frequent updates. At this point the Apple model of one device per year won’t work.

In ligher news the C2-03 feature phone will launch later this year with hot swappable dual SIM ports, a hardware keyboard, and a 240×320 pixel touch display. The C2-02 will ship with similar specs but a single SIM port while the C2-06 will ship in multiple colors.

Nokia announced that a Windows Phone 7 Mango device will ship later this year, with mass production in early 2012. Again, the USA is not expected to receive the new WP7 hardware at launch. In addition, Nokia will release around ten Symbian devices in the next twelve months.

Anyway, Nokia put me up in the lovely Green Valley Ranch resort and casino (GVR hereafter). Put simply, this place is amazing. When I first pulled up I was in awe from the beautiful palm trees and rock landscaping. The service at the GVR has been simply wonderful and the architecture throughout is very well done. The pool is a gorgeous multileveled experience and there is even a sand entrance to one pool for the younger crowd to enjoy.

The great experience continued when I reached my room. Partially because I was being put up for free and partially because I didn’t have to share a room I was expecting a small yet comfortable living space. I was happily surprised. Room 8702 was more than I could ever ask for. It’s large, it’s appealing and it’s well stocked! I highly recommend staying at the GVR next time you’re in Vegas and want to stay off the strip.

iOS 5, the widely expected update to the popular mobile operating system, has been bamboozled with rumors the last few months. Many users are demanding improved notifications and widgets among a plethora of wishes for iOS 5. Apple has taken a few steps backwards this past year as webOS and Android continue to expand in the smartphone market. iOS 5 is expected to be a significant software improvement. Unlike years past, new iPhone hardware does not appear to be in-store for WWDC.

Several new features for Mac OS X Lion will be announced at WWDC 2011 as well.

Full Text:

Apple to Unveil Next Generation Software at Keynote Address on Monday, June 6

CUPERTINO, California—May 31, 2011—Apple® CEO Steve Jobs and a team of Apple executives will kick off the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) with a keynote address on Monday, June 6 at 10:00 a.m. At the keynote, Apple will unveil its next generation software – Lion, the eighth major release of Mac OS® X; iOS 5, the next version of Apple’s advanced mobile operating system which powers the iPad®, iPhone® and iPod touch®; and iCloud®, Apple’s upcoming cloud services offering.

WWDC will feature more than 100 technical sessions presented by Apple engineers. Mac® developers will see and learn how to develop world-class Mac OS X Lion applications using its latest technologies and capabilities. Mobile developers will be able to explore the latest innovations and capabilities of iOS and learn how to greatly enhance the functionality, performance and design of their apps. All developers can bring their code to the labs and work with Apple engineers.

For more details, visit the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2011 website at developer.apple.com/wwdc.

Well, first of all iTunes is currently the iDevice media hub. Not only do you sync your media through iTunes but it also handles software updates and back-ups. To make OTA updates ‘Apple-like’ there would have to be wireless back-ups as well. Otherwise, Apple’s walled garden approach to mobile devices wouldn’t hold true as users wouldn’t be guaranteed recent restore points. Analysts speculate that Apple’s North Carolina data center will be used not only to stream music to customers but also to supply both OTA updates and back-ups.

Another issue is file size. Each time you update your iDevice you essentially download and install the entire iOS package which can weight in at 600MB+. Not only would that take an extremely long time over 3G and most WiFi networks, but users on limited data plans would be destroyed. I expect that Apple will significantly decrease file size in addition to requiring carriers to omit OS updates from a users data cap before any OTA service launches.

OTA updates are the way of the future. It shouldn’t be a big ordeal to update mobile software on the go. OS updates should download and install in the background unless users opt out. Apple is a company that enjoys pushing the market forward but forcing users to sync and update through iTunes has become dated. I expect Apple will address these concerns at WWDC 2011.

AT&T and T-Mobile USA customers will see service improvements – including improved voice quality – as a result of additional spectrum, increased cell tower density and broader network infrastructure. At closing, AT&T will immediately gain cell sites equivalent to what would have taken on average five years to build without the transaction, and double that in some markets. The combination will increase AT&T’s network density by approximately 30 percent in some of its most populated areas, while avoiding the need to construct additional cell towers. This transaction will increase spectrum efficiency to increase capacity and output, which not only improves service, but is also the best way to ensure competitive prices and services in a market where demand is extremely high and spectrum is in short supply.

This blockbuster sale does have several hurdles in its way, specifically anti-trust issues. Strict anti-trust laws in the United States will stall any acquisition between competitors. Do you recall the difficulty during the XM/Sirius merger? In the end, I believe the deal will be passed through the Justice department although I expect Verizon Wireless and Sprint will fight it tooth and nail.

Current AT&T and T-Mobile customers will benefit from this merger. Network quality, stability, and speeds for both customers will be improved. Moving forward, AT&T will have the infrastructure to supply 46.5 million more americans with 4G LTE service. This correlates to 1.2 million square miles of additional LTE coverage area. It will also provide 4G LTE service for current T-Mobile customers.

Overall, customers will see benefits from an acquisition that will supply AT&T with significantly more cell sites, a increase which would have taken five years to build singularly. Increased tower density and even more network infrastructure should bring smiles to the faces of current users.

For More Information

Apple has officially unveiled the successor to the iPad, the tablet that shaped the market. The iPad 2 will ship in the United States March 11th, 2011 in a Wifi only configuration and a Wifi + 3G configuration. The Wifi only models will retail at $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, and $699 for 64GB. The Wifi+ 3G models, from both AT&T and Verizon Wireless, will cost $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB, and $829 for 64GB. Both 3G and Wifi only models will be offered in black and white.

The design of the new iPad has been refreshed. At 9.5 inches by 7.31 inches by .34 inches, the iPad 2 is significantly smaller than the previous design. Plus, at only 1.3 pounds, the iPad 2 is not only lighter than the former model but is also one of the most compact tablets announced. However, Apple did not compromise on the battery in this smaller enclosure. The iPad 2 will still get a full ten hours of performance from its internal 25-watt cell.

Inside, the iPad is significantly improved as well. Sporting a blazing fast dual core 1GHz A5 chip, the new iPad is twice as fast as before. Moreover, thanks to a new but unnamed GPU, graphics performance is about nine times as powerful as before. The iPad also sports both a front facing VGA camera and an HD rear facing camera allowing users to capture and create outstanding mobile videos. One of my favorite features, the iPad 2 also supports full video-mirroring via VGA and HDMI adapters!

The new iPad is clearly an evolutionary update to the previous design. Although faster, lighter, and thinner than before, the iPad 2 is not a completely new product. It is, however, one of the most powerful and attractive tablets on the market. No one will feel slighted by the elegance and efficiency of the new iPad. Will you be upgrading on March 11th?