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The folks at Cupertino were not amused when Siri thinks that the Lumia 900 is the best smart phone/cell phone ever. The so called embarrassment was due to the fact that Siri uses Wolfram Alpha engine to answer various inquiries.
As a “solution”, Siri has been updated to ignore such questions by responding differently with answers such as “the one you’re holding” and “you’re kidding, right?”. Is Apple’s action is a little too much for the sake of saving face? Luckily Apple isn’t venturing into many industries under the sun or we would be getting biased answers from Siri.

Apple says its voice recognition app – Siri – is intelligent and it understands what you mean. This is primarily due to Siri’s analytical brain – Wolfram Alpha. Unlike most other search engines, Wolfram Alpha doesn’t search the web, it understand it by doing dynamic computations based on a vast collection of built-in data, algorithms, and methods.
So when you ask Siri what is the best smartphone in the market right now, you can expect the chatty collection of codes to return a response that’s intelligent, and maybe it did.
Some iPhone 4S users in the US asked Siri “what’s the best cell phone ever?” and it returned a surprising result. Based on the Wolfram Alpha method, Siri says the Nokia Lumia 900 is the best cell phone ever and here’s how it came up with that blasphemous revelation.
This is based on the data collected in the US, and of course we won’t know if Siri is telling the truth for a few more weeks till the Lumia 900 is launched here but what do you think?
[source]
Apple has released a minor iOS update version 5.1.1 which fixes a couple of bugs along with some reliability improvements. According to the update details, it addresses the HDR photo shooting issue when activated from the lockscreen, switching issue between 2G and 3G networks on iPad, AirPlay, Safari bookmark syncing and issues related to purchases.
You can either upgrade this over the air (OTA) if you’re on the newer iOS or via iTunes through USB cable.
[ SOURCE ]
UPDATE: Added BlackBerry Bold 9900 into the comparison.
In our previous Samsung Galaxy S III spec comparison, we compared it with its direct rival the HTC One X and its former Galaxy predecessors. Now we are comparing it with the rest of the notable flagship models including the Sony Xperia S, Huawei Ascend D Quad, iPhone 4S and the Nokia Lumia 900.
With the Xperia S in the picture, Sony is in the lead for having the highest pixel density for squeezing 1280×720 pixels display into a compact 4.3″ screen. In terms of camera, it is the highest among the lot at 12MP. However it is one of the thicker and heavier models of the lot. In our review, the Xperia S performs admirably well despite being a dual-core processor and we appreciate the polished interface it has to offer.
Huawei too is going quad core with its Ascend D Quad which is expected to be released in mid 2012. It uses its in-house K3V2 processor which is clocked either at 1.2GHz or 1.5GHz. It is one of the smaller quad-core phones with a 4.5″ screen that has better pixel density at 326ppi. For those that feel 4.7″ or 4.8″ is too big in the hands might find the Ascend D Quad as a more comfortable choice.
In terms of cloud storage, it is worth pointing out that both Apple & Microsoft are bundling their own storage in the form of iCloud and SkyDrive. Overall, looking at all flagship devices launched this year, all of them are on the Micro-SIM bandwagon. So for those who are still using a standard SIM format, you are likely to convert/cut your SIMs if you’re getting a new high end phone soon.
A screen protector is just an overpriced plastic sheet that does very little in protecting the screen of your prized smartphone. Sure it’ll keep the screen of your phone free from scratches but drop your phone on the pavement and there’s really nothing much a flimsy screen protector can do to protect it from the impact. That is unless you use Buff – a screen protector that is incredibly tough, capable of withstanding knocks from a mug, a hammer and even a brick.
What makes the Buff screen protector special is its construction which consists of four impact absorbing and dispersing layers. This special construction not only make the Buff screen protector tough as nails but also help it reduce air bubbles trapped beneath the protector if the protector is not properly applied. Buff says unsightly bubbles will disappear within 24-48 hours, depending on room temperature.
Wondering where you can get a Buff screen protector? Currently, no one knows how or where to get one. At this point, they don’t appear to be available on the BUFF website, although word has it that these ultra-tough screen protectors are going for around US$20 — $30 around the web. Good luck finding one. And if you do find one, let us know.
[via]
When the iPhone 4S was launched, most telcos are offering all in one plans with bundled voice, text and data. With more people getting onto the Whatsapp, Skype and other VOIP/IM bandwagon, not many would need that much talktime and bundled SMS. To address such usage patterns, DiGi is finally offering the iPhone 4S on DG Smart Plan 48, 68 and 88 which comes with 1GB-5GB monthly data quotas.
The full DiGi bundled pricing for the iPhone 4S as follows:
DG Smart Plan 48 (iPhone 4S 16GB) RM1,849
DG Smart Plan 48 (iPhone 4S 32GB) RM2,149
DG Smart Plan 48 (iPhone 4S 64GB) RM2,449DG Smart Plan 68 (iPhone 4S 16GB) RM1,699
DG Smart Plan 68 (iPhone 4S 32GB) RM1,999
DG Smart Plan 68 (iPhone 4S 64GB) RM2,299DG Smart Plan 88 (iPhone 4S 16GB) RM1,549
DG Smart Plan 88 (iPhone 4S 32GB) RM1,849
DG Smart Plan 88 (iPhone 4S 64GB) RM2,149iDiGi 88/138/238 (iPhone 4S 16GB) RM2,090
iDiGi 88/138/238 (iPhone 4S 32GB) RM2,390
iDiGi 88/138/238 (iPhone 4S 64GB) RM2,690
From the above device pricing, the iDiGi plans look more pricey but in actual fact, DiGi subsidise heavily on the monthly subscription instead of the device on iDiGi contract. As usual, all iPhone 4S contracts on DiGi are tied to 24 months duration.
For more information, head over to DiGi.
Maxis too has offered something similar a few weeks ago by bundling the iPhone 4S on its Internet Value 50 and Internet Value 75 which comes with 1.5GB – 3.5GB monthly data quotas.
[ SOURCE ]
The rumour mills are spinning on overdrive, in the midst of a slew of Samsung Galaxy S III rumours we see a report from Reuters about Apple’s upcoming iPhone.
The report came from a South Korean media – Maeil Business Insider – which quoted an unnamed industry source saying that the new iPhone will have a sharper and bigger 4.6-inch “retina” display. The source claims that Apple has started placing orders to its suppliers for the larger display and the device is to be launched around the second quarter of this year.
Rumour of a new iPhone sporting a larger, high-definition display is not new and so far, it’s not concrete either. But then again, Apple can’t avoid the strong user demand for devices with larger displays. This means it has to abandon the much loved 3.5-inch form factor for a device that many iFans would consider bulky and uncomfortable to use.
The game has changed a great deal since 2007 when Apple revolutionised the smartphone industry with the iPhone, this time around it would seem that the leader is playing catch up. Considering the demand for smartphones with bigger screens, a larger iPhone could just be the ticket for Apple to take back the top smartphone manufacturer crown.
[source]
Maxis has started teasing its FastTap NFC service for the iPhone which allows Touch N Go payments with your mobile. The current iPhone 4S doesn’t come with NFC capability but the teaser image suggests that this is made possible with a NFC reader/adapter case from iCarte. Even the Maxis FastTap App is already available for download on iTunes. It is also suggested that Maxis is partnering with CIMB as their payment partner alongside TouchnGo.
Last week, Maxis has mentioned that it will be expanding NFC functionality and this is probably the first wave. With more NFC supported devices in the market, we hope that Maxis will expand FastTap device support beyond the iPhone 4/4S. No dates were mentioned but we expect Maxis to reveal more details soon.
To learn more about Maxis FastTap, head over to here.
Click to enlarge
If you’re planning to get an iPhone 4S, Maxis now offers additional plans for bundle. Now you can get the iPhone 4S on the recently announced Value Plus Internet plan and Internet Value Plans which comes with affordable monthly subscription fees as low as RM30/month (for supplementary Value Plus Internet plan).
For the light users, there’s the Value Plus Internet 30 (For supplementary) and Value Plus Internet 50 which comes with 250MB of data and bundled calls and SMS. For the slightly heavier data user, you have the Internet Value 50 & 75 which offers 1.5GB and 3.5GB respectively. Being a lighter commitment plan, the subsidy is quite minimal as compared to the standard iValue plans for the iPhone 4S.
For more information, head over to Maxis.
Apple concluded its Q4 financial report earlier this morning and as usual, the numbers are phenomenal. What makes the figures even more amazing is that they surpass even the most optimistic of estimates affirming Apple’s position as the largest technology company by market value in the world.
Apple sold 15.4 million iPads and a staggering 37 million iPhones, making the last quarter its best ever. These are certainly impressive numbers but what does it all mean? Let’s put these figures into perspective.
Market value of almost $400 billion
Apple is hovering just a whisker off its record high. Many on Wall Street target $550 to $600 per share as an achievable milestone: assuming no change in existing shares, that would accord the Silicon Valley titan a value of as much as $560 billion, equivalent to the annual Gross Domestic Product of Switzerland.
Exxon has a market value of $420 billion, annual revenue about four times Apple’s and twice the tech company’s roughly 46,000 employees.
Revenue grew 65% from US$43 billion to US$108.25 billion in fiscal year 2011
That is akin to creating a Fortune 500 company from scratch. For instance, a revenue of precisely $43 billion would place the company below Intel Corp and Sears Holdings Corp – 56th and 57th, respectively, on the 2011 U.S. Fortune 500.
Near $100 billion cash reserve
One of the reasons Apple’s shares trade at a relatively low multiple is because it has huge amounts of cash that investors say can be put to better use. Its cash balance stood at $97.6 billion at the end of December, roughly equivalent to California’s 2012/13 state budget
Apple’s $13 billion profits surpassed Google’s entire revenue of $10.6 billion. Apple’s profits for 2011 exceed Google’s revenue in the same period.
iPad
Apple sold more iPads than HP sold personal computers – 15.4 million iPads versus by Gartner’s estimates of 14.7 million HP computers sold
iPhone
iPhone sales double with every new model:
In 2009, Apple sold more iPhones than it did in 2007 and 2008 combined
In 2010, Apple sold more iPhones than it did in 2007, 2008, and 2009 combined
In 2011, Apple sold 93.1 million iPhones, slightly more than it did in in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 combined
It is estimated that Apple has surpassed Samsung’s smartphone sales figures, with 37 million iPhones sold versus an estimated 35 million Samsung smartphones sold in the same period. This puts Apple back in top spot as the largest smartphone manufacturer in the world.
Apple sold 92.94 million iPhones and 40.43 million tablets in the 2011 calendar year. If you laid these devices end-to-end, they would just about stretch halfway around the Earth’s circumference that’s over 20 million thousand kilometres.
Just think about that for a moment.
[source: Reuters, PhoneArena]
