Apple Launched it Latest Iphone , Iphone 5S know the special Features

Apple calls its new flagship phone, the iPhone 5S, the most forward looking phone ever. Despite speculation about the unchanged design and fingerprint scanner coming right, Apple managed to surprise everyone by adding some very innovative features. Some of these features are coming to a phone for the first time. Here is a look at what is good and what is not so good in the new iPhone 5S.

The good part

A7 processor: Apple has never really talked about having a quad-core or an octa-core processor in the iPhone. Indeed, the company always talk about their chipset and how faster it will be from the predecessor. The iPhone 5S will come with an A7 chip, which will be twice the CPU and GPU performance of the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5S is the world's first smartphone with 64-bit support for handling some high performance apps.

iOS 7: The iOS 7 was announced a couple of months ago at the WWDC event. Many of the new features in the OS will try and exploit the A7 chipset and its 64-bit architecture.
Touch ID: Apple has implemented this fingerprint identity sensor very smartly, without making much changes to the hardware. The Home button is now made from laser-cut sapphire crystal which directs the image of the finger to a capacitive touch sensor that reads beneath the outer layers of your skin to get a detailed print. 
 Surrounding the button is a stainless steel ring that detects the finger, wakes the sensor, and improves the signal-to-noise ratio. Software comes into play to match to unlock your phone. In fact, this process even eliminates passwords while purchasing content from App Store, iTunes etc.

Camera: Apple has not increased the megapixel count. But the iPhone 5S has got a 15 per cent larger sensor that allows individual pixels to get larger, which results in a better image. There is also a larger f/2.2 aperture that adds up to 33 per cent greater light sensitivity for better, brighter images with more accurate colours. The true tone flash figures out how much flash is actually needed and reduces chance of burnout.
Motion coprocessor: One Apple surprise was inclusion of an M7 motion coprocessor. Designed to work with the A7 chip, it will measure motion data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass - to work much more efficiently. For instance, it will sense whether you are walking, running or driving and accordingly switch the mode in the navigation/maps.
Colours: Apple has finally looked beyond the colour palette of white and black as the iPhone 5S will also be available in Gold. While it will depend up on the personal preference, consumers have at least one more colour to choose from.

The downside
Design: The iPhone 5S comes with the same 5inch display found on the iPhone 5. There aren't any significant changes in the looks either.
64-bit: We still need to get some more clarity about how the iPhone will leverage the 64 bit support.
Price: The unlocked version of the iPhone 5S 16GB will retail at $649 + takes in the USA market. This comes out to approximately Rs.42,000 plus taxes. But considering the weakening Indian currency, the iPhone 5S is expected to cross Rs.50,000. India is still not a part of the first phase launch.

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BlackBerry launches new smartphone BB 9720

BlackBerry has announced the official launch of BlackBerry 9720, a combination of BB7 and the recent BBQ5.The move is aimed at attracting entry level users with a slightly advanced user experience.
The company has been in the news following its latest announcement that it has appointed a committee to explore strategic alternatives which could include partnerships, joint ventures or even a sale.The new phone has been launched in five different colours – black, blue, pink, purple and white - and will be available across the region in including the UAE within the next few weeks.
Making the announcement in an official release BlackBerry said the new smartphone provides the user with an experience of a starter smartphone while taking them to the next level.The smartphone runs of BB 7.1 and features a full QWERTY keyboard, 2.8-inch touchscreen and trackpad for easy navigation, seven hours of talk time and a 5MP camera. Other features include built-in FM radio, pre-installed apps for social networking and a separate button for BBM messenger among others.

Carlo Chiarello, Executive Vice-President for Products at BlackBerry says: "The BlackBerry 9720 smartphone gives you all the essentials of the BlackBerry smartphone experience to support a communications centric lifestyle.

“It has the best keyboard and functionality for BBM, as well as an updated BlackBerry 7 OS that adds many enhancements. “It's perfect for customers upgrading from a feature phone or entry-level Android or Windows Phone device, as well as existing BlackBerry smartphone customers, that want a richer experience and jump up in style and performance," said Chiarello.

BlackBerry 9720 top features 

BlackBerry 7 OS
The new BlackBerry 9720 smartphone comes with BlackBerry 7 OS version 7.1, which features an updated interface that lets you swipe to unlock the phone or access the camera from the lock screen, as well as additional enhancements 

BBM
The new BlackBerry 9720 smartphone features a dedicated BBM key that makes it quick and convenient to access the globally popular mobile social network, and with its BlackBerry Keyboard, messaging your BBM friends is easy and accurate.
It also includes BBM Voice, which lets you chat over Wi-Fi for free. 

Multicast
The refreshed BlackBerry 7 OS lets you quickly type your message once and post it simultaneously and instantly to your friends on BBM, Twitter and Facebook. You can take a picture and post it to multiple social networks all at the same time, from the camera app.

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The pen that checks for spelling errors on PAPER and vibrates when you make a mistake

A pair of German inventors have created a digital pen that can check for spelling mistakes in handwriting. The Lernstift, which is German for learning pen, has a built-in sensor that recognises writing movements and tracks the shape of the letters to recognise words. It then vibrates when a mistake is made.

Lernstift also has Wi-Fi built-in and the pen can be connected a smartphone or PC to upload written texts online, share them on social networks or take part in writing training. Future models will also check for grammatical errors and the designers Falk Wolsky and Daniel Kaesmacher hope it will help children and adults develop their writing and spelling skills. 

The idea came from Wolsky's wife while she was helping her son with his homework.Current digital pens use optical sensors to pick up the writing movements and digitise the words or sketches so they can be used on a computer.

Some of these pens require additional devices, while others only work with specialty paper.

Lernstift is different because it has the technology and software built-in. The computer inside Lernstift is an embedded Linux system - a scaled-down version seen on some PCs and laptops. 

The board contains a non-optical motion sensor, processor, memory, Wi-Fi and vibration module.

The motion sensor recognises all writing movements, even if the pen is used to write in the air.

This means Lernstift doesn't need any additional recognition devices or special paper to work.

It combines a gyroscope with accelerometer, and to optimise the motion recognition, the inventors also added a magnetometer. Built-in Wi-Fi means it can connect to smartphones and computers for social media sharing or learning websites.

The pen has two functions: Orthography Mode is used to recognise misspellings and will vibrate when a word is spelt incorrectly. Calligraphy Mode is used to point out flaws in the form of handwriting and eligibility, to make it neater.

Lernstift uses a built-in handwriting software to compare the written words with the correct spellings. Future models will also be able to point out grammatical mistakes such as wrong word order.Wolsky and Kaesmacher have launched a Kickstarter project to raise £120,000 to produce and sell the Lernstift.

According to the project, the team are using a handwriting engine and language database to trace the words. The software has over 40 languages and Lernstift will be launched in English and German before being rolled out to more languages. This means it could also be used to help people learn new languages.

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Apple launching super-cheap iPhone: Leaked pics spark speculation

Are you willing to buy iPhone and  worried that you can't afford it then it looks like your wait is over now.
Apple is set to launch a low-cost iPhone after new images of the phone was leaked. 
A US tech website, Techdy, has reportedly got its hands on the new phone's plastic casing and front screen assembly. 

Techdy claimed that the device has a 4inch screen like an iPhone 5 and is shaped like Apple's iPod Touch. According to the Sun, speculation has been rife about a low cost iPhone after images of its rear shell in white, red, blue, green and yellow emerged last month. 

But in a twist, Techdy have created an Android knock-off called the Basic Bear and are selling them in five colours for 199 dollars each, the report said. The handset is likely to be launched this autumn, presumably alongside Apple's flagship iPhone 5S.

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Samsung launches a TV with a Curved screen Based on OLED technology

Samsung has officially launched its first super-thin curved TV screen with a price tag of £8,500 ($13,000) - five times more than its flat-screen equivalents. The 55-inch model has a high-resolution OLED display and its design means the screen is an equal distance from the viewer at all times.

It is now on sale in South Korea but Samsung told Reuters the set will be made available in other countries from July - the first time a curved TV of its kind has been sold outside of Asia.
The Korean company announced the television during the Consumer Electronics Show in January this year.

At the time, Samsung's curved screen was the world's first yet delays in the manufacturing process meant that rival LG beat the company to selling the device. Speaking at the launch event Kim Hyunsuk, Samsung executive vice president, said: 'We have just introduced our first OLED TV and have to see consumer response to gauge overall market demand.' 

Samsung Curved TV based on OLED technology

Samsung said it will begin selling its curved OLED television outside South Korea from July but did not specify which countries. It also said it has no plans to offer a non-curved one this year. The concave display gives viewers a sense of being immersed in the images. Samsung claims its 'Timeless Arena' design reduces the chance of images appearing pixelated, too. The 55-inch OLED screen also supports Samsung TV features such as multi-view that lets two people watch different things at the same time.
Samsung and LG, which are the only TV makers in the world to begin commercial sales of OLED TVs, had promised to launch them in 2012 but delayed the launch to this year.

The two South Korean TV giants tout OLED, short for organic light-emitting diode, as the next-generation display technology that will eventually replace older displays. But mass producing OLED displays still faces many challenges, leading to high prices. In addition to curved OLED TVs, Samsung launched two ultra-HD TVs, with four times the resolution of regular high-definition TVs. 

Samsung Curved TV on Display

An OLED display works without a backlight, which means it can display deep black levels and can be thinner and lighter than a liquid crystal display (LCD). In low lighting an OLED screen can produce a higher contrast ratio than an LCD, too.

The technology has long been touted as the future of consumer electronics displays, offering crisper picture resolution, a faster response time and high contrast images. Yet televisions with OLED screens are still a niche market and Samsung warned that industry forecasts for sales growth were a bit too optimistic.

Research firm DisplaySearch has forecast global industry-wide sales of OLED televisions at 50,000 this year, at 600,000 next year and rapid growth thereafter to reach 7 million in 2016.
LG, which currently offers both curved and non-curved 55-inch screens, is estimated to have only sold a few hundred screens so far after starting sales earlier this year.

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iPhone 6 rumours: 5.7-in screen, iOS 7, transparent exteriors

A new video purportedly showing the bigger, sturdier iPhone 6 in action has been ‘leaked’ online by consumer tech lifestyle portal T3 listing features including the rumoured 5.7-inch screen, a more powerful A7 chip for gaming enthusiasts, and sporting Apple’s new iOS 7 software. Rumours about the iPhone 6 launching in 2014 have been buzzing around for quite some time now. 
   But with this new ‘digital’ proof, it is looking more and more likely that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) will launch a bigger iPhone in 2014 to take on Samsung’s phablets and ever-larger smartphones, most notably the Korean firm’s s According to T3, with Android smartphones like the HTC One and Huawei P6 now boasting screen sizes of 4.7-inches and upwards whilst still keeping Full HD displays, it would make sense for Apple to release a product that could compete with them physically. Specs: Screen, size, resolution The new video is quite graphic in detailing the specs of the upcoming iPhone 6, providing not just the screen size, but also resolution (1920x1080 Retina display), physical specs including height, width, weight, etc., and of course images and a visual comparison with the current iteration iPhone 5.
Operating system: iOS 7 all the way

While much of this should still be taken with a pinch of salt – as all Apple rumours should be – the most likely of these to happen is the iPhone 6 upgrade to iOS 7 platform. The new platform is a complete overhaul of the OS, and was announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2013 earlier this month.

Apple maintains that the iOS 7 is the most advanced mobile OS, and is coming this fall (which in the northern hemisphere runs from September 22, 2013, until December 30, 2013).

The new OS will have a new design – rounded icons, striking colors and a stark font – along with a plethora of new features like Control Center, AirDrop for iOS and smarter multitasking. Here’s a link to 

Attire: Multi-coloured yes, but metal or plastic, or both?

Apple has been reportedly working on unveiling multiple colours for its new iPhone 6, as opposed to the current white or black variants.

But what’s also gaining credence among Apple-watchers is a rumour that the Cupertino-based tech giant might make the switch to plastic, at least for its low-end offering. According to many reports for iPhone 6, Apple is working on transparent plastic cases, which allows internal parts to be seen from outside.

However, it still is not clear that such cases are being worked up for the iPhone 5S or iPhone 6. Rumors in early June 2013 pointed at a $399 price point for the cheap iPhone 6.

Eyes-free Siri for your Ferrari

In addition, the iPhone 6 is expected to improve its Siri capabilities on the one hand, and be ready for an eyes-free in-car experience on the other. 

Making a splash by going waterproof

The new iPhone 6 could also be waterproof, giving in to the trend being set by a number of tier 1 smartphones, including the Sony Xperia Z, the LG Optimus JG, Huawei Ascend D2, and the new Samsung Galaxy S4 Active.

Snap and shoot

Moreover, the new iPhone 6 will have a much better camera capabilities to compete with the 18MP camera of the Samsung Galaxy S4, which is clearly one of the best cameras in smartphones today.

Apple will be banking on Sony’s next-gen camera sensors to propel it near to the Galaxy S4’s camera capabilities, and is rumoured to be looking at a 13-megapixel sensor that requires less space without compromising image quality.

In May, Apple Insider reported on a patent allowing the iPhone to remotely control other illuminating devices, meaning extra flashes. The new technology works in a similar fashion to those in professional photography studios.

Availability and Pricing

Jefferies analyst Peter Misek, who has in the past correctly predicted a number of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) launches, reported in his report in April that Apple Inc. will launch its iPhone 6 in June 2014, with a bigger display. 

But it’s likely that Apple will unveil the iPhone 5S by next month. With a number of online dealers in the US and UK recently beginning to undertake a spring-cleaning exercise of the current and previous iterations of Apple’s smartphone, the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4S, it is likely that the new iPhone 5S will be unveiled by next month, fingers-crossed, and might hit the stores coinciding with the ‘fall’ launch of the iOS 7.

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iPhone 6 and Galaxy S5 will have liquid cooling feature

The race to decisively nail the title of world’s coolest smartphone just got hotter, with both Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Samsung Electronics (NASDAQ:SSNLF) reportedly evaluating the use of liquid cooling technology for their next generation of smartphones.

The technology is already in use in some laptops, where ultra-thin heat pipes are used to carry heat away from processors and wireless chip. Heat pipes contain a liquid that turns into a vapour when it comes into contact with a hot interface. The vapour then travels along the heat pipe to the cold interface, condensing back into a liquid, and releasing the latent heat.

But let’s leave the technical details for the engineers. What matters to me - and you – is that that niggling heat that we have all felt emanating from our smartphones, sometimes even after just casual use, could be a thing of the past – as soon as the fourth quarter of the year.

If you, like me, find it irritating that metallic phones heat up more, and more often, than their plastic counterparts, then this news should come as a breeze of cool air in stark summers. Most probably, Apple’s iPhone 6 will feature this technology, as will the Galaxy S5, the next iteration of Samsung’s Galaxy line of smartphones.And this news actually comes in the nick of time. Traditionally, smartphones such as the iPhone have used a graphite-plus-foil insulating method to keep the heat within the device, but with apps getting more and more demanding of processors, and processors getting more powerful, this method is no longer efficient enough to keep the heat from filtering out, as we all know very well.

And with 4G fast becoming a common transmission specification for smartphones, the heat problem was only expected to become worse. Now, however, Apple and Samsung seem to be evaluating a cool solution for that.

According to a new report by DigiTimes, “smartphone players such as Apple, Samsung Electronics and High Tech Computer have started showing interest in adopting ultra-thin heat pipes for their smartphones and are expected to release heat pipe-adopted models in the fourth quarter, at the earliest, according to sources from cooling module player.”

DigiTimes says heat pipe cooled smartphone models could be released by the fourth quarter at the earliest.

In fact, even if the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S5 sport this technology, they won’t be the world’s first mass market liquid-cooled smartphones. That title belongs to the NEC Medias X-06E, which will be made available on Japanese carrier, NTT DoCoMo.

“Currently there are already several cooling module players including Japan-based Furukawa Electric, Taiwan-based Chaun-Choung Technology, Auras and TaiSol Electronics, are developing 0.6mm heat pipes; however, because the heat pipes only have a yield rate of 30 per cent, these players are working aggressively over improving their production currently,” says DigiTimes.

Additionally, Apple is said have a few alternatives on the drawing board too. One involves a reinvented “Ionic Wind Generator” cooling system. A second idea was revealed last November by Patently Apple in its report titled “Apple Invents a New Streamlined Cooling System for iPhone.”

Apple’s most recent invention on the matter surfaced in May 2013 which discussed “diamond-like carbon coatings” to help keep battery-powered devices cooler.
Either way, we know that Apple, Samsung, HTC and NEC (and no doubt numerous others) will have coller smartphones for us soon, hopefully by the end of this year.

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Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom and Note III Leaked

The month of June marks a milestone for Samsung as it releases a string of new Galaxy devices. Earlier this month, leaked photos of the S4 Zoom and the Note III was gone Viral. What is new this time? 

 Shortly before the unexpected online appearance, the South Korean mobile manufacturer unveiled another variant of their latest handset, a waterproof version of the company’s flagship smartphone. This may be a smart move for the company considering its shares experienced a minimal drop after numerous negative reports on the Galaxy S4. 

The name says it all – Galaxy S4 Zoom’s main attraction is its camera. The mobile phone’s snapper is rumored to have a 16-megapixel camera at the back with 10x optical zoom. Compared to the flagship’s camera, S4 Zoom promises to offer sharper images leaving the former behind with only 13 megapixels. However, it is still not known if the device will have the same eye-tracking features. According to O2’s Galaxy S4 page, the flagship is capable of blending images to make continuous photos. In addition, it can capture sounds and pictures simultaneously with the Sound and Shot feature. 

The unofficial photo of the S4 Zoom model that surfaced on the Internet was first released by SamMobile. Days later, TechTastic uploaded a couple of shots of the actual device.

Built around the idea of taking pictures, the device will be Samsung’s first camera-focused Android smartphone. The leaked photo revealed a huge lens on the back, an unlikely feature for most Galaxy handsets. It also has a dedicated camera key on the right specifically situated below the lock and volume keys.  

Galaxy S4 Zoom

Donning a 4.3-inch display, it is smaller diagonally compared to the flagship’s 5-inch super AMOLED touch screen finished with a Corning Gorilla Glass 3.

Reported to be already in its finishing touches. The S4 Zoom is equipped with a 1.6 GHz Dual-core processor, a sufficient power to run Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and Samsung’s signature TouchWiz user interference. 

What’s new with the Note III?

From the success of Note 2, the teased Samsung Galaxy Note III is said to be the hope of the next generation phablets.

In terms of hardware appearance, the leaked prototype doesn’t give much excitement. It boasts of a huge 5.66-inch super AMOLED display with curved corners that go along with the high resolution screen. To distinctly identify it, the prototype’s thin bezel spells the difference between the Note III from the Galaxy Mega 6.3. 

It has a wider touch screen display, which was reported to flaunt the same pixel structure of the display of other devices. However, the Note III will definitely lag behind the S4 Zoom in terms of camera. On a brighter side, the phablet will still deliver crisp and sharp images with its 13-megapixel rear camera. 

Other features include an S-Pen which is present in most Note lineups. If the initial features are true, it will be one of the fastest and most powerful tablet out there running the latest Android operating system. This will operate seamlessly with Exynos Octa-core or the Snapdragon 800. 

The S4 Zoom and the Note III are expected to be officially unveiled by Samsung at IFA (Consumers Electronic Unlimited) on September 6-11, 2013 in Berlin. It is the world’s leading trade event in terms of consumer electronics. If these rumors will come into being, these devices are going to be real monsters once it hits the shelves later this year.

What do you think of Samsung’s upcoming lineup?

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Samsung announces breakthrough in 5G that can download in a speed of 1GB/sec

Samsung has developed 'ultra-high speed' fifth-generation technology that could allow users to download an entire Movie in a second, the electronics giant has said.The South Korean firm has successfully tested new equipment which it hopes will transmit data several hundred times faster than existing 4G networks.

It claims subscribers could use the technology to download high-quality digital films 'practically without limitation' and watch 3D movies or stream high-definition programmes in real-time.

Samsung believes its new transceiver is the world’s first device capable of providing 'ubiquitous' 5G broadband - and hopes to bring the service to customers by 2020.It announced the development after conducting a test where data was transmitted at speeds of more than one gigabit per second over a distance of up to two kilometres.

Customers using 4G services - currently provided in the UK by EE - access average speeds of between eight and 12 megabits per second (Mbps).

'The new technology sits at the core of 5G mobile communications system and will provide data transmission up to several hundred times faster than current 4G networks,' Samsung said in a blog post.The company believes the equipment could provide a solution to recent surges in wireless internet usage.

It added: 'Samsung’s new technology will allow users to transmit massive data files including high-quality digital movies practically without limitation.

'As a result, subscribers will be able to enjoy a wide range of services such as 3D movies and games, real-time streaming of ultra high-definition (UHD) content, and remote medical services.'

In the blog post, Samsung claims its technology uses high-frequency wavebands which were previously deemed unsuitable for mobile networks.

It said: 'The implementation of a high-speed 5G cellular network requires a broad band of frequencies, much like an increased water flow requires a wider pipe.

'While it was a recognised option, it has been long believed that the millimetre-wave bands had limitations in transmitting data over long distances due to its unfavourable propagation characteristics.

'However, Samsung’s new adaptive array transceiver technology has proved itself as a successful solution.

'It transmits data in the millimetre-wave band at a frequency of 28 GHz at a speed of up to 1.056 Gbps to a distance of up to two kilometers.'

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iPhone 6 rumours: Flexible screen, July launch, 5 colours, 3 sizes, plus a low-cost model

Gadget Lovers are eagerly waiting for yet another Launch of smart phone after Galaxy Launched Samsung Galaxy SIV and that is iPhone 6.Rumours about Apple’s upcoming iPhone 6 (or the iPhone 5S) are getting hotter even as the ‘older’ iPhone 5 celebrates its six-month anniversary.Bloggers and analysts are salivating at the new specs being drip-fed by ‘informed sources’, with rumours flying thick and fast about the iPhone 6’s transparent screen, anti-crash elements, and GPS ability to track you down to even the washroom.  

      Now, with Samsung busy packaging and shipping the Galaxy S4 for its April 27 availability across the world, more details have surfaced online about the upcoming iPhone 6. If even half of these and the others released earlier turn out to be true, Apple will have a winner on its hands – and ours too. Here we are presenting some specification based on rumors.

Transparnt Screen 

Flexible screen

 The first among the most recent rumours about the upcoming iPhone points to it sporting a flexible screen. This is not so much of a rumour as this has been confirmed by Apple’s recent patent wins, and the speculation is limited to whether or not the upcoming edition of iPhone will sport such a display. Apple’s patent application generally relates to electronic devices that may have portions that are capable of being flexed. Apple’s patent application for the advanced iDevice flex display features covers a lot of ground including both flex screen designs and flexible components to make these designs work.

One such component is a unique flex battery design. Apple’s patent filing also enlightens us with the fact that bending a future flexible centric iDevice may also allow users to open a specific application, control a game function and so much more.

Possible design of Flexible screen

In the end, the patent filing provides an overview of the whole future flexible device concept that could eventually cover wearable computers, the iPhone, iPad and even aspects of a MacBook.

The patent applications also suggest that flexible electronic devices may be more resistant to damage during impact events such as drops because the flexible device may bend or deform while absorbing the impact. Deformation of this type may increase the duration of an impact, thereby reducing the impulse received by other components of the flexible device.

Five colours

In addition to the display going flexible, Apple is rumoured to, for the first time, ditch the black or white only options, and have three coloured options, meaning the iPhone 6 could finally be the one that comes in a total of five coloured options.

Recently, Japanese website Macotakara released news regarding iPhone 5S. It stated that iPhone 5S will have five different colour options, including the usual white and black.

The blog did not mention the additional colours that the iPhone will be sporting – so that’s up for further speculation. We’re thinking red and blue should be the options, along with perhaps purple or maybe yellow… what do you think?

Three sizes

This is one rumour that is increasingly catching online denizens’ fancy – the iPhone 6 is rumoured t come in three sizes a la McDonald’s – small, regular and large. Or, the iPhone 6 Mini, the iPhone 6, and the iPhone 6 XL.

According to a Business Insider report, analyst Brian White of Topeka Capital claims that Apple is looking to release a new iPhone with multiple screen sizes this year – add the iPhone 6 Mini to it, and you have three sizes.

“After our meeting with a tech-supply chain company, we walked away with the view that Apple will release the iPhone 5S in at least two screen sizes this summer and possibly three,” says White.

“Essentially, we believe Apple is coming around to the fact that one size per iPhone release does not work for everyone and offering consumers an option has the potential to expand the company’s market share,” adds White.

So Apple may finally be coming around to acknowledge that one size doesn’t fit all, after all.

Different Price-Points

And while at acknowledging things, it is perhaps only fair that the Cupertino-based tech giant acknowledges that not everyone who aspires for an iPhone may be able to shell out Dh2,500 and upwards for it. According to rumours, Apple will be launching a no-frills version of the iPhone 6 a few weeks after it unveils the upcoming handy candy for those who want the iPhone but can’t afford the current price-tag.

This fits in with the multi-coloured and multi-sized rumours, in that the iPhone Mini may sport different colours and will be cheaper – aimed at students and a generally younger (read: shallow-pocketed) audience. The suggested price-point for the less expensive (still can’t call it ‘cheap’): ($300) or ($350).

“We believe this price-point is reassuring for investors that Apple wants to expand its market reach with consumers in developing countries such as China. However, the company will also manage its margin profile and brand accordingly,” White is reported to have said.

Are you kidding us – this price-point should be enough to spike Apple’s market share high enough to reach just under the moon, we think. Bring it on, then.

Launch Date

June, July, August… we’ve heard all three rumours, and still can’t make up our mind on which one to go for. A June launch with availability in July does sound logical – Apple wouldn’t want the Galaxy S4 to have a free hand in the market.

Marcotakara’s report predicts Apple will announce the iPhone 5S launch in July and that shipping will start from August. If Apple can keep the rumour-mill going with an ‘imminent’ launch, then even this might not be a bad strategy.

Either way, we’ll have the iPhone 6 (or iPhone 5S) out within the next three months. Can you wait?

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First robotic cervical surgery proves successful in US

A surgeon at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has performed a groundbreaking robotic laparoscopic procedure on a 35-year-old pregnant patient of Galveston, whose cervix was too short to sustain a pregnancy.

Dr. Sami Kilic, chief of minimally invasive gynecology and research at UTMB, is the first surgeon in the world reported to have used robotically assisted, ultrasound-guided laparoscopic surgery to successfully tighten a pregnant patient’s incompetent cervix.Kilic performed the surgery in December 2011 at UTMB’s John Sealy Hospital.

When performed traditionally, abdominal cerclage surgery requires a large incision and a long period of recovery.Kilic’s new procedure left the patient with only three tiny abdominal scars.

“The recovery was amazing. Two days later I was able to sit on the floor at home and play with my toddler,” new mum Leonora Orejuela said.Stitches to the cervix during surgery must be precise; a suture placed a hair’s breadth the wrong way can puncture either the amniotic sac or a major blood vessel in the mother.

With the dual visualization screen of the da Vinci Si robotic surgical system, Kilic was able to view a real-time ultrasound image on one screen and the operative field via scope camera on another screen, side by side, at the same time he performed the surgery.

This two-screen system offers unsurpassed visualisation in a laparoscopic surgical situation.

Kilic is an international pioneer in gynecologic robotic surgical techniques and training protocols who was hired by UTMB five years ago to spearhead a state-of-the-art robotic surgery training programme.

Orejuela, the patient, was discharged home the next day after a one-night stay in the hospital.

Orejuela proceeded to have an otherwise uncomplicated pregnancy, going into labor at 36 weeks.

She delivered a healthy baby girl, Lucia Munoz, 6 pounds, 11.5 ounces, by Caesarean section.

The procedure is published online in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology

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New Canada immigration program: Which professions are most in demand

On May 4th, 2013 the Federal Skilled Worker Program will be re-opened for applications. This programme has been closed for application for a year, and some occupation caps are known to be filled within days, due to the popularity of the programme.

In April, important announcements are expected to be made. These announcements include the cap on the number of applications to be accepted this year, a list of priority occupations, and information on designated educational assessment organizations, revealed the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

The priority occupations list determines whether there is demand for a profession in Canada. The FSWP only accepts applications for the professions on the occupation list. The cap on each occupation indicates how many applications will be accepted.

On the CIC website, some clues are given as to which professions might be on the occupation list in 2013. “No details on how the list will compare to previous years have yet to be released. However, an analysis of Canada’s labour market can provide some clues as to the workers the country needs most. At present, skilled labour shortages are particularly steep in the fields of healthcare and natural resources management,” it says.

In the article ‘Where the jobs are’ in Canada the CIC refers to a report recently published by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). This report points out 25 professions that are most in need of qualified employees. According to the CIC these professions can be summarized as falling “in the fields of healthcare, mining, and manufacturing or business services.”

“The new occupation list is the most critical aspect of every application case,” says Jalil Parker, Manager of Vision Consultancy Services, an immigration consultant  “If your profession is not on the list, you will not be able to apply.”

The requirements to be eligible for the programme have been adjusted over the past year, and are currently known to be the following:

- Have at least 1 year of full-time paid work experience in the last 10 years;

- Demonstrate at least adequate-intermediate language proficiency in English or French;

- Obtain at least 67 points on the reworked point grid, which is based on factors such as language proficiency, age, work experience, education, adaptability; and

- Have foreign credentials assessed, authenticated, and given an equivalent value in Canada.

On the CIC website, Attorney David Cohen is quoted as saying: “Applicants are now in a position where they must balance the risk of preparing an application for naught with the reward of submitting before caps close.

“Caps are likely to be tight, and excitement for the program has been building over the last year, so interest is high. Individuals who feel they have skills that are valued in Canada may wish to get a head start on their applications today.”

Although most documentation can be prepared in anticipation of your profession being on the list, the assessment of foreign credentials requires another list: that of the designated educational assessment organisations.

As part of recent changes to the FSWP, the Canadian government has made it mandatory applicants have their education abroad assessed against Canadian education standards by designated organisations.

The list of accredited organisations is one of the announcements expected to be made in April, and should therefore not be missed. Most universities are expected to be on the designated educational assessment organisations list.

Most Probables Skilled worker Requred for 2013 in Canada

Public discussion has been growing over a report recently published by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). The report indicates a growing divide between the number of high-vacancy job fields in Canada and the skills of the Canadian workforce. To combat labour shortages, Canadian employers and government officials are increasingly looking beyond their own borders to find the employees they need. In addition, the government is taking ambitious efforts to secure skilled foreign workers, on temporary or permanent bases, to close employment gaps across the country.

In its report, CIBC targeted 25 professions that are most in need of qualified employees. They are as follows:

§  Managers in Engineering, Architecture, Science and Info Systems

§  Managers in Health, Education, Social and Community Services

§  Managers in Construction and Transportation

§  Auditors, Accountants and Investment Professionals

§  Human Resources and Business Service Professionals

§  Professional Occupations in Natural and Applied Science

§  Physical Science Professionals

§  Life Science Professionals

§  Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Chemical Engineers

§  Other Engineers

§  Professional Occupations in Health

§  Physicians, Dentists and Veterinarians

§  Optometrists, Chiropractors and Other Health Diagnosing and Treating Professionals

§  Pharmacists, Dietitians and Nutritionists

§  Therapy and Assessment Professionals

§  Nurse Supervisors and Registered Nurses

§  Technical and Related Occupations in Health

§  Medical Technologists and Technicians (Except Dental Health)

§  Technical Occupations in Dental Health Care

§  Other Technical Occupations in Health Care (Except Dental)

§  Psychologists, Social Workers, Counsellors, Clergy and Probation Officers

§  Supervisors, Mining, Oil and Gas

§  Underground Miners, Oil and Gas Drillers and Related Workers

§  Supervisors in Manufacturing

§  Supervisors, Processing Occupations

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