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Apple comment on iPhone 5 camera and its purple haze issue
The new iPhone 5 is far from perfect, but there have been some issues with the camera on this model. If you've used an iPhone 5, read our review, or read many of the other reviews out there, you'd have seen that the iPhone 5 has an issue when snapping photos.
The iPhone 5, when held at the right angle and near the right light source, will give off a purple haze on the photo. It's not a deal breaker, but it's something worth noting when buying (or reviewing) a device like this. Apple have come out over the weekend, posting a support notice for it, stating:
Symptoms
Continue reading: Apple comment on iPhone 5 camera and its purple haze issue (full post)
iCloud customers get a nice surprise over the weekend
Over the weekend, it seems Apple was feeling a little generous - they extended their additional storage offer until September 30, 2013. Originally, this offer was made to customers making the transition from MobileMe to iCloud.
At the time, they'd offer the normal 5GB that comes with iCloud to ease this move, and it was set to expire on September 30, 2012. But, Apple have been sending out e-mails to their customers informing them that this would be extended until September 30, 2013.
Nothing is required to take advantage of this, so if you were still wondering whether you should make the move or not, you now have another twelve months to scratch that noggin' of yours. Thanks Lee for sending this in!
Continue reading: iCloud customers get a nice surprise over the weekend (full post)
Interbrand's latest data shows Samsung, Apple are quickly becoming a household brand name
Samsung have have a great year for 2012, but according to Interbrand's latest data, they're really climbing up the ladder when it comes to the value of their brand.
Interbrand gives the world's top companies a brand value, with multiple points of data used to create this "brand value". As you can see from the chart above, Samsung climbed from 17th place in 2011, to 9th place this year. Apple really ramped up the ladder where last year they were 8th and now they're 2nd.
Coca-cola smashes the list sitting at number one both years in a row. What's surprising is that Samsung have overtaken huge companies such as Pepsi, American Express, HP, Disney, Nokia and more. Facebook sit all the way down that list at 69th place.
LG Optimus G Nexus gets some hands-on treatment
It was only a few days ago that reports were landing that Google wanted a repeat of the Nexus 7's success, but in smartphone form, and now there's some hands-on reports of LG's Optimus G Nexus.
Android and Me are reporting from multiple sources that have told them that LG are working on a Nexus phone, with some hands-on information to go with it. Their source claims that he's not an employee of Google, but has access to one of the Nexus devices that were handed out last week for testing:
Continue reading: LG Optimus G Nexus gets some hands-on treatment (full post)
Foxconn workers making the iPhone 5 strike after fights and raised quality control standards
You might be waiting an extra week or three for that new iPhone 5 that you ordered. At 1PM October 5 Beijing time, Foxconn workers went on strike over new quality control standards implemented by Apple and Foxconn. It seems that Apple wanted to reduce the number of iPhone 5s coming with scratches from the factory and tightened quality standards.
Unfortunately, they didn't provide any additional training to workers to meet these new standards. Workers were frustrated by the fact that they couldn't meet these new standards and started beating up quality control inspectors. These inspectors, in turn, went to their management where the managers turned their back on the issues.
This led to a strike of about 4,000 workers and quality control managers, bringing the iPhone 5 production to a halt. The watchdog group China Labor Watch has the following to say about the incident:
Courts grants a hearing to a Megaupload user to argue for his data back
We haven't heard much about Megaupload recently. We last left the saga with Kim Dotcom's extradition hearing being pushed off all the way until March of 2013. Now, a user of the Megaupload service has been granted a hearing by the United States court regarding whether or not he should be able to access his stored data.
Kyle Goodwin originally filed a motion back in May with the Electronic Frontier Foundation supporting his request. In the most general of terms, his motion asked the courts to figure out a way to allow users to get back their data from the shut-down servers, arguing that many users hosted legitimate content using the service.
"The Court stated today that it will hold a hearing to find out the details about Mr. Goodwin's property - where it is, what happened when the government denied him access to it, and whether and how he can get it back," says EFF attorney Julie Samuels.
Samsung estimates recording setting profit of $7.3b, likely due to Galaxy S III success
Samsung is a giant when it comes to electronics. Producing a wide array of electronic gadgets, toys, and tools, Samsung has been growing in popularity and quality. The latest smartphones coming out of the company are incredibly brilliant--just ask Anthony Garreffa how much he likes his Galaxy S III!
Due to the smashing success of the Galaxy S III, along with its television division and other smartphone sales, Samsung is estimating record breaking profits of $7.3 billion for the third quarter. The finalized earnings report is due out on October 26, so the real number could be higher or lower than this estimate, though it shouldn't vary by too much.
The estimate places the total consolidated sales at $46.7 billion, which is a huge sum of money. Samsung has to be happy that these figures didn't come out during its trial with Apple as the damages awarded could have come in even higher than the $1 billion that the jury awarded Apple.
AMD slashes pricing on the HD 7850 again, prices trending down for entire 7000 series
The thrifty among our readers will be happy to hear that the AMD Radeon HD 7850 has seen another price cut, bringing the retail price for the 2GB version down to $189. Along with that cut, the rest of the product line continues to trend downwards as the series ages, the process matures, and competition heats up between AMD and NVIDIA.
Anandtech has produced the nice chart you see above. The chart shows how the prices of AMD's offerings have declined continually since launch by comparing launch price, spring MSRP, late summer MSRP, and fall retail price. AMD has changed from quoting MSRP to quoting retail price as that usually is $10 lower than MSRP.
While the prices on the HD 7000 series started out really high, as of late they've become extremely reasonable due to the continual price cuts that AMD has been implementing. With the HD 8000 series due out early next year, prices will likely continue to fall on the HD 7000 series, though probably not until the holidays or just past.
Playing World of Warcraft makes you unfit for office according to Republican politicians
If it wasn't so crazy, you'd think I was making this up...and I wish I was. But, no, I'm not. The following is a completely true political attack on a Democrat candidate using her playing of the popular game World of Warcraft as the focus. For some reason, the Republican incumbent believes that this makes her unfit for office.
Now, I don't want to start any political debates between Republicans and Democrats. Instead, I would like to take this moment to point out how absolutely ridiculous this claim is. The fact that a candidate plays World of Warcraft almost shows that he/she is more in touch with current life than the opposition.
"I think it's weird that I'm being targeted for playing online games," Lachowicz said. "Apparently I'm in good company since there are 183 million other Americans who also enjoy online games. What's next? Will I be ostracized for playing Angry Birds or Words with Friends? If so, guilty as charged!"
Google wants to replicate the success of the Nexus 7 tablet, but in smartphone form
The cheap $199 Nexus 7 tablet from ASUS and Google was a huge success - I rated it very well and still use it as my everyday tablet. But it looks like Google wants to hit the homerun again, but with a smartphone this time.
Sources have told DigiTimes that Google are working with manufacturers "to launch smartphones based on its Nexus 7 platform". DigiTimes reports that Google are letting OEMs have more free rein on design and hardware specifications as long as they "are based on its latest native Android system".
I really hope we see this happen, and I have no doubt that we will. I expect a launch in early-2013 of the next iteration of Android, which should be Android 4.2 Key Lime Pie, on a Nexus handset. Bring it on.