your baddie teddie since 1983.

Day: September 13, 2012

Would you buy the iPhone 5? I would.

On the local HardwareZone forums, people are debating if the new iPhone 5 is worth buying. Main complain is the “small” 4″ screen size.  Some background information; the general public in Singapore takes public transport are drama/variety shows lovers. During transit on public transport, a large number of users watch videos on their phone, hence screen size one of the top factors when it comes to choosing a new smartphone. I would hazard a guess that it’s the same trend in Asian countries like Japan and Korea as well.

To me, it boils down to two camps:

1) If you want a capable phone that does almost everything a phone should do well, backed by an impressive Appstore and robust operating system, allows you to type and navigate with one hand — get the iPhone 5.

2) If you want a phone to mainly to watch movies, get something else with a big screen.

I have had experience with quite a number of smartphones, from iPhone 3G, 3GS (current), Samsung SGS2, iPhone 4, Nokia Lumia 800(current) and HTC One X (current).

I have 2 local and 1 oversea mobile lines, so i kept 3 phones. You would have realized i kept one of each mobile OS: iOS 5 on 3GS, Windows Phone 7.5 on Lumia 800 and Android ICS on the One X.

I sold my 2 year old iPhone 4 in preparation for the iPhone 5. I skipped 4S because i didn’t think my iPhone 4 was slow and it didn’t warranty an upgrade.

The Lumia interface is extremely minimalistic, sleek and face. But it’s plagued by a non-existent Marketplace, and apps are probably a few generations back. I guess the lack of Windows Phone users doesn’t make application development team at Facebook and others make a priority on improving or even making an app for WP (for now). FYI, there is no Instagram, Flipboard on WP. The WhatsApp messenger hangs half the time.

The HTC One X is a brilliant phone. The 4.7″ screen is awesome, build quality is fantastic and it’s great for web browsing and videos. But when im trying to type with one hand, it’s quite uncomfortable, and you don’t get the secure grip that you would like to have. Android apps have come a long way, slowly matching up iOS apps. But, it’s not quite there yet. Just take Facebook and Instagram for example, the iOS application always gets first dips on the updated version.

Would i get an iPhone 5? Yes. Because i think the whole iOS + Appstore + iPhone combo works. Yes, the design didn’t really change much, and you hope for that bigger 4.5″ or 5″ screen. To me, if you are going to do heaps of web-surfing for information etc, even on a 7″ tablet it’s not exactly the most comfortable, less say a 5+” “phablet“. The phone does what it is supposed to do, and the advancement in iOS 6 + evolutionary improvements in iPhone 5 is enough to warrant a change. And let’s be fair, the build quality of iPhone 4 and 4s are excellent, and i expect even better in iPhone 5.

Apple always upgrades their OS to take full advantage of the phone’s new capabilities. I love my One X, and i will probably keep it for a long time, but Jellybean has been out for a couple of months, and i’m still stuck on ARHD custom 4.0.4 ICS ROM to get that “project butter” feel. Hardware is nothing if the software isn’t keeping up, and for now, the Android phone manufacturers really needs to buck up.

iPhone 5 pricing & release date – Singapore

Apple followed their previous pricing on the iPhone 4S for the new iPhone 5. It is expected to arrive in Singapore on September 21st.

  • 16GB – S$948
  • 32GB – S$1088
  • 64GB – S$1288


Apple iPhone 5 new features summary (updated)



Apple’s newly unveiled iPhone 5 is the thinnest smartphone on the market and the lightest iPhone yet, all while packing in a taller 4-inch Retina display and high-speed 4G LTE connectivity. It launches first on Sept. 21.

Pricing will be identical to previous years, with the 16-gigabyte model available for $199 with a new two-year contract, a 32-gigabyte model for $299, and 64-gigabyte for $399 in the US. For Singapore, the prices replicates the previous iPhone 4S pricing: 16GB for S$948, 32GB for S$1,088 and 64GB for $1,288. Preorders will begin this Friday, Sept. 14, and it will launch in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, France, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore on Sept. 21. An additional 22 more countries will get their iPhone 5 on September 28, including: Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. A further 20 more countries will get it in October. (updated)

All of the native applications in iOS have been updated to take advantage of the new, larger display. Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller showed off how Calendar shows off a full five-day workweek, and how the iWork suite has been updated to use the expanded real estate.

Old applications will run letterboxed on the larger screen, with black borders on either side centering the application, allowing for what Schiller called “pixel-perfect” rendering. He said that developers will be able to quickly and easily updated their applications to take advantage of the new display.

The touch panel has also been integrated into the Retina display, allowing the screen to be even thinner and sharper, and produce less glare in sunlight. Schiller said the new screen has 44 percent better color saturation, with full sRGB rendering.

As with previous iPhones, the iPhone 5 will be available in two colors: black and white. The white model has a raw aluminum back, while the black version has a black anodized metal back.

The addition of 4G LTE and the A6 CPU will not have a negative effect on battery life, according to Apple. Schiller said that the new iPhone 5 will not only match, but will exceed the battery life of the iPhone 4S, offering 8 hours of 3G or LTE talk time or Web browsing.

A new microphone has also been added to the back that will allow for improved audio recording and voice cancelation.

Another major feature of the new iPhone is 4G LTE connectivity, which allows for the fastest mobile connections available. The iPhone 5 also sports a dynamic antenna that switches between connections seamlessly.

The iPhone 5 will offer 4G LTE support on carriers AT&T, Verizon and Sprint in the U.S. In Canada, Rogers, Telus, Bell, Virgin and Fido are compatible. More carriers were also listed for Europe, Australia and Asia.

Wi-Fi connectivity is 802.11a/b/g/n, and is dual-channel for up to 150Mbps downloads.

The all-new A6 processor also promises up to twice as fast graphics and CPU performance. Schiller said the A6 will launch Pages more than twice as fast, save an image from iPhoto 1.7 times as fast, load the Music app with songs 1.9 times as fast, and view a Keynote attachment 1.7 times as fast.

The iSight camera has been upgraded to an 8-megapixel sensor that captures 3,265 by 2,448 pixels. It’s a five-element lens and f/2.4 aperture, while being thinner than the iPhone 4S.

Image capture is said to be 40 percent faster, while a new image processor in the A6 promises to reduce noise and accomplish better color matching.

Also built in to the iOS 6 camera application is support for panoramic photos.Users simply sweep the scene vertically to maximize resolution, which can result in a 28-megapixel image.

The rear camera will record 1080p high-definition video and has improved video stabilization.  Sapphire crystal lens prevents scratches that distorts photo and video taking. The forward-facing FaceTime HD camera also records 720p video, and has backside illumination.

The thinner iPhone is made possible in part by a new, smaller 9-pin dock connector dubbed “Lightning“. Adapters will also be available to ensure compatibility with legacy accessories.

Credit: Images are from respective sites like Engadget/Anandtech. Notes from AI.

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