Digital Camera Continue to Advance Through 2013

Digital cameras remain to be among the basic devices that people have and want to own today. This is despite the fast sales of the smartphones that have overtaken the laptop and even the stand alone camera units.

During this year's biggest camera show held in Cologne, Germany, the tough challenge facing camera manufacturers was clearly noted. They admit the fact that more consumers are turning to the smartphones. As such, the number of cameras being bought has slipped and printing of photographs has also gone down.
The Canon Digital Lifestyle Index revealed that sales for compact cameras went down by eight percent in the second half of 2011. Camera sales dropped by five percent in Australia in the same year. The case for the digital SLR, however, was different as an increase of 26 percent in sales was noted.

With regards to full-frame cameras, leading manufacturers Canon and Nikon are going to introduce more new DSLR models. The new units are targeted at both the beginners and the serious hobbyists but they command a higher price. As an example, Canon's EOS 6D expected to be out in the market this month is reported to sell at a price of $2,400. This 20.2-megapixel camera is capable of capturing high-definition video and 4.5 photos per second. It is also very lightweight at only 770 grams.

For its part, Nikon has its D600 unit with a lot of great features. It boasts of a 24.3 megapixel resolution and can shoot 5.5 frames per second. And its price? It is more expensive than the Canon unit at nearly $2,600.
Other leading brands that are keeping up include Sony and Leica. Sony has its RX1 which has a large sensor in a compact frame as well as the SLT camera while Leica has two full-frame but compact units - the Leica M and M-E.

Apart from the full-frame types, sales of the compact system cameras are seen to be doing well. This kind of camera has changeable lens and a small body. In 2011, its sales went up by 156 percent.
For this holiday season, Olympus is seeing a 25 percent share of the market. The company's contributions to this compact system camera are its Pen Lite E-PL5 and Pen Mini E-PM2 which have a 16-megapixel sensor and touch screens.
Sony cannot be beaten in this area. It has its NEX-6 which features a 16-megapixel sensor and HD video capture.

Finally, a growing trend today and going into the future is the camera with wireless sharing capability. There's no doubt that leading manufacturers are catering to this type what with more people now sharing images online instead of printing them out.
Samsung has already released its 4G Galaxy camera while Nikon has its Coolpix S800c. Both units operate via Google Android software and they can immediately share photos online without having to store them first on the computer. Other camera models with wi-fi capability include the Panasonic Lumix GH3 and Canon 6D.

So expect cameras to continue to advance through the coming months of 2013 and be ready with your budget if you plan to get one of them.

Which Smartphone Should You Be Going For?

If you are confused about which smartphone to buy, then relax, you are not the only one. With several new smartphones suddenly up for exciting prices, it sure is a dilemma. iPhones can be cool, but then with so many people going for iPhones, it can also become known as "yet another phone". Blackberrys have been around for a long time, and with Palm launching their 'iPhone killer', the competition is sure heating up.

So, which smartphone should you be going for? The answer to this depends exactly on what your requirements are. There are several different things you can do with a smartphone - surf the internet, using it as a compass for directions, use it as your audio or video device, play games, taking pictures and a lot more. However, not everyone is going to need all those things.

Recently, a study was conducted to look into the satisfaction of smartphone users to the various parameters that were available on their phones. This report debunked what most people had thought - that iPhone was the best smartphone out there. As a matter of fact, iPhone is overall third in the list based on the satisfaction of the users.

If your primary need is surfing the internet, send emails or checking your voice mail, then go for Palm Pre - 86% of the users are happy with Pre. You can go with Android if you are going to use the GPS quite extensively. An interesting aspect of the study was that iPhone did not take the lead in any of the several parameters studied. Maybe this is an indication of iPhone having moved away from the Apple fanboy club to the mainstream.

Anand Srinivasan, founder of KnewThis.com, an upcoming buyer's Q&A portal [http://knewthis.com] says that the statistics still need not be taken at face value since the survey need not be highly representative. Also, the answers could be more influenced by the network carriers than the actual handsets. So, depending on where you are from, and the reliability of the carriers in your area, and what the smartphone owners in your neighborhood say about their phones, go for the right one.

How To Choose The Best Mobile Device

Smart phones and tablets are found everywhere, virtually everyone has some form of gadget in their possession at one point or another. A teacher, student, security guard, businessman, public transportation driver, everyone who lives in a modern society has this need for a mobile device. The presence of mobile devices can be explained by both the wants and needs of its users. Everyone has different reasons for using a mobile device. It is that diversity of reasons that proves just how versatile mobile devices have become. It has become a tool that can be used for nearly everything.

Children do not really need something that's big and full of features. Chances are parents give their kids phones for the sake of being able to communicate with one another. When buying a phone for a child the main consideration should be price and durability, since all people know how well children handle small fragile devices.

Smart phones and tablets are used by teenagers mostly to surf the internet or go on social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter. Practically every teenager now has some form of mobile device that lets them go online. The best mobile phone or tablet for a teenager would be something at the midrange. Teenagers may use their gadgets a lot, but the tasks they use do not require a lot of processing power in order to run effectively. If they do not stream music or videos that much then going for something mid-range would be ideal.

For people like businessmen or other professionals on the go the best option would be a mobile device that is powerful, compact, and has a long battery life. In fact battery life can sometimes make or break a purchase. People who are always on the go do not want to have to worry about the batteries of their mobile devices. There's nothing more annoying for a professional on the go than to hear a ring, and have their mobile device die on them. Or worse, be in the middle of making a project and have their tablet run out of batteries. Long battery life means more messages and calls and less time spent having to wait for a phone to fully charge.

When trying to look for the right model, try to look around and compare different models from different manufacturers. Doing so will make it easy to find which model and manufacturer offers the most features and value for their product. Some smart phones and tablets may not have the best features, but it does not mean that they should never be considered. Some devices that have fewer features tend to outperform in other aspects, just be sure to read reviews to get a good grasp of what owning a particular device is like.

Six Hidden Features for iOs Developer

Finally, at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference, the latest version of iOS 6 was unveiled. The senior vice president of iOS Software disclosed some of the main features of Apple's operating system that is used to develop customized applications for Apple's smart devices such as iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. With more than 200 new features of iOS 6, there are tremendous opportunities for the apps developers to use the SDK and build customized applications.

While most of the iOS developers focus on main features announced in the event, smart programmers would keep their eye on something that is unsung, untold and not so popular till now. Let it be enhanced Siri or 3D Apple Map, primary features of iOS 6 are known to everyone as the news spread viral over the internet. But let's discover something that is interesting and unique. You as an iOS 6 programmer can read between the lines and think out of the box.

Not so known iOS 6 features
Huge thesaurus: The cloud has grown. Though there are many dictionary applications, Apple made this easier with latest iOS 6 feature. The users can add personal multilingual dictionaries to iCloud so to have quick access.

Custom e-mail alerts: The users could put the messages in a new VIP mailbox before but in iOS 6 today, the users can alert themselves for the same. The feature includes custom e-mails for VIP mailbox and inbox accounts. However, the option of Do Not Disturb allows the smart phone to receive emails and messages without disturbing the user.

Reminder apps: One of the problems users faced in iOS 5 was inability to see the tasks those are not completed during the browsing. This has changed in latest iOS 6 as Apple endowed this reminder app with badges that display the application icon with a number (telling the user how many reminders are left) circled in red on top right corner of the screen.

Clock for iPad: iPad was kept away from this unique feature somehow as just iPhone had it before. Well, not anymore. The new mobile OS endows the iPad with an application of Clock that features alarm, world clock and timers. Furthermore, the users can choose songs from iTunes Library to play as an alarm.

Find My Friends: On a map, the users can find and discover iOS-owners and furthermore, using the power of Geofencing, the smart device can generate an alert when someone enters or leaves the zone. iOS developers can think about applications for offices and parents for various purposes. This latest iOS feature seems to be very useful for people who want to meet up or parents on outing with their kids.

Smart Bluetooth: This smart feature in iOS 6 creates instant connection with devices nearer to the user. The Bluetooth is available in the Preferences application and can be turned off or on right below the Wi-Fi and thus it helps users to save the battery.

Menu bar with vivid shades: Apple smart device will change the color matching what's happening in the background. For instance, if the user receives a call, the menu bar gets green or when the user becomes a personal hotspot it becomes blue. It's not certain that up to what level Apple allows iOS apps developers to use this feature but certainly, programmers can explore it more.
As said earlier, these latest features in iOS 6 bring a lot of opportunities for application developers. It then depends on the programmer's intellect and expertise to code customized apps for personal or professional use.

iPad vs Laptop What is your best choice?

iPad vs Laptops- this is one issue users have been grappling with ever since the first iPad had been released in 2010. One of the most significant questions doing the rounds is whether an iPad can replace the laptop. There are several tech blogs discussing iPad vs laptop pros and cons in order to provide users with a clear view of what each one does well. It has been more than a year after the launch of the iPad and the dilemma surrounding iPad vs laptop has still not been solved. But has there been any change? Well, as reported by many tech blogs users have adapted to the tablets quite easily. Apple had sold more than 14 million iPad units in 2010 itself and aims to 40 million units in 2011. This obviously indicates the huge popularity of the iPad tablets amongst users.

Most tech blogs approach the subject of iPad vs laptop by discussing the pros and cons of each. Here, we will see how the suitability of each of the devices changes with the kind of work you use it for or the type of user you are.

iPad vs laptop - which is better for the casual user?

iPads are great at accomplishing simple computing tasks. These simple tasks that you can perform with ease on a laptop or desktop, becomes more personal when performed on a tablet. If you are a casual user who intends to scan news sites, check emails, read eBooks, do some social networking or simply browse the net lying down on your couch nothing could get better than the iPad.
Not just that, the iPad is also becoming popular as a gaming console. Although, people were a little jittery about using touch screen controls to play games, they have now got used to it.
So, you see that you do not really need a laptop if these are all that you wish to do.

iPad vs laptop- which is better for the professional user?

When the iPad was launched, the idea doing the rounds in various tech blogs was that the iPad was meant for content consumption rather than content creation. This, more or less sums up the functionality of the devices in question.
Creating simple content is becoming possible on the iPad but for creating advanced content, you still have to depend on the laptop.
If you are a writer you certainly can't work on the iPad. Of course many will argue that writers can use the Bluetooth keyboard. But the question is if you have to add a keyword, you might as well use a laptop. Besides, sites such as WordPress are not optimized for tablets.
If you are thinking of photo editing at a professional level, the iPad is certainly not going to be of any help, at least, not in its present form. Having a touch screen interface, the iPad does have the potential to offer advanced photo editing options but that will take some time to happen.
Photoforge 2, which claims to be the counterpart of Photoshop for the iOS is a far cry from what Photoshop allows its users to accomplish.

iPad vs laptop - who wins the tug of war?

The growing popularity of the iPad is testimony to the fact that iPads certainly have the capability to capture the imagination of the users. Although the iPad proves to be advantageous owing to its portability and enhanced computing capability, it still has some limitations which prevent it from completely over powering the laptop. Storage space is a major limitation of iPads. Besides, the lack of a physical keyboard makes certain activities tough as per some tech blog which makes clear and deciding comparisons.
The question of whether an iPad can replace a laptop depends on what you want to use it for. It's absolutely a no-brainer that casual computer users can use the iPad instead of the laptop since it offers a more personal experience and is also more comfortable and portable. But unless it is able to overcome its limitations it cannot replace the laptop completely.

Few Things Preventing Laptops from going obsolete

Despite the fact that you can now browse the internet, play games, watch videos, edit and view photo's, and listen to music while lounging at the pool, laying in bed, travelling on the bus or train, or basically anywhere you want, there are still a few key things that prevents laptops from going obsolete.

• Price: laptops are generally still cheaper than tablets, especially when looking at high-end tablets like the iPad, Galaxy Tab, Xoom, etc.


• Input speed: using a traditional keyboard for typing is still faster and more effective than using a virtual keyboard, especially with high volume typing workloads.


• Ergonomics: although a tablet can be operated with one hand, it does not provide room for a wrist rest like a laptop does. The user also needs to constantly move their arm when operating the tablet, which could become tiresome.


• Video capabilities: where laptop computers have discrete graphic cards, most tablets have embedded graphics processors. According to those who know, the quality of graphics of the graphics card and graphics processor are not yet on the same level. So a graphics card still produces better graphics.


• Processor speed: tablets still have a long way to go to compete with the processor speeds of many laptop computers.


• Folder management: tablets are not yet as folder orientated as laptop computers are. Anyone who uses a computer for work and business knows of the importance of folders and good folder management.


• CD/DVD: tablets don't have CD or DVD ROMs, and they don't have CD or DVD writers either. If you intend to use your tablet to watch movies, you'll first have to get the movies on the flash memory or an external device that the tablet can read from. If the tablet can take an external flash memory card, you can copy the DVD to the memory card using your laptop. You can also not install anything from a CD or DVD meant for a PC or laptop computer, even if you can get it on the flash memory of the tablet. Programs that are meant for laptops and PC's don't work on tablets, because they require a different operating system like Windows / Linux / Mac OS.

• Windows: this is maybe one of the most important reasons to keep your laptop. Only Windows tablets do Windows, and they are rather expensive and not as popular or polished as the other high-end tablets. So if you want to use Microsoft products like Office, then a tablet is not the best computer to use.

So that is a few of the most common reasons to keep your laptop a little while longer. The conclusion is this: for recreational use, a tablet is great. For work or business use though, a laptop is still better.

The Differences between Tablet and Laptop

The proliferation of tablet devices in the US market has contributed to a decline in the sale of net books, laptop and desktop PCs. According to analysts, most people who purchase slate devices are using them to replace their PCs and not to supplement them. So does this spell doom for laptop and PC makers? What are the reasons behind the spiking popularity of tablet devices over conventional PCs?

Ease of Use
One of the main reasons behind the popularity of slate computers is ease of use. Computer operation is mainly based on software and Operating Systems. If you are unfamiliar with a particular program, using it can prove virtually impossible. This is especially true for elderly folk who are not as tech savvy as their youthful counterparts.

Tablet computers on the other hand are as easy as they come. You can learn to navigate through the direct features and applications within hours. The email and browsing facilities on these devices are also simpler to maneuver than the typical PC web browser.

Apps Vs Software
There is a fine distinction between apps and software. Despite the fact that the two facilities perform almost similar functions, the latter requires more skills and experience than the former. You need to install software in your PC and take time to learn how to use it. With apps, the process is much simpler. You simply click on widgets and stuff begins to happen. Although software is the ultimate power behind both the PC and Slate gadgets, most of it has been relegated to the workplace.

Speed
Ten years ago, your laptop was the epitome of speed and convenience; nowadays it is your tablet PC. With a laptop computer, you have to find a secure hot spot, log in then conduct your online business. With a Slate device on the other hand, you can pay bills, transfer money, check emails and still listen to some music while you are at it from any location. Basically, a tablet computer combines the hustle and bustle of your PC or Laptop, and bring functionality closer to your fingertips.

Personalization
Another factor that contributes to the rising popularity of tablet devices is their personal nature. A touch screen gadget or Smartphone is certainly more personal than a desktop PC. You can store both work related and personal content in your hand-held device. As such, you can be able to work from any location with or without your PC.

There has been an increase in the popularity of tablet computers and Smartphones in the past few years. In the same period there has been a slow down in the sale of laptop computers and Desktop PCs. Nonetheless, PCs and laptops are not facing the prospect of total annihilation since they form the backbone of most industries and offices. However, the proliferation of tablet devices and Smartphones in the market raises significant questions about the future of PCs and laptop computers in residential areas, schools and colleges.

Enhanced Features of iOs 6 Application Development

It is out finally! At the annual WWDC conference 2012, Apple unveiled the secrets and revealed its latest iOS version 6, the recent most iteration of its smart device operating system. As the giant is known for, it came up with more than 200 classic features and upgrades in new iOS 6 that brought smile on iOS apps developers all across the world. Why? Let's learn about it.
For all the application programmers, iOS 6 new features are an ocean of opportunities as they can develop customized iPad or iPhone applications according to their clients' need. From a coder's point of view, using iOS 6 SDK will be very useful to develop apps on various verticals such as business, entertainment, healthcare, travel and games etc. Let's look at some of the most important features in iOS 6 as described in an official event by Apple.

iOS Maps with 3D and Flyover Option
This is the best feature that programmers expected in iOS 6. After years of working with Google and local mapping companies, Apple finally came up with its own way of browsing the places and find directions. The elements in maps are vector based and also available in 3D to offer the user a realistic flair. The panning is smooth and the user can rotate or tilt the map for a better view. The names of the streets and places are tagged with care and iOS maps house almost all popular cities and towns in the world. Things like high resolution graphics, turn-by-turn navigation and real traffic update make iOS 6 Maps a no-nonsense feature to be used in developing quality apps for traveling.

Siri has become better darling
Apple's very own, Siri has become better in latest version of iOS. According to iOS apps developers, new features of Siri has provided them with endless possibilities to think something new and program unique customized apps for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Here, Siri not only follows the user's voice command but does many things that a normal phone cannot do.
With latest iOS 6, Siri understands more languages and thus is useful in more countries. It can get the results of current shows, movies and plays in the town. The user just needs to ask her "What are the movie timings for Avengers in the city" and it does it all. In addition, the user can also ask about particular star's movie to generate alert or update. For example, the user can ask "Show me the movies starring Jim Carry" and the smart device shows all the current movies starring the star or creates an alert when such movie is released.
Apart from searching show timings, Siri can also perform internal search and does whatever the user asks. For instance, Siri will start the game when the user says "Play Angry Birds". Siri in iOS 6 has emerged as a latest feature that makes most of the things possible on smart device without tapping on the screen.
Apple is also working with giant carmakers like BMW, Audi, Jaguar and Mercedes etc. to have a Siri Button on the steering wheel using what the driver can command smart gadget to read text, reply the caller, play favorite track and many more. During any such event, the smart device won't light up so that the driver does not lose the focus from the road.

Social Sharing is quicker
While social bookmarking, updates and sharing is on the rage, iOS developers love this feature in latest operating system by Apple. It's easier than ever to share photos, update status or other postings on Facebook. The user just needs to sign in only once and it's then possible to off and share! The friends' profile information has been integrated directly into the contact list so that it gets updated automatically.

Passbook is now an improved eWallet
Passbook in iOS 6 latest features many things that iOS programmers can use and develop eCommerce solutions. The boarding pass, movie ticket, discount coupon, retail voucher and many more can be stored on Passbook. The user just needs to scan the smart device to check in for a flight or can have an alert when coupons or vouchers are about to expire so that they can be used in time.

Phone feature is more customizable
The developers can use this feature in several ways. Apart from reply or decline the call, the new feature includes Remind and Do-Not-Disturb that allows the user to schedule a call-back and silent the phone respectively. The user can also quickly reply with an iMessage or SMS in emergency where talking on the phone is not acceptable (as in meetings).

New features for China
IOS 6 has included a new Chinese dictionary and better text input as the user does not need to switch keyboards to type Pinyin and English sentences. With thesaurus of over 30000 characters, iOS 6 has doubled the number of Chinese characters that support in handwriting recognition. In addition, when the user adds the words to personal directory, iCloud will make them available on all Apple products. Another exclusive feature for Chinese users is Baidu, which is an inbuilt option in Safari. Also, the users can directly share the videos to Tudou and Youku.
With every new feature, the fun comes with challenge. It then depends on developers' brain how to meet the requirement without losing the quality.

iOs Users Downloaded Evasion Untethered Jailbreak Regardless of Apple's Warning

Regardless of Apple's try to "warn" its iOS users the danger of jailbreaking their devices, yet, a ton of iOS owners flocked to update their iOS devices with the latest OS makes their devices a cool stuff. According to a report published by Onswipe, which is a company that helps its clients create mobile websites, iOS 6.1 has already been downloaded by 21.8 percent of iOS users within 36 hours of the new operating system being released. Among those users, 24 percent were iPhone owners and 21 percent were iPad owners.

Apple has updated its unauthorized modification Knowledge Base article to “help” its iOS users learn just how dangerous it is to jailbreak their devices. They list some potential problems being program instability, dropped phone calls, security vulnerability and the shortening of battery life. Apple also has reminded its users that jailbreaking their iOS devices violates its iOS end-user license agreement and will reserve the right to deny service to jailbroken devices.

According to Cydia’s Jay Freeman, it looks as though close to seven million iOS users installed evasi0n on their devices within four days of the jailbreak software’s release. To be exact, 5.15 million iPhones, 1.35 million iPads and 400,000 iPod touches accessed Freeman’s famous jailbreak app store, Cydia. Those numbers, of course, could just be the tip of the iceberg as it isn’t guaranteed all jailbroken iOS device owners would make a beeline to the Cydia store after the jailbreak process is complete, although there’s a pretty good chance they have.

HP Android Tablets and Smartphones In The Near Future

Hewlett-Packard is designing Android tablets. The industry is gearing up intentions to build mobile phone devices, and is focusing on an Android smartphone as well - regardless of the failure of the industry's HP TouchPad tablet and webOS smartphones two years ago. Two unknown sources informed that HP in the near future claim a tablet featuring Nvidia's new Tegra 4 chip, which may possibly make it one of the very first devices with the Tegra 4, and that it's been in the works since before Thanksgiving of last year. Some source, however, reports that while the schedule may seem accurate, the information are still up in the air.

Despite of the industry's recent chaos, putting back into the mobile phone device target market is not truly actually a shocker for HP: last September, CEO Meg Whitman stated that "we have to definitely promote a smartphone because in various countries of the world that would be your first calculating device." The following month, she did justify that HP had no desires to release that smartphone in 2013, but the industry could sink its toes in the water by issuing a tablet this year.