Recycle mobile now: Mobile phones loaded with toxic chemicals

All Apple iPhones and many other popular handsets contain toxic chemicals, according to tests conducted by the Ecology Center and ifixit.com.

The researchers analysed and then ranked 36 mobile phones according to how hazardous the chemicals they contained were.

Only six devices are classed as 'low concern', with the Motorola Citrus being determined as least harmful. The iPhone 5 made its way onto this list.

Its main rival, the Samsung Galaxy S3, was of medium concern along with gadgets like the BlackBerry Curve 8530 and HTC Evo 4G.

However, the original Apple handset, the iPhone 2G, was given the maximum score of five making it the most toxic mobile phone tested.

This research highlights the importance of recycling mobile phones. When old and unwanted handsets are taken to landfill, hazardous chemicals are able to easily enter soil and damage the environment.

Ensuring the devices are recycled guarantees that these harmful substances are disposed of more responsibly.

Source : mazumamobile

Nokia Windows RT tablet rumours: don't bet on it

The last couple of days has seen a fresh wave of Nokia tablet rumours hit the mobile grapevine on the back of (unsubstantiated) claims that Microsoft is using a Nokia-built device as a testbed for its Windows RT operating system.

Now maybe it's a case of wanting the story to be true, or the fact that Nokia has never explicitly ruled out a piece of tablet action, but it seems to me this story has gained way more traction than it deserves.


But first the rumours: WMPowerUser says one if its sources has revealed that a "Nokia Windows RT tablet is currently used by Microsoft to test ARM based Windows Store apps and even sent to Microsoft partners for testing their apps".

We've also seen a couple of renders of what a Windows RT tablet would look like to whet our appetites, plus hints from a number of Nokia execs that the company is watching the tablet market closely and could well decide to throw its hat into the ring at some point.

That's all well and good in theory, but in reality there are a couple of serious reasons why the current rumours just don't make sense.

First of all there's the basic question of common sense. Nokia boss Stephen Elop has just this week admitted that sales of the first-generation Lumia Windows Phones have been disappointing, and there's no reason to suggest the current bunch have turned it around to any great degree.

Is that the time to be branching out into tablets, a completely new market that has proved an even tougher nut to crack than smartphones for nearly every company that's tried?

There's also a serious flaw in the idea that Microsoft would turn to Nokia because of their “special relationship”. That relationship relates to smartphones and the Windows Phone platform, not tablets and Windows 8, and neither party has said one word to suggest otherwise over the past 18 months.

But even leaving aside those points, why would Microsoft be testing Windows RT apps on a Nokia tablet, and why would Nokia consent to that yet-to-be-released hardware being shipped out to other Microsoft partners?

Of all the possible candidates Microsoft could turn to to build a Windows RT test device across the full spectrum of its Windows Phone and Windows partners, why choose pretty much the only one that has never actually released a tablet?

Microsoft would be just as well building a tablet itself and doing the testing on that.

Source : mobot

Apple's iPhone 5 gets thumbs-up from Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports, the influential reviewers' group that blasted the iPhone 4 for a faulty antenna, on Friday gave Apple Inc's latest smartphone a thumbs-up despite echoing widespread complaints about its patchy mapping service. The organization, which in 2010 withheld its recommendation for the iPhone because of spotty reception when the gadget was held in a certain way, said laboratory tests confirmed that the new iPhone 5 ranked among the best smartphones but its mapping function clearly fell short.

Apple's latest iPhone, sporting a larger 4-inch screen and 4G capability, drew scathing reviews for glaring errors in a new, self-designed mapping service. Chief Executive Tim Cook apologized last week and directed users to rival services run by Google Inc and others.

"Despite the widespread criticism it has received, Apple's new Maps app... is competent enough, even if it falls short of what's available for free on many other phones," reviewer Mike Gikas wrote on the group's website on Friday.

"As Apple has recently apologized and promised to fix these and other map glitches, we expect the Map app to improve in time," he wrote.

Apple's shares were down 1.3 percent at $658.43 in early afternoon trade on Nasdaq.

The consumer electronics juggernaut began selling its latest smartphone last month. Sales of over 5 million in its first three days in stores fell short of outsized expectations as it struggled with supply constraints.

Its homegrown Maps -- stitched together by acquiring companies and employing data from a range of providers including TomTom NV and Waze -- was introduced with much fanfare in June by software chief Scott Forstall. It was billed as a highlight of the updated iOS 6 software.

Errors and omissions quickly emerged after the software was rolled out. They ranged from misplaced buildings and mislabeled cities to duplicate geographical features. Users also complained that the service lacked features that made Google Maps so popular, such as public transit directions and street-view pictures.

The last time Apple faced such widespread criticism -- including from Consumer Reports -- was during 2010's "Antennagate" furor, when users complained of signal reception issues on the then-new iPhone 4. This year the consumer group, which reviews everything from cars to kitchen appliances, also warned initially that Apple's new iPad threw off too much heat.

A defiant Steve Jobs at the time rejected any suggestion the iPhone 4's design was flawed, but offered consumers free phone cases at a rare, 90-minute press conference called to address those complaints.

"Now that our auto experts have completed their tests, including some carried out some days after the launch, they describe the app as relatively streamlined, and concluded that it generally provides clear guidance, including voice and on-screen directions," Gikas wrote.

"However, they did find that it lacks the details, traffic data, and customization options offered by the free Google navigation app found on Android phones."

Source : hindustantimes

Sales of Xperia Tablet S Suspended By Sony

Sony reported on Friday that it is putting a halt on the sales of Xperia Tablet S, which was launched in the previous month due to a manufacturing slip-up that made a few units vulnerable to water spoilage. This is one of the most thwarting anomalies as one of the main selling factors of the tablet is that is water resistant. The 64 GB Android-powered tablet is found not to be splash proof as stated in its features. The out of order tablets are hindrance in the efforts of Sony in building a goodwill in the smart phones and tablet market, which currently rules by Samsung and Apple Inc.


Xperia Tablet S started selling in September and Sony at the outset sold its first two tablets that were launched last year under its brand name; however this model was debuted by Sony under the brand name of Xperia for the first time to merge the tablet line-up with the smart phones that are marketed under its brand name already. Sony informed that it will require a few weeks to inspect and mend the damaged units due to delays in getting hold of the parts required to fix the glitch.

Amusingly, Jeffrey Van Camp, DT’s mobile expert quoted a number of manufacturing flaws in a thorough review of Sony’s Xperia Tablet S, which has caused such a setback to the tablet stressing on its inferior design which has eventually led it down.

Around 60% of the 100,000 units that were initially shipped by Sony were showing production error committed by one of the contract manufacturers of Sony. There’s a gap between the display screen of the tablet and its back, which could let the water seep in and cause damage to the device. Sony also affirmed that the unsold units will be scrutinized to wipe out the defected ones and in the meanwhile, it will also offer free check and repairs to its users who , if required.

Source : solar-panel-reviews

Sony’s Xperia Tablet S not waterproof after all

Sony has halted sales of its Xperia Tablet S because of leaks. Not of the type that have hit Apple of late, but literal leaks.

Sony unveiled its new Xperia Tablet S at IFA 2012 at the end of August. This is the new version of the Tablet S from 2011, with a nice new screen, Android 4.0, a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, and some other much-needed improvements and additions. A key selling point is also the fact that the Xperia Tablet S is water-repellent to the IPX 4 standard. Except it isn’t. Currently.


A manufacturing defect has been discovered in some units of the Xperia Tablet S which means there are gaps between the screen and the case. This means water (or any other liquid) can seep in to the device. This is a bit of a problem when around 100,000 units have shipped, including a percentage overseas.

Sony has stopped selling the Xperia Tablet S, and is offering existing owners a free inspection of their device, with the promise to repair or replace affected units. More information on the program will be released later this month. In the meantime owners are advised to register their devices in order to be kept up with any new developments. And not to get them wet, naturally.

This is a huge headache for Sony, which is already struggling compared to the competition. The original Tablet S hardly set the world alight, and the new Xperia Tablet S, though a solid performer that is smartly priced at between $399 and $599, faces increasingly tough competition. The last thing Sony needed was for a fault in the manufacturing process to impede its chances of success even further.

For those wondering what the fuss is with waterproofing, seeing as few other companies bother with it, it is apparently an important selling point in Sony’s native Japan

Source : tablet blorge

Samsung Galaxy Camera Release Date: Coming Soon to AT&T

AT&T recently confirmed that Samsung's Galaxy Camera will be available on the carrier; however the company did not confirm an official release date or price.

AT&T did, however, state that the Galaxy Camera will launch in the coming weeks and expressed its excitement for the device in a press release this week.

"Wirelessly enabling Samsung's Galaxy Camera will create a significant shift in how consumers share and communicate with photos and videos," said Chris Penrose, senior vice president, AT&T Emerging Devices.

"By posting instantly to social networking sites or sending directly to another device, the person behind the lens is essentially offering family and friends the opportunity to share in the moments as they are actually experiencing them," he continued. "We're excited that the AT&T wireless network will help enable these opportunities."

The Galaxy Camera is a unique point-and-shoot camera that comes with a 4.8-inch HD Super Clear LCD Screen. It also boasts a 21x optical zoom lens and a super-bright 16-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor for shooting high-quality images close up and in low light conditions. It is powered by a quad-core 1GHz processor and runs Android 4.1, JellyBean software with 4G connectivity on AT&T.

"Once again, Samsung has defined a new category of mobile devices and AT&T is leading the way to bring this device to consumers. The Galaxy Camera brings together Samsung's latest innovations in mobile and optical imaging technologies to provide the first connected camera running on the latest Android platform," said Dale Sohn, President of Samsung Telecommunications America.

Source : christianpost

Motorola wins German patent case against Microsoft

Mobile phone maker Motorola achieved a rare victory against software giant Microsoft in a patent case before a German court on Friday, the latest in a wave of patent lawsuits by technology firms fighting over market share.

The regional court in Mannheim ruled that Motorola Mobility, part of Google, did not infringe a Microsoft patent which enables applications to work on different handsets.

This allows application developers to avoid writing separate codes for each handset saving time and development costs.

Germany has become a major battleground in the global patent war between makers of mobile phones, tablet computer devices and their operating software because court actions there have proved relatively cheap and quicker than in other jurisdictions.

Microsoft has won three patent cases against Motorola in Germany. As a result of these rulings, smartphones with the disputed technology are no longer available on the German market.

"This decision does not impact multiple injunctions Microsoft has already been awarded and has enforced against Motorola products in Germany," said David Howard, associate general counsel at Microsoft.

Google bought lossmaking Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion last year, in its largest acquisition ever, aiming to use the company's patents to fend off legal challenges against its Android mobile platform and expand beyond its software business.

Other technology companies have also invested billions of dollars in buying up patent portfolios that they can use against rivals.

Motorola could not immediately be reached for comment.

Source : reuters

Samsung operating profits nearly double, sells 60 million smartphones in Q3

SEOUL, South Korea — Samsung Electronics Co. forecast another record quarterly operating profit, likely driven by strong sales of high-end smartphones that offset weak semiconductor orders.

The guidance for Samsung’s third quarter earnings showed it was on track to report a record-high profit for a fourth straight quarter, despite legal tussles with Apple Inc. that resulted in a $1 billion compensation judgment in August.

But analysts said a rise in marketing spending will decrease the company’s profit in the October-December quarter and sustaining fat margins in premium mobile devices could be increasingly tough.

Samsung estimated in a regulatory filing that its July-September operating income nearly doubled to 8.1 trillion won ($7.3 billion) from 4.25 trillion won a year earlier.

The result was better than the market consensus of 7.6 trillion won, according to a poll of 26 analysts by FnGuide Inc., a financial information provider.

The world’s largest maker of mobile phones, memory chips and TVs estimated its quarterly revenue at 52 trillion won, up 26 per cent from a year earlier and meeting expectations.

Shares of Samsung closed 0.2 per cent higher in Seoul. Samsung will announce its full quarterly results including net income and a breakdown for each division toward the end of this month.

Analysts believe Samsung’s mobile communications business that sells smartphones, media players and tablet computers generated almost 70 per cent of its operating profit in the last quarter. Its growth has been driven by runaway demand for Samsung’s Android-powered smartphones that outweighed weak orders for memory chips and thin margins in television sales. Samsung surpassed Apple and Nokia in annual smartphone sales for the first time in 2011, according to Strategy Analytics.

Nomura Securities estimates Samsung sold 60 million smartphones in the three months ended Sept. 30, including 18 million of the Galaxy S III. That is above 50 million smartphones that Samsung is believed to have sold in April-June. The company doesn’t release its quarterly smartphone sales.

Robust sales of high-end smartphones also contribute to the profitability of Samsung’s other divisions that supply lucrative mobile components used in the gadgets.

“Smartphones are the driving force behind the record-high profit,” said Lee Seung-woo, an analyst at IBK Securities.

Even as Apple reportedly reduced orders of Samsung components for its iPhone 5, analysts believe Samsung’s display division likely earned more profit that a year earlier as demand for smartphones benefited sales of AMOLED, a high-resolution screen used in Galaxy smartphones.

Most brokerages said Samsung’s operating profit will be at its peak in the third quarter as earnings in the fourth quarter are likely to decline with seasonally weak demand for semiconductors and increased marketing spending to compete with rival mobile phone makers. New smartphone models from Apple, Motorola, Nokia and LG Electronics are jostling for attention in the fall and winter and will call for larger handset subsidies to attract consumers.

Samsung is also trying to overturn a U.S. jury’s verdict that it should pay Apple $1 billion for patent infringements. The judge’s decision is expected in December and some analysts reflected the fine in forecasts for Samsung’s fourth quarter earnings.

A bigger threat to Samsung’s earnings in the long run will be a handset price war, analysts said. High-end smartphone sales that fueled Samsung’s earnings growth since last year may not be as lucrative next year because competition with Apple could pressure margins and sales growth could slow in developed countries where smartphones are now widely used.

“The high-end smartphone market is split between Samsung and Apple, with their operating profit margins staying high at 30-50 per cent at present,” Nomura analyst Marcello Ahn said. “Going forward, if price competition between the two intensifies, we think smartphone margins may decline at a pace faster than our expectation.”

The slow revival in the global economy as well as the persistent debt crisis in Europe could delay a revival in the personal computer industry, crippling sales of memory chips.

Source : calgaryherald

Keep Computer And Smartphone Screens From Destroying Your Eyes

Staring at a screen all day can cause eye strain and other vision problems. Keep your eyes healthy and prevent other issue like neck and shoulder pain by practicing good “eye-gonomics”.

The Vision Council has published a helpful 16-page guide to avoiding digital eye strain. The first step is to identify symptoms of digital eye strain: red or dry eyes, blurred vision, general fatigue or headaches. Back and neck pain can also be caused by poor workspace ergonomics.

Remembering to blink and using the 20-20-20 rule (take a 20-second break every 20 minutes and look at something 20 feet away) are among the many tips The Vision Council offers to combat eye strain.

One of the more interesting tips is to make sure your computer screen is far enough away from your eyes using the “high five test”: If you can’t give your display a proper high five, you’re sitting too close. You should be sitting like so:...............

Source : lifehacker