Samsung Galaxy S4 best contract deals: O2, Three, Orange, Vodafone, EE, T-Mobile, Tesco

By: iPadfanzz Editor on April 26, 2013

The most eagerly awaited handset of the year, paralleled only by the iPhone 5S and HTC One, has been relesed in most parts of the world. The Galaxy S4 comes with a glut of top end features and is the most powerful and desirable device Samsung has created yet.

The Galaxy S4 measures 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm, meaning there's no extra bulk in your palm. It has a 5-inch display with 1920 x 1080 resolution Super AMOLED display, meaning you get the same pixels you'd have seen on a TV that cost well over £1000 four years ago is now riding around in your pocket. What’s more, the South Korean manufacturer has launched the S4 with eight-core processor.
Samsung Galaxy S4 is equipped with a 1.9GHz Quad-core AP or a 1.6GHz Octa-core AP. For instance, India will receive the 1.6GHz Exynos octa-core processor.

With a 13-megapixel camera, slimline bezel design and a selection of new software features, including the likes of Smart Pause and Smart Scroll, the S4 promises to give users the best technology possible. Pairing these impressive features with a premium price tag, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is far from cheap. Running Google’s Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS, the S4's operating system is much the same as that of the S3 before it. With the usual selection of Samsung and Android apps pre-installed on the device, the Galaxy S4 OS is complemented by the likes of the Chrome browser and the Google Play Store. In UK, a SIM-free Samsung Galaxy S4 has been priced at £599.99, some £70 more expensive that the 16GB iPhone 5.

Here is the list of all the best deals for UK smartphone fans looking to buy: the Galaxy S4.

EE

EE has a huge range of price plans, all including access to its 4G network. For two years, £31 a month deals with the handset at £269.99 gets you 500MB of data usage per month.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile is offering 2,000 minutes and unlimited texts and data for £36 a month for two years with a £99 charge for the phone.

Orange

Orange’s cheapest option is "The Works 51" plan, which offers the S4 for just £19 on a two year, £51 a month contract. That gives you unlimited calls and texts, and a sizeable 8GB of data. For £26 a month on a two year deal, you'll see the handset jump to £269.99, with 500MB of data.

Virgin Media

Their cheapest monthly contract is for those who also buy their TV, broadband or home phone line from the company. The starter package is available for £31 a month if they pay £99 upfront for their handset. Its a two-year deal with a total cost of £843 and includes 200 minutes of calls, 500 texts and 500MB of data a month, as well as free calls to Virgin Mobile numbers and free insurance.

Vodafone

The S4 will be free on Vodafone after you sign-up a two-year deal at £42 or £47 a month. Opt for the £37 a month option and you'll have to pay £69.99 for the handset.


Three

3 is offering S4 for free on contracts starting at £35 a month. The two-year deal offers 500 minutes, 5,000 texts and unlimited data each month, and weighs in at £840 over the course of the contract.

O2

O2 has a "free upfront" option with each of its tariff levels, nearly all of which offering unlimited texts and calls, making data pretty much the only variable for the price. The 2GB option make you shell out £47 a month, while £37 a month gets you 750MB of data.

Tesco

Get a two-year contract for £30 a month, bagging 250 minutes of calls, 500MB of data and 5,000 texts.

In the US, the deals offered are:

AT&T

$199.99 on contract for the 16GB version.

Verizon Wireless:

$249.99 on contract for the 16GB version, plus $50 mail-in rebate.

Sprint:

Price: $249.99 on contract. Additional $100 credit for new customers switching from another provider.

T-Mobile:

Price: $149.99 with monthly device payments through the Simple Choice Plan.

Swype now available through Google Play at $0.99

By: iPadfanzz Editor on April 26, 2013

Swype, the learning keyboard application, is now available for Android devices for $0.99 (or Rs 50). The new app, which supports four Indian languages-Tamil, Urdu, Hindi and Hinglish, can be downloaded from the Google Play store on smartphones and tablet devices.

Swype was acquired by Nuance Communications in October 2011 for approximately $100 million. The company now claims to have around 500 million users worldwide.

The app has been designed to aims to serve a large sector of consumers, offering solutions to enhance the typing speed and quality.

What makes Swype unique and interesting is the ability to drag a finger across the screen in order to compose messages. A user typing a message of Swype don’t have to waste precious seconds lifting a ginfer, instead they can move their fingers across the screen – like they are connecting the dots across a keyboard. Swype’s learning algorithm evaluates each movement and helps decipher what is trying to be spelled. The app evolves by taking cognizance of what the user is typing.

The app basically caters of three types of keyboard users: “the swype’r”, “the typer”, and “the tapper”. The “swype’rs” are those users who can quickly and easily move from one letter to the next fully utilizing the app’s capabilities to predict words and phrases as inputted. Then come the “Typer” – those who are good in quick typing on a keyboard like they’re sending a text message. Then “tappers” – the precise typists who need to look at the keyboard and hit the buttons exactly in order to compose something.

The new Android app comes with Dragon Dictation, a learning solution that accepts verbalized messages and transforms them into printed ones.

Other important feature that Swype comes with include:

Expanded living language dialect support: This is helpful to users where a particular language is spoken.

Smart touch: The app adjusts to how you type on your device. So if you consistently tap between G & H but usually want G, Swype will learn and adapt those patterns.

Smart Reselect: A user can select any word in Swype to edit it, much like spelling and grammar check in Microsoft Word. When a user reselects a word for editing, Swype's Smart Editor technology enables the device to look both at the word before and after to give better replacement options.

Due to its late entry in Google Play, the app faces strong competition from third-party keyboards like SwiftKey and SlideIT have been in the Google Play Store since quite some time and have been quite popular as well.

On the launch, Mike Thompson, executive vice president and general manager, Nuance Mobile, said: “Swype was a game changer when first unveiled, and ever since, it has continued to set the bar for intuitive and intelligent keyboard innovation – so much so that others have tried to follow. Based on the incredible success of our beta program and our vocal customers, we decided to extend the power of Swype to more Android users through Google Play. Android users deserve the best keyboard – settling for an alternative is no longer necessary.”

This is for the first time that the app has been made available to the public. Earlier, the app was only available through phone manufacturers and also through its beta usage.

iPad dominated tablet web traffic in Q1 of 2013

By: iPadfanzz staff on April 25, 2013

Chitika Ad Network says Apple’s iPad controlled 81.9 per cent of the tablet web traffic in the first quarter of 2013 in the US and Canada. This is a 1.4 per cent jump month-over-month from December of 2012. Chitika said the jump was due to sales of refurbished fourth-gen iPads and discounted iPad mini starting in mid-March.

Android tablets came in second with 7.1 percent of web traffic with a major portion held by Amazon’s Kindle Fire. Significant contributors include Samsung’s Galaxy tablets with 4.3 percent, and Google’s Nexus tablet tablets with 1.7 percent.

Review: Rain Design’s iSlider

By: iPadfanzz Editor on April 25, 2013

Accessory maker Rain Design has come out with its new iOS stand called the iSlider. It’s a lightweight stand built from from Anodized sand blasted aluminum and can easily stand that can hold an iPad or iPhone. The stand is aesthetically pleasing and portable for both indoor and outdoor uses.

Its dimensions are 5.5 x 3 x 1-in  (140 x 77 x 25.4 mm) and it works with the iPad in either horizontal or vertical mode.

On the outside, the iSlider looks and feels like a hollow aluminium box. At one end of the box is you’ll find a black compartment, which a combination of black metal, plastic, and rubber components that hide inside iSlider until they’re needed. When pulled outside you’ll see two metal bars extend a metal and plastic iPad-holding frame, to firmly hold the tablet or iPhone. The iPad holder has a hole in the bottom for connecting a charging cable.

There are plastic ridged behind the iPad holder which lets users to push the holder backwards, thus giving the iPad viewers a choice of 18 angles that range from a gentle video-ready recline to a horizontal typing-ready position. Thus, the iSlider gives enough choices to the users to practically every possible they can choose from. The iSlider also comes with a set of non-skid feet on the bottom keep the iPad and iSlider from ... well, sliding.

What makes iSlider unique is that it is a nice match for your Apple devices and looks perfectly at home on a desk with your MacBook or iMac. Given that the stand doesn’t offer any bulk, you can carry it in pockets of your bag to anywhere you want.

Verdict

Due to its unique folding mechanism, the iSlider offers wide range of viewing angles and provides both style and function in a pocketable design.

Pros

The case is pocketable and adjustable over a wide range
Rugged aluminum body
Can accommodate iPads in a variety of cases and covers
Non-slip feet keep your iPad and iSlider from moving

Cons

A bit expensive

Nokia Asha 210 launched with free WhatsApp access for life

By: iPadfanzz Editor on April 24, 2013

Nokia has unveiled dual-SIM Asha 210, complete with full Qwerty keyboard and dedicated WhatsApp button sat on the front. The handset has been aimed at emerging markets with an idea to provide feature phones loaded with lots of features. The 210 will not head to the US, but it will come  to Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia for about $72 (Rs 3,800 approximately) in the second quarter.

Nokia is called 210 as "the most social Asha yet," as the phone includes three social networking and messaging apps. Depending on where you are, the device will sport a shortcut key for either Facebook, Weibo, or WhatsApp. The handset runs Symbian S40, which Nokia has tweaked to focus on social media.

Design

Although it is not top-end Windows phone, it does borrow the look and feel of Nokia's Lumia lineup. It has a polycarbonate construction and looks like a thin brick. The handset is comfortable to hold in hands and has a sleek, minimalistic looks.

The Asha 210 measures 4.39-inches tall, 2.36 inches wide, and 0.46-inches thick. At 3.43 ounces, it's lightweight too. After launching the Asha 305, 306, 311 and the 310 more recently, the 210 has gone for complete overall. The top of the phone has space for a 3.5mm AV jack and Micro-USB port for charging, while on the left edge it has the optional second SIM slot.

The 210 comes with a 2.4-inch QVGA screen, with a 320x240-pixel resolution. That means the menu icons and text will look crisp and clear. Just below the display you’ll find two selection keys, two buttons to make and end a call, a center navigation key, a shortcut camera button on the right, and a hotkey on the left that will launch a certain social networking service. Nokia's left button will open Whatsapp, an app for free messaging to iOS, Android and Windows Phone handsets. Nokia describes the Asha 210′s WhatsApp hardware key as a “world first.” The handset also comes a dedicated Facebook key instead of a WhatsApp button.

The Asha 210 is available in Single-SIM and Dual-SIM variants, but they won’t be offered together in the same market but will rather be region specific, presumably corresponding to where the respective services are most popular.

Hardware

The Nokia Asha 210 features exactly what you'd expect from a low-end Blackberry rival. The phone sports comes with 64MB of flash memory which can be expanded to up to 32GB using a microSD card and a 1,200mAH battery which Nokia claims can last up to 46 days on the Single-SIM variant and up to 24 days on the Dual-SIM.

There's also a 2MP rear-facing camera with Nokia's software features including self-portrait mode and fast editing, WiFi connectivity and a 1,200mAh battery, which Nokia claims will offer 12 hours of talk time.

The USP of 201 will probably be its four-row QWERTY keyboard which will light up when in use and is textured for easy typing. The space bar of the phone also doubles as a Wi-Fi launch button when long pressed.

Features

What makes the 210 so different from other phone in the same category is a dedicated WhatsApp key and the benefits of the partnership between Nokia and WhatsApp which were being forwarded to users. The phone also comes with a ‘Social phonebook integration’ feature that allows users to launch WhatsApp directly from contact cards in the Phonebook. According to WhatsApp CEO the partnership couldn’t have come at a better time as the company now claims it has more active monthly users than Twitter.

For Europe and Latin America, the 210 will come with Facebook button. Region-wise, the 210 in China will have Weibo, a mobile messaging and micro-blogging service, and India, the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia (more specifically, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia), will get WhatsApp, another mobile messaging application.

The 210 runs on a user-friendly Series 40 Asha interface and comes with Nokia's cloud-based Xpress Internet browser. The 2-megapixel camera offers the ability of 4X digital zoom.

Nokia has earlier launched a Facebook-button-packing phone, the full Qwerty Asha 205, in November last year.

Both the Single-SIM and the Dual-SIM variants of Nokia Asha 210 will be sold in Yellow, Black, White, Cyan and Magenta color options and the phone should start shipping by the second quarter of 2013.

Asha – a good Android alternative?

The major benefit of the Asha line is its being feature-packed amid reasonable prices. The entire Asha range – including 210 – has been pitched in the price-conscious emerging markets. And Nokia is selling lots of their Asha phones, as evident with the lasts Q4 (9.3 million) numbers which saw 40 per cent growth in Asha smartphones shipments over Q3 (6.5m).

Strong sales numbers of its Asha range also mean that lots of users in near future will upgrade to Lumia range. As of end-2012, sales of both Asha and Lumia lines have reached a combined 15.6 million units globally. Although Nokia is still lagging far in the smartphone race, probably strong sales of Asha phones could help the Finnish company in terms of numbers.

Smartphones: The past, present and the future [infographic]

By: iPadfanzz staff on April 23, 2013

Waypharer.com has made a nice graphic in case you are curious to find out how much progress has happened in the world of smartphones.

The infographic talks about the first mobile network that brought about the meaning of ‘wireless’ communication, inform you about the first smartphone, how Apple and Android began their journey and gives a peek into the future of smartphones.

Some of the more interesting dates include:

1994. IBM combines a cell phone and PDA to form the Simon Personal Communicator, which was sold for $1,099.
1999. The BlackBerry email device was launched
2000-2011. Symbian was the dominant platform.
2007. The iPhone was launched.
2008. Android saga begins.
2010. Windows Phone replaces Windows Mobile.
2012. Half a billion Android devices active all around the world.
2016. 1 billion smartphones bill be sold per year.

Top ways in which Google Glass will benefit you

By: iPadfanzz Editor on April 23, 2013

Google's dream of wearable technology is now reality. Google Glass is a sincere attempt to free data from desktop computers and portable devices like phones and tablets, and place it right in front of your eyes. Basically, Google Glass is a camera, display, touchpad, battery and microphone built into spectacle frames which allows you to perch a display in your field of vision, film, take pictures, search and translate on the go.

To do that, Google uses a prism screen, which effectively gives you the display without obstructing your view. According to Google the display is "the equivalent of a 25-inch high definition screen from eight feet away". Google has confirmed that Glass will feature a 5-megapixel camera capable of recording 720p videos. It will also feature a Bone Conduction Transducer for audio. Glass is compatible with any Bluetooth-capable phone, but to use GPS and SMS services the device needs the MyGlass companion app which is only available for phones running Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich or higher.

There's 16GB of flash memory built into the device, although only 12GB will be available for user storage. The device will sync to your Google Drive in the cloud. Battery life is for a day.

With Google Glass, you probably don’t need to ask, "How do I get to the post office from here?" or "What gate does my flight leave from?", as directions will appear quickly.

The Google Glass doesn’t have lens and it adopts a projection display instead. The camera above the spectacle will record your first-person perspective, by letting you take snaps or footage of what you are actually seeing. At the same you don’t have to worry about the outside noise interference as with the support of bone conduction technology, outside sound will not be accepted as command. The system would only accept the sound of user.

The Google Glass also responds to your facial and head movements. Like, through eye movement you can turn the screen on and operate the device or you can tilt your head to scroll through different screens.

First how it performs

1. Hands-free recording and sharing

While wearing Glass, all you need to say, “Ok Glass, record a video,” and the headset will automatically begin capturing footage. Besides, you can also share what you see with your friends on Google Hangouts.

2. Navigation hand by hand

The Glass provides a turn-by-turn navigation. The system collects all the information about Google Maps and all the data will be displayed in front of you in real time. You can easily view distance, time-consuming, and directions. This is while you are walking as there is no need to open your smartphone.

3. Translate at any time

Using voice control technology, Google Glass successfully integrates with Google Translate. Now you can translate anything you want at any time.

4. Google Now support

The Google Now application is also integrated in Google Glass. This means you’ll be able to get real-time updates based on your location.

Google Glass takes the concept of multitasking aid to an entirely new level. In terms of benefits, you can use Google Glass in a large number of.

Here is a list of its important usages:

1. Video conferences

You can use the Google hangout software to video conference with your friends and show them what you're looking at.

2. Get Directions

Use Google Maps to get directions, although with GPS absent from the spec list, you'll need to tether Glass to your phone. It’s easy as you can easily pair your Android handse with MyGlass app.

3. It could give you X-Ray vision when working on your car

The glass can overlay schematics and diagrams over your field of vision based on what you're looking at. So, if you're looking at the engine of the car, the glass can outline all the locations of parts that would normally be impossible to see. It will be beneficial when you are tracing various lines (hydraulic, fuel, water, etc) and wiring.

4. It could help you drive more safely

Data like speed and fuel levels could be unobtrusively in the field of vision, keeping eyes on the road, and the augmented-vision system could help compensate for poor visibility in bad weather or other extreme darkness. Using GPS, mapping data, and visual images from your camera, the Glass can display road surfaces and borders/dimensions in the driver's field of vision.

5. It could keep you from getting lost much more effectively

With Google Glass there will be limited change in getting lost.  The Glass will display digital maps and road information as good as a modern GPS systems. You’ll also get visual warnings to choose the right lane for your exit.

6. Third party apps

A lot of service providers are working overnight to provide some rather cool/scary apps for Google Glass - including one that helps you identify your friends in a crowd, and another that allows you to dictate an email.

7. News content and other relevant information beamed directly to you

Besides beaming news content, you can also get an air carrier's suggestion about your flight details while you are waiting at the airport.

8. Wink to take a picture

There are reports that a series of gesture-based actions may be added to Glass in the coming months. This may include the ability to pinch (in the air) to zoom and control a browser window, and wink to take a picture.

9. Patient information and body map

For surgeons a head-up displays would be a valuable resource. It could give them anatomical guidance ("cut here") while alerting me to potential problems ("avoid that"). That could help a safer and efficient surgery.

10. Buy a used car

While going to buy a second hand or a brand new car, all the relevant information will be displayed in front of you. It will be helpful in you identifying modifications, missing parts, damaged areas, and more. You would know what to look for and where to look for it right there, with information updated in real-time. You could send back pictures to your own account to help you research and make your decision.

How much will Google Glass cost?

The Google Glass Explorer (the developer version being sent out now) costs $1,500 - around £985 or AU$1,449.

When is the Google Glass release date?

The suggestions point to 2014 but optimistic see it arrive in time for the end of 2013.

Tech firms raise over $32m following China earthquake, with Apple and Samsung leading donation efforts

By: iPadfanzz staff on April 22, 2013

Samsung and Apple are among the tech companies to provide over $32 million in donations following an earthquake in Sichuan, China.

Samsung, the world's largest smartphone maker, has donated 60 million yuan (HK$75.4 million) to help relief efforts in Yaan. Similarly, Apple would also donate 50 million yuan to help with relief efforts.

Earlier, China search engine Baidu, launched an online application to offer information about survivors and missing people. The company said the app reunited six survivors with their family members after their details were posted on the platform. Social network Renren and Web browser Qihoo 360 Technologies also launched similar services.

China's largest navigation provider by market share, AutoNavi, said it was providing services to rescue teams in Sichuan, and also pledged to offer free downloads of its offline navigation app to the public.

A deadly earthquake struck rural hills of China's Sichuan province – killing at least 188 people and injured more than 11,000. The quake was among the deadliest China has seen in the past three years. More than 2,000 aftershocks have rattled the area since the quake.

Samsung recently topped China’s smartphone market for the first time, according to a Strategy Analytics report from March which found that its sales had tripled in 2012. Apple’s revenues in China from its fiscal Q1 2013 jumping 67 percent to $6.8 billion as iPhone sales doubled year-on-year during the period.

Verizon's Samsung Galaxy S4 sign up page now live

By: iPadfanzz staff on April 22, 2013

Verizon's Samsung Galaxy S4 page is live. Those interested in buying S4 can head to the page to sign up for more information. Forking out your email address would invariably mean that you are giving your consent to being spammed by the carrier about all things Samsung.

Earlier, the US carrier tweeted that the GS4 would be hitting its 4G LTE network in May and promised that more details would soon be forthcoming.

Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile will have the Galaxy S4 in stores later this month, and AT&T has already been taking pre-orders for a few days now.

It’s not surprise that the S4 will have strong demand from the American customers. The smartphone comes with a 5-inch full-HD screen with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels, and pixel density of 441ppi. It is powered by 1.6GHz Exynos octa-core processor in some countries, and a 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor in others. The Galaxy S4 sports a 13-megapixels rear shooter and a 2-megapixel one on the front. The smartphone has 2GB of RAM is expected to come in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants.

In the US, the S4 has been listed carrying a contract-free price of $640. In the UK an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S4 is available through Amazon for 699 Pounds.

Nokia may launch new phone with physical keyboard

By: iPadfanzz staff on April 22, 2013

Nokia has revealed yet another teaser, which involves a handset with a possible QWERTY keyboard attached to it. S. The teaser showcases a part of a phone's screen and a small part of its hardware keyboard.

Earlier purported pictures of Nokia's refreshed range of Asha  mobile handsets were posted online by the Twitter user @evleaks. The images showed three different handsets in bold colours such as green, red and yellow. This may also mean that the company is now trying to adopt the Lumia design philososphy into its Asha range of phones.,

The picture doesn't show much, but when it is clear that the new phone will share the Lumia's curved form, even the physical buttons. We also can’t rule out a new Asha phone.

Samsung details Galaxy S4 US availability: Here’s list of retailers and carriers

By: iPadfanzz staff on April 22, 2013

AT&T has commenced taking pre-orders for the Galaxy S4 starting at $199.99 with a two-year contract. AT&T's launch date is April 30. Similarly, T-Mobile will start selling the Galaxy S4 beginning April 24. It'll cost $149.99 up front plus $20 per month for 24 months. The Samsung Galaxy S4 will hit Sprint's network on April 27. Sprint will sell the Galaxy S4 on April 27 starting at $249.99 with a two-year contract.

The seven major retailers that will launch the Galaxy S4 flagship, by the end of April, include Best Buy (incl. Best Buy Mobile), Costco, Radio Shack, Sam’s Club, Staples, Target and Wal-Mart.

 Before start selling the smartphone, cellular operators test its software to ensure that it runs well on their networks.

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S4 smartphone on March 14. The phone comes with a 5-inch full-HD screen with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels, and pixel density of 441ppi. It is powered by 1.6GHz Exynos octa-core processor in some regions, and a 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor in others. It has 2GB of RAM and a PowerVR SGX544MP3 triple-core GPU.

The smartphone will come in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants and features a microSD card slot for expanding the memory. It has a 13-megapixels rear shooter and a 2-megapixel one on the front. The S4 comes with dual-shot, which employs the use of both front and back camera, an eraser shot mode to remove people from photos, and a Cinemagram like feature called Cinema Photo, among several other tricks.

Specifications:

5-inch full-HD (1080x1920) Super AMOLED display (441 ppi)

1.9GHz quad-core processor/ 1.6GHz octa-core processor (Depending upon region)

2GB RAM

16/32/64 GB Storage (expandable by 64GB via microSD slot)

13-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel front camera

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, GPS/ GLONASS, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, IR LED, MHL 2.0

Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)

2,600 mAh battery

136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9mm

130 grams

Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky' breaks Spotify streaming records, tops iTunes charts

By: iPadfanzz staff on April 22, 2013

After months of teasing, Daft Punk has finally released the first song off their fourth album Random Access Memories for download through iTunes. The song titled "Get Lucky" is topping the charts on iTunes in both France and the UK, and number three in the US. On Spotify, the song has set a record for "biggest streaming day for a single track" in both the US and UK.

Get Lucky features vocals from Pharrell and guitar courtesy of disco legend Nile Rodgers.

The album is set for release on May 21 via Daft Life Limited, an imprint of Columbia Records.

Random Access Memories will be Daft Punk’s first full-length LP since 2005’s album Human After All. However, the guys have been busy since then, producing the live album Alive 2007 and the Tron: Legacy soundtrack.

Top tips to avoid 'bill shock'

By: iPadfanzz Editor on April 21, 2013

Have you ever suffered from “bill shock?” It happens when you open the phone bill, see the figures and get scared. It's an awful feeling which reminds us of how certain miscalculation can get us in the trap.

There's no reason to overpay on a mobile phone bill if you know what you are doing.

Remember, education is empowerment and the following tips will help you save money.

But before we go further, let us understand what are the causes of a “bill shock.” The three main reasons are:

Exceeding your cap (it happens when you do not monitor your usage)

Using services not included in your cap (again, usually due to either confusing plan descriptions, or through not understanding the terms and conditions).

Taking your phone overseas and using data or making calls.

1. Get a local pre-paid plan

- If you travel to foreign countries then it may work out cheaper to buy local pre-paid SIMS. For this make sure that
- Your handset isn’t locked to a carrier
- The SIM is compatible with your phone (nano, micro, standard)

2. Check your current carrier’s international roaming costs including Flagfall & standard rates, Data (per 10 KB, per 1 MB),Charges for incoming calls

3. Keep data roaming switched off

While traveling overseas make sure that your data roaming, cellular data and 3G services are off. It varies depending on your handset model and carrier, but as a general guide:

iPhone: Go to Settings → General → Network → slide Data Roaming, Cellular Data and Enable 3G to ‘off’.
Android: Go to Settings → Wireless Controls → Mobile Network Settings → uncheck Data Roaming, Data Enable and 3G Data options.
Blackberry: Go to Options → Mobile Network → Data Services → select ‘Off When Roaming’.
Windows Phone: Go to Settings → Mobile Network → Data Roaming → and select ‘Don’t Roam’.

The good thing is that you can still use WiFi hotspots for internet connectivity as there are many hotels and many restaurants that provide complimentary WiFi to their customers. So it is better to restrict your web browsing and app use to when you can do it for free.

4. Switch off location services, push notifications and automatic updates

Disable location services, push notifications and automatic updates you’ve enabled for apps. Also make sure you disable the Fetch New Data option for your email and calendar and turn off notifications for any apps that have their own individual tabs in Settings/Options (for example, on the iPhone you’ll find applications such as Facebook and Skype have their own options in Settings).

5. Take advantage of applications such as Vibe, Skype and Text Me for free phone calls and text messaging to other users. And make use of free public WiFi hotspots when you’re out and about, so you’re not using up your data allowance.

6. Monitor your usage and spend

This should be done for voice and text as well as data. The TCP Code also requires service providers to alert you when you reach your included value limits for voice and SMS. Make sure you take notice of any alerts you receive.

Twitter launches new #Music app that helps fans discover new tracks

By: iPadfanzz staff on April 19, 2013

Twitter’s new music app is all about giving you a powerful discover tool so that you spend more quality time with Twitter.

The app, the company says, has been designed to define social music discover for the mobile users in way that is different from others. That also means a new revenue source for the company.

The app shows you what’s popular on Twitter, what new artists are emerging, the things people you follow are listening to, and suggestions based on your activity. It also allows you to play tracks right in the app – full tracks if you have a Rdio or Spotify account, or 30 second iTunes previews if you don’t.

It is no brainer that people love celebrities and they follow them on social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter, especially musicians. In a recent blogpsot Twitter said: “Many of the most-followed accounts on Twitter are musicians, and half of all users follow at least one musician.” The company also understood that people love to talk to each about music, especially they tweet the song they like, they retweet the things their favorite pop stars say, and so on. The new app is essentially based on those lines – designing something that enhances that experience.

The recent launch also means that more and more musicians will become active on Twitter. For instance, Justin Bieber can now use Twitter Music to send it out to every one of his 37.3 million (17.8 million in reality) followers and playing the new song even without leaving twitter. The promotion will increase multifold once the users start retweeting them. In addition, the song can now played all across the web since website can embed tweets, complete with media. The greater the amount of people hearing the song, the greater is the chances of it becoming a hit in a shorter period of time. Imagine if an artist of Lady Gaga proportion tweets a song of a new artist.

Twitter has linked up with three music companies for the launch: Apple iTunes and streaming services Spotify and Rdio.

In a nutshell, Twitter #Music is a smart attempt by Twitter to make to reposition itself as an entertainment hub online, thus closing the gap with its rival Facebook.

The app had a lukewarm reception from some music analysts, who questioned whether it was enough to keep users returning to the site instead of Facebook.

Yahoo releases Mail and Weather apps for iOS and Android

By: iPadfanzz staff on April 19, 2013

Yahoo has revamped and launched its Mail and Weather apps with a more simplified look. The apps make use of gorgeous photography, well-designed informational icons and simple navigation.

In the new apps, Yahoo is taking a whole new user-centric approach and giving them a totally new experience. For instance, Yahoo! Mail’s tablet app, offers a chrome-less full-screen viewing mode that gives way to iBook- or Flipboard-style page flipping, allowing you to flick through your email page by page. In case you don’t like flipping then you can tap the edge of the screen to navigate from one email to the next.

Yahoo! Mail’s tablet app also offers a convenient list view for managing the sorting of emails into folders, archives and the trash bin. You can view how many emails you’ve received from a particular contact (Foursquare, your boss) and you can easily remove it from your inbox.

At the same time, Yahoo also managed to give the desired facelift to its weather app. Yahoo! Weather, available only on iOS for now, uses images sourced from the company’s Flickr community to tell you and show you what the weather is like in your town with a great fullscreen image. Using the app will remind you of Weather HD. The background pictures are from around the world via Flickr’s Project Weather Group and beautiful to look at. Every icon in the screen provides data at a glance and it’s easy to navigate quickly for more detailed information. The usual weather stats are shown the lower left corner of the main app interface, and more detailed information like hourly conditions, humidity, and a precipitation map can be accessed with a swipe upwards. You can also save favorite locales besides where you are currently, accessed by swiping sideways.

Yahoo! Mail is available from the App Store and Google Play. Yahoo! Weather is iOS only and available in the App Store.

Nokia Lumia sales hit record high of 5.6 million in Q1, still struggling in US

By: iPadfanzz Editor on April 19, 2013

Nokia’s Lumia range, which the company says is designed to give the best Windows 8 experience, showed good performance in the first quarter of 2013.

Despite cut-throat competition from leading smartphone makers like the Samsung Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5, Nokia Lumia handsets like the Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 620 shipped over 5.6 million units in the first quarter of this year. The company now predicts that the shipments of its Lumia range will hit 7 million units by the end of June quarter. Last quarter the company shipped 4.4 million units.

Although not bad, these sales figures still lack by what Samsung and Apple’s projected shipments of 62 million and 37 million units respectively.

Nokia said two-thirds of all Lumias sold in Q1 were running Windows Phone 8. Up to March 31, Nokia has sold 19.9 million Lumias in total since shipping its first Windows Phone device, the Lumia 800, in November 2011.

However, the company suffered a decline in sale this quarter in the North American market, where it shipped around 400,000 units in total, a 33 percent decline year-on-year. During the previous quarter the company shipped 700,000 units. The Finnish firm said sales of Lumia handsets rose in all regions except North America. Although the company has not yet announced any new device in the market, leaked images a Lumia 928 for Verizon recently came up. Nokia is expected to launch this device in the coming weeks, a move that may help it improve sales numbers and market share in the US smartphone market.

The company had reported a 339m-euro (£290m) loss in the January-March period, down from a loss of 1.57bn euros last year.

Analysts say the company’s future depends a lot on higher-margin smartphones. However, the company still sells more regular mobile phones than smartphones, and needs to protect its position in the feature phone segment in order to prevent users to defect to other brands when they eventually upgrade to smartphones.

Analysts further say that the fall in feature phone sales is because of tougher competition, which they say can be arrested with the launch of more innovative and cheaper products.

Nokia recently launched a 15 euro phone in an effort to boost its share in emerging markets. The company is also expected to revamp its Asha range of mid-tier feature phones this year.

Overall, the Finnish company sold 62 million handsets, 10 million down from the 72 million predicted. Revenues were forecast to be around the €6.5 million mark, but in reality achieved €5.85 billion.

iPad 5 is expected to be 25% lighter, 15% thinner, debut in Q3

By: iPadfanzz staff on April 18, 2013

Noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities expects Apple's fifth-generation iPad to be smaller than the current model, while still managing to carry a GF2 touch panel, A7X processor and other improvements over its predecessor.

The analyst believes that the next-gen iPad's thinness and lightness will be its key attributes, which will give the required filliping in terms of sales.

The analyst expects the tablet to be 7.5-8.0mm, which means it will be 15 per cent thinner than iPad 4. It is also expected that due to the use of GF2 screen, the new iPad will consume lesser power and thus will have a 25 to 30 percent cut in battery size. Similarly, the thickness will also be 15-20 per cent less as compared to previous models.

It is also rumoured that the new model will take design cues from the small version, the iPad Mini. Thinner bezels and a more curved casing will bring parity to Apple's tablet lineup.

Under the hood, the tablet will come with a new A7-series SoC manufactured on Samsung's 28 nanometer process, which will improve efficiency while increasing processing power. Weight is expected to be around 500 grams, compared to the current 650-gram iPad.

Kuo expects production to start ramping up in July and August ahead of shipments in August or September.

Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 appears in benchmark, looks like Galaxy S3 Mini

By: iPadfanzz staff on April 18, 2013

Samsung’s forthcoming Galaxy Ace 3 has made a surprise appearance in the GLBenchmark server logs which apparently reveal it to be a more budget-friendly phone in works. The devices follows the release of the Mega 6.3, the Mega 5.8, the Pocket Neo, the Galaxy Trend and the Galaxy S4.

The smartphone is widely believed to replace the Galaxy Ace 2 and the still wildly-popular-with-networks original Galaxy Ace. The results suggest that the Galaxy Ace 3 - or GT-S7272  will arrive with a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 800 x 480 display and running Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with Samsung’s Nature UX 2.0.

Other expected features include 1GB of RAM, 8GB onboard storage, a microSD card slot, a 4in display, a 5-megapixel rear camera, NFC, HD video recording and a dual-SIM variant.

Thus, in all, the Galaxy Ace 3 is likely to be a minor improvement on the Galaxy Ace 2.

LinkedIn revamps mobile apps to focus on stories, updates

By: iPadfanzz staff on April 18, 2013

LinkedIn has redesigned its iPhone, Android and web apps with an idea to provide its members a rich, daily destination for consuming content and connecting with others.

The new apps sports a colorful design, a new visually compelling update stream, full of stories and status updates, front and center, and personalization features all intended to make LinkedIn for iPhone or Android a vehicle for rapid consumption.

LinkedIn’s new focus on mobile underlines the growing importance mobile is playing in the professional networking service’s growth. The mobile usage now accounts for 27 percent of its unique visitors, up from 15 percent last year. On an year-on-year basis its mobile pageviews have gone up 250 per cent.

“On the mobile side one of the changes that we see is that more and more people are using that for content consumption,” LinkedIn mobile product head Joff Redfern said. “Now it’s not used only to look for jobs — it’s used when people go, ‘Oh, I have an extra moment here and I’m interested in what’s being shared in my network and in my industry.’”

The new redesign makes it easy for users to like and comment on status updates directly from the stream. A new navigation bar slides out from the left of the screen, giving you two-tap access to jobs, groups, people you may know and more. The company says the idea is that in a mobile app everything should be brought to the users instead of them having to go fetch the information.

The stories now include status updates, connection updates, news, posts from the influencers you follow, group posts, and job changes. Also, if you're a job seeker, then the stream will feature more recommended jobs.

LinkedIn had earlier rolled out a slew of new features and enhancements to its website in recent months as it tries to entice its 200 million members to spend more time on its website.

Choose your next pair of glasses using 3D and an iPad

By: iPadfanzz staff on April 18, 2013

Glasses.com has launched a cool and interesting new way to try on sunglasses without having actually having to try on sunglasses. The company has created a 3D virtual try-on technology that captures your face in 3D graphics and then overlays glasses on your virtual face. It offers a huge collection of sunglasses of try without even feeling the need to step into a store.

The soon-to-be-released app is called Glasses.com 3D Fit from Glasses.com, a new venture from 1-800-Contacts. It uses augmented reality to find out how dozens of pairs of glasses look on your 3D model.

Here’s how it works. Download the Glasses.com 3D Fit and after opening the app stand in front of your iPad. Now the app captures your face by taking a series of photos to create an accurate 3D model of your face, allowing you to see how you look in various styles of frames from different angles. For this you need to stay still and turn your head slowly from side to side so that the iPad’s camera captures your face from different angles. The app then combines the images together into a 3D rendering in a relatively short time. Once the app has a good picture of your face, you can play around with it, by swiping sideways to see the side of your face. Then you can try on different sunglasses, four at a time.

The app uses OpenGL ES, the graphics standard that allows an app to use a device’s 3D graphics processors to render an image, rather than the central processing unit. The graphics processor is much faster and makes for fluid motion graphics in the app. You can even see the shadows the glasses would cast on your face. If you move the glasses, the shadows move too.

The speed of the 3D is never an issue so you can view the image with sunglasses on through different angles and by zooming in and out.  In addition, you can also choose to add Instagram-like filters to see how the glasses would look like under different lighting conditions.

Teens watch more mobile video than older peers: Study

By: iPadfanzz staff on April 17, 2013

Marketers increasingly are focused on teenagers who are coming of age during the digital revolution. Ratings giant Nielsen recently conducted a study examining the viewing behavior of the so-called millennial generation -- the demographic roughly between the ages of 14 and 34.

The report found that younger Americans are more multicultural than older Americans. It also revealed that teenagers were more likely to watch videos on their mobile phones than any other age group.

The study found that teens in 12 to 17 age group watch on average nearly seven hours and 48 minutes of videos on a mobile phone. That's 18 per cent more than 18- to 24-year-olds and 46 per cent more than those 25- to 34-year-olds.

"The combine results suggest that teens will continue to view content on mobile and the Internet as they age," Nielsen said. Such a high rise can be attributed to rise in new applications in smartphones and tablets than there were two years ago. TV companies also found that comedy bits work well on mobile.

At the same time, in terms of internet video, 18- to 24-year-olds spent the most time watching content on their computers. Whereas, the 25- to 34-year-olds surpassed those younger than them in traditional TV-watching, clocking in an average of about 136 hours a month.

"Today’s teens and young adults are quite the multicultural bunch—with purchasing power to boot," Nielsen said. About 42% of young adults and teenagers are Latinos, African Americans and Asian Americans.

Rand McNally brings its road atlas to iPad

By: iPadfanzz staff on April 17, 2013

Rand McNally, well known for fulfilling travelers’ needs of mapping and travel planning products, celebrated its 90th birthday by releasing an ebook version of its 2014 Road Atlas as well as an interactive iPad app.

The digital version of the Atlas comes with updated maps for all 50 states as well as Canadian provinces, Mexico and Puerto Rico, and detailed inset maps for larger cities and national parks.

Under the name “Rand McNally Auto Chum,” the company published its first version of road atlas in 1924 which included hand-drawn maps of the contemporary 48 states, and only included paved roads.

The original atlas included zero miles of interstate and didn’t had an index, meaning you have to see a book to see where the town was located.

You can download Rand McNally’s 2014 Road Atlas for the iPad now from Apple’s App Store for $4.99, or pick up the analog version at your favorite bookstore.

Foxconn becomes Microsoft's biggest Android patent licensee

By: iPadfanzz staff on April 17, 2013

Microsoft has convinced Foxconn's parent company Hon Hai to its Android and Chrome patent licensing program, meaning this time Taiwanese company will pay royalties to the U.S. software giant. Thus, the Taiwanese company will pay license fees for all of the Android and Chrome OS devices it makes—including smartphones, tablets, and televisions.

The agreement offers Hon Hai coverage for Microsoft's unspecified patents for devices running Android and Chrome OS, which have included makers of smartphones, embedded devices, and cameras.

"The licensing agreement with Microsoft represents those efforts and our continued support of international trade agreements that facilitate implementation of effective patent protection," said Samuel Fu, director of the intellectual property department at Hon Hai.

Hon Hai, Apple's primary iPhone contract manufacturer, draws most of its revenues from iDevices and last week posted a 19 percent year on year decline in Q1 2013 sales that was attributed to soft demand for the iPhone, Reuters reported.

In 2011, Microsoft signed licensing agreements with companies accounting for over half of all Android devices.

Funny or Die’s ‘iSteve’ movie now available for free online

By: iPadfanzz staff on April 17, 2013

Comedy video site Funny or Die has come up with a satirical Steve Jobs biopic starring Justin Long. The 78-minute mini-movie, called iSteve, is now available for streaming in non-Apple-friendly-Flash on Funny or Die’s website. Till now, iSteve is the only movie that has come very close to being a full-fledged feature.

While Justin Long (Dodgeball, Jeepers Creepers) plays the title role, Jorge Garcia (Lost) is in the role of Steve Wozniak, James Urbaniak plays Bill Gates and Michaela Watkins fills the role of Melinda Gates. Ryan Perez directs.

According to developer, the objective was to be the first Jobs movie to debut, which means that the timeline was short and the budget tight. Perez wrote the movie in just over five days, using only Steve Jobs’ Wikipedia pages and various interviews as source material. He also joked that he could not afford the paperback version of [Walter Isaacson’s] book since it is not in their budget. Filming was done over another five days, and the editing schedule was also compressed. In all, the production team completed the movie in just about eight weeks.

Besides some factual errors in the film, it seems pretty okay on the entertainment factor - much like the Apple iPod Hi-Fi.

While "iSteve" is the first film to take on the Apple cofounder's life story since his death in October 2011, an independent biopic featuring Ashton Kutcher, titled "Jobs," has yet to see a theatrical release.

In an interview, Ryan Perez, iSteve's writer and director, said: "It's very silly. But it looks at his whole life. We might not be the best, but we will be the first." According to Perez, "I think my hope would be that people are interested in following the story."

On the upside, it's as free as iTunes.

Psy's Gentleman hits 100 million YouTube views

By: iPadfanzz staff on April 17, 2013

South Korean rapper Psy’s new video, Gentleman, has has crossed the 100 million views mark on YouTube. Psy’s latest video racked up around 20 million hits in the first 24 hours after its release, smashing the previous record for first-day views of 8.0 million set by Canadian star Justin Bieber's Boyfriend video in May 2012.

The song was also climbing music charts around the world, making into the top 10 in France, Britain, New Zealand, Denmark and Sweden, and topping the chart in Finland. Last night it sat at No 7 on the Australian iTunes chart.

The latest music video for Gentleman, which includes song elements reminiscent of Gangnam Style, shows Psy seen dancing at various locations in and around Seoul including a high-end clothing store, restaurant, swimming pool and a library, playing pranks on dazzled men and kids, and teasing women by pulling chairs from under them and untying their bikinis. He meets his match, however, in a noodle shop.

The video also shows Psy and his dancers performing a hip-swinging, side-galloping dance.

What will be truly remarkable if “Gentleman” simply tracks the growth rate of “Gangnam,” it will take over the all-time record in a little over a month, and cross 4 billion pageviews in 45 days. And in just 75 days, “Gentleman” would project out as hitting 12.6 billion views.

Psy, a renowned singer in South Korea and now the world over had released 17 singles before hitting the world charts, became an internet sensation when viewers began copying the unmistakable horseriding, lasso-hurling sequence in Gangnam Style -- a satire on the luxury lifestyle of Seoul's upscale Gangnam district.

Best headphones for under $50 (pictures)

By: iPadfanzz Editor on April 16, 2013

If you appreciate listening to good quality audio, then I am sure that you must understand the value of buying a decent pair of headphones. A quality headphone will result in excellent quality of music that will also complement well your expensive tablet or smartphone. Headphones come in a range of shapes and sizes. One word of advice: try to avoid in-ear ‘bud’ type headphones and go for larger circumaural headphones (headphones which cup the ear) as these are the headphones which will produce best results in terms of music quality. Surprisingly, headphones do not have to cost a fortune. Here is our list of top 10:

MEElectronics HT-21

With price starting at $49, the MEElectronics HT-21 falls into the same budget portable category as the Koss PortaPro and the Sennheiser PX 100-IIi sets, but delivers a balanced sound.

The HT-21 has a supra-aural design uses ear cups that swivel to fit the shape of your head/ears. The cable is designed without a split and connects only to the left ear cup, eliminating cable tangle.

MEElectronics M9-BK hi-fi sound-isolating in-ear headphones

The MEE M9 offers good balance across the frequency spectrum and a refined sound for a lower price. The second generation M9 has a new cable and redesigned housing which reduced cable noise and increases durability.

MEElectronics A151

The MEElectronics A151 earphones offer comfortable fit and very detailed and transparent sound for an affordable price. The A151 comes with five sets of eartips (small/medium/large silicon; double flange; large triple flange) and a clamshell carrying case.

LG Tone HBS-700 stereo Bluetooth headset

The LG Tone™ (HBS-700) Wireless Stereo Headset brings you the high quality audio experience of stereo sound with the convenience of Bluetooth technology. It offers up to 10 hours of listening/talk time. The LG Tone has a unique around-the-neck wearing style that ensures comfort wearing throughout the day. It comes with Voice Activated Dialing (available if supported by your mobile phone), and SMS Reading (Requires Free BT Reader App Download in Android Marketplace.

Koss PortaPro

The Koss PortaPro Headphones offers deep bass, clear highs and fantastic midrange clarity. The good part about Porta-Pros is that they won’t give you listener fatigue, as they rest lightly and softly on the ears, and are just a joy to wear. If you’ve got an iOS device, these are the headphones you need.

JVC Flats

The JVC HA-S150 FLATS are stylish, compact headphones with a slim metallic headband along with soft ear pads that rest on the ear. They are comfortable and are ideal for those who want a lightweight, easily packable headphone. A 30mm Neodymium driver in each earpiece allows the headphones to deliver clear, crisp sound. The JVC HA-S150 Flats come in six iPod matching colors: black, silver, red, purple, blue and pink. The headphones come with a four-foot (1.2m) cord and an iPhone-compatible plug.

Incipio f38 Hi-Fi stereo

Incipio’s F38 Hi-Fi Stereo headphones are trendy, affordable and deliver sound that’s pretty good. The earcups are large enough to fit large ears within the synthetic leather padding. There’s only one 46 inch cord that is thick and tangle-free, though it lacks an inline remote/mic. The audio quality is balanced and the large earcups produce a nice sound stage. There’s no distortion even at high volumes. They are available in five different stylish flavors: matte black, neon pink, bright turquoise, vintage white, and espresso.

iLuv iEP505 premium earphones with volume control

The iLuv iEP505BLK premium earphones with in-line volume control and sound isolating design is good for music lovers. Its brings a balance of high and low frequencies for superior sound. These earphones are leaps and bounds above the stock iPod headphones in terms of quality; you’ll appreciate being able to hear nuances in your music. The earphones come with a rectangular sliding volume switch.

Id America Spark

These lightweight and trendy earphones come with a design that is based on the shape of a spark plug. It is made very substantially from metal, with an extra fashion twist that recalls the colorful early days of V-Moda's earphones. This model features an inline microphone with a play/pause button that doubles as an answer/end button when making cell phone calls. There's no volume control on the button and Spark says the microphone isn't compatible with all smartphones (it works with the iPhone but is more miss than hit with Android models). The colour options available are gunmetal, brown, and purple. The sound quality is good but end up getting a little tinny with high highs and flat with really heavy bass. The Sparks’ 8mm drivers put out crisp, clean mid-to-high sounds and respectably deep, textured bass.

Audio Technica ATH-M30

Audio-Technica ATH-M30 Professional Monitor Headphones are closed-back dynamic stereo headphones that deliver exceptional clarity. The ATH-M30 headphones have 40mm drivers with neodymium magnets and CCAW voice coils. Insulated earcups provide superior isolation while the adjustable cushioned headband keeps your head in comfort. The ATH-M30 headphones offer exceptional clarity and sonic accuracy for mixing, high power handling for tracking sessions. Other features include OFC litz wire cables, convenient one-side exit, and a gold-plated stereo 1/8 in. connector with strain relief and professional screw-on 1/4 in. adapter. The Audio-Technica ATH-M35 Headphones offer detailed, natural sound with good bass.

Google Glass specs revealed: 5MP camera, 720p videos, 16GB of storage, 1-day batter life

By: iPadfanzz Editor on April 16, 2013

After announcing that Glass is about to ship and releasing the Glass Mirror API documentation, Google has published a list of technical specifications for the head-mounted device.

The eyewear will be capable of capturing 5-megapixel images and video at a resolution of 720p. Glass features a 640 x 360 display that Google says is the "equivalent of a 25-inch high definition screen from eight feet away" — as revealed in an FCC filing. Google Glass, the web giant's augmented reality spectacles, create sound by sending vibrations directly through the wearer's skull, it's been revealed.

Glass will work with any Bluetooth-capable phone, but it seems like the way to use GPS and SMS through Glass at this point is through the MyGlass companion app, which requires Android 4.0.3+.

It will also feature 16GB of Flash storage synced with Google cloud storage, of which 12GB will be usable. The headset will sport Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, although it will be at the older and slower 802.11 B/G standards.

The company says the device should have enough battery power to last a full day “of typical use,” but it also warns that features like Hangouts and video recordings are more battery intensive.

It says audio will come via a bone conduction transducer. There will be 16GB of flash storage on-board, with 12GB actually usable, and it will sync with "Google cloud storage" — presumably Google Drive. Glass will feature adjustable nose pads in a frame that Google says will "fit any face," and you'll get extra pads in two sizes.

What is Google Glass?

Google Glass is an attempt to make wearable computing mainstream. It is basically a smart pair of glasses with an integrated heads-up display and a battery hidden inside the frame.

What does Google Glass do?

Google Glass is a head-mounted display that involves near-eye optics to create "virtual" displays. Our eyes are used to focusing on distant objects, and displays on headgear need to essentially "fool" it into thinking it's looking at a screen far away. The current version of Glass uses a prism placed just over the wearer's right eye. Within the prism is a mirror and beam splitter that renders the projected image as a display. And even though the image is not close to the eye, it is sharp and clear. You can move the front part of the Google Glass easily to optimize the focus.

The glasses also have an embedded camera, microphone, GPS and, reportedly, use bone induction to give you sound.

Users will use their voice to control the device. On saying 'ok glass' you’ll get a range of options including taking pictures, videos, send messages using speech to text, 'hang out' with people or get directions to somewhere. You access these options by saying them out loud.

I already wear glasses. Will Google Glasses work for me?

Yes. Google is experimenting with designs that will fit over existing glasses so you don't have to wear two lots of specs.

Here are the full specs:

Fit

Adjustable nosepads and durable frame fits any face.
Extra nosepads in two sizes.

Display
High resolution display is the equivalent of a 25 inch high definition screen from eight feet away.

Camera
Photos – 5 MP
Videos – 720p

Audio
Bone Conduction Transducer

Connectivity
Wifi – 802.11b/g
Bluetooth

Storage
12 GB of usable memory, synced with Google cloud storage. 16 GB Flash total.

Battery
One full day of typical use. Some features, like Hangouts and video recording, are more battery intensive.

Charger
Included Micro USB cable and charger.
While there are thousands of Micro USB chargers out there, Glass is designed and tested with the included charger in mind. Use it and preserve long and prosperous Glass use.

Compatibility
Any Bluetooth-capable phone.
The MyGlass companion app requires Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or higher. MyGlass enables GPS and SMS messaging.