Apple, Pandora, Backflip sued over iPhone data privacy

A new lawsuit has been filed against Apple and two third party app developers, Pandora Media and Paper Toss maker Backflip Studios, claiming damages for users over allegations that their unauthorized private data was used to deliver targeted ads.

The case, filed in New York on behalf of Jarret Ammer by Peter Cambs of the Parker Waichman Alonso law firm, appears to be similar to a case filed in San Jose, California, last December.

Like the previous suit, the new complaint appears to be patterned directly upon a Wall Street Journal article which highlighted mobile apps as using the same kind of anonymous user tracking "cookies" that conventional web ad networks use to improve the relevance of display ads. The difference between the two cases involving smartphone apps and traditional web cookies is that smartphones have a Unique Device ID (UDID) that advertisers can reliably associate with a given user, and which may be linked with location data collected as the user carries the device.

The suit notes that "Apple certainly understands the significance of its UDID and users' privacy, as, internally Apple claims that it treats UDID information as 'personally identifiable information' because, if combined with other information, it can be used to personally identify a user."

However, the complaint also says Apple "does not provide users any way to delete or restrict access to their devices' UDIDs," and that while the company has set up policies to prohibit and remove any apps that "collect and send device data to a third party for processing or analysis," it continues to collect data allegedly collected from users without their consent.

The suit specifically notes that two apps described by the Wall Street Journal article are collecting data but not providing any "location based services" as outlined in the terms of service distributed with iPhone and iPad devices.

"None of these Defendants adequately disclose to Plaintiff and members of the proposed Class that they are transmitting such information to third-party advertising networks," the complaint states. "Plaintiff and members of the proposed class were harmed by Defendants' actions in that their personal, private information was obtained without their knowledge or consent."

The suit adds that Apple "aided and abetted" third party software developers by giving them "substantial assistance," opening the company up to liability for other defendant's torts. It also notes that because Apple is in a joint venture with third party developers, it is "thus legally responsible for the tortuous conduct alleged."

The complaint states that by "accessing and transmitting UDID and location data on the [smartphone] computer of Plaintiff and members of the proposed class, Defendants have accessed Plaintiffs' computer … in excess of the authorization" of those users, alleging that the defendants have violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and New York Computer Crime Law.

The suit says the transmission of users' device IDs and location data "caused harm aggregating at least $5,000 in value," and seeks "recovery for this loss, as well as injunctive relief, to prevent future harm."

The suit also alleges that Apple and its developers have violated general business law related to "unconscionable and deceptive conduct" as well as "trespass to personal property" and taking property "in the form of information that is private and personal."

iPhone 5 To Get Curved Display Glass And LTE 4G In 2012?

Read Charles Moore's new reflection on rumors that the iPhone 5 will feature a curved glass display and the coveted 4G in 2012.

I'm seriously dating myself by revealing that I remember well Volkswagen's introduction of the new Super Beetle model in 1971 with a curved, mildly wraparound windshield. All VW Beetles previously had had completely flat windshield glass, so the curvature was considered highly revolutionary.

I took a new Super Beetle belonging to a friend for a test drive and recall noticing how much better it rode and handled with its completely different suspension system, and the gracefully curved windscreen did much to eliminate the impression of viewing the world through a letterbox slot. The Super Beetle is my favorite VW Beetle of all time (I'll take a Cabriolet Champagne Edition by preference, thanks), the most recent example I've driven being a hotrod built by my daughter and her friend as a bare chassis up project, with a twin-Weber carburated Porsche engine and Porsche alloy wheels, as well as a rock hard suspension that makes it handle and corner like a go-kart — at least on smooth roads. It's seriously demanding to drive, but one seriously hot Beetle.

Curved glass: cool on the old VW Beetle — how about the iPhone 5?

Anyway, I thought of the curved-windshield VW announcement of 40 years ago when I read a DigiTimes report by Yenting Chen and Steve Shen noting that the latest scuttlebutt being circulated around the OEM componentry supply chain in Taiwan is that Apple is fixing to adopt a curved cover glass for the iPhone5 according to DigiTimes customary unnamed industry sources.

However, Chen and Shen report that cover glass makers are reluctant to invest in the necessary glass cutting equipment due to high capital cost, so, Apple itself has reportedly purchased 200-300 glass cutting machines to be used by glass makers, or so the sources affirm, currently storing them at associated assembly plants to be brought into production service once yield rates for curved glass reaches a satisfactory level, and further that there's still been no timetable set for iPhone 5g volume production, at least in part because Apple is currently still working out logistics issues with suppliers including ones involved in cover glass, glass cutting, lamination and touch sensors to improve yield rates.

So why would Apple want a curved iPhone display? Unlike the Super Beetle windscreen of yore, a curved iPhone screen would seem to not offer any obvious advantages, and actually seems sort of like a step backward, since the curved

Curved design concepts like this one from HTC can make for more ergonomic phone calls — but is it a good idea for a touch screen?

screen glass of CRT computer monitors long since gave way to flat plane displays almost universally acclaimed to be an improvement. One rumor I heard suggested it might have something to do with 3D, working like some sort of lens.

And while we're at it, DigiTimes' Amanda Liang and Adam Hwang have posted a new report sayingthat China Mobile, China's largest mobile telecom carrier, has reached an agreement with Apple for China Mobile to develop an iPhone model based on TD-LTE which to be offered in 2012, citing comments by China Mobile chairman Wang Jian-zhou at the company's 2011 shareholders meeting on May 19, according to a report in the Chinese newspaper Southern Metropolis Daily.

In an earlier report, Digitimes' Irene Chen and Steve Shen noted that Apple is unlikely to launch LTE-enabled iPhone 4S smartphones in 2011 as originally planned due to problems concerning yield rates of LTE chips offered by Qualcomm.

Many thanks to all of the folks yesterday who sent in links to stories about this rumored new feature for the iPhone 5! iPhone 5′ers are the best at keeping up on all things iPhone!

What do you think the purpose of a curved screen might be on the iPhone 5? Cool looks? Ergonomics? And how would it affect gesture control on the touch screen? Let us know what you think!

Here's more on the iPhone 5 news.

iPhone 5 News

The next generation iPhone 5 is due to launch this summer and to help you get to grips with what to expect, here is the latest iPhone 5 news.

There are some reports that are claiming that the iPhone 5 handset will get a totally new design but this is just a rumor at the moment.  What we do know, is that the iPhone 5's internals will be different.  The new iPhone 5 is going to run on a new combined CDMA/GSM/UTMS chipset from Qualcomm that will in the US support both AT&T and Verizon along with various other carriers worldwide.

When it comes to iPhone 5 news that details are minimal.  According to reports the new iPhone 5 is currently being tested by Apple's senior staff but even these people aren't giving out details and the only thing they seem to be saying is that it is a complete redesign.

iPhone 5 To Support NFC

The new Apple iPhone 5 is said to support NFC (near field communication).  This is the same technology that is being used in the Nexus S using the latest Android 2.3 release.  This chip will allow for data exchanges between two devices and it could also be used to form the basis for mobile payments.  Apple might be building a mobile wallet of sorts and there are rumors of iBuy, iCoupons and iPay apps being developed.

iPhone 5 to Have Cloud iTunes

In April 2010 Apple acquired Lala.com which is a cloud based music streaming service.  What this means for the iPhone 5 could be that Apple is looking at giving iPhone 5 users the ability to purchase, download and even stream music from their phones for a monthly fee without the need for desktop software.

Facial Recognition For The iPhone 5

Another thing that you might see happening with the new iPhone 5 is the possibility that Apple is going to introduce facial recognition to improve their desktop products.  These include iPhoto and Aperture.  By integrating facial recognition into the iPhone 5 this could prove to be very beneficial and you will be able to have a phone that actually knows who you are.

That is about all we have when it comes to iPhone 5 news / iPhone 5 Pictures but you can be sure that there will be plenty more released in the upcoming months as the iPhone5 launch date draws ever near.

Screw iPhone 5 rumors, the nano may be getting games

iPod nano rumors seem to be heating up this week. It started with a "leaked" nano case that shows off a rear-facing camera. Now, a patent has surfaced that shows the iPod nano not only gaining a camera, but also motion sensors and games.

Yup, you read that right.Video games on your nano. It wouldn't be the first time that Apple managed to sneak games onto an iPod with a small screen. The original iPod shipped with a hidden edition of Brick, a game originally developed by Steve Wozniak. Down the road Apple also added Parachute, Solitaire, and Music Quiz. Then it was officially game on time. Apple announced in September 2006 that games would be coming to the iTunes store and would include 9 other games for the iPod, including Bejewled. Again, it should be noted that these games did not require iOS and shipped long before both iPod touch and iPhone.

 

It seems that Apple's at least thinking about bringing games of this variety back to the iPod nano. Not every patent filed by Apple comes to fruition, so there's also a chance that this doesn't happen at all. That being said, there are a couple of things I wouldn't mind seeing in a new updated iPod nano.

1. FaceTime. The ability to take FaceTime calls from my iWatch would fantastic.
2. iOS notifications. James Gifford brought this one up in the comments a couple of days ago. The more I think of it, the more I think he's on to something. Imagine getting your iOS notifications to your iWatch? Missed calls, appointment reminders, and text messages would be fantastic on my wrist. FANTASTIC.

iPhone ambient light sensor could receive upgrade from new Apple supplier

Allegedly unhappy with the current light sensor in the iPhone 4, Apple is said to be testing a new component supplier for future hardware.

Citing its industry sources in the Far East, DigiTimes reported Thursday that Capella Microsystems is in talks with Apple to become a component supplier. That would make it the first Taiwan-based integrated circuit manufacturer to land orders from the iPhone maker.

"Capella, which ships over one million ambient-light sensors to HTC a month currently, has reportedly delivered its products to Apple for verification as the ambient-light sensors currently used by the iPhone 4 have been criticized for some problems," the report said.A deal is not said to be imminent, but Apple could place orders with Capella before the end of the year. Apple is expected to release its fifth-generation iPhone later than usual this year, with one report pegging its debut in the company's 2012 fiscal year, which begins at the end of September.

Capella is said to be one of two Taiwan-based integrated circuit suppliers that Apple is exploring potential opportunities with. The Cupertino, Calif., company is also reportedly in talks with Integrated Memory Logic.

Rumors have swirled in Taiwan that IML's programmable gamma buffers are likely to be utilized by Apple in its iPad touchscreen tablet. IML also maintains a headquarters in the U.S.

Apple iPhone 5: Two Models Coming – Pro & Normal?

The Apple iPhone 5 is something that many people want to see but we have recently learned that it won't be with us until around September. This is good if you are waiting for your contract to run out but bad if yours has already! Something we would point out is that the Internet is full of rumors about the new Apple device and we have another one to tell you about today.

We have just read over on iClarified.com that there may in fact be two models of the iPhone 5 Apple coming the Pro and Normal versions. It might seem to be quite farfetched at the moment but it's not beyond belief especially if you are one of the many that believes Apple needs to give the new device a makeover and a shake up.

The original source of this information is the iphonedownloadblog.com where their author has published an article talking about the reasons to believe there will be two versions. The only problem we have with some of the information that was shared is that when they say that Apple is ordering parts and then re-ordering them of a better quality, surely this relates to testing the device to get optimum performance out of it before releasing it.

We are thinking that if Apple is going to release the iPhone 5 then perhaps it won't be too dissimilar to the iPhone 4 but with updated specifications including the A5 chip and perhaps NFC. We believe that it will pretty much have similar specs to the new iPad 2 review with a few slight differences because of the size differences.

What do you guys think? Will there be two iPhone5 models? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Here's more on the iPhone 5 news

What should we expect from IPhone 5!

The new iPhone 5 release date is not yet known; however, there have been many speculations about the iPhone 5 price and iphone 5 features. Corresponding with Apple's customary June/July release dates, the iPhone5 is set for release in the summer of 2011. Apple may take the opportunity to fix the iPhone 4's antenna problem, or they could release yet another edition of the iPhone 4.

It is reported that the iPhone 5 4G will be able to access 4G networks, as it will be equipped with a new and improved operating system, which is the iOS 5. Included will be a super fast 1.5 GHz processor, and a bettered battery life that will allow you 7 hours of talk on a 4G and 14 on a 3G. Apart from AT&T, there will be other carriers of the iPhone 5 including Verizon. The new and improved iPhone5 will also come with video chat capabilities accessible on both 3G and 4G networks; however, it is presently only available on Wi-Fi.

Features that will be upgraded from the iPhone 4 include high video resolution capabilities and the face recognition technology. It has also been speculated that the iPhone 5g will be equipped with an impressive 8 megapixel camera, along with a radiofrequency identifier. Radiofrequency identification will enable you to use the iPhone 5 like a credit card. If this feature is added, when you are at a checkout queue, all you will have to do is pass your iPhone over the panel and your items will be paid for wirelessly. The patent for this technology will be introduced by Apple, and will show how a RFID loop can be embedded in the circuitry of the iPod touch screen or the iPhone.

Upgraded from the iPhone 4's 16GB memory, it is believed that the iPhone 5 will have an enormous 64GB of memory. It has also been reported that the iPhone 5 will be the thinnest iPhone that Apple has ever released, and it will come with a back piece that is made from shiny glass. The phone will be made with a screen that is shatterproof and scratch resistant, and will also have a built in GPS. Users of the new iPhone 5 will be able to assign various tones to their different email accounts.

The iPhone5 price will be in the same range as the price of the iPhone 4. With all its new features, the version of the iPhone will outshine version 4 and will be a phone that everyone will enjoy using. Look out for the iPhone 5 release date, as this new Apple iPhone 5 will be a must-have. Here's more on the iPhone 5 News.

Apple iPhone 5 may Have Thunderbolt features Possible

Apple has just introduced Thunderbolt technology into its iMacs and MacBooks so it stands to reason that the iPhone 5 could possibly feature this new port.

The latest news surrounding the Web comes via GizmoCrunch by way of SemiAccurate reporting that the iPhone5 could incorporate Thunderbolt technology, it seems that Mini-Displayport could be replaced with Thunderbolt I/O port (Light Peak) to give customers a much faster data transfer speed as well as charge up times simultaneously.

If you look below this news article we have put a poll together asking what port would you like featured on the upcoming September release Apple iPhone 5, please take a look at the different options and please vote your favourite.

Thunderbolt will give you better speeds than others such as USB2 and USB3, obviously the iPhone 5g will not give you speeds like the MacBook Pro, MacBook air or iMacs that would be crazy to think that, but even so Thunderbolt port on the iPhone 5 would be a stunning addition.

Please check out our poll setup below and vote now, thanks for joining in.

Here's more on the iPhone 5 features

iPhone 5 mystery release date elicits carrier 4G conspiracy plot

If the four major U.S. carriers haven't conspired, separately or collectively, to delay the iPhone 5 release date until later this year, then it sure as heck looks a lot like they have. While most signs point to the iPhone 5 (here's the scoop on iPhone 5 features) arriving the latest of any new iPhone generation in its respective year, no clear reason for a delay on Apple's part have surfaced. Even as Apple attempts to extend the iPhone 4 era with the white iPhone 4, the Verizon-specific iPhone 4, and whatever other iPhone 4 tricks might be up its sleeve, it's still a mystery as to why the iPhone 5 apparently isn't on track for summer 2011 release, even as customers prepare to feel the burn. For insight as to what's really going on, one might best look at those who have the most to gain from a late iPhone 5 arrival, and their primary motivation for it. The latter is clearly 4G, and the former comes in the form of Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and even Sprint.

Why would all four carriers want the iPhone 5g to arrive late? They don't, per se. But what they do want is for the 4G era to officially commence in the minds of the public. Each carrier appears to believe, for various reasons, that it has the upper hand when it comes to the 4G era. Sprint already has a sizable 4G network; Verizon has the marketing lead on the faster 4G LTE variant; AT&T is acquiring T-Mobile which should give it a combination of homegrown 4G LTE combined with a broader non-LTE 4G base. The trouble is, outside of geeks and enthusiasts, few care about 4G or even understand what it is. That won't change until there's a 4G enabled iPhone. So while Apple doesn't like to adopt technology while it's still largely in the vaporware stage (4G LTE barely exists on Verizon or AT&T), Apple may nonetheless feel the pressure to make 4G happen with the iPhone 5. And oddly enough, each carrier potentially benefits from a iPhone 5 4G happening later than sooner.

First there's Verizon, which is in the process of betting its reputation on a 4G LTE network that it's barely begun building. The millions of Verizon customers who just bought the Verizon iPhone 4 when it launched earlier this year are going to be more likely to upgrade to the Verizon iPhone 5 if more time has passed since the launch of the former. Then there's AT&T, which still has almost no 4G presence at all. The carrier needs time to integrate T-Mobile's network into its own, which will allow it to offer "4G" of one kind or another in various places. Assuming the iPhone 5 includes multiple 4G variants, AT&T could be the big winner – but not until the merger is sufficiently complete; a 4G LTE iPhone 5 launch right now could do AT&T more harm than good. And then there's Sprint, which is about to become the only major U.S. carrier without the iPhone, and the smallest. Sprint is unlikely to add the iPhone to its lineup until 4G happens, so if Apple needs more time to make a 4G enabled iPhone 5 happen, then so be it. Bottom line, the carriers desperately want 4G to be accepted by the public, as it's their collective best shot at continuing to upgrade cycle of new smartphone hardware this year and next, even as speeds and capacities begin to surpass what a pocket sized device might reasonably need. And because the public will begin caring about 4G at the precise moment the iPhone gains 4G, the behind the scenes pressure on Apple to release a 4G iPhone 5 is enormous. If pulling that off takes a little longer than expected and the iPhone 5 release date is held back by a season as a result, the public may be less than thrilled but the carriers won't mind a bit. Here's more on the iPhone 5 news.

Separated iPhone 5 LED Flash Rumor Makes Little Sense

Rumor has it that the iPhone 5 is due to get an upgrade on its rear-facing camera, bumping up to an 8-megapixel design. But new purported, leaked photos of iPhone 5 parts and cases show what looks like a LED flash on the other side of the device. Where's the logic in this new design?

The tech media is currently abuzz with newly-surfaced photos of cases and backplates that seem to show an LED flash that is positioned on the other side of the supposedly new iPhone 5 design. There is a great deal of excitement and anticipation surrounding this new development, with iPhone enthusiasts anticipating a dramatic shift in the iPhone 5′s rear-facing camera array, which is already purported to be getting an 8-megapixel upgrade.

While few are questioning the voracity and reliability of the photos and sources, even fewer are scrutinizing the logic of a separated LED camera flash, and what the basis would be for Apple to shift the iPhone's camera flash so dramatically far away from the sensor itself.

The few theories on why the iPhone5 could feature a separated LED flash are seemingly logical at first glance: we all know that there were light issues with the camera sensor on the white iPhone 4, and even flash and camera issues with lighting on the original iPhone 4 back in the Summer of 2010. It would be easy enough to assume that moving the LED flash to the other side of the iPhone 5 would somehow solve the problem.

But given the lights limitations of LED flashes, this seems doubtful at best.

While LED flashes have become increasingly popular on smartphones, the light that they emit is still not as bright as other flash forms, such as a Xenon flash. As a result, the camera flash from a LED is sometimes not bright enough to fill the photo with ample light in low-lit conditions. This is why devices like the iPhone (and all other smartphones with rear-facing cameras) have positioned the LED flash in close proximity to the sensor; it's a way of maximizing the amount of light that ultimately enters the camera, as reflected off of the subject.

By definition, moving the camera flash away from the sensor on the iPhone 5 would put an already lesser-lit flash at a farther distance from the sensor — and at a greater angle to the subject being photographed. It's hard to believe that moving the LED flash could ultimately help in this regard — unless the new flash turned out to be something of the Xenon type.

Shifted LED Flash on the iPhone 5 To Eliminate Red Eye?

Another theory suggests that the moved LED flash on the iPhone 5 could be to counteract red eye. But this new design seems dubious as well.

the Nokia Astound's 8-megapixel camera sensor array with dual LED flashes.

It is true that red eye is caused by red light being bounced back off of the irises of people into the camera, which is often caused by on-camera flashes that are in close proximity to the sensor or shutter. But in order to truly eliminate red eye, the flash source would need to be sufficiently far from the optical axis of the camera, and it is doubtful that moving it a couple of inches to the right would do the trick. In order to reduce red eye, it would make more sense for Apple to further refine the use of a pre flash on the iPhone 5g, a technique that causes a person's irises to contract, thus minimizing the bounce-back of red light.

HTC's Evo 4G also has two LEDs in close proximity to the sensor.

Does An 8-Megapixel Camera Require That the LED Flash Be Farther Away?

Finally, perhaps the moved flash on the iPhone 5 has something to do with the addition of a 8-megapixel camera? That could be the case, however, to date, no other 8-megapixel smartphone sports a separated LED flash like the one that is purported in the photo. The Nokia Astound features not one, but two LED flashes right next to the sensor. The same goes for Nokia's N86.

But it isn't just Nokia that is using this camera and LED flash set-up. HTC is doing the same thing with their Evo iphone 5 4G. Like the Nokias, it features two LED flashes in close proximity to the camera sensor.

What is apparent from these other smartphones with 8-megapixel cameras is that the 8mp sensors need more light, and they need that light relatively close to the sensor in order to avoid grainy photos. If this is the case, then why would Apple continue to use just one LED flash for an 8-megapixel camera, and put it on the other end of the rear plate?

Newer iPhone 4 case designs account for the LED flash so as not to interfere with it . . .

Separated LED Flash Could Lead To a New Photo Discoloration Problem on the iPhone 5

As we have reported in another article, photo discoloration was an early problem on the iPhone 4, and more than a few theories abounded as to why this was the case. While some suggested that it was the result of a software issue in how the iPhone 4 processed yellow light, others postulated that many photo discoloration problems were caused by iPhone 4 case designs, which were too hastily retro-engineered from iPhone 3Gs designs and did not account for the LED flash. As a result, some of the cases came too close in contact with the LED flash and resulted in partially concealing the flash strobe.

Anyone who has ever accidentally had a part of their finger over the flash of a camera knows how it can discolor a photo.

This purported iPhone 5 case — and separated LED flash — might discolor photos.

Newer iPhone 4 cases have re-designed the camera lens cutouts around the iPhone 4′s sensor and flash so as not to conceal it. However, in the recent purported photo of the iPhone 5 case, the cutout for the LED flash would be closely cropped to the flash itself, lending to the theory that photos could easily become discolored. Another unknown is what the effect of having such a expanse of colored case between the sensor and flash would cause — could it lead to further discoloration?

It is possible that Apple has a new patent for an LED camera flash that will be bright enough to be positioned on the other side of the iPhone 5. But I have combed all of the Apple patents, and I can find nothing to suggest this. I remain skeptical of all purported "leaked" photos of the iPhone 5 — and these recent ones are no exception.

Photo enthusiasts: what do you think? Can you find any evidence out there to suggest how this new camera array would make any sense for the iPhone 5 apple? We'd love to hear from you, and start a discussion on whether or not these new photos make any real sense.

Here's more on the iPhone 5 news.

iPhone 5 wait still preferable to white iPhone 4, say defiant holdouts

The iPhone 5 is worth the wait despite the arrival of the white iPhone 4 and the fact that said arrival means the iPhone 5 going to take longer to arrive than many waiters had expected. But despite our declaration that it's okay to stop waiting and go ahead and take the white iPhone 4 plunge, some defiant holdouts have spoken very loudly about the reasons that they've decided to go ahead and wait for the iPhone 5 after all.

First, there's the disappointment in the fact that things are playing out as they are:

"I'm sick that they even introduced the [white] iPhone 4 with the iPhone 5 hanging over our Verizon heads.  I've waited this long what choice do I have?"

Then of course there's the (we think) sarcastic take:

"Get an iPhone 4 and upgrade to iOS 5 when it's release … you'll only be missing the 8 mp camera, the A5 processor, and the bigger screen honestly, nothing major you know? "

At least one Beatweek reader is waiting until the iPhone 5 arrives, but may ultimately buy an iPhone 4 at that time:

"All valid points, although, for me a) white/black isn't an issue, b) not especially concerned about 4G capability either, and c) the reason I skipped the iPhone 4 is not really liking the design; the 3GS is just more comfortable to hold and talk on. I'm waiting to see if I prefer the iPhone 5 design; if so, I'll get the 5, if not I'll settle on the 4. But in that circumstance there will be one key advantage to 'holding out' – the almost certain price cut on the older model."

And then there are those still asking the same question they were asking before the white iPhone 4 launch:

"So do I upgrade from my slow 3G to a 4 now? Or keep holding on and wait for the 5…"

Here's more on the iPhone5.

iPhone 5 Features – What's Hot On the Platter?

This time, the stakes are quite higher than before. People want more from Apple especially after the iPhone 4 phenomena, and the iPhone 5 features are going to be hot topic for debate till the release.

There is no official announcement from Apple about the much talked about and much hyped iPhone 5. Yet, as with iPhone 4 and most other Apple devices, the stakes have already hit sky high. Every technological blog, website, social website is talking about it. There are leaked photos and videos of what are rumored to be the components of the iPhone5. The whole of online media is flooded with news about iPhone 5. Every day, some or the other news about iPhone 5 features comes out and it seems that the demands, expectations and the impatient wait is all hitting the threshold limit.

 

iPhone 5 Prototype

People are quite eager to eat up whatever information comes their way. Thanks to some careful observations from certain people, we have with us, some idea about what the iPhone 5 features might have in store for the users. Of course, it is surprising to see what could be more advanced than the iPhone 4 smartphone already, but here's the take: HTC HD sports a faster and greater performing processor than the usual A4 sported by the iPhone 4. Well, if there is one place where some smartphone can beat the iPhone, then there could be many more. It would only be till the iPhone 5 releases officially that one would know what it has got, but everyone wants to see it beat, like the iPhone 4, every other smartphone in the market and establish new records and benchmarks.

Of the various iPhone 5 features, one of the first features that have been somewhat confirmed are the highly streamlined, simplistic, minimal, unique design with a unibody enclosure. Everyone loves a metallic unibody design quite obviously as has been proved by many previous smartphones from legends like HTC. The design seems to involve a more streamlined structure than the iPhone 4, but the curves are not going to be here, like the iPhone 4, it is going to be a more professional look.

When it comes to performance, iPhone 5 features are expected to contain some development on the A4. Especially with more developers developing higher-end games, applications and more, the performance of the iPhone is going to depend on how much the processor can support. As Android gets more and more focus from developers and programmers, Apple needs a faster processor and a stronger one in order to get more developers working on rich applications for the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 features are also rumored to have the much-awaited NFC Technology that allows near-field communications possible, like bar-code reading, payment processing and more.

Rapture postponed over iPhone 5; God says he's waiting for the upgrade

God has announced that the Rapture has been postponed from tomorrow until at least the summer or possibly the fall, as he's waiting to get his hands on the new iPhone 5 before proceeding any further. The news comes as a disappointment to millions who were expecting to be swept up tomorrow, but could be seen as good news for those who have high hopes for Apple's fifth generation device. John Meisterman, analyst for tech research firm Punter Johnston, pointed out that the almighty's willingness to wait for the iPhone 5, coupled with his apparent clairvoyance, could be a sign that the upcoming phone's feature list is impressive enough and worth bypassing the current white iPhone 4 in favor of waiting.In a conference call with journalists, God confirmed that he switched to the iPhone after it was released on Verizon ("AT&T's reception up here isn't so great"), and admitted off the record that the whole "rapture" thing was something he made up and was just his way of killing time while waiting for Apple to finally get the iPhone5 to market. Asked whether his iPhone suffers from the supposed "iPhone 4 antenna issue," God made clear that there is no such issue, and that the entire antenna thing and was a hoax was perpetrated by the devil himself, who apparently works for Gizmodo. Asked why Apple is taking so long to bring the iPhone 5g to market, God had no comment. Off in the distance, William Shatner could be heard asking, "What would God need with a cellphone?"Here's more on the iPhone 5 news.

iPhone 5 September Release 2011

Hot new data is now in via Piper Jaffray and Apple Company Data mentioning a few details about the new iOS 5 announcements and the iPhone 5 being announced in August with a September (2011) release.

Apple Insider has some great information covering Gene Munster with PiperJaffray on Friday reporting that the Apple iPhone 5 WILL go on sale in September. The exact days are as follows: At the WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) on June 6th the new iOS 5 will be announced, the iPhone 5 smartphone will be announced August 24th with it shipping September 13th.

According to Munster if we look at averages there is around 79 days between an iOS software event and the iPhone hardware announcement, plus around 99 days between the software event and the release/Shipping of the new Apple iPhone.

There is a lot to think about when it comes to the new iPhone 5 (4S), will it have a bigger screen? According to the source above it will have a 4-inch display even though this could come in 2012 but more than likely and fingers crossed could come in 2011.

Looking at the dates above is of course all speculation in our eyes, until we hear official announcements we will always have a balance of mixed feeling. Yesterday iPhone Rumors reported on the Foxconn explosion and fire leaving two dead and 16 injured, could this indeed stop production of iPad 2 review and iPhone's, if this is the case then the iPhone 5g will not be releasing in September.

Here's more on the iPhone 5 news.

iPhone 5 myths abound: five concocted reasons to avoid next gen party

The iPhone 5 is no different than the previous four in that detractors will have no difficulty in coming up with reasons not to buy one, ranging from irrelevant to imaginary. "Don't buy the first iPhone," say said, "because it's not 3G." Nevermind that AT&T's 3G network barely existed in 2007. "Don't buy the iPhone," they said in 2007, "because there are no third party apps." Then they turned around in 2008, after third party apps had been launched in a big way, and said "Don't buy the iPhone 3G because third party apps aren't 'open' enough." Nevermind that what they really meant was that the iPhone wasn't enough of a geek-leaning tinker toy. Then came the iPhone 3GS. "Don't buy it either," they warned, "because it's just like the previous one." Nevermind that the hardware specs of the 3GS outshines that of the 3G in every category. So heading into the iPhone5, what will the geeks and other detractors come up with this time by way of trying to talk you out of the iPhone you want and into the Android-based geekphone they're desperate for you to buy instead? A look back at all the reasons they told you not to buy the iPhone 4 is a good start.

First it was the supposed iPhone 4 antenna issue, which turned out to have been completely fabricated on the part of geeks and never existed – but not before a good chunk of the population had been irrevocably convinced otherwise. Apple even had to hand out free iPhone 4 cases just to get the geekholes who created the controversy to shut up, knowing that they'd "won" and gotten a free case as a trophy. Then it was the fact that the iPhone 4 wasn't a 4G phone; nevermind that 4G AT&T's 4G network literally didn't exist back then and still basically doesn't to this day. Then they made up the imaginary "scratching" controversy, which unlike with the imaginary antenna controversy, relatively few fell for. And then later Apple released the Verizon iPhone 4, which the geeks attempted to create another phone antenna controversy around before finally settling on the mantra that it wasn't 4G (still largely irrelevant) and, humorously enough, that it wasn't the iPhone 5 4G. So now that the iPhone 5 is only a season away from arriving, here's what the geeks will point to this time as to why you shouldn't buy one. The validity of their reasoning doesn't matter; keep in mind that geeks get out of bed in the morning in the hopes of being able to convince the non-geek majority to buy geek-leaning products, and Apple's products are the least geeky on the planet. So here's a sampling of the anti-iPhone 5 nonsense they'll come up with, if they haven't already.

1) If the iPhone 5g doesn't have 4G, they'll label it as being outdated. If it does have 4G, they'll say it's the wrong kind; if it's 4G LTE a la Verizon and AT&T, they'll point out that the 4G offerings from Sprint and T-Mobile are more widespread. But if the iPhone 5 instead offers the kind of 4G which Sprint and T-Mobile are using, the geeks will say that it's not "real" 4G because it's slower. And if the iPhone 5 pulls a hat trick and offers every kind of 4G under the sun, the geeks will warn that it might be too much drain on battery life. No matter what Apple does regarding 4G, the anti-Apple geeks will be able to spin it into some kind of negative you should fear. And that's a trend that'll continue down the list.

2) If the iPhone 5 uses the same glass material for its body as the iPhone 4 did, the geeks will say that it's too fragile; nevermind that the iPhone 4 has been the most bulletproof iPhone design yet. And if the iPhone 5 moves to something else, the geeks will say that Apple should have stuck with the bulletproof glass.

3) If the iPhone 5 gets thinner, the geeks will claim that it's too thin and therefore perhaps too fragile.

4) If the iPhone 5 body style remains the same as the iPhone 4, the geeks will claim that it's last year's model, regardless of how improved the specs are (see the iPhone 3G / 3GS era).

5) If the iPhone 5 screen gets bigger, geeks will claim that its edge to edge design will be too difficult to use; if the iPhone 5 screen size remains the same as the iPhone 4, those same geeks will say that it's too small.

If you see a pattern here, you're not the only one. No matter what Apple does with the iPhone 5, those geeks whose entire sense of self worth comes from steering people away from Apple products and toward geekier products will find a way to spin it into a negative. They'll misrepresent the facts, misplace the relevance, and if it comes down to it, flat out make things up; they've done it all before with previous iPhone generations. Your job, then, is to tune these lunatics out and make your own decision. If you want an iPhone, get an iPhone. It's as simple as that, anti-iPhone geek wanking be damned. Here's more on the iPhone 5 news.

Apple Likely to Integrate iCloud for the iPhone 5

Apple has been rumored to move from its current online file storage provider, MobileMe, to iCloud, which has recently been renamed to CloudMe. The overhauling of this internet service that started as iTools and renamed in 2008 together with the release of the then- launched iPhone 3G is said to unfold together with the release of the rumored next generation of iPhone, the Apple iPhone5. The iPhone 5 will be released with the much talked about operating system, the iOS 5. The beta version of the iCloud service is also said to be prepped up for the operating system for the Apple Macbooks, the Mac OS X Lion.

Sources say that Apple has purchased the domain name iCloud.com for $4.5 million from the Sweddish company, Xcerion who is responsible for creating iCloud. iCloud, on the other hand, was just rebranded as CloudMe with the company purchasing the domain name CloudMe.com.

News and rumors has it that Apple's rumored iCloud service is focused on music streaming and downloads with Apple recently closing a deal with at least two major record labels to allow the company to stream and distribute copyrighted materials to users and subscribers.

Apple's current MobileMe service which costs $99 annually offers users with 20 GB of virtual file storage memory for music which you can access from anywhere in the world using different devices, such as iPad, desktop or laptop computers and smart phones. But reporters and Apple close- watchers suggest that there are strong evidences pointing to the company's efforts to broaden the scope of their storage, with hopes that the service will become an online diary and locker where users can store their precious moments such as videos, pictures and music files.

Apple is also said to be overheard stating that they might make the MobileMe service- which will eventually be known as iCloud- free for its users. This strategy would lead to sky- rocket sales and convince more consumers to take a hold of their hardware devices. This plan would lead to more intrigues and speculations about Apple's need to upgrade the amount of memory storage that they have on their iPhones and other devices.

By fall of this year, we'll get to see the revamped and renamed internet cloud service from Apple- that, if rumors about the September release of the iPhone 5 are true.

Planny iPhone App Review – No Frills Planning

For me to use a to-do list on a regular basis it has to be easily accessible, simple to use and very reliable.  My life is not so complex that I need anything hugely complicated, and my job requires the same thing each day, so I rarely need to plan much in advance.  To this end, the standard Calendar app on my iPhone is ideal as not only is it simple and easy to use, but it syncs with my Mac too.

If I were to swap over to a new planner, the app would have to be something very special indeed.  Will Planny be that app?  Let's find out.

Released at the beginning of April, Planny promises to be a streamlined organizer that makes the most of the touchscreen interface.  As with most organizers, when you start the app you're presented with a daily view split into hours, with the option of viewing your calendar by month too.  Handily you can set the hours displayed on a single page to those of your work, so there's no unnecessary swiping.

Events appear inside circles  – although can be altered to a square, heart or hexagon – and a double tap shows all the relevant information.  Each appointment can be assigned a start time and a title, plus there is the option to add notes, set an alert or schedule a repeat.

With your appointment saved, you can assign a priority level.  This is then visually indicated on the daily view by both color – green for low importance, blue for medium and red for high priority – and by how high up the screen the appointment is.  This makes spotting the most important things in your day very easy, and is the best thing about Planny.  Switching to calendar view adds a small number alert on any days with appointments added.

If you need to move an appointment to a later time, you can tap and drag it across the screen to a new time, another excellent time saver.  At this point, Planny was proving useful, however, things stared to take a turn for the negative when I delved a little deeper.  That appointment I'd just dragged to a new time?  Fine if it's on the same day, but if the appointment has moved to the next day, you have to fiddle about in the menu system.  I would have much preferred the ability to drag it over to the next calendar page manually.

Then there is the adding of a new appointment.  When you've been through everything and clicked 'save' – which happens far too often – you're returned to the current day planner; so if you want to check the appointment has been saved you have to either swipe through or visit the calendar overview.  Seeing as there is a Now button to return the view to the present day, I would have preferred to see what I'd just added and compare it with other events of that day.

But the biggest problem for Planny is the way it handles more than one appointment at the same time on the same day.  Instead of clearly overlapping them, it piles them up with very little indication there's more than one appointment for that time, especially if they're all the same level of priority.  This could lead to overbooking and missed appointments – defeating the point of an organizer!

These may seem like little niggles, but as I mentioned from the start, I need the least annoying system possible if I'm to use a planner – and although Planny started out well, I soon returned to the standard Calendar.  However, Planny gains a point for being a free app, and provided your schedule isn't very busy or that likely to alter much, it's a perfectly serviceable organizer.

Positives:

• Fast recognition of important tasks.
• Easy to drag appointments to new times on the same day.
• No setup, minimal menus.

Negatives:

• Difficult to spot multiple appointments for the same time with the same priority.
• Appointments can't be dragged to another day.
• Not very visually impressive.

Overall: 3/5

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iPhone 5 May Get Text-to-Speech and Speech-to-Text Feature

So now, we might get a new feature of Text to Speech in the next generation iPhone by Apple. The Patently Apple reports, Apple has filed a patent application for a system that provides you the ability of converting text to speech and vice versa on iPhone. The system for Apple filed a patent, would be also helpful in loudy background environment and as well as at those places where user can't talk loudly.
According to a new Apple patent application that was published this morning by the US Patent and Trademark Office, future iPhone's are likely to provide end users with effective new ways of communicating in both noisy environments like a restaurant or even during a quiet office meeting without stirring a mouse.

For this purpose, Apple might add a new sensor in handset for noise detection. And the new system will work like this; when the user at loudy environment, the iPhone automatically convert the speech from the end into the text. And when user less noisy environment i.e meeting, iPhone will allow user to write text, which would be converted to speech and send to the other end. Here's more on the iPhone 5 news

[via hackphone]

SharkEye iPhone Case Review and Video

Is it really possible to use a rugged iPhone 4 case everyday?  For me, the downside of cases which offer almost complete protection for your phone is the additional size and bulk – I just don't want to carry them around.  I always knew there would be a sweet spot, where the phone is kept safe without sacrificing its portability, and I think the SharkEye may have found it.

The SharkEye comes in three pieces, with a top and bottom section encapsulating the device and a third, central part containing a clever screen protector.  This is where the SharkEye gets its name, as it works like the protective membrane that slides over a shark's eye in moments of danger.Before we get into the way it works, we need to assemble the case and identify how it protects your phone.  Inside the very top and bottom sections of the case is a soft elastomer lining, which is anything up to 5mm thick in some places, acting as an absorbent cushion and protecting the corners of the phone.

You slot the iPhone 4 into the base first, then slide the screen protector assembly on, before finally adding the large top section and clicking it all into place.  It's actually a bit fiddly as the screen protector has a tendency to get caught on the casing, but once the phone is inside and you've given it a squeeze, it's securely held together by a big clip.

The elastomer lining covers the volume buttons, Home button and sleep/wake key, plus there are flaps for the 30-pin connector and the headphone jack.  Only the speakers and the mute switch are uncovered, but are deep inside the body of the case itself.  The case is made from stiff, textured plastic which adds grip, but perhaps doesn't feel as pleasing to the touch as glossy polycarbonate can.

The SharkEye's party piece is the retractable cover of the screen.  By using a slider in the rear of the case you can open and close the 'garage door' over the top of the screen.  The motion is clean and smooth, and if you've got big enough hands it's easy to close the cover using one hand; however opening it really requires two.

SharkEye has demonstrated that the cover can protect the screen from a steel ball being dropped on it from nearly 40″, so although it doesn't look all that tough, in reality it is!  The same goes for the rest of the SharkEye, as it feels very sturdy in the hand, and knowing about that soft lining adds considerable peace of mind.

For me though, what made the SharkEye the best rugged case I've used was how little it added to the size and weight of the phone.  An iPhone 4 wrapped up inside the SharkEye weighs 196 grams, up from 137 grams, and the case adds only around 10mm to each of its dimensions.  Considering the level of protection the SharkEye provides, keeping it pocketable is quite an achievement.

I've been using the SharkEye for a little over a week now, and have enjoyed the security it offers my phone, plus I've not once wanted to swap it over for a smaller, lighter case; as it just hasn't felt intrusive.  The look has grown on me too, although its uninteresting shape won't appeal to everyone.  Using the SharkEye's screen cover has become second nature, and this clever system is far more preferable than a built-in screen protector seen on other tough cases.

The only time I found the SharkEye a pain was when using the very edges of the phone's screen, as it's quite deep inside the case and the lip around the edge is not only quite big, but a bit sharp too.  I noticed this while playing some games – Angry Birds, DrawRace and Speedball 2: Evolution were particular standouts – and when typing quickly.  For typing I just took some more care, but for longer periods of gaming, it was better to take it out.

When considering my final thoughts on the SharkEye, I realized why I liked it more than others, and it's because it doesn't really feel like a super-tough rugged case.  Instead of looking like it belongs on the dashboard of a Humvee, the SharkEye looks at home on the table at your local coffee shop, plus it's easily slipped into your pocket when you leave.  Considering the protection the SharkEye does offer, this is a great achievement and a huge recommendation.

iPhone 5 Image

There seems to be some buzz around the iPhone 5 having its camera flash repositioned as we have previously reported, and also reported on a possible reason for the moving of the flash on the next iOS smartphone, and now a new image has hit the next which is purportedly of the rear of an iPhone5 that shows the device with a repositioned flash.

According to the guys over at Phone Dog by way of Macrumors, the new image posted by Apple Pro and apparently originating from Chinese site Weibo, is said to be that of the iPhone 5 pictures back and has the flash over on the right side and the camera on the left.

Having said all that, as you probably know images such as these are easily faked but does tie up with previous rumours that the iPhone 5g camera flash might be repositioned in the upcoming handset, so it could be plausible.

So the usual applies with this, treat firmly as pure speculation until such times as some confirmation comes along one way or another, full image can be seen below.

Here's more on the iPhone 5 news.

Moved Camera Flash Another "Fix" For the iPhone 5, or a 3D Camera?

Thanks to a purported leak of an iPhone 5 case, new rumors of the iPhone5 featuring a repositioned camera flash could be the result of yet another flawed design on the iPhone 4. But could that other cut-out also be for a rumored 3D camera?

iPhone users eager for a sneak peak at the iPhone 5′s form factor have been abuzz3D in conjecture over a recently-discovered iPhone case being offered on the trade site alibaba.com that purports to be for the "iPhone 5G." While the iPhone inside the photo is most definitely a mock-up, the case itself is possibly believed to be the product of a design leak from one of Apple's China-based component manufacturers, giving the tech community a kind of "outline" of what the form factor of the iPhone 5 may end up being.

While many have focused on the sloped shoulders of the purported iPhone 5 case's chassis and seemingly-edge-to-edge screen, new reports are taking notice of a considerable shift in the position of the rear-facing flash. As opposed to the positioning of the iPhone 4′s LED flash — which sits just to the side of the camera sensor — the mysterious iPhone 5 case features a cutout on the other side of the rear face of the design.

If this indeed is an inside peak at what the iPhone 5 features, what would a repositioned camera flash mean? Given some of the issues with the camera flash on the iPhone 4, would this not constitute yet another "fix" on the iPhone 5?

Or, could that circular cutout be for something revolutionary for the iPhone 5, such as a 3D camera?

iPhone 4 Camera Flash Issues: a History

Camera flash issues are nothing new for the iPhone 4. Early on in the release of the iPhone 4 in the Summer of 2010, there were numerous reports of the iPhone 4 taking yellowed photos. Heather Kelly at Macworld did a thorough investigation of the issue way back in July of 2010, most of which was inconclusive, stating: "Hopefully, this isn't a hardware issue involving the camera's lens, and Apple can fix the problem with an update to the iPhone 4′s firmware."

It still remains to be seen what the culprit of the camera flash issues on some iPhone 4s are: while some believed that it was a software issue, others suggested it was a design flaw in the LED flash, or even an effect of shoddy, poorly-designed iPhone 4 cases.

More recently, Apple purportedly had to deal with similar problems with the white iPhone 4′s chassis. Cult of Mac, which predicted the release of the white iPhone 4 perfectly, indicated in a report from October of 2010 that the white plastic was letting too much light into the case, affecting the clarity of photos: "The handset's semi-translucent glass case leaks light in, ruining pictures taken with the internal camera, especially when the built-in flash is used." It was this flaw that caused the delay in the release of the white iPhone 4.

While Apple only made nominal changes to the positioning of camera components to compensate for the white iPhone 4, the iPhone 5 could feature a dramatic repositioning of the camera flash, particularly if it is looking to invest in an 8-megapixel camera and upping the ante on the iPhone being consider a serious picture-taker.

Is that a repositioned camera flash, or another 3D camera sensor?

Of course, if this is the case, it will be yet another "fix" for an iPhone 4 flaw: first the antenna, now the camera flash. As we've commented before, Apple cannot sell fixes like these as "new features," and raise conjecture about the quality of the previous device.

Could Two Cutouts on the Purported iPhone 5 Case Be For a 3D Camera Array?

There is another more exciting possible feature that the two cutouts on the iPhone 5 case could suggest: t a 3D camera array. Rumors of a 3D camera have gained little traction over the past year, with most reports focusing on a relatively nondescript Apple patent, which outlines the schematics for taking 3D photos. Typically, patents such as there are years away from seeing mainstream introduction, but the purported iPhone 5 case design features several elements that conform to the schematics of the 3D camera patent.

Could that cutout be for a second camera sensor with integrated LED flash?

To achieve a 3D image, two offset photos would need to be taken to create a "stereo" image.

All accounts of the Apple 3D camera patent's schematic show the placement of three sensors, whereas the purported iPhone 5 case only accounts for two. But other elements of the patent explain that Apple's approach to achieving 3D would be accomplished not through software alone, but through hardware as well, as Neil Hughes at Apple Insider explains, noting that current 3D software "must 'guess' at how to perform stereo disparity compensation for 3D images. Those guesses, Apple said, can result in images with artifacts in a composed 3D image that would result in a poor quality photo. Apple's method would instead employ a hardware-based approach with a 'deterministic calculation for stereo disparity compensation.'"

The notion of a "stereo" image, together with an example photo from the patent, suggests that perhaps Apple has managed to capture 3D photo-taking technology with just two sensors.

there's no doubt that 3D technology is a hot commodity right now, and even though we've written about how Apple Should Put the Brakes on 3D Photo Technology for the iPhone 5, 3D photo capabilities would be a mind-blowing new feature that would define the iPhone 5 not as a simple refresh, but rather as a next-generation device. It could also make up for the lack of 4G capabilities.

Chances are, 3D technology is still a way's off for the iPhone, and a shady iPhone 5 case design isn't nearly enough to put a 3D camera into the "probable" column for iPhone 5 features. But if that case is real, it's time to start think out of the box for what else it could be.

Planny iPhone App Review – No Frills Planning

For me to use a to-do list on a regular basis it has to be easily accessible, simple to use and very reliable.  My life is not so complex that I need anything hugely complicated, and my job requires the same thing each day, so I rarely need to plan much in advance.  To this end, the standard Calendar app on my iPhone is ideal as not only is it simple and easy to use, but it syncs with my Mac too.

If I were to swap over to a new planner, the app would have to be something very special indeed.  Will Planny be that app?  Let's find out.

Released at the beginning of April, Planny promises to be a streamlined organizer that makes the most of the touchscreen interface.  As with most organizers, when you start the app you're presented with a daily view split into hours, with the option of viewing your calendar by month too.  Handily you can set the hours displayed on a single page to those of your work, so there's no unnecessary swiping.

Events appear inside circles  – although can be altered to a square, heart or hexagon – and a double tap shows all the relevant information.  Each appointment can be assigned a start time and a title, plus there is the option to add notes, set an alert or schedule a repeat.

With your appointment saved, you can assign a priority level.  This is then visually indicated on the daily view by both color – green for low importance, blue for medium and red for high priority – and by how high up the screen the appointment is.  This makes spotting the most important things in your day very easy, and is the best thing about Planny.  Switching to calendar view adds a small number alert on any days with appointments added.

If you need to move an appointment to a later time, you can tap and drag it across the screen to a new time, another excellent time saver.  At this point, Planny was proving useful, however, things stared to take a turn for the negative when I delved a little deeper.  That appointment I'd just dragged to a new time?  Fine if it's on the same day, but if the appointment has moved to the next day, you have to fiddle about in the menu system.  I would have much preferred the ability to drag it over to the next calendar page manually.

Then there is the adding of a new appointment.  When you've been through everything and clicked 'save' – which happens far too often – you're returned to the current day planner; so if you want to check the appointment has been saved you have to either swipe through or visit the calendar overview.  Seeing as there is a Now button to return the view to the present day, I would have preferred to see what I'd just added and compare it with other events of that day.

But the biggest problem for Planny is the way it handles more than one appointment at the same time on the same day.  Instead of clearly overlapping them, it piles them up with very little indication there's more than one appointment for that time, especially if they're all the same level of priority.  This could lead to overbooking and missed appointments – defeating the point of an organizer!

These may seem like little niggles, but as I mentioned from the start, I need the least annoying system possible if I'm to use a planner – and although Planny started out well, I soon returned to the standard Calendar.  However, Planny gains a point for being a free app, and provided your schedule isn't very busy or that likely to alter much, it's a perfectly serviceable organizer.

Positives:

• Fast recognition of important tasks.
• Easy to drag appointments to new times on the same day.
• No setup, minimal menus.

Negatives:

• Difficult to spot multiple appointments for the same time with the same priority.
• Appointments can't be dragged to another day.
• Not very visually impressive.

Overall: 3/5

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