Android, Windows Phone 7 and Windows Mobile

Should you get a large-screened handset over a mini tablet?

Apple iPad Mini

Steve Jobs was very much of the opinion that mini tablets were a waste of his empire’s time and money, but it didn’t take long for his successors to release a model for the increasingly competitive market.

The Apple iPad Mini is going up against the established heavyweights of the mini tablet world – Samsung and Google’s Nexus 7 and Amazon’s Kindle Fire – as well as a challenger from the old enemy, the Microsoft Surface, and as Christmas draws ever nearer, the mini tablet was is going to hot up.

A recent poll in the States indicated that 22% of Americans were contemplating a tablet, but before you say, “I’m going to sell my iPad and get on the mini tablet bandwagon!” consider whether or not mini tablet fans are barking up the wrong tree. Why not just get a large-screened mobile phone like the Samsung Galaxy S3?

We look at the pros and cons below.

How many devices do you want?

So you want a tablet that’s über-portable. That’s understandable, and the Nexus 7, iPad Mini and their ilk are certainly that. But you’re losing some of the convenience by having to carry around a phone too, especially when a modern handset will provide much of the functionality of your tablet.

If you don’t mind carrying two devices then the increased screen size of the tablet might convince you to buy one – but screens are getting larger and larger on phones. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus and HTC One X+ both rock 4.7-inch displays. Considerably smaller than the mini tablet but, maybe, but big enough to provide competitive video experiences.

Verdict – Go for the phone

What do you want to do?

It might seem insultingly obvious to say, but phones allow you to do some pretty useful stuff that tablets don’t – namely: calling people.

What’s more, while mobile browsing is far from universal in the tablet and mini tablet world, you will have no problems browsing on the go with your phone. As well as price, mini tablets are about convenience and portability, but there’s not much that’s convenient about only being able to go online when in range of a friendly Wi-Fi network.

Verdict – It’s the phone again

Price

The critics are pretty unanimous in their opinion of the iPad Mini. It’s a great device, with beautiful design and great battery life, but it costs far too much.

Weighing in at around £300 for the 16GB version, Apple’s mini tablet is almost twice the price of its main competitors. We know how much people are prepared to pay for Apple’s trademark design excellence, but it’s still a ridiculous hit on the wallet.

The Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire make much more financial sense, but when you consider that a large-screened mobile could be yours for free if you are due an upgrade, the phone again comes out on top. Obviously, if you aren’t due an upgrade, you can find yourself paying through the nose for a new phone, and the mini tablet can again look more tempting.

Verdict – Upgraders should go for the phone, otherwise it’s a tie

If you want to raise some extra money to fund the purchase of either device just Google “sell my stuff for cash” to see what options are available. Old tech might not be any use to you, but it retains its value surprisingly well. Selling it on a site like Music Magpie could leave you with a nice pile of cash just in time for Christmas.

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Google Maps for iOS 6 is Coming!

Google Maps for iOS 6

Google Maps for iOS 6 will be available soon, according to the latest information from The Wall Street Journal. They said that the company has already spread test versions of the software to some users and will use the feedback for the final corrections before submitting the application for certification in the App Store.

But so far, it is not clear when the official submission to the AppStore will happen – if the application appeared in the shop it will compete directly with the navigation software of Apple, which is already installed in place of Google Maps in iOS 6. It is expected that the new Google’s application will have turn-based navigation as missing in the previous version.

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Apple Discontinued the Extended AppleCare Warranty in Italy

AppleCare Warranty in Italy

In early October, we reported that the European Commission has turned its attention to the warranty  about Apple’s products in Europe. European law guarantee that the products must comes with two years of warranty, while Apple’s standard warranty is one year, the users can get an additional service called AppleCare, which, however, is paid.

Earlier this week, a spokesman for Apple said that the company will stop to offer AppleCare in their stores in Italy or through distributors. However, users can still buy AppleCare on the company website, but Apple has added text that says that this guarantee is in addition to the standard two-year warranty offered by the Italian law.

ExecSpot.Com – The only spot for new, and unique accessories for your iPad, iPhone, Macbook and other Apple devices

ExecSpot.com

If you have been searching for a website where you can get all your smartphone and tablet accessories at wholesale prices, then ExecSpot.com is the one you must cast your eyes upon and this is where your search literally ends. Get hold of all that you need, at one place and the price is just perfectly reasonable!

Adonit Writer Plus Keyboard Case for iPad 2 & New iPad 3

One of the best known accessories from ExecSpot.com is the Adonit Writer Plus Keyboard Case for iPad 2 and iPad 3, it has been firstly won the iLounge.com Best of Show 2012 plus its weight being very light that is 348g (12oz) only. Isn’t that something flexible and amazing? Well, also you can move freely without wondering about charging the batteries, as you do not require batteries with a 2 week charge. They come with detachable keyboard helping you to get mobile and freely wherever you want to move with it. Also, you get the feasibility of swift eject assisting your iPad to get released straight away. Basically Writer Plus is known as the latest Bluetooth keyboard and folio for your new iPad for easy flexibility and durability. Its ultra sleek aluminum body together with the scissor action keys gives your fingers the ideal touch for typing.

You wanted the latest smartphone cases, screen protectors, styluses, battery packs, chargers and more -  ExecSpot.com brings it for you. All that you wanted for your phone or tablet is here and with more accessories to come.

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Stride Mintacular – a gum that redefines the limits of possibility (Sponsored Video)

Apple? No, it’s Stride Mintacular!

Well-known for Stride gum commercials is to be witty, but the new “celebrity-endorsed chewing experience”, Stride Mintacular, has a commercial that is more than hilarious. If you can’t tell already, this video is a parody of Apple product launch videos.

Amazingly funny and smart, the moustached Shaun White endorsed gum is ridiculing all the ways that we are accustom to see commercials, challenging advertisers from all around the World not to impress the consumer with glamour and big words to make him buy the product, but to just make him laugh and by that make the product more likable.

With Christopher Guest-like charm and nuance, the Mintacular advertising campaign manages to both revere and poke fun at Apple’s almost religious approach to its products and marketing. Better yet, it portrays itself as fun, dry, sarcastic, witty and scrappy. And, for me, that works. If only it were gluten free.

This post is sponsored by Stride.

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iOS 6 coming without a built-in YouTube app

iOS 6 coming without a built-in YouTube app

Apple are trying harder and harder to differentiate themselves from Google and that has become really visible with the latest version of iOS – there isn’t even a built-in application for Google’s popular video service – YouTube, something which has been present on all Apple smartphones right up from the original iPhone. According to Apple though, this was due to just one simple reason – their license with Google has ended this year and they don’t have the rights to include this app in iOS. That’s why Apple are advising their customers to use the browser version of YouTube for the time being, while Google are working on their stand alone application, which is going to be released in the App Store later this year. Of course, this only matters for the people, who have decided to use the beta versions of iOS 6 – most users, whose devices still run iOS 5 won’t  have to deal with this issue for now.

iOS 6 for iPhone

Actually, Google didn’t really have any control over the iOS version of their mobile app until now – it was created by Apple and as such could only be update with their help, which is also why Google decided to focus on the mobile version of the website and on the Android application, leaving this one neglected. Of course, such an application isn’t as necessary now, as it was years ago – back in 2007, when you could only watch videos through their website, if your device supported Flash – a feature, which Apple’s devices sadly lack. B. A.

More rumors about the iPhone 5

iPhone 5

One of the main rumors about the iPhone 5 states that the device is going to feature a smaller connector with less pins than the one, which was used with Apple’s smartphones up until now. We have even seen it on some of the supposed leaked shots of the phone, though it seems there may be a bit more to it than meets the eye – according to recent rumors, the port is going to be equipped with functionality, similar to the MagSafe connectors on Apple’s MacBooks, which would mean, that the connector is going to be a magnetic one and it won’t matter in which orientation it has been connected. The rumor also states, that the leaked pictures, which are supposed to be showing the connector are actually false and that it’s going to have just 9 pins and not 16 or 19, as it’s currently expected.

iOS 6

According to another rumor about the next generation of Apple’s hit smartphone, Apple are currently working on an iOS 6 feature, which is going to enable users to pair different devices via Bluetooth 4, which means that it could be possible for a future version of the iPod nano to show you the messages from your iPhone and even be used for initiating phone calls using its headphones. B. A.

Apple to put a smaller connector on the iPhone 5

iPhone 5 connector

The rumors, that Apple are going to release the next generation iPhone with a whole new connector aren’t really anything new, but now they have even been confirmed by Reuters. The agency has quoted two different sources, both of which say, that they iPhone 5 is going to use a 19-pin connector in comparison to the 30-in one, which Apple have used up until now. This is, of course, going to be extremely annoying for the current Apple users, because they’re probably not going to be able to use their current accessories with the new device (or at least without some sort of an adapter), but than again, the companies, which make accessories are probably quite pleased by these news.

iPhone 5

Still, we’re expecting Apple to provide some sort of an adapter or compensation of any kind in order not to disappoint they loyal fan-base. According to the rumors, the reason for this drastic decision is quite simple – Apple needed to make room for the headphone jack, which they’re going to put on the bottom of the phone this time. B. A.

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The iPhone 5 to have a thinner screen

iPhone 5

The iPhone 5′s debut is expected to be held later this year and rumors about the greatly anticipated device keep on coming. According to them, the next generation of Apple’s hit smartphone is going to have a thinner body than the 4 and 4S, which is going to be achieved using a very interesting technology, at least according to a publication of the Wall Street Journal. It’s called in-cell and is practically familiar to us already – Samsung revealed it along with its new line of Super AMOLED panels back in 2010 – when they released the S850 Wave. Of course, later the Korean company also included it in its other products – overall we can’t really say it’s an innovation.

iPhone 5 screen

Still, what actually makes this technology so interesting – instead of placing a capacitive sensor layer between the protective glass and the display, this layer is integrated in the display itself. This helps reduce the distance between the panel and the glass, which leads to the creation of thinner devices. It does however come with a side effect and quite a good one at that – upon using your device you really feel like you’re touching the display, rather than the glass, which stands above it, which really adds to the overall user experience. B. A.