iOS 7.0.1 starts rolling out just days after iOS 7 release

TagsiOS 7, iOS 7.0.1, Apple

iOS 7.0.1 Update Credit:Phone Arena

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Apple released the iOS 7 for its iDevices on Sept. 18 and now the company is rolling out an update to bring the current software to version iOS 7.0.1.

The company announced its seventh mobile operating system at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 10 this year. The recently-launched iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C are the first Apple devices to come pre-loaded with the latest operating system and older iDevices have also started receiving a software update.

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"One of our loyal readers popped into an AT&T store and started playing around with an Apple iPhone 5c that was on display. After taking a photo of the mid-range Apple device, our tipster noted that there was a software update on the unit. Looking closely, he saw that it was iOS 7.0.1," reports Phone Arena.

iOS 7 includes a redesigned user interface and brings along many improvements to the operating system.

A recent report suggests that iOS 7.0.1 and iOS 7.0.2 have shown up in analytics reports and may arrive soon. The leaked screen shot of iOS 7.0.1 indicates that the update offers "bug fixes and improvements". Speculations suggest that the iOS 7.0.1 update repairs a bug with the Touch ID fingerprint sensor and also fixes a problem pertaining to the iTunes App Store purchasing system. However, Apple has not yet confirmed any details of the software update.

A BGR report also suggests that Apple will debut iOS 7.1 at an announced event in October this year, where we hope to see the iPad 5, iPad mini 2, new iMacs and possible reveal some information on the Apple TV.

When Apple released iOS 6 in 2012, the operating system was surrounded with issues mostly related to the company's latest Apple Mapping service, which was creating havoc amongst users. The company also had to issue a formal apology to its customers. The release of iOS 7 seems smooth so far, with no major flaws in the latest operating system except for some minor lockscreen glitches. However, as the latest software has been released just a few days back, it may take a while before customers find issues and start reporting any problems with the firmware update.

If you have an iDevice, have you received the iOS 7.0.1 software update?

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BlackBerry halts BBM rollout for iOS and Android: When to expect the app?

TagsBBM, blackberry, iOS, Android

BlackBerry previews multi-platform Messenger during the BlackBerry Live event. Credit:BlackBerry

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Not so good news for those who were awaiting the popular BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) to hit Android and iOS, as BlackBerry has halted the rollout.

However, BlackBerry has let on that it will push out the app soon, once the issues are resolved.

According to BlackBerry, several Android users installed a leaked apk file of BBM, which had over 1.1 million downloads in barely 8 hours. The leaked version of BBM was causing issues and as a consequence, Blackberry was forced to stop the rollout until it could address the problem.

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As it stands, BlackBerry has now disabled the unreleased BBM for Android, as well as put the breaks on the rollout of the iPhone app.

"Our teams continue to work around the clock to bring BBM to Android and iPhone, but only when it's ready and we know it will live up to your expectations of BBM," notes the company. "We are pausing the global roll-out of BBM for Android and iPhone. Customers who have already downloaded BBM for iPhone will be able to continue to use BBM. The unreleased Android app will be disabled, and customers who downloaded it should visit www.BBM.com to register for updates on official BBM for Android availability."

However, not all is lost for BBM fans who were looking forward to the popular messenger making its way to other platforms. While BlackBerry has not given an exact date, it has revealed that it will begin pushing out BBM for iOS and Android at the earliest, once it works things out.

"As soon as we are able, we will begin a staggered country roll-out of BBM on Android and continue the roll-out of BBM for iPhone. Please follow @BBM on Twitter for the latest updates and go to www.BBM.com to sign-up for updates about BBM for Android and iPhone. These issues have not impacted BBM service for BlackBerry."

In case you were among the 1.1 million eager users who downloaded the unreleased BBM app, it is advisable that you uninstall the app before the company disables it altogether.

If you want to get updates as to when BBM for Android and iOS will be rolling out, check out the official BBM Twitter page here.

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Surface Mini tablet to launch this year

TagsSurface Mini, Windows RT 8.1, Microsoft Surface

Steve Ballmer with a Surface tablet Credit:CBS News / iTechPost

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Microsoft seems all set to launch the second generation of its Surface tablet and rumors suggest that the company will also launch a Surface Mini tablet this year.

The company launched its first tablet range, which included the Windows RT-powered Surface RT and Windows 8 run Surface Pro tablets, last year. The Surface RT hit the shelves in October 2012 and a few months later the Surface Pro went on for sale in February this year.

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Both the 10.6-inch tablets failed Microsoft's sales expectations and did not attract many customers. Some reports indicate that the poor compatibility of the Surface RT and the high price tag of the Surface Pro tablet have contributed to the not-so-great sales of the first-generation Microsoft tablets.      

Apple initially launched the 9.7-inch tablet and in 2012 entered the smaller tablet market with the launch of the 7.9-inch iPad mini. It seems that Microsoft wants to grab a share of the smaller tablet market with the launch of a compact version of the Surface slate. However, customers may have to wait a bit longer before the company launches the Surface Mini tablet.

"While Microsoft is announcing the initial two second generation Surface devices tomorrow (sic Sept. 23), I don't expect them to launch until October 18, 2013, when Windows 8.1 hits the streets. Perhaps Surface 'mini' will ship later, in November. But I've not heard," reports WinSuperSite.

Technology blogger Paul Thurrott also notes on WinSuperSite that the Surface Mini will have an 8-inch display and a Qualcomm (ARM) processor. The rumored tablet is expected to run on Windows RT 8.1.

Apple is also due to launch the second-generation  iPad mini. Some rumors suggest that the company will reveal the iPad mini 2 along with the iPad 5 in October this year, but a confirmed launch date is not known.

The upcoming iPad mini 2 is expected to sport a Retina display and some improved features. If Microsoft launches the Surface Mini in October or November this year, the tablet may give stiff competition to the next-generation iPad mini 2.

With competition increasing in the tablet arena, however, Microsoft will have to put a competitive price tag on the Surface Mini tablet to attract more customers.  

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iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C sell over 9 million units during launch weekend

TagsApple, iphone 5S, iPhone 5C, iOS 7

iPhone 5s Credit:Apple / iTech Post

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Apple has officially announced that it has sold over nine million units of the new iPhones in the first weekend.

The company launched the much-awaited iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C on Sept. 10 and the latest smartphones went up for sale on Sept. 20. Just three days after, the company announced it achieved sales of nine million units globally.

"This is our best iPhone launch yet-more than nine million new iPhones sold-a new record for first weekend sales," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "The demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and while we've sold out of our initial supply of iPhone 5s, stores continue to receive new iPhone shipments regularly. We appreciate everyone's patience and are working hard to build enough new iPhones for everyone."

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The company also took the opportunity to announce that more than 200 million iOS devices are now running on the latest iOS 7 released on Sept. 18. Apple also claims that the completely redesigned iOS 7 has become the fastest software upgrade in history.

The new handsets have made their way to various countries globally, including the U.S. Canada, Australia, China, UK and many more. Both the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C are currently available via major carriers in the U.S., Apple Online Store, Apple Stores and select Apple authorized retailers.

Previously, the company only launched a premium iPhone and that was only available in two colors: white and black. However, in 2013 Apple has launched the top-end iPhone 5S as well as the budget iPhone 5C with more options. The iPhone 5S is available in three colors: gold, silver or space gray, which have a starting price tag of $199 on a two-year contract. Meanwhile, the iPhone 5C is available in an array of bright colors such as blue, green, pink, yellow and white and in the U.S., and the smartphone has a starting retail price of $99 on a two-year contract.

The iPhone 5C is mainly designed for upcoming markets, aiming to attract customers who want to experience the iPhone but at a relatively low cost.

It's only been three days and the company has already reached a sales record and undoubtedly, the handsets will achieve bigger milestones in the near term.

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Samsung Galaxy S5: 64-bit Exynos processor in 'final stages'

TagsSamsung, Galaxy S5, Exynos 64-bit chip

Concept design of the Galaxy S5 Credit:Mobileaks

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Samsung is reportedly prepping its next warhorse, the Galaxy S5, to take on the iPhone 5S, and has a 64-bit system on chip (SoC) in the works.

According to reports in the Korean Media, Samsung's 64-bit SoC from its Exynos line-up is in the "final stages" of development. It is likely that the chipset will tout the ARM Cortex-A50 architecture, which will bring 64-bit processing to the mobile device space.  Apparently, the chipset will also power upcoming Samsung tablets.

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"Samsung is reportedly in the final stages of development of its 64-bit Exynos processor, according to a report published by the Korean media. Samsung had officially stated that its future smartphones would use a 64-bit chipset, and according to the report, some of Samsung's tablets will be powered by the new CPU as well. It will once again be an octa-core chipset, but this time with four high-performance Cortex-A57 cores and equal number of energy-efficient Cortex-A53 cores (and likely with true eight-core processing)," reports SamMobile.

Currently, the recently-released iPhone 5S and iOS 7 from Apple have the distinction of being the first to offer support for 64-bit processing. On the other hand, while Android has been ready for 64-bit processing since inception, the necessary hardware that would utilize the CPU has been notably absent thus far. With the Galaxy S5, Samsung is may be looking to change this.

For the uninitiated, the 64-bit architecture has several advantages over the 32-bit one. Not only will the former allow for higher amount RAM accessibility, but will also deliver improved multitasking and productivity.

This is not the first time that rumors pertaining to the impending Galaxy S5 have surfaced online. Earlier in August, a report from Korean publication ETNews disclosed that Samsung would completely revamp the design of its flagship smartphones in 2014. Moreover, the publication also revealed that the Galaxy S5 will have an aluminum body instead of a plastic one.

Reports have also let on that the Galaxy S5 will have a fingerprint scanner and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). The Galaxy S5 is rumored to feature a 5.2-inch display and a 3200mAh battery. The smartphone is also expected to tout a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.

With Samsung not expected to announce the Galaxy S5 before 2014, we will have to contend with the rumors for now.

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Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 2 now available for $99.99

TagsVerizon, Samsung, Galaxy Note 2, Amazon

Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Amazon Deal Credit:Amazon / iTech Post

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If you want a converged device that brings the best features of a smartphone and small tablet at an affordable price, Amazon is offering the Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 2 for $99.99.

When Samsung launched the original Galaxy Note, it wanted to offer consumers a device that blurred the lines between a smartphone and small tablet. It provided a large display to make surfing the web, watching video, playing games, and other tasks more enjoyable due to the extra screen real estate. The company also introduced its S Pen, which was designed to bring the familiar feeling of using pen and paper, on the Galaxy Note. The stylus adds enhanced functionality through the use of its technology and the countless number of applications available that include S Pen support. The S Pen is just another way for Samsung to add usefulness to its devices and differentiate itself from rivals.

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If you've been thinking about taking a chance on a phablet, but don't want to spend a lot in doing so, Amazon is offering the Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 2 for $99.99. The Galaxy Note 2 features a 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED Plus display with a 1280 x 720 resolution and a pixel density of 267 pixels per inch (ppi). It currently runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, but is upgradable out of the box to Android 4.1.2 and is expected to receive an over the air (OTA) update to Android 4.3. The device is powered by a 1.6 GHz Samsung Exynos quad-core processor and includes 16GB of internal storage, as well as 2GB of RAM.

It packs an 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and HD recording and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera. The phablet includes enhanced S Pen functionality and allows you to use the stylus to write in a more natural way. Its wireless capabilities include a 4G LTE radio, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, NFC, and built-in mobile hotspot functionality. Users will be able to add even more memory by using its microSD expansion slot, which supports up to 64GB microSD cards. The phablet packs a removable 3,100 mAh battery.

You can order the Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 2 for $99.99 when signing a new 2-year contract. Amazon is also throwing in free two-day shipping with your order.

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Microsoft Surface 2 now official: 10.6-inch 1080p display, Tegra 4 processor, and more

Tagsmicrosoft, Surface 2

Microsoft Surface 2 Credit:Microsoft / iTech Post

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Microsoft has officially announced the Surface 2. The new tablet features a 10.6-inch full HD 1920 x 1080 display, Tegra 4 processor, Windows RT 8.1, and more.

The company's first-generation Surface was more of a failure than a success, but the company has decided to give it another try and launch a second-generation Surface 2. At first glance, the new Windows RT tablet looks a lot like its predecessor, but Microsoft has made some important changes that it hopes will make the Surface 2 a serious contender in the tablet market.

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One of the most welcomed changes the Surface 2 offers over the original is a higher-resolution 10.6-inch display. The new screen is full HD at 1920 x 1080 compared to the first-generation Surface's 1366 x 768 display. Microsoft is using the new Tegra 4 processor to power the Surface 2, it has also doubled the RAM by using 4GB of RAM, and the company claims that the new model should run three to four times faster than its predecessor. The new tablet also comes with a USB 3.0 port compared to the USB 2.0 port on the original model. Microsoft has been able to increase the battery life of the Surface 2 as well, and it says battery life is now 25 percent longer and should provide up to 10 hours of video playback.

The Surface 2's design is virtually identical to its predecessor, but Microsoft has tweaked it ever so slightly to make it more comfortable and functional.  It still comes with the very popular kickstand Microsoft debuted with the Surface RT and Surface Pro, but it's now a two-stage kickstand, which allows the user to choose which angle works best for them. It also makes using the Surface 2 on your lap an easier task, thanks to the new angle. The tablet's case is also thinner and lighter than the original, coming in at 8.99mm and 676g.

The Surface 2 will be available in two color choices, silver and black, though both options use a black bezel around the display. The new tablet comes in two configurations: 32GB for $449 and 64GB for $499. The Surface 2 will be available for pre-order through Microsoft's online store beginning Sept. 24 and will go on sale Oct. 22.

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