The Rumors about the iPhone 6 in Its Stage of Contemplation

Every press release triggers a commotion across the globe bringing out excitement and a bit of anxiety, but nothing is more heart-stopping than the announcement of the Cupertino-based tech company Apple of its iPhone lineup. It’s a fact that the iPhone is the most successful smartphone model to date. The company as a whole may not top the charts in the number of sales, but its products among others have by far the highest smartphone penetration rate due to their uniqueness and exclusivity. And so, now that speculations have been circulating in regard to the details surrounding the makings of the iPhone 6, it takes a leap of faith to find out what to believe in. This is what we know about it.

 It is said that Apple will be releasing two variants of iPhone 6, same as what it did with the successor of the iPhone 5. One is going to sport a 4.7-inch display while the other is expected to be bigger with its 5.5-inch screen. This upgrade is simply a must because Apple needs to adapt to the phablet domination to secure its place in the competition. As for its release date, September 2014 would be the most plausible time, considering the release of both the iPhone 5s and 5c that was scheduled on the Fall of 2013.

Both variants will be installed with a sapphire crystal screen, similar to the material used by Vertu smartphones, which is virtually resistant to scratches. On the other hand, there are sources indicating that Apple will be stepping into the flexible display territory, like with the LG G Flex and Samsung Galaxy Round. On another note, either both models or just the more expensive variant will be powered by a faster and more efficient A8 chip, which packs in more power than its already powerful predecessor.

In terms of design, the iPhone 6 is said to adopt a thinner chassis and a bezel-free display with an edge-to-edge design. With the much more slender LED backlight from 0.6mm to 0.4mm, the internal components can be spread out, allowing a slicker design to take place. It is most likely that Apple will be continuing the Touch ID feature for its future smartphones, considering the huge sum of money it invested on the said technology. To be on par with the features of the upcoming flagship phone of Samsung, Apple is said to focus on health-related applications like the Healthbook app, which will track various data points including blood pressure, hydration, heart rate, and other stats like glucose levels. This will perhaps be available on the rumored iOS 8 release.

It really is no surprise that rumors about the next generation flagship phone of Apple has surfaced just a few months after the iPhone 5s and 5c were made available on the market. The popularity of the iPhone has reached epic proportions, and this has served a motivating factor for Apple to deliver to the expectations of its clientele. Soon enough, we can be able to tell apart facts from fiction when more credible information are revealed as the release date of the most awaited smartphone arrives.

Noteworthy Apps That Take Care of Your Lists

If you have so much on your plate, then it’s absolutely crucial to start the day by enlisting all the things you need to accomplish throughout the day according to priority. And to get the job well done, you must be vigilant to manage your time. So, might as well, set aside your slack-time and hustle while you bustle.

But at times, having notes with you can be somewhat handful—and having the traditional notes also cannot guarantee that you can actually accomplish everything you've enlisted especially if you have to manually warn yourself to finish such activity on time. Seems like it’s not a handy-dandy notebook after all, eh? Or you could at least tie a thread on your fingers to remind you that there’s something that needs to be accomplished. Now, why did I tie this thread again? Let me ask you a question: which is handier, a notebook or your smartphone? Everybody’s money would definitely be on the latter as almost everyone couldn't get off their houses without their smartphones being stapled in their pockets—that of which I found myself guilty of. That being said, perhaps the pre-installed note app on your phone would suffice, right? You can say that, but actually, there are far more things apps can do. While the pre-installed note app only lets you scribble out a few things, these note apps I’m about to feature can actually get you all covered. So, prep yourself to ditch your traditional notepads and hit the list below:

#1: Google Keep

If you’re looking for a viable note-keeper app, then you can keep Google Keep app for yourself! Wait, what? Simply put, Google Keep app is at your service. This app is great as you can quickly jot down the ideas popping straight from your mind, and it helps you be reminded at exactly the right place and time. With this app, you can pretty much create a checklist, record voice reminders, or snag a photo to make remembering much easier. You can use color-codes as well so you’d be able to find which is which. Let me give you a simple tip: use the yellow color on the things you really need to be reminded of since of all colors, color yellow most likely helps you to remember something. That is why, most pencils, post-its, pads and paper, and hazard signs are painted yellow. [Free on Android]

#2: Evernote

And I know that if I will not mention this, you will not forgive me—ever! As rated by New York Times, Evernote was included in the ‘Top 10 Must-Have Apps’. Ever wondered who would be your best pal on remembering things? Be always reminded now by your best ever pal we call Evernote. Using this easy-to-use app, you can actually improve your productivity and save the ideas popping from your head in a jiffy. It doesn’t just let you take notes, but it can also let you capture photos, create to-do lists, and enter a voice note. One of the key features of Evernote is that it works with Evernote Business so you can capture, browse, search, and share Business Notes and Business Notebooks straight from your smartphone and tablet. Won’t this be your great buddy ever? [Free on Android]

#3: Todoist: To-Do List, Task List

Another app that could boost your productivity is the Todoist: To-Do List, Task List. Like the previously mentioned Note apps, it helps you manage your tasks and break them down into smaller ones so you can accomplish each and every task in just a fraction of time. This app also has an inclusion of features like due dates, recurring dates, sub-tasks, task priorities, and colored projects. Can the regular note app do that? Got another page to flip? You can get the Premium account to fully access all its features! [Free on Android]

With a handy-dandy smartphone loaded with the right apps, you can already accomplish so much! You may abuse your phone’s styluses, but don’t you worry as they have replacement parts. So, aren’t these note apps noteworthy enough to ditch your traditional notepads? Try them now!

Best Android Apps for Music Downloads

What do you do to stay in tuned with whatever you are doing? You simply plug your mobile earphones in, nod your head, thump your feet, and listen to the music as it gets you back to the beat. Listening to music is actually a sea shanty for most of us as we go along with our chores and stuff. Evidently, it turns as a rhythmic work song designed to increase productivity. And for most, it actually evokes emotions even just within the first twenty seconds of the song. It can also be our voice when we can’t just utter a word because of the inflicted pain.

Music has played a great role in our lives—not just on our music players, radios, mp3s, or smartphones. As we listen to it, we learn to face the music beat by beat (if you may pardon the pun). And so, where do you get most of your tracks? Shared by a friend? Downloaded? Here in this article, I have enlisted the best free music download apps for Android in order for you to find your kind of music. Drum roll, please… let’s hit the list below:

 #1: Music Maniac App     

Asking if you are a certified music maniac is outright unnecessary, since you wouldn’t read all the way down if you aren’t. Did I get that right? And so, to feed you audiophiles from craving to feel the melody and the rhythm of the music around you, here’s Music Maniac telling you the search is over! Oh, wait. Actually, you’re going to search your type of music (preferred song) in an extensive database of CC Licensed songs—so, searching doesn’t stop there evidently. The search results also provide full information in order for you to find and identify which song you are really referring. And that’s from the artists, albums, and the Album-Art to every bit and piece of the song. All the downloaded files will then be stored on the Music Maniac folder that can be found on your SD-card or external storage. We do have to bear in mind, though, that the folks behind Music Maniac are not the ones who maintain their database, thus we might find non CC Licensed songs on the search results. Nonetheless, it’s a great app to start with as this app is also free.

 #2: Moobo Music Player App

Are you looking for a music downloading app that does more than that? Hit the play button with Moobo Music Player. Not only does it provide a neat interface for playing your tracks, but it also supports cloud service, and lets you download free music from the cloud. There is an inclusion of 18 kinds of skins, 3 desk widgets to choose from, and has a powerful equalizer to satisfy your love for music. You can play several formats of your tracks like MP3, MP2, MP1, OGG, WAV, AIFF, MIDI, AAC, AAC+, 3GP, XM, IT, S3M, MOD, MTM, UMX, MO3, MP4, M4A, and OTA. There you go. I’ve enlisted them all for you to know what formats of songs it can play. Moreover, if you want to nail down the lyrics of your new favorite song, this app automatically scans lyrics file for you. This Android app is free of cost as well. What’s not to like?

 #3: vMusic – free music in videos App

Now, if you think that hearing music don’t do too much for you, you always have a choice to watch the music video. You can also choose vMusic – free music in videos app to do the work for you. Search whatever genre of music you like, be it classical, jazz, hip hop, pop, or rock. You’ll definitely love how powerful their database is as it is integrated with Vimeo—the main source that feeds this app. If you install this app, then you will have nothing to lose except a few of your phone’s storage space. So, what are you waiting for? Get this app that is actually free of charge, too!

Now, you know where to get the songs you love. Have fun rocking!

A Guide on Choosing the Smartphone Right for You: Hardware Edition

Smartphones literally come in all shapes and sizes. With a lot of choices available on the market, it’s just so difficult to make a perfect pick. The possibility of dreading over your phone choice is always there. Nowadays, we don’t get to see diverse hardware differentiation anymore with nearly every smart device being a compact slab with touchscreen input method. But implanted in the innards of those phones are pieces of electronic components that make the smartphone a cut above the rest. Without further ado, take a look at the most common hardware considerations on choosing a smartphone.

Screen size. Mobile computing these days has become more focused into convergence. People with their fast-paced lifestyles opt to do their personal and business-related stuff through their smartphones. Definitely, a phone with a bigger display makes a better contraption for multitasking. But bigger isn’t always better; when it gets too big, it becomes difficult to handle. Specifically in the Asian markets, a device with close to a 5-inch display is preferred. It flashes a big-enough, clear display that still fits in one hand and in one’s pocket. So, if screen size is your primary consideration, then you certainly can’t count on Apple because the largest iPhone it has ever created only measures 4 inches diagonally. Prospective devices are those from Samsung, HTC, or Motorola that runs on Android.

Camera. The camera is one of the most useful and sought after features in a smartphone. With it, more innovative functionalities can be incorporated into the phone. Furthermore, snapping images with the same device that you use for connecting to social media makes uploading more convenient. Of all brands, Apple and Nokia (with its mobile phone division recently purchased by Microsoft) have their own collection of phones with absolutely commendable camera. Nokia pushed itself in coming up with a 41-megapixel camera that is capable to capture even the minutest detail. Meanwhile, the iPhone 5 has received various acclaims with its camera, and now that its successor the iPhone 5s is equipped with more camera enhancements, like the True Tone flash, it has become the perfect tool in capturing real-life images.

Extra features. This is certainly a case of last but not the least because it is found out that the “extra,” innovative features are what drive sales the most. Take for example the Touch ID in the iPhone 5s; its unprecedented presence in the device—together with its other features—made it one of the fastest-selling iPhone models to date. In a nutshell, if something is new, it will be an attention catcher for sure.

These factors are the most important among the aspects that make a smartphone. But perhaps, we tend to look past loyalty. There are people who have developed a sense of affinity to a particular brand, and for as long as that brand understands you personally even though it is not the best there is, you just might want to stick to your comfort zone for as long as it can deliver within your expectations. Be that as it may, the decision is still yours to make; get the smartphone that suits you just right.

Which Smartphone of 2013 is Best? Let’s Find Out

The smartphone industry is considered the biggest market in consumer tech nowadays. It has managed to create a thriving culture that affects a lot of people in a global scale. And as always, because of its irrefutable fame, an outright competition has been brewing ever since its market has been conceived. This is the reason why you see so many smartphones from a variety of manufacturers trying to outdo each other. So, before 2013 ends, let us see which is best among a handful of smartphones according to the review by BGR. Read on.

Best Design. More than the internal components which determine how well a smartphone is going to work, aesthetics plays a major role in driving sales. If a handset looks nice, it’s definitely worth being showed off. And in this category, the award goes to the HTC One. Indeed, deciding the winner for this category was not easy, but evidently, the attention to details by HTC made it undeniably the victor. The aluminum casing brings out an elegant look, while its convex posterior makes it fit perfectly in the hand. The glass covering in front creates a feeling of endlessness, for it spills over the sides of the phone that is aligned flawlessly with its chamfered bezel. Plus, the front-facing BoomSound speakers contribute to the overall look, giving the HTC One the title of best design.

Best Performance. When it comes to performance, we typically rely on numbers to arrive at a conclusion, but with the iPhone 5s, this doesn’t apply. Many Android smartphones available on the market are already being built with quad and octa-core processors clocked at over 2GHz, while the 5s is only powered with a dual-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz. But as it appears with extensive testing and comparison performed by well-respected device reviewers, the flagship phone of Apple doesn’t only level with the powerful Android phones; it outperforms them.

Best Display. Because of the fact that the smartphones of today have a touchscreen interface, it is imperative in the part of smartphone manufacturers to come up with a superb display that has stupendous clarity. Of all the mobile phones vigilantly scrutinized for this category, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 boasted the most gorgeous display. This ginormous handset sports Samsung’s brightest super AMOLED display ever. Test results show that its panel is 55% brighter than its predecessor’s panel, yet the colors don’t appear to be exaggerated like with the Galaxy S4. No wonder, the Galaxy Note 3 became the fastest-selling phablet of all time.

Best Value. Of course, we can expect a far more expensive smartphone to be better in a variety of aspects, but this is a question that’s worth being answered: “Is it worth it?” You can splurge all you want on a gadget, but will the money you put on it be worth every penny? If value is what you’re looking for, then look no more because Google’s Nexus 5 is the smartphone for you. It is made affordable, for it retails only for $349. Comparatively, you’ll see that other smartphones having the same specs as the Nexus 5 cost nearly as twice off contract.

I think we all agree with the results. If you still haven’t decided what smartphone to get for yourself, I hope that this review has shed some light on what your next purchase is going to be.

Nokia Joins the Android Line-up with the Normandy

The tech giant Nokia has manufactured quite a number of mobile phones ever since it has ventured into the telecommunications industry. It had pioneered a multitude of innovations that paved a way to make advanced mobile computing a reality. However, Nokia wasn’t able to maintain the momentum and keep up with the standards of the growing industry; to no avail, it resorted in selling its mobile division to Microsoft in order to prevent further losses and restore the empire it had once built.

In the light of the purchase agreement between the two, many Android fans have had their spirits broken, thinking that there will never be a way for Nokia to release a smartphone powered by Google’s open-source OS Android. Once the sale has been realized, it’s but expected that all handheld devices that will be coming out the works carrying the Nokia brand will have Windows Phone as their mobile platform.

Let’s not shut the doors of possibilities just yet; for as long as the merger isn’t yet legally acknowledged, Nokia still has absolute control over its handset business. In fact, speculations from multiple sources have sprouted like mushrooms that the Finnish smartphone manufacturer is planning on releasing its first-ever Android-powered mobile phone, and the said device will be codenamed as “Normandy.”

Given the fact that this move by Nokia is unprecedented, what reasons could there be for the company to come up with an Android device now that the merger will soon be made official, not to mention when it had always relied on the Windows Phone to run its devices? Apparently, the Normandy aims to target the market of low-end phones as an equivalent of the Asha to further push low cost devices to potential first-time smartphone users. As it turns out, the Asha struggled to achieve widely acclaimed fame for its target consumers allegedly due to its Series 40-powered system. The limited app ecosystem where the Asha is built into was perceived as a major shortcoming; thus, an Android device will be able to address this issue where the Nokia Asha line-up failed to triumph.

However, even if this rumor is true, there is yet no assurance that the project will ever see the light of day. The people behind the Normandy project were informed that the device is planned to be launched on 2014, with one insider describing the efforts on the project as “full steam ahead.” Timing is crucial. If Nokia manages to release the Normandy before the Microsoft acquisition is completed, we will be able to get hold of the first and last Android-powered Nokia device. Otherwise, if the Nokia-Microsoft deal overtakes this project’s release, it may not ever come into fruition, for Android is a conflict of interest for Microsoft over its own Windows Phone operating system. Let’s just cross our fingers and hope for the best.

Going Somewhere? Better Bring a Tablet Instead!

Electronic devices have proven their value in making life worth living. They can help us in performing our daily tasks a notch easier. Starting from the simple machines you learned back in your formative years to the high tech gadgets of this digital age, they have simply led one innovation after another. And apparently, this decade have seen the fastest advancement when it comes to machines. Computers started as humongous contraptions, to desktop computers, laptops, and now, they have come in the form of tablets. And incontestably, tablets are one of the most preferred pieces of equipment today. Certainly, they are the perfect gadgets to carry when you are on the road. Without further ado, here are the top compelling reasons why you should just leave your laptop and bring your tablet instead on your travels:

1. It’s MORE portable. The power of a tablet is without a doubt no match to the power of a laptop, and we all know that. But if you are somewhere else and you just need an electronic device for the purpose of reading emails, watching YouTube videos, and staying updated in Twitter and Facebook, it would be a hassle if you still carry your laptop with you. It may turn out light, but you will definitely feel the weight of it on your shoulder in a matter of a few hours. So, just bring your tablet next time, and travel light.
2. It has a longer battery life. When you’re outdoors, the thing that you want the least to happen is for your gadgets to have their battery life fully drained. There might not even be an outlet nearby to plug in your portable charger to stay connected again. Studies show that most tablets have twice the battery life of a laptop. And this will enable you to get more out of the device you are carrying.
3. It starts up faster. The booting up period of a device is perhaps the most dreadful seconds of your life. It puts you through a mandatory downtime wherein there’s nothing for you to do but wait. If you hate wasting your precious seconds in front of a loading screen, then better use a tablet because it boots up faster than a laptop.
4. It is future proof. Laptops are meant to take computing to a brand new level. Back in the days, one can only make use of a computer at home using a desktop. However, since laptops have made their debut, people have brought their businesses and whatnot with them on the go. But as it turns out, there appears to be the ultimate gadget that again takes computing to different heights. With a tablet, you can be able to do as much as what a laptop can do, though it may not be as powerful in terms of specs as the latter. But it’s just a matter of time when tablets will take over all consumer electronic equipment in tech stores.
5. Cool Tablet Accessories. Because tablets are becoming more famous than laptops nowadays, innovations (internal or external) are more focused to cater for the tablet market. There are a myriad of tablet accessories out there that you can use to customize your device according to your needs. With those add-ons, your tablet just got more dynamic than ever.
6. It rids you the workaholic mindset. If you’re on a vacation, you would want to use that time to relax and disengage from work. But if you you’re bringing a laptop, you may already feel the stress just by the sight of it, unlike with a tablet that gives a somewhat laid-back feel meant for fun and entertainment.

Come your next excursion, keep the reasons listed above in mind to have a more carefree, exhilarating journey. Travel smart!