A new maps app called Sparkling maps that offers Google maps has hit the app store

November 18, 2012 by

A new maps app called Sparkling maps that offers Google maps has hit the app store.  This will come as an ideal solution for those looking to get back to Google’s standard of mapping that offers it’s users, reliable maps that offer a decent amount of  detail on the maps.  This app also includes access to Google’s infamous street view. Lastly this map even offers turn by turn navigation, which Google official iOS 5 map app never did.

However this app does have some short cummings when comparing it to the Google’s iOS 5 official version. The text is often very small to see on the maps also it’s not possible to use the maps when offline, like you could on Google’s iOS 5 official version. Lastly there also seems to be a problem with the street view maps option. Yes you can access the street view option with ease, but once you go into street view mode you are not able to zoom in or out like you could within the official iOS 5 Google version.   

 

Overall despite it’s short Cummings, which will hopefully be resolved soon by the developers. It’s a useful app for anyone who wants the first class mapping experience that iOS users once enjoyed with Google maps. Currently there is no other app that can offer this level of map detail, street view, and turn by turn navigation like this one does. So what are you waiting for it’s a bargain for only $0.99 or 0.69p from the UK app store.

 

Update 29-11-12

I would like to post an update on this app and say that now the developer have produced and released an updated version of this app that has addressed most of the problems that were previously raised by users. 

 

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Apple maps are a let down here is how to get Google maps back

September 23, 2012 by

Since the update of iOS  6 Apple user have lost the familiar Google maps software on their apple devices only to find out that apples replacement map service is an inferior product. Many users are finding that the new maps are lacking in detail and are sometimes not even completed. For example some of the London maps are missing the tube stations and other vital landmark points that are essential for navigation. Some of the digital maps are also incomplete and blurry. Also another major complaint is with the maps location feature, some users have reported that it does not  always locate you accurately.    

If you want to revert to Google maps service a website called Pocket lint has found a temporary solution, while we wait for Google to bring out an iOS map app. Here is how:

Step 1

Open up Safari, and enter the url maps.google.co.uk or maps.google.com

Step 2

Click okay when the Notification pop up appears asking whether you are happy for “https://maps.google.co.uk” to use your current location.

Step 3

When the page finishes loading, click on the share icon in the centre of the menu bar at the bottom and click on the “Add to Home Screen Icon”, on the next pane click “Add” in the top right hand corner.

Step 4

You are done. When you want to find yourself you can simply click on this icon and as long as you have internet access you’ll be able to use the Google Mapping service.  

Source: Pocket lint

Filed Under: Apple, Other tech news and developments Tagged With: , ,

The iPhone 5 launched last night

September 13, 2012 by

Most of the iPhone 5 rumours about the specs of the phone have turned out to be mostly true, after its announcement last night at the special event special held by Apple in  San Francisco California.

The only rumour that did not come true was the use of NFC technology. The rumours  that did come true were, 4 inch screen, faster processor, smaller dock connector and LTE technology. 

The iPhone 5 in fact looks identical to the leaked photos that have been previously floating around the inter net. 

The iPhone 5 will be a phenomenal success, because it’s design is revolutionary. It will easily be able to compete with likes of the Samsung Galaxy s3, due to it having a super fast dual core A6  quad core cpu, a much better form factor and a better display that will offer an unmatched, 4-inch Retina display that is capable of displaying 326 pixels per inch with a resolution of 1136 x 640. This phone will be one of the worlds thinnest phones at just at 7.6mm in depth. The phone will also be 12 grams lighter and 20% lighter than the iPhone 4S and it will be also lighter than the Samsung Galaxy S3 too. 

Apple have also announced that this device will also come packed with a new nano sim format, which could course potential problems. Because it not known at the moment if it will be possible to cut a regular sim down to that format. If you cannot cut your regular sim down  to that format then its possible that the iPhone 5 will not be available on certain telephone companies, due to them not intending to sell the new sim format.  It would have been better for Apple to stick with the new micro sim format, this could potentially cost apple money in terms of sales. 

 

The iPhone 5 will likely course controversy within the UK, because the 4g will only work on some of the networks, due to the phone only being capable of receiving certain 4g frequencies. Vodafone and  02 seem to be the ones left out in the cold, while 3 UK and Orange/T-mobile owned by Everywhere and Everywhere will work on the iPhone. 02 and Vodafone customers will need to wait until the iPhone 5S comes out, which will probably support all 4g services.

 

The new iPhone 5 will be available from September the 21st  from various countries such as the UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore. Then after that date it will ship to 22 more countries from the 28th of September. These countries include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.  No other announcement has been made concerning other countries around the world. This phone will also come with iOS 6 pre installed. 

 

 

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iOS 6 gives a subtle hint about the iPhone’s 5 screen size

August 8, 2012 by

The soon to be released iOS 6 gives a subtle hint about the iPhone’s 5 screen size.  The website 9to5Mac has found that an application called the iOS simulator has been tweaked in iOS 6, which is used to build iOS apps. What they found was that they were able to expand the screen resolution to match the resolution that of the rumoured iPhone 5 screen size which has a resolution of 640 x 1136 also when the image was expanded to that size an extra row of apps was also automatically added onto the home screen. In iOS 5.1 when the same resolution was applied it just made the four rows of home screen apps appear to further spread out across the larger screen space. 

However it cannot be concluded that this is evidence that confirms that apple is planning to release an iPhone 5 with a larger display. It could just be an indication that apple are simply testing a prototype screen that they never plan to release. Until apple finally make an an announcement which is rumoured to be on September the 12th,  we will not know for sure.  

 

 

Filed Under: Iphone XS and G8 news Tagged With: , , , ,

Apple announces a new Podcasts app for iOS

June 27, 2012 by

Apple on Tuesday announces a new Podcast application which is simply called ”Podcasts”. 

This app will make it so easy to simply search, view and manage all your Podcasts on your iOS device. Apple users will be able to browse through all their Podcasts within their iTunes catalogue and library with simplicity and with ease. There will also be a Top Stations feature that will be also appealing, where the user will have access to a unique interface which will allow the user to quickly browse the most popular Podcasts through various categories such as, arts, business, comedy, news and sports etc. This app will also provide the user with the option of subscribing to an entire series of a Podcasts too. The user will also have the ability to fully sync their iOS devices with their Podcasts. There will also be an option to download a particular Podcast, after the user has downloaded the Podcast the user will be able to either listen to the Podcast offline or by streaming it. The app will also have a radio-like “Now Playing” screen which will allow the user to have access to simple playback controls that will allow the user to easily skip forward and back, which will prove to be popular. Lastly this app will make sharing Podcasts so easy by giving the user the option of sharing your favourite Podcast through Twitter, Messages and Mail.

This app can now be downloaded free from the App store. But it seems likely that this app will soon become a feature within the soon to be launched iOS 6. Evidence to back this claim up comes from developers who have already had their hands on a beta released of iOS 6. 

 

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Apple announces iOS 6 at the world wide developers conference

June 12, 2012 by

Yesterday iOS 6 was announced at the world wide developers conference 2012 event, it brings around 200 new features to iOS. Many of the rumoured features were included in this update. One of the most anticipated updates is the introduction of their own Mapping software, up to now they have relied on Google for their maps. According to the website called Slash Gear TomTom is also going to supply the data for the maps, but not much information regarding this matter has been released yet. There was just a small press release from Tom Tom, stating that.

“ TomTom has signed a global agreement with Apple for maps and related information,” and that “No further details of the agreement will be provided.”

This update will add extra functionality to their mapping software such as turn-by-turn navigation,better Siri map integration,3D city views etc.

Apple’s decision to move away from Google was probably influenced by that fact that they have become bitter rivals in recent times. 

IOS 6 brings other new features such as Facebook being fully integrated into the software in the same way as twitter is, so making it easier to share photos and data with facebook. Apple’s facetime is going to be able to work with cellular networks, which was highly welcomed.  Siri will also be improved with this update and it will be made available on the new ipad and the ipad 2.

There will also be a feature available that enables you put on hold all calls and messages, if you want to do this you will just need to look for the ”Don’t want to be disturbed” option on your device.  Apple is also introducing with this update a feature called passbook, this will be like a virtual wallet, which lets you store all your boarding passes, tickets and gift cards and other important documents. Passbook will come to life when you enter a place were your are documents relevant and your documents will pop up automatically. To use this feature you will have to have your location services switched on.

There are many other interesting updates in iOS 6, if you want to find out more just go to Apple.com

It worth pointing out that Apple has missed the opportunity again to add Adobe flash and Blue-tooth file sharing to it’s arsenal, which Android has offered from day one.

IOS 6 is expected to be released in the autumn. Its release will probably coincide with the release of the new iPhone, which most likely will be released in September or October this year.  

If you want to try some of the exciting new features all you need to do is just get a developers account and download iOS 6 beta from Apple. However its worth pointing out that the iOS 6 beta download is unstable at the moment and some of the features have not been implemented yet. 

 

 

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Will the iphone 5 be announced at the WWDC event

June 11, 2012 by

Soon we will find out whether the iphone 5 is getting launched at the WWDC, which starts today. A keynote announcement is expected today, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook begins at 10am PT/ 1:00p.m. EST.  Many are hoping for the iphone 5 release, but it is most likely that this event will focus on software rather than hardware. It will most probably be centred around iOS 6 and Apple’s Mac OS X Mountain Lion OS.  But who knows what Apple has planned, they don’t always stick to exact time frames when they release products. Look at last year everybody was expecting the new iPhone to be released in June 2011, instead Apple opted to release it in October.  It’s even possible Apple could make an announcement regarding the iPod at this event, because the rumoured iPod touch 5g is long overdue.

You can follow the events as they happen on abcnews or CNET

 

 

 

 

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Apple plans to release Siri on the iPad

June 5, 2012 by

Apple is planning to implement Siri to the Ipad. It is expected to come included with the new iOS 6 software, which is expected to be announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, which starts  on June 11.  

According to 9to5Mac who are a reliable source, Siri will have identical features to what the current iphone 4S Siri has  such as iMessaging, Weather, Calendar managing, Music playback, Reminders  and Maps integration. But there are a few differences, the phone-related commands, which are on the iphones version are not included.  Its seems also likely that the Siri ipad version will not occupy all the screen like the iphone version did, according to 9to5Mac instead it will be presented on small pop up window, 9to5Mac  go on to say that there will also be an option to activate it  from the lock screen.

Lets hope the older ipad models will get Siri too. If they don’t there is going to be a lot of disgruntled customers.   

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