Blackberry has announced the release of their new OS, Blackberry OS 6.0. Research In Motion (RIM) has published sneak peak videos online which can be found across multiple news sites highlighting how they intend to snatch away more market share from the tight grips of the Android and iPhone.

Built around the same Webkit browser engine that powers both the Android and iPhone platforms, the new OS 6.0 has a newly renovated home screen which intends to make user navigation and interface a whole lot easier catering specifically for their touch screen offering, the Blackberry Storm. Moving away from the traditional Qwerty keyboard which has faithfully served Blackberry owners for years, Blackberry seems to be taking the touch screen market more seriously, further highlighting their intention to take on the highly successful Google and Apple units.

An exciting and somewhat major addition is the inclusion of tabbed-browsing which enables all users who upgrade the ability to have multiple web pages open inside the same browser. Also the media player has been given a makeover which now features the album covers, enabling browsing between tracks which is a feature popular among the iPhone and iPod crowd.

So in a nutshell what are the enhancements you need to know about?

All Your Social Media In One Place

OS 6.0 no allows you to view all your facebook updates, tweets and text messages in one place so that you can view all your social activity with greater ease.

New Fluid Interface

All the new features link now link into the revolutionary new interface which enables the tile son the screen to ‘float’ over the top of each other which enable more efficient use of screen space. This helps you to find what you are looking for more quickly.

Blackberry Messenger

Blackberry’s free messaging service is back and has been redesigned to make your conversation clearer and also allows you to attach video, images and audio to make your message much more personalised.

Simultaneous Postings

OS 6.0 allows you to post to your Messenger, Facebook and Twitter accounts all at once essentially saving you the time to login into your separate accounts and paste the same update each time.

Web Browser

You can now see web pages in full and also ‘pinch and zoom’ to see small text. Open tabs are displayed as thumbnails sitting on an attractive Coverflow-style dock, which then maximises to full screen when tapped on.

No official release date for the UK has been set, nor which handsets will be compatible however RIM have announced that OS 6.0 will be available sometime in the summer.

This article was written on behalf of Protect your Bubble. For more information on the following please see iPhone Insurance or Mobile Phone Insurance.

While the big powerhouses of smart phones battle it out for a majority market share, one of the world’s largest mobile manufacturers, Nokia, seem to have allowed themselves to fall behind their competitors and the cracks are starting to appear.

Despite having large loyal following and an impressive line up of mobile phones, it has been widely reported that profits for Nokia in Q2 have fallen by 64% while Apple’s profits soar from the launch of iPhone 4. Despite a PR nightmare that has arisen form antenna issues, Apple have recorded a YoY profit increase of 77% which further begs the question, Why is Nokia not competing heavily in this market?

It seems that this question is also being asked internally as Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, Nokia’s CEO, has been forced to defend his place within the Finnish company;

“I’m not in a position here and now to really shed any more light on the topic,” he said. “There has been a lot of speculation on my position, on myself, during the last couple of weeks and that is not good for Nokia and must be brought to an end one way or another,”

In light of criticism about his position within the company he has taken the steps to assure shareholders that he is steering the company in the right direction;

“I am confident Nokia will make a come-back in the high end of the smart phone market. The N8 will have a user experience superior to that of any smart phone Nokia has produced.”

The N8 will be powered by the new version of Nokia’s Symbian OS, S^3. This release features a wide range of enhancements including more advanced usability, faster networking and graphics acceleration in 2D and 3D for games and apps.

The future success of Nokia in the growing smart phone market largely depends on the reception of the N8 which will demonstrate whether or not their Symbian OS can offer a superior user experience when compared against the iPhone, Blackberry and Android.

From the outside looking in, Nokia’s problems are perhaps more serious than they would lead people to believe. The market dominance enjoyed by the iPhone and the Android OS demonstrates that Nokia gravely underestimated their potential and the universal acclaim that they would receive when compared to their own offering. If seems quite clear that if Nokia are to reclaim the market dominance they have enjoyed for almost 30yrs they need to make a serious shift away from their traditional mobile offering and focus on the growing smart phone market.

Click Here to see a demo of the Symbian OS S^3.

This article was written on behalf of Protect your Bubble. For more information on the following please see iPhone Insurance or Mobile Phone Insurance.

For a while now there has been quite a bit of rivalry between both iPhone and the Blackberry. Both phones in a sense are different even with mild similarity.

Take the iPhone, many people would agree the draw of this phone is the apps that it offers. These apps are designed to sometimes offer productivity, but more often than not they are fun little time savers. Blackberry on the other hand was designed for productivity solely. But even with that going for it, the main thing it can do is send e-mails and sort of browse the internet. It offers a limited range and the iPhone can certainly send an e-mail quicker and easier.Another thing to take into consideration is app usage.

As mentioned previously the iPhone has some of the most powerful apps. In recent months Blackberry has begun to close in on them. Many developers are finding that the Blackberry is an easier phone to create apps on. While it might not have the processing speed, simpler apps do just as well on this phone.

Something that comes up often is the complexity of using the iPhone as well. Originally intended to play music while being a phone, it now can be used for almost anything. Blackberry on the other hand has remained loyal to its original concept. But because it can run heavier applications the iPhone does have an edge at times. When you want to surf the internet while you talk on the phone, it is a possibility.

The different options do make it a powerful regular life tool. Perhaps that is where the focus should be on both phones. What does each offer that can be taken into your life. Is one a better model for work than for play?

With that concept in mind, the Blackberry certainly would make more sense for the less tech savvy individual that needs a phone to enhance their business. The iPhone in turn would be better suited for the person with gadgets looking for work and play.Then there is the practical use of both models as well. The iPhone offers a touch screen that if the crystals break it’s toast. The Blackberry in turn offers a sleek design that has a fully operation keyboard and is designed to withstand more pressure put on it.

Office programs are also reported to run better on the Blackberry. Because of the simpler design they can be straight forward and user friendly. The iPhone does have business apps, and many are similar to your favorite program. Location will play another factor on which is best for you as well.

The iPhone tends to have problems in more rural areas, and many of it apps become useless. The Blackberry due to its simple nature thrives just fine on the outskirts of major cities. Since each person has a difference of opinion, putting up a fight of the iPhone Vs. Blackberry, you will find that the only real winner is the one that works best for you.

This article was written on behalf of Protect your Bubble. For more information on the following please see iPhone Insurance or Mobile Phone Insurance.

If you are in the market looking for a new desktop or laptop, you are bound to come up on the question which is better: PC or Mac. The debate has been raging for years and this rivalry in the world has gained the proportions of a cultural divide akin to the Pepsi vs. Coke divide. So here is a comparison between the PC and Mac that will help you to make an informed decision.

Functionality

Whether you choose a Mac or a PC will largely depend on how and where you intend to use your computer. For instance, if you primarily use your computer to send receive emails, create spread sheets and word processing; a PC would be the right choice for you. Also, most workplaces tend to use Windows based PC systems that are suitable for traditional office functions.

On the other hand, if you work in a studio and your computer is used for artistic pursuits, an Apple Computer will be well suited to your requirements. The Mac is designed to handle media based functions and works very well when used in film and photo editing, music production and desktop publishing. However, this does not mean that the PC cannot be used for media related functions and that the Mac would prove useless in an office environment. As a matter of fact, the core of these two machines is beginning to get strikingly similar with both of them using Intel processors.

The Mac comes equipped with extra functions and useful gimmicks that make the machine more functional and attractive. However, you need to understand that even today; you may have a rough time finding certain programs and computer games that can be used on a Mac. If you are a gamer, a Mac may not be all that suitable for you.

Design

For many buyers the design of the product is vital factors when making a purchasing decision. If you are going to spend several hundred dollars on a product; it is normal to expect it to live up to your visual expectations.

Most people will tell you that the Mac has a serious advantage in this area. Apple has invested a lot of time and money to ensure that their products have an impressive and sleek design. The CD drive on the side of the computer screen and the all white color certainly do make a Mac look extraordinary. As opposed to the shiny and well made look of a Mac, a PC is more geared towards functionality often compromising on aesthetic appeal in the process. However, there are several PC manufacturers and the cut throat competition has led to the introduction of several visually pleasing designs in the market.

Also, there is a wide range to choose from when buying a PC because there are so many players in the PC marketplace. However, Mac is only manufactured by Apple, so your choices are definitely limited.

Cost

Cost is probably the most important factor that has a huge impact on the purchasing decision of a buyer. To put it simply, Macs do tend to be more expensive than most PCs with similar configuration and features. For instance, the Mac rang starts at over $1000 and the price goes up significantly as the specs are increased. However, you could get a decent looking and fully functional PC for just a few hundred dollars. So if you are budget shopper; then the Mac may not be the appropriate choice for you. Add to this the fact that you do not have a lot of options to choose from when buying a Mac. As opposed to this there are only about several dozen PC manufacturers in the market all trying to outdo each other.

This means that you can get heavy discounts when buying a PC but virtually none at all when purchasing a Mac.

After Sales Service

Most customers would also scrutinize the after sales service and the cost of product repair when buying a computer. The PC has a serious advantage in this area because not only are the peripherals cheap but also the parts are commonly available. The peripherals can easily be swapped from one machine to another. When using a Mac, you will find that there is o other option but to use Apple proprietary parts for your Mac.

Apple’s extended warranty program is among the most expensive in the industry. So if you want a computer that is easy to repair with easily available parts; then you should go the PC way. While both machines have their own pros and cons; the choice that you make will entirely depend on what you need from your computer.

This article was written on behalf of Protect your Bubble. For more information please see iPhone Insurance or Mobile Phone Insurance.

Rather than simply binning their old mobile phones an increasing number of people are cottoning on to the fact that they can be recycled.

One solution is for the entire phone to be re-conditioned and re-sold. What may be to one person an out-of-date gadget can be to others a much sought-after piece of technology. Recycling companies will in fact offer cash for mobile phones in order to refurbish them in this way.

Cash for old mobiles can still be in the offing even where severe damage has occurred and a phone cannot be re-conditioned. This is because there is still value in a phone’s constituent parts. Reprocessing a mobile phone involves recycling its parts in three main ways: recovering its metals; re-using its components; and extracting or recovering other parts through treatments such as heating and smelting.

Recoverable metals include both precious and semi-precious elements. One metal that is often found in small quantities in mobile phones for example is gold.

Re-usable components in a mobile phone include printed circuit boards, microphones and LCD screens.

One of the key constituents of a mobile that can be extracted through smelting is a dark mineral called coltan. Once extracted, coltan can be re-used in new mobile phones as well as for a host of other applications such as video cameras.

Other recoverable materials include the plastic casing which, once heated, can be reconstituted into a variety of new mouldings.

Mobile phone recycling is not only about financial gains to the owner however. There are also two major environmental payoffs.

Firstly, the old phone does not contribute to existing landfill and the associated risks of chemical leakage.

Secondly, mobile phone recycling reduces the demand for fresh extractions of minerals such as coltan, thus helping to preserve the landscape and reducing the river pollution that often accompanies such fresh mineral extraction.

It can sometimes be difficult to compare broadband deals from different service providers if you are unsure of some of the technical terms being used. What follows is a brief explanatory summary of those terms that frequently cause the greatest confusion.

Fixed-line broadband. This is broadband access that is dependent on connection to a telephone line. The connection can either be via physical wires or through a wireless signal from the telephone line by way of a wireless router.

Mobile broadband: Mobile broadband is a way of accessing broadband at any location without the need for a telephone connection, usually via a 3G phone or a laptop with a dongle.

Dongle, stick or USB stick: A dongle is a small attachment that plugs into a USB port on a laptop, PC or other compatible console in order to activate mobile broadband access.

Download speed. This shows how fast a broadband or mobile broadband provider can get emails or other internet data to appear on a broadband receiver. Download speed is measured in megabits per second, a term otherwise expressed as Mbps or simply Mb. The larger the number of Mb the faster the online material will be received.

Usage allowance or broadband allowance. This is a measure of how much monthly online activity, including receiving emails and accessing internet sites, a broadband provider will grant a user who is on a set monthly payment contract. Expressed in terms of gigabytes, or Gbs, or Gb, the higher the number of Gb, the more online internet activity will be permitted. In some instances usage allowance will be described as ‘unlimited’ (see fair usage below for more information).

Fair usage. Where usage allowance is promoted as ‘unlimited’, this means that the maximum usage per month will be capped at a very high threshold. Using broadband within this high threshold is thus termed ‘fair usage’.

Mobile broadband is fast becoming the latest word in web surfing technology. Whilst it has many advantages however, the potential subscriber to mobile broadband should always look at whether it will completely meet his or her individual needs.

Mobile broadband, whether accessed via a mobile phone or laptop, has the advantage over fixed-line broadband in that it does not depend for its internet access on a connection to the user’s telephone landline. With mobile broadband the user can access the internet wherever there is a mobile signal network, thus making it ideal for commuters, holiday-makers and other travellers.

It should be first pointed out however that download speeds and usage allowance are both lower with mobile broadband than with its fixed-line equivalent. The average real download speed for fixed-line broadband is 4 Mb compared with only 1Mb for mobile broadband. Maximum monthly usage allowance for mobile broadband is around 15GB whereas for fixed-line broadband it is at least 40GB.

Secondly, mobile broadband is only as good as the mobile signal network on which it depends. For those living, working, or travelling in some rural areas, a poorly accessible mobile signal can severely hamper attempts to surf the internet or send emails. It is always therefore worth double-checking the signal reach before committing to a mobile internet deal.

Finally, many mobile internet contracts can tie the user in for several months, and can also work out to be quite expensive. Even seemingly valuable bargain incentives such as a free laptop may well turn out to be relatively inferior and worth far less than the additional total cost of the contract payments. For those keen on the idea of mobile broadband it may well be worth looking into the costs of mobile broadband pay as you go since pay as you go broadband deals are usually far more favourably priced.

Accessing the internet can be achieved via a mobile phone or a computer in several different ways, depending on the type of hardware one has available.

Taking mobile phones first, the most straightforward way to access the internet is by purchasing one of the Third Generation, or ‘3G’, mobile phones. These are built especially to receive high speed broadband signals over the mobile phone network (known as mobile broadband).

Other, more modest, mobile phone consoles are still usually capable of uploading and downloading online data provided they are ‘WAP’ enabled. WAP stands for Wireless Access Protocol and is essentially an internationally agreed means of converting internet signals into a format that is recognised by mobile phones.

WAP signals can be sent and received faster if they are carried via GPRS, or General Packet Radio Service, a built-in feature of many mobile phones.

Both WAP and GPRS may need enabling by one’s mobile phone network provider. At any rate, whether one opts for internet access via a WAP phone or through a 3G phone, it will also be necessary to choose an internet service provider (ISP) to grant access to the web.

In terms of accessing the internet via a computer, this can firstly be achieved through a telephone landline, provided the computer contains a suitable modem. Alternatively, one can attach to the computer’s USB port a small device known as a dongle. This can then access mobile broadband signals over the mobile phone networks. Again, in either case, an ISP will need to be chosen, and it will be worth shopping around to secure the best broadband deal.

A more complex method of accessing the internet on a computer is to link a 3G or WAP enabled mobile phone to the computer, either via a connecting USB lead or through a signalling system such as Bluetooth.

Broadband internet facilitates the transmission and reception (or ‘uploading’ and ‘downloading’) of large amounts of online digital data, including emails, photographs and video clips, in a comparatively short space of time.

Broadband internet is accessible on a range of hardware, from home computers through to 3G mobile phones, laptops, and even some games consoles. Such broadband accessible devices are known as ‘receivers’.

There are two main types of broadband.

‘Fixed-line’ broadband relies on a telephone landline to send and receive data and is most often used with home computers. Access to the landline can be wire free provided a wireless router is installed.

‘Mobile broadband’ on the other hand enables the user to access broadband signals anywhere in the country wherever there is suitable mobile phone coverage. Whilst 3G mobile phones will have such access built in, other receivers such as a laptop will require a small device, known as a ‘dongle’ or ‘stick’ to be connected to their USB port.

In order to gain access to a broadband network, users will also need to choose a broadband provider. You should compare broadband providers using these two main criterias : download or upload speeds; and, for those opting to pay a single monthly contract fee (rather than accessing broadband on a ‘pay as you go’ basis), any restrictions on total monthly broadband usage (known as ‘broadband allowance’).

Broadband speeds are measured in megabits per second (or Mbps or Mb); the larger the number of Mb, the faster the download or upload speed. Broadband allowance on the other hand is measured in gigabytes, (or GBs or GB), with a higher GB permitting more online internet activity each month.

It should be remembered that certain downloads such as video clips will use far more broadband allowance than, say, emails; and that even so-called ‘unlimited’ broadband allowances will simply mean that the maximum permissible monthly usage is relatively high.