• Uncategorized

    SPF Has A New Look, Same Great Stories

    February 5, 2013 /

    As I’m sure you’ve just noticed, Smartphone Fanatics has undergone a bit of a transformation since your last visit to the site.  The new look has been long over due and it looks great on your iPhone, iPad, smartphone, and of course, on your favorite Mac OS X or Windows browsers.

    It’s the same great content now with an amazing new layout.  I hope you enjoy the new look and feel, social gadgets, and comment tools.

    Please “Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.  And as always, thanks, for reading!

    -Alan

    Read More
  • blackberry,  blackberry os,  blackberry tablet os,  ipad mini,  nexus,  rim

    BlackBerry Confirms OS Upgrade for BlackBerry PlayBook

    February 5, 2013 /

    Well, well, well…isn’t this an interesting turn of events?  The BlackBerry PlayBook has the potential to become an iPad mini and a Nexus 7 competitor.

    The OS upgrade, from PlayBook OS 1.x and/or 2.0 to BlackBerry OS 10 was announced during the BlackBerry 10 launch event last week.  (It was also mentioned as far back as March, 2012.)

    The BlackBerry PlayBook, originally released in 2011, was suppose to be an iPad “killer.”  The market disagreed.  You can still purchase PlayBooks online and in retail outlets, but it is running it’s original OS which, evolutionally speaking, is stuck between BlackBerry OS 7 and the new BlackBerry OS 10.  The PlayBook OS was built on the technology acquired from QNX.

    I think it’s amazing that another company besides Apple is going to reward their customers with a software update that will refresh previous generation hardware.  Heck, this might even be the excuse I’ve been looking for to purchase a refurbished BlackBerry PlayBook and then upgrade it to BlackBerry 10 later on.

    You can read more about the BlackBerry PlayBook on the BlackBerry website.

    [Via GadgesOnTheGo.net…]

    Read More
  • blackberry,  blackberry os,  blackberry q10,  blackberry z10,  rim

    BlackBerry Z10 and Q10 Announced

    February 5, 2013 /

    Last week, BlackBerry, the new corporate name for the Canadian company formerly known as Research In Motion, unveiled their new name, their new BlackBerry 10 mobile operating system, and a pair of new BlackBerry smartphones; the BlackBerry Z10 and the BlackBerry Q10.

    Waterloo, ON – BlackBerry® (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) [on January 30, 2013] launched BlackBerry® 10, the re-designed, re-engineered, and re-invented BlackBerry platform that creates a new and unique mobile computing experience. Available on two new LTE-enabled smartphones, the BlackBerry® Z10 (all-touch) and BlackBerry® Q10 (touch with physical keyboard) smartphones powered by BlackBerry 10 offer you a faster, smarter and smoother experience than any other BlackBerry you have used before.

    “Today sees a re-invented BlackBerry launching an entirely new mobile experience,” said Thorsten Heins, President and CEO of BlackBerry. “We are thrilled to be introducing BlackBerry 10 on the new BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10 smartphones, to deliver a faster, smarter experience that continuously adapts to your needs.  Every feature, every gesture, and every detail in BlackBerry 10 is designed to keep you moving.”

    BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10 Smartphones

    The new BlackBerry 10 smartphones are elegant and distinctive, and the fastest, most advanced BlackBerry smartphones yet. They feature 1.5 Ghz dual core processors with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and an expandable memory card slot. They include the latest enhancements in high density pixel and screen technology to display clear, sharp, and incredibly vivid images. Both feature a micro HDMI out port for presentations, and advanced sensors such NFC (near field communications) to support mobile payments and the exchange of information with a tap of the smartphone. They also have a removable battery.

    Models of the BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10 will be available from carriers to support their respective 4G LTE or HSPA+ networks, and all the available models include connectivity support for global roaming. The BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10 smartphones will also each come in White and Black. For more information about the new BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10 smartphones powered by BlackBerry 10 please visit www.blackberry.com/blackberry10

    A range of accessories for the new BlackBerry 10 smartphones, including the new BlackBerry® Mini Stereo Speaker as well as a variety of carrying and charging solutions including a unique charger that provides on-the-go charging, will be available from select carriers and retailers.

    Pricing and Availability

    Worldwide, we have several key markets that are revealing pricing and availability today, including the UK, Canada and UAE.

    In the U.S. market, we expect availability with most carriers for the BlackBerry Z10 to be in March. Today, U.S. carriers will start announcing pre-registration and price plans.

    We expect the first global carriers to launch the BlackBerry Q10 in April. We will announce new pricing and availability information as carriers roll-out around the world.

    [Via GadgetsOnTheGo.net…]

    Read More
  • microsoft,  surface pro,  surface rt,  tablet,  windows

    Microsoft Surface Storage Space Disappoints

    February 5, 2013 /

    The Surface, Microsoft’s answer the to the Apple iPad, just went from “Gee, I really want to play with that!” to “Are you friggin’ kidding me?! That sucks!”

    Not that long ago I tweeted that I wanted to get a Surface RT tablet – the smaller form factor version of Surface that doesn’t run full blown Windows PC apps.  The device itself looks to be well made and not too heavy.  The battery life is OK, not great when compared to an iPad.  But the lure of the Surface tablet, whether it’s the Surface RT or the Surface Pro, is that it comes with touch enabled, tablet optimized-ish, versions of Microsoft Office.

    Ok, so far so good.  Ya, Microsoft’s prices are higher than Apple’s, but it’s Windows and Office on a tablet.

    And then Microsoft released the Surface Pro storage specs.  Not good.  Not good at all.

    “Microsoft is getting ready to ship a version of its Surface tablet, the Surface Pro, which features the full Windows 8 operating system installed on the tablet. The device comes in two models, a 128GB and a 64GB. Microsoft even makes a note on the specs of the Surface Pro that formatted storage capacity will be less but doesn’t mention exactly how much less. Want to know the truth?”

    Microsoft has published a storage specifications page over on Microsoft.com detailing how much storage space is left for you to use on your new tablet after the bloated versions of Microsoft Windows and Office are installed.

    The snippets below are from Microsoft’s Surface storage page.  I will note, that only the Surface RT is mentioned by name and I am not sure if that is a typo or if there is another page specifically for the Surface Pro.

    Surface storage

    Important  System software uses significant storage space; your storage capacity will be less. See surface.com/spec.  1 GB = 1 billion bytes

    Surface with Windows RT comes in two storage configurations. Users can select between a 32 GB and 64 GB version of Surface. As with all PCs and tablets, the operating system and pre-installed applications take up a certain amount of available storage. With Surface, you can store and enjoy media content, and also get real work done, right out of the box.  Surface comes with these pre-installed apps you’ll need for work and play[.]


    How much storage space do I have?

    Here’s how much storage you have available out of the box:

    The 32 GB Surface with Windows RT has approximately 16 GB storage available for user content
    The 64 GB Surface with Windows RT has approximately 45 GB storage available for user content

    The one bit of good news is that there is a microsSDXC card slot built into the Surface which allows you to add up to a 64GB of additional storage space.

    To me, this all seems kind of disingenuous.  Yes, when you format a storage device, hard drive, flash drive, flash memory, you lose some space.  That’s just accepted in the technology filed.  It’s true for the iPad, the various tablet’s running the Google Android OS, and even my HP/alm TouchPad.  But when you advertise a 32GB device, and there is only 16GB of usable storage space left, well, then you are selling a 16GB device, not a 32GB device in my book.

    I might still get a Surface RT, but not before they show up as refurbished devices in Microsoft’s stores or other online retail outlet.

    Pricing and Availability

    The Surface RT is on sale now starting at $499 for a “32GB” unit without a keyboard cover.  The 32GB Surface RT with a keyboard Touch Cover goes for $599.  A “64GB” edition of Surface RT with Touch Cover sells for $699.  The Surface RT is available at Microsoft retail stores (if you can find one) and online at Microsoft.com.  You can also purchase them at Best Buy and Staples.

    The Surface Pro with Windows 8 will go on sale on February 8 and is expected to be around $1,000 with a Touch Cover.

    [Via GadgetsOnTheGo.net…]

    Read More
  • android,  chrome,  google

    How To Access Hidden Full Screen Web Browsing In Chrome Beta For Android

    February 5, 2013 /

    When Google announced that it would begin offering a Chrome for Android Beta Channel, we knew that Google would be updating the app regularly and also add new features for users to test. One of the new feature, however, is not official and is well hidden by the Chrome Beta for Android. That feature would be full screen Web browsing and here’s how to enable it.

    [Via GadgetsOnTheGo.net…]

    Read More
  • mac os x,  microsoft,  office,  office365,  windows,  windows phone

    Microsoft Office 365 Subscriptions Now Available

    January 29, 2013 /
    Today, Microsoft has launched the next version of their popular productivity suite, Office 365 Home Premium.  Unlike previous versions of Office, Office 365 Home Premium allows you to install Office 365 on Windows PCs and Macs for a combined total of five installs.
    Since Office 365 is a subscription service, you have to renew your subscription plan.  Microsoft is offering Office 365 for $9.99/month or $99.99/year.  I’m planning on buying the annual subscription.
    Windows users will get access to the Office 2013 software that has also gone live today for business customers.  If you are installing Office on your Mac, you will get Microsoft Office: Mac 2011, the latest version of Office for Mac OS X.
    Also, since this is a subscription service, any updates to Office, are available to you at no additional cost.  (Surface and iPad users should take note of that point as we know that there will be updates to Office on Surface Pro, Surface RT, and very likely, the iPad too.)
    For more information, and to purchase a subscription, visit the Microsoft Office website.
    Read More
  • mac os x,  microsoft,  office,  office365,  windows,  windows phone

    Microsoft Office 365 Now Live On Staples Website

    January 29, 2013 /

    Last night I put up a post that I had found Office 365 Home Premium on Staples website.  I stumbled across it looking for prices on the Mac edition of Microsoft Office.

    As you can see from the photo above, Office 365 Home Premium for Windows/Mac is now up, live, and ready for purchase.

    Unlike other retail box and download versions of Microsoft Office, Office 365 is a subscription service.  That means you will be able to use the latest version of the Office software on up to 5 Macs or Windows PCs, that’s the cool part, but you have to pay an annual subscription maintenance fee of $100 annually.  That’s the not-so-cool-but-kinda-worth-it part.

    I need to install Office, specifically PowerPoint, my kids Compaq laptop that they use for school.  I also need to install Office on my Windows 8 Pro box, so I’m excited about this new version of Office.  I get to install/upgrade Office on two PCs, with Outlook, for less than the price of one Office 2010 Home and Business license that I was looking at a few days ago.

    Sound good?  What do you think?

    [Via Staples.com…]

    Read More
  • apple,  icloud,  ipad,  ipad mini,  iphone,  ipod touch,  troubleshooting

    How To: Back Up Your iDevice with iCloud

    January 29, 2013 /

    I’ve always been a firm believer of running backups your important documents and other data like photos, music, and videos.

    Over the years, Apple has done a good job enhancing iCloud to automatically take care of this for you on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.  With last night’s little iOS 6.1 upgrade disaster, knowing that I had a recent backup of my iPhone meant that I was only going to have to deal with the reloading my backup and not have to worry about lost photos, text messages, and all the rest.

    Here are a few quick steps to make sure you have iCloud backups turned on and how to run an immediate backup if you want to – like just before an iOS upgrade.

    Turning on iCloud Backups

    Step 1: To get started, tap on Settings from the Home screen.

    Step 2: Tap on iCloud on the Settings page.

    Step 3: Sign in to your iCloud account if you haven’t already done so.

    Step 4: Scroll down to the bottom of the iCloud page, and tap ‘Storage & Backup’.

    Step 5: Near the bottom of the page, set the ‘iCloud Backup’ option to ‘ON’.

    Step 6: Tap the ‘Back Up Now’ button at the bottom of the page to start a backup immediately.

    Bonus Points: At the very bottom of the ‘Storage & Backup’ page, will be a message telling you when the last time a successful iCloud backup was completed.

    Read More
  • apple,  ios,  ipad,  troubleshooting,  upgrade

    iOS 6.1 Upgrade Loads Without Problem on My iPad 3

    January 29, 2013 /

    For all the trouble I had installing the iOS 6.1 upgrade last night on my iPhone 4S, the same upgrade when flawlessly on my iPad 3.

    From what I can tell, it was a fluke that something when wrong on my iPhone. I’m a member of #TeamPure and I don’t jailbreak my gear so I’m really unsure of what actually went wrong.

    I’ll just chalk it up to ‘fun and excitement with technology’ and get back to using my iDevices.

    Read More