Verizon CFO praises the iPhone 5, reveals shared data has been a success

Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference on Thursday, Verizon (VZ) CFO Fran Shammo highlighted the success of the company’s Share Everything plans, the latest iPhone and the decline of 3G. The executive revealed that not only are more customers switching to shared data plans, but they are also adding more devices than the carrier had previously expected, according to CNET. Shammo said Verizon was surprised to see such a large number of subscribers with unlimited data plans have actually switched to the company’s shared offerings. “Unlimited is just a word,” he said. “It doesn’t really mean anything. … The whole unlimited thing is going by the wayside.”

Verizon has the largest 4G LTE network in the U.S. and is expected to benefit greatly from the launch of the iPhone 5, ZDNet reported. While Shammo didn’t talk about the number of people who preordered the latest iPhone, he praised the device and the company’s partnership with Apple (AAPL). “I think the iPhone is a great product. Apple is a great partner of ours,” he said. “They help us build our business and, look, I think if you look at this strategically I don’t think anyone can dispute that Verizon Wireless is an absolutely a strategic advantage when it comes to LTE.”

The executive also believes the launch of the iPhone 5 will be the beginning of the end for Verizon’s older and slower 3G network. “With the launch of the LTE iPhone, usage on 3G will start to decline, so we will be able to reappropriate that spectrum over 4G,” Shammo said.

Read [CNET] Read [ZDNet]

Related stories Want to keep your unlimited data plan? Verizon will require you to pay $649 or more for the iPhone 5 Verizon CFO hints at Q4 launch for Apple’s next iPhone Verizon’s Summer / Fall 2012 smartphone roadmap

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Update Radeon OpenGL Drivers to Get The Best Out of Your Graphics Card

It is highly important to have the latest version or compatible Radeon OpenGL drivers for any graphic card to function well. Your computer system or gaming machine can get completely messed up if the graphic card is not functioning properly. The best way to know if you need a driver update is when you cannot obtain the correct resolution for your monitor, have difficulty playing videos or if the speed of the computer decreases drastically when performing graphic-intensive tasks like playing video games.

Always remember to find out if the Radeon OpenGL drivers that you have installed are compatible with the graphic cards as well as the operating system of the computer. If this is not so, then you have to install the right driver to get the best performance out of your system. Radeon drivers if updated regularly can help you visualize high definition three dimensional graphics and special effects with life like realism.

There are many online driver scan tools which if installed on the system can regularly scan and tell you if the Radeon OpenGL drivers installed need to be updated. These tools can also automatically upgrade the outdated drivers to the latest version enabling you to enjoy the best video or gaming experience. Constantly updating the drivers can also fix certain security issues or bugs which were not present when the driver was bought out in the market.

The best way to find out or identify the graphic card present in your system is by downloading and using the GPU-Z program. Once identified, you need to delete the old version of the driver before downloading and installing the latest version of the Radeon OpenGL drivers. It is best to visit the main webpage of the system manufacturer to download or update the driver.

Radeon OpenGL drivers can offer you an ultimate gaming experience by providing high definition virtual reality images. Make sure you keep updating on a regular basis to get the best out of your graphic card and system.

iPhone 5 Release Date: Rumors Say Leaked Photos Are of the New Apple Smartphone

New iPhone 5 release date rumors say leaked photos are of the new Apple smartphone. Even though Apple hasn’t acknowledged the existence of a 6th generation handset, analysts and consumers continue to seek out new information about the already popular gadget.

It seems new leaked photos and information about the new iPhone 5 hit the internet every few minutes, but whether or not the info is legit is questionable. An article posted at Christian Global states, “If the source does in fact prove reliable then the iPhone 5 would have a larger screen similar to a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio.”

All the talk about the iPhone 5 release date has revealed mixed feelings about whether the new handset should have a larger display, and since Apple is keeping everything under wraps, fans are left with nothing more than unconfirmed speculation at this point.

The leak, which reportedly comes from a “reliable source in a China factory,” shows what is said to be “engineering samples” of the upcoming iOS 6 Apple device. How “reliable” can the source be though if they are supposed to be keeping the Apple smartphone a secret?

Whether these photos are of the next Apple smartphone or not, fans will have to wait for the iPhone 5 release date to find out for sure what Apple has tinkered on behind closed doors all year.

For more iPhone rumors and news “Like” this Smartphones & Tech Facebook Page.

Sony to sell ultra-HD ‘4K’ TV set in US stores

NEW YORK (AP) — High-definition TVs roughly quadrupled the resolution of the sets that came before them. Now, the industry is poised to do it again.

By December, U.S. stores will sell a TV set with four times the resolution of today’s best HDTVs, Sony Corp. said Wednesday. The set will measure 84 inches on the diagonal, making the screen area four times as large as the common 42-inch set.

Executives said Sony will reveal the price of the set next week.

There is, for now, very little video content available that can take advantage of the higher resolution. With some work and know-how, a computer connected to the set can display video in the ultra-HD “4K” resolution. The set will also do its best to “upscale” TV, DVD and Blu-ray movies, so they look better.

Phil Molyneux, chief operating officer of Sony Electronics, said the situation was no different from the launch of the cassette tape, the CD or the DVD.

“We always get this question when we launch beautiful new technology: Where’s the content?” Molyneux told journalists at an event in New York. “Did we bring the content to market? Yes, we did.”

The exact resolution of the set is 3,840 by 2,160 pixels. It’s known as “4K” because it has nearly 4,000 pixels on the horizontal edge. That compares with 1,920 by 1,080 pixels in “1080p” sets. More pixels allow TV makers to make bigger screens without compromising sharpness.

Sony makes digital projectors operating at 4K resolution for movie theaters.

The TV industry has been looking for a technology that will get consumers to upgrade their HDTV sets. Sales are slumping after an initial wave of upgrades from standard-definition sets, and 3-D sets attract only a small number of consumers.

Apple Inc. has slowly been quadrupling the resolution of its devices, starting with the iPhone 4 two years ago. This year, it released iPads and MacBooks with ultra-high-resolution screens.

A Feature-Rich Budget Management Application Arrives for the iPhone

The iPhone Budget app is a full-featured budget management application which offers various settings and options with the aim of helping you keep track of your spending and helping you keep to a budget.

Managing a Budget on the Go

I’ve tried various mobile budget management applications even when I didn’t have an iPhone. Unfortunately after installing those budget management applications on my mobile phones, it usually just takes me a day or two of use before I give up and by the third day I stop. Perhaps because of my lack of budget management discipline and patience. Or perhaps the mobile budget applications that I used to have on my mobile phones were not enticing enough to keep me using them. Fortunately, with my new iPhone, some app developers named Deskescape have come up with a pretty good, feature-rich and yet easy to use and manage, budget application app. And it’s simply called Budget.

Budget’s Features

Reading through the list of features laid out by Deskescape for its Budget app for the iPhone, I couldn’t help but notice the difference between a free iPhone app and a paid one. For $1.99 Budget gives you a slew of features that you won’t generally find in a budget management app. These features (listed by Deskescape) include:

Simple transaction and budget entry – as soon as you fire up the app, you will be presented with pre-defined items in which you can enter your budget by simply tapping the total column opposite the budget item name. You can set your monthly budget for a specific item by simply tapping on the budget icon located below your iPhone’s screen. You can also opt to tap on the advanced budget icon for more advanced budget settings. Share transactions between iPhones – by tapping on the Share Transactions icon, the application will generate a report for a particular transaction and send it to someone you specify via email. CSV Data Export – lets you export your budget transaction into a CSV file for viewing later as an Excel file. Data BackUp and Restore – your usual B and R transaction for safeguarding your budget plans. Password Protection – if you’re afraid that your wife might discover your unnecessary expenses, password protect your Budget account. Recurring Expenses/Incomes – a pretty useful function especially if you are creating your monthly budget plan. You can set budget items to recur every month for up to 3 months. After which you have to re-enter them. Expenses vs budget graphing – more useful if you’re fond of viewing your monthly expenses and income using visual graphs. Highlighting of over budget expenses – this feature could help you in keeping track of your expenditures beyond your budgeted amount. Reminders for overdue expenses – another useful feature especially for those who keep on forgetting to settle their monthly obligations and dues. Yearly expense comparison – for those who keep track of their yearly budget vs expenditures, this feature is definitely useful. Category sorting and customization – using the drag-drop method, you can arrange the budget items in whatever way you want.

Our Verdict

It’s not very often that we encounter such a feature-rich budget management application on any mobile device. Hence, iPhone users like us, are very fortunate to have this app available for download at the App Store. If we can spend 99 cents for some games which really have no productivity value, then I don’t see a reason why we should not buy this app and install it on our iPhones. You might argue that there are free budgeting-related apps available, but the Budget app really hits us with every detail of our budgeting management strategy. Yes, I definitely recommend this application.

[Download Link]

You may also be interested in reading about some iPhone expense tracker apps.

Apple’s iPhone 5 September 2012 Release

No iPhone 5 has arrived since last year. This 2012, it is rumored that Apple will finally launch the new iPhone device. Are the rumors mere gossips or based on facts?

A report on iMore reveals that iPhone 5 will be presented on September 12, 2012 and will be released on the 21st of the same month.

Apple may have never given any statement to confirm the launching date of the new generation iPhone. However, iMore claims that their sources are believable and proven accurate.

iMore’s Rene Ritchie further wrote:

“The iPad mini will be announced at the same September 12 event, as will the new iPod nano. We haven’t heard a release date for the iPad mini yet, but it could be the same as the iPhone 5. It seems likely the new iPod touch will make an appearance on September 12 as well, though we haven’t heard any specific information about that yet either.”

App4Phone also backs the update regarding iPhone 5’s September launching, citing Chinese manufacturer sources.

Macotakara, a Japanese Apple blog, claims:

“According to Asian reliable source, next iPhone will be released in September or October, and this cycle seems to be kept for years.”

In March, it was learned that Apple is targeting October for the release of the new generation iPhone which has working names “iPhone 5, 1” and “iPhone 5, 2”.

Apple launched iPhone 4S on October 4 last year. Traditionally, Apple introduces one iPhone device every year.

Rumors have it that the iPhone 4S successor will feature a 4-inch screen, 4G LTE radio, A5X chipset and a new micro dock connector.

Josh Smith of Gotta Be Mobile wrote that the upcoming iPhone device will be thinner, use a water-proof dock connector and have better microphones.

The rumors continue gaining mixed reactions from consumers. Some are excited to upgrade their 4S phones, while others are not thrilled to spend their money on the new Apple product.

A notable comment on the CNN site asserts “Isn’t the iPhone 5 supposed to be 4G capable, unlike every iPhone before it so far?”

Some are wondering if the new product will make it big, just like its predecessor. Last year iPhone 4S sold four million units during its first three days of release, making the Apple product the fastest-selling gadget of all time.

Despite media hype, experts are still unconvinced that Apple will dominate the market if iPhone 5 is released. A Digi Times analysis claims that Android will still grab 70% of the worldwide market share by the end of 2012.

Smith, in another analysis, wrote:

“Apple is counting on the iPhone 5 to take on the Samsung Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note 2 and the HTC One series. This year the competition has stepped it up, so we expect more than a fresh coat of paint on the iPhone 4S body.”

2 top executives leaving Apple

NEW YORK (AP) — Apple Inc. shook up its executive ranks Monday, saying the head of its store operations is leaving after just six months on the job and the long-serving head of its iPhone software development operations is exiting next year.

Apple didn’t say why retail senior vice president John Browett and iOS software SVP Scott Forstall were leaving, but both have presided over missteps this year.

Browett cut staffing hours at Apple’s retail stores, a move the company reversed and acknowledged as a mistake. Forstall’s division launched a software update in September that replaced Google Maps with Apple’s first mapping application. It quickly drew unfavorable comparisons to the software it was replacing, and Apple apologized.

Browett’s departure is immediate, and the company is looking for a replacement. Forstall will act as an advisor to CEO Tim Cook until he leaves, Apple said. His responsibilities will be divided among other Apple veterans.

Forstall joined Apple in 1997 with the company’s purchase of Steve Jobs’ NeXT startup. Apple credits him as one of the original architects of Mac OS X.

Craig Federighi, who is now in charge of the Mac OS, will add iOS development to his responsibilities, Apple said, but Jony Ive, the chief designer behind the distinctive look of Apple hardware, will take responsibility for the look and feel of Apple’s software.

Eddy Cue, head of Apple’s online services and iTunes, will assume responsibility for Maps and Siri, the “virtual assistant” application on the iPhone and iPad.

Browett took over the store operations after Ron Johnson, who helped create the Apple stores, left to become CEO at J.C. Penney Co. in November.

Apple has more than 360 stores, and they’re unique in several ways. They sell more per square foot than any other chain in the U.S., yet they account for just 12 percent of Apple’s overall sales. They’re ambassadors of Apple’s brand, and provide customers with an easy way to access in-person technical support.

At the time Browett was appointed, commentators wondered what an executive from a traditional retail operation would bring to Apple. Browett’s move to cut staffing appeared to be motivated by a desire to improve profits, but Apple divisions don’t have their own profit-and-loss accounts; they’re supposed to support the company as a whole.

Four Must-Have Apps For IPhone 4

The iPhone 4 arrived over the summer, and although it’s been a long wait, developers are finally releasing new apps that take advantage of all the cool new features available only in the iPhone 4 device. This means that iPhone 4 owners can download some of the coolest apps that can’t be found for any other device.

Here is our list of the best, must-have apps for the iPhone 4.

LED Light for iPhone 4 Free (Free, Jason Ting) Remember all those awful flashlight apps that flooded into the App Store seemingly moments after it was opened up to developers? They all used the screen as the light source, and some of them even had the audacity to cost money. Thankfully, LED Light for iPhone Free uses the ultra-bright LED flash of the iPhone 4 to guide your way when you need it, and it doesn’t cost a thing. There’s a paid version if you want to avoid the iAds, but this free version has all the features: strobe light, sleep timer, and a few others. It’s the only flashlight app you’ll ever need.

IncrediBooth ($0.99, Synthetic Corp) Here is an app that takes the iPhone 4’s front-facing camera and turns it into something that is as awesome as it is inevitable: a retro, dive-bar style photo booth. Cram as many friends as you can in front of the iPhone and it will take a series of rapid-fire pictures, apply some nice film grain and vignetting, and save the shots as a long strip, just like the real thing. It’s not just an idea so perfect you’ll wish you thought of it, it’s a fun, inexpensive camera app that’s executed perfectly.

GyroSynth for iPhone 4 ($0.99, BeepStreet) Unfortunately, GyroSynth will not generate authentic, Greek-style gyros. While You Gotta See This! uses the accelerometer to take awesome pictures, GyroSynth uses it to make awesome music. To use GyroSynth, just waive the phone around and, just like a Theremin, the roll and pitch will translate into sound. After a short learning curve, you’ll be able to make music with a fluid series of gestures. GyroSynth comes with tons of features and recording options, so it’s sure to be a hit with amateurs and professional musicians alike.

The Elements for iPhone 4 ($9.99, Element Collection, Inc) The Elements for iPhone 4 is an educational app that– wait, don’t run away! Sure, The Elements might teach you a thing or two, but the interface is beautiful, the graphics are stunning, and the information is gripping. Based on the hardcover book of the same name, The Elements starts with the periodic table and expands from there. Touch an element to get a cool, 360-degree view of some substance composed of it. Scroll to find some great trivia, engaging stories, and even access to up-to-the-minute information from the Wolfram Alpha computational knowledge database. You don’t need to be a chemistry major to get lost in this app for hours.

RadioShack’s epic PR win (iPhone giveaway!)

Public relations is a tough gig, and tech PR may be among the toughest due to the sheer volume of companies constantly fighting for coverage. Tech writers can get a hundred or more emails each day from PR companies hoping to get their clients publicity, so it is no easy task to concoct a pitch that draws interest. There isn’t a magic recipe for standing out in the crowd of PR flacks vying for coverage, but the best way to separate yourself from the pack and avoid wasting writers’ time and your clients’ money is often to simply pay attention. RadioShack (RSH), as it turns out, is very good at paying attention.

On September 21st, the day Apple (AAPL) launched the new iPhone 5, I wrote a quick piece about where people might be able to buy a new iPhone if they hadn’t pre-ordered one. In it, I mentioned RadioShack among the list of Apple retail partners that would be stocking iPhone 5 handsets on launch day, but I warned that inventory may be limited. I also included an anecdote about a personal experience I had more than two years ago:

RadioShack is a tricky endeavor. Stores got very limited quantities last year when the iPhone 4S launched, and some stores didn’t get any iPhones even in major cities. When the iPhone 4 launched, many stores that were supposed to get launch-day shipments didn’t get anything — in fact, I pre-ordered an iPhone 4 from a RadioShack near my home and they still haven’t called to tell me my order arrived. Maybe next year.

Now, here’s where paying attention comes into play. RadioShack read the post, and the wheels began turning. While it would have been very easy to simply ignore my complaint about something minor that happened more than two years ago — truth be told, I would have ignored it — some creative people saw an opportunity. After all, turning a negative into a positive is the ultimate challenge in public relations.

And so on Wednesday morning, I received a box in the mail.

I get plenty of boxes in the mail as part of my job here at BGR, so I thought nothing of it. The return address listed Weber Shandwick, a large PR firm that represents several companies I work with regularly, so I assumed it was a review unit of some kind. This was not the case.

Upon opening the box I found about half a dozen items along with a handwritten note that reads as follows:

Hi Zach,

Have you ever studied wormholes? Didn’t think so — but we, being at RadioShack headquarters, have access to this technology and it doesn’t always go as planned. A good example is your previously ordered iPhone 4. We were trying to be hotshots by sending select pre-order units to customers via wormholes and, well, yours went to another dimension. The only reason we know this is because it came back. We could argue the theories of objects sent through wormholes, but our scientists do this for a living and you do not.

So — here is your iPhone 4 and a few iPhone 5 cases so there’s no hard feelings. The cases are yours to keep, so feel free to use them, review them or just monitor them for wormhole openings.

Best,

Your friends @ RadioShack

Brilliant.

Kudos to RadioShack and the team at Weber Shandwick for paying attention, being creative and turning a negative — even one that is more than two years old — into a positive. Job well done.

Of course, this leaves me with a box full of iPhone 5 cases and an iPhone 4.

Hopefully RadioShack wasn’t expecting to get this iPhone back, because I’m giving it away right now. Leave a comment below and I’ll pick one commenter at random who will receive this brand new, unopened iPhone 4 (black, 8GB, AT&T (T) model) free of charge courtesy of BGR and, albeit unknowingly, RadioShack. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents 18 and older, and I will pick a winner in one week on Friday, October 5th. Comments must be posted my 11:59 p.m. ET on October 4th in order to qualify.

I also have half a dozen iPhone 5 cases that I’ll give away to six U.S.-based commenters aged 18 and older who request them in the comments section below. Please note that winners will be selected at random and may not receive the specific case they request.

Related stories All AT&T iPhones on sale at RadioShack starting Sunday Having trouble finding an iPhone 4S? Head to RadioShack, retailer says RadioShack receiving ‘time sensitive’ shipments today, probably iPhone related

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