News, iPhone

Using Siri on iOS

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Not long ago, Google enhanced their iOS search app by including a voice-enhanced feature. This has caused many users to compare the search results of Siri with Google results, which in the end, has caused users to misunderstand the capabilities of Siri.

Understanding Siri

Apple refers to Siri as a “virtual assistant” with good reason. With it, users can be reminded about upcoming events, appointments  or book tables. This along with searching for reviews of movies and current sports scores makes it an invaluable program.

Note: As amazing as Siri is, such a feature can be rendered useless in the event of an unforeseen accident that may require iPhone repair. Therefore it is always best to have a professional repair service, such as iFixYouri, at your disposal for these unpredictable instances.

Users love Siri on iOS and rely on it as their own personal digital assistant. Not only is it capable of handling simple searches, but it can also be used as an alarm as well as a reminder to buy milk. While Google offers much of the same on Android, these capabilities are unavailable in the iOS search app and were not thought of during the original launch of the app.

Digital Assistance

Digital assistance features allow the user to interact with their computer without the use of a traditional mouse and keyboard. These features intertwine in a way that allows the OS to start the functionality upon request. The assistant changes the request of the user into a system action, but does it in a way that is not only dictation or searching the web.

Dictation, as well as reminders, showed up on the desktop with the use of OS X Mountain Lion. Notes were created in iCloud and various other iOS-motivated features. Although all of the components were present, the voice and action connection were not present, which is why Siri did not arrive at this point.

Connecting OS Features

There is a lot of engineering that goes into connecting the features of an OS with a virtual assistant. It is possible that Apple did not see this as a priority at the time that Mountain Lion was being created, or perhaps, testing was incomplete.

Siri is quick and efficient and users like that it takes less effort to complete tasks. This is the main reason users would like to see it become part of OS X. There should be few enough technological issues that nothing should stand in the way of that happening.

News, Software

The Litigation Triagle Between Apple, Samsung and HTC

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Apple has been ordered by a California court to produce an uncensored report on the recent HTC patent agreement because Samsung Electronics says there is relevancy with it’s argument with Apple.

The Legal Fight Continues

As ordered by the Magistrate Judge Paul S. Grewal, the viewing of this document will only be available by those attorneys involved in the patent lawsuit.

Earlier, HTC made an agreement to make available the Patent License and Settlement Agreement with Apple (PLSA). This was providing that certain payment terms were not disclosed. They also wanted the document to be marked as “Highly Confidential- Attorneys’ Eyes Only”.

The terms of compensations that HTC wishes to censor are said to be sensitive to the competition.

Although the settlement terms were not made public, Apple and HTC have settled their disputes over their patent. During the 10-year agreement, both sides will license all patents from the other.

Because Samsung believes that their dispute includes some of the patents included in the Apple/HTC settlement, they have asked that Apple be required to produce a copy of the HTC agreement. Samsung believes that Apple’s agreement to license patents in HTC agreement will poke holes in the theory that irreparable harm has been done.

Further Court Hearings

There is a court hearing scheduled for December in order to make a decision concerning Apple’s request for a permanent ruling on the sale of certain phones by Samsung. They believe that financially, the agreement supports the debate that paying royalties is preferred over a permanent ruling.

There have been innumerable third parties in this case that have not been allowed to censor their the financial portions of their licensing agreements and HTC should be no different. This is especially true because the protective order has been followed and the integrity of the outside counsel that is representing Samsung has been recognized.

Samsung and Apple’s Current Position

Samsung has obtained the agreements of the court where compelling further depositions from three experts at Apple were concerned. Apple also requested two more depositions if the request by Samsung was granted.

Luckily, we as the consumers of these great products have only to worry about their usage and making sure accidents don’t render them inoperable. If your smartphone is in need of repair due to a cracked screen, water damage or any other issue, the experts at iFixyouri can help.

DIY Fix, News, Tips

What To Do If Your iPhone Touch Screen Isn’t Responding

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LCD Screen Repair at iFixYouriAn iPhone touch screen that is not responding can be a challenging problem. The device is quite costly, so any issue that requires repair is automatically frustrating. When it stops working, it means that your main line of communication is cut off from the world. It can even endanger your livelihood, if you rely on your phone for work.

Here are a few things that a person can do when the screen becomes unresponsive.

Troubleshooting Unresponsive iPhone Touchscreen

Certain applications take up a great deal of memory, which can cause the phone to freeze up. This is very likely to occur when several programs are being run at the same time. If the phone becomes unresponsive, it is best to force the application to stop. To do this, hold down the home button until the application stops and the screen once again becomes responsive.

Restart the iPhone

If you’re unsuccessful in stopping the application, it may be necessary to restart the entire phone. The on/off button should be held until the red slide bar appears. Power down the phone and turned back on. This should make the phone responsive again.

Resetting the iPhone

Under rare circumstances, an iPhone touchscreen will still not respond after a restart. In these cases, it will become necessary to reset the phone. This is different from the above restart; the phone will be forced to shut down without the normal closeout process. Resetting the phone involves holding the on/off button and the home button at the same time until the Apple logo appears and goes away. After the device is off, it can be turned back on in a few seconds. By this time, the phone should be working again.

Restoring with iTunes

If none of the above seem to work, the next step is to connect the phone to a computer and open iTunes. On the Summary pane, a person can select “Restore”. If the phone does not appear in iTunes, there’s not much you can do yourself at this point, but you can still get it fixed or salvage the value of the phone.

Professional Assistance for Unresponsive iPhone Touch Screen

If the iPhone screen is still not responding, it may be necessary to take the phone in for professional repair or sell your iPhone for cash. An experienced repair shop, like iFixYouri, will be able to evaluate and fix the problem with no hassle. This will avoid further damage or loss of data in the phone. iPhones are very expensive and sensitive. Getting the job done correctly will save a lot of headaches down the line.

News, Tablets

Survey Shows Tablets Are Popular For the Holidays

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New research indicates that the PC industry may be dealt another blow around the holidays.

According to a survey organized by PriceGrabber, around 59 percent of the respondents stated that they would rather be given a tablet than a PC.

Of those respondents, almost 25 percent indicated that they would like to receive an iPad Mini, while about 63 percent of those surveyed said they would like to receive an iPad 3 or iPad 4. The iPad 4 was released in October and is the latest version, while the iPad 3 was introduced back in March.

The Current Tablet Craze

The PriceGrabber survey also indicated that people wanted electronic items other than iPads. An Amazon HD Kindle Fire was the first choice of about 20 percent of those interviewed, while 22 percent of people who took the survey expressed a preference for a Samsung Galaxy Note Tab.

One of the latest products from Microsoft is the Surface tablet, which 13 percent of those interviewed would like to receive.

One of the vice presidents at PriceGrabber pointed out in a statement that the introduction of several tablets priced between $200 and $300 has meant that tablets have become increasingly popular as a Christmas gift. Rojeh Avanesian went on to say that this holiday season, many retailers will be fighting for customers money and that tablets will once again prove to be popular.

The Impact On the PC Market

The PC market has suffered in recent years, partly because of many consumers opting to buy a tablet instead, and partly because of the overall poor economy.

The global PC market dropped by just over 8.5 percent during the last year, according to industry analysts IDC. During the third quarter of 2012, global shipments of personal computers totalled 87.5 million units, with a drop in shipments of 8.3 percent over the previous year.

Tablets On the Holiday Wish List

According to the PriceGrabber survey, 45 percent of those surveyed put the iPad Mini at the top of their holiday wish list, making it the most popular. The survey was conducted between October 24 and November 1 and involved 1,475 online shoppers.

About 38 percent of those surveyed liked the fact that the iPad Mini was affordable compared to other models, while 47 percent liked is small size and portability.

Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD was second in the survey, with 27 percent, while the Amazon’s Kindle Fire and Google Nexus 7 tied for third place with 19 percent.

The Simple Truth

Whether you are in the market for a new tablet or a PC this holiday season, one thing is certain, both aren’t invulnerable to unexpected accidents. The experts at iFixYouri are experienced in both tablet and PC repair and can certainly help if ever your device suffers any damage.

News

An iPad Mini Review

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The iPad Mini has recently been released. As the holidays approach, it is important to write a review to help people decide whether or not it is worth the investment.

A Look At the New iPad Mini

With the introduction of any new device it is always best to weigh the advantages against the disadvantages in order to make a more informed decision.

Although such an assessment doesn’t safeguard the consumer from unforeseen accidents such as a cracked screen or other problems that may require iPad repair. It’s still important to keep these considerations in mind. Here are some pros and cons of the Mini:

Pros

  • Long Battery Life
  • Lightweight
  • 4:3 screen ratio

Cons

  • Expensive Price
  • No headphones included
  • Lower screen resolution than competition

This device did not win any awards during its unexpected launch, but it has surpassed many users expectations. Despite its high price tag, the iPad mini is a useful and purposeful unit.

The iPad Mini’s Build

To compete with products that are selling well for the competition, Apple had no alternative than to introduce a smaller version of the larger iPad. Its high quality craftsmanship is what sets it apart from the competition. It is light enough to hold, yet not flimsy enough to damage.

The iPad Mini’s Screen

The iPad Mini’s screen may not be small enough for some, but manages to stay as clear and beautiful as its larger version. Despite the lack of a retina screen, it is much better than most smaller tablets on the market like the Kindle or Nook. Web browsing is very simple and utilizing social media is a snap on the iPad Mini.

The iPad Mini’s Camera

Still shots from an iPad Mini are not impressive, however the video is much better. There are many features that make it good for photo editing and uploading to different media sites. In the end, as a camera, it falls short.

The iPad Mini’s Battery

This device has one of the best batteries that Apple has ever produced. It is one of the few small tablets that can compete with the life of the Nexus 7. USB charging will take approximately 4 hours.

Whether or not a person decides to buy an iPad Mini will depend on personal thoughts and preferences.  There are many small tablets on the market. Despite the high cost, the iPad Mini seems to be worth the investment.

News

6 Setbacks of the iPhone 5

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The iPhone 5 is considered to be one of the best gadgets on the market these days. However, just like any other type of smartphone, this product also has its imperfections.

This is the reason why Apple keeps on updating their iPhone to provide the best benefits to their loyal customers. Although their may be some instances that may require iPhone repair, Apple has made it a point to make the customers experience as positive as possible.

iPhone 5’s Top 6 Glitches

Here are the top 6 iPhone 5 glitches identified by the customers of Apple:

6. The Date and Time

One of the common problems mentioned by users of iPhone 5 in several forums is the setting up of clocks. According to Apple, the issue regarding time is something that the carrier needs to address. However, up to this day, there is still no response from Apple or Verizon with regards to this problem and users are still manually setting up their clocks.

5. Problems in Cable Charging

Many users have also complained that lightning cables less than 24 hours are not able to charge and sync. Although there has been no response with regards to this issue, many users said that a full replacement is provided without any hassle.

4. Problems with the Wi-Fi

A user of iPhone 5 has complained that his 3-hour old iPhone is not able to connect with the Wi-Fi. Many other users also responded to this problem saying that Apple can solve the problem with a brief restore. However, another user mentioned that he needs to reload the iOS 6 just to solve this matter. Despite the quick-fix response of users coming from the team of Apple, many still find a lot of hiccups to the Wi-Fi feature of the latest iPhone model.

3. Issues with the Reception

During the initial day of launching, many people or users have already complained about the reception when the phone is shifted from 3G to LTE. This includes Canadian-based iPhone users who are not using Verizon’s network. One user even described the phone as horrific especially when you are not sitting right next to a cell tower.

2. The Digitized Voice Sounds

Aside from the bad phone quality reports against the iPhone 5, many users also experience poor sounds that are attributed to LTE and are digitized in nature. However, disabling the LTE setting s will help alleviate all call quality issues.

1. Issues in Battery Life

The battery life of a 5-diay old iPhone 5 has been reported to drain quicker compared to the previous models of iPhone.  This is something that apple is trying to resolve as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, some users also think that the battery life of the newest model is actually quite superb.

Apps, News

10 Weirdest iPhone Apps

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10 Weirdest iPhone Apps

Everyone has heard of the Facebook app, the Angry Birds app, and the GPS app. There are thousands if not millions of iPhone apps. As a matter of fact, new apps are being released almost on a daily basis. These apps are meant to make your life easier; however, there are some iPhone apps that are outright weird.

10 Weirdest iPhone Apps

Some iPhone apps are (for lack of a better word) weird. To some people these apps might be weird but to others, the apps are actually helpful. Listed below are some of the weirdest iPhone Apps.

1) iBeer app. The iBeer app fills up your phone with a video of a bubbling pint of your favorite lager or ale. Tip it to one side and watch as it drains as if you were taking a sip.

2) Colored fire. Everyone wants to be able to whip out a lighter for concerts, but with your phone you can one-up them with the Multicolor Concert Liter, projecting a picture of flame in gold, red, purple, and blue.

3) A comedy soundtrack. The Rimshot and Crickets app adds punctuation to your best (or worst) joke whenever it is necessary to act the part of a stand-up comedian. If your humor is under-appreciated, you might need this app.

4) A running clock. Without a doubt one of the most simplistic ways to kill time, the free Hold On! app challenges you to hold on to a button on your screen…for as long as you can. Break your own high score whenever you get bored enough.

5) Steam calligraphy. The iSteam app looks impressive enough on the surface that it is hard to resist playing with it. Just like you had just taken a shower, the app covers your phone in virtual steam that you can draw in or blow away. The app even includes the sound of your finger squeaking on the glass as you trace letters.

6) A sound check. The Annoy-A-Teen app sends out a high-frequency pitch that cannot be heard by older ears. Put it on around kids, however, and they will be sure to hear the screech.

7) Protection against yourself. The Drunk Dialer app prevents intoxicated phone owners from calling their friends or family after they have had a bit too much to drink, necessitating that the phone must be held with steady hands or the call will cut out.

8) Toilet humor. The iFart app does exactly what it sounds like. This app boasts a library of sounds that can provide plenty of entertainment for those with panache for low-brow humor.

9) A hearty fire. Using the iBlackout app whenever you are in the middle of a dark room and the flashlight just won’t cut it. You can get a roaring fire or a disco ball for your choice of illumination.

10) Cats and clocks. The Cat Photo Clock Light allows you to find the time and see an adorable picture of our feline friends all in one place.

It goes without saying that you if you accidentally damage your iPhone, ifixyouri.com specialists can fix it for you.

Apps, News

Top Six iPhone News Apps

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iPhone News Apps

With so many iPhone news apps readily available at the tips of our fingers it is easy to become overwhelmed when trying to choose the best app for you.  People no longer stop in at the local gas station or grocery store to purchase a newspaper; they visit the paper’s website or download their app to stay up to date with current events and what is happening in the world around them.

Top iphone News Apps

Since there are very many news apps out there, we are going to break it down for you and take a look at the Top 6 iPhone news apps and what they provide the avid news reader.

1.  AP Mobile

  •  The Associated Press mobile edition
  •  Free to download
  •  Provides national news
  •  Syncs with your local news and weather
  •  Push notifications for breaking news
  •  Ability to customize the news you view on your homepage

2.  The New York Times

  •  Provides current events for New York and surrounds areas
  •  Reports on a variety of issues
  •  Allows user to save news articles for up to seven days
  •  User friendly interface
  •  Sharing options include text, Twitter, and email

3.  NPR News for iPhone

  •  National Republic Radio is free to download
  •  Provides hourly newscast
  •  Stream live and archived episodes of popular NPR shows
  •  Includes print articles

4.  Fluent News Reader

  • Free to download
  • Compiles news from top news organizations
  • User can customize what news is viewed on their homepage
  • Wide news coverage

5.  CNN Mobile

  • Video news content
  • Includes clips from CNN shows and news reports
  • Surf user generated content
  • Breaking news alerts
  • Local news and weather

6.  MSNBC News

  • Free to download
  • Timely and relevant breaking news
  • Push notifications
  • Video segments from Today, NBC Nightly News, and other NBC News

More information and user reviews for these apps can be found in the Apple App store by tapping the icon on your iPhone or through iTunes on your personal computer.

While finding the right news app for you can be confusing and time consuming, with a little research an iPhone user can find the right app in a few minutes.  Apple has tailor made an app for every user looking for news on their iPhone. Whether you are looking for national, breaking, or local news and weather, there is an app for you.

Although iPhones are meant to last for a long time, the inevitable might happen and your iPhones gets damaged. If that happens, you should send it to the technicians at ifixyouri.com and let them fix it for you.

Smartphone, Tablet and Computer Repairs and News