iPhone

If you were lucky enough to receive a new iPhone 4S over the festive period or you have recently treated yourself to this impressive phone you may be wondering which applications you should download to take full advantage of the device. With over half a million apps available the choice can be quite daunting so we take a look at some of the better options that should be considered an essential download for your new phone.

The iPhone 4S is not only great for watching a wide variety of movies but also for finding a host of information about films that you have seen or that you would like to watch. The IMDB application is one of the most popular available for the iPhone and has access to a massive database that holds data about nearly every movie ever released. If you see an actor on television and cannot remember which movie you recognise him from then IMDB can find this information out for you. Lots of other data about film titles is also stored including cast, crew and trivia about the production. If you are trying to find a film to watch then the Top 250 list within the application is always on hand to give you some ideas. Flixster is another movie based application that lets you know which films are being shown at a cinema near to you. Another great aspect of this application is that it has trailers available for forthcoming movies so you can take a look to see which films you really want to see.

Many iPhone 4S user will have some kind of data allowance in their monthly contract from their service provider so it is vital to keep an eye on how much you are actually using. The Onavo application helps you in this area by not only monitoring the data that you are using but by helping you to reduce it. Any data that you request is compressed by the Onavo servers before being sent to your phone therefore reducing the total data amount that you use. The application is available for free and is a great piece of software for all users of this phone.

If you live in London you are likely to use the cities Tube network regularly so the Tube Map application is a great companion to have. Not only does this impressive software present you with a map showing all routes but it also contains lots of other useful information. By using the internet connections available on the iPhone 4S the software can keep you up to date with timetable information and delays. All London stations are covered by the application and if you cannot find the location that you are looking for a handy search option lets you type in the name and the application will find this location for you.

With so many applications to choose from it can be a struggle choosing the right one for you. The four iPhone 4S apps we have highlighted above are just some of the many that we believe to be among the most useful that are currently available.

The iPhone 4S is available now and the iPhone 5 is coming soon.

One of the attractions of the new iPhone 4S is the sheer volume of applications that are available for download. We have discovered a new application called Hailo, a great new piece of software which performs a task that we haven’t seen any other application attempt to tackle.

Hailo for the iPhone 4S is a service that helps users in London locate a taxi. in London taxis are known as Black Cabs and there are 23 thousand registered drivers in the UK capital. At present anybody who requires one of these taxis would need to try and catch the attention of one that happens to be driving past. The new Hailo application makes this task a much simpler affair. Using the location based services that are offered by the iPhone the software shows your current location on a map and the location of the five cabs that are closest to you at that moment in time. All that is left for you to do is select the taxi that is closest to you and press the “Pick Me Up Here” button and your car will arrive within minutes. We tested this application several times in London and always found a taxi that was no further away than a minute from our location.

When you set up the Hailo application for the first time on the iPhone 4S you are given the option to enter your debit card details. This is particularly useful as when you request your taxi you are given the option to either pay by cash or pay by card using the details that you have already entered. By simply inputting your desired destination at this point the Hailo application calculates the exact cost of the journey with zero interest charges. If you like to tip your driver then you also have the option to add this to your total cost. At present this service is only working in London but their are plans to extend the service so that it covers cities such as Birmingham, Liverpool and Edinburgh. Consumers in the United States will also be able to use this service soon with a number of cities along the east coast being lined up. Although we looked at the software on the iPhone 4S it has now been launched for Android smartphones and Blackberry users can expect the application to be available very soon.

Hailo is an easy to use and innovative application that will make taking a taxi journey a simple affair for thousands of iPhone 4S users. The software uses a great interface and the number of locations where you can use the service is set to increase in the near future.

The iPhone 4S and the iPhone 4 8GB are available now.

When Apple launched the iPhone 4S in 2011 many critics and consumers where a little underwhelmed by the device. Many of us were expecting a brand new design and a larger display however neither of these materialised. Despite the negativity that surrounded the launch of the device, the model has gone on to prove a massive success with the public.

Apple have just announced details of their sales figures for the first financial quarter of 2012. This may confuse many people as we have not even completed January but in financial terms the first quarter relates to the period of 1st October 2011 to December 31st 2011. In this period Apple managed to sell an astonishing 37 million iPhones. This number is includes the new iPhone 4S in addition to other models including the iPhone 4 and 3GS. The impressive thing about these figures is that they are the actual number of units sold by Apple and not just shipped. Many manufacturers publicise the number of units they have shipped which means the devices they have supplied to retail outlets. The actual figure that they have sold may actually be much lower than this. To put this figure into perspective Apple managed to sell 17 million units in the previous quarter which means these latest numbers represent a massive 117 per cent increase. Samsung have recently released details of their performance in the same quarter and reported that they shipped over 35 million units. Considering that Samsung offer a much larger range of devices it is encouraging that the figures achieved by the three Apple models are so high.

Apple themselves know that there are not many major differences between the new iPhone 4S and its predeccesor the iPhone 4 but the company have focused much media attention on the areas where there are big improvements. It is difficult to turn on the television or read a magazine without seeing an advertisement for the Siri voice recognition software that the model incorporates. This software turns the handsets into a truly hands free device by enabling you to instruct the phone with voice commands. Many smartphones do offer some form of voice recognition but none offer the level of functionality that Siri achieves. Camera features are another area that have seen a significant boost with the new model boasting an 8 mega pixel resolution together with 1080P video capture.

The sales figures that Apple have achieved in the last three months have surpassed all expectations. This success can be attributed to excellent features such as Siri that are incorporated on the iPhone 4S along with competitive prices that are now available on older models such as the iPhone 4.

The iPhone 4S and the White iPhone 4S are available now.

Thanks to the excellent connectivity options on modern smartphones the devices are capable of performing a variety of different tasks. One area where they are proving particularly useful is for saving users money with a selection of new applications. We take a look at two of these application that are available for the iPhone 4S and see how they benefit the user.

One of the newer applications for this model is named Poynt. This clever piece of software makes use of the location based services that are incorporated in the phone to give users information on the cheapest Petrol and Diesel prices in the area. The rise in fuel costs has made national news in the UK and it is a very sensitive subject for many car owners. The Poynt application is linked to the Whatgas internet service that offers up to date price information about over 8700 filling stations across the UK. The owner of the Whatgas service, Andrew Osis, has commented that users of this service can save between £5 and £10 by choosing the right station. The software is available for free from the iTunes App Store and is the first application of its kind in the United Kingdom. Poynt is not only great for finding fuel stations but also a host of other ammenities in the area around you including cinemas, restaurants and public houses.

If you are going away on holiday then there is a high chance that you will need to exchange some currency. The new What’s The Rate application for the iPhone 4S has been developed to help you get the best possible exchange rates for your chosen currency. This software gives you the current exchange rates available from Thomas Cook, the company who produce this application, and also a selection of other leading high street providers. This application should ensure that you get the best possible rates when it comes to exchanging your hard earned money. A nice feature that this software offers is the Ratewatch facility. With this feature you can set a desired exchange rate that you would like to buy your currency for. When this set rate is reached by any of the providers used by the application then you are alerted immediately, even if you are not using the software at that exact time. The What’s The Rate application also allows you to order currency and travellers cheques which can be collected from your local branch of Thomas Cook. If you have left this task until the last minute you can even opt to collect your currency from selected airports before you depart.

There are numerous applications available for the iPhone 4S that can help the user to save money and we have looked at two of the better ones available. With many people having to be careful with their money due to the current financial climate applications such as these should become very popular during 2012.

The iPhone 4S and the HTC Sensation XL are available now

Modern smartphones now offer a wealth of features that at one time you would not naturally associate with a mobile phone. Over the past year one area where we have seen a rapid increase in development is Television services that are offered on devices such as the iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy S2. Modern devices such as these now offer a host of video on demand services and many also enable video streaming from compatible devices. We take a look at some of the proposed updates that are expected for the Sky+ application in the UK.

Sky Television is one of the largest television broadcasters in the UK with an estimated 10 million subscribers. The Sky + application has been available for the iPhone 4S for many months and already offers some great features that can benefit consumers. Users with this application have the facility to set remote recordings from their handsets to their decoder box that is connected to a home network. In addition to this users can also view a full viewing schedule which lets them know what programmes are being broadcast and at what time. The new update will add some extra features that should see the iPhone become an integral part of the users viewing experience. When viewing the TV schedule additional content will be available such as cast members and reviews of the broadcast. A template of the Sky remote control will also be displayed on the phones screen that will allow users to control their viewing directly from their mobile handset.

Sky have combined with Zeebox to produce this latest update and this collaboration will see social networking sites become a major part of the software. Zeebox are a company that specialise in producing aggregated social network feeds from sites such as Twitter and Facebook. The new service will enable you to view Twitter feeds that relate to the broadcast that you are viewing and also allow you to post your own views on the site. The new Sky+ update for the iPhone 4S will also deliver product specific advertising to users. Rather than displaying random adverts that might catch the attention of the user this new service will advertise products that are directly related to the broadcast that they are viewing. If you are viewing a drama series the option to purchase the DVD box set may appear or official merchandise if you are viewing a documentary about your favourite music star. This will not only appeal to the user but it also gives the developers the potential to make additional revenue from the application.

We have recently seen social networking sites play an important part in many new applications including numerous games and the latest update to the Tom Tom satellite navigation system. The new Sky+ software for the iPhone 4S also intends to make full use of these services to leave the customer with an application that may become an important part of their everyday lives.

The iPhone 4S and the White iPhone 4S are available now.

Social networking facilities have been present on smartphones for quite some time and we are now seeing sites such as Facebook and Twitter being integrated into other applications and features. The Tom Tom application for the iPhone 4S is a great satellite navigation system and is about to recieve an update that makes quite extensive uses of social sites such as Facebook.

Recently we have seen a number of changes to traditional social networking websites that have enabled the user to perform many more tasks than were previously possible. One of the biggest changes on Facebook was the ability to “check in” to places that you visit. Initially this was designed as a method of informing friends and family of your current whereabouts but thanks to the excellent location services that many phones boast the service has become useful for applications such as Tom Tom. When using this application rather than typing in a street name or postcode of the destination that you wish to travel to the new service links with Facebook to give you numerous other options. If you have accepted an invitation to an event you can now simply click on this invitation on the iPhone 4S screen and the software will extract the address details and guide you to the correct location. Likewise if your friends have stored address details on their profile page you can simply click on their name and leave the software to take you to this location.

How effectively this new update works is quite dependent on how willing your Facebook friends are to leave their personal details on their page. In this modern age many members of the public are cautious about giving much information away but this new Tom Tom update certainly works well if the information needed is all present. Obviously this application for the iPhone 4S still boasts all of the features that were present before the social networking facilities were incorporated so if your contacts do keep their Facebook details to a minimum you are still sure to find your way to the location you require. The software allows you to search for an address by postcode or by street name and the service will then calculate the quickest route for you to travel. Maps can be updated on a daily basis meaning your phone always has the most up to date details available. One of the more impressive aspects of this software is that a mobile signal is not required for the system to work. This is perfect if you are travelling to a remote area that may traditionally struggle with mobile reception.

The new update for the Tom Tom application on the iPhone 4S makes excellent use of information that can be stored on modern sites such as Facebook. Although the application is not cheap at £49.99 when you compare it to the cost of a stand alone satellite navigation device this price is very competitive and could prove a wise investment for anybody who finds themselves travelling regularly.

The iPhone 4S and the iPhone 4 8GB are available now.

The new iPhone 4S incorporates a clever pass code that means that after a period of inactivity the phone will lock itself until the correct pin number is entered. Many users of the phone however opt not to use this feature as it does increase the operation time when you want to perform a quick function. We take a look at the new My Secret Folder application, a clever piece of software designed to keep personal files safe even if your phone is not locked.

The principle idea behind this new application is to keep private photo and video files away from prying eyes. This can prove especially useful if you have your handset stolen or if you leave your phone unguarded around inquisitive friends. When you download this application any photographs or videos that you capture from the software are automatically stored behind a 4 digit password. Users have the option to also move existing material from their camera roll into the application but it is important to remember to delete the original media as this is not encrypted. The whole ideas sounds like a fairly basic data security system but the application includes some wonderful features to help keep your data even more secure. The first of these clever ideas is that the icon for the application is fairly well camouflaged so it is not obvious to anybody who happens to be looking at your home screen. The icon takes the form of a shortcut folder complete with smaller icons displayed inside it. When you look very closely this may look very obvious but when the symbol is mixed in with a variety of other icons it becomes very well hidden and inconspicuous.

The word “cunning” is not one that you would normally associate with applications for the iPhone 4S but My Secret Folder deserves this title. The software includes not one but two four digit passwords. The first one you enter is a decoy in case anybody happens to be watching what you type on screen. When this is entered a number of normal photographs are displayed but none that are locked within the software. These photographs can only be viewed when you enter the second password. Perhaps the most ingenious element of this software is how it reacts when the wrong password is typed on the phone. When this occurs the phone takes a photograph using the front facing camera which is stored in a log along with the geographical location of where it happened and the code that they attempted to input. This can be viewed by the user so they can see who was tampering with their phone and what numbers they tried to use. This is potentially useful when choosing future passwords and PIN numbers as it gives you an indication what other people expect the digits to be.

The My Secret Folder application for the iPhone 4S is much more than a basic secure folder. The app incorporates a number of features that should make it an essential download for anybody who wants to keep their photographs and video footage private.

The iPhone 4S and the White iPhone 4S are available now.

One of the key features of the iPhone 4S is the excellent Music feature which was previously known as iPod. Although every smartphone available boasts a music player none can match the excellent interface and functionality offered by this service. It now seems however that iOS users have the option of an impressive new music player in the shape of Shazam Player. We take a look to see what this new application has to offer.

Shazam was first launched on the iPhone platform back in 2008 as a way of identifying tracks that you were not familiar with. As the application increased in popularity we saw more features added by the developers including links with the Spotify application and the excellent LyricPlay mode which accesses lyrics of the song you are currently playing via an internet connection. The latest software released by the company is undoubtedly the best introduction yet and could replace the basic Music application for many iPhone 4S users. The Shazam Player allows you to perform all of the functions that you would expect from any standard player and a whole lot more. Users can search for specific tracks or browse their collection via a number of different methods. Consumers who like to use the iTunes store for purchasing tracks can also access this from within the application which seems a much more simple method than leaving the player facility to purchase tunes as you would have to do on the software that comes installed on the iPhone.

The basic functions that are present on the Shazam Music Player for the iPhone 4S do everything that you expect of them but it is some of the more unusual features that really stand out. The software allows you to view Youtube videos of the track you have chosen and information on the song can also be shared with friends over social networking sites such as Facebook. A rather clever idea is the ability to add song to a Good or Bad list. Songs that have been added to the Bad list are less likely to appear during random playback and songs on the Good list are likely to appear more frequently. This particular function is useful for consumers who like to download whole albums rather than individual tracks as it is very rare for somebody to like every song. The fun LyricPlay mode is also present and scans your music collection when you first install the application and highlights the tracks that have Karaoke style lyrics available.

Although the Shazam Music Player is slightly more complicated to use than the standard Music feature on the iPhone 4S many user will still opt to use this impressive new software. Some great features really benefit a music playback facility and the social networking connectivity will appeal to the younger audience.

The iPhone 4S and the White iPhone 4S are available now

Mobile phone technology has made some huge leaps forward over the past two years with many handsets able to perform functions that we once never thought would be possible. One area where we will see a big increase in 2012 is the ability to pay for a variety of services with your mobile handset and the iPhone 4S is one of the first devices to boast an application that enables you do this.

International coffee chain Starbucks has been around for over 30 years with most towns and cities boasting at least one of their outlets. The company have recently launched a new application for the iPhone 4S in the UK that means customers can pay for their food and drinks with their phone. The application has actually been available in the US for nearly a year but this is the first time that UK users have had access to the service. Although the iPhone 4S does not offer NFC payments this new services works by linking Starbucks card holders details to the application. This in turn allows you to walk into any one of the 700 nationwide outlets and easily pay for the products that you purchase. In order for this to work you need to have credit on your account with the company then all you need to do is choose your order and simply scan your phone at the till. The amount of your purchase is then debited directly from your current balance. This is likely to be the first of many similar applications launched for the phone and it further adds to the appeal of an already impressive model.

The iPhone 4S is not the only handset that will enable UK customers to purchase goods with their mobile phone. The new Samsung Galaxy Nexus offers NFC technology which basically means that your bank details are stored on your phone and at selected retailers you can use your phone just like a debit card. The launch of this model coincides nicely with the London 2012 Olympics and organisers are keen to promote NFC during this period with millions of potential customers flocking to the UK to see the sporting action. Several major retailers will be offering NFC payment facilities during this period as a way of introducing the public to this innovative new method of payment. If the trial period is successful then by the end of the year many of our favourite shops and outlets may offer this service permanently. The Galaxy Nexus is just one of several new phones that incorporate NFC with many more due for launch throughout the year including the highly anticipated iPhone 5.

The new Starbucks application for the iPhone 4S is certainly an indication of how many retailers will work in the future whilst the 2012 Olympics gives further opportunity for UK smartphone users to pay for products with their mobile devices.

The iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus are available now.

In the UK smartphone users have a fairly limited number of Video On Demand applications to choose from. The major television broadcasters such as BBC and ITV have all developed applications while Lovefilm offer a great service for viewing new movie releases. In the US on the other hand there are numerous services available and one of the most popular is Netflix. This service is now being made available to UK users in a bid to give the British consumer more choice in this area. Users of devices such as the iPhone 4S can now take advantage of this high quality and competitively priced service.

Netflix first began there service in 1999 and by 2009 the company offered over 100000 titles on DVD to its 10 million subscribers. More recently the company started streaming titles to customers and in 2011 the company was responsible for nearly 25 per cent of aggregated North American web traffic. The service is now being made available to UK residents and can be downloaded as an application for devices such as the iPad and the iPhone 4S. The application brings together a massive selection of TV shows and movies that can be streamed directly to the users handset. As an incentive for UK consumers the company is offering a free one month trial to let users see for themselves just how great the service can be. Even when this one month trial period ends the subscription rates are very competitive when compared to similar service offered by companies such as Lovefilm. At just £5.99 per month the consumer can access the huge library of content offered by the service. This excellent price together with the free trial period should see plenty of iPhone 4S users give the service a try.

The application itself offers a very basic design that gives iPhone 4S users a simple screen layout to chose their content from. Once you have submitted your membership details the main home screen lets you categorise content into genres to make it easier to find the type of title that you want. Alternatively you can simply type the name of the show or movie that you require into the search box and then all of the relevant results will be displayed. Once you select your desired title you can watch it directly on your smartphone or alternatively on your home PC or laptop. If you have to stop viewing for any reason you can resume from the point you left off next time you launch the application. The software has also been made available on selected Android devices but the iPhone 4S is undoubtedly the handset that produces the best results thanks to the fast dual core processor that it incorporates and the high quality Retina Display that shows an impressive resolution of 640 x 960 pixels.

Video On Demand services are going to become hugely popular in 2012 and Netflix is one such service that will prove hard to beat. An excellent selection of titles are available and the viewing experience is superb on the excellent iPhone 4S.

The iPhone 4S and the Blackberry Bold 9900 are available now.

The great connectivity options available on the iPhone 4S make device perfect for a number of different tasks that range from basic video calls to the streaming of multi media files. This connectivity has been taken a step further by a new application that may prove popular with all areas of the market over the coming months.

LogMeIn Ignition is a remote access application that enables you to access files stored on your home computer from anywhere that has an internet connection. The actual LogMeIn app has been available for some time now but previously at a cost of over £20 to the public. The developers have now made this application free meaning more people than ever will be able to enjoy the excellent benefits that it offers. The software enables you to view and access all of your home PC files on your iPhone 4S or iPad. In addition to this you have the ability to control your home computer from your portable device. In order for this great system to work you need to download the LogMeIn desktop application that is available from the developers website and have a 3G or WiFi connection available on your Apple product. There are some premium features such as HD video streaming and cloud storage that will not be available on this free version but users will be given the option to commit to an annual subscription if they want to take advantage of these types of functions. Michael Simon, CEO of LogMeIn said “Not surprisingly, mobile has become an increasingly important driver for introducing new people to LogMeIn’s services, and we believe we’re just scratching the surface of this growing demand”.

Remote access applications are nothing new for the iPhone 4S but very few offer the level of access that this new software does. Apple themselves developed the Apple Remote application which is still hugely popular but rather than allow you to view files this software focuses on allowing you to control the iTunes software on your home computer. This is perfect for when your computer is linked to a home audio centre and you want to control the song choice without leaving your chair. Other developers started releasing similar software and one that impresses more than most is named Remote Mouse. This clever app turns your iPhone into a virtual mouse for your computer which is great for controlling your computer in certain situations. Many business people opt for this software as it is perfect for presentations when the laptop is linked to a projector screen. Despite the benefits that both of these application offer neither offer the level of access that you can enjoy with LogMeIn.

There is some superb software available for the iPhone 4S which helps you perform a number of tasks on a main computer but LogMeIn is by far the most impressive we have encounters. The free version offers a great level of functionality but if you are looking for a little more then the subscription service really does take some beating.

The iPhone 4S and the White iPhone 4S are available now.

Early in 2011 we saw the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S2, a device that went on to become one of the best selling phones of the year. In the final quarter of the year we saw the new iPhone 4S released which quickly became the phone of choice for many consumers and was the phone of the year for many people. It is now Samsung’s turn to hit back with the expected release of their new Galaxy S3 a phone that they hope will over shadow the Apple iPhone. So how might this new model compare to the wonderful 4S?

One area where the Apple device has outshone every other device over the last 18 months is with the excellent screen technology that it offers. The famous Retina display may not use Super AMOLED technology but the LED backlit IPS screen still produces a pixel density that no other manufacturer can match. The phone displays a massive 326 pixels per inch which exceeds what the human eye can detect. The iPhone 4S does not use the largest of screens but this is a contributing factor toward the excellent quality that it offers. The 3.5 inch screen packs a massive 960 x 640 resolution which is why the quality is so high. Samsung have used Super AMOLED technology since the first Galaxy S was released and it is likely that this type of display will appear again on the Galaxy S3. Size is likely to be larger than the Galaxy S2 at 4.6 inches and it is rumoured that pixels per inch rating will be an excellent 319. Despite the brilliant colours that Super AMOLED can produce it looks likely that the model will struggle to match the Apple smartphone for quality in this area.

Although we have had no confirmed information on the design of the Galaxy S3 we can imagine that it will be similar to other models within the Galaxy range and if this is true it may struggle to impress us as much as the iPhone 4S. The Apple handset looks unlike any other phone available with its two sheets of glass sandwiching an attractive metallic strip. Many manufacturers opt for plastic or metallic back panels but Apple have been the only developer brave enough to offer glass on both the back and the front of the phone. Many people may say that this makes the phone more prone to damage than other models but Apple use a treated glass which is 20 times stronger than conventional panels. When the Galaxy S2 was released Samsung were very proud that it was the slimmest phone available at 8.5mm so expect the new phone to try and beat this measurement. It is unlikely that Samsung will be as brave as Apple and introduce a vastly different back panel so an attractive but unsubstantial plastic back panel is likely along with a neat metallic trim.

There is no doubt that the new Samsung Galaxy S3 will be the most advanced phone available in some areas but it will struggle to outshine the iPhone 4S in either the looks department or for screen technology.

The iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy S2 are available now.

There any many features that stand out on the excellent iPhone 4S but one area that is exceptional is the still camera facility. This improved application offers 8 million pixel resolution together with a high quality sensor that makes it one of the best phone cameras available. This feature can be further enhanced by some excellent additional applications so we take a look at some of the better ones available from the iTunes App Store.

Despite the excellent image quality offered by the built in camera on the iPhone 4S they facility does not offer as many features as you may find on other rival models. Numerous applications can be downloaded that can rectify this problem and one of the best we have encountered is the superb Camera+. When you have this application installed on the phone their are a number of useful tools that can improve your final results. One of the main attractions of Camera+ is that it enables you to use touch focus on your photograph. This means that rather than the phone focusing on the subject in the centre of the screen you can actually touch the subject where you want the focused fixed. In addition to performing this task you can also use a second finger on the screen to manually adjust the exposure settings of the camera. This software also offers users automatic image stabilisation and a Burst mode that takes a series a photographs in quick succession which is perfect for fast moving subjects. This application is not only great when taking a photograph but also after the image has been captured as it has a range of impressive effects that can be applied to improve on the results. Camera+ is the most impressive photography applications that we have encountered for the iPhone and has numerous benefits both before and after your image has been captured.

The iPhone 4S has a number of applications available that add impressive effects to images after they have been photographed and one of the most interesting is the Coloursplash app. This excellent software removes all of the colour from your image which leaves you with a black and white photograph that looks very impressive. This is however where the fun begins as you can reintroduce colours into certain areas of the image. The final result is modern and artistic looking image that looks superb. Another application that comes up with some interesting results is called 360 Panorama. As you may guess from the name this software takes a series a photographs and merges them together to create a single image that contains a 360 degree view of your current surroundings. Similar software to this often requires the user to carefully align each individual image but this version lets you press the button just once and then simply move the phone around to capture a wonderful view of everything around you.

The iPhone 4S camera is one of the very best available and some excellent additional applications further enhance the facility. Camera+ is a superb app and will benefit anybody who wishes to use the camera facility while applications like Coloursplash and 360 Panorama are slightly more specialised but do produce brilliant results.

The iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus are available now.

The current generation of smartphones tend to offer consumers high quality 8 mega pixel still photography together with High Definition video capture. Which handset however stands out amongst its peers for boasting the best still camera package? Here we take a look at the iPhone 4S, the Samsung Galaxy S2, the Sony Ericsson Arc S and the HTC Sensation XE to see which one is the true king of camera phones.

We know the handsets all offer the same image resolution so we need to look at some other areas to assess the devices overall performance. The iPhone 4S performs best in the speed department. The starting time of the camera facility is the fastest of all four handsets with a time of just 1.4 seconds. This time is over one second faster than the HTC and the Sony Ericsson with only the Samsung coming anywhere close at 2.1 seconds. The Apple phone also came out on top when it came to taking two photos straight after one another. The time between the two snaps is just 0.7 seconds but the Xperia Arc does come a close second at just 0.9 seconds with the Sensation XE coming third with a time of 1.1 seconds.

All four of the cameras tested offer a macro mode which is designed to take detailed shots from a very close distance and all of the devices focused clearly on a subject that was just 7.5 cms away. The HTC Sensation XE does cover the smallest area with its macro capture which means that this handset offers the best magnification and consequently proved the best device for photography at close range. A good way of comparing the quality of various still cameras is to take identical shots and then crop the image to see how much detail is maintained in the enlarged version.

The iPhone 4S once again comes out on top in this area as it kept the most detail from our test shots, textures on brickworks could still be seen clearly whilst straight lines looked focused without any blurring. Although the Apple phone also offered the best colour rendition it did not come out on top in every area with the Samsung Galaxy S2 boasting the least picture noise and the Sensation XE the highest possible exposure accuracy.

Although it did not top the table in every area that we tested we still consider the iPhone 4S to offer the best still camera facility available on any handset. The phone scored consistently high marks in all departments that we looked at.

The Samsung Galaxy S2 and the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S are superb alternatives if the iPhone is not for you whilst the HTC Sensation XE gave a good account of itself despite coming last out of the four phones we looked at.

The iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy S2 are available now

The iPhone 4S has proved a huge hit with consumers since its release three months ago. With hundreds of thousands of these units in circulation there are dozens of handy accessories available which make perfect christmas gifts without breaking the bank. We take a look at some of the great extras that are available for this excellent model.

The iPhone 4S is constructed from two sheets of chemically treated glass which make the phone more durable than the average handset. Despite this fact the 4S is not totally immune from the odd scratch or scuff so investing in a case is often a very wise move. There are literally hundreds of protective cases available for this model but we have found two of the very best. A superb aluminium lined case from Proporta is available that looks superb and also does a great job of protecting the phone. The case incorporates a fold over flap which incorporates the aluminium panel that protects the screen. The rest of the body of the phone is protected by soft leather that is available in either a black or a brown finish. A great variation on the traditional case designs is the new Bookbook case which is produced by Twelve South. When closed this attractive case looks like an antique book with an eye catching distressed brown leather finish. Open up the case and you are presented with you 4S which is securely held on the right hand side. The left hand side features a handy holster for a number of credit cards along with a transparent space ideal for an identity card or for a photo.

The iPhone 4S features a high quality screen which makes the device great for watching movies. The trouble with this is that because the phone is so slim it is almost impossible to stand the phone up so you can enjoy your movie. Most users inevitably end up holding the phone or resting it up against anything that is close to hand. The new iPlunge is a novel idea which can solve this problem for as little as £5. The iPlunge is like a minature version of a traditional kitchen plunger and tis simply sticks to the back panel of your iPhone and acts as a kick stand. The idea is brilliantly simple yet very effective. A slightly more complex phone holder is the Spider Podium universal Desk Stand. This complex design features 8 legs which can be bent and twisted into any position. Four of these legs are designed to hold your 4S whilst the other four can be positioned to allow the phone to stand on a desk. As the legs on this stand are adjustable you can twist them around pretty much anything which makes the placement options almost endless.

If you are looking for a cheap stocking filler for somebody who owns an iPhone 4S or if you have the device yourself and are looking for accessories the four ideas we have looked at all do their job superbly without costing a fortune.

The iPhone 4S and the iPhone 4 8GB are available now.

It seems that the folks at Apple are feeling festive as they have launched details of their annual Twelve Days Of Christmas application. This new download is available for users of the iPhone 4S and all previous models and is the manufacturers way of saying a big thank you to all of its customers.

The Twelve Days Of Christmas application is available from the iTunes App Store and can either be downloaded directly onto the iPhone 4S or on a home computer which will automatically synchronise the download with your phone if you are using the excellent iCloud service. Although the new application is available now it does not officially start until the 26th December. On this day and for the 11 days that follow Apple will send a free gift to the user. This gift will be either an audio track, a music video, an application or a book. Apple will send a push notification to your iPhone 4S when your gift is ready and then all you need to do is click on a button and it will be installed on your handset. What is impressive about this application is that the quality of gifts that are given away is very high. It would be easy for Apple to send you music from obscure bands and games that nobody has ever heard of but they do tend to give you some genuinely good surprises. Lasts years line up included some big names including Cheryl Cole, Kings Of Leon and Michael Buble.

The iPhone 4S is the perfect handset to make the most of these free gifts that you are sent. The audio player that is incorporated on the phone is one of the very best. It uses the same software that was used on the excellent iPod Touch device which means you are presented with high quality cover art and numerous ways of selecting the track that you want to listen to. Video playback is equally as impressive thanks to the model using the highest quality mobile display available. Known as the Retina display this screen can produce a resolution of 640 x 960. As a result of this the phone manages to display a massive 326 pixels per inch which is a level that exceeds what the human eye can detect. This screen is not only perfect for music videos but also for any games applications that you may be sent. The display is a capacitive touchscreen which allows you to perform all controls and manoeuvres on screen.

Apple tend to give away some great gifts as part of this application and the iPhone 4S is ideal to use all of them to their full potential. The phone offers a great music player and a high quality screen ideal for gaming and video playback.

The iPhone 4S and the HTC Explorer are available now.

The new iPhone 4S has many great features that make the handset one of the very best available. Among the list of features is the excellent Airplay facility which enables you to stream audio files to a compatible product. This system enables you to use your phone as a music player which can be listened to in other rooms in your property. We take a look at Airplay and what additional products are available to help you get the very best from this service.

Airplay on the iPhone 4S works in a similar manner to DNLA services on Microsoft devices. All audio files that you have stored on your phone can be accessed by additional products. These products can be music systems, speakers or AV receivers and help you to convert your phone into the centre of a multi room home audio system. Airplay takes advantage of the WiFi connection that is available to connect to other products although the majority of these can also be connected with an Ethernet connection. Music can be streamed to multiple rooms at the same time which is ideal if you are hosting a party or you can choose to simply have your music in a single room. It is not only the music that is streamed with Airplay but a host of other information is also transmitted along with the audio track. This means that song names, artist names and other information can be displayed on the additional equipment providing it has a display and album artwork can also be sent.

Owning a iPhone 4S is just part of running the Airplay service. There are numerous products that you can connect to help you enjoy your music in the best possible quality and the pick of all of these is undoubtedly the B&W Zepplin Air. This iconic speaker boasts an unusual yet modern design and also delivers the best possible audio performance. There are a pair of 25mm tweeters included and these are coupled with a pair of 75mm mid range drivers. Each pair of these speakers is driven by a 25 watt amplifier and there is also a 50 watt amplifier that is solely used for driving a powerful sub woofer. If you prefer a more traditional design then the Denon CEOL is the unit for you. Comprising of a pair of speakers and a main unit this excellent system is available in a black or a white finish. The amplifier section pushes out 65 watts to each speaker and the quality of sound that is produced makes this one of the best units available.

Airplay is one of the features that helps the iPhone 4S stand out from its competitors. The feature helps deliver high audio quality to additional products and the two that we have highlighted are the very best currently available.

The iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy Note are available now.

One of the main problems with the Apple operating system used on their mobile devices is that many developments and applications are often not released or are severely delayed thanks to some strict restrictions. A great example of this is the absence of Adobe Flash support on the iPhone 4S but there is one application that has been available on Android for some time that has finally found its way onto the new iPhone.

The BBC iPlayer application is a service provided by the British Broadcasting Corporation that allows user to catch up with any television programmes that they have missed over the previous seven days. This type of service has become hugely popular over the past two years with other British channels such as ITV and Channel 4 already providing applications that enable simple viewing of content that they broadcast. The original BBC iPlayer service was launched on Christmas Day 2007 and recently the service has been receiving over 123 play requests per month. The application is perfect for iPhone users who want to catch up on TV programmes that they have missed. The excellent 3G connectivity boasted by the phone together with its access to WiFi means that users can view content almost anywhere and this is particularly useful to people who spend much of their week commuting. The service is also great for UK citizens living or travelling overseas as it gives them access to programmes from back home.

The iPlayer application has been available for Android devices since version 2.2 of the platform was released nearly two years ago. Users of Apple devices have had a long wait for this feature but first impressions are very good. The iPhone 4S makes use of a 640 x 960 resolution display and this is perfect for displaying content in the highest possible quality. Sound is also very impressive through the speakers that are incorporated in the phone but for the best possible audio we recommend that you use headphones. The interface that the application uses is very easy to master and presents you with three main choices that you can make directly from the main screen. You can choose to browse either featured or popular programmes and another option lets you filter the results according to which channel the desired programme was originally shown on. There is also a search bar located beneath these three options that allows you to search for a specific title. The BBC also broadcast radio programmes and an icon at the bottom of the screen enables you to search these shows to see if there is one available that may take your fancy.

The BBC iPlayer application has taken a long time to find its way onto the iphone 4S and now that it has arrived it certainly does not disappoint. Shows look superb on the phones excellent display whilst the interface is one of the most simple that we have ever encountered on any application.

The iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy S2 are available now

Recently we have been taking a look at two leading smartphones and seeing how they compare with one another. We have already looked at the camera facilities and the internet browsers on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and the iPhone 4S and have established that both models are very evenly matched in both areas. We now take a look at the user interface used on both models.

One of the appealing features of the iPhone 4S is the user interface that it uses. The simple grid layout looks no different from earlier versions of the iphone and this familiarity is one of the attractions of this model. Despite the ease of use that the Apple platform offers one area where the Galaxy Nexus has the upper hand is with its use of live widgets. Live Widgets enable information to be displayed directly on the home screen of the phone. With the Apple handset the user would need to load a specific application in order to read information such as checking the weather or reading a Facebook status. The Nexus enables a host of this information to be briefly displayed on your main screen which gives the users an easy overview of what is happening in the world around them. The disadvantage of live widgets is that they do complicate the home screen unlike the Apple device which is simple and functional.

Both of these models offer excellent functions that can be launched directly from the lock screen. On the iPhone 4S a simple double tap on the Home button when the phone is locked will display a screen with a shortcut to the camera facility and basic controls for music playback. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus also lets the user launch the camera from the lock screen but one advantage it does have over the 4S is that a downward swipe will also reveal the notification screen complete with updates from all of the services that you have linked to it. On the iPhone you need to unlock the phone in order to access the new notifications service which is part of the iOS5 software. Neither of these models can be faulted for the visual appearance of the interface. Although the Nexus does use a more complex layout the icons are all colourful and refined. The active wallpapers that are used by the phone also add to the visual appeal of the device. The Apple phone uses simple icons which look great thanks to the phones superb Retina Display. Multiple home screens can be added so the user can install as many new applications as they like whilst the new notifications screen give a clear and simple overview of incoming alerts.

The new Samsung Galaxy Nexus uses an attractive but easy to operate interface that benefits from the inclusion of live widgets. The iPhone 4S is much simpler in its design and the result is a visually appealing interface that offers a great user experience.

The iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus are available now.

The iTunes App Store is one of the great attractions of the new iPhone 4S mobile device. This online store enables the user to download a variety of applications that range from productivity tools to the latest games. We take a look at some of the very best games titles that are available free of charge for users of this phone.

One of the very best titles currently available from the App Store is the excellent Words With Friends. This game is different version of a classic board game which requires you to spell a word from a selection of letters that you have been assigned. The game is designed to be played against your friends and you can connect with them via a number of methods. There is a Facebook option and also the choice to simply type in your friends user name. If you do not have any friends online at the current time then you can ask the phone to select you a random opponent and there is also a pass and play mode so two people can play on one device. The attraction of this title is not just the simplicity of the game but also the fact that it works across various platforms. This means you can be sitting with your iPhone 4S playing a friend on their Android device. Another title that benefits from Facebook connectivity is Farmville. This game lets you run your own virtual farm and the general idea is to make as much money as you can. It is not all work with the game as in addition to harvesting crops you can also spend your virtual money on decorating your farm and adding some personal touches. As the title is linked to Facebook you can also view how your friends are doing, help them out with their crops and even send them a virtual gift. The game is simple, fun and highly addictive.

If you prefer a more traditional type of computer game then the iPhone 4S has some great options available. One title that established great success on the Android platform is Gun Bros and this game is now available to iPhone users. The game is a basic shooting title where the idea is to simply blast your way through various enemies in order to reach the next level. This game differs from traditional shooters as you view all of the action from above which seems a much more effective way of using the relatively small screen on the phone. Where this title really excels is when you team up with a friend to play in multi player mode. You can connect via 3G or WiFi and help each other to progress as far as possible. Although you are unlikely to find premium sports games available for free there are some great variations available that will not cost you a penny. Cave Bowling is a fun title loosely based on the sport of ten pin bowling. There are a number of obstacles you have to avoid in order to strike the pins and the game has a fun prehistoric theme. Basketball games also undergo a makeover with the excellent Stardunk. The basic idea is to slam the ball into the net in the fastest time possible but the game is based in outer space which makes the task more difficult than it sounds.

There are thousands of premium games titles available for the iPhone 4S but there are hours of fun to be had with the titles that are available at no cost to the customer. The games we have mentioned above are some of the very best currently available.

The iPhone 4S and the iPhone 4 8GB are available now.

There are several premium smartphone’s currently available all competing to become the most popular device with consumers. The iPhone 4S from Apple and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus are two such models that are very evenly matched in terms of performance and specification. We take a look at the camera features that are on offer with these phones and see how they compare.

Samsung have opted to install a 5 mega pixel camera in their Galaxy Nexus device. Although this facility offers a high quality of image it is a lower resolution than what many rival phones offer. Samsung compensate for the lower resolution by fitting the camera with an excellent sensor chip which helps the model produce better results than many other supposedly better models. The model gives the user a simple interface with many of the more advanced camera functions hidden away until you need them. The handset does not feature a dedicated shutter key so you do have to tap the icon that is displayed on screen in order to capture your image. One thing we did notice about this model is that the shutter speed is incredibly fast so images are captured the moment you tap the screen. This is where many camera phones disappoint as there is often a delay between pressing the shutter and the photograph being captured. A number of additional features accompany the camera including manual controls for white balance and exposure compensation. There are also a number of preset scene modes that can be selected for different shooting conditions.

The new iPhone 4S offers numerous improvements over the iPhone 4 and the updated camera facility is one of the most noticeable. The phone now sports an 8 mega pixel camera which is a 3 million pixel improvement over its predecessor. Apple have also updated the lens and sensor that are used on this model making it one of the very best photography phones available. Unlike the Galaxy nexus the phone does boast a physical shutter key which is the volume up button. This is a great addition as it keeps your fingers away from the screen when you are trying to perfectly frame a photograph. The iPhone does not offer as many extra settings as the Galaxy Nexus but there is an excellent HDR mode available. When this mode is activated it takes three identical snaps at different exposure levels and combines these to give an excellent final result. This latest model also offers some basic editing features which allow you to perform simple tasks such as removing red eye and cropping the size of the image.

Both of these models offer great camera facilities and are two of the very best models available for still photography. The Galaxy Nexus boasts more optional settings than the iPhone 4S but ultimately the Apple device produces the higher standard of final image.

The iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus are available now.

Thousands of Xbox 360 users were recently treated to a free dashboard update that featured a number of new features. Voice commands have been improved whilst the platform now boasts a number of new TV based services. Another reason behind the update is to enable easy synchronisation between Microsoft devices such as Windows phones and Windows desktops. Microsoft have however launched a great application for the iPhone 4S to give users a similar experience on their Apple phone.

The Xbox Live application is available from the iTunes App Store and when you launch the software for the same time the application looks identical to the version found on Microsoft’s own platforms. There are three main pages featured on this application and you can scroll between them by simply swiping your finger across the display. The first screen that you are faced with is the Home page. On this screen there is a number of hubs that are arranged vertically. Some of these hubs are video files that show demonstrations of latest games and features whilst others are articles about various aspects of the Xbox platform. The video files are particularly impressive and make full use of the high quality Retina display that the phone uses.

The second area of this application is the Social page and this is the one that Xbox users will find themselves viewing most regularly. Visually the page is by far the most impressive with your animated Xbox avatar dominating the 3.5 inch display that the iPhone 4S uses. Above this character you will find your gamer tag along with the current points total you have achieved on the console. There are three tabs located at the right hand side of the screen that give you access to details about friends within your Xbox community. The first of these is simply named Friends and gives you a list of all of your associates together with a host of information on progress they made on various titles. The second Messages tab is quite self explanatory and enables you to read any messages that you have received. The final tab on this page is called Beacons and lets you tell your friends when you want to play a certain game and your phone will notify you if somebody else wants to do the same thing. The last area of the Xbox Live application is named Games and it lists all of the games that you have ever played on your console together with the scores you have accumulated on each individual title.

The Xbox application for the iPhone 4S is both simple to use and visually appealing. The application lets you keep up to date with everything related to your Xbox console from achievements to the latest releases. Android users will be eager to see if Microsoft launches a similar app for use on their devices in the near future.

The iPhone 4S and the HTC Sensation XE are available now

One of the great thing about the new iPhone 4S is that you can access the excellent iTunes App Store. This online marketplace enables you to download from a huge selection of applications. The store currently offers over 500 thousand different titles from the latest games to office based applications for viewing and editing documents. We take a look at Flipboard, one of the latest apps available for this phone and also the excellent Newstand feature.

Flipboard has proved a huge success for the iPad so it was only a matter of time before we saw a version for the iPhone 4S released. Flipboard analyses all the information that is currently being shared with you and presents in an attractive magazine format that makes a refreshing change from the traditional news feeds and menus. The software has been modified to fit the smaller 3.5 inch display that the phone uses. The mobile version also offers a new feature that is not present on the iPad which is the improved cover page. The software analyses which type of content you spend the most time reading and compiles a cover page full of stories likely to be of most interest to you. Flipboard incorporates social networking updates into your magazine which effectively turn the software into a single place where you can keep up with what is happening in the world around you. The application is available for free and is a new and exciting way that could really change how we read material from the internet.

The iPhone 4S features the new Newstand feature which has been introduced as part of the new iOS5 operating system. This new feature enables you to download a variety of newspapers and magazines to your phone and read them at your leisure. Material is accessed via the App Store and you are given the option to purchase individual issues or opt for an annual subscription. If you do choose the subscription option then the issue is automatically downloaded to you handset the moment it is released. Just like the Flipboard app titles on Newstand appear on a well designed main page. When you tap on any individual title that publication loads and you can then simply scroll through the pages by swiping your finger across the screen. What is really impressive about this application is that it can incorporate video and audio files to give you a truly interactive experience.

Thanks to the high quality screen featured on the iPhone 4S excellent applications such as Flipboard and the Newstand not only look superb but offer an informed and entertaining change from traditional apps.

The iPhone 4S and the Blackberry Torch 9810 are available now.