Top 5 Predictions for iPhone 5 in 2012

The Apple iPhone 5, when it does come, is expected to lead the company's product line for 2012. However, the road ahead for the device may not be as smooth as its developers would like. The Cupertino-based company's primary competitor - Samsung - is lurking around, waiting to push out a variety of devices aimed at curbing the growth of the iPhone 5, increase competition levels and basically start a last-man-standing battle.

As smartphones begin to assume greater importance in the daily routines of the world's growing population, the iPhone 5 could prove to be a pivotal point in deciding what technology catches the masses' attention, by blending software precision and consumer satisfaction.

However, it is important to note that any discussion on the release of the iPhone 5 must consider the growing popularity of the iPhone 4S and the fact that several users are still coming to grips with their present handsets and its new features.

Nevertheless, the mystery surrounding the iPhone 5 and associated rumors constitute the most sought-after information, especially among feature-hungry fans with smartphones that offer only basic specifications. The point is that as futuristic processors, 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology network expansions and cloud-based usage become increasingly in demand - with the vision of a high-tech future in everybody's eyes - the iPhone 5 could hold the answer to Apple's ever-increasing network of applications.

Like us on Facebook

As predicted by Jefferies analyst Peter Misek, Apple is looking to merge the iOS (iPhone/iPad) and the OS X (Macintosh) into a single platform for apps and cloud services; the process is expected to start sometime in 2012-13 and finish by 2016. It is hoped this will help the iPhone 5 (and future iterations) to become a mobile device that offers a vast blended eco-system containing the entirety of Apple's software and hardware product range.

Meanwhile, as we wait for more confirmed news about the iPhone 5, here is a look at a fresh batch of rumors...

Quad-Core A6 Processor:
The Apple A5 chipset, released in 2011, was injected first into the iPad 2 and later made its way to the iPhone 4S. The company's newest processor - the quad-core A6 - could be launched in a similar vein.

The A6 is expected to power the next iterations of the iPad and the iPhone (3 and 5, respectively). However, there have been doubts expressed over the readiness of the processor before June. This means the chip is unlikely to see the light of day before the fall of this year, i.e. could be seen at the same time the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S were launched last year.

Incidentally, an earlier DigiTimes report suggested that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. have quietly secured a contract to cover the manufacture of the A5's successor - the quad-core A6 - as well as its successors. An equally interesting piece of information is that some enterprising developers have uncovered a beta code in iOS 5.1 that suggests quad-core processors are on the cards, for both the iPhones and the iPads.

1GB RAM:
If the iPhone 5 is to offer a powerful quad-core processor, full voice functionality for Siri and a range of new features, software and updates, Apple simply has to consider upgrading the amount of RAM available.

The present iPhone 4S has 512MB of RAM and the iPhone 5 is expected to come with a full gigabyte (1GB) of RAM. Essentially, RAM is one of the quickest and most efficient ways with which to boost performance and cover the speed gap. Increased amounts of RAM help in smoother multitasking, faster Internet surfing, spectacular gaming capabilities and enhanced multimedia presentations.

Design Change:
The iPad 2 has considerably more aesthetic appeal, compared to the first generation of Apple's tablets, sporting, as they do, an aluminum coating that has now become an Apple standard.

According to a BGR report, the iPhone 5 is not only expected to feature the aluminum back but also be surrounded by a plastic or rubberized bezel. The report speculates that one purpose of this feature could be to cover a re-designed antenna system that surrounds the device, allowing Apple to build the rear case out of aluminum and without having to use a large plastic insert, as they do with the iPad 2. In addition, the iPhone 5 is also expected to be thinner, longer and wider than the previous iPhones.

Bigger display:
The iPhone 5 will most probably boast an innovative display technology based on adjoining and round pixels. If Apple is indeed planning to adopt an edge-to-edge curved 4-inch display, there is one - Toshiba's 4-inch (1280 by 720 pixels) HD display, with a density of 367 ppi (incidentally, this is a similar ratio to the one found in Apple's Retina display of 960 by 640 pixels at 326 ppi) is already available in the market, as the company demonstrated in May last year.

Meanwhile, the newest Samsung smartphone - the Galaxy Nexus - has no physical "Home" button; a development received with rave reviews and a decision that has made the phone more appealing to users and one of the best, if not the best, smartphones in the market today.

This leads one to consider the possibility that part of Apple's radical re-design of physical elements could include the replacement of a physical "Home" button with gesture-based commands a possibility.

Thunderbolt:
The three new patent applications from Apple, as published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) detailed Apple's revolutionary I/O technology, called Thunderbolt. The most interesting part is the possibility of Thunderbolt being used in iOS devices.

The Cupertino-based tech giant has detailed the possibility of establishing a connection between mobile devices, in one of the three applications.

The company, in its secondary patent application, stated "a connection may be provided between a portable media player and a display; a computer and a portable media player; or between other types of devices."

However, for this to happen, Apple will have to re-engineer the connector to be flat enough to fit a USB-type device slot. The good news is not only has Apple already been at work in that department but the speeds of data transfer and recharging, under that technology, will be lightning fast.

Furthermore, since the iPhone 5 features the iOS operating system, the handset will have the privilege of a Thunderbolt port... and, by the way, this connection should enable data transfer speeds of up to 10GB per second!

4G LTE chipset:
"The first generation of LTE chipsets force a lot of design compromises with the handset and some of those we are just not willing to make," said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), in an earlier interview.

However, with 4G network expansions and the concurrent development of smaller 4G LTE chips and radical design changes for the iPhone 5, it could be that Apple may embed the LTE chip in their new product, keeping power consumption problems in mind.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/278681/20120109/top-5-predictions-iphone-2012.htm

jeff probst jeff probst king jong il dead south korea baron davis duggar family dingo

Parkway Parade Chinese New Year Promotions & Activities 5 ? 22 Jan 2012

VRNews www.vr-zone.com

Join Date:	Aug 2007
Location:	In a datacentre
Posts:	974,556
Trade rep:	0 (0%)

Parkway Parade Chinese New Year Promotions & Activities 5 ? 22 Jan 2012 VRNews Today, 06:30 AM

#1

This Year of the Dragon, usher in prosperiity at Parkway Parade, the biggest mall in the East from 5 January to 22 January 2012.... CONTINUE READING >>

More...

Source: http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=1911371&goto=newpost

itunes match itunes match walmart black friday 2011 walmart black friday 2011 packers vikings bob costas jerry sandusky chelsea clinton

Looking for Homestucks!

Hi there, everyone! I'm looking for a good 'ol fashioned 1x1 Homestuck RP. I don't have any specifics- I'm fine with any genre of RP and am willing to go R-18 if you'd like (it's not my first choice, and I'd prefer avoiding it because cute fluff is more fun anyway, but whatever!). I'm still a bit new to RP'ing these characters, so I'm still getting used to each of their mannerisms. I'm most comfortable playing Dave, John, Karkat, and Eridan. I'm perfectly content with most pairings (I've been especially enjoying Dave/John dorky, cutesy fluff the most the past few days, though. Just in case you were wondering), so don't be worried about that. My Headcanon versions of the characters are a bit more doofus-ey than the canon, so please excuse that should it happen to show.

I prefer doing things in a semi-lit style (short paragraph vs script/one-liner actions). This is just because it makes things easier for everyone; you can get more in that way. I'm totally up for AU's- in fact, that's what I usually end up doing. We can brainstorm a fantastic plot line.

That all again in non-huge paragraph form:
-1x1 RP
-R-18 = Acceptable
-Fluff = Wonderful
-My characters: Dave, John, Karkat, Eridan
-Any pairing is good (Dave/John is adorable *hintwinknudge*)
-Semi-lit preferred
-AU's are a-okay!

Let me know if you're interested!

Okay. I think I covered everything. If not I missed something, ask, okay?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/kCYcECG-Nhg/viewtopic.php

matt forte dr conrad murray verdict take care childish gambino camp drake take care tracklist drake take care tracklist dr murray trial

Video: Rivals try to slow Romney's momentum

>> now, moderator of "meet the press" and the moderator of this morning's contentious debate. the way the rest of the field is going after romney , they didn't seem to be buying into the notion that he'll run away with all of this.

>> there was a recognition that they had to do something to slow him down. and as you look at the field, huntsman had an opportunity today and i think he probably came out pretty well in both going after governor romney and giving his campaign up here some new life. he stake his campaign up here. that was really it. the way the debate began really was sort of a last opportunity for them to make the case of why romney can't be the nominee. that's the argument they're trying to make, the voters at this point. he's won iowa. he's ahead in new hampshire. there is a view in the party he's cruising to the nomination unless somebody can stop him. and talking to people throughout the day, folks thought, yeah, did romney have a target on his back, yeah, but he probably came out at the end still pretty well in tact. i think that's what they're thinking in his camp tonight.

>> at the top of the broadcast, i mentioned the latest poll, whdh in boston showed ron paul in a firm second, santorum slipping. jon huntsman gaining traction. what are second and third place worth in terms of perception from here on out?

>> the name of the game is consolidating conservative support to be the anti- romney candidate. jon huntsman does not necessarily represent that. that is represented by a perry, gingrich, santorum. so the fact that was a mouthful in your question indicates it is romney against a wider group that still helps him.

>> david gregory , david, thanks.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/45920896/

das racist ginger white conrad murray sentencing conrad murray sentencing urban meyer adam shulman adam shulman

China's central bank promises pro-growth policies (AP)

BEIJING ? China's central bank is promising pro-growth conditions this year to support struggling entrepreneurs but says it will stay prudent amid complex global conditions and inflation pressures.

The announcement following a weekend government planning conference comes as Beijing is promising to channel lending to entrepreneurs who have been battered by weak global demand while keeping consumer prices and surging housing costs in check.

Communist leaders tightened lending and investment curbs last year to cool an overheated economy but have reversed course in recent months after slumping global demand hurt exporters and led to job losses, threatening to fuel unrest.

The weekend conference, held to make plans for financial industries for the next five years, ended with no major reform initiatives announced.

Analysts say China's state-owned banking industry, which lends mostly to government companies, has to be made more market-oriented to support entrepreneurs who create most of the country's new jobs and wealth. But they expected few major changes out of this weekend's meeting due to lack of agreement in the Communist Party and among regulators.

At the meeting, Premier Wen Jiabao promised more support to the "real economy" ? a reference to efforts to channel money to productive businesses while preventing credit from fueling stock and real estate speculation.

The People's Bank of China echoed that, pledging to "optimize the credit structure to support the real economy" and "especially small and micro enterprises."

Still, the bank emphasized it would stick to a "prudent monetary policy" and be ready to fine-tune its approach.

The world's second-largest economy grew by a relatively robust 9.1 percent in the three months ending in September, down from 9.6 percent the previous quarter. But manufacturing activity shrank in November and December, fueling fears efforts to steer growth to a more manageable level might lead to an unexpectedly sharp slump.

Policymakers face conflicting forces including slowing export growth, Europe's debt crisis and pressure for Chinese prices to rise, said central bank Gov. Zhou Xiaochuan in an interview with the official Xinhua News Agency.

"Overall, in 2012 the world economy has relatively more difficulties and uncertainties," Zhou was quoted as saying Sunday after the planning meeting.

Entrepreneurs, especially exporters, have been battered by weak global demand and lending curbs. Thousands of small companies have closed and the survivors have laid off workers, heightening social tensions and government fears of unrest.

Wen, the premier, promised more bank lending to entrepreneurs last year after the credit crunch forced many to turn to high-interest underground lenders, but it is unclear how much lending has increased.

Inflation fell from a three-year high of 6.5 percent in July to 4.2 percent in November but Chinese planners are still on guard against a new acceleration in politically volatile consumer prices.

The central bank promised to improve operations and risk management in China's banking industry. But it made no mention of reforms that economists say are needed, such as allowing market forces to play a bigger role in bank decisions about who can borrow and at what interest rate.

In the interview, Zhou warned against moving ahead at this point with letting market forces set interest rates, citing uncertain global conditions and decisions by other central banks to hold down interest rates.

"From this perspective, currently it still is not a good time to promote `interest rate marketization'," Zhou said.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120109/ap_on_bi_ge/as_china_economy

uc berkeley ohio state basketball annie annie zuccotti park leymah gbowee gabby giffords

Energy voters as a political power

Can the millions of workers in the U.S. energy sector, their families and neighbors, and the millions more whose lives are built on energy activities, be convinced to vote their concerns about an industry?

In other democracies workers in individual sectors often view their politics through their professional and industrial identities, while many recent election races in the U.S. have hinged on political identities rooted in social values as much as economic beliefs. While the U.S. energy sector remains one of the country's largest employers and most visible sources of economic vibrancy, its natural constituents rarely raise its issues in their lists of concerns politicians (and presidential hopefuls) should address.

Americans are accustomed to identity politics; can their identity as energy workers, producers and consumers outweigh other political identities?

The oil and gas industry has launched a non-partisan campaign this week in which it asks Americans to vote "for" energy. While Republicans remain the traditional party of business, and executives at the American Petroleum Institute were not shy about pressing the Obama administration on issues of importance to their member firms in launching their public awareness campaign this week, one of the most powerful energy voices in Washington decided to focus on the issues rather than the names that have dominated the early months of the 2012 political race.

In part that reflects realistic expectations that little will be achieved at the Congressional level or by politicians this year amid the turmoil and tumult of a hotly-contested national election. The industry's issues, ranging from tax policy to accessing reserve areas, are long-term issues requiring bipartisan agreement that are unlikely to be addressed by a deadlocked Congress.

The industry's first test of its new political approach may be the unlikely issue of the Keystone XL pipeline. In a country widely held to be facing at best an infrastructure mismatch and at worst a disastrous shortfall the pipeline's approval was held until a few months ago to be a done deal, but has become a political football wracked by controversies over safety and environmental impacts.

The Keystone pipeline is a "bright line" test for the Obama administration, API's CEO and president Jack Gerard said this week. If the pipeline is held to be in the national interest by President Obama, or under recent legislation simply left unopposed, it will be a signal to global investors and the American public that energy investment is welcome in the U.S., Gerard said. A decision to turn down the pipeline is a signal that carries "significant political consequences," he said in releasing the group's State of American Energy report this week.

Energy voters are for now still an untested political bloc, an incoherent grouping largely still imagined by strategists and advertising campaigns. Keystone may be the first test of whether this group can emerge as a coherent reality, but with hundreds of billions of dollars at stake, it will not be their last.

This AOL Energy Comment reflects the views of the author alone, in this case, AOL Energy Managing Editor Peter Gardett. Join the AOL Energy discussion by leaving a comment below or joining a conversation on our Discussions page.

?

Follow Peter Gardett on Twitter: www.twitter.com/petergardett

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-gardett/energy-voters-as-a-politi_b_1192646.html

texans braveheart nbc sports nfl nfl bengals vs texans saints

Three Billion App Downloads for Apple's iPad

iPad owners are apparently the most enthusiastic about acquiring new apps from the App Store, having made 3 billion downloads in a year and a half since the original iPad hit the market.

iPhone owners needed a little more than two years to reach the same number of downloads, while rival Android can only count 440 million tablet app downloads so far, according ABI Research.

Analysts suggest the iPad's success in this area relies on the product's premium quality. As a high end tablet, the iPad encourages both developers and users to make the best out of tablet's capabilities with a significant number of apps specifically designed for it.?According to PC Mag?in the third quarter of last year there were 120,000 apps exclusively for the iPad on the App Store.

Dan Shey, ABI practice director of mobile services, explains the big gap between iOS and Android tablets as far as app downloads are concerned: "In terms of hardware, the iPad device still offers much more compared to the current crop of tablets in the market. Android is currently being used on many low end tablets that do not offer experiences anywhere near the iPad and this dampens the download momentum for users."

The distance between the two rivals is expected to become shorter as more high end Android tablets adopt the latest version of Google's operating system Android 4.0, a.k.a. Ice Cream Sandwich.

Source: http://feeds.itproportal.com/~r/itproportal/rss/~3/iFmIDQMwfuA/

iraq war jimmy fallon jimmy fallon barista san diego chargers san diego chargers j.r. martinez