Top 3 smartphones sold in 2011

The iPhone has seen an enormous amount of success worldwide. Apple announced during its fiscal Q1 2012 earnings report that the iPhone sold a total of 37 million units in one quarter. Ranked the third phone manufacturer in the world, Apple is continuing to sell an abundance of iPhones.

When it comes to iPhone sales in the US, Apple sold the top three smartphones in 2011,according to a new report released by ComScore. The iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 4S found their way into the most hands of consumers…

So why isn’t the iPhone 4S ranked first? Remember the iPhone 4S launched October 14th, 2011, only giving the handset three months to rack up sales. In that three month period, the iPhone 4S earned an impressive spot at third most sold phone in the US.

The iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS are obvious for the one and two spot, being on the market during 2011 for a total of nine months. Being priced at $99, people saw the iPhone 3GS as a cheaper alternative to the iPhone 4.

Once the iPhone 4S was launched in October, people saw the iPhone 4 as a cheaper alternative, also at $99. For those who weren’t looking to spend too much, they could also choose from the iPhone 3GS for $50.

It’s interesting to see RIM’s BlackBerry Curve, most likely popular in the corporate world, earning the fourth ranked spot. Only one Android phone was found to be in the top five, the first 4G device — Sprint’s EVO 4G.

Yesterday, research group in US NDP released numbers indicating that Apple’s iPad was also the top tablet in the US. Amazon’s Kindle Fire trailed in second place. What about Malaysia & Singapore ? I think iPad2 will take Place.

For now, it appears Apple will remain king with device sales in the US. With the iPad 3 coming next month and rumored iPhone 5 coming in the summer, expect Apple to have another impressive year.

[Via: idownloadblog & MacRumors]

Tim Cook says Apple’s working on new products that “will blow our minds”

Apple hosted its annual shareholder’s meeting two days ago in Cupertino, California. This marked the first time that Tim Cook addressed the company’s board and its investors as Apple’s CEO.

Topics of the meeting ranged anywhere from Apple’s record-breaking quarter last year, to its relationship with Facebook. Those who attended the affair described Cook as witty, knowledgeable, and passionate as he talked about Apple’s future…

Tim Cook said:  “You can be assured we are working as hard as ever this year to deliver an incredible year and some products that will blow your mind.”

“Products that will blow your mind.” At first glance, this obviously sounds like a CEO selling his company. But if we take it at face value, the phrase has far more meaning.

When was the last time Apple unveiled something that blew your mind? I mean really blew your mind. Was it last year, with the iPhone 4S? No. Don’t get me wrong, Siri is cool and all. But it’s not mind-blowing. So the iPad 2 then? No. It was essentially the same thing as the original iPad, but thinner.

No, the last time that an Apple product really blew our minds (and this is clearly debatable) was the iPad — back in 2010. With its 10″ multitouch display, 10 hour battery life and seemingly endless array of possible uses, the iPad was definitely a game-changer.

With that in mind, the fact that Tim Cook says that Apple has products coming out this year that will blow our minds has us salivating. Is he talking about the iPad 3? Is the next iPhone really going to be that awesome? Will we finally see the rumored Apple television?

The world has been waiting to see if Apple can continue to churn out hit products now that Steve Jobs is no longer at the helm. Perhaps this is the year we start finding that out.

[Via: idownloadblog & Forbes] 

Samsung Galaxy Note is so much better than the iPhone [Video]

Yes, the Samsung Galaxy Note is so much better than the iPhone! Because, you know, you can crop your head and stitch it on a basketball player’s head, all that with a very handy stylus.








[Via: idownloadblog]

Teardrop-shaped iPhone 5 mockup

We are fans of Ciccarese Design here, even when its renderings do not closely follow Apple’s design language. The design studio’s new iPhone 5 mockup exploits a teardrop design meme in a lovely way. As rumormongers are well aware, a teardrop-shaped iPhone 5 was often speculated in the weeks and months leading up to the iPhone 4S launch.

The hype was in vain  for Apple’s new phone, though, that turned out to be almost identical to its predecessor (at least from the outside). With all eyes now on a rumored summer (or is it fall?) unveiling of a sixth-generation iPhone, the pundits again believe the launch will mark a major design change for Apple’s phone with the biggest visual overhaul since the original iPhone.

Now, do not get us wrong: We really do not think these mockups will be accurate. For starters, how would this thing sit flat on a table? Nevertheless, the renderings are interesting and appealing and we would love to hear your thoughts, so meet us in comments. Oh, and what is with the glowing Apple logo on the back, cool or what?

[Via: 9to5mac]

ABC’s documentary ‘A Trip to the iFactory’

ABC’s 25 minute documentary ‘(Video)A Trip to the iFactory‘ just aired on Nightline, where correspondent Bill Weir traveled to Foxconn for the world’s first full view of the operation inside. For those unfamiliar, Foxconn is the factory where Apple’s and other top brands’, products are manufactured.

In recent years, the Shenzhen, China based Foxconn has had a negative vibe in the public’s view. People have viewed Foxconn as exploiting workers, hiring people underage, and causing workers to become so depressed they commit suicide.

ABC was granted the first inside look at the factory, showing working and living conditions workers are under to produce our favorite Apple products. But did the way ABC portrayed Foxconn match public perception, or did it bring a whole different view (spoiler alert)?

As the program begun Bill Weir was quick to disclose the ties ABC has with Apple. ABC’s parent company is Disney, and not only is their CEO Bob Iger on Apple’s board, but Steve Job’s trust is the single largest shareholder. Weir tried to instill there wouldn’t be any biasedness.

The documentary begun with Bill Weir entering the Foxconn gates, guided by Foxconn execs. I instantly got the feeling that this place was run like a large city, because it really is. With over 1 million workers there has to be restaurants, stores, and more, for workers to enjoy themselves after long shifts.

Weir was told he was able to talk to any employee, at any time. Many employees told Weir about life at Foxconn. One employee complained about the trees blocking the dorms that didn’t let enough sunlight in, while even more complained about low wages. When Foxconn’s CEO was asked about low wages, he said he’d love to raise them. Which recently, Foxconn already did.

The documentary gave a real sense to how the production lines are at Foxconn. There’s nothing automated and workers are doing most of the work by hand. For example, it takes 141 production steps for one given Apple product (I didn’t catch which). Also, in a given day there can be 300,000 camera chips manufactured for the iPad. Foxconn literally churns out products.

To keep up with demand, Foxconn has to keep their production lines staffed at all times. ABC taped one Monday morning, as 3,000 Chinese citizens rushed through the gates at Foxconn in hopes of getting a job. A shocking 80% on average are hired.

When a prospective employee was asked about the suicides at Foxconn, she responded with, “it’s not really the company’s fault.”

While working at Foxconn, workers also stay in the dormitories. Suicide nets line every single building, after there were a string of 17 suicides in 2010. Apple’s then-COO Tim Cook brought together a group of social workers to help fix the problem. Interestingly, Foxconn’s suicide rate is lower than the rest of China.

Speaking to one worker about the overall atmosphere, he told Weir that it was equivalent to college life in the United States. Meals are expensive and everything is crowded.

When the production crew went out into the villages surrounding Foxconn, you could tell that people inside the plant really seemed to be better off. Living conditions ultimately felt more comfortable on the inside.

For those who have already seen it: did the documentary change your view on Foxconn?

[Via: idownloadblog]