iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone Duo: I Know Which One I'd Actually Buy

The iPhone Duo is easily the more exciting gadget.

It folds. It opens into a much larger screen. It feels genuinely different from the iPhones we've been carrying for years. If you gave me both phones for an afternoon, I'd probably pick up the Duo first.

But if I had to spend my own money?

I'd buy the iPhone 18 Pro.

The reason is simple. Once the novelty of folding the Duo wears off, I need a phone that works for everything I actually do every day. The iPhone 18 Pro gives me the more interesting camera system, including that new variable-aperture main camera, without the extra thickness, weight and compromises that come with a foldable.

Then there's the price.

The Duo is the sort of gadget I desperately want to play with but would have difficulty justifying. You're paying a significant premium for that folding display, and I'm not yet convinced having a small tablet in my pocket would change my daily routine enough to justify it.

The 18 Pro is admittedly less exciting. Put it beside last year's iPhone and nobody across the room is going to ask what strange new gadget you're carrying.

But sometimes the gadget I want to play with and the gadget I'd actually buy are two different things.

I'd take the Duo on a weekend just to experiment with it. I'd open apps side by side, watch videos on the big screen, try the cameras and probably fold and unfold it far more times than necessary.

Then I'd reluctantly give it back.

And buy the iPhone 18 Pro.

The Duo wins the gadget geek part of my brain.

The 18 Pro wins my wallet.

Apple Finally Made a Foldable iPhone. I'm More Interested Than I Expected.

I've been watching foldable phones for years, and somehow I never felt a strong urge to own one. They were interesting gadgets, absolutely. Samsung kept improving the Galaxy Fold generation after generation, while Huawei, Honor, Oppo and others experimented with different shapes and increasingly thinner designs. I enjoyed looking at them, playing with them and reading about the engineering. But when it came to actually replacing my normal phone with one, I was never completely convinced.

Then Apple finally folded an iPhone.

The iPhone Duo is Apple's first foldable iPhone. Closed, you get a relatively compact 5.4-inch outer display. Open it and there's a 7.6-inch OLED display inside, the largest display Apple has ever put on an iPhone. Both screens support ProMotion up to 120Hz, and Apple has even added a nano-texture finish to the inner display to reduce reflections and make the crease less noticeable. (Apple)

None of that is particularly revolutionary if you've followed Android foldables. That's the funny thing about the iPhone Duo. Apple isn't arriving first. It isn't even arriving early. Samsung has been selling folding phones since 2019 and is already eight generations into the category. (Reuters)

But I'm more interested in the Duo than I expected to be.

Part of that is simply because iPhones have become very predictable. Faster processor. Better cameras. Brighter display. Better battery. Maybe a new button. All useful improvements, but after watching smartphones evolve for this long, annual upgrades rarely make me think, I really need to play with that.

The Duo does.

I'm particularly curious about what Apple does with the extra screen rather than the folding mechanism itself. The Duo runs a version of iOS 27 designed around the two displays, including side-by-side multitasking and interfaces that change depending on how the phone is positioned. Open it and suddenly an iPhone starts moving into small-tablet territory. Apple is even bringing USB-C Apple Pencil support to both displays later this year. (Apple)

There are also some wonderfully gadgety uses of the second screen. You can use the rear cameras for a selfie while seeing yourself on the outer display, show the person you're photographing a live preview, or partially fold the phone and use it without a tripod. Those are the kinds of features I want from a foldable. Not folding simply because the screen can fold, but doing something useful because there are now two sides to the device. (Apple)

Of course, there are compromises. At 254g and 11.3mm thick when closed, this isn't exactly an invisible object in your pocket. There's no telephoto camera either, despite this being an extremely expensive iPhone. (Apple)

And then there's the price.

The iPhone Duo starts at US$1,999. In Malaysia, pre-orders don't begin until 16 October, with availability from 23 October. (Reuters) That's serious money for a phone, foldable or otherwise.

Would I rush out and buy one?

Probably not.

Do I want to get my hands on one, fold it a hundred times, try the cameras, open two apps together and find out whether that big inner screen actually changes how I use an iPhone?

Absolutely.

And that's something I haven't been able to say about a new iPhone for a while.

Apple may be late to foldables. The iPhone Duo may not even be the most technically adventurous foldable on the market. But at least Apple has finally given gadget geeks something genuinely different to play with.

After years of increasingly predictable smartphones, I'll take that.

Quick review of XtremeMac Tango TRX

The XtremeMac Tango TRX 2.1 Bluetooth audio system allows users of iPhone, iPad and iPod touch (2nd gen) to stream their favourite songs wirelessly to thedevice.

Manufactured by Imation, the TRX also has a dock to hold and charge the iPhone or iPod Touch.
The audio system's two midrange drivers, two dome tweeters and a downward firing subwoofer produce clear and dynamic sound, the company claimed.

The TRX also has five buttons for controlling playback, bass, treble and other features directly.
You can also control the device using the bundled infrared remote or with a Tango TRX application that can be downloaded from the App Store for free.

Read more »

iPhone 5: the most-wanted features

iPhone 5

Built-in IR

We like the idea of using the iPhone as a universal remote, but we're not so keen on attaching an IR dongle to the Phone every time we want to use it as a remote.

Chances of implementation: 2 percent

HD output

Right now, you can't output 720p or 1080i HD video from an iPhone (any iPhone). We hope Apple allows for HD output in the future, particularly when you consider that Sprint's Android-powered Evo has full HD output via HDMI.

Chances of implementation: 50 percent

More memory

A lot of people were disappointed that the iPhone 4 didn't come in a 64GB version (only 16GB and 32GB). Maybe next year we'll get 64GB.

Chances of implementation: 50 percent

Enhanced voice control

We expect that in the the next generation of the iOS, Apple will continue to flesh out the voice controls for the iPhone, but there's always room for more enhancements. It would be cool to be able to compose e-mails or text message by just using your voice, no?

Chances of implementation: 75 percent

Video chat (FaceTime) over 4G network

Currently, on the iPhone 4, FaceTime only works over Wi-Fi and only with other iPhone 4s. We'd like to see an option to use it over a cellular data network, and hope it's supported when AT&T's faster 4G network ramps up in 2011. We'd also like to see the ability to make video calls with PCs.

Chances of implementation: 75 percent

Read more »

iPad 2 dan iPhone 5 are expected to be released by Apple in 2011

It is undeniable,iPhone 4 and iPad are able to capture the attention of the gadget world in 2010. The popularity of these two Apple gadgets will likely continue, because there are still many gadget enthusiast predictable world that awaits both successor in 2011.

Yes, the two gadgets in question is iPad 2 and iPhone 5. Indeed, it is not the official name given by Apple. But at least, two names that are easy to remember this moment to describe the iPad and iPhone 4.

To iPad 2 or the latest generation of the iPad, rumors presence had been widely heard since some time. It is mentioned that this was a refinement of the iPad the first series, with a buried two cameras (front and back) as well as various improvements in terms of other features.

In addition, the iPad 2 also brings changes in design. Including iPhone 4 which will follow with the changes on its back into a flat. In addition there is little change in size, no longer by 9.7 inches.

There is also issues that if iPad 2 will support GSM and CDMA networks (either separately or together). Similar rumors have long come to the iPhone.

Related to iPhone 5, it seems the presence of the successor of the this Iphone 4 is still too far away. Rumors are circulating in cyberspace are still calm. But certainly, this gadget is so anticipated can be born in 2011.

BlackBerry aims to beat iPhone

BETTER THAN EXPECTED: Research in Motion, the maker of the BlackBerry, said its third-quarter earnings jumped 45%, beating analyst expectations. - AP

TORONTO: Research in Motion Ltd (RIM), the maker of the BlackBerry, said its third-quarter earnings jumped 45% as sales keep surging overseas despite tough competition in the smartphone market.

The results beat analyst expectations, and the company provided a forecast for the current quarter that also exceeded Wall Street expectations. Its shares rose in extended trading.

RIM said it shipped 14.2 million BlackBerrys in the quarter, narrowly beating Apple Inc's iPhone sales in its latest quarter, which ended in October.

Most of RIM's growth is now coming from markets outside the United States, Canada and Britain, where the BlackBerry is already the business phone of choice.

In August, RIM launched the BlackBerry Torch, with a touchscreen and a slide-out keyboard for an overall look that's similar to competing devices. It also refreshed the look of the operating system.

RIM has said it will launch its first Tablet computer, the PlayBook, early next year. On the call, Balsillie didn't give a more specific date. He said the initial versions will be WiFi only.

BGC Financial analyst Colin Gillis said the results were "definitely solid" but said there's nothing that alleviates his concern that RIM will lose market share to Apple's iPhone and phones running Google Inc's Android software next year.

"Everyone knew there was a strong quarter coming out of the company and they delivered," Gillis said. "The concern over the future is still intact. There's definitely still demand for the phones in the international markets.

"Let's see what happens next quarter when they report and give guidance. It will be that May quarter where you'll see if they pulled through or you're going to see the cracks." - AP

Kaltura Updates Open Source Video Management App

Kaltura has updated its open source online video content management application. Version 3.0 of the Kaltura Video Platform Community Edition adds a new cloud-based deployment and offers transcoding options specifically for mobile devices.

The Community Edition of the software provides the ability for organizations to manage, publish, and syndicate their videos and run analytics and do audience measurement. Colleges and universities can integrate it into their learning management system or a campus video portal through community-built extensions. This version can be hosted by the customer or hosted in a cloud environment. An "On-Prem" edition that has a license fee associated with it provides Kaltura support and maintenance.


With the cloud-based deployment features, publishers can start an Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) instance of the content management platform, according to the company, in less than 15 minutes. Kaltura said it expected to support additional cloud environments soon.

Version 3.0 includes H.264 and 3GP video transcoding flavors optimized for mobile devices, to let users view videos on Nokia, iPhone, Android, and Blackberry handsets.

The new release integrates the open source Sphinx search server to speed up searching and also lets publishers bolster their video metadata with customized fields. A code generator helps developers select specific API services and actions from within the Kaltura Test Console to generate the relevant code for them to copy and paste into their work.

The company claims 6,000 developers for its video application, which is used by Cornell University, the University of Southern California, and the University of Virginia, among others.

Apple expected to launch iPhone 4 64GB and 128GB in 2011 ?

This is a purely speculative story – so take it with as much salt as you like

So far, Apple’s iPhone models are available in 16 GB and 32 GB versions. It is normal to assume that Steve Jobs would want the next version of the iPhone – often called the iPhone 4G in the rumours – will go for a 64 GB storage. But will it happen?

Possibly. Very likely. The reason is, Toshiba, which supplies the 16 GB and 32 GB NAND flash memory module to Apple, has just announced a 64 GB NAND flash package. Mass production of the 64GB module will begin in Q3 2010 – it makes sense to believe that Apple would be one of the first customers for this one! Or would they decide to get two of the 64GB modules and offer us a 128 GB iPhone? Oh, the possibilities. The iPod Touch too should benefit from all the extra storage capacity.

Of course, the whole point of a 64 GB iPhone from Apple is a bit pathetic – Jobs has in his infinite wisdom decided not to give us a SD card expansion slot which would have enabled us to increase our storage as we wish.

Storing hours of high definition video or a humungous amount of music will be possible if Apple actually goes in for this. Anyway, it is time for a fourth generation iPhone and Apple fanboys are saving up money for a 2010 purchase.

It is not just Toshiba but Samsung too who have 64 GB flash memory storage, but so far Apple has preferred to go with Samsung. On the other hand, there are a range of devices – like the Zune HD or any number of smartphones – which would be perfect candidates for a memory upgrade. But an iPhone 64Gb is what makes news, so there you have it. There is no point in mentioning prices or specifications for a 4G Apple iPhone with 64GB or 12GB memory for now, anyway.

RedSn0w release the Jailbreak iOS 4.1 for iPhone 3G

How to Jailbreak iOS 4.1 for iPhone 3G Using RedSn0w [Mac Users]. 

After a long wait, finally, the Dev Team released the latest version of their popular iPhone jailbreaking tool RedSn0w 0.9.6b1 to jailbreak iOS 4.1 on iPhone 3G. It means that you can get your 3G iPhone to run on the latest stable firmware that Apple released. This iPhone jailbreak guideis very simple and anyone can follow all the steps. You just have to check the important notes below;

Important Notes

Please try to check these important things to remember before you decide to go through all the steps in this iPhone Jailbreak guide;

• You need to backup your iPhone before you proceed.
  Jailbreak voids warranty.
• Make sure you are running iTunes 9.2 or higher.
• This guide is meant for Mac and iPhone 3G users only. This will not work on iPhone 3GS and 4.
• Once the jailbreak is done, make your iPhone secure.

Download Necessary Files

Just before anything else, you need to have the following files for a successful jailbreak;

1. Latest version of RedSn0w, Click Here to download RedSn0w 0.9.6b1. 2. Latest iOS or firmware, Click Here to download iPhone1,2_4.1_8B117_Restore.ipsw.

Make sure to save these files in a directory that you can easily find.

iPhone Jailbreak Process

Step 1: Extract RedSn0w

Extract the latest version of RedSn0w by double-clicking the file. To make it simple, extract it into the same directory that you downloaded it.

Step 2: Connect and Restore

You may now connect your iPhone to your computer then launch iTunes. Select your iPhone from the list of devices and click on the “Restore” button.

Step 3: Locate IPSW File

Navigate through the directory you’ve downloaded iPhone1,2_4.1_8B117_Restore.ipsw. Select the file and click “Choose” button to proceed.

It may take a little while for iTunes to finish updating your iPhone, so you have to be patient. Once iTunes is done, you are ready to perform the next step.

Step 4: Launch RedSn0w and Locate IPSW

Now, navigate through the directory where you’ve extracted RedSn0w, double-click it to launch; a window will pop up and you’ll have to click on “Browse” button, and then navigate back to the directory where you’ve downloaded the Apple firmware file (iPhone1,2_4.1_8B117_Restore.ipsw).

Step 5: Open the IPSW File

Select or highlight iPhone1,2_4.1_8B117_Restore.ipsw as shown in the screenshot below, and click the “Open” button.

Step 6: Firmware File Verification

RedSn0w is programmed to automatically detect and verify Apple firmware files or those with .ipsw file extension. Once verification is done, RedSn0w will prompt you “IPSW successfully identified” or you will see the screenshot below. Click “Next” to continue.

Step 7: Prepare Jailbreak Data

Just by clicking on the “Next” button in the previous step, RedSn0w will start preparing the data to be used in jailbreak process. You will see a live progress bar, so you can tell how long the process will take place. Once the preparation is done, you will be brought to the next window (please see Step 8).

Step 8: Jailbreak Options

You have to choose the options you want RedSn0w to perform when jailbreak is started. There are 7 choices you can choose from. Installing Cydia should be checked as it is one of the reasons why you are jailbreaking your iPhone.

Since we are jailbreaking iPhone 3G, I would recommend you uncheck or disable multitasking because it will slow the gadget down. But, if you need this feature and would not care much about the responsiveness of your device, then you can always enable this feature. If you’ve checked all the options you need, click “Next” to continue.

Step 9: iPhone Must Be Turned Off and Plugged In

Make sure that your iPhone is properly plugged in and turned off before you hit on the “Next” button because the next step is where problems enter most of the times—putting your iPhone to DFU mode.

Step 10: Enter DFU Mode

You have to execute the following steps carefully, (please see screenshots);

Step 11: iPhone Reboots

Once the device has entered the DFU mode, RedSn0w will automatically reboots it.

Step 12: RedSn0w Uploads RAM Disk and Kernel

After your iPhone has rebooted, RedSn0w will upload RAM Disk and new Kernel automatically. You will then see a progress bar to know when the process is done.

Step 13: iPhone iOS 4.1 Jailbreak Complete

The uploading of RAM disk and kernel will take a little of your time but you’ll have to wait for it. Once it is done, the “Finish” button will be enabled for you to click. Doing so will, once again, reboot your iPhone; it may take about 5 minutes or so. Don’t be surprised about it as this is normal. All you can do is wait until your device comes back to life.

The iPhone reboot is the sign that the jailbreak process is finished. To know whether your iPhone is successfully jailbroken, check the Springboard and look for Cydia; for sure, it’s there.