I decided against doing a full iPhone 4S review – the simple fact is that the iPhone 4S is not a massive jump from the iPhone 4, and you will be quite familiar with the 4S if you have ever used an iPhone 4. But the thing about Apple fans is that they always want the latest and greatest. Luckily I was up for an upgrade from Vodacom, so here we are.

I am doing this review from the viewpoint of a long time iPhone user – I am comparing it to previous iPhones, of which I have owned every version since launch. While I use different phones with different operating systems almost every week, my primary phone is still an iPhone. I am not comparing it to the latest Galaxy Optimus Black Nexus LTE Droid RAZR Defy Plus. I have great respect for some of the latest Android superphones, but right now I am simply going to address the iPhone 4S from the viewpoint of an iPhone user. So here goes.

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RIM, and the Blackberry brand, has been having a tough few months recently. They had the worldwide service outage, and the Blackberry brand has been having a tough few years trying to keep up with other handset makers. But after years of playing catch-up, the Bold 9900 looks to change that.

Modern smartphones have all switched to touch screens, which has made things difficult for RIM. Blackberry fans are typically quite picky about one thing – the keyboard. While the Torch 9800 did a good job of combining a touch screen with a keyboard, there was always a few fans out there who stubbornly chose the Bold for its keyboard–focussed design. But the Bold 9900 has the best of both worlds. You can just use the keyboard, or run it primarily using touch (except for text entry).

RIM also decided to let go of the staid, boring designs of most Blackberry devices, and blessed the 9900 with some great looks that will put most smartphones to shame.

So, is this the ultimate Blackberry?

Design and Build:

In a word: Stunning.

And no, I am not a crackberry addict. I am fairly picky about the way high end phones should be put together, and the Bold 9900 looks and feels great. If you are someone who likes their phones to ooze class, the Bold 9900 might suit you perfectly. The Bold 9900 has a great looking brushed steel edge which lends an incredibly solid feel to the device. The front’s top half is dominated by the capacitative glass screen, and the bottom is home to a great feeling thumb-keyboard.

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Are you a Blackberry fan, but the standard Torch and Bold is not exclusive enough for you? Today, Porsche Design and RIM announced the elite new Porsche Design P’9981 smartphone from BlackBerry. Designed by Porsche Design, in collaboration with RIM, the luxury brand’s first smartphone really does have a high end look and choice of material, combined with the performance of the latest Blackberry Bold phones.

The Porsche Design P’9981 smartphone from BlackBerry is instantly identifiable as a Porsche Design product. The exclusive material choices for this unique smartphone include a forged stainless steel frame, hand-wrapped leather back cover, sculpted QWERTY keyboard, and touch display. This customized Porsche Design P’9981 comes with an exclusive Porsche Design UI and a bespoke Wikitude World Browser augmented reality app experience. It also includes premium, exclusive PINs that help easily identify another P’9981 smartphone user.

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BlackBerry might be attempting a very risky move soon with BBM. Many BlackBerry users stick to the platform primarily because of BBM – it is free and (arguably) a lot more stable and reliable than other mobile services like Whatsapp. It does however have a few criticisms – biggest of which is the BlackBerry only nature of communication. You might have BBM, but if your buddy does not have a BlackBerry, well, you will need to use other channels.

Recently leaked images (by TechnoBuffalo) of BBM running on an Android device seem to suggest that RIM is looking at broadening the install base of BBM to other platforms. Current supports seem to suggest that BBM might be coming to Apple’s iOS and Microsoft’s Windows Phone platforms. The leaked images on the Android device seem to share the same basic minimalistic interface design as the BlackBerry version, and the app logo also uses the BlackBerry Messaging logo.

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As you may know by now, I’m Android fanboy, so the fact that I specifically asked to cover the Nokia N9 launch last week Thursday, says something about how special this device is. Climbing a nondescript flight of metal stairs, I emerged into the DIS Daylight Studio, Nokia South Africa’s stunning venue for the N9 launch. Free drink in hand, looking around the room revealed a few very important faces (and a few less important one, like myself).

After a bit of networking, things kicked off with a slightly cheesy video about design inspiration and some stunning choreography, after which Nokia’s Senior VP of design, Marko Ahtisaari, took the stage. Marko is the man behind both the industrial, and user-experience design of the N9 – something that, as I’ll explain later, goes hand in hand. He explained how the design revolves around a single gesture, the “swipe”, and how the elegant simplicity of the Harmattan User Interface came about as a result of the competition’s design paradigms (iOS and Android were the examples used) still not being, in Nokia’s mind, optimal for a device that is “small enough for your pocket, but big enough for your hand”. As Marko explained these principles, and demoed the software on the phone, the passion and expertise that went into the Nokia N9′s overall design and experience was evident throughout, although there may have been a slight hint of bitterness – Nokia has already decided that MeeGo, the operating system that the N9 runs, has no future in the company.

After the presentation, I sauntered over to the N9 Showcase, and spent a few minutes with the device. (more…)

If fans thought they had to be in the Big Apple to be part of one of the biggest fashion events of the year, social media provides the platform for all the access right at the runway as the world of fashion and the web come together.

The Mercedez Benz Fashion week 2011 will kick off the global fashion season on the 8th September in New York City. While models strutt designer couture of the best fashion names in the industry, the press, fashion’s elite and stylish celebrities will have a first hand look at what’s hot in the multi-billion Dollar industry. You may not be on the guest list but you can still be a part of the spectacle online.

Designers and the press are taking advantage of the web to create a much larger audience base than are present at the runway shows. Many brands are choosing to stream the unveiling of their new collections through their own websites, Facebook Fan Pages and video platforms such as youtube.  In addition, members of the press will be uploading pictures and reviews onto their respective news websites. The dedicated LiveRunway’s channel on youtube will also provide comprehensive information on model  bio’s and interviews, designer collections, behind the scenes footage and more.  For the first time this season, a mobile version of most of the streams will be available.

These social media tools create the additional exposure and accessibility of an exclusive global event for the fashion conscious public.

Yeah – there is a bit of a war brooding out there. And its not Microsoft vs Apple. Its the battle of the mobile OS’s. So take a look at this infographic that details the personality characteristics of users of iPhone and Android. Hunch is a pretty great site that makes recommendations based on things your personality and things you already like, so they have a pretty strong database to draw these correlations from. Here are some interesting findings:

• iPhone users are 100% more likely to be Mac users. What would be great to know if these users first had Mac before the iPhone, or afterwards? Did the iPhone create a halo effect for the users to buy more Apple products?
• Android users are typically late adopters, in fact they are much less technical according to these results. I would have honestly have thought it to be other way round, with Apple‘s focus on dumbing down user interfaces, and the large Android hacker base out there who like to customize their phones…

If you cannot see the infographic below, click through.

Yes, we are aware correlation is not necessarily causation.

We have spoken in the past about RICA, and well, the time has come. You really should have RICA’d by now. The process is pretty easy – just take your SIM Card (regardless if its a cellphone number or a 3G card), proof of address and ID with you to your preferred cellular provider. You dont have to go your own network, in fact many retailers are also taking part in the initiative. The whole process takes about 5 minutes at most, and it will prevent you from getting your number cut off on the 1st of July. Just a friendly reminder from us…

Find attached the statement from the Department of Communications.

The Department of Communications appeals to all South African citizens to register their SIM cards whether they are cellular, data or other SIM cards used for mobile devices.

The Regulation of Interception of Communications Act (RICA) provides for the lawful interception of communications, such as voice and data conversations between persons including phone calls, emails and postal services. This Act is in the interest of the individual’s right to privacy and can only be done after authorisation by a judge who is specially designated to carry out this role or function. RICA is applicable to both prepaid and contract subscribers and it is obligatory for all cell phone and other data users to comply.

The Department of Communications calls for all SIM card users to go to their mobile service providers with their proof of residence and Identity Documents (IDs) before or on 30 June 2011 for registration.

“Failure to comply with the deadline will result in SIMs being locked. Those who have not registered will not be able to make or receive calls and will not be able to send SMSes or use data,” states the Deputy Minister of Communications, Mr Obed Bapela.

Issued by: Department of Communications
13 Jun 2011