How-To Reset Factory Default iPhone 6

If any damages have been caused to your Apple iPhone 6 by downloading unauthorized software or other means, a restore to original factory settings is one way to repair the issues. A full restore will delete all of the data on it, including all pictures, music, contacts and videos. This can easily be done from the phone or using iTunes.

Remember: this removes EVERYTHING from your phone and resets it back to factory settings. If you’re sure you wish to proceed with this, follow the simple steps below. We will discuss restoring your iPhone through iTunes using a backup further down in the article.

Reset From Device

1. Click on “Settings” and then on “General.”
2. Scroll to the bottom of the General tab and click “Reset.”
3. Tap “Erase all Content and Settings.”
4. Enter your passcode (if there is one) and confirm your reset by tapping “Erase iPhone.”

Your device should give you an estimate as to how long this process will take. Depending on how many apps you have, it could be anywhere from a few moments to an hour or more. During this time, the device is completely inoperable. Once finished, your phone will be like new. This is something you should do if you ever give or sell your phone to someone else as it erases all of your information.

Reset From iTunes

You may wish to simply restore using a backup of your device so that you can keep your settings, email and apps. This process involves a few more steps, but it’s still fairly simple.

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer with its cable and allow iTunes to launch. You’ll see a button appear for your phone under “Devices” on the upper-left side of your screen. This lets you know the phone is properly connected and recognized. Select the button.
2. If iTunes is set to automatically sync when the device is connected, it will start transferring data right away. This is a very important step so that all newly-added content will be saved, including any songs or apps you’ve purchased and photos you’ve saved. If iTunes does not automatically begin to sync, do so manually now. Press the “Sync” button at the bottom-right corner of the “Summary” option located in the left pane in iTunes.
3. Once the sync has completed, head back to the information page within iTunes. In the middle of the main window, you’ll see two buttons. Click on the “Restore” button. Once you have done so, iTunes will warn you that restoring your iPhone to factory settings will erase all media and data. If you’ve already successfully synced, simply click the “Restore” button again to begin the process.
4. As soon as you click the “Restore” button the second time, iTunes will automatically start the process. You’ll see several different message on the screen where iTunes tells you things – such as that it is extracting the software needed to restore your device. You’ll see things such as a message that it’s being verified with Apple, as well. Do NOT disconnect your phone from your computer while this process is going.
5. iTunes will tell you when the phone is finished being restored, but you aren’t done quite yet! You have to restore your settings and sync everything back to the device. Let the iPhone restart itself after restoration. You may then see a message saying it needs to activate – just wait a moment and it will then tell you that process is finished.
6. On the iTunes screen, you’ll see two options: “Set Up as a New iPhone” or “Restore From a Backup“. If you wish to restore your settings, email, contacts and other information, you’ll of course choose the “Restore From a Backup” option. Select the name of your iPhone from the drop-down menu on the right side of the screen.

Once you click the button, iTunes will restore all settings and files you backed up earlier in this process. It will likely take several minutes – make sure you don’t disconnect the phone during this time. As soon as everything is restored to the iPhone it will restart itself once again. If iTunes is not set to automatically sync, please do so again now manually. This step is critical: it is when all of your files, apps, music and such will be transferred back to the iPhone.

Voila! Your iPhone 6 is now restored to original factory settings and all of your data has been synced back to the phone. You can unhook the phone from the computer and use it now!

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How-To install iOS 7 on iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad, and iPad Mini

Apple has just officially released iOS 7. If you have a compatible device (listed below), simply visit your device’s Settings menu, click to General, and then Software Update. You can also update to iOS 7 via iTunes 11.1, which was just released on the Apple website (and you will need it if you wish to sync your device via USB.) The original post is below, if for some reason you wish to download iOS 7 in a different way.

Updated: If your iPhone or iPad won’t download iOS 7, it’s almost certainly because Apple’s servers are being completely hammered. We finally managed to get a device to update, though it took quite a few failed attempts. It’s probably worth waiting a few hours until the deluge has calmed down, unless you want to sit there and constantly hit retry. Once you’ve installed iOS 7, check out our guide to all of its new features.

While iOS 7 won’t be released until September 18, it’s possible to download and install iOS 7 today, and install it on your existing iPhone or iPad. You can install iOS 7 on the iPhone 4, 4S, and 5, the fifth-gen iPod Touch, and every iPad and iPad Mini except the original iPad. Installing iOS 7 will give you access to some exciting new features, such as improved multitasking and AirDrop, and the complete visual overhaul will of course make your Apple device look completely different (and cause all of your friends to gape jealously).

There are two routes that you can take to install iOS 7 on your iDevice: You can either sign up for an Apple developer account, which costs you $100 per year, or you can install one of the leaked iOS 7 golden masters. The safest option is to sign up for the developer program, and if you split it between a few friends (you can install iOS 7 on up to 100 devices), it can be very cheap. Once you’ve signed up, you need to add your device’s UDID as a registered test device, and then go ahead and download the correct iOS 7 image for your device from the Apple developer portal. Once you have the image, skip to the installation section below.

If you don’t have $100 to spare, downloading a leaked golden master is a good second option — and, depressingly enough, it’s actually easier than installing the legitimate version. To install iOS 7, grab the correct image for your device from the list below, and then proceed to the installation section.

iOS 7 and iTunes 11.1 golden master images

If you don’t know which model you have, the model number can be found on the back of your iDevice. Bear in mind that some of these links may not work by the time you read this story (but a bit of googling can usually find you an alternative link). Also note that you will need iTunes 11.1 (link below) if you want to sync to your computer — but if you don’t want to install it, iCloud sync works just fine.

• iPhone 4 (GSM)
• iPhone 4 (GSM Rev. A)
• iPhone 4 (CDMA, Model A1349)
• iPhone 4S (Models A1431 & A1387)
• iPhone 5 (Model A1428)
• iPhone 5 (Model A1429)
• iPad 2 (WiFi)
• iPad 2 (Rev. A)
• iPad 2 (WiFi + GSM, Model A1396)
• iPad 2 (WiFi + CDMA, Model A1397)
• iPad 3 (WiFi, Model A1416)
• iPad 3 (WiFi + GSM, Model A1430)
• iPad 3 (WiFi + CDMA, Model A1403)
• iPad 4 (WiFi, Model A1458)
• iPad 4 (WiFi + GSM, Model A1459)
• iPad 4 (WiFi + CDMA, Model A1460)
• iPad Mini (WiFi, Model A1432)
• iPad Mini (WiFi + GSM, Model A1454)
• iPad Mini (WiFi + CDMA, Model A1455)
• iPod Touch (Fifth-generation)
• iTunes 11.1 Beta

Installing iOS 7 beta

Before you continue, make a backup of your device using iTunes. If anything goes wrong, you will want to boot your phone into DFU mode and then restore the backup. These images seem to be the real deal and safe to use, but we haven’t tested all of them, and of course you use them at your own risk.

With your iOS 7 image downloaded (if it’s a DMG file, you will need to open it up and extract the IPSW file), plug in your iDevice, and then open up iTunes. Select your device’s Summary tab. Under OS X, hold down Option and click Restore; in Windows, hold Shift and press Restore. Select the IPSW file from the dialog that pops up, and voila: Your iDevice will update to iOS 7. Once the update has completed, you may need to restore your device from a backup (and remember, you will need to update to iTunes 11.1).

Voilà: Your iPhone or iPad is now running iOS 7. Be sure to read our iOS 7 guide so that you don’t miss any of the cool new features.

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Making Your iPhone as Dialup Modem

People who has plenty of travels due to several work reasons and may require Internet connection at any given point. Let's say you're at the airport, waiting to catch a plane. You have your laptop with you and it's vital that you send certain documents right away. The airport doesn't have proper Wi-Fi or wireless Internet access connectivity but your cell phone does; wouldn't that be the best deal? Wondering how to use iPhone as a modem? Read on to find out.

Use iPhone as Modem for Laptop

Along with other useful iPhone apps, the device can be used as a attached modem for your PC or laptop. Before using iPhone, you need to first enable it via iPhone dock-connector-to-USB cable. If your phone has a 3G connection, you can even make and receive calls on your phone while using it as a dial-up modem. The directions aren't very long or tedious. All it takes is few simple steps and you'll be good to go.

Step #1 ~ First and foremost, make sure that tethering has been enabled on the phone. What this means is, your other devices will be able to receive the Internet connection made available by an Internet-capable cell phone.

Step #2 ~ On your iPhone menu, go to Settings icon. The location of your "Settings" icon will be different as you can change it as per your own requirements. So it could be on the first page of the menu or somewhere else. If you're new to iPhone, this icon looks gray in color and has a cogs design. Click on Settings icon.

Step #3 ~ Now you need to go to the page where all the other subcategories are. So go to General category which will be towards the bottom of the phone's screen. The icon has similar markings as the Settings menu. Click on General and then click on Network subcategory.

Step #4 ~ After the Network icon, click on Internet Tethering option. Slide the option from Off to On. The Off icon is gray in color, and once you slide it to On icon, it will turn blue. This is where you have activated your iPhone to work as a modem.

Step #5 ~ Next, connect your cell phone with the laptop with the iPhone to USB cable. Once you connect the cable, a pop-up window will appear prompting you for approval. Click on iPhone and then select Apply. Your laptop has been connected to the Internet.

Step #6 ~ You have successfully turned your device into a modem. Now you can launch the web browser for quick Internet access. You can easily check the connectivity on the desktop toolbar, located on the bottom-right side of the screen for Windows and top-right side of the screen for Mac.

See, was that difficult? All you have to do is follow few necessary steps and you'll be online in no time. You can also read about how to set up Wi-Fi. In order to maintain Internet connection, you need to make sure that the USB cable is intact. If you turn your phone off, the Internet connection will be disconnected. So, make sure it has enough battery life and stays on at all times. The connectivity needs to be strong so that you can work online without any disturbances.

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Apple iPhone 5C and 5S launch gives China hang up over high price

Chinese analysts and consumers at Apple press event in Beijing say plastic 5C model is not low-end as publicity had suggested.

China's Apple fans tend to meet the company's product releases with the same anticipation and reverence as their western counterparts. Yet in Cupertino, the California-based company's unveiling of two new iPhone models on Tuesday night left some of them scratching their heads.

On Wednesday morning Apple showed taped footage of its Silicon Valley product release to about 80 reporters at a swish Beijing hotel. It was the company's first-ever media event in China, leading many analysts to believe that one of the new models would be specifically aimed at capturing the Chinese smartphone market, currently the largest in the world.

Many China tech analysts predicted that one of the new models – the iPhone 5C, a slightly less expensive, plastic-backed version of the iPhone 5 – would cost 3,000 yuan (£310), giving it an edge over low-cost competitors. Yet on Wednesday, the company announced that a 5C with 16GB of memory would cost 4,488 yuan (£465), roughly the same cost as the iPhone 5. The other model, the iPhone 5S – which features faster hardware and a fingerprint reader beneath the home button – will sell for 5,288 yuan (£547).

Nicole Zhou, a 30-year-old employee at a state-owned enterprise, bought herself a Samsung S4 phone on Wednesday afternoon, hours after the announcement. "I didn't know the price was going to be 5,000 yuan," she said. "I don't see any really big difference between this and the other new iPhone."

Users of China's most popular microblogging service Sina Weibo chimed in as well. "The C stands for costly," was one common refrain. The "S" in 5S, some users surmised, may stand for "superfluous" or "super-expensive".

Other users compared the 5C's colourful plastic shell to a potato peeler. "Every family in Britain could use an iPhone 5C … because you need something in the kitchen to take care of all those potatoes," wrote a user calling themselves A-Chuan Wants to Rest.

Apple stores in China will begin selling the handsets on 20 September, the same day as they hit shelves in the US.

"Even though Apple has a lower-end iPhone now, its price is still considered mid-end in China and not low-end," Sandy Shen, a Shanghai-based analyst for Gartner, told Reuters. "Considering Apple's old rival Samsung and domestic players such as Huawei, Lenovo and Coolpad all have phones in that category, Apple will still lose out in market share in these key segments."

China is Apple's biggest market outside of the US and Europe, but its market share has declined precipitously over the past year, as international competitors such as Samsung and local brands such as Huawei and Xiaomi introduce comparable phones at lower costs. Apple is currently ranked seventh in the country in terms of sales.

While Apple has lost much of its market share, it has not lost its prestige. "It's like, all of my colleagues were watching the media release really closely," said Chen Xin, 23, a human resources employee at a five-star hotel in Beijing. "For them, the price means nothing compared with the prestige of the brand. Everybody thinks that Apple products are really cool."

Chen used an iPhone 4S until last year, when she bought a Samsung phone. She doesn't plan on switching back to Apple. "It's just too expensive," she said. - source

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Fring for iPhone

Interested in the Fring for iPhone IM client? Fring for iPhone is a free iPhone IM client, offering users a feature-rich experience and access to AIM, Gtalk, ICQ, Twitter, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger, in addition to free voice and video calls. Only available for iOS3.

Price: Free

iTunes Rating: 4+ (no objectional material)

Seller: fringland Ltd.

With Fring for iPhone, users can:

• send, receive IMs
• maintain multiple accounts over 3G, WiFi, GPRS and Edge
• make free voice and video calls (3G and WiFi only)
• enjoy Push notification
• real time status messaging

The Bottom Line: Fring for iPhone

Despite an otherwise enjoyable IM client, Fring for iPhone (at present) is extremely unstable and seems to have service which is accessible in the wee hours of the morning, if ever. Connecting to Fring for iPhone is often difficult, but I have been able to get in a few times during regular business hours.

The absence of landscape mode makes typing IMs difficult, and most of the time, even if you can get Fring to connect, the app seems sluggish. Efficiency is a real issue with Fring, unfortunately, for everything they advertise the app to be.

Fingers crossed that Fring gets fixed soon, and added to iOS4; the client could be a beautiful thing and a real competitor if only it worked every single time.

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Where and How-To Pre-Order Your iPhone 5C

Tonight, legions will descend upon Apple's website to pre-order the new iPhone 5C. But as the sales start stacking up, the ship date will be pushed back beyond the September 20th launch. Here's everywhere else you'll be able to pre-order the phone so that you get it on day one.

Apple Store

During Tuesday's keynote, Apple announced that the iPhone 5C would be available for pre-order from its online store starting tomorrow at 3:01 AM ET/12:01 AM PT. The iPhone 5S will be available only beginning on launch day, September 20th.

Retailers

Walmart

The Big Daddy bigbox said it will be offering in store-only pre-orders. Line-up early for this one, because the Walmart's is offering a $20 price break on the 16 GB iPhone 5C.

Best Buy

The company's website still reads "coming soon," but a Best Buy representative confirmed that brick and mortar locations will offer in-store pre-orders for the 16 GB iPhone 5C tomorrow for its regular $100.

Radio Shack

Radio Shack offering in-store pre-orders for the 8GB iPhone 5C during regular hours beginning tomorrow for $100.

Carriers

AT&T

Though the company's website still says "coming soon" an AT&T representative confirmed that you'll be able to pre-order online at 3:01 AM ET. If you're really interested in showing up and pre-ordering in your local store—go right ahead.

Verizon

Online orders start at 3:01 AM EST. Available in-store when they open tomorrow.

Sprint

Same drill, 3:01 AM ET on the Internet, in-store during your Friday lunch break.

T-Mobile

On keynote day, T-Mo said the iPhone 5C would be available for pre-order "on September 13th," but there's no mention of an exact time. Why not register for updates.

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Goophone: The Cheapest iPhone 5S only $99

There is some rumors about cheap version iPhone 5S, but Apple will doesn’t confirm it before next generation iPhone unveil. Lots of market analysts think it is necessary to complete with Samsung, the latter provide more option for smartphone buyers. Apple is not so fast as before, before iPhone 5 launching, the China factory already released their iPhone 5 clone, and get patent of appearance, although they never sue Apple with this weapon, maybe it will hurt themselves. Today, something happened again, Goophone released their cheap version iPhone 5S: Goophone i5S, and only $99 for first 1000 buyers by some sellers.

The Goophone i5S has same appearance with iPhone 5, but with low-level hardware: 4 inch oneglass screen, 1GHz MTK MT6577 processor, 512MB RAM, 5-megapixel rear camera, and Android 4.1 OS is installed. This phone has 2 interface: iOS UI and original Android UI. You may switch them easily by a code.

Maybe you have doubt about this smartphone, does it work smoothly? How about playing games? Here is hands-on video, you will find how amazing the goophone i5S is.

The Goophone i5S is entry-class smartphone, of course has an incredible price. The listing price is $149.99, but on Android-sale, they will provide a big discount for first 1000 buyers at March 12th, you will get a iPhone 5 clone with $99. Wow, who will be those lucky ones.

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iPhone 5 Nokia Lumia 920 Comparison

Earlier, we brought you the ultimate battle of the two most popular smartphone vendors and their flagship devices. Having assessed the iPhone 5 of Apple and Samsung’s Galaxy S III, we found both to be technically advanced, and the differences between the two – such as screen and device size – are only important if one prefers a large display, or a smaller one.

To spice things up a little, we’re now going to pit the iPhone 5 up against another to-be-released beauty – Nokia Lumia 920. Announced last week, it offers a dual-core processor, Windows Phone 8 and a camera which – by the looks of things – will be the best smartphone snapper available on the market.

Yes, it does look a great deal like its predecessor, the Lumia 900 but hey, doesn’t the iPhone 5 as well? Here, we run over the key tech specs, and if you’re in the market for a new smartphone this fall, you’ll certainly want to check out these two:

As you can see, there is once again very little to choose between these very adequately-equipped smartphones. The iPhone 5 offers an Apple A6 processor, which is quite a bump from the Lumia’s dual-core Qualcomm composition, but with both the iPhone 4S and Lumia 900 as smooth as butter on iOS 5.x and Windows Phone 7.x respectively, such features shouldn’t make or break your choice.

Both pack in LTE, and the Lumia has the advantage of packing in NFC – something expected of the iPhone 5 right up until the last moment.

Nokia’s high-end devices have always packed in a decent camera (the N97′s snapper still looks rather good for a device five years of age), and with Apple having already shown us what the Sapphire-encrusted rear-camera can do, both will be perfect for those using Instagram or Flickr on a frequent basis.

Wireless charging offered by Lumia 920 is another plus over iPhone 5 if you are into that sort of thing.

The most decisive segment of the chart has to be the apps section, and for all the promise both Nokia and Windows Phone 8 offers, the success of the device and its platform will rest firmly on getting the developers’ backing. 100,000+ sounds like a lot, but with Apple almost at three quarters of a million now and counting, the Windows Phone Store needs filling up with Apps. Pronto.

In the end, it really comes down to the platform and ecosystem that you want to go with. - source

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Budget iPhone rear plastic shell?

Earlier this week, case manufacturer Tactus was one of several sources to share photos of cases reportedly designed for the fifth-generation iPad, once again showing that the device is expected to be smaller than the existing iPad and take design cues from the iPad mini.

Today, the company shares a photo of what is said to be the rear shell of Apple's rumored lower-cost iPhone. In line with previous rumors, the part appears to be manufactured from plastic.

The part is also consistent with iLounge's January description of the device, carrying a design somewhat similar to the iPod classic with a flat back and curved edges, as well as a shift to elongated volume buttons along the left side.

The report also shares a number of other claimed details about the device, including word of an A5 chip, a 5-megapixel rear camera, and five color options of black, white, blue, red, and yellow. The device is also claimed to carry a 3.5-inch Retina display rather than the 4-inch display seen in the iPhone 5, although that detail conflicts with reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's claims of a 4-inch display for the lower-cost iPhone.

Finally, Tactus claims that the lower-cost iPhone will launch on October 15 and be priced at $300, although we place little faith in those details given that any source for part leaks likely coming through Apple's supply chain or accessory manufacturers would not be aware of Apple's specific launch plans. The report also claims that the rear shell is 0.4-0.6 mm thick, which is obviously not an accurate measurement and is likely a misreporting of previous claims that it would be 0.4-0.6 mm thicker than the iPhone 5.

We also can not verify whether this is indeed a legitimate rear shell for Apple's lower-cost iPhone. It could simply be manufactured based on circulating rumors, but even if fake it could be an accurate representation if it is based on design specs leaking through case makers. Case makers have a number of times created accurate physical mockups of Apple's upcoming devices, although they have on occasion been incorrect.

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iPhone 5 vs Galaxy S3 vs Google Nexus 4

Google has finally unveiled its next generation of Nexus smartphone – the Nexus 4, which is built by LG and designed by Google. The Nexus 4 features a 4.7-inch 1280 x 768 IPS display, a 1.5GHz Quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2GB of RAM, 8 megapixel rear camera and a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera. The phone will come in two variants – 8GB for $299 and 16GB for $349, unlocked and without any contract. Surely this phone is priced very attractively and is a powerful offering from LG and Google.

The Nexus 4 is LG’s first attempt on building Google’s flagship – Nexus branded phone. The technical specs of this phone matches to that of the LG Optimus G smartphone but the Nexus 4 is priced more competitively.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the LG Nexus 4, Samsung Galaxy S3 and the iPhone 5.

The Nexus 4 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro clocked 1.5GHz and Samsung is powering their Galaxy S3 by an Exynos 4412 1.4GHz. Apple on the other hand powers iPhone 5 with the 1.2GHz dual core A6 processor, which means that the iPhone lacks the same processing power as its Android rivals.

The Google Nexus 4 debuts with the latest version of Android – the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The 4.2 version is still called as Jelly Bean, which can be considered as an upgraded version of 4.1. Samsung’s Galaxy S3 will soon be upgraded to 4.1 Jelly Bean and the Apple’s iPhone 5 already comes with the iOS 6 – Apple’s latest mobile operating system.

Talking from the storage point of view, then the Google Nexus 4 comes in both 8GB and 16GB variants and doesn’t comes with any microSD expansion. The Samsung Galaxy S3 comes in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants and it also offers support to expand the memory up to 64GB via a microSD card. The iPhone 5 offers three variants – 16GB, 32GB or 64GB and doesn’t allows support for microSD card.

One thing that is missing on Nexus 4 is 4G LTE, whereas the Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5 comes equipped with 4G LTE. But then again, by looking at the price of the Nexus 4 at $299 SIM free for the 8GB model, we cannot complain much. For this price, you are getting a Quad-core processor, big screen and the latest version of Android. Surely Nexus 4 seems to be a budget-user’s dream of getting their hands on Android. - source

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Budget iPhone for $330 without contract

At last there is somewhat authentic report about Apple’s much anticipated low-cost or budget iPhone amid a flow of clues about iPhone 5S and iPhone 6.

Apple is on way to test its new budget iPhone in end of this year with a focus to target emerging markets like China and India besides gadget lovers with poor income in United States and Europe.

“Apple plans to launch an inexpensive model targeting emerging markets with initial quarterly shipments of only 2.5-3.0 million units to test market response,” DigiTimes reported.

The report claims that Apple is working with Foxconn to bring a 4 inch display powered with A6 processor. Besides, plastic chassis, of course cost effective material, is likely to be used for the budget iPhone.

Earlier reports suggest that budget iPhone, keeping in view of emerging markets, will cost around $330 without contract.

However, PatentlyApple while doubting over the rumour said that Apple had never ‘tested’ a device in the market before.

“it’s this point that makes the rumor sound invented,” it further said.

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Exploring the new iOS 7 features, changes, and interface

Later today, September 18, Apple will release iOS 7 — the biggest update to iOS since the first iPhone launched way back in 2007. In some ways, iOS 7 merely brings Apple’s mobile OS up to feature parity with Android and Windows Phone — but in other areas, iOS 7 leaps ahead of the competition. If you want to find out more about iOS 7′s new features and changes, read on. If reading isn’t your thing and you own an iPhone or iPad, go ahead and download and install iOS 7 today, ahead of the official release.

iOS 7′s radically different new look

After six years of looking exactly the same, iOS 7 finally delivers a massive visual overhaul that will make your iPhone or iPad actually look modern. In general, iOS 7 is flatter, more colorful, and lacks skeuomorphism (interface elements that resemble real-world objects/materials, such as wood paneling or a leather ledger). Despite the new look, though, iOS 7 still feels very familiar; everything’s still where you expect it to be. It just looks fresher. We’ve been using various beta versions of iOS 7 for a few months, and while there’s a bit of an adjustment period, Apple has somehow ensured that almost everything is surprisingly familiar.

In-line with newer versions of Android and Windows Phone, iOS 7 also now makes much more significant use of typography; in many cases, where there used to be an icon, there is now simply a label with the action/function spelled out. Underlying changes have been made to iOS 7 to give developers easier access to advanced typography features, too, such as kerning and ligatures.

iOS 7 is also more dynamic. The new Control Center (more on that later) is semi-transparent, allowing you to see the colorful Home screen beneath. Likewise, the Notification Center (which is significantly upgraded) is semi-transparent. When you tilt your iDevice, your Home screen icons move independently of the background, creating a cute parallax effect.

iOS 7 Control Center and Notification Center

Once you look beyond the visual overhaul, which actually provides very little in the way of new functionality, the most significant changes in iOS 7 are the new Control Center and the updated Notification Center. Control Center is a new panel that is revealed by sliding up from the bottom of the screen. Control Center finally lets you configure iOS without heading deep into Settings. You can enable airplane mode, toggle WiFi/Bluetooth, change screen brightness, control music playback, use your camera’s LED as a flashlight, and more.

Notification Center has been significantly updated in iOS 7, so that (just like Control Center) it provides much the same functionality as Android. Instead of a single panel, you now have three — Today, All, Missed — that show you your notifications, appointments, emails, stock tickers, and so on.

iOS 7 Multitasking

Always one of iOS’s weaknesses, version 7 also improves multitasking. Now, instead of just a small tray at the bottom of the screen when you double tap the Home button, you get a full-screen interface with app thumbnails. Instead of having to push-and-hold to close programs, you can just swipe the preview image off the screen.

Apple also claims that iOS 7 can learn your app usage schedule, and trigger updates just before you open an app. If you always check Facebook at 9am, iOS 7 will apparently check Facebook for updates just before, so that your feed is ready and waiting. Presumably this will save some battery life over the conventional method of constant push notifications — though, to be honest, these are probably still turned on by default anyway.

iOS 7 Camera and Photos

As much as the tech press hates to admit it, faster processors and fancy features are really rather superfluous: What the vast majority of iPhone users really care about is the device’s ability to snap photos. In iOS 7, the camera app now lets you shoot in square format (ideal for Instagram), and a range of filters can be applied in real time — and you can remove filters from images later, if you don’t like it. If you have an iPhone 5S, Camera also lets you shoot in slow motion, which is pretty awesome (but the question is, will it still be awesome once you’ve seen a million slow-mo videos on Vine, Instagram, and YouTube?)

The Photos app (pictured above) has been significantly overhauled to introduce Years, Collections, and Moments — essentially new ways of viewing your photos that have been automatically organized by certain criteria. Collections and Years are self-explanatory (iOS automatically collates your photos), and Moments tries to highlight important photos, such as your visit to Times Square. If you snap a lot of photos on your iPhone, these new views provide some much-needed organization.

iOS 7: AirDropiOS 7 AirDrop

AirDrop closely mirrors Samsung/Android’s S Beam, but with the usual dollop of Apple flair and polish. Basically, AirDrop lets you easily share any file on your iPhone or iPad via WiFi or Bluetooth, with any other iOS 7 device that’s in range. Discovery of other devices is very slick and quick, and you can remain invisible if you prefer. This is obviously a lot easier than emailing a file, or sending a low-res photo via SMS/MMS.

Other changes to iOS 7

Siri has been updated so that it checks more sources for information, and so that it can interact with new features such as iTunes Radio (pictured below) — which, incidentally, is essentially free Pandora radio for every iOS user, and ad-free if you sign up for the $25/year iTunes Match.

The App Store now has Apps Near Me, which shows you apps that are relevant to your current location — and, more importantly, the App Store can now automatically update your installed apps!

Find My iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch has been updated, so that it requires your Apple ID and password to turn the feature off, or to erase or activate your device.

Safari has been significantly updated, too — now it feels a lot more like a modern browser, such as Chrome. There’s a unified search box (a la Chrome’s omnibar), and the tab switcher is very slick. Though it won’t be ready for release, iCloud Keychain will allow you to securely store/share your passwords and credit card details between your iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks devices.

All in all, iOS 7 is one of Apple’s largest and best software updates. In testing, we have found iOS 7 a lot easier and quicker to use than its predecessors. One of the biggest complaints — that too many features are buried away in menus — has been soundly addressed. In a story later today, we’ll be investigating whether iOS 7 compares favorably against Android 4.3, or whether Apple still has some ground to cover.

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Viber iOS Review

A few months back, I was introduced to an app on the iOS platform called Viber, developed by Viber Media Inc. It’s a free download from the Apple App Store, and not a lot people use it or even know about it. Which is a surprise really, since this app is a smart-phone owner’s dream: it lets you make free calls and send free text messages from your phone!

The app is a small download (at just under 13 MB), and is totally free on the App Store. It has multi-language support. Currently, Viber is only available on the iOS and Android platforms.

The best thing about the app is that it integrates with your OS perfectly. It supports multitasking as well, and we’ll get to those features in a bit.

Once installed, the app asks for your location and phone number. It then sends you an activation code via SMS (works worldwide, provided you entered a legit phone number) which you have to enter on the next page. After this, the app asks for permission to access your phonebook. Allow it to do so. Upon initialization, you’ll be taken straight to its contacts tab, where you’re in for a nice surprise.

Viber works in a way that’s different from all other such VoIP apps. With Viber, usernames and passwords are a thing of the past! Viber uses your phone number as your username, freeing you off making user IDs, remembering passwords and logging in every time you want to use the app. It’s such a wonderfully simple concept! And that’s just the beginning. Once Viber accesses your phonebook, it scans it for cellphone numbers and matches them with its own database to provide you with a list of people, from your very own phonebook, using Viber. I mean how neat is that!

What you end up with then, is a separate list of all your contacts using Viber. You can send them a text message for free, or call them up for free of course, using the app.

Like I mentioned before, the integration with your OS is seamless. The calling method and appearance on the iPhone is exactly the same as it is when you use the native iPhone ‘Phone’ app. The only difference being that Viber uses its purple theme for everything. Ditto for texting, the interface looks EXACTLY like a purple-version of the iPhone’s native Messaging app, uses the same display to show conversation and to write a new text, and even has the same conversation window. Each text message that you send out comes with a delivery status as well. There’s also the option to attach an image from the iPhone’s library with your text message.

The calling also works pretty much the same way, you tap on a contact from your ‘Viber’ list. From there you can make a free call to him or her using Viber, send a free text message, or even call them using GSM from here.

The app’s interface is brilliant, and uses the same tabular look that comes with almost all iPhone apps. The tab bar on the bottom has tabs for messages, recent calls, contact, the keypad and a button for accessing more options.

When you receive a call or a text, Viber alerts you in pretty much the exact same way that the iPhone Phone and Messages app alerts you. For messages, a window pops-up (or you get a notification in the notification bar if you’re on iOS5), and for a call, the phone rings and the purple background of the display lets you know that you’re being called over Viber. The app also has the ability to send you push notifications for when one of your contacts starts using Viber.

I’ve been using Viber since a while now, and I’ve got to say, the sound quality has always been top-notch, even though I get the worst speeds on EDGE, thanks to my service provider. It’s quite frankly, amazing how Viber is able to keep the quality good despite the slow speed.

Like mentioned above, it runs in the background on your multitasking-enabled phone, so it works as sort of an alternative to your actual phone, only it’s free! ‘Free’ however often means ads, you might be pleased to know that I couldn’t find a single ad of any kind in the app. The only downside is that there’s no video option with this app. And while it might not be always useful, it doesn’t hurt having the security of putting the iPhone 4’s front-facing camera to use and switching to video-chat mode. I do hope they add this feature in the upcoming iterations.

This has to be, hands-down, one of the ‘must-have’ apps out there. It’s all totally one-hundred percent free: the app itself costs nothing, calling costs nothing and text messaging costs nothing. It does however use your data, so keep a watch out if you’re using it on EDGE or 3G. Works all over the globe, with anyone from anywhere in the world! You can use Viber to keep in touch with friends, or make free international calls and/or text messages using this. Get it here for free, right now!

What do you like about Viber? Let me know in the comments below!

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Truphone Snap Review

Truphone is a mobile VoIP service that allows users to make cheap local and international calls from their mobile phones. Calls between Truphone users are free. Truphone has cheap rates as strong point, but the service is also quite limited, mainly in terms of phone models it works on. Truphone service targets iPhone users, BlackBerry users and also those using high-end business phones or smart phones. Truphone is one of the first services to offer VoIP for the iPhone. It also brings VoIP to BlackBerry, which has somewhat been left apart by other VoIP services.

The rates are relatively low. Calls start for as low as 6 cents per minute, and prices hover around that for a set of common locations, known as the Tru Zone; but prices may go up to above a dollar for remote locations. For heavy international mobile callers, this can represent a save of around 80%. Truphone's rates are not the lowest on the mobile VoIP market - there are services that charge as low as 1 cent per minute, but these services have some rather consequent initial investments, such as a device or a monthly subscription. Truphone operates mainly on a pay-as-you-go basis - you top up and control your credit through their web site. This makes it therefore very competitive.

Truphone Anywhere allows you to use the service even outside a Wi-Fi hotspot, using your GSM network partly, the cost including the Truphone cost and that of the local GSM call. This small price addition gives perfect mobility anywhere.

The American TruSaver bundle gives 1000 minutes for calls to the US and Canada for $15. Anyone in the world can register for this bundle, but they can only make calls to the US and Canada with it. That's 1.5 cents a minute, but only if you use all of the 1000 minutes a month. Monthly leftovers are gone.

Guide Review

To get started with Truphone, visit their site, where you select your country and enter your phone number. You will be sent an SMS containing your download link, through which you will download the application on your compatible mobile itself and install it there. Once installed, you are already able to make a first free call with the free dollar credit you get. You can then carry on with your account for topping up credits. The installation process is really simple and easy. Using the application is also quite easy.

The Truphone application installed on your mobile phone integrates the phone well and works alongside the mobile user's GSM service. The application is kind of smartly versatile - in case you are out of Wi-Fi connection, you are asked whether to use your GSM service or that of Truphone for making calls and sending SMS.

If you are within a Wi-Fi hotspot, your phone uses the Internet connection to make and receive calls through the Truphone application. If you have no Internet connection, Truphone uses a mechanism called Truphone Anywhere, whereby your call is channelled partly through your GSM network until it reaches an Internet access point, from where it is routed to your callee over the Internet.

Truphone has been the first to develop an application and service for the iPhone, so most iPhone users who want to save money on phone calls have to consider it as a first option. Using VoIP over BlackBerry isn't very common as well, and as I am writing this, very few ways of doing so exist. Truphone service for BlackBerry comes to fill a large gap.

On the other hand, users of 'normal' (not to say low-end) mobile phones cannot use Truphone service as only very few models are supported. At the time I am writing this, only iPhone, BlackBerry and Nokia phones are supported. Would you believe they don't have an application for Sony Ericsson? Moreover, only a very small subset of phone models in each of these makes are listed in the service's list of supported devices. The supported phones are mostly business phones, like the Nokia E and N series. The Truphone web site says they are working hard on including other phone models into their list. So keep checking, specially if you have a high-end phone like a Sony Ericsson, HTC or Google phone.

In terms of connectivity, Truphone is limited to Wi-Fi. There is no support for 3G, GPRS or EDGE networks. But 3G support is coming soon.

The Cost

Calls through Wi-Fi between Truphone users are free and unlimited. Charges apply when you make calls to other landline and mobile phones.

Pros

• Cheap mobile international rates
• Usability everywhere, even where there is no Internet connection
• Easy to install and use
• Free calls between Truphone users, using Wi-Fi or 3G
• Works for iPhone and BlackBerry
• Possibility to make cheap calls even outside a Wi-Fi hotspot and without a data plan

Cons

• Service only supports a few high-end phones
• Does not on wireless networks other than Wi-Fi

Bottom Line

Given the fact that Truphone favors sophisticated phones like the iPhone, BlackBerry and Nokia N and E series phones, I am tempted to say it is a niche VoIP service. But it seems they realized that they are leaving out the great majority of mobile users to the competition. On ther other side, the so-far-deprived will surely find it too bad, thinking of the strong points of this service and specially its low rates. So watch out for considerable improvements in this good service. Via About.com Vendor Site

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Why iPhones are actually cheaper in China than the US

China’s second largest telco China Unicom announced today it will offer packages for customers to receive a free iPhone 5S or 5C with a contract. The catch? The contract is three years long for a 5C and 30 months for a 5S, and you have to buy a high-end plan.

Unicom’s slightly smaller competitor China Telecom announced the preorder of iPhones on its network before the devices were even revealed. Its prices are slightly cheaper. Details of China Mobile getting its first ever TD-LTE iPhone for the upcoming national 4G rollout are still unclear but expected soon.

Despite heavy criticism about the iPhone 5C not being cheap enough in China, the new contracts bring down the price to a nearly level playing field with Western countries, even if the plans cost more than what Chinese people are used to. Most Chinese data plans are cheap, limited to just 300MB. The more expensive plan required for a free iPhone offers roughly triple the data for triple the price. Will China Unicom and Telecom be able to lure more customers to its pricier packages for a three-year commitment? See my infographic below for the breakdown.

I decided to do the math. Even though iPhones are much cheaper in the US, data plans are far more expensive (typically $60 per month). That means over the course of two years, the total cost of owning and using an iPhone is actually more expensive. That includes the price of the iPhone and what you pay over the course of two years combined. On the upside, contracts typically only last 24 months. Of course, buying any unlocked smartphone in the US without a contract is extremely expensive.- source

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Android Running on the iPhone

A few weeks ago, we showed you Android running on the iPhone 2G but now you can run Google’s Android on your 3G as well. Awesome work! We’ll post an update in a few days when a downloadable version is available for you to install on your iPhone. A brief video demo is below and more info can be found on the project site.

Oh, and did we mention that you can dual boot the iPhone OS and Android? You can! That means you’ll be able to use all of the 38,000 Android apps (some of which are banned from the iPhone) as well as your old iPhone apps.

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HTC 8X Windows Phone Review

The HTC 8X Windows Phone is one of three flaghsip devices for the new OS. Justin Williams gauges how it measures up to the competition in an increasingly-crowded sector.

I've always had a soft spot for HTC's phones. The Taiwanese company was among the first to bring a touchscreen smartphone to the UK and was an early trailblazer for Android back in 2007. Its HD7 was an understated but worthy competitor when pitched against Nokia's colourful Lumia range in the small group of devices that ran Windows Phone 7. And, of course, it sold container-ship loads of Android devices up until 2011 when sales – thanks to aggressive marketing by Samsung – began to fall off a cliff.

So there's a lot riding on the 8X for HTC. Again it's up against a big brash phone from Nokia in the form of the Lumia 920 which seems to have a Frankenstorm marketing effort behind it as well as a flagship Windows phone from Samsung. It may not be a make-or-break device but we should not underestimate how important it is for HTC that this phone holds its own against the Lumia.

Hardware

The bald specs may suggest that the 8X isn't anything special but let's make no mistake here – this is an absolutely gorgeous phone. From its unibody design with its polycarbonate back through to a fabulous 4.3" LCD 2 screen, the 8X oozes quality. At 10.6mm it is thicker than both an iPhone 5 and a Galaxy SIII. But the 8X has tapered edges giving it a good grip and making it feel as slim as both the Apple and Samsung flagships. The phone isn't especially light but it sits evenly in the hand and the polycarbonate makes the hard plastic finish of the SIII and HTC's own One X feel cheap and slippery by comparison. Only the iPhone beats it in terms of design quality.

The physical buttons on the 8X – the power button on the top and the rocker and camera switches on the side – as well as the camera and flash are all flush with the body giving the phone a smooth profile whatever the viewing angle and HTC has reverted to placing the micro USB port on the phone's base rather on the side as with the One series.

Our review phone came in California Blue and the 8X will also be available in black, red and yellow

The phone is sealed so there's no access to the 1,800mAh battery but we had no issues here getting a full day of high usage out of it in contrast to the One X which was a great phone badly let down by its battery life.

What will almost certainly be an issue, though, is that the 8X comes with only 16GB of storage on board and no microSD slot (Windows Phone 8 does not support this). HTC points to the free 7GB of Skydrive storage giving an 8X user the ability to stream music to the device ignoring the reality for most of us who spend much of our lives outside 3G or WiFi zones. With the iPhone 5 offering up to 64GB and even the Lumia 920 having 32GB on board, one really has to question what astral plane HTC’s design team were on when they plumped for such a parsimonius amount of memory.

If your previous experience with Windows phones stretches only to Phone 7 then you’ll find the 8X quick… very quick. It opens apps, renders web pages and fires up the camera at near light speed compared to, say, the Nokia Lumia 900 or even an iPhone 4S which was no slouch in its day.

Display

Coupled with Windows Phone’s Live Tiles, the 8X’s 720 x 1280 pixel HD display is stunning. The pixel density (342 PPI) is higher than on the Nokia Lumia 920 and even the iPhone 5. Colours are rendered accurately and, even zoomed in, details are sharp and clear. We couldn’t detect any noticeable colour bias and there isn’t a hint of oversaturation.

Glare does not appear to be a problem and we were able to use the phone even in strong direct sunlight.

Until now, I’ve found Kindle books to be difficult to read on anything except an iPhone’s Retina display but this is as pleasurable on an 8X as a larger device.

Cameras

The 8X has a f/2.0 aperture and 28mm lens on the back coupled with a dedicated imaging chip which deliver the best results I’ve ever managed to squeeze out of a smartphone. The pictures are incredibly good for a point and shoot device whether close up or at a distance. Depth of field is good as is colour reproduction with sharp, accurately rendered colours that veer more towards under rather than oversaturation. Close-up, the macro performance is stunning with great detail reproduction even in low light.

Video capture is also up there with the best in class delivering 1080p at 30fps with a noticeable lack of wind noise and very speedy processing.

On the front, HTC has introduced a 2.1mp, f/2.0 wide angle camera allowing the social narcissists among us to start including up to three friends in those all-important profile and status shots.

Software

With Phone 8 development, Microsoft has gone down the Apple route opting to nip and tuck rather than radically overhaul the OS. It’s a brave strategy given the disappointing sales for Phone 7. But it’s the right decision – Windows Phone’s live tiles are far enough removed from the static icons of iOS and the confusing widget farm that Android has become to put clear blue water between Microsoft and its competitors.

Our testing predated the relaunch of the Windows Phone Store so we weren’t able to see the promised range of updated apps but it probably fair to say that this will continue to be very limited compared with the iOS App Store or Google Play. Those of us who desperately want to see a proper Twitter app or Dropbox on a Windows phone are likely to be still waiting months from now.

First introduced with its One series, HTC has included Beats audio technology with the 8X delivering an amazing depth and range of sound on even the cheapest in-ear earphones. But the inclusion of such an amazing sound system only serves to make the decision to limit on-board storage to 16GB appear even more bizarre.

What truly differentiates a Windows device from all the media-centric phones out there is its Office integration. With Phone 8 we’re still waiting for track changes on Word documents but tables and tabulation now render accurately and spreadsheets look and work like real Excel creations. For those of us who occasionally use a phone to grab a picture or a thought and share it with a desktop or tablet, the OneNote integration is fantastic and for the productivity minded this could be the deal sealer.

Microsoft is now bundling Nokia maps with all of its phones so you can download maps for most of the world and use them offline. This is a stroke of genius but one really does wonder what Nokia was thinking about when it decided to give away what was probably its last remaining USP.

I’d like to be able to say that web browsing on the 8X is pleasurable but Microsoft has failed to fix two of the biggest flaws with Phone 7: rendering and bookmarks. Pages still fail to render flawlessly leading to text and pictures overlapping on some sites giving the updated (and admittedly very quick) Internet Explorer an early 2002 Symbian feel. And as for bookmarks, the inability to manage and arrange your web bookmarks in folders or any other kind of coherent structure – rather than one long list – is baffling and, frankly, inexcusable.

Conclusion

The HTC Windows Phone 8X is a beautiful device with a delightful form factor. It is without doubt the best phone that HTC has made and has enough punch to be seriously considered alongside the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy SIII. On paper, it seems to beat the Nokia Lumia 920 and HTC has moved heaven and earth to get it to market on time which must give it a head start over the other Windows signature phones. The cameras – both front and back – are class leading and the image results breathtaking for a phone.

But it isn’t without its flaws, most notably the limited on-board storage which will make gaining adoption among music lovers an uphill struggle. - source

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Choosing The Best Bluetooth Headset for iPhone6

Bluetooth headsets have been in demand as they make it a lot more convenient to have a conversation on the move. iPhones are some of the most expensive handsets out there, and many people buy them for their symbolic value. So, when people decide that they want to have a Bluetooth for their iPhone, they look for something that will complement their device.

Top Bluetooth Headsets for iPhone 6

Jawbone Era

Jawbone is one of the highest-selling Bluetooth devices and its new offering Jawbone Era has garnered positive reviews. It has introduced an accelerometer in the gadget which allows you to pair the device by shaking it four times, and tapping the device (when it is connected) twice will allow you to answer an incoming call. Another feature that has impressed most is that it can remember up to eight devices, out of which two can be connected simultaneously. The audio clarity is great, courtesy its wideband HD speaker. It is priced at $98 (Amazon) which is a fair price considering the features it has to offer.

Jawbone Icon HD + The Nerd

Jawbone Icon HD + The Nerd is second on the list courtesy its HD quality audio and simultaneous A2DP multi-point capabilities. And all of you who are wondering what role does 'Nerd' play, well, it is just an audio adapter which acts as an automatic pairing device, making it easier for you to use the headset for taking calls on your laptop. The voice clarity is superb and the Nerd makes it relatively easy to receive calls. Some cons are that the Nerd is only available in the pack, that is, you can't buy it separately. Also, at the price of $108 (Amazon), there certainly are better options to consider, like the Plantronics Voyager Pro +.

Plantronics Voyager Pro +

If you are someone who looks for substance over style, then Plantronics Voyager Pro Plus can very well be the headset for you. Its design may not impress all, but the audio quality on this headset is by far the best in this segment. Its long battery life ensures that it doesn't die in the midst of that important call. It supports stereo Buletooth, and the music quality is commendable. Overall, a very good package if you don't mind a bulky design. Priced at $74.50 (Amazon).

Jabra Easycall

Jabra is one of the leading manufacturers of Bluetooth headsets. Its range of headsets has been received well over the years and Easycall continues the legacy. The setup is easy and it pairs easily with the iPhone 4. Like other headset devices, it offers you the convenience of selecting the best-fitting earpiece which you can select from over four different sizes. The Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology ensures that the voice clarity is good even when you there are external disturbances. With a 6 hours of talk-time and 8 hours of standby, the battery life is among the best. A word of caution for music aficionados - the headset doesn't support music playback, but you can always rely on your phone for that. It is strategically priced at $50 (Amazon), which makes it a value-for-money device.

When the iPhone 6 had just come into the market at first, many people complained that the Bluetooth pairing on it did not work well with headsets and other similar cell phone accessories. Constant disconnection was noticed, but Apple fixed this problem with their subsequent releases of iOS updates. Today this is not a problem anymore, and even the new iPhone 6 that will work on Verizon will be work fine when paired with a Bluetooth headset.

The headsets can be bought from a number of sources, but if you want to get a feel of the weight and the look of the device, you can very well head off to a retail store. People who regularly drive and talk on the phone will find these Bluetooth headsets especially useful.

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Hands-on with fake iPhone 5

Apple’s (AAPL) next-generation iPhone becomes a reality in just over a week, and a staggering amount of leaks and rumors will surface between now and then. As is always the case, some will be real and some will be fake. 

Just because something is fake doesn’t mean we can’t gain some insights by examining it, however, and The Verge managed to track down an “iPhone 5” mock-up while attending the IFA trade show in Berlin last week. The mock-up is said to have been created for testing purposes by a third-party case manufacturer using actual specs and measurements from Apple’s upcoming sixth iPhone. In the video below, we can see exactly how it stacks up against the current-model iPhone 4S.

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10 Best Voip iPhone Apps

Our smartphones do just about everything these days, but sometimes you still have to make a plain old phone call on them. And added on top of texting and data plans, voice minutes can get expensive. That’s where VoIP apps come in.

Because of today’s higher data speeds, VoIP is a legitimate calling option when you want to save money on calls from your Android, iPhone, or iPad. These apps work best with 3G connections or better, and many of them act as a great backup option for your business phone system.

A word of warning, however: if you frequently have dropped calls, you may have problems with VoIP too. When this is the case, you can still use your VoIP apps with WiFi to do away with that problem. Here are 10 of today’s coolest VoIP apps, listed alphabetically.

1. Beejive is a top mobile chat application that not only supports VoIP calls and multiple chat clients, but plenty of other useful tools. This iPhone app uses transparent overlay text so you can see your conversation and not lose track of your message. It also has push notification for up to seven days.

2. Fring is a straightforward competitor to Skype, but instead of offering unlimited call plans, it charges on a per-minute basis at very low rates. Fring can also be used as a SIP client, which can be used for initiating, modifying, or terminating two-party or multi-party sessions. Fring is a solid choice in today’s VoIP apps.

3. iCall is a favorite app for making VoIP calls, allowing free VoIP calling in the United States and Canada. With iCall you get push notifications when you receive a call. This app also offers inexpensive international calls, and users have the choice of using a paid service that skips a 30-second ad at the beginning of a call.

4. JaJah is a simple download that gives you access to services that integrate easily with your phone book. If you want to make a call, you log in and select who you’re calling. You can call JaJah users as well as Facebook users for free. Other calls are billed at low rates regardless of location.

5. The Line2 app has unlimited SMS and offers a free 30-day trial (and bills at $9.95 per month afterward). Line2 adds a second number to your iPhone, which is great if you want a dedicated number for work. You can cancel without penalty and the service is billed to your credit card rather than your iTunes account.

6. Nimbuzz is yet another all-inclusive app. It supports several chat clients and VoIP options. You can use free calling, file sharing, and messaging on your smart phone, browser, or desktop, and you can import your friends from Facebook, Windows Live, Yahoo, and GoogleTalk.

7. Skype is basically synonymous with VoIP. The quality is great, it’s easy to use, and it’s cheap. Skype’s iOS app does everything that Skype on your laptop or desktop does, such as making calls over WiFi or 3G. It also offers instant messaging and video chat. Calls to other Skype users are free, but you can add the inexpensive SkypeOut plan for flat-rate calls to anyone in your country who doesn’t use Skype.

8. Talkatone uses Gmail VoIP to let you place free calls on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch as long as you have a Google Voice account. Users find it easy to set up. You simply enter your Google Voice information, set your Google Voice line to forward to Google Chat, and you’re done.

9. Truphone offers both a pay-as-you-go plan and an unlimited plan. If you make lots of international calls from the U.S., the unlimited plan includes calls to 35 destinations at no charge. You also get low-cost text messages, free calling to Skype and GoogleTalk, free IM, and free Voicemail.

10. Viber is a popular app that does not require you to create an account, hand over your credit card information, or even create a username. However, to call someone free, they also need to have Viber. Your Viber minutes are only used if you call someone who doesn’t have Viber. Viber is ad-free, and you can call anyone in the world who has the same app.

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