Apple has released a new iPod touch and this time it actually has a decent camera on it. But is it half-way decent or all-the-way decent? If you go iPod touch instead of iPhone 5, and the camera matters to you, how much are you missing out? That's what we're aiming to find out by putting both to the test. It's iPhone 5 vs. iPod touch 5 in an iOS camera shoot-out, iMore style!

Photo size: iPod touch 5 vs iPhone 5

Before we start comparing similar photos side-by-side, it's important to note that since the iPhone 5 has an 8-megapixel camera and the iPod touch 5 has a 5-megapixel camera, the full-resoluntion dimensions of the iPod touch 5's photos are smaller than the iPhone 5's photos. To be exact, the iPod touch 5 produces 1936x2592 images and the iPhone 5 produces 2448x3264 images. The photos above show how these two resolutions compare proportionally.

In terms of print sizes, if you print at 200 ppi, photos from the iPod touch can print up to 9"x12" and photos from the iPhone 5 can print up to 12"x16". At 300 ppi, the iPod touch produces prints up to 6"x8" images and iPhone 5 photos print up to 8"x10".

Fort the remainder of this review, the images from both devices have been scaled down to appear to be the same size. The photos on the left were taken with an iPod touch 5 and the photos on the right were taken with an iPhone 5.

General photography: iPod touch 5 vs iPhone 5

In general, the iPod touch 5's camera takes very nice photos even when compared next to iPhone 5 photos -- but it's still clear that the iPhone 5 photos are better. The noticeable differences are that the iPhone 5's images are more vibrant, have more contrast, and are a little warmer. Overall, the iPod touch 5 photos just look a little flat when compared with the iPhone 5's versions. I always prefer the iPhone 5's photo over the iPod touch 5 when shooting with the rear-facing iSight cameras.

Macro photography: iPod touch 5 vs iPhone 5

Both camera's performed well at macro, specifically with their ability to focus. The iPod touch 5 and iPhone 5 both do a better job at focussing on close subjects than the iPhone 4S.

Again, the images from the iPhone 5 have more contrast and a warmer tone.

Low-light photography: iPod touch 5 vs iPhone 5

The quality of the sensor on the iPhone 5 is very obviously better than the iPod touch 5 when comparing photos taken in low-light. You can also see that the colors are much more accurate in low-light than on the iPod touch. In the above images, the first image has an unflattering green tint and is also much darker.

Low-light, indoor environments are almost equally bad on both devices as shown in the photos below.

Front-facing cameras: iPod touch 5 vs iPhone 5

Both the iPhone 5 and iPod touch 5 are equipped with the same front-facing 1.2-megapixel FaceTime HD camera, so I was rather surprised to discover that the iPod touch 5 takes warmer photos than the iPhone 5. It's possible that there another variable like angle between me and the sun or the camera and the sun that is causing these results, but I took several images with both cameras at this time and all produced similar results: the iPod touch 5's photos are warmer than the iPhone 5's photo (from the FaceTime camera).

Panoramic photography: iPod touch 5 vs iPhone 5

As with other images, the iPod touch 5 and iPhone 5 cameras produce similar panoramic photos except that the iPhone 5's version has more contrast and a slightly warmer tone.

The bottom line

There's no denying that the iPhone 5's camera is better than the iPod touch 5. The images are more vibrant, have more contrast, and have better color. Are the differences huge? No. In fact, in most cases, I can edit a photo taken with an iPod touch to look just like it's iPhone 5 counterpart with very little effort. Where the iPhone 5 really excels is at low-light photography and of course the resolution of the images. Overall, I was still impressed with the quality of the camera on the iPod touch considering it's housed in such an incredibly thin device.

Apple's iMessage service, their iOS and OS X SMS- and MMS- like service, is currently down for a lot of users. It's been going down fairly regularly as of late, though not for lengthy periods of time. Game Center, Apple's online gaming service, has also gone down or suffered from poor service over the last week.

Everything goes down. Google goes down. Amazon does down. RIM goes down. Microsoft goes down. We go down. But reliability is a feature and if something goes down or suffers from poor services too often, or even if perception starts to give people that impression, it's a problem.

Apple's building more data centers and hiring more internet services engineers, but this is absolutely a problem they have to fix and fast. iMessage and Game Center -- iCloud in general -- has to feel like power, like something that's almost taken for granted as always being there.

And when it does go down, it should be so rare as to be truly shocking. Not simply, "again?"

As always, let me know if iMessage is working for you, and if it isn't, when it starts working again.

Disappointing news today for those eagerly awaiting the promised October launch of iTunes 11. Apple has just announced that it has had to delay its release until the end of November. Apple talked about the iTunes 11 refresh back in September at the iPhone 5 media event and said that it would be out by the end of October. All Things D has received a statement from Apple spokesperson Tom Neumayr.

The new iTunes is taking longer than expected and we wanted to take a little extra time to get it right. We look forward to releasing this new version of iTunes with its dramatically simpler and cleaner interface, and seamless integration with iCloud before the end of November.

Very disappointing news but it is better that Apple delayed it now rather than releasing a version that would prove to be buggy and problematic; Apple doesn't need any more bad press in this regard. Delaying it for a month to iron out these problems is certainly the sensible route to take. It's doubtful that the delay has anything to do with the managerial changes which were announced yesterday especially as Scott Forstall had very little to do with iTunes; Eddy Cue is the man in charge of that.The refresh of iTunes includes a cleaner design, much needed performance improvements, better iCloud integration, enhanced library search and a redesigned mini-player.

Were you looking forward to getting your hands on the refreshed iTunes 11 this week?

Source:All Things D

Google today announced an updated Search app for iOS devices. That in and of itself is should be cause for celebration, but it's the the new voice search that has us particularly excited. (Especially since Siri hasn't quite lived up to expectations.)

So how's Google Search stack up? Set side by side with its Android counterpart, quite well. We gave it a gander from an Android Central point of view and came away pretty impressed. Lacking on iOS is the deep integration with the operating system, but that's to be expected. Have a look at the video after the break and see for yourself.

• Free Download now; More: Android Central

With the iPad mini official launching this Friday, several people who pre-ordered and decided to pick up a Smart Cover along with their purchase have begun to receive them ahead of receiving their actual iPad mini. I received mine today and found that while it's pretty much the same as the regular sized iPad Smart Covers, there are a few differences.

Upon unboxing the iPad mini, the first thing I noticed was how the hinge is slightly different than that of the older Smart Covers. While there is a magnet running along the side just as you'd expect, it's covered. I actually prefer this design as it looks like one solid piece instead of a steel magnet breaking up the design. It's not a huge deal and most people would be fine either way, but it's one of the subtle design changes that makes a product look better.

Other than that there aren't very many differences between the iPad mini smart cover and its larger counterpart aside from the fact that it is freakishly smaller. As you can see from the images above, holding the iPad mini Smart Cover gives you a pretty good idea of how much smaller the iPad mini really is.

The Smart Cover will fold the same way you're used to with the traditional Smart Covers so you can elevate the iPad mini to type or to view media content in a more upright position. The only real difference is where the traditional Smart Covers required you to fold twice, the iPad mini's smaller size only needs to be folder over once.

The iPad mini Smart Cover is available in the Apple Online Store now for $39, the same price as the traditional Smart Covers. I was honestly surprised they weren't slightly cheaper than the larger variants. The Polyurethane version is the only one available as of now and we aren't sure if Apple will offer a leather version for the iPad mini at some point in the future.

Other than that, it's same Smart Cover that we've all come to either love or hate. If you enjoy using the original Smart Covers on your iPad and appreciate the minimalistic design even though it offers zero protection to the back of the device, you'll like the versions for the iPad mini. If you didn't, you won't like these either.

We'll have more once we've gotten our hands on an iPad mini to test it out on but in the mean time, check out more images below.

All photos taken with a Nikon D7000 and a 50mm f/1.8 lens and embedded at HiDPI for iPhones, iPad 3, and Retina MacBook Pro.

If your iPhone 4S doesn't want to register a charger is plugged in, the dock connector may be defective or damaged. This can commonly occur from using third party charges that are poor quality or just from old age. If you're out of warranty and aren't yet eligible for an upgrade with your carrier, a new iPhone can be costly. A DIY repair to replace the dock connector will cost you far less and you'll most likely get a lot more life out of your iPhone 4S.

Follow along and we'll walk you through from buying the parts to performing the repair yourself.

Disclaimer: As with any repair, neither iMore nor The Pod Drop can be held responsible for any damage you may do to your device. It's also worth considering that opening up your device to perform any repair or modification can and will void your Apple warranty. If you don't feel comfortable opening your device, don't. Use extreme care and caution when performing a repair on any device.

Not comfortable with DIY repair? Leave it to the pros

If you aren't comfortable performing a DIY repair on your own, don't. It is possible to cause more damage or run into issues you aren't ready for. In this case, it's probably better to either pay the money for a replacement device from Apple or use a local or mail-in service that will handle the repair and any issues that may arise for you.

The Pod Drop has many locations in the midwest and is a rapidly growing company. You can check for a Pod Drop location near you, mail it in, or use another third party repair service. For more information on mail-in repairs or possible Pod Drop locations near you, you can visit their website.

• Pod Drop locations and mail-in options

If you are comfortable with repairing your own device, put your ninja pants on and keep reading!

What you'll need to DIY replace an iPhone 4S dock connector

PXLFIX recommends using only quality and genuine parts from a reputable supplier like eTech Parts. They have quality parts, tools, and much more for all your repair needs. You will find links to the specific parts you'll need for this repair in the list below.

• iPhone 4S (any variant)
• Replacement dock connector - Link to black part, Link to white part
• #00 Phillips screwdriver - Link to part
• Security screwdriver - Link to part
• Spudger tool - Link to part
• SIM removal tool or paperclip

Video walkthrough

While the video walkthrough is pretty detailed, we still recommend using it in correlation with the written steps below. The video above is a complete teardown and you don't need to complete all the steps in order to replace the dock connector.

Power off your iPhone 4S

Before performing any repair you should always power off your device before opening it up.

Remove the back plate

1. Using your security screwdriver, remove the 2 screws on either side of the dock connector port.

2. Set them aside. They are both the exact same size and length so it does not matter if you mix them up. They are interchangeable.
3. Gently slide up the back plate by applying a bit of pressure along the bottom with your thumbs and sliding upwards.

4. Now lift off the back plate and set it aside.

Remove the battery and grounding clip

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the two screws holding the battery in place.

2. These screws are different lengths so make sure you remember which one goes where. The one that is slightly larger is the bottom screw.
3. There is a tiny grounding clip underneath the battery clip where the first screw is located. Use your spudger tool or finger to remove it before prying the clip up. Many times it can go flying if you don't remove it first and then you'll have difficulty locating it so it's best to remove it first.

4. Now use your spudger tool and at the bottom of the battery clip, gently pry upwards so the clip pops up.

5. Move to the edge of the iPhone where the volume buttons are located and use your spudger tool to carefully pry up the battery. It is stuck down with a good amount of adhesive so be careful when prying upwards that you don't bend the battery. This is why I do not use the plastic tab that is provided. It typically rips or bends the battery. If one part is resistant move your pry tool a little further down and gently start prying it up in different places taking care not to come too close to the volume button cables towards the top.

6. Once you've gotten the battery pulled out of the iPhone 4S we can move on to inserting the replacement battery.

Remove the top logic board shields

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the four screws that hold the top silver shield in place and the one screw that holds the small black shield in place.

2. Now use your spudger or pry tool to gently lift the silver shield out of the iPhone.

3. Use your spudger or pry tool to lift the black shield out of the iPhone.

4. Set both shields aside and make sure your screws are organized for reassembly later.

Unclip the top logic board cables & remove the rear-facing camera

Using your spudger or pry tool carefully disconnect all the cables at the top of the logic board. There are seven cables total. One of the cables lies underneath the bottom most cable so you'll need to disconnect the cable over it before folding it back and revealing the shorter cable underneath.

Once you unclip the seven cables, you can lift the rear-facing camera directly out of the iPhone. It was only connected by one cable.

Disconnect the dock connector

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver remove the shield that is covering the dock connector cable towards the middle left of the iPhone. Remember which screw came from where as they are different sizes. Gently lift the shield out of the iPhone and set it aside.

2. Take your spudger tool and gently pry up the dock connector cable and peel it back as shown below. Perform this step with caution as there is adhesive on the underside of the cable. Take care not to rip the cable by pulling up to quickly.

3. Leave the cable in this position and move on to the next section.

Pry up the Wi-Fi antenna

1. Using your spudger toolcarefully pry up the round connection for the cellular antenna. It should come up easily so pry up gently.

2. You'll notice that it is wrapped around a metal clip. Gently unwrap it so it's sticking upwards and leave it in this position.

Remove the SIM card and tray

Using a SIM removal tool or a bent paper clip, eject the SIM tray and set it, and the SIM card aside.

Remove the logic board

1. Remove the three #00 Phillips screws at the top, middle, and bottom left of the logic board with your #00 Phillips screwdriver. The top screw has a piece of tape over it you'll need to peel back. After removing it you'll also notice a gold grounding clip underneath it. Make sure you don't lose it as you'll need it for reassembly.

2. There are two more screws holding the logic board in place and you'll need to remove them with your flat head screwdriver. They are located at the top right and bottom of the logic board.
3. Now you should be able to lift the logic board out of the iPhone. Use the area that the rear-facing camera was located and the bottom of the logic board to lift it straight out.

Remove the loud speaker assembly

1. The loud speaker is held in with two screws that are located on both sides of the assembly. Use your #00 Phillips screwdriver to remove them.

2. The screw on the left hand side of the assembly has a black triangular spacer underneath it. Make sure you don't lose it and set it aside for reassembly.

3. After the two screws are removed you can gently lift the speaker assembly out of the iPhone.

Disconnect the home button

1. The home button fastens into your dock connector so in order to replace the dock connector assembly we'll need to unplug the home button.

2. Use your pry tool to gently unfasten the clip holding the home button cable in place. This cable is very tiny and fragile so handle it with care.

3. Next, gently use your pry tool and your finger to back the cable out of the clip.

This is as far as we'll need to go with the home button. Once it is unhooked, just disregard it while we move on to the dock connector.

Remove the dock connector assembly

There are two screws and some adhesive holding the dock connector into your iPhone 4S. We'll need to remove those in order to pull the assembly out of the phone.

1. Remove the two screws holding the dock connector in place with your #00 screwdriver. There is one to the left and one to the right of the actual docking port. The one to the left may be covered with yellow tape. Just peel it back.

2. The left and right sides of the cable are held down with adhesive. Use your pry tool to pull up the cable and the left part of the assembly. Take care not to pry on the home button cable. Use your pry tool to hold it out of the way when removing the dock connector assembly from your iPhone 4S.

3. Next move over to the actual dock connector cable which is also held in with just adhesive. Gently pry it up.

4. The rubber gasket to the left just plugs right into the frame, so to speak, so just pull it out gently to separate it from the frame.
5. You should now be able to remove the dock connector assembly from your iPhone.
6. Now pull the rubber gasket from two steps ago off the old dock connector assembly as you'll need to place it on the new one.

Install the new dock connector assembly

1. Place the rubber gasket you removed from the old assembly onto the new one and now we're ready to install the new one.
2. Peel the adhesive off the back of the new dock connector. Compare where the adhesive is on the old and new assemblies. Your iPhone 4S has grooves in the frame showing you where to line up the left and right.
3. First line up the actual dock port and sit it flush. Replace the 2 screws on either side to hold it in firmly.
4. Before going any further, go ahead and stick a dock connector cable into the port like you would to charge your iPhone. If it slides in nicely and feels like it should, continue reassembly. If it doesn't, remove the 2 screws and re-align it. It can be a bit tricky to line it up perfectly, but you'll get there.
5. Plug the rubber gasket back into the mid-frame.
6. Now line up the rest of the dock connector cable assembly. Make folds in the cable where necessary. It's helpful to compare how your old cable is folded and mimic those folds on the new one. Be careful not to dislodge or tear the home button cable while re-positioning the dock connector.

Re-connect your home button

1. Use your pry tool and finger to carefully slide your home button cable back in place.
2. Once the cable is positioned where it should be you can go ahead and use your pry tool to push down the clip that fastens it in place.

Reassemble your iPhone 4S

Now that you've got your new dock connector in place, it's time to finish reassembling your iPhone 4S. You can follow all these steps in reverse or use our video guide above as a reference. We recommend using both as they are really meant to compliment each other.

Since our video guide is a full breakdown, you'll only need to watch from about 4:30 on to complete reassembly.

And... done!

Once you've got your iPhone 4S completely put back together, go ahead and turn it on. First thing you'll want to do is make sure it's charging normally and that your bottom mic is functioning properly.

If all is in working order, give yourself a pat on the back. If you run into issues, our DIY and mod forums are a great place to find some help or you can e-mail me directly with questions.

Additional resources:

• How to replace a cracked or broken screen on an iPhone 4S
• How to replace the battery in an iPhone 4S
• Even more DIY guides and walkthroughs

Boooo!!! Scared yet? No? Good. We're looking to help you make it a HAPPY HALLOWEEN this year by celebrating with savings across our Mobile Nations stores. Until Thursday, November 1st at Midnight PST, you can save 15% on ALL iPhone and iPad Accessories at the iMore store using coupon code treat2012 at checkout.

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Don't forget, we have free shipping on US and Canada orders over $50, and great low cost international shipping options available as well. Don't be scared out of these savings... click the link below to get started!

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Everything you need to know about choosing the perfect iPad mini or iPad 4 color, capacity, carrier, and more!

There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to buying a new iPad mini, iPad 4 or any tablet for that matter. Once you've decided you do indeed need a new tablet, you still have to decide if the new tablet you need is an iPad. While we still believe the iPad is the best choice for most of the people most of the time, there are a lot of other tablets on the market these days and there might be one better suited to some people's individual needs. If you do decide the iPad is perfect for you, then comes the choice of model (iPad mini, iPad 4, or iPad 2), color (white & silver or black & slate), storage capacity (16GB, 32GB, or 64GB), and carrier network (in the U.S., AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint are the major ones). And what do you do with your old, broken tablet when your new, hot iPad arrives?

Enter iMore's iPad buyers guide, late 2012 edition. If you need help deciding what to buy, we've got your back. And if you've already decided, just bookmark, email, Facebook, or Tweet this so we can help your friends and family and you can get on with enjoying your new iPad!

iPad mini, iPad 4, or something else: Which iPad should you get?

Just because Apple has released the new iPad mini and iPad 4 doesn't mean you have to race off and get it. Crazy, I know, particularly coming from the greatest iPad enthusiast site in the world, but that just goes to show you how true it is. When the time comes for you to get your next tablet, whether it's today or next year, and iPad or something else, you should look at what's on the market and decide what best suits your needs.

If you want the sleekest, slimmest, easiest to use, most mainstream friendly, most content rich, most well supported tablet in the industry, the iPad mini might just be for you. If you want all of that but with far more power, and far more pixels on a much bigger screen, the iPad 4 might just be for you.

If you're not sure, here's a breakdown of the pros and cons of upgrading to the iPad mini or iPad 4, whether you own an existing iPad, an Android tablet, a BlackBerry PlayBooks, an Amazon Kindle, or something else.

• Buy vs upgrade vs skip: Should you get the iPad mini or iPad 4?

Now vs. later: When should you buy an iPad?

Once you've decided to get an iPad, you may still be wondering when exactly you should get it. Apple releases new iPads every year... or so. So should you buy now or wait and get the next one, and hopefully more bang for your buck, when it launches? Here's the deal...

For a brief sliver of time in 2010 Apple released a new iPad in the spring, new iPhone in the summer, and new iPod touch in the fall. Now, who knows? This year, we got new iPhones and iPods in the fall, and new iPads in both the spring and fall.

The bottom line is this -- buy one when you need one. There will always be new and better iPads coming. If you need one, get one when you need one. If you don't need one, wait as long as you can until you do, check iMore for any rumors of impending updates, pick your date, and then pull the trigger and feel great about it.

iPad 4 vs. iPad 2 vs. iPad mini: Which iPad should you get?

The latest, greatest, iPad -- in this case the late 2012 iPad 4 -- can't be considered a no-brainer buy this year because Apple has now also introduced the all-new iPad 2. The iPad 2 has also stuck around in some sort of limbo-like middle ground, further complicating your purchasing decision.

Power vs portability, starting at $329 vs. starting at $399 or $499 -- there's a lot of factors to consider. Here they are:

• iPad 4 vs. iPad 2 vs. iPad mini: Which iPad should you get?

Black or white, which iPad mini or iPad 4 should you get?

Apple has updated the iPad and launched the new iPad mini, so we're updating our buyers guides to help you choose just exactly the right devices for you. Now, ever since the iPad 2 launched with a choice of black or white faceplates, one of the biggest decisions we've all had to make is which color to get. This year, that stays the same for the iPad, but for the iPad mini, which has an iPod touch 5-style colored backplate as well, it's an even bigger -- make that smaller -- choice.

Here's what you need to consider:

• Black or white, which iPad mini or iPad 4 should you get?

16GB vs 32GB vs 64GB: Which new iPad mini or iPad 4 storage capacity should you get?

The iPad mini and iPad 4 come in three storage sizes -- 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB, and each step up in size costs an extra $100. Saving money and running out of space is no fun, but neither is paying for space you don't end up using.

How many photos and videos you want to keep with you, how many apps and games, and how many TV shows and movies you want on your iPad will determine how much space you need. Also, online storage like iCloud or third party services like Dropbox, SugarSync, or Box.net might change the equation.

Here's how the different price points work out, and what you need to consider when choosing between them.

• 16GB vs 32GB vs 64GB: Which new iPad mini or iPad 4 storage capacity should you get?

AT&T vs Verizon vs Sprint: Which iPad carrier should you choose?

If you're in the U.S. it's probably not so easy deciding which carrier is best for your iPad or iPad mini needs, AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint. Price is always a huge factor to consider when choosing a carrier, but coverage should be just as, if not more, important when making a decision. Since the iPad and iPad mini support LTE cellular technology, you're going to want to take a close look at which carriers offer the best LTE coverage in your area.

Here are the prices and plans you'll want to consider.

• AT&T vs Verizon vs Sprint: Which iPad carrier should you choose?

Apple Store vs. other stores: Where should you buy?

So now that you know what you're getting, how about where? Carrier compatibility aside, the iPad you get will be the same, but the customer service you receive can vary greatly. Also, if you have specific loyalty rewards at a certain carrier or company, that can change the deal you get.

• Apple Retail: If you have an Apple Retail Store in your area, you can go there, and if it's in stock, leave with your new iPad right away. They also offer help with your purchase and will even help you get set your new iPad up and running free of charge. If you're worried about protecting your investment, they can also get you setup with AppleCare, and their Genius Bar can help you with hardware problems in the future. Corny as it sounds, It's not just shopping, it's an experience. Apple Retail has the best customer service in the business and it shows. There are no discounts, however, not ever. (Though your carrier discounts can still apply.

• Apple Online: If there's no Apple Retail store near you there's also Apple Online in many countries. Again, no discounts but you're dealing directly with Apple. If there are any shortages or shipping delays, you can still order and they'll get it out to you as soon as stock allows.

• Carrier stores and big box retailers: If you want brick-and-morter but don't have an Apple Store nearby, and you want a cellular iPad, your carrier may offer them and have one or several stores in your area. Drop buy or get it shipped to you. If you want a Wi-Fi iPad, big box and chain retailers typically carry the iPad. If you have loyalty points or they're just super convenient, check them out as well.

Shady operators also try to sell discount iPads, sometimes devices that aren't even really iPads but cheap -- and highly breakable -- knockoffs. It goes without saying you should avoid those. Any deal too good to be true probably is. If you save money only to end up with a phone that doesn't run iOS and may not even run on your carrier you really just wasted your money.

iPad mini and iPad 4 user guides

Once you've bought your new iPad mini or iPad 4, it's time to enjoy. Here's how to set it up with iCloud over-the-air (OTA), including updates, backups, security, music and media, and apps and games, how to get Siri up and running and assisting you, and how to get started with iMessage and Notification Center, and even use your iPad as a camera.

How to get more help with your iPad

No article can cover every detail or address every unique circumstance or concern. Luckily iMore also hosts the iPad Forums, a vast community where users can ask questions, give feedback, and get help.

• iPad 4 discussion and help forums
• iPad mini discussion and help forums

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Today, EE (Everything Everywhere) has officially launched the UK's very first LTE network. The service will initially roll out across eleven UK cities with that coverage increasing by 2000 sq miles every month. The first eleven UK cities to receive LTE will be Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Sheffield and Southampton. EE believes that the service will be available in a further five cities before Christmas with more cities and rural locations planned for 2013. By the end of 2014, 98% of the population will also have access to EE's LTE.

Olaf Swantee, CEO at EE, said: "Today is a landmark day for our company, the UK mobile industry and, most importantly, the country's businesses and consumers. "But this is just the start as our 4G network will continue to grow stronger and wider by the day. We're investing £1.5 billion in our network to be the first company to offer mobile 4G in the UK, alongside the biggest 3G network. Combined with our Fibre Broadband and revolutionary service model we have a pioneering and unique offer to customers across the UK – superfast speeds in the home, superfast speeds on the move and expert service on nearly every high street in Britain."

EE has been under a lot of criticism for the poor value plans offered with its LTE network but as it has an exclusive in the UK, it was never going to be great value for money. The iPhone 5 is one of the few phones that is compatible with EE's LTE network; so the day has finally come when UK consumers can grab a taste of some super fast data speeds like those seen across the pond.

The question remains though, does it offer enough of a speed improvement to get you to spend the extra money? I won't be making the switch to EE as I am more than happy with my unlimited "All you can eat data", from Three in the UK. If any of our UK readers make the switch to EE, make sure you let us know what data speeds you experience.

Source: Press Release

EE LAUNCHES SUPERFAST 4G AND FIBRE FOR UK CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES TODAY

Over 700 EE stores open on high streets across the country

4G mobile services available for British consumers and businesses for the first time ever today Superfast service launches in 11major cities across the UK 4G network rollout to increase to 2,000 sq miles every month Fibre Broadband from EE available to 11 million premises, with superfast speed typically ten times faster than standard broadband New research reveals around three quarters of businesses (74%) are planning to adopt 4G within 12 months

30th October 2012. London. Superfast services are available for consumers and businesses for the first time ever today as EE, the UK's most advanced digital communications company, launches its new 4G service in 11 cities.

The launch is set to offer a timely boost to the UK economy offering firms the opportunity to increase innovation, boost productivity and cut costs, as has been the experience of companies in countries such as the US, Sweden, Japan and Germany since the technology was first introduced[1].

Today also marks the arrival of over 700 EE stores on high streets across the country in one of the biggest and fastest transformations in UK retail history.

Olaf Swantee, CEO at EE, said: "Today is a landmark day for our company, the UK mobile industry and, most importantly, the country's businesses and consumers.

"But this is just the start as our 4G network will continue to grow stronger and wider by the day. We're investing £1.5 billion in our network to be the first company to offer mobile 4G in the UK, alongside the biggest 3G network. Combined with our Fibre Broadband and revolutionary service model we have a pioneering and unique offer to customers across the UK – superfast speeds in the home, superfast speeds on the move and expert service on nearly every high street in Britain."

The delivery of 4G and the company's retail transformation has been underpinned by an intensive employee training programme as well as a comprehensive national IT infrastructure upgrade to ensure that EE customers receive expert service.

In its first phase, the 4G service is going live in Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Sheffield and Southampton. This will allow users to:

Access the web on the go in an instant

Download large email attachments quicker than ever

Watch live TV on the move without buffering

Download high-definition movies in minutes

Play live multiplayer games on the go

Make high quality video calls on the move

And today's launch is just the start as 4G coverage from EE will expand by 2,000 square miles every month, both into new cities as well as providing denser coverage in existing areas. This means the service will be available in a further five cities before Christmas, with more cities and rural locations planned for 2013, and 98% of the population due to be covered by the end of 2014.

On average, 4G mobile coverage will be made available to around two million people in Britain every single month between now and the end of 2014, making this the fastest rollout of any UK network in history.

EE's Fibre Broadband, typically ten times faster[2] in homes and offices, is available to 11 million premises from today as well. Ideal for households or small businesses with multiple devices, EE Fibre Broadband offers maximum download speeds of up to 76Mbps – allowing customers to stream HDTV, play online games, watch films on demand or quickly upload or download large files.

EE, T-Mobile and Orange customers will benefit from a new level of customer service, with 10,000 EE experts trained to serve and sell to customers in a new way, designed around specific handset types. These experts can be contacted over the phone, online, or in one of the 700 newly branded EE stores on the high street and in shopping centres.

4GEE plans come with unlimited minutes and texts as well as revolutionary and exciting new services, including EE Film, Clone Phone[3] and inclusive nationwide BT Wi-Fi.

4G and the benefits to business

The world's first global study into 4G business benefits has been released today to mark EE's UK launch.

The study reveals that:

74% of UK businesses intend to adopt 4G within 12 months Newcastle's business community is showing the strongest demand for 4G, with eight out of 10 Newcastle-based firms (85%) intending to roll out the superfast mobile service within 12 months 78% in London plan to do the same CEOs and sales staff will be first in the business to use the new technology. The study noted a similar trend occurring in America.

British businesses expect 4G to help increase productivity (58%) and boost employee well-being and motivation (38%). The technology will also help firms compete through innovation - 50% want 4G so they can set up an internet connection quickly without having to wait for a fixed line to be installed. This is a boon for retailers wanting to set up a pop-up shop, or builders looking to set up a temporary office onsite.

Marc, Dave, and Rene talk Scott Forstall's departure from Apple and Jonathan Ive's new roll as head of Human Interface, and what it means for OS X and iOS, and for Apple's influence on interface design in general. Also, some talk on Apple TV, iPad 4, and what comes next.

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• Dave Wiskus (@dwiskus) of Better Elevation
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Pandora for iPhone and iPad received a huge update that includes a complete redesign and tight social integration. It still includes the same great ability to create personal stations of music that include your favorite artists and songs and similar music , but now you can share your latest discoveries to Facebook and Twitter, follow your friends, re-discover your favorite music on your profile page, get full lyrics, and more.

Pandora 4.0 features 4 main tabs: Stations, Feed, Profile, and Settings. From any of the tabs, you can quickly and easily get to the Now Playing screen where you can mark the song you're listening to with the thumbs up/down, pause, skip, and more. Tapping the button in the top right corner will you take you the current artist's page where you can explore and learn about the artist and track including biographies, album discographies, lyrics, and more.

New to Pandora 4.0 are the Feed and Profile tabs. In the feed, you'll see what your Pandora and Facebook friends are listening to, what they like and dislike, and listen to their stations. From your Profile, you'll basically see what information is being pushed out to your friends' feeds including what you're listening to, stations you've created, and who you've started following. You can also leave comments on profile pages.

Some of the other new features in Pandora 4.0 include a timer to the track progress indicator, support for the iPhone 5's larger display, support for BMW vehicles, and several stability and performance enhancements. It's also important to note that the iPad version has a bug that prevents iOS 6 users from using landscape mode. Pandora says they will release a fix shortly.

Pandora is is a free ad-supported music service. To drop the ads, you can subscribe to Pandora One for $3.99 per month and also enjoy higher quality audio, a desktop application, custom skins, and fewer interruptions.

So what do you think of the new Pandora? Personally, I find the new features and social integration to be a great addition, but I'm not a huge fan of the new look as it seems very basic and boring. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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Now that Apple has announced that senior-vice-president of iOS, Scott Forstall was leaving the company, amid storms and market-closings, various additional information is surfacing on the story, at least from Apple's perspective. Namely, it's now being claimed that Forstall was fired.

First up, Mark Gurman from 9to5Mac got his hands on the memo Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, sent to employees following the news, which unlike the press release, takes the time to thank Forstall.

I am also announcing that Scott Forstall will be leaving Apple next year and will serve as an advisor to me during the interim. I want to thank Scott for all of his many contributions to Apple over his career.

However, Adam Lashinsky from Fortune is being told that things weren't so happy behind Apple's famously closed doors.

It is being said that Forstall didn't get along with Jony Ive. The knighted designer won that battle. Apple named him the chief of all "human interface" on Monday. Reading between the lines, that means software in addition to hardware. Design lovers hated the paper "shredder" that Apple introduced with its Passbook product. Ive, a fan of minimalism, must have hated it too. Watch for Apple to kill it.

Lashinsky also says Forstall refused to sign the iOS 6 Maps apology letter, something echoed by Nick Wingfield of the New York Times:

While tensions between Mr. Forstall and other executives had been mounting for some time, a recent incident appeared to play a major role in his dismissal. After an outcry among iPhone customers about bugs in the company's new mobile maps service, Mr. Forstall refused to sign a public apology over the matter, dismissing the problems as exaggerated, according to people with knowledge of the situation who declined to be named discussing confidential matters.

Instead, Timothy D. Cook, Apple's chief executive, in September signed the apology letter to Apple customers over maps.

Chris Ziegler of The Verge has heard likewise.

Sources tell us that Forstall has a reputation for deflecting blame, and with fallout intensifying over the Maps situation, now may have seemed like a good time for Apple to part ways with a man who'd done a good job making enemies over the years: Hurricane Sandy has given the company two days of market close to let investor reaction stabilize. Amazingly, it's said that Forstall's coworkers were so excited to show him the door that they volunteered to split up his workload.

Om Malik of GigaOm claims Forstall's departure wasn't planned long in advance, and that reaction inside Apple has been largely positive.

Forstall's firing was met with a sense of quiet jubilation, especially among people who worked in the engineering groups. Or as one of my sources quipped: there are a lot of people going for celebratory drinks, even if there is a little bit of doubt about their roles in the future.

Again, all this reads like Apple's perspective on the matter. Jessica E. Lessin of The Wall Street Journal also repeats the maps and apology letter story, but then offers some perspective from whats seems like Forstall's perspective. First, that he believed Apple could handle maps without apologizing, but also:

Mr. Forstall recently told people that there is no "decider" now that Mr. Jobs is gone, according to a person briefed on the conversation.

Mr. Forstall also recently sent some members of Apple's iOS software team an email saying that he felt the group wasn't working on enough big ideas in mobile software, according to a person briefed on the email.

If there was indeed a power struggle or a contention as to who would guide Apple's products going forward, however, it seems inarguable that Forstall lost. It also seems like Apple was willing to make hard decisions and to sacrifice even extremely talented, long tenured individuals for what they felt was the good of the company moving forward.

If it came down to a choice between Jony Ive (and Bob Mansfield) and Scott Forstall, or of Tim Cook's leadership and Scott Forstall's ambitions, it's tough to argue the call. It's not so tough to see the faith and trust being put into Jony Ive and his design sensibilities, which have so far been manifested more in hardware than software, and Craig Federighi's engineering skills, which have only recently earned him the top spot in OS X, never mind iOS.

This is either an Apple -- and more specifically a Tim Cook -- as rightly confident in their ability to manage people as they are in their ability to project product, or an Apple already fraying at the seams about to experience another serious escalation in load and stress.

I'm very much hoping it's the former.

Source: 9to5Mac, Fortune, New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Verge, GigaOm