In 2010, the US Congress established the fact that jailbreaking is legal and those who are practicing it will not be charged against the anti-circumvention provision of the DMCA or Digital Millennium Copyright. Practically, regardless how Apple and other companies resent the practice, you can always jailbreak your phone and do your thing legally. You can also install any third-party applications and not held liable for that action.

You are free to unlock your phone and use a carrier of your preference and not get tied to only one network provider partner of Apple. Of course, you need to know that unlocking and jailbreaking are two different things. Jailbreaking simply allows you to modify part of your phone as well as access apps that are normally off limits. Meanwhile, unlocking your phone affords you the choice of a carrier or service provider of your preference.

However, in deciding on the feasibility of the idea to jailbreak your iPhone, you need to know that there are several considerations you need to take into account. The following are the benefits of jailbreaking your iPhone as assured by the developers of jailbreaking tools.

Overseas Use. In case you will be using your iPhone while travelling to another country, you will be made to pay roaming charges. Yet, when it is jailbroken, you can simply use your iPhone 3GS wherever you are and will be charged like you are in your home country.

And if you want to reduce the costs of overseas use, you may sign up with the International plans of AT&T. Presently you can buy a 20MB international use for only $25 every month, $60 for 50MB, $120 for 100MB and $200 for 200MB. In addition, AT&T encourages their users to use WiFi networks instead of using EDGE or 3G. Although they forget to mention that it is rather difficult to find a place with a free WiFi abroad since most countries provide a metered connection.

But of course there are less expensive ways, and that includes jailbreaking and unlocking your iPhone 3GS. After the process, you already have an option of purchasing an inexpensive prepaid SIM card within the country that you are visiting. You can simply take out the old SIM then use the new one, that easy!

Also, you can always download apps that will allow you to call, send messages, and video call with other people without spending anything provided that you have an internet connection with a jailbroken phone.

In addition, when you iPhone is jailbroken, jailbreakers allow you to become part and access a world where there are thousands of apps that enhance the life of iphone users but were not authorized by Apple. Of course, Apple has a significant volume in its collection of apps. With their popular slogan that says: There’s an App for that, it almost gives an impression to everyone that every app demanded by iphone owners are covered in their collection.

But, that is not exactly true. There are several things that you cannot do with iDevice since the kind of app that you are looking for is not available at Apple App Store.

For people who knows the benefits of a jailbroken iPhone 3GS, will definitely want to jailbreak their device now and free it from the restrictions set by Apple. And for those who are still not aware of the benefits of a jailbreaking your iPhone 3GS then you need to keep reading and discover things that you can do with your iPhone 3GS.

Although there is an evident interest and eagerness when it comes to jailbreaking the iPhone 3GS, a lot of owners raise an equally valid concern regarding the security of the process. The fact is the jailbreaking process is not highly difficult and complex. Yet, it is still important to wisely choose the application that will complete the process of your jailbreaking.

You need to know that when you fail to use the correct programs or tweaks, the process could damage your device beyond repair. Commonly, iPhones are priced higher than the mainstream smartphones and an average person cannot risk permanently damaging by not following instructions. It is advised that you take sometime researching before starting the entire procedure.

Before jailbreaking your iPhone 3GS, it is strongly recommended that you arm yourself with all the important facts and information for you to be prepared and also act properly especially when a problem arises. In most cases, there are few risks involved in the process of jailbreaking your iPhone 3GS. In fact, the whole process can be reversed easily at iTunes wherein your device goes back to its original factory settings.

After an iPhone 3GS is jailbroken, it is now possible to access to Cydia, which has an arsenal of highly useful and impressive third party applications that you can install using the Cydia platform. The completion of the process also provides access to easily customizable audio files, ringtones, live streaming feeds, and GPS.

In addition, a jailbroken iPhone 3GS provides hours and hours of entertainment and several useful resources. When you operate a jailbroken iPhone 3GS, you no longer need to limit yourself with the programs and applications that are exclusively provided by Apple App Store.

The owner can download and save videos from YouTube and also have the freedom to access voice IP applications using 3G network. You can also obtain all the games you want coming from third party providers. Also, you can enjoy your iPhones’ mini television capability and watch movies or sitcoms.

As an additional benefit, your iPhone 3GS that is jailbroken also works with other GSM network and you no longer need to buy an additional hardware just to use that feature. Thus, the whole process of jailbreaking can be completed easily and with little effort where you will only be required to choose and select some instructions.

One of the best applications that have become hugely popular to users is the capability of a jailbroken device to support and video and voice chat.  Thus after purchasing your iPhone 3GS, you can jailbreak it and break free from the restrictions set by Apple.

When you jailbreak your iPhone 3GS, it means that you can download and install third party applications to an Apple manufactured device. Also, you can enjoy additional benefits from your device. With a jailbroken iPhone 3GS, you can install third-party provided applications from Cydia. Among the top applications that you may be interested in include the following:

• Video Recorder. This allows you to capture video using your iPhone.
• Nemussync. You can synchronize your iPhone calendar to Google calendar.
• MxTube. You can download videos that you like from YouTube then save it on your iDevice.
• iPhone Modem. This allows you to use your iPhone 3GS as a modem and access the internet using your PC or laptop.

You can also use your jailbroken device for Video Recording. Although Apple has provided an awesome device, not everything that you need is incorporated in it. For one, the video recording facility is not present in iPhone. Yet, if you jailbreak your iPhone 3GS, you can turn your iPhone camera into a video camera so that you can record video using the Cycorder App.

When your iPhone 3GS is jailbroken, you can also customize the looks of your iPhone. Thus, if you are already bored with the usual icons on your phone, then worry no more because you can already change the looks and icons within your device. So when your iPhone 3GS is already jailbroken, you can simply use Winterboard in applying different themes for your iPhone to improve its look according to your preference.

A jailbroken iPhone also lets you to take full control of your device. The inner part of your iDevice is a smaller version of a Mac OS X. It has a Unix core. With it, you can install a Unix Applications on it like Apache web server. Majority of jailbreak users uses the SSH daemon. It allows you to remotely connect your iDevice to a computer and then transfer whatever file to it.

A jailbroken device is also an unlocked iPhone. In fact, this is one of the primary reasons why most people jailbreak their device. Technically, you cannot unlock your device if it is not jailbroken. There are several benefits that you can obtain when your phone is unlocked like you can use a cheap and local SIM card. You can place calls with lesser rates. Basically, you can use different SIM cards with your device.

It is a common knowledge that Apple only supports one network which is the AT&T network. This means that you are restricted in using other networks. Yet, with jailbreaking, you will be able to use whatever network you like. You need not to worry since the practice does not alter anything within your device and simply allows you to use any SIM of your preference.

Furthermore, jailbreaking your device also allows you to add Cydia. It lets you gain access to thousands of applications that you can run on your iPhone 3GS including wallpapers, themes, videos, and a lot more.

If you are already an owner of a jailbroken iPhone, you would know that jailbreaking your iPhone 3GS is very important. Jailbreakers who are already comfortable in getting apps and tools from third party providers, know that using a locked phone is an inconvenience. Even enterprises wanted to customize their phones and use apps without the restrictions set by Apple.

All of these expectations of personalization have led to discovering ways and means in jailbreaking the iPhone 3GS. Some software already allows users to perform the process on their own. Popular jailbreak developers started to jailbreak as they find it challenging to alter the iOS of Apple devices because of its complicated platform. Hackers commonly look for security vulnerabilities and then started to develop their own jailbreak exploits.

Once, Apple tried to discredit jailbreaking and aimed to stop and illegalize the practice, calling it a disgrace to the popular organization. After the DMCA legalized the jailbreaking process, Apple has taken several positive approaches to jailbreaking. Since then, they started to develop firmware and hardware that are almost impossible to unlock or jailbreak. However, persistent hackers also took the challenge seriously and work even harder. In fact, millions of users throughout the world are expecting someone from these hackers would come up with a software that they can use in jailbreaking their iPhone 3GS. The pressure keeps growing.

When the iOS firmware 6.0 was released, several existing jailbreaking tool were also updated. Yet, the problem then was that the jailbreak tool released was tethered and this was received with less enthusiasm by the users since they still need to connect their iPhone 3GS to a computer every time they will be rebooting the device.

The untethered version is preferred because of its convenience. This is why, prior to its introduction, users are looking forward to its release. There was an instance when it was announced that there will be an untethered jailbreak tool that will be released for the public. This event has crushed the hopes of iPhone 3GS owners since the hardware itself is very difficult to crack.

Hackers and jailbreak programmers tried to explain that they are not doing it for money or fame. What’s more alarming is that there are several fake hackers who surface and introduce jailbreaking tools. For people who are already desperate to jailbreak their iDevice subscribed to the fakers only to get more frustrated. These fake hackers also announced that they will be releasing the latest tool for iPhone 3GS. Some even posted videos online showing that the device have been jailbroken and already is running with Cydia.

Luckily, there are already tools released after the fake and ineffective ones. These new releases are already working and owners have started performing the jailbreak process on their respective phones and have started obtaining apps that define their personality from Cydia. Jailbreaking your iPhone 3GS is now a very easy process that you can perform personally. Ask for a technician in cases you are not confident of doing it or get help from the programmers who invented the tool.

iPhones owners would normally hesitate to jailbreak their phones because of its impact on the phone’s systems and normal operation. The owners are at risk of shouldering all repair expenses in the event that the phone crashes due modifications. Jailbreak can corrupt the boot part of your phone. Future updates coming from Apple will require you to unlock the phone again and again. This process will heighten the risks every time you update.

The following are some major of jailbreaking drawbacks that you need to be aware of.

Possible reduced stability of the device.

There are more cases of crashes on modified phone. This is due to the altered settings. The phone’s settings and codes are designed to function harmoniously with Apple’s authorized apps. Apple devices do not always support third party apps. Also, the jailbreaking process could lead to unusual the behavior of apps.

Possible failure of app features

Most recently, an issue was raised with the use of iBooks as it locks out the DRM’d material after the phone had been jailbroken. This problem is triggered after an attempt to run an unsigned code which will inform iBooks that the device had been jailbroken. Although the problem was already addressed after a hack was released, there is always the possibility of the same issue re-surfacing.

Inability to receive support from Apple

Apple has made it clear that it will not support any device that had been jailbroken. So if you encounter any critical problem with your iDevice like restoration or need upgrades after you jailbreak your phone, Apple will not extend support.

Increase in Memory Load

Although it is not obvious with iPhone 4, it is very evident with the IMO of iPad 1 that when you add a feature or an app that requires constant running like SBSetting, it increases the memory load of the device. This commonly happens to devices that have several apps installed and is already at risk of running out with memory, leading to unexpected crashes. This problem have not been directly associated with jailbreaking, but commonly transpires after the process had been performed and when jailbreak apps had been installed.

There is an increased likelihood to develop a strange behavior after the upgrades of iOS

Say for example you have a 5-row keyboard installed on your iPhone 4. Upon upgrade to 4.3.2, you have risk of encountering problems like your keyboard’s failure to appear, and worst stop functioning. Technically, the 5-row keyboard configuration remains the same after your upgrade. But you need to switch to English keyboard to keep it working, especially in the absence of untethered jailbreak on your 4.3.2 iOS.

Compromised security

Jailbreaking means the freedom to add software that is not authorized by Apple. In this regard, it could also mean that your device is also vulnerable to malware and other harmful viruses. In cases that you jailbreak and use the SSH functionality, just ensure that you also alter the root and the mobile password. If you don’t, you’ll get hacked in no time.

On the other hand, there is also the possibility that you will enjoy increased security from jailbreaking through Cydia’s IIRC, an app used in providing heightened security to your device.

Generally, the benefits have hugely outweighed the possible drawbacks in jailbreaking. In rare cases, the listed disadvantages above are encountered and the behavior of your iDevice is compromised. What’s important is that you know how to handle it. There are apps and security measures that Apple should have offered already, yet failed to do so. So, until Apple addresses all demands and needs of iDevices owners, jailbreaking will continue.

After the release of Evasion jailbreak tool, the first tool for iPhone 5, iPad mini, iPad 4, and the 5th generation of iPod Touch, there was a surge of interested users on jailbreaking. Although jailbreaking is not compatible with BOYD, those who jailbreak their devices can enjoy adding the latest apps and features to their cell phones.

People are curious on the benefits can they get from jailbreaking. Here are some of the most popular reasons of jailbreak;

a. One of the reasons for jailbreaking is to customize the feel and look of the iOS with new icons and themes. Although this may seem a trivial reason considering that you are putting your phone at risk, yet customizing the platform is an excellent way of personalizing it for easy use. One of the best apps from Cydia is the Winterboard. After it is installed, you can immediately customize the feel and look of your iPhone by downloading and installing new themes.
b. One complaint against Apple is that it has buried frequently used and important settings within layers of menus. For example, whenever you want to use your Bluetooth, you still need to look for it within layers of menu. Jailbroken iPhones allows you to set your favorite settings and app within easy access. In fact, some people say that once you get familiar with SBSetting, you’ll find it hard to operate your iPod, iPad, or iPhone without it.
c. Another reason why you should jailbreak your phone is to use Auxo. This is an iOS task switcher. When you double tap the bottom of your screen, a little pane pops up. Auxo gives you access to an entire host of interesting and new features. For one, you can preview an app it then delete it with just a swipe of a finger. With the app, you can delete multiple apps using multiple fingers. This app also gives you improved controls of media playbacks. It also gives better controls on brightness, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.
d. Nitrous is another app that has the simplest user interface. Yet, it provides a massive speed boost for the Java Script. In fact, the Nitro Java Script engine of Apple is limited to apps like iBooks and Safari. If you install Nitrous, all apps that use Webkit engine are provided with a Nitro. This means that third party browsers like Google Chrome benefits from the boosted performance that could go to as fast as 300 times faster.
e. Although Windows and Android Phones use live widgets, they are actually absent on iOS. The use of Dashboard X rectifies this problem by adding an entire slew of animations, widgets, and themes. It also has the ability to create a transparent and floating widget that is available in the home screen.

These are just the mosre established and popular reasons why you must jailbreak your iPhone. You can also consider the thousands of original and modified apps in Cydia that you’ll find interesting. You can only access this once your phone is already jailbroken.

The primary purpose why smartphone users jailbreak their phones is to be able to install and even run an app from a third party provider that are not approved and authorized by Apple. Through jailbreaking, you take an administrative control with your phone’s operating system.

If you are asking if jailbreaking your phone is legal, then you should be aware that until the 26th of July 2010, jailbreaking was illegal. This was under the directives from the DMCA or the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Yet through the exception from the Librarian Congress, it defines the exemption of software that allows wireless phone to launch software application. Thus, it is now legal to jailbreak your phone.

The following present the reasons and advantages of jailbreaking your cellphone.

• iPhone owners need to jailbreak their phones especially if they want an application that are not approved by Apple.
• Owners of cellphone need to jailbreak their device in cases that they wanted to add or customized their ringtones and sounds.
• There are apps that are technically ‘crippled’ by their own carrier since it works only with a Wi-Fi network. For one, Skype in iPhones can only be used when there is a Wi-Fi connection. Yet, when your phone is jailbroken, you can use 3G Unrestrictor. This is an app that you can obtain from Cydia which allows phone owners to use Skype using the 3G network. Facebreak is another app from Cydia that allows you to use Face Time on iPhone through 3G network connection.
• When the cellphone is jailbroken, you can work with other GSM carrier SIM card. So, even if you are travelling abroad, you can still use your iPhone.
• Some phones that are jailbroken support ROMs can add support on VPN and Proxy.
• Android phones and iPhone needs to undergo the jailbreaking process to be able to run programs that allows you to turn your phone to a Wi-Fi hotspot to be able to connect with your iPad or laptop to the internet using 3G or even 4G networks minus the worry of extra charges from your carrier. This is a ready app from WMWifirouter that is available for Windows mobile 6.5. This also allows you to take advantage of the WinMO on more popular platforms.

While we have presented a long list of advantages of jailbreaking, it also has its own drawbacks. One the biggest fear of phone owners with jailbreaking is the probability of messing up its system in the process. Nobody would risk his phone getting damaged when it’s worth hundreds of dollar. When the process is done incorrectly, there is a chance that you’ll end up with a useless device especially when you are installing the custom ROM.

The good thing about this is the fact that you can still restore your phone to its factory settings. However, this will erase all the data that you have saved in your phone. So it is best to back up all the data using iTune or iCloud before doing the jailbreaking process.

Jailbreaking can also compromise the security and reliability of the phone. You need to know that phones are small computers that are also vulnerable to malware attacks just like any desktop or laptop. Thus, when you get your app from Apple Store, you can be sure that they are tested thoroughly and are free from any malwares.

Furthermore, apps from a third party may contain malicious code or may be poorly written that can eventually cause your OS to crash.

Jailbreaking also void the warranty of the phone. So you are taking the risk of shouldering all the repair expenses in cases that your phone crash in the process.

Generally, the disadvantages had been addressed with recent apps and methods that makes it safer to jailbreak and enjoy apps that are not provided by Apple App Store. But still, taking precautionary measure is still your best guard against possible crash.

iPhone owners often look for ways how to jailbreak their iPhone 4. They also want to be sure of a safe jailbreak process in order to protect their phones. Knowing what an iPhone jailbreak entails and its advantages are the foremost considerations.

Basically, an iPhone jailbreak allows the iPhone device to launch apps and use themes that are not officially from Apple’s App Store. You can measure a successful jailbreak if it does not slow down the device regardless if it is an iPhone 4, iPod, or iPad. Successful jailbreaks allow your phone to function normally even after the process.

Commonly, the control of Apple using their iOS system is seen to be the reason why hackers and developers come up with the idea of jailbreaks. The limitations are not entirely bad, as it only intend to protect its system. But the restrictions in the appearance of the device and the limitations on the software installation can be too boring to some Apple device owners.

The jailbreak process removes several restrictions in iPhones and other similar devices. It allows the owner to customize their devices’ performance and looks. Over the internet, you can download and install applications and games that can be used by devices that undergone jailbreak process.

When talking about jailbreak, Cydia is a common term that always pops up as this is synonymous to the jailbreaks of Apple devices. Jail breaking is pointless if you don’t install Cydia. During the jailbreak, the device itself will install Cydia. It is a digital distribution platform from a third party provider. You can think of it as the ‘black market’ of the Apple App store that provides unauthorized apps as well as tweaked versions of applications from the Apple Store. You can obtain both paid and free apps from Cydia.

Another consideration with jailbreaks is the installation of apps. iPhones that went through the process of jailbreak can enjoy several apps that may include SBSettings that allows disabling of 3G and Wi-Fi in your phone. You can also use other icons within your phone through Shrink. This allows you to reduce sizes of the icons and lets you use more icons in the screen.

If you want to add more apps and widgets into your screen, you can always use IntelliscreenX. Another app, the MyWi app allows you to turn the iPhone into a Wi-Fi hotspot which allows other users to gain access to your Wi-Fi connection. On the other hand, the iFile app allows you easy access to your files in any format. This will make your reading, editing, and analyzing of files easier and accessible in your mobile device. Jailbreak will also allow iPhones that are not capable of video-chatting to do so on FaceTime.

Lastly, if you are wondering whether the process might kill your phone, then you should relieve yourself from the worry. The latest tools used in jailbreaking of iPhones are safe enough for your phones. It will not cause any issues in your device and it is easy and fast to use. So, if you want to explore the possibilities of what you can install in your iPhone that Apple App Store does not provide, try jailbreaking. You might be surprised to discover the endless possibilities that you can enjoy.

The iPhone 5 has been out for the last near eight weeks now, selling 5 million in its first three days on the tech market. Although Piper Jaffray predicted double the iPhone hysteria as what happened, the iPhone is still top when it comes to the hype and sales. Apparently, Apple knows how to market its products such that, when you hold one, you feel as though you’re a different person (this is only the case with iPhone 5 customers who do not know the various flaws that come with iPhones from year to year).

The Apple Corporation was founded on April 1, 1976 by co-founders Steve Jobs, Steve Woniak, and Ronald Wayne who wanted to sell computers. The Apple computer was a hot product in the tech world until Apple invented the iPhone in 2007. Upon entering a new area of the tech market, Apple removed the word “computer” from its incorporated name and became simply “The Apple Corporation”. Apple has a great team of engineers who are always trying to find ways to make their hottest product thinner, lighter, and faster when it comes to Internet speeds, video games, movies, and music. Within this year alone, however, the product has come to be less of a threat than it was in days gone by. There was a time once when none of Apple’s competition could dare to compete against the Cupertino, California company; the days are changing, however, and Apple now finds itself as a “good” presence in the company of “equals” – if not superiors.

Among Apple’s superiors stands Google, Inc. The Mountain View, California company that was created (according to former Apple CEO Steve Jobs) as a cheap imitation of the Apple Corporation has promoted its own iOS counterpart (Android) for a few years now. Google was created on September 4, 1998 by co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. After the Apple Corporation invented the iPhone in 2007, Eric Schmidt, a key staffperson at Apple, left to join the likes of Page and Brin at Google. Schmidt helped Google invent its first smartphone in 2010, although the company created its own operating system (Android OS) in 2007. Upon laying the foundation for Android, Google’s first smartphone, the Google Nexus One, was released to the consumer public for purchase on January 5, 2010. Steve Jobs was convinced that Google’s Nexus One smartphone “took a page out of Apple’s book” and dedicated his life to bringing down the Android OS and, subsequently, Google.

Although Apple led the way with the invention of the iPhone, Google has not backed down from its heated competition with Cupertino. Google has always been known as the software operator in the Android OS. This means that, when you purchase an Android phone, you will always have to register your phone by way of a Gmail account (Google email); however, the company did not want to be known for its software and email alone – which is why Google acquired phone manufacturer Motorola Mobility in 2011 and finalized its ownership over Motorola earlier this Spring (2012). Now owning Motorola, Mountain View has joined Cupertino in the hardware business. It is because of Google’s monumental acquisition that it now stands as one of Apple’s most fierce competitors.

Google has started its hardware operations by collaborating with ASUS on the production of its Nexus 7 and Samsung for its Nexus 10 tablets. Now, the company has included phone maker LG Electronics among its growing portfolio of manufacturers to help create a new smartphone to take the world by storm. The result of Google’s and LG’s brainstorm work is what the tech world now knows as the LG-(Google) Nexus 4.

In this post, I will place the iPhone 5 against its newest competitor, the LG Nexus 4, and come to a consensus regarding which smartphone you should purchase this coming Black Friday (here in the US, the day after Thanksgiving) or Christmas season. Does the iPhone 5 have what it takes to defeat its Android competitor? Continue reading.

There are a number of factors that go into any post that compares smartphones and other mobile devices:

• Screen resolution
• Internal memory storage
• Screen size
• Operating system (OS)
• Pixel density
• Rear-facing camera
• Battery time
• Processor chip

This post will compare the iPhone 5 and Nexus 4 in terms of these factors as well as others to decide which phone provides the best overall experience.

Screen resolution pertains to the visual experience: that is, how the operating system will appear to the eyes when you view the screen of the smartphone. The iPhone 5’s screen resolution is 1136 x 640, while the Nexus 4 has a screen resolution of 1280 x 768. The two numbers, according to Wikipedia, represent the width and height of the phone’s display. In this regard, the LG Nexus 4 takes the prize because you can view more pixels on the Nexus 4’s screen than you can the iPhone 5’s. This is an even sweeter win for the Nexus 4 when you consider that the unlocked Nexus 4 costs less than the unlocked iPhone 5. I will discuss more about pricing later in the post.

While viewing the screen resolution or display, you will also notice the screen size. The iPhone 5’s screen size is a 4.0-inch diagonal display, while the Nexus 4’s screen size comes in at 4.7 inches. The larger the display, the wider the viewing area will be for your eyes. With this in mind, the Nexus 4 wins because it provides a little over half an inch more viewing area than the iPhone 5. After all, how can you lose when you get more viewing area for your buck?

Internal memory storage is another major factor you want to consider when purchasing a new smartphone, as memory storage decides how many apps, songs, and documents you can hold on your device’s software. The iPhone 5 provides three versions of memory storage (16GB, 32GB, and 64GB) while the LG Nexus 4 only provides two versions of memory storage (8GB and 16GB). The iPhone 5 wins in the memory storage factor: Apple provides a 64GB device that allows you to have more storage on one device – although Apple’s 64GB device is far more expensive than Google’s Nexus 4. This is an area where Google needs to step up the quality. 16GB devices do not provide enough storage, and 8GB devices provide even less. The best way to sell a smartphone is to show people that it is as valuable to them as a tablet. If a smartphone has (at most) 16GB of storage, but a Nexus 10 tablet, for example, has 32GB, which would the consumer purchase? In a word, the Nexus 10 tablet. It may cost approximately $150 more than the phone, but it will provide twice as much memory – which means there is space for more games and apps.

Memory storage is tied to price: increased storage leads to increased spending, while decreased storage space leads to the reverse. If you decide to purchase an iPhone 5 under contract from Sprint, Verizon Wireless, or AT&T, you will pay $199.99 for your subsidized iPhone 5; the same goes for the Nexus 4: under T-Mobile’s plan, you must sign a 2-year agreement, but the cost of the phone will run at $199. Both smartphones will run at the same price on carrier plans, but they do not run the same when purchased as unlocked phones. An unlocked iPhone 5 will cost anywhere from $649-$849, while an unlocked Nexus 4 will cost anywhere from $249-$349 for the 8GB and 16GB versions. This means that, should you purchase the Nexus 4, you will have a lot less space on your phone than the consumer who purchases the iPhone 5.

The problem is exacerbated for the Nexus 4 when you consider that there is no expandable memory card slot for either phone. If consumers could count on Google to provide a 32GB memory card slot for extra storage space, they may feel comfortable with purchasing an 8GB device. There is none, however, leading many to question why Google would even sell such a device to begin with. In addition to the lack of storage space in the Nexus 4 is the absence of long term evolution (known acronymically as “LTE”). LTE provides faster speeds than traditional WiFi wireless and comes in handy when you find yourself out of WiFi accessibility in on-the-road or even coffee shop situations. LTE works great when you’re in your car or outdoors (even on hiking trips) and do not have access to WiFi. Google claimed that it left LTE out of the Nexus 4 to save on the cost of the phone, and I understand that Google wants to make the phone affordable. At the same time, however, I was able to secure a Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone with US Cellular for $350 – and it has 4G LTE! If Google needed to sacrifice on a smartphone feature, why not leave the wireless charging to wireless charger case manufacturers such as Mophie instead of eliminating faster wireless speeds?

This is where CNET’s Marguerite Reardon chimes in with her “two cents’ worth” of knowledge. She says that 4G LTE makes a significant difference when it comes to AT&T’s otherwise-slow wireless network. For a consumer that sees LTE as a deal-maker or deal-breaker, the Nexus 4 may not be the choice for you. However, those who live internationally in places such as Australia, for example, do not rely on LTE because they do not have LTE networks. Here in the US, outside of AT&T, 4G networks versus 3G networks will not make that big of a difference, either. I am a customer with a smaller CDMA carrier than Verizon Wireless, for example, and I am currently a doctoral student at a school that is one hour away (some near fifty miles) outside of my carrier’s geographical location. My Galaxy S3 tells me that I am constantly “roaming” by virtue of my residence in an area outside of the carrier’s network. I pay for 4G LTE, the wireless technology that comes with my phone; however, I do not get the chance to experience 4G LTE because I am outside of my carrier’s network. For me, this means that my phone only gets access to 2G and 3G speeds (EVDO, for example), but those speeds are fast enough for me to still have access to all the things I need. Yes, 4G wireless is faster – but 2G and 3G speeds still provide access to your bank account, blogs, daily news, videos, and other things you need to access throughout the day and night.

The iPhone 5 wins in terms of providing 4G LTE; however, for me, the iPhone 5 does not provide the upper hand. If I owned an iPhone 5 in the local area I reside in as a student, I would still have access to only 2G and 3G wireless networks because my geographical region has limited access to LTE. My geographic location, thus, prevents me from seeing 4G LTE as a “make-it or break-it” matter. Instead, I seek to examine other features of a smartphone that will make it an excellent fit for me. I realize that geographic location and preference will differ with each individual. While preference does matter, however, it does not rank as high as a necessary feature of a phone (even though it has become standard, according to many tech experts). Google figures it this way: “if we can produce a phone that is affordable and does not need LTE to survive, why not?” I cannot blame them for this reasoning.

All of the above discussion on LTE is to say that you can still surf the web, chat, post on Facebook, read tech news, and send text messages with a data plan and voice and text minutes – the same capabilities that many European phones have – without the need for 4G LTE. In this regard, the Nexus 4 phone fares just fine. If we go back to the expandable card slot discussion, it is possible that Google decided not to include the expandable memory card slot to save money. At the same time, however, customers will save more money if they can purchase a memory card to add to their smartphone space instead of having to purchase a new tablet or additional phone to provide extra memory storage. The question many consumers have asked themselves (and the question many smartphone makers like Google and Apple must ask themselves) is the following: Do we want consumers to save money up-front or later down the line? If the answer to this question is “up-front,” then manufacturers are free to produce phones as they see fit. If the answer to the question is “later down the line,” however, then they must learn how to show consumers the benefits of paying now rather than later.

There are other features that one can compare on the Nexus 4 and iPhone 5, but the ones above should help you see which selection is best for you. The choice of one phone over another always comes down to issues of preference. For some, the iPhone 5 will be best because of its large memory storage (vs. the Nexus 4) as well as the need to multi-device sync with other Apple products. For others, the cost of the iPhone 5 (unlocked) will drive them to purchase the Nexus 4. Some customers who really want the Nexus 4 will purchase the iPhone 5 because the Nexus 4 lacks LTE – although they may want to watch out for the cellular and WiFi bugs the smartphone has experienced as of late. If you are disgusted with Apple’s 3D mapping application, you may want to purchase the Nexus 4 because, as one tech writer said, “You’re tired of prioritizing hardware above software” and you want a better software experience.

Although preference may allow some iPhone lovers to “cross over to the dark side” and purchase the Nexus 4, availability may be the one reason to stay on the familiar side of the road: tech sources have confirmed this week that the Nexus 4 is out of stock at the Google Play store and will not be back (according to Google) for weeks. Santa Claus may only bring the iPhone 5 this year. If that is not good enough, my suggestion is to wait for Apple’s March 2013 announcement – where the company is expected to introduce the iPhone 5S as well as the iPad Mini with Retina display.

(Note: patent diagrams are courtesy of Patently Apple and Apple Insider)

 This week in Apple news, Apple found itself in all sorts of legal situations. Of this week’s events, some pertain to new Apple patents that customers could see in future products; other legal news pertains to lawsuits of which Apple is to blame.

First, let’s cover Apple’s newest patents. Earlier this week, Apple filed a patent with the US Patent and Trademark Office for “microperforation illumination” in its devices. “Microperforation” relates to the small folds of light that can be present in any device; a good example of this type of illumination can be found in Amazon’s new Kindle Paperwhite. The patent was filed with the Apple MacBook Pro logo in mind (which was explicitly granted in an earlier patent), although Cupertino was also awarded some leniency with this patent with regard to the travel of light through other Apple products. Should the company choose to have greater light amounts passing through its touchscreen devices, the company has the freedom to craft devices in this manner. The actual US Trademark Patent says that the technology patent has been granted with regard to “backlit visual display elements,” similar to what the Kindle Paperwhite does with its backlit light source. With this being said, do not be surprised at the possibility that Apple may provide more backlit touchscreens for its customers in future sales. Here’s how TechCrunch describes the microperforation illumination patent:

“It describes the tech that allows for light to shine through tiny, nearly invisible holes punched in a metal surface, but expands on the concept considerably by discussing ways in which to control the resulting light, and a means through which microperforation can be combined with touch controls” (Darrell Etherington, “Apple Patents Vanishing Touch Interfaces, New Method for Targeted Computer Cooling.” TechCrunch. November 6, 2012; underline mine).

Front-lit keyboard displays are part of Apple’s MacBook Pro lineup; however, the new patent pertains to controlling the amount of light allowed in the backs of mobile devices and computers alike. Amazon has started this idea with its new Kindle Paperwhite that provides a touch control feature whereby you control how much backlight your e-book reader has. Apple’s venture into this area shows its commitment to appeal to book readers (iBooks) as much as it appeals to gamers and general Internet users. The patent not only provides basic illumination freedom, however; the future could also see Apple providing “vanishing light sources” on its products. The Apple logo on the MacBook Pro could one day “disappear” when your computer is inactive and “reappear” when you open your laptop.

The vanishing light capability would also apply to touchscreen devices, and allow touchscreens to disappear as well:

“This means that a touch screen can be totally invisible when not in use, so you can wave goodbye to your iPhone screen being a different shade of black to the black grass panel on its front…” (Cameron Buchan, “Apple Granted Patent for Illuminated ‘Invisible’ Touch Controls.” Todays IPhone. November 6, 2012)

It is hard to imagine touch screens being invisible, but this could be a future reality; after all, rumors of Apple creating iPhones with rubber band technology will prove to be a more difficult feat – and yet, anything is possible.

Patent #2 pertains to what has been termed “an ionic wind pump” that targets the areas of devices that need the most cooling and supplies some sort of fan air to prevent overheating. Apple has had its share of history with overheating devices; its iPads and iPhones have done so, particularly in the case of one Finland customer who watched his iPhone 4S explode on cement outside of his van at a warehouse.

Competition phones such as Samsung’s Galaxy S3 have problems with overheating as well; one of my cousin’s friends told him that the S3 gets extremely hot when you leave it charging for a little longer than you need to. Devices are overheating today because of the large-power batteries being placed into them. In order to generate more power, devices give off more heat. If they give off enough heat (and temperature conditions are hot), the device could explode or “burn out”. This new cooling system would prevent overheating, ensuring that Apple customers have one less thing to worry about.

If you take a look at your iPad sometime, you will notice that it has a rectangular shape and round corners. Believe it or not, until this week, there was no patent for the iPad’s shape. This week, the company was awarded a patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office for the basic design. Joshua Schnell writes about this patent in typical “fanboy” fashion. He first quotes an associate professor of law at Indiana University, who claims that “no one is out there trying to market an iPad lookalike,” and then counters with a claim of his own:

“We’re not sure what kind of drugs Shafer [the Indiana University Professor] is on, but we’re pretty sure most tablets on the market these days look exactly like iPads. I know, you’re crying fanboi and bias, but it’s a simple reality, just take a look at tablets before and after the iPad. It’s pretty obvious what the game-changer was over time” (Joshua Schnell, “Patent for a Rectangle With Rounded Corners? Apple Owns That.” Macgasm.net. November 8, 2012; underline mine).

I am not surprised at statements like these; after all, Schnell does write for “Macgasm,” a compound word of “Mac” and “orgasm”. If Schnell did not write in favor of Apple or critiqued the company, I would then be surprised and intrigued. At the same time, let’s give the iPad a true assessment, shall we? It’s not as if the design is so original and complex that only Apple could have produced it. The design is that of a tablet. Legal pads and writing tablets have been around long before Apple introduced its iPad in 2009. And, surprisingly, Chinese company Shenzhen Proview owned the name “iPad” (acronymic for “internet personal access device”) before Apple purchased it earlier this Spring. The “tablet” shape was around long before the iPad.

Apple may have defined this shape for tablets present and future, but the shape itself is not an original Apple thought. In fact, to call the wide mobile device a “tablet” necessarily dictates that the device has a tablet shape. The surprise in all of this would exist if Apple had called the mobile device a “tablet” and crafted it in another shape entirely! This is the trouble that exists with Apple fanboy sites that exist merely to propagate the notion that Apple has always been a “leading manufacturer,” that Apple “defined the standards of the industry,” and so on. Take care with how you believe the research of these pro-Apple sites. Here at ijailbreak3gs.com, we believe in reporting the truth about Apple, even if the truth is not so nice or kind. Like the jailbreaking community, we too, have a “love-hate” relationship with Apple and are not afraid to rebel and protest when it is necessary.

Cases have become more than just smartphone protectors, but also tools of convenience in other ways. Cupertino’s patent this week points to a future convenience for Apple’s iPhone cases. Jack Purcher of Patently Apple says that Apple’s next direction for its iPhone case is “Transformer style”: converting the case into a docking station when you remove the case lid (thus, a removable lid feature).

 I think that Apple’s brainstorm patent here is ingenious; after all, cases have become more than just phone holders in recent years. One such example of case functionality increase is the Mophie Juice Pack Battery Case that not only holds, but also charges, your smartphone (whether an iPhone, Samsung Galaxy phone, or other smartphone). I currently own the Mophie Battery Case for my Samsung Galaxy S3, and I love the look and feel of the case – not to mention its wireless charging capability.

Mophie promises that its battery charging case will last up to 100% of your smartphone’s battery life; me, being the tech geek I am, decided to put this claim to the test. I woke up at 5:45am yesterday, took the S3 and case off of the USB cable (which charged them both simultaneously), and measured the time before the case battery died. The case battery did not die until 4:45pm yesterday – an entire ELEVEN HOURS! Currently, the S3 phone battery is around 40%, and it is after 6:30am here in the US where I am. This means that the Mophie Juice Pack case and the S3 battery have lasted for a combined 24 hours plus some minutes now – making the Mophie case a must-have for any consumer.

My point about smartphone cases is that they have become many tools in one for consumers, making the cases both fashionable and functional. This trend is likely to increase and create more steam in the future, and does not look as though its flames will die down any time soon. This has been the week’s catchup in Apple patents. Stay tuned for more patent news next week. To read more Apple news, visit us over at ijailbreak4s.com.