12 October, 2011

How to Install iOS 5 on iPhone 4, iPad 2, iPod Touch 4G, iPad, iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 3G in 5 Easy Steps



Posted: 12 Oct 2011 11:52 AM PDT
iOS 5 Fimware Update, which brings a number of improvements to the Cupertino-company's mobile operating system, including Newsstand, Airplay Mirroring, Notifications Bar, iMessage and Twitter integration is now officially available for download and installation on all compatible iDevices - namely, iPhone4, iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch 3G, iPod Touch 4G, iPad and iPad2.

If you own any of the above-mentioned Apple products, here's what you to do to install iOS 5:

1. Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed on your computer. Note that, as of today, iTunes 10.5 is the most updated version of the software. If you have an older version of iTunes installed on your computer, just launch the program and it will prompt you to download the latest version.

2. Run iTunes 10.5 and connect your iDevice to your PC or Mac via USB. It doesn't matter which earlier version of iOS your device is running, iTunes will prompt you to upgrade to iOS 5.

ios 5

3. Click Update button shown in image above. Then click Continue, Update, Next buttons (in that order) on the pop-up windows.

ios 5

ios 5

ios 5

4. Download iOS 5 firmware upgrade files weighing around 762MB. This can take a few minutes or up to several hours depending on your connection speed. After you've downloaded iOS 5, proceed with the installation. You basically just need to click a few more buttons to install the files. Remember: Don't disconnect your iDevice during the installation process. Doing so may brick it.

5. After the installation, your iDevice will restart on its own. Let it do its thing. And voila! You're one of the first to get the final release version of iOS 5!

There you go. I hope you find this helpful.


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Posted: 12 Oct 2011 11:24 AM PDT
Great news, Pinoy Apple fans!

ios 5
I've just received the notification!

As promised by Apple, iOS 5 - the latest version of the company's mobile operating system - is now available for download and installation on supported iDevices - namely, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch 3G, iPod Touch 4G, iPad and iPad 2.

So what are you waiting for? Get it now! Learn how to install iOS 5.

iOS 5 Software Update

This update contains over 200 new features, including the following:

• Notifications
◦ Swipe from the top of any screen to view notifications in one place with Notification Center
◦ New notifications appear briefly at the top of the screen
◦ View notifications from lock screen
◦ Slide the notification app icon to the right on the lock screen to go directly to the app

• iMessage
◦ Send and receive unlimited text, photo, and video messages with other iOS 5 users
◦ Track messages with delivery and read receipts
◦ Group messaging and secure encryption
◦ Works over cellular network and Wi-Fi

• Newsstand
◦ Automatically organizes magazine and newspaper subscriptions on Home Screen
◦ Displays the cover of the latest issue
◦ Background downloads of new issues

• Reminders for managing to do lists
◦ Syncs with iCloud, iCal and Outlook
◦ Location-based reminders when you leave or arrive at a location for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4

• Built-in support for Twitter
◦ Sign-in once in Settings and tweet directly from Camera, Photos, Maps, Safari and YouTube
◦ Add location to any tweet
◦ View twitter profile pictures and usernames in Contacts

• Camera improvements for devices with cameras
◦ Double click the home button when device is asleep to bring up a camera shortcut on iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch (4th generation)
◦ Volume Up button to take a picture
◦ Optional grid lines to line up shots
◦ Pinch to zoom in the preview screen
◦ Swipe to camera roll from preview screen
◦ Tap and hold to lock focus and exposure, iPad 2 and iPod touch (4th generation) only support exposure lock

• Photo improvements for devices with cameras
◦ Crop and rotate
◦ Red eye removal
◦ One tap enhance
◦ Organize photos into albums

• Mail improvements
◦ Format text using bold, italic, or underlined fonts
◦ Indentation control
◦ Drag to rearrange names in address fields
◦ Flag messages
◦ Mass mark messages as flagged, read or unread
◦ Customize mail alert sounds
◦ S/MIME

• Calendar improvements
◦ Year view on iPad and new Week view for iPhone and iPod touch
◦ Tap to create an event
◦ View and add event attachments

• Game Center improvements
◦ Use personal photos for your Game Center account
◦ Compare your overall achievement scores with your friends
◦ Find new Game Center friends with friend recommendations and friends of friends
◦ Discover new games with custom game recommendations

• AirPlay Mirroring for iPad 2 and iPhone 4S

• Multitasking Gestures for iPad
◦ Use four or five fingers to pinch to the Home Screen
◦ Swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar
◦ Swipe left or right to switch between apps

• On-device setup, activation and configuration with Setup Assistant

• Software updates available over the air without tethering

• iCloud support
◦ iTunes in the Cloud
◦ Photo Stream
◦ Documents in the Cloud
◦ Apps and Books automatic download and purchase history
◦ Backup
◦ Contacts, Calendar, and Mail
◦ Find My iPhone

• Redesigned Music app for iPad

• Hourly weather forecast

• Real-time stock quotes

• Wireless sync to iTunes

• Keyboard improvements
◦ Split keyboard for iPad
◦ Improved autocorrection accuracy
◦ Improved Chinese and Japanese input
◦ New Emoji keyboard
◦ Personal dictionary for autocorrection
◦ Optionally create keyboard short cuts for frequently used words

• Accessibility improvements
◦ Option to light LED flash on incoming calls and alerts for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4
◦ Custom vibration patterns for incoming calls on iPhone
◦ New interface for using iOS with mobility-impairment input devices
◦ Option to speak a selection of text
◦ Custom element labeling for VoiceOver

• Exchange ActiveSync improvements
◦ Wirelessly sync tasks
◦ Mark messages as flagged, read or unread
◦ Improved offline support
◦ Save a new contact from a GAL service

• More than 1,500 new developer APIs

• Bug fixes

Products compatible with this software update:
• iPhone 4S
• iPhone 4
• iPhone 3GS
• iPad 2
• iPad
• iPod touch (4th generation)
• iPod touch (3rd generation)

Installing iOS5 on my iPod Touch now. Will let you know what I think about it in a bit.


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Posted: 12 Oct 2011 10:54 AM PDT
Here in TechPinas, you can send ANY tech-related inquiry and me and the whole TP community will do our best to answer it. (So please don't think twice about sending me an email. Remember: There's no such thing as a noob tech question.)

Yesterday, I received this gadget question from TP Friend, Jan O. from Quezon City:

"Sir TP, is Samsung Corby 2 an Android Phone?"

samsung corby 2
Samsung Corby 2 with current mall price of Php 4,750.

TP Answer:

Hi Jan! Thanks for the inquiry! You know what, I get that question often. I understand Samsung Corby 2 is one of the best selling handsets of the Korean company in the Philippines so naturally, a lot of Pinoys would want to know more about it.

So, is Samsung Corby 2 an Android phone? It's not. Samsung Corby 2 runs a proprietary operating system or an OS made specifically by Samsung for its entry level touchscreen phones. As such, it won't be able to run Android apps and it doesn't have the key features of Android, which include the drop-down notifications bar, the Android Market, Google Services Suite, among many others.

But don't fret. There's actually a Samsung Android phone that looks a lot like Samsung Corby 2. It's a bit more expensive but it does offer all the benefits of the Android platform. Check out Samsung Galaxy Mini.


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Posted: 12 Oct 2011 05:32 AM PDT
According to TechPinas' very reliable source, Nokia's MeeGo-powered super smartphone - The Nokia N9 - is already set to hit store shelves in the Philippines by next month, November 2011.

nokia n9

As most of you already know, I was able to play with Nokia N9 during its official announcement in Nokia Connection 2011 held in Marina Bay Sands in Singapore last June. And let me tell you, you're going to love this phone.

nokia n9
The curved glass display, the unibody construction, the powerful MeeGo OS, the sleek user interface, true multitasking, the 8 MegaPixel autofocus camera with Carl Zeiss lens, NFC support -- I can go on and on. For me, Nokia N9 is one of the best smartphones Nokia has ever created.

So how much will it cost? We don't have official word yet from Nokia Philippines. But I'm expecting the SRP to be in the area of Php 28,000 - Php 30,000. Not bad for a phone of its caliber.

TP Friends, please fan out and let your friends know.


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Posted: 12 Oct 2011 02:28 AM PDT
Thinking about getting Smart Bro Rocket Plug-it but you're not sure if you're located in or near a place where you can actually enjoy 4G HSPA+ speeds?

smart bro
Smart Bro Rocket Plug-It Dongle

Well, here's the ever-growing list of Smart's HSPA+ sites nationwide. (Just last week, the sites were only around 500. Now, there's more than 650.) Thankfully, almost all key cities in the Philippines are covered: Metro Manila, Makati City, Cebu City, Davao City, Las Pinas City, Iligan City, Paranaque City, Iloilo City, Cagayan de Oro City, Quezon City, Pasig City, General Santos City, among many others.

I would suggest you check it out before grabbing your stick.
(Hmm, that doesn't sound right. Anyway.)


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Posted: 11 Oct 2011 11:30 PM PDT
I've been receiving this question in the TP Mailbox almost on a daily basis ever since Samsung gave away three Samsung Galaxy S Wifi 5.0 units during last month's UAAP Cheerdance Competition (, which reminds me, who exactly are the winners? Anyway.):

"TP, is Samsung Galaxy S Wifi 5.0 a phone?"

samsung galaxy s wifi 5.0

TP Answer:

Nope, Samsung Galaxy S Wifi 5.0 does NOT have GSM phone functionality. It's just a portable media player (PMP).

Think of it like an iPod Touch 4G to an iPhone 4. An iPod Touch has the same operating system and user interface, and almost the same number of supported applications as the iPhone -- BUT it doesn't have GSM phone functions.

Similarly, Samsung Galaxy S Wifi 5.0 has the same operating system as Samsung Galaxy S and Samsung Galaxy S2, which is Android, same UI and almost same number of supported apps via the Android Market -- BUT you can't make GSM calls and send text messages (as you would on a regular cellphone) using Samsung Galaxy S Wifi 5.0.

Nonetheless, Samsung Galaxy S Wifi 5.0 does support VoIP, Skype and Video calling over Wifi.

There you go. I hope you find this helpful. Let your friends know.


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