Apple fixes iPhone battery problem with software update

Apple issued a software update to its latest mobile operating system on Thursday in a move to fix widespread problems with the battery life of the iPhone 4S.

The software update, iOS 5.0.1 also adds multi-tasking gestures to early versions of the iPad and closes a security loophole that could have duped users into loading malware onto their iPhones and iPads through Apple’s App Store.

Complaints about the disappointing battery life began popping up immediately after the release of the iPhone 4S last month, which Apple acknowledged in a statement last week.

“A small number of customers have reported lower than expected battery life on iOS 5 devices,” Apple wrote. “We have found a few bugs that are affecting battery life, and we will release a software update to address those in a few weeks.” The software update was the first one issued by Apple that was pushed to users over the cellular networks, rather than requiring them to sync up their devices with their laptops.

Google bans phone application used in spying

A controversial mobile phone application, which helps a cell phone user read the text messages of others secretly, has been removed from sale by internet search engine Google. Google said the application, called SMS Secret Replicator, violated its terms, The Independent reported on Friday.

Once installed on a mobile phone, the Android phone application automatically creates carbon copies of incoming text messages and forwards them to a selected number - prompting fears it could be used by jealous lovers and even work colleagues to snoop on private messages.

Jealous lovers are encouraged to secretly set up a password-protected application on their partners' phones and set it to forward text messages to their own, the paper said. 

"The app is unique because there is no visible icon or shortcut to access it, so once it's installed, it will continue to monitor without revealing itself," the developer DLP Mobile was quoted as saying.

Its chief executive, Zak Tanjeloff, said the application was "certainly controversial but can be helpful to people in relationships where this type of monitoring can be useful".

The app's creators have given it the slogan "nothing is secret". Google confirmed it had suspended the application.

Nokia makes fun of iPhone 4 reception issue

The reception issue with Apple iPhone 4 seems to have given a shot in the arm for its rivals, which are bitten hard by Apple's surging sales. And Nokia, the de-throned king of smartphone market seems to be cashing on the opportunity.

As iPhone4 users are complaining about reception issues while holding the smartphone in some position, Nokia Conversations, the Nokia's official blog on Monday sought to make fun of Apple's suggestion to iPhone 4 users on defining positions to use the phone, indirectly though, without even mentioning the iPhone 4.

Apple had sold 1.7 million units of the new iPhone, since its global launch last week. However, the reception issue had created some sort of a tension for Apple, which even issued a clarification in that regard.

Indirectly referring to this clarification, the Nokia blog said "We’ve been looking around and noticed there are many ways to hold your Nokia device. Whether you’re left-handed or right-handed, there’s no shortage of ways to hold your phone."

Further, the blog mentions four defined ways of using cell phones. However, it concludes by telling that Nokia users can ignore all the defined ways of holding a mobile phone. Hold the Nokia devices in any position and still there won't be any signal degradation.

“The key function on any Nokia device is its ability to make phone calls. One of the main things we’ve found about the 1 billion plus Nokia devices that are in use today is that when making a phone call, people generally tend to hold their phone like a…. well, like a phone. Providing a wide range of methods and grips for people to hold their phones, without interfering with the antennae has been an essential feature of every device Nokia has built,” the blog boasted.