iPhone again takes top spot in J.D. Power satisfaction survey

For the seventh consecutive time, Apple has ranked highest among smartphone manufacturers in customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Associates. The Cupertino-based company achieved a rating of 839 out of 1,000 possible points; the iPhone's ease of use, features, physical design and battery life propelled the handset to the top spot. HTC, again, followed Apple with a score of 798, with Samsung (769) and Motorola (758) falling in the No.3 and No.4 spots, respectively. According to the survey, smartphone users who were more satisfied with the battery performance of their device were more likely to repurchase the same brand compared to owners who were less satisfied. “Both carriers and manufacturers recognize the fact that battery life needs to be improved,” said Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates. “However, the study uncovers the need for a greater sense of urgency–short battery life can result in perceived phone problems, higher rates of merchandise returns and customer defections.” Read on for J.D. Power and Associates' press release. J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Smartphone Battery Life has Become a Significant Drain on Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty Apple Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Smartphone Manufacturers, While LG and Sanyo Rank Highest in a Tie among Traditional Mobile Phone Manufacturers WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 15 March 2012 — As smartphone users place increasingly complex demands on the functionality of their devices, satisfaction with battery performance is becoming a critical factor in overall satisfaction as well as brand loyalty, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Wireless Smartphone Customer Satisfaction StudySM–Volume 1 and the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Wireless Traditional Mobile Phone Satisfaction StudySM–Volume 1, both released today. Satisfaction with smartphones is greatly impacted by battery performance, particularly the length of battery life before recharging is required. In addition, the study finds that satisfaction with battery performance is by far the least satisfying aspect of smartphones, and satisfaction in this area is one of only a few attributes that have declined significantly, compared with Volume 2 of the 2011 study (6.7 in 2012, compared with 6.9 in September 2011). Satisfaction levels with battery performance differ widely between owners of 3G- and 4G-enabled smartphones. Among owners of 4G-enabled smartphones, battery performance ratings average 6.1 on a 10-point scale–considerably lower than satisfaction among owners of 3G smartphones (6.7). Part of this difference stems from the fact that new 4G smartphones use substantial battery life searching for next-generation network signals, which tend to be scarcer than 3G signals. In addition, owners of 4G-enabled smartphones use their device more extensively–they talk, text, email, and surf the Web more often than do customers with 3G smartphones or traditional handsets–which puts a significantly higher demand on the battery. “Both carriers and manufacturers recognize the fact that battery life needs to be improved,” said Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates. “However, the study uncovers the need for a greater sense of urgency–short battery life can result in perceived phone problems, higher rates of merchandise returns and customer defections.” According to Parsons, smartphone owners who are highly satisfied with their device's battery life are more likely to repurchase the same brand of smartphone, compared with owners who are less satisfied. Approximately 25 percent of 4G-enabled smartphone owners are highly satisfied with their battery (ratings of 10 on a 10-point scale) and say they “definitely will” repurchase a device from the same manufacturer. In comparison, among owners who are less satisfied with their battery (ratings of 7-9 on a 10-point scale), only 13 percent say the same. The two studies measure customer satisfaction with traditional wireless handsets and smartphones among owners who have used their current mobile device for less than one year. Satisfaction is measured in several key factors. In order of importance, the key factors of overall satisfaction with traditional wireless handsets are: performance (31%); ease of operation (24%); physical design (24%); and features (20%). For smartphones, the key factors are: performance (35%); ease of operation (24%); features (21%); and physical design (20%). For a seventh consecutive time, Apple ranks highest among manufacturers of smartphones in customer satisfaction. Apple achieves a score of 839 on a 1,000-point scale and performs well in all factors, particularly in ease of operation and features. HTC (798) follows Apple in the smartphone rankings. LG and Sanyo rank highest in overall customer satisfaction with traditional handsets, in a tie (716 each). LG performs well in all four factors, while Sanyo performs particularly well in ease of operation. Sony Ericsson (712) and Samsung (703) follow in the traditional handset rankings. The studies also find the following key wireless handset usage patterns: The price of a traditional wireless mobile phone continues to decline and averaged $66 between July and December 2011, compared with an average of $81 during the same time period in 2010. The decline is primarily due to discounts provided by handset providers and wireless service carriers to incentivize sales. Currently, 44 percent of owners report having received a free mobile phone when subscribing to a wireless service. Mobile applications continue to enhance the smartphone user experience. Seventy percent of smartphone owners say they have accessed social networking sites using their device. Nearly three in four (72%) say they have the ability to download and/or view video and movies, while 59 percent indicate having voice recognition and/or command dialing applications. This indicates that smartphone owners are continuing to integrate their device usage into both their business and personal lives. Two in 10 current smartphone owners report experiencing a software or device malfunction (21%). These problems have an impact on overall satisfaction, as there is a satisfaction gap of 77 points between customers who experience software malfunctions and those who do not. Satisfaction among customers who indicate their device's software crashes at least once a week averages only 691. The 2012 U.S. Wireless Smartphone Customer Satisfaction Study–Volume 1 and the 2012 U.S. Wireless Traditional Mobile Phone Satisfaction Study–Volume 1 are based on experiences reported by 7,080 smartphone owners and 8,335 traditional mobile phone owners. Both studies were fielded between July and December 2011.

Brass knuckles iPhone case concept looks dangerous

We've seen some pretty interesting iPhone cases in the past, and if you enjoy the idea of being able to turn your iPhone case into a weapon, you might be interested in checking out this particular rendering of an iPhone case that looks like it could double up as a set of brass knuckles, although in this case it looks more like stainless steel rather than brass, but we think you get the drift. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on how you look at it) this brass knuckles iPhone case appears to be merely a concept at this point in time. After all, brass knuckles alone look like they could do a number on you, and if those spikes were to add to that damage, let's just say that the end results would not be pleasant. In any case, we're not sure how well one could equip a set of brass knuckles with an iPhone in hand anyway. How many of you guys out there wouldn't mind owning a set of these anyway?

T-Mobile to launch 10 LTE devices and iPhone-compatible 4G in 2013

T-Mobile will have 10 LTE devices available by the end of 2013, and it will also roll out “4G” service that is compatible with Apple's iPhone. The carrier's 4G LTE network will span across 50 markets and utilize the 10MHz spectrum to support speeds up to 72Mbps, according to SlashGear. “Our 4G network will be compatible with a broader range of devices, including the iPhone" CTO Neville Ray said on Thursday, although he wasn't clear on whether he was referring to HSPA+ “4G,” which might be compatible with the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and future iPhone handsets, or 4G LTE. The carrier will be shifting its HSPA+ network to the 1900MHz bands, however, which should increase compatibility with HSPA+ devices used on AT&T's network including the iPhone. T-Mobile reported earnings for the fourth quarter on Thursday, during which the carrier shed 802,000 contract customers, a stat the carrier blamed on Apple's iPhone.

iConfess: Why an Android fan recommends the iPhone

Just over five years ago, Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone, a device that would change the world forever. The Conference & Expo keynote in 2007 is one that will go down in history. With its announcement, Apple reinvented the and put converged handsets on mainstream consumers' radar. The iPhone seamlessly integrated music, email, a phone, a camera and Internet access all into one great device. I personally never had an interest in  until the announcement, and countless others can likely make the same claim. There was just one problem, however… Apple partnered exclusively with in the U.S. for the release of the iPhone. At the time, Cingular was the biggest carrier in the U.S. with 58 million customers   - to show how rapidly the market has grown in recent years, the nation's largest carrier Verizon reported having 108.7 million subscribers at the end of 2011  - but I was in no way interested in moving to a new carrier and therefore I was forced to pass on the iPhone. the DROID. In October, the three companies teased upcoming the device with . To this day, the commercial is as iconic to me as the 1984 Mac commercial is to Apple fans… it was the beginning of a new era. Not only was the DROID an immediate hit for Verizon, I believe it is the sole reason Android is what it is today. After the lackluster Android devices that came before it, Google bet it all on Motorola's flagship phone and that bet paid off. of the DROID wasn't for me but with a Verizon iPhone nowhere in sight, I knew an Android device was in my future. Once the DROID X was released I snapped it up and quickly became an “Android .” With Google's platform, the user is in control. He or she has the option to have a keyboard, a full touchscreen, a massive display, or whatever else his or her heart may desire. As a self-described nerd, I soon plunged into the world of rooting and custom , which is an endless adventure thanks to the incredible Android developer community. or tablet as “Android.” When a user inevitably receives one of these $99 “Android” tablets for Christmas, his or her experience will be less than stellar to say the least. Most of these cheap devices don't even include the Android Market due to Google's restrictions, leaving consumers with virtually no quality applications and further tarnishing the experience. Even mainstream manufacturers make buying an Android device a hassle. Motorola released the DROID BIONIC in September, the DROID RAZR in November, and the DROID RAZR Maxx in January. To make matters worse, the company announced not long ago. A new Android device is released almost every month from major manufacturers, often leaving consumers with severe cases of buyer's remorse. Some manufacturers have at least promised to slow down in the future, but mobile technology advances too quickly to sit idle for very long. Lastly, each carrier and manufacturer is looking to out-do the competition. Rather than marketing devices and services with competitive pricing, these companies fill handsets with unnecessary bloatware and custom user interface skins. The skins are supposed to “enhance” a user's experience but more often then not, they lead to incompatibilities, error messages, forced closures, poor battery performance and lag. Switching between a Motorola device and an HTC device will give the consumer a completely different experience. Android itself has no consistent flow, although Google hopes to change that with the release of Ice Cream Sandwich. When Apple announces a device, the company also announces a release date. The carriers don't tell Apple when to release a product, Apple tells the carriers when it will release a product. Google might be well-served to find a way to gain some of this assertiveness; the company's latest flagship device, the Galaxy Nexus, was announced in October. During the event, Google announced European release date but no firm details regarding a North American launch were provided. The company said it was “coming soon” - the two most dreaded words in all of technology. Verizon then delayed the handset's launch for unknown reasons until it was released nearly two months after its unveiling. This would never happen with an Apple product. When you power on an iPhone it works, plain and simple. The iPhone has no carrier branding whatsoever, nor does it have any bloatware. In addition, it has access to the most incredible App Store in the mobile world, hands down. The device is slick, clean and stylish, which is exactly in line with Apple's image. I have seen kids as young as six to adults as old as 80 using the device… it is that simple. , , or whatever else you want, but when push comes to shove, 99% of consumers don't care about rooting, or the concept of being “open.” They just want a sleek with a wide selection of great apps that can browse the Web, check email, text and make phone calls. In this regard, the iPhone is the clear choice.

Go Apple or go home? T-Mobile continues to flounder without the iPhone

T-Mobile USA on Thursday reported a rough holiday quarter during which the company lost a net 802,000 contract subscribers. In its earnings release, T-Mobile mentions Apple's iPhone - a device is does not sell - a total of seven times, repeatedly blaming its poor fourth-quarter performance on the absence of Apple's smartphone from its store shelves. “The sequential and year-on-year increase in customer losses is a result of intense competitive pressure from the launch of the iPhone 4S by three nationwide competitors in the fourth quarter of 2011,” the carrier said in its press release. Looking beyond the fourth quarter, however, T-Mobile said in a separate press release that it now has a “reinvigorated challenger strategy focused on making amazing 4G services affordable.” This doesn't bode well - according to T-Mobile's own statements, 4G networks and affordable service are the least of the carrier's concerns. Read on for more. T-Mobile USA CEO Phillip Humm made T-Mobile's position very clear. “Not carrying the iPhone led to a significant increase in contract deactivations in the fourth quarter of 2011,” the chief executive said in a statement. In fact, the very first line of T-Mobile's earnings release reads as follows: “Strong adjusted OIBDA and prepaid performance; contract business negatively impacted in the fourth quarter of 2011 by iPhone 4S launches by three nationwide competitors.” In a separate release, however, Humm sang a different tune. ”We want to be known for delivering the best value in wireless because of the advanced technology we deliver at an affordable price," Humm said. “Over the next two years, we're prioritizing and investing in initiatives designed to get T-Mobile back to growth in the years ahead - beginning with the transformation of our network." But wait. T-Mobile is already known as the most affordable nationwide carrier and the company just publicly stated - seven times - that the iPhone is the problem. Not 4G service and not the affordability of its plans. The iPhone. Shouldn't the company be “prioritizing and investing in initiatives designed to get” the iPhone? T-Mobile sat in limbo for the better part of the second half last year as AT&T's acquisition bid took center stage. That plan failed. Miserably. T-Mobile was sent away from the table with some new spectrum and $4 billion in its pocket, but that $4 billion will only take the carrier so far. Hate it though they may, Apple's iPhone is a carrier's best friend in the U.S. right now. Without it, they lose over 800,000 post-paid subscribers. With it, they activate 7.6 million smartphones in a single quarter. Sprint saw that, and while it will take some time for the carrier's massive iPhone bet to pay off, Sprint was willing to bank $15.5 billion on Apple's smartphones T-Mobile might not be in a position to make a similar play for the iPhone, but from the look of things, the carrier would be well-served to devote as much time and resources as possible to adding Apple's iPhone to its smartphone lineup.

“iPhone 5 testers” SMS scam now targeting Android users

Apple's iPhone 5 is one of this year's most anticipated mobile devices, so it's not surprising that some want to take unfair advantage of that. There's an iPhone 5 testers SMS scam that's been reported by iPhone users since early February (there's even a thread over at Apple Support Communities about this), and now it's targeting Android users, too. As you can see in the screenshot below (taken on a Samsung Galaxy Nexus in Canada), the SMS reads: "Apple is looking for iPhone 5 testers! The first 1000 users that go to [scam website] and enter a code will get to test & keep a new iPhone 5." Needless to say, if you get this kind of message don't reply to it, and don't click on any link it may include. Because you will certainly not get any iPhone 5 to test and keep.

Google+ iPhone app updated with Instant Upload and What's Hot stream

Google has updated the official Google+ app for iPhone to version 1.0.9.4278. The refreshed app brings features that are already available in the Android app, as well as on the Google+ mobile website, including: Instant Upload, What's Hot stream, and the ability to see who +1d a post The app is (of course) free, and works on devices with iOS 4.0 or later. You can download it here via App Store. The Google+ app was first released for iPhone in July 2011, and is currently available in more than 40 languages.

Your iPhone is Nasty, Clean it with a Coin. Do What?

The WipeCoin case is a specially designed iPhone 4x4S case with a built in cleaning disk that can be used to clean the gunk off your phone's display. The coin stores in the lower right corner of the case, but when you need to use it, it slides out so that you can rub the antimicrobial microfiber cloth attached to the bottom of disk all over the display. When you're done, snap it back in place. The WipeCoin is made in Germany and sells for $19.99. I think I'll save 20 bucks and stick with my tried and true cleaning method – rubbing it on my pants leg.

Apple may bring 3D gaming and eye-tracking to the iPhone, iMac

The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple on Thursday that reveals a 3D eye-tracking-based interface that could be used for gaming, digital photography and videography in future iOS and iMac devices, reports PatentlyApple. The new features could work in conjunction with Apple's current 3D head tracking and ambient light technologies. The solution would utilize a variety of sensors such as an accelerometer and compass in combination with eye-tracking technology to alter the perspective of 3D graphics displayed on an iPhone. The result would be a 3D experience that constantly adjusts to the user's position and a device's position, creating a unique experience far more advanced and precise than current solutions. The patent application was originally filed in the third quarter of 2010 and it is unclear if Apple is currently experimenting with the technology.

Government agency ditches BlackBerry for iPhone, iPad

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency within the United States Department of Commerce, will stop using BlackBerry phones later this year and instead supply workers with Apple's mobile devices. In a memo relayed by Loop Insight, NOAA's Chief Information Officer and Director for High Performance Computing and Communications said that support for BlackBerry phones will cease in May of this year. Apple's iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S will replace the agency's BlackBerry handsets, and NOAA plans to adopt current and future generations of Apple's iPad tablet as well. Research In Motion's BlackBerry smartphones have been the U.S. government's go-to solution for wireless devices due to their enhanced security and robust messaging capabilities. Loop Insight's report did not indicate that the NOAA memo provided an explanation for the agency's decision.