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iTunes Festival returns to London with free live music on your Apple device

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Imagine: an entire month of free concerts in one of the greatest cities in the world! Since 2007, it’s been an annual reality thanks to Apple. The beloved computer and smartphone manufacturer has delighted a countless number of people with their iTunes Festival, held in London each September. They’re currently at the end of the series, and once again it’s proving to be exciting, memorable and incredibly fun.

The iTunes Festival is sponsored by Apple, who make free tickets available to all UK residents through a series of online and in-app prize draws leading up to the event. For those who aren’t lucky enough to attend, each performance is streamed live online and available to view again afterwards on iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Mac computers and on television via Apple TV.

Each night in September features both an emerging artist, who takes the stage at 8:00pm and a veteran headlining act, who comes on at 9:00pm. The inaugural performance, in 2007, was held at the renowned ICA, an arts and cultural centre near Trafalgar Square in the heart of London. One of the first artists to perform was Amy Winehouse, who was at the peak of her success and dazzled the audience with her unique vocals.

In 2008, the festival moved to KOKO, in London’s Camden Town neighborhood. And since 2009, it has found a comfortable home at the venerable Roundhouse, also in Camden. Over the last weekend, the festival also coincided with multiple concerts, benefits and celebrations held around London and centered in Camden Town to mark what would be the thirtieth birthday of the late Amy Winehouse and benefit the charitable foundation established in her name.

iTunes Festival Lineup
iTunes Festival Lineup

This year’s iTunes Festival features up and coming artists like Drenge and Palma Violets as well as superstars such as Jack Johnson and legendary bands like Pixies. As in previous years, it seems that the artists are doing their best to live up to Apple’s promise of an epic, unexpected and unforgettable festival. Reports indicated that they’re getting creative and having fun with their performances, and reviews have overall been extremely positive. A great example of this is 2013’s festival opener, Lady Gaga, who debuted a performance of entirely new and previously unheard material.

With Apple being the smartphone, tablet and computer brand of choice for millions of consumers worldwide, their success has increased exponentially over the past few years. Cynics may be quick to write the iTunes Festival off as a marketing tactic designed to encourage the public to buy their products, and it’s true that Apple will of course benefit from sponsoring this series of events.

However, it is also a prime example of how the company does things a little differently. The annual iTunes Festival is creative and innovative. This massive event doesn’t just feature popular mainstream artists. It contributes to Camden Town’s rich musical and artistic culture and offers incredibly good exposure to new and lesser-known musicians. Furthermore, it’s a nice way of giving a little something back to those who are so loyal to the Apple brand.

iPhone

Overview of the new iPhone 5s from Apple

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After months of rumors circulating online, in early September Apple finally made the official announcement about the iPhone 5s and which features it will contain. Now the first wave of the buzz-worthy smartphones are being released in the United States, and Apple fanatics can’t wait to be amongst the first to own one or even get their name on a waiting list with their wireless provider.

So what is it that makes this phone so great? There are many updates, big and small. Here are a few of the top features of the iPhone 5s:

Amazing new A7 chip

By including it in the 5s, Apple has become the first smartphone manufacturer in the world to offer a mobile device with 64-bit architecture. As a result, the CPU and graphics performance of the iPhone 5s is up to two times faster than the previous iPhone – desktop-computer quality technology in a device that fits in the palm of your hand.

Apple M7 Coprocessor
Apple M7 Coprocessor

Incredible M7 chip

Able to measure data from an accelerometer, gyroscope and compass, it saves the 5s from constantly relying on the A7 chip for everything. Perhaps the best feature of the M7 chip is the fact that it can differentiate between walking, running and even vehicle motion. This makes it practical in small but convenient ways, such as not asking you about joining the Wi-Fi network of your local coffee shop when you happen to be driving by it. Furthermore, the M7 chip can detect when your iPhone is idle or you’re asleep and will reduce network pinging to save on battery life.

Touch ID fingerprint sensor

Centered on the iPhone 5s home button, which is made of sapphire crystal, it reads the ridges and patterns in your print and functions accordingly, providing an unprecedented level of security for locking and unlocking your device. Touch ID technology can also be used in place of a traditional password to make purchases through iTunes, iBooks and the Mac App Store. Fingerprint data stored within the iPhone 5s is encrypted and saved securely in the A7 chip, where it is locked away from everything but the touch sensor itself.

Improved iSight camera

With 8 megapixels plus additional 1.5-micron pixels, Apple has centered the iPhone 5s camera on people who want to take great photos, not become expert photographers. They know that much of their target audience simply wants to take awesome shots on the go that they can upload to their social networks. The camera in the 5s has True Tone flash for still photographs and videos, automatic image stabilization, burst mode and slow motion video features.

Stunning graphics

If you were amazed by retina display, the graphics in the new 5s will surely impress you. Set at the standard of quality Mac computers, they highlight textures and shadows in an incredibly true-to-life fashion and even visualize sun reflecting off water. Whether you like to play games, watch Netflix or look at photos on your iPhone, the 5s sets a new standard for providing impressive visuals.

The iPhone 5s is equipped with a wealth of other new features, such as LTE wireless capability, improved energy efficiency and even a sleeker, lighter body. You can also discover all the differences between the 5s and 5c in our detailed comparison post.

iPhone

Overview of the new iPhone 5c from Apple

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The iPhone 5c; something for those of us who like to live life in color. After months of online gossip about a new, cheaper iPhone, Apple made the official announcement about the iPhone 5c on September 10th. The new model of iPhone – for which the c definitely stands for “color” not “cheap” is like a reimagined iPhone 5. On September 20th the iPhone 5c was released in the United States, and many consumers are now excited about this fun, affordable smartphone.

There are many great aspects of the iPhone 5c besides just the affordable price tag. It boasts everything the first iPhone 5 did with a few welcome differences. Here are some of the best features the latest addition to the Apple family has to offer:

iPhone 5c Pink
iPhone 5c Pink

A high-quality, colorful exterior

Available in carefully selected shades of green, blue, yellow, pink or white, the 5c is definitely not a cheap, plastic mobile phone. It has a steel reinforced frame that acts as an antenna, which is attached to the phone’s shell and the laser-welded to ensure structural integrity. For those who really like color, specifically designed iPhone 5c cases are available that will allow owners to “mix it up” with 30 different color combinations. 5c cases are designed to be part of the experience. Made of quality silicone with a soft microfiber interior, they are molded to and run parallel with the rim of the phone. As a result, 5c owners can be creative with their color combinations and protect their smartphones without added bulk.

The powerful A6 chip

While it’s not the incredible A7 and M7 chip combination that comes with the iPhone 5s, the A6 is certainly nothing to scoff at. With twice the speed and graphics capabilities of its predecessor, it is more than enough power for the majority of iPhone users and allows use of apps with enjoyment, speed and ease.

Stunning retina display

The liquid crystal display on the 5c is like that of other recent Apple devices. It has a high enough pixel density that the human eye can’t detect pixilation at regular viewing distance. This means that photos are more vivid, games graphics are more vibrant, video quality is sharper and your entire iPhone 5c visual experience is rich and exciting.

Lightning-fast LTE wireless

Both the 5c and the 5s come equipped with this incredible connection capability. However, use of it depends on which mobile carrier you choose. While it’s becoming increasingly common, LTE still isn’t available in all areas. Should you be able to take advantage of it, however, you’ll experience connection and data transfer speeds that are distinctly faster than 3G and 4G.

Improved energy efficiency

While some people were skeptical of the ability to pack so much computing power into an iPhone without making battery life suffer, Apple has proved doubters wrong. The A6 chip is designed with energy efficiency in mind, consequently extending battery life. With 10 hours of LTE internet browsing time, talk time and even video playback time, the iPhone 5c is both powerful enough to do whatever you need and not have you scrambling to charge it back up halfway through your work day.

While many tech experts are focusing on the technological marvel that is the iPhone 5s, it’s important to not write the 5c off as an inferior device. Features like Touch ID and the M7 chip, while impressive, aren’t necessary for many consumers. For those who want a product that combines great technology with a fun design and manageable price tag, the iPhone 5c is a wise choice.

iPhone

Top 5 features iPhone 5s has over the colorful 5c

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With the debut of the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c, the tech world is buzzing about Apple once again. Seeing as the company was eager to prove they can still innovate, it’s no surprise there is a whole host of new features on each of the latest iPhones. Whichever you pick, the 5s and 5c both offer something extra over the iPhone 5. So are you seeking the latest and greatest in smartphone technology? Or are you after something that offers great features, is hip, affordable and as Apple puts it, “for the colorful?” If you’re not sure yet which iPhone suits you best, it may be helpful to consider what the 5s has that the 5c doesn’t.

A7 chip

With it, Apple has become the first smartphone manufacturer in the world to offer a mobile device with 64-bit architecture. Paired with the M7 motion coprocessor, it means the CPU and graphics performance of the iPhone 5s is up to two times faster than its predecessor. Think of it as desktop computer-class architecture packed into a sleek, super slim smartphone. Best of all, the new iOS 7 was designed specifically with the A7 chip in mind, maximizing performance and functionality.

Touch ID fingerprint sensor

Centered on the iPhone’s home button, which on the 5s is made of sapphire crystal, it reads the ridges and patterns in your print and functions accordingly, providing an unprecedented level of security for locking and unlocking your device. Touch ID technology can also be used in place of a traditional password to make purchases through iTunes, iBooks and the Mac App Store. Fingerprint data stored within the iPhone 5s is encrypted and saved securely in the A7 chip, where it is locked away from everything but the touch sensor itself.

Better iSight camera

Now with 8 megapixels and an additional 1.5-micron pixels, the iPhone 5s camera boasts True Tone flash for both still photographs and videos, automatic image stabilization, burst mode and slow motion video features. Those who thought previous iPhones had cameras of a high enough quality to replace their traditional point-and-shoot digital cameras are sure to be amazed at the improvements offered in the 5s.

Thinner and lighter design

With many rumors circulating that the new iPhone might be even larger than the 5, or that Apple might release a Samsung Galaxy-style “phablet” similar to the Note, a sleeker smartphone was a pleasant surprise. The iPhone 5s is 4.87 inches tall, compared to the 5c at 4.9 inches. It’s 2.31 inches wide, where the 5c is 2.33 inches. It’s also 0.3 inches deep, compared to the 5c at 0.35 inches. Even better, it weighs just 3.95 ounces, while the iPhone 5c is 4.65 ounces. All this incredible technology, and it’s still smaller and lighter.

Heftier price tag

As expected, the iPhone 5s doesn’t come cheap. A 16GB model is $199 with a wireless contract, or $649 unlocked. By comparison, a 16GB iPhone 5c is $99 on contract or $549 unlocked. The 32GB 5s is $299 on contract or $749 unlocked, while the 32Gb 5c is $199 with a wireless plan or $749 without one. Furthermore, the iPhone 5s is available in a 64GB model for those who have a lot of data to store on their smartphone. It weighs in at $399 on contract or $849 without. There is no 64GB iPhone 5c.

iPhone 5s / 5c Comparison
iPhone 5s / 5c Comparison

Which iPhone you choose will likely depend on both your budget and the features you can’t live without. If you must have Touch ID and the new A7 chip, but don’t require a lot of data storage, you can save a lot of money by choosing a 17GB or 32GB model. However, if you just want a smartphone that offers some of the latest technology, is fun and comes in a range of attractive colors, the 5c is a great option that won’t break the bank.

Apps

Mac internet security made easy with Intego

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You’ve invested a significant amount of money in your beautiful, powerful iMac or MacBook. It contains all your photos, music and work documents, and you know you’d be lost without it. So, what are you doing to protect it?

If you’re diligent about backing up your data, you’re ahead of most people, who surprisingly, despite hearing horror stories, still don’t bother until a disaster causes them to lose everything. That trauma is usually the catalyst that causes most people to set up Time Machine and buy an external hard drive.

Perhaps you are good about backing up your data regularly. But do you also use a reliable anti-virus or Internet security program? If you still believe that Macs are impervious to viruses and malware, you’re just as at risk as those who don’t bother to back up their files. Macintosh operating systems are overall very stable and secure; we certainly hear fewer cases of corruption and infection than those who use PCs. However, they aren’t bulletproof. As fast as Apple can work to develop and maintain their top-quality systems, hackers are inventing ways to break into them.

If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to install an Internet security program. Consider it the final piece to complete the protection and maintenance of your investment. A program such as Intego’s Mac Internet Security Premium may be ideal. It’s quite user-friendly, and it’s Apple-focused. M.I.S.P., as it’s often referred to, offers users the ability to operate a multi-faceted data centre that protects their MacBook or iMac. With a simple user interface, it isn’t intimidating for those less technical users. However, its powerful features are sure to impress even those with high expectations.

If your Mac gets hacked, it’s going to be personal

M.I.S.P. protects your computer from having data stolen or corrupted, which is excellent in an age when identity theft is far too common. It offers 24-7, real time protection in addition to scheduled scans. Furthermore, it scans files whenever they’re accessed. It even provides the ability to drag and drop specific documents or files into the program to be scanned.

Another impressive feature of Intego’s Mac Internet Security Premium is that it doesn’t just protect against Mac-centric threats. It offers the ability to detect and protect your computer against PC-based malware as well. Accordingly, it prevents Mac users from spreading viruses and spyware to friends, family and colleagues who aren’t Apple users.

Intego’s M.I.S.P. has received a solid, averaged four out of five start rating through C-Net, where it is offered as a paid download with the ability to try a free, thirty-day evaluation period. It is especially popular amongst those who frequently use public or unsecured Wi-Fi networks, and computer users who are new to Macintosh.

Criticisms of the program are rare, and include mainly minor concerns. Some users have mentioned that they’d like to be able to tinker with the anti-virus and firewall settings in more detail. Others have expressed a desire to see a detailed log of what viruses and other threats Intego’s program is finding and deleting.

Overall, Mac Internet Security Premium is a solid program that provides a stable and secure level of protection against Internet-based attacks. While nothing will guarantee a problem-free computing experience, by using it coupled with regular data backups, you’ll vastly reduce the risk of encountering issues and make recovery far easier.