DIGITAL LIFE

With inked deals with the top four major music record labels and the launch of its anticipated iCloud service, Google and Amazon's cloud music services will be keeping Apple in close observation. Along with Apple's announcement of iOS5 and Lion, the platforms are lined up nicely to support iCloud in its quest to overpower the competition via photos, music, and video streaming.

With the recent publication by the World Health Organization listing hazardous phones due to radiation level emissions, consumers are now being more careful at selecting smartphones.

The Environmental Working Group, a Washington based organization specialized in research in the areas of toxic chemicals and corporate accountability, has done a great service of compiling a list of major carriers’ phones which measure the SAR levels based on phone manufacturers data from December 2010. Notably, a few brand name manufactures stand out on the list.

The Apple iOS 5 version has received much attention as the mobile OS will be introduced by CEO Steve Jobs next week. Talks have been swirling about possible features that may range from enhanced notifications, widgets, integration of iCloud, and the inclusion of social network platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.

Earlier this week, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report on the possible carcinogenic effects of cell phones, thereby triggering interest about which cell phones emit the least radiation.

Just days after Sony restored its PlayStation Network and working to restore trust back to its customers, a new cyber attack hit the company again, this time it targeted Sony Pictures. The hackers reportedly stole 1 million users’ personal information from the Sony Pictures database.

Apple iOS 5 powered iPhone 5 may not be debuting after all at Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) next week, leading people to wonder whether the next generation smart phone will be playing a catch up game or whether it is prowling for the right opportunity to reveal itself and blast its rivals into oblivion.

The World Health Organization announced Tuesday that cell phone use may cause cancer and carries carcinogenic hazard such as lead, engine exhaust and chloroform.

Speculations have been rising about the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 arrival dates as well as upgraded hardware specifications. The iPhone 4S will also come with an 8 megapixel camera along with a SIM built-in design, which will not require SIM cards. Though there were contradictory reports that UK carrier Orange is developing new and smaller micro-SIM cards for Apple.

Search through the Apple App Store and you may find an app called BarMax CA listed with an outstanding price tag of $999.99. The BarMax CA and NY app works on both the iPhone and iPad, allowing law students to study for bar exams. The app includes videos that were co developed with Harvard lawyers that includes lectures, flashcards, over a thousand MBE practice questions, a task list feature, and calendar.

With the expanding list of social networks and new competitors, it is hard not to know about Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. According to Experian Hitwise and SocialBaker statistics, Facebook has over 50% of the social media market. The rest is split up among other major sites, mostly Youtube, MySpace, Yahoo, and Twitter. Though it seems that everyone has flocked to these sites, there are still an number of international social networks that you may not have known about which captures a larg...

Samsung, which has been accused by Apple of stealing its technology and design has turned the table on its accuser, which is famous for its corporate secrecy, by demanding to see pre-production prototypes of next generation iPhone and iPad so that it can evaluate whether its Galaxy range of devices are confusingly similar to Apple devices.

Mac Defender, the first major attack ever to strike Apple computers, has been traced to a Russian online payment service site ChronoPay, according to Brian Krebs, an online security researcher.

Even as Apple is yet to release a system update that will protect Mac from the notorious malware, Mac Defender, hackers are growing in the Mac community and now an upgraded version of the malware, called Mac Guard, has arrived.

Apple has finally admitted the danger of Mac Defender – the first major malware to target Mac computers – that created panic among Apple customers, and promised to tackle the issue.

Barnes & Noble released its newest device, the WiFi Nook, joining the intensively competitive market of digtital e-readers and electronic tablets. The new Nook follows the success of the company's Nook Color, which packed more features than the new simple purposed device. Amazon will enter the fight with the nw Kindle 3G which support ads.

Rumors have surfaced about the new curved glass display for the Apple's iPhone 5 or iPhone 4GS. As exciting as the curved glass display sounds, Korean smartphone companies such as Samsung and LG can tell you that it isn't new to the industry.

Apple commemorated the 10th Anniversary of its retail stores on Sunday by launching Apple Store 2.0, matching the high expectations of its customers.

Apple Store 2.0, underwent a makeover on Sunday, May 22, 2011 with snazzy new iPad 2 replacing the paper signage next to every Apple product, three days after the 10th anniversary of the company’s retail stores.

Increasing numbers of Apple Mac computer users are reporting incidents of seeing pop-up windows named Mac Defender, but what appears as a security program is not a valid defender but an attacker - a malicious malware instead.

Yet another attack on Sony PlayStation Network took place, resulting in 100,000 yen (approximately $1,225) stolen from account holders.

Foxconn Technology Group, the main manufacturing contractor for Apple’s iPad 2 and iPhone 4, witnessed a large explosion in its Chengdu plant on May 20 7 p.m. local time, killing 2 and injuring at least 16, and possibly delaying the already-scarce iPad supply.

Mac users are reporting cases of being attacked by malicious malware, possibly for the first time in Apple's history, and panicking customers are increasing.

Apple will kick off celebrations of 10th anniversary of its retail stores today and, according to Apple fans, the company could do so by executing a major retail makeover called Apple Store 2.0.

May 19 marks the 10th anniversary of Apple retail outlets and though a celebration is in the cards, what the company has planned is pretty much hush-hush.

Facebook and other social network giants are opposing a new Californian bill, which requires all social network websites to make users' information private by default. A spokesman claims that the bill would be a big threat to their businesses.

There are many rumors and leaks concerning iPhone 5 making rounds in the Internet. The latest scoop is this. According to hankooki.com, a popular Korean daily, iPhone 5 will be a “mini iPad”, with a bigger edge-to-edge display.

New leaks suggest that Apple's fifth generation iPhone or iPhone 5 will be positioning the flash and camera lens further apart than they are in the current version.