It seems that someone has been able to scoop out one of Apple’s more interesting patents for mobile phones and this one details an audio jack with a built in microphone functionality. In more ways than one, we are certainly wondering why this piece of technology is not implemented in the recently released iPhone 4. At this point, the audio jack for the Apple iPhone is located in an inconvenient spot. The patent not only adds functionality to the audio jack, but also provides a better location for the port. Of course, the new technology is expected to be supported by advanced noise filter...

The latest research has revealed that despite fierce competition from rival manufacturers including Samsung and RIM, Apple’s iPad deals are destined to reign for the next two years. Research has been carried out by iSuppli, and indicates that the iPad can compete with the likes of the newly announced Samsung Galaxy Tab and RIM’s BlackPad devices. Apple currently has an impressive 74.1% share of the tablet market and although this is set to fall during 2011 and 2012, the company will still lead with a 70.4% share next year and a 61.7% share in 2012. Rhoda Alexander, director of monitor...

A few weeks ago I was pacing through Leicester Square in London, when suddenly my path was blocked by hundreds of people waiting patiently in a queue. Being English, I obviously felt compelled to join the back of it, but just managed to resist. Assuming the excitable hoard had assembled for the latest movie premiere, I marched straight to the front. But sadly there was no sign of Tom Cruise or Cameron Diaz, as the snaking line was actually for the hotly anticipated Apple iPhone 4. Hundreds of people were happily writing-off half a day to stand in this monster queue, perceiving the prize to ...

Earlier this year, Greenpeace came out with the guide to greener electronics and they heralded the best phone manufacturers in terms of who has the greenest manufacturing processes. Nokia and Sony Ericsson took top spots on that release and they have been constantly pushing towards a greener future for mobile phones. Now, mobile network operator O2 has announced their own list of phones and phone makers in order to get people to see which devices are best for the environment and of course, for people to start supporting the greener phones. Unsurprisingly, many phone makers signed up on O2’s...

O2 has today launched a new green ranking initiative for mobile phones – but Apple has excluded its iPhones from being included in the scheme. Run together with Forum for the Future, O2’s new green scheme ranks how environmentally friendly a handset is. Phones are scored between zero and five, depending on how green they are. Peter Madden, chief executive of Forum for the Future, said: “Billions of people worldwide are using mobile phones to organise their lives. We want to reward manufacturers who make efforts to reduce their environmental impacts and think creatively about how their de...