Apple’s latest update their iOS software was just updated to 4.1. This release was aimed at fixing a bunch of bugs while also adding a few extra features to the OS that were announced last week. At the same time, Samsung is unleashing the Fascinate on Verizon customers.
iOS 4.1 is available for download now. One of the more pressing features that it addresses is fixing an issue with the proximity sensor. This sensor tells the phone how close it is to your face so that it can shut off the screen while you’re talking and prevent you from doing fun things with your cheek. Here are a few issues Corvida and others have faced (pun intended):
- Pressing the number pad in the middle of several calls
- Putting myself on mute
- Ending calls
According to Corvida, the problem with the proximity sensor is still unresolved even after the update, so your mileage may vary.
Another exciting feature is Game Center. This is something like Xbox Live, but for your iOS device. It makes it easier to find people to play with in multi-player games. It also stores achievements and helps you discover new games.
Other features include:
- The ability to upload HD quality videos to YouTube
- TV Show rentals from iTunes
- And HDR Photos
While the demo for HDR photos was interesting, it seems the actual implementation and user experience is not. This is another feature where your mileage may vary. Many are describing the difference in quality between standard photos and HDR photos as “meh.”
As many Apple fans are updating their iPhones, some Verizon customers are looking to snag a new Android device. The Samsung Fascinate is one of the latest in the Android line. It stands beside other Galaxy S phones like the Vibrant and the Captivate, sharing the same basic design as most Android phones.
There is really nothing new and fascinating about the Fascinate. It’s simply a decent phone with competitive specs and fits right into the Samsung lineup. One interesting quirk pointed out by Engadget is that it uses Bing as the default search and there is no way to change it to anything else. They also site problems with the TouchWiz skin, which they describe as a “pale and often buggy imitation of iOS.”
The Fascinate might work fine for someone who has never used an iPhone or any other Android device, but it would probably frustrate anyone else.
Are you still having problems after the iOS 4.1 update? Does the Samsung Fascinate intrigue you? Tell us about it.