It is a tech myth that Google Maps is the only robust maps software out there, but yet many general users believe that myth. Of course, Mountain View’s service is probably the most complete service and dominates the market, but Nokia’s HERE Maps suite has been providing a compelling alternative for some time.

HERE Maps has been well received on Android after earlier being a hit on Windows Phone, while Nokia has long said that it was working on an iOS version for Apple’s products. The Finnish company has made good on that promise by revealing that the iOS version of HERE Maps is will be landing on Apple devices this week.. The app comes with numerous features, such as offline navigation, voice navigation for transport and people, lane switching, traffic guidance, and public transport schedules. All of the features are also available offline thanks to GPS; that includes all the voice navigation and voice options.

More than 200 country maps are available, as well as whole continent maps, and you can download them to store on your device. The app is now available for iOS, but there has been a delay in the software, so it will not be available for the App Store for another one or two days.

The iPhone has been popular from day one, we all know that, and we all know that it is the most popular smartphone on the market, the launch of the iPhone 6 proved that. However, since the launch of the first iPhone way back when the smartphone idea was in its infancy, how well as the device performed? Well, we have some news of solid figures straight from Apple.

Sure, Cupertino is not usually quick to discuss figures about sales, preferring to generalize instead. That was not the case this week during the company’s event that the iPhone has sold over 700 million units, a whopping number in just seven years. This number in fact easily makes the iPhone the most successful smartphone range of all time, easily surpassing the numbers achieved by Samsung’s Galaxy S range, which is admittedly younger.

Another hint of Samsung’s decline, further proof of the dominance of the iPhone 6, or just pure luck? It is probably a case of all three as Apple outsold Samsung around the world during the fourth quarter of 2014. It is the first time since 2011 that Cupertino has positioned itself as numero uno in the global smartphone market.
Of course, Apple is number one in many other aspects, but being top in hardware sales has eluded the company as the sheer output of Samsung put the Korean company on top. However, the truly phenomenal success of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus has set Apple apart in this industry in so many ways. With 74.8 million unit sales, the iPhone surpassed Samsung’s entire smartphone range, which pulled in 73 million unit.
It is a stark contrast from the previous year where Samsung dominated with 83.3 million units sold and Apple managed just 50.2 million. The numbers show obviously that Apple grew by a large amount (49% in fact), and Samsung fell considerably (12.4%). With the iPhone 6 now maturing and Samsung’s Galaxy S6 fresh on the market, it is likely normal service will resume in the coming quarters. Although, it is still a startling result for Apple and will be further cause for concern for Samsung.
Apple held 20.4% of the smartphone market after the fourth quarter according to industry researcher Gartner, while Samsung held 19.4%. Other researchers have varied opinions, for example IDC pegged Samsung as still on top. Either way, the rate in which Apple close the gap is impressive as the iPhone 6 proved itself to be the best performing (from a sales perspective) smartphone of all time.
In other areas of the research, Chinese company Lenovo said when it bought Motorola late last year that it had created the third largest smartphone company in the process. The boast has been proven true according to Gartner, as the company says Lenovo/Motorola took third place in the market with a 6.6% share. Huawei continued to do well in fourth place, but fellow Chinese company Xiaomi is hot on the tail in fifth.
Android continued to dominate the mobile space and was on 80.7% of all smartphone activated throughout 2014. However, Apple kept its own momentum and is easily the most profitable company, despite Android’s perceived dominance. Cupertino raked in 89% of all money made from smartphones in 2014, not bad considering iOS takes just 15.4% of the market.

The idea of Apple catching up with Samsung in terms of how many smartphone it sells seemed almost impossible less than a year ago. Samsung was completely in control of the market and Apple was just happy in its own place in the market selling big numbers and making huge amounts of money. However, in the last quarter Apple managed to reel in its great rival and both companies sold 74.5 million units. Read More »

KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said yesterday that Apple would top expectations and sell 73 million iPhone units, 2 million more than other analysts were predicting. It turns out even Kuo was wrong as Apple confounded the industry and confirmed that it sold a mind bending 74.5 million iPhones through its fiscal second quarter (4th calendar quarter). Read More »

Apple’s Q4 earnings call is happening later this evening, but we don’t need it to know that the company had a stellar period. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have smashed records and propelled the company to new heights, all tonight’s call will do is give us official numbers for just how big the quarter has been. According to respected KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, iPhone sales will best even the most robust predictions. Read More »

Apple’s commanding hold over the mobile industry continued and even strengthened over Christmas, and considering the blistering start to life enjoyed by the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, it’s hardly a surprise. Several analyst firms have shown Apple’s products vastly outperformed rival companies through a myriad of statistical analysis, while the iPhone 6 Plus even put a dent into the Cupertino’s own iPad, with tablet sales plummeting across the board. Read More »

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus launched back in September to huge buzz and instantly became sales juggernauts. The new iOS handsets demolished sales records through their launch window Read More »