iPhone News Updated

Should I upgrade to the iPhone 4S for Siri?

Apple’s voice-activated, personal assistant, Siri, is a cool app to show off at parties, but is it useful enough for me to upgrade to the iPhone 4S? And how can I make sure that I don’t get socked with a surprise $1,000 bill when I return from my winter vacation in the Caribbean Islands?

These are the questions Ask Maggie tackles in this edition.

Should I upgrade to the iPhone 4S for Siri?

Dear Maggie,
I’ve had the iPhone 3G for a couple of years. But recently, I’ve really gotten tired of the slow download speeds for emails and Web surfing. Would the iPhone 4S be better? Also the Siri app looks really interesting, and I can’t get it on my iPhone 3G. Is it worth it for me to upgrade to the iPhone 4S for this app?

I’m going to be buying a new phone in the next couple of weeks, and I am curious as to whether or not you think it is worth the money to get the iPhone 4S, or if I should consider something else. Now that I’ve been retired for almost five years, I’ve lost touch with the latest technology so your advice is much appreciated.

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Android stays ahead of iPhone surge in US (despite what Nielsen thinks)

Though the iPhone did incredibly well in the past three months in the US – getting nearly half of sales – Nielsen’s claim that it’s ‘catching up’ with Android isn’t quite right. Other platforms, meanwhile, have trouble

Nielsen’s claim that the iPhone is ‘catching up’ with Android isn’t quite right. Photograph: Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters

“More US Consumers Choosing Smartphones as Apple Closes the Gap on Android” says the headline on the Nielsen blog, looking at sales of smartphone in the US over the fourth quarter.

Only one thing wrong about it: Apple isn’t, by the numbers Nielsen provides, closing the gap in installed base on Android. Instead, the Android OS is extending its lead in smartphones – which, according to Nielsen, stands at 46.3% of the total market; Apple, it says, has 30% of the overall market.

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