Apple won an impressive 42.8 percent of all U.K. smartphone sales in October, based largely on the introduction of the iPhone 4S. It’s the first time since November of 2010 that Apple saw its share of the U.K. smartphone market grow, and the iPhone easily topped Android devices, which grabbed 35 percent of sales for the month.

The sales stats, gathered by research firm Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, are perhaps most impressive because Apple really only started selling its latest iPhone halfway through the month, on Oct. 14. Apple’s big month helped it grow its market share 2.8 percent versus the previous year in the quarter leading up to the end of October, climbing to 27.8 percent mostly at the expense of Android, which was down from 49.9 to 46 percent. That helped Apple climb to a second place spot among U.K. smartphone platforms, with RIM falling to third place with a drop of 1.3 percentage points to 19.6 percent share.

Apple’s sales were mostly from inside its own camp, however, Kantar Worldpanel ComTech points out. Amazingly, 75 percent of those who purchased a new 4S in October had previously owned an iPhone device, and 14 percent were upgrading from the iPhone 4, which means that a good percentage of them were probably buying out contracts early to get the device.

While it’s good for Apple that people who use their devices like them enough to return to the iPhone time and time again, the high rate of return customers could mean that we’ll quickly see Apple’s October gains give way to Android successes on the back of devices like the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the first smartphone packing Ice Cream Sandwich. Then again, Apple also now has a free entry-level iPhone as well as a cheaper mid-range option, so the 4S’s success may stand a better chance of being buttressed by those other options in the longer-term.

Apple’s iPhone likely isn’t done posting big sales, especially since it’s high on people’s lists in terms of ideal gifts for the holidays, but it’ll have more competition in the coming months. It’ll be interesting to see whether Apple can continue gaining back share in the face of the Android juggernaut, or whether this spike is just a one-time blip on the radar.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
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• The future of mobile: a segment analysis by GigaOM Pro
• Connected world: the consumer technology revolution
• Mobile Q2: Smartphone growth surges; iPad’s rule continues

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Apple won an impressive 42.8 percent of all U.K. smartphone sales in October, based largely on the introduction of the iPhone 4S. It’s the first time since November of 2010 that Apple saw its share of the U.K. smartphone market grow, and the iPhone easily topped Android devices, which grabbed 35 percent of sales for the month.

The sales stats, gathered by research firm Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, are perhaps most impressive because Apple really only started selling its latest iPhone halfway through the month, on Oct. 14. Apple’s big month helped it grow its market share 2.8 percent versus the previous year in the quarter leading up to the end of October, climbing to 27.8 percent mostly at the expense of Android, which was down from 49.9 to 46 percent. That helped Apple climb to a second place spot among U.K. smartphone platforms, with RIM falling to third place with a drop of 1.3 percentage points to 19.6 percent share.

Apple’s sales were mostly from inside its own camp, however, Kantar Worldpanel ComTech points out. Amazingly, 75 percent of those who purchased a new 4S in October had previously owned an iPhone device, and 14 percent were upgrading from the iPhone 4, which means that a good percentage of them were probably buying out contracts early to get the device.

While it’s good for Apple that people who use their devices like them enough to return to the iPhone time and time again, the high rate of return customers could mean that we’ll quickly see Apple’s October gains give way to Android successes on the back of devices like the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the first smartphone packing Ice Cream Sandwich. Then again, Apple also now has a free entry-level iPhone as well as a cheaper mid-range option, so the 4S’s success may stand a better chance of being buttressed by those other options in the longer-term.

Apple’s iPhone likely isn’t done posting big sales, especially since it’s high on people’s lists in terms of ideal gifts for the holidays, but it’ll have more competition in the coming months. It’ll be interesting to see whether Apple can continue gaining back share in the face of the Android juggernaut, or whether this spike is just a one-time blip on the radar.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

• The future of mobile: a segment analysis by GigaOM Pro
• Connected world: the consumer technology revolution
• Mobile Q2: Smartphone growth surges; iPad’s rule continues

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GigaOM

We’ve been teasing you with images of this see-through beauty since Sony announced plans to bring its translucent mirror to the A77. Unfortunately, we’ve still yet to get our dirty paws on its hard shell, but we’re happy to live vicariously through Pocket-lint’s hands-on of Sony’s clear-bodied Alpha camera. According to its post, the concept DSLR is based on a heretofore unidentified mid-range camera that touts an Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor and “fast continuous autofocus.” The camera is slated for a late 2011 release, but chances are it won’t come with that sweet transparent body. So soak it up while you can, because this could be the last you see of the crystalline casing — hit the source link for even more eye candy.

Sony’s see-through Alpha DSLR gets the hands-on treatment, probably won’t get a launch date originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 03:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There are so many large laser printing machines on the market that a consumer needs to carefully learn more about each one. This is why we are going to be spending some time reviewing the Xerox Phaser 6110 printer and its Xerox Phaser 6110 toner cartridges. There are large laser printers out there with higher specs. However this machine offers a high level of quality and reliable and this makes it the perfect mid-range machine.

We have already mentioned how the specs on this machine are not the highest level of specs that one might find on the market. Some of the other laser units are faster however not that much faster. This machine can crank out four color pages (at full quality) in a minute. Seventeen black and white pages can be done in the same amount of time.

There are some very large machines that can hold up to three hundred pages while this device holds half of that. One thing to consider about this capacity is that it allows the machine to be a little smaller and therefore lighter in weight. A lot of people cannot tell the difference between a machine that stores one hundred and fifty pages and a machine that stores over three hundred pages.

There is one very strong point that this printer has that is very important for us to bring up for the purposes of this review. This machine has a very good operating system support because Linux is an option for the owner. So many devices will only work on Windows or Mac. Not only does this machine support Linux but it supports non red hat versions of the operating system as well.

Nobody likes to use devices that do not have a good energy star rating. Xerox knows this and this is why this machine rates well under the energy star standard. Also keep in mind that it has a special energy saving mode. This means that the printer can be left running all day and, while in this mode, will consume seventeen watts of power instead of over three hundred!

A lot of people like the larger machines that are being offered by other companies however too many of them use ink to print with. This is a laser machine and that means that you have none of the negative aspects that are common when dealing with ink prints. Keep in mind that non-laser print jobs not only bleed but also suffer in quality. Laser is the best technology to utilize if you are expecting quality within a printing job.

This printer is made by a very large company that has become well known for its quality regarding these types of machines. This means that customer service will be of a very high quality. Also consider that utilizing the company’s website will allow you to obtain a certain level of support for your machine. When you make this type of investment, it’s always nice to have this type of support.

By now, you should be able to see why so many people are getting plenty of effective use from the Xerox Phaser 6110 printer and its Xerox Phaser toner cartridge. If you don’t believe it, hit the web and read some of the reviews for yourself. There are large laser printers that offer higher specs but this is the best possible “middle of the road” unit that somebody could invest in.

The much-anticipated Samsung Transform is a new Android 2.1 smart phone that utilizes the new Sprint ID interface, a feature similar to HTC’s mySense. It’s no question that Samsung has been on a phone frenzy in the last couple of months. However, most of the buzz surrounding Samsung’s Transform has centered on just a few nuggets of information. Well, that’s going to change. As we get closer to launch, Samsung has freed the flow of information and begun to give reviewers hands-on looks. So what’s the early verdict? Not only does the Transform warrant the hype, it looks to be a solid mid-range contender to the iPhone 4.

At first glance, the Samsung Transform looks a lot like any of the current wave of touchscreen smartphones. It includes features like an 800 MHz CPU, 256/512 MB RAM/ROM, a 3.5-inch high-resolution display, and a four-row QWERTY keyboard, which seems lifted right from the Epic 4G. The iPhone 4, on the other hand, boasts a 1 GHz processor and 512 MB of RAM. Now, don’t be deceived by the numbers, since the Transform’s processor is every bit as fast as the one Apple uses for the iPhone 4. But the 256 MB of memory is cause for concern. There should be no problem when Samsung applies the Android 2.2 Froyo update to the Transform.

One area where the Samsung Transform really stands out against the iPhone 4 is with Sprint ID. Think of it as virtual Samsung Transform accessories. This feature allows users to individualize the standard Android home screen with wallpapers, widgets, and a host of other cool features. You get five profiles per device, so you might have one for home and one for work, or you might have several to match your various Samsung Transform cases. Early on, we thought might Sprint ID might be cause for an ooh and an ahh, and then easily forgotten. However, it’s far more useful in practice than we expected, and since developers have just begun to tap the API, there’s no telling what’s in store for us.

The biggest gripe most reviewers have had with the Samsung Transform is battery life; it’s not good enough. People understand that the Transform is an economy smartphone and that Samsung must cut some corners in order to accomplish it. However, battery life is a a crucial feature because it affects the phone in every aspect. Now, if you’re a light user who makes some calls and uses an app from time to time, you’ll be fine. If you’re like the rest of us, you’ll definitely want to invest in one of those versatile travel-style Samsung Transform chargers.

The bottom line is that the Samsung is a decent alternative to the iPhone 4. For power users and those for who cost is not an issue, the iPhone 4 is a no-brainer. However, it’s tough to match the Transform price, and its only real issues are battery life and sluggish Sprint ID loads, which we think Samsung will overcome with some fine-tuning.

Lift Audio Groove Noise-Isolating In-Ear Headphone [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]

• Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
• Quality Metal Design – Premium metal materials create a sophisticated look and feel while ensuring durability for active use and ultimate mobility
• Optimal Sound Range – Precise sound range perfectly blends high-end clarity with a detailed mid-range and amazing lows
• Noise Isolating Technology – Passive noise isolation reduces ambient noise without introducing artificial sounds into your music
• Environmentally-Conscious Composition – Our goods are manufactured with the most environmentally friendly processes, materials-+

Amazon.com is happy to offer this item in Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging, a recyclable, easy-to-open alternative to traditional packaging. A Frustration-Free Package comes without excess packaging materials such as hard plastic clamshell casings, plastic bindings, and wire ties. It’s designed to be opened without the use of a box cutter or knife and will protect your product just as well as traditional packaging during shipping. This item ships in its own box, without the need for an additional shipping box.

Rating: (out of 162 reviews)

List Price: $ 49.99

Price: $ 13.79