Project Management Tools

OVERVIEW

 Project management is one of the high-responsibility tasks in modern organizations. Project management is used in many types of projects ranging from software development to developing the next generation fighter air crafts.
In order to execute a project successfully, the project manager or the project management team should be supported by a set of tools.
These tools can be specifically designed tools or regular productivity tools that can be adopted for project management work.
The use of such tools usually makes the project managers work easy as well as it standardizes the work and the routine of a project manager.

Following are some of those tools used by project managers in all domains:

Project Plan

All the projects that should be managed by a project manager should have a project plan. The project plan details many aspects of the project to be executed.
First of all, it details out the project scope. Then, it describes the approach or strategy used for addressing the project scope and project objectives.
The strategy is the core of the project plan. The strategy could vary depending on the project purpose and specific project requirements.
The resource allocation and delivery schedule are other two main components of the project plan. These detail each activity involved in the project as well as the information such as who executes them and when.
This is important information for the project manager as well as all the other stakeholders of the project.

Milestone Checklist

This is one of the best tools the project manager can use to determine whether he or she is on track in terms of the project progress.
The project manager does not have to use expensive software to track this. The project manager can use a simple Excel template to do this job.
The milestone checklist should be a live document that should be updated once or twice a week.

Gantt chart

Gantt chart illustrates the project schedule and shows the project manager the interdependence of each activity. Gantt charts are universally used for any type of project from construction to software development.
Although deriving a Gantt chart looks quite easy, it is one of the most complex tasks when the project is involved in hundreds of activities.
There are many ways you can create a Gantt chart. If the project is small and simple in nature, you can create your own Gantt chart in Excel or download an Excel template from the Internet.
If the project has a high financial value or high-risk exposure, then the project manager can use software tools such as MS Project.

Project Management Software

With the introduction of computer technology, there have been a number of software tools specifically developed for project management purpose. MS Project is one such tool that has won the hearts of project managers all over the world.
MS Project can be used as a standalone tool for tracking project progress or it can be used for tracking complex projects distributed in many geographical areas and managed by a number of project managers.
There are many other software packages for project management in addition to MS Project. Most of these new additions are online portals for project management activities where the project members have access to project details and progress from anywhere.

Project Reviews

A comprehensive project review mechanism is a great tool for project management. More mature companies tend to have more strict and comprehensive project reviews as opposed to basic ones done by smaller organizations.
In project reviews, the project progress and the adherence to the process standards are mainly considered. Usually, project reviews are accompanied by project audits by a 3rd party (internal or external).
The non-compliances and action items are then tracked in order to complete them.

Delivery Reviews

Delivery reviews make sure that the deliveries made by the project team meet the customer requirements and adhere to the general guidelines of quality.
Usually, a 3rd party team or supervisors (internal) conduct the delivery review and the main stakeholders of the project delivery do participate for this event.
The delivery review may decide to reject the delivery due to the quality standards and non-compliance.

5 Key Features to Expect in Future Smartphones

1. Augmented Reality (AR)

The term ‘augmented reality‘ or AR when used in the context of computer technology refers to what we perceive through our senses (usually sight) enhanced through the use of computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics and GPS data. Simply put, AR makes available more information for us users by combining computer data to what we see in real life. Using the camera on your phone, you can point it somewhere ‘live’ to get an information overlay of where you can find the nearest cafes or dining places, for example.

Smartphones being portable serve as a good platform for AR to work. You can just whip out your phone to get the latest and relevant info for what you are searching for – information which you would otherwise have to call and ask or search online before heading out of Wi-Fi coverage. Most AR apps available now utilize some form of Global Positioning System (GPS) to facilitate location searches and this feature is likely to develop further over the next couple of years because of its potential. So why isn’t it in all smartphones yet?

It seems that the primary limiting factor is the limited recognition accuracy for ‘live’ views when we point our camera lens at places, buildings or even people. For AR to work seamlessly and reliably, the technology for recognizing places, things or people must be of a certain standard..

2. Flexible Screens

It may soon be the case where smartphones are able provide a large screen to watch and play your favorite movies and games while maintaining a pocket able size. Screens can be folded and unfolded, all thanks to Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) technology. This paper-thin screen can even project future-features-smart-phones/ from both sides of the screen, so you can show pictures or videos to your friend on one side while using the other as a control. Check out this concept smartphone by Ikev.

With such physical flexibility for smartphones, some companies even have plans on make wearable smartphones for the masses. For instance, Nokia is currently conducting research on their concept device, Morph (http://research.nokia.com/morph), which offers users the option of wearing it as a wrist watch or unfold it to use as a typical handset as and when required. It all depends on the task the users are engaging with. 
 
3. In-Built Projector 

If flexible screens are not enough to compensate for the small screens on smartphones why not integrate a projector within? Samsung Galaxy Beam was released back in the second half of 2010. It features a built-in DLP (Digital Light Projection) WVGA projector that is able to project future-features-smart-phones/ at up to 50 inches in size at 15 lumens. What good will this do? Well, for one thing, future smartphones can actually be turned into an interactive gaming consoles without a need for a TV screen; all you’ll need is a flat surface. Instead of a physical controller, you can use your body or your voice. Similar to Kinect, a smart camera and a voice control function can capture your movements and voice commands to let you interact with objects and future-features-smart-phones/ on the projected screen.

Of course, you can imagine the drainage rate on your smartphone’s battery life and there’s also the other issue with luminance i.e. the amount of light it outputs. In-built projectors for smartphones must be small, and as the paradox sits: the smaller the projector is, the lesser light it will be able to give out. With better technology though, issues such as these will be addressed in time, making projectors a part of a new experience you can now engage with your smartphone. 
4. Seamless Voice Control

Voice control has been receiving much attention since Siri made headlines. Voice control has existed in many earlier mobile phones even though the voice recognition function was crude at best. Research has been made to advance the development of voice control, but it has proved to be a paramount task.

Siri might have signaled a breakthrough to the way voice control and recognition programming ought to be made. Instead of recognizing commands via sound waves like most voice-recognition systems, Siri interprets diction and syntax in a similar fashion to how we recognize speech. Such Natural Language User Interfaces prove to be more effective and accurate. 

The interest with voice control for computers and especially smartphones has always been there since the pioneer MIT research, "Put That There" studied different ways to communicate with computers in 1980. With the newly improved voice recognition app, Siri, as well as the greater capabilities of smartphones in the years to come, seamless voice control seems to be a viable goal. That, combined with gestures may bring interactivity to a new level for smartphones and their users.

5. 3D Screens & Holograms

Smartphones may have already reached the peak for their screen resolution with Apple’s ‘Retina Display‘, which actually provides a resolution that is sharper than what the human eye can perceive. Yet, even then, we still want more. Mobile companies are now moving from 2D future-features-smart-phones/ to 3D future-features-smart-phones/ for the smartphone screen. At present, we have a couple of 3D smartphones in the market, such as the LG Optimus 3D, the Motorola MT810 as well as the very first Samsung AMOLED 3D. So what happens after 3D?

Well, the next path could possibly be holographic projections. In essence, holographic projections will mean a combination of 3D future-features-smart-phones/ and projections from the smartphone. According to Mobiledia Network, MasterImage 3D had previously showcased their ongoing development on a projection system that allows smartphones to display 3D holograms at the annual Mobile World Congress last February. If you want to talk about the potential of holographic projections in smartphones, it’s great. 3D displays can be integrated with elements of movements when it comes to user interactions with the phone. For example, you can resize your photos by using your hands to ‘pull’ or ‘compress’ the holographic photos that appear in front of you, move objects by ‘grabbing’ them from one place to another, etc. If you’rea fan of Tom Cruise’s ‘Minority Report’, this would be your dream come true.

Android 4.4 KitKat!

Just say "OK Google"
 
You don’t need to touch the screen to get things done. When on your home screen* or in Google Now, just say “Ok Google” to launch voice search, send a text, get directions or even play a song

 

A work of art

While listening to music on your device, or while projecting movies to Chromecast, you’ll see beautiful full-screen album and movie art when your device is locked. You can play, pause, or seek to a specific moment.

Immerse yourself

The book you're reading, the game you're playing, or the movie you're watching — now all of these take center stage with the new immersive mode, which automatically hides everything except what you really want to see. Just swipe the edge of the screen to bring back your status bar and navigation buttons.

Faster multitasking

Android 4.4 takes system performance to an all-time high by optimizing memory and improving your touchscreen so that it responds faster and more accurately than ever before. This means that you can listen to music while browsing the web, or race down the highway with the latest hit game, all without a hitch.

Smart & Simple - Google smarts improve every corner of the Android experience.

The future is calling

The new phone app automatically prioritizes your contacts based on the people you talk to the most. You can also search for nearby places and businesses, your contacts, or people in your Google Apps domain.

A smarter caller ID

Whenever you get a call from a phone number not in your contacts, your phone will look for matches from businesses with a local listing on Google Maps.

All your messages in the same place

Never miss a message, no matter how your friend sends it. With the new Hangouts app, all of your SMS and MMS messages are together in the same app, alongside your other conversations and video calls. And with the new Hangouts, you can even share your location and send animated GIFs.

Emoji everywhere

Sometimes words can’t express how you feel. For that, there’s Emoji, the colorful Japanese characters, now available on Google Keyboard.

Grab & Go - New features help you get things done while you’re on the move.

Print wherever, whenever

Now you can print photos, documents, and web pages from your phone or tablet. You can print to any printer connected to Google Cloud Print, to HP ePrint printers, and to other printers that have apps in the Google Play Store.

Pick a file, any file

From apps like Quickoffice, you can open and save files on Google Drive, other cloud storage services, or your device. And with quick access to recently used files, it's easier than ever to send the file you were just working on.

Your office, anywhere

Create and edit documents, spreadsheets and presentations from your phone or tablet with the newly redesigned Quickoffice

Even more features 

For those of you looking to go deeper, here's an exhaustive list of all the updates found in Android 4.4.

Bluetooth MAP support

• Android now supports the Message Access Profile (MAP) so Bluetooth-enabled cars can exchange messages with your devices.

Chromecast support

• With your Android device and a Chromecast, you can enjoy your favorite online entertainment, from Netflix, YouTube, Hulu Plus, and Google Play on your HDTV.

Chrome web view

• Applications that embed web content now use Chrome to render web components accurately and quickly.

Closed captioning

• Android now supports closed captioning and subtitles. To turn on closed captioning, go to Settings > Accessibility and turn on Captions.

Device management built-in

• If you ever lose your device, you can find or wipe it with the Android Device Manager (https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager)

Downloads app redesign

• The Downloads app has been redesigned, giving you new sorting options and list and grid views for all the files you’ve downloaded.

Easy home screen switching

• If you love to customize your device and have installed one or more home screen replacements, you can switch between them easily in Settings > Home.

Email app refresh

• The redesigned Email app has a fresh new look with nested folders, contact photos and better navigation.

Full-screen wallpapers with preview

• Your wallpaper now extends through the notification tray and system buttons. And when you change your wallpaper, you can preview just how it will look before you set it.*

HDR+ photography

• HDR+ mode on Nexus 5 automatically snaps a rapid burst of photos and combines them to give you the best possible single shot. Daytime pictures are vivid with clean shadows, and nighttime photos are sharp with less noise.

Infrared blasting

• On devices with an infrared (IR) blaster, Android now supports applications for remote control of TVs and other nearby devices.

Location in Quick Settings

• Access your location settings from anywhere with a new tile in Quick Settings.

Location modes and monitoring

• If you want to conserve battery, go to Settings > Location to switch between high accuracy and battery-saving location modes. There’s no need to toggle GPS, Wi-Fi, and mobile network settings. And to see which apps have recently requested your location, go to Settings > Location.

Low-power audio playback

• Android 4.4 on Nexus 5 lets you listen to music for longer - up to 60 hours of audio playback.

Music and movie-seeking from lock screen

• Jump to a specific part of a song or video from your lock screen. Just long press on the play or pause button and then select the point you want.

Secure app sandboxes

• Application sandboxes have been hardened with Security-Enhanced Linux.

Step counting built-in

• When you use fitness apps like Moves on Nexus 5, the phone acts as a pedometer to count steps. Android 4.4 and updated hardware make this a more battery-friendly way to measure your activity.

Tap to pay, built a new way

• Android 4.4 introduces a new, open architecture for NFC payments that works with any mobile carrier, and lets apps manage your payment information in the cloud or on your device. Now you can tap to pay with Google Wallet or other apps at more than a million stores.

Touchscreen improvements

• Improved software and Nexus 5’s new hardware mean Android responds to your touch faster and more accurately than ever before.

Samsung Galexy S4 vs Apple iPhone 5

The biggest feud in the smartphone industry comes to a head with the release of the Samsung Galaxy S4, but should the latest Android powerhouse have Apple shaking in their boots? We got down and dirty and crossed platform lines to see whether the now 6-month-old iPhone 5 could still give the brand-new Galaxy S4 a run for its money.For more in depth analysis, don’t forget to check out our full Galaxy S4 review. If
you’re on the fence about another Android flagship, check out our Galaxy S4 vs. HTC One
comparison. But now let’s jump right into our point-to-point comparison of some of the main features of the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S4.

Design and Build Quality

In the past, it was no secret that Samsung looked to Apple’s design language for a little bit of inspiration, but, after a few lawsuits, the look and feel of the latest Galaxy S and  iPhone handsets couldn’t be more different. For starters, the iPhone 5 looks like a little baby next to the sizable Galaxy S4.n pure measurements, the GS4 sits at 5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 inches. The iPhone 5 measures 4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30 inches. Because the 5-inch versus 4-inch display size causes a large variation in height and width, the easiest comparison is in thickness. Both phones come in at just a hair apart, with the Galaxy S4 0.01 inches thicker than the iPhone 5.In terms of build quality, Apple has crafted the iPhone to be as much a work of art as a useful machine. While we’re sure Samsung’s staff had the same intentions, there is no denying the craftsmanship of the iPhone. Its solid aluminum and glass design tends to make the Galaxy S4 feel cheap by comparison. Still, the Galaxy S4 gains some benefits from a removable back cover.

Display

When Apple introduced their Retina Display, they ignited a new trend in mobile. For the first time, pixel density became as important a factor in marketing smartphones as did HD resolutions. This leads us to the 4-inch Retina Display found in the iPhone 5. It’s a full inch smaller than Samsung’s Super AMOLED screen. This equates to a pixel density of 326 ppi for the iPhone 5 (1136 x 640 resolution) and 441 ppi for the Galaxy S4 (1920 x 1080). Technically the Galaxy S4 features a crisper image, and it definitely looks amazing
stacked next to the iPhone 5. It’s arguable how much a difference the greater pixel density makes, but what there is no debate about is the size difference. The Galaxy S4 is like a spacious penthouse suite while the iPhone 5 is a totally accommodating, yet cramped, room at a 5-star hotel. Navigating the web and interacting with apps is definitely roomier on the GS4. Going back and forth, the GS4 was the clear choice for such activities.The iPhone 5′s display offered a color profile that could be considered a bit truer to life, while the Galaxy S4 opts for a saturated image with great reproduction of darker tones. Both look great, but we’re naturally drawn to the richer image quality and greater screen real estate of Samsung’s offering.

Processing Power & Performance

When matching the iPhone 5 against the Galaxy S4 on the basis of hardware, there is no argument that Samsung’s phone features the superior component compliment. The Galaxy S4 features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor clocked at 1.9GHz (an Exynos 5 Octa in some regions) coupled with 2GB RAM. The iPhone 5 sports Apple’s dual-core A6 chip clocked at 1.3GHz and 1GB RAM.While a large portion of performance is directly tied to pure power, optimizations make up the remainder. The iPhone is tailored to its iOS interface and operates as smoothly as any smartphone out there, but we suspect a benchmark would show the Galaxy S4 blowing it out of the water. We can attribute the gap in hardware to the fact that the iPhone 5 was released over half a year ago, but we still have to give the Galaxy S4 the edge
based on its upside.

iOS vs. Samsung TouchWiz

It’s almost impossible to begin making software comparisons between the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S4. As much as iOS and Android set out to achieve many of the same tasks, they are accomplished in much different ways. The most basic difference comes in a lack of an app drawer in iOS, putting all app icons directly on the homescreen. This also means you can forget about widgets in iOS. But aside from surface level differences such as the notification shades found in both iOS and Samsung’s TouchWiz interface, there are also plenty of software enhancements that set each device apart. Samsung has built in plenty of hands-free and touch-free input methods to the Galaxy S4, including AirView and Smart Scroll. Don’t expect anything so experimental from the iPhone 5 (other than Siri voice commands, something
Google Now does equally well).Perhaps the best way to compare the two is this: if you are looking for a simple, clean, and intuitive interface, iOS might be a good place to start. For those seeking a deeper
level of control and customization, as well as some more advanced interface options, TouchWiz and the Galaxy S4 provide the answer.

Multimedia

The iPhone’s roots in the iPod have made media a big part of the handset’s success, and while the focus in recent years may have started shifting away from iTunes and earbuds, syncing, sorting, and playing your favorite music is still a real strong suit of the phone. The Galaxy S4, and Android in general, isn’t so blessed, but things are a lot better off than they were in year’s past.iTunes offers a complete solution for organizing tunes and moving them between smartphone and computer. It’s a super refined experience, as is the separate Music app found on the iPhone. Samsung’s default music player isn’t as slick, nor is it backed by
such tried-and-true desktop software. Samsung Hub does offer a one-stop shop for content, including videos and music, but it’s not quite where iTunes is.Of course, there is Google Play, which is a bit more evolved in terms of available content. And there is Play Music, as well, which provides one clear edge over the iPhone. Cloud storage and streaming of your tracks is 100 percent free for Android users. iTunes Match, a service providing the same function on the iPhone, costs $24.99 per year. No official Google Music app exists for iPhone. Despite that final caveat, it’s still hard not to give the edge to a device that was
born from the iPod, the undisputed portable media king of the past decade.

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy S4 features a 13MP camera with LED flash capable of capturing 1080p video. Likewise, the iPhone 5 features an 8MP camera with LED flash and 1080p video capture. Both handsets squeeze every last ounce of picture quality out of the hardware they are equipped with. The Galaxy S4 performed a bit better in lowlight situations, giving a better representation of color in a dimly-lit indoor environment. Outdoors, the Galaxy S4 once again provided a brighter image with more vibrant colors, but in terms of clarity it was a wash. Both cameras can produce some stunning images in the right lighting and with a bit of planning. Also, notice the Galaxy S4 is capable of capturing a much wider image (16:9) than the iPhone 5.

Storage

Apple offers the iPhone in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB capacities. Likewise, so does Samsung for the Galaxy S4. Where to two differ is expandable storage. The iPhone features none, while the GS4 can add up to 64GB of additional storage via a microSD slot located under the battery cover.Pricing is a consideration here. Both the 16GB Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5 start at $199 when purchased from most US carriers. Since the GS4′s storage can be expanded, consumers can spend less up front and add more memory later. On the other hand, an iPhone buyer will have to spend more up front to secure a larger storage volume.

Battery Life

Looking at the numbers, you can predict which phone is expected to come out on top in terms of battery performance. Though Apple doesn’t advertise the fact very loudly, the iPhone 5 contains a meager 1,440 mAh hour non-removable battery. It’s touted as providing up to 8 hours of 3G talk time and 225 hours of standby. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S4 features a 2,600 mAh removable power cell.

Samsung doesn’t provide battery life estimates, but the Galaxy S4 was clearly dominant in this area. However, the gap wasn’t as huge as the milliAmp hours suggest. Credit this to the larger display and its AMOLED technology, a well-known battery hog, as well as the Snapdragon 600 CPU clocked up to 1.9GHz.

Verdict

Head-to-head, it’s pretty clear that the Samsung Galaxy S4 outdoes the iPhone 5 in the majority of our categories. But in the few categories that the iPhone did win, it was an obvious and decisive victory. Here’s the breakdown:

    Design & Build Quality: iPhone 5
    Display: Samsung Galaxy S4    Software: Toss-up
    Multimedia: iPhone 5
    Camera: Samsung Galaxy S4
    Storage: Samsung Galaxy S4
    Battery Life: Samsung Galaxy S4

Specific Absorption Rate

SAR stands for Specific Absorption Rate : which is the unit of measurement for the amount of RF energy absorbed by the body when using a mobile phone.  The SAR is determined at the highest certified power level in laboratory conditions.  However, the actual SAR level of the phone while operating can be well below this value.   This is because the phone is designed to use the minimum power required to reach the network.  Therefore, the closer you are to a base station, the more likely it is that the actual SAR level will be lower. To communicate with the network, mobile phones emit low levels of radio waves (also known as radio frequency or 'RF' energy) when being used. Governments around the world have adopted comprehensive international safety guidelines, developed by independent scientific organizations, governing the exposure to RF energy. Mobile phones are designed to operate within these stringent limits.

 

  
How is SAR measured for mobile phones?
Specialized laboratory test equipment is used for conducting SAR measurements. The equipment consists of a ‘phantom’ (human or box), precision robot, RF field sensors, and mobile phone holder. The phantom is filled with a liquid that represents the electrical properties of human tissue

Head Measurements - SAR test inside a head phantom:

1. The mobile phone is positioned against the phantom head and switched on to full power.
2. The precision robot moves the RF probe throughout the phantom head measuring the radio signal level in the head phantom.
3. The computer analyzing the data converts the radio signal levels into SAR (W/kg).
4. The full test is conducted at all operating frequencies and using different phone positions.
5. The maximum level measured is recorded as the SAR value against the head.  

Body Measurements - SAR test inside a body (box) phantom:

1. The mobile phone is positioned against the phantom body and switched on to full power.
2. The precision robot moves the RF probe throughout the phantom body measuring the radio signal level in the body near the phone.
3. The computer analyzing the data converts the radio signal levels into SAR (W/kg).
4. The maximum level measured is recorded as the SAR value against the body.

Is there a separation distance from the body required for mobile phones?
Mobile phones generally get better reception when used away from the main part of the body. Some mobile phones are designed to have a small minimum separation from the body when in use, typically 15 – 25mm depending on the phone.  The minimum separation often represents the spacing created by a phone holder or clothing.  This is to ensure the phone operates more efficiently and also meets the SAR requirements.
If a minimum separation is specified, the SAR test against the body will be conducted at that distance. 
A mobile phone can always be used up against the head without separation. This is because the antenna in the phone is designed to be far enough away from the head to meet SAR requirements and operate most efficiently.

Do the SAR limits apply to children?
Yes. The EMF exposure guidelines are designed to offer protection for all persons including children with a large built-in safety margin.

How is SAR measured for base station antennas?
EMF exposure guidelines for radio communications transmitting antennas (like base stations) specify the maximum level of radio frequency energy (SAR) that can be safely absorbed by the whole body. This is because exposure from a radio communications transmitting antenna is typically over the whole body, for example a technician working on a rooftop near base station antennas.
SAR due to exposure to small base station antennas can also be tested using a similar procedure to the SAR test for wireless devices. The base station antenna is placed up against a human phantom and the precision robot scans the entire body and measures the absorbed radio signals. The computer analyzing the data converts the radio signal levels into SAR (W/kg).
The SAR test procedures are specified in international standards.

Why software testing is required?

Software testing is an investigation conducted to provide stakeholders with information about the quality of the product or service under test. Software testing can also provide an objective, independent view of the software to allow the business to appreciate and understand the risks of software implementation. Test techniques include, but are not limited to, the process of executing a program or application with the intent of finding software bugs (errors or other defects)

Software testing can be stated as the process of validating and verifying that a computer program/application/product:

• meets the requirements that guided its design and development,
• works as expected,
• can be implemented with the same characteristics,
• Satisfies the needs of stakeholders.

Software testing, depending on the testing method employed, can be implemented at any time in the development process. Traditionally most of the test effort occurs after the requirements have been defined and the coding process has been completed, but in the Agile approaches most of the test effort is on-going. As such, the methodology of the test is governed by the chosen software development methodology.

Different software development models will focus the test effort at different points in the development process. Newer development models, such as Agile, often employ test driven development and place an increased portion of the testing in the hands of the developer, before it reaches a formal team of testers. In a more traditional model, most of the test execution occurs after the requirements have been defined and the coding process has been completed.

Apple iPhone 5S with 13MP camera coming in July

Apple launched iPhone 5 with much fanfare just five months ago, but reports say the company is already working on not one but two iPhones as well as next generation iPad and iPad mini.

Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst with KGI Securities, says that Apple is working on an iPhone 5 successor that will have new features like snappier processor, fingerprint sensor, better camera and more powerful LED flash. Kuo's claim of fingerprint recognition system gains a little credence from Apple's 2012 acquisition of Authentec, which deals with this technology.

Coming to the cheaper iPhone being developed by Apple, Kuo says this device will be same as iPhone 5 but will be a little stockier. Instead of the aluminium body and waistline of 7.6mm, the cheaper iPhone will have a plastic casing and measure 8.2mm around the sides. He also said this device will be available in six colours, a rumour that has done rounds in the past as well.

Technology blog iLounge has also reported about the upgrade in camera sensor, saying that the upcoming phone may have Sony's 13MP unit. The report also says that the two prototypes under development are named N51 and N53.

Over the past few weeks, there have been reports of Apple facing low demand for iPhone 5. However, the company's CEO Time Cook shot that down by saying, "The supply chain is very complex and we have multiple sources for things. Yields can vary, supplier performance can vary. There is an inordinate long list of things that can make any single data point not a great proxy for what is going on."