Mosquitoes-Repelling Plant

No one likes to be around mosquitoes, and sometimes they are everywhere. But do you have to use smelly and oily repellents? The answer is no, you do not. There are many plants that you can grow in your home that will naturally repel these bugs. And with diseases such as West Nile floating around, now is the ideal time to start growing these plants. Remember that many of these plants must have their leaves crushed to release the aroma, otherwise they will do you no good.

There are new DEET-free mosquito repellents on the market today which offer some relief to those venturing outdoors in mosquito season. But there are also certain plants which are easy to grow and will have some effect in repelling mosquitoes from areas of your home and garden.

1.  Horsemint

-  Also known as Beebalm, Horsemint is an adaptable perennial plant which repels mosquitoes much the same as citronella. It gives off a strong incense-like odor which confuses mosquitoes by masking the smell of its usual hosts.

-   Horsemint is a fast growing, shade-tolerant and drought-resistant plant which reaches a height and width of 2 – 3 feet. It does well in dry, sandy soil and can tolerate salty conditions, which is why it is often found in coastal and beach areas.

2.  Marigold 

-  Another mosquito-repelling plant that you can grow. This is a sun-loving annual that many organic gardeners use to not only keep away mosquitoes, but also aphids.

-  Commonly grown as ornamental border plants, marigolds are hardy annual plants which have a distinctive smell which mosquitoes, and some gardeners, find particularly offensive. Marigolds contain Pyrethrum, a compound used in many insect repellents.

3. Citronella Geranium

-    The Citronella Geranium, which is also call a mosquito plant, is a simple to grow potted plant. Citronella, or West Indian lemongrass, is a tall plant and the source for citronella oil.

-  The distinctive citronella aroma is a strong smell which masks other attractants to mosquitoes, making it harder for them to find you. Although citronella is used in many forms, such as scented candles, torches and citronella ‘scented’ plants, the living plant is more effective because it has a stronger smell.

4. Agastache Cana

-   The Agastache Cana is another form of the mosquito plant, and is also called a Texas hummingbird mint, giant hummingbird mint, giant hyssop, and the bubblegum mint.

-   In order to release the mosquito-repelling odor, the plant needs to be crushed and rubbed unto surfaces. Many people apply the contents of the crushed plant directly to their skin. 

-   When Agastache cana is brought together with larval control and mosquito breeding sites, it can effectively decrease the mosquito population in a given area.

5. Catnip

-  Catnip is one of the most powerful plants that will repel mosquitoes. Studies have shown that this plant is ten times more effective than DEET when it comes to repelling mosquitoes.

-   If you crush a few leaves and rub them on your skin, the effect will be enhanced. Knowing that there are natural ways to get rid of those pesky mosquitoes will make you more comfortable with going out and enjoying yourself. They are easy to grow, and you will see a difference in no time.

6. Ageratum

- Also known as Flossflowers, Ageratum emits a smell which mosquitos find particularly offensive. Ageratum secretes coumarin, which is widely used in commercial mosquito repellents.

- Although the leaves of Ageratum can be crushed to increase the emitted odor, it is not advisable to rub the crushed leaves directly on the skin.

The Colorful Village in Greenland

Awesome.! When i first saw this village it just turn me out!(i haven't been there yet..just lookin' at a pic...huhuhu) What on mind is,  r this is a fairy tale or what?? Its isolated and not yet be explored by modern development. Greenland is what we call a fantasy worlds, where there is a a beautiful scenery that can blow u out and of course leave you mesmerized. With no trees, roads and almost no people, the island is of course filled by Dwarf more than human!! (just kidding..haha)......(isn't it exciting if it is real??) Greenland is a place that unforgettable by its magical and enchanted view and the colorful houses. <<hoping that i can go there someday  (^_^) >>

I Love You Mum!!!

Sume orang inginkan kebahagiaan dalam hidup, right? tapi kadang2 apa yg kita hrapkan x seperti apa yg tlh Allah tetapkan utk kita...Thats why la, ble something happen kta kna terima dgn redha coz sume tu ada hikmah yg mungkin kta xnmpak skrang..but in future, who's know kn??

Sbb tu la kite kne belajar menghargai orang di samping kte...x kira la sesape pn, especially ur mum...jgn sesekali sakitkan hati ibu...cuba bahagiakn dia masa dia msih ada n selagi korang msih sempat utk membalas jasa2 dia..coz x sume orang ada kesempatan tu...n that something that i regret for coz i will never get chance to repay all her deeds..she left me the time when i still need her love and i never know her much except from her pictures and stories bout' her...until now, i still miss her and she will always be in my heart coz I LOVE YOU MUM!!!

orang kata aku lahir dari perut mak . . .

(bukan orang kata...memang betul)

bila dahaga,yang susukan aku...mak

bila lapar,yang suapkan aku...mak

bila keseorangan,yang sentiasa di sampingku....mak

kata mak,perkataan pertama aku sebut...mak

bila bangun tidur,aku cari...mak

bila nangis,orang pertama yang datang...mak

bila nak bermanja,aku dekati...mak

bila nak bergesel,aku duduk sebelah...mak

bila sedih,yang boleh memujukku hanya...mak

bila nakal,yang memarahi aku...mak

bila merajuk,yang memujukku cuma...mak

bila melakukan kesalahan,yang paling cepat marah...mak

bila takut,yang tenangkan aku...mak

bila nak peluk,yang aku suka peluk...mak

aku selalu teringatkan...mak

bila sedih,aku mesti talipon...mak

bila seronok,orang pertama aku nak beritahu...mak

bila bengang,aku suka luah pada...mak

bila takut,aku selalu panggil "mmaaakkk"

bila sakit,orang paling risau adalah...mak

bila nak exam,orang yang paling sibuk juga...mak

bila buat hal,yang marah aku dulu...mak

bila ada masalah,yang paling risau...mak

yang masih peluk dan cium aku sampai hari ni...mak

yang selalu masak makanan kegemaranku...mak

yang selalu simpan dan kemaskan barang-barang aku...mak

yang selalu berleter kat aku...mak

yang selalu puji aku...mak

yang selalu nasihat aku...mak

bila nak kahwin...orang pertama aku tunjuk dan rujuk...mak

♥ AKU ADA PASANGAN HIDUP SENDIRI ♥

bila seronok,aku cari...pasanganku

bila sedih,aku cari....mak

bila berjaya,aku ceritakan pada...pasanganku

bila gagal,aku ceritakan pada...mak

bila bahagia,aku peluk erat...pasanganku

bila berduka,aku peluk erat...emakku

bila nak bercuti,aku bawa...pasanganku

bila sibuk,aku hantar anak ke rumah...mak

bila sambut birthday pasanganku,aku bersusah payah mencari hadiah

bila birthday emakku,aku cuma dapat ucapkan "selamat hari lahir mak"

selalu..aku ingat pasanganku

selalu..mak ingat kat aku

bila-bila..aku akan talipon pasanganku

entah bila..aku nak talipon mak

selalu...aku belikan hadiah untuk pasanganku

entah bila aku nak belikan hadiah untuk emak...

Renungkan:

"Kalau kau sudah habis belajar dan berkerja... bolehkah kau kirim wang untuk mak?

mak bukan nak banyak... lima puluh ringgit sebulan pun cukuplah".

Berderai air mata jika kita mendengarnya..........

Tapi kalau mak sudah tiada..... .....

MAKKKKK...RINDU MAK..... RINDU SANGAT....

Berapa ramai yang sanggup menyuapkan ibunya......

berapa ramai yang sanggup mencuci muntah ibunya......

berapa ramai yang sanggup mengantikan lampin ibunya.....

berapa ramai yang sanggup membersihkan najis ibunya.......

berapa ramai yang sanggup membuang ulat dan membersihkan luka kudis ibunya....

berapa ramai yang sanggup berhenti kerja untuk menjaga ibunya.....

dan akhir sekali berapa ramai yang sembahyang JENAZAH ibunya.......

Seorang anak mendapatkan ibunya yang sedang sibuk menyediakan makan

malam di dapur lalu menghulurkan sekeping kertas yang bertulis sesuatu.

Si ibu segera mengesatkan tangan di apron menyambut kertas yang

dihulurkan oleh si anak lalu membacanya.Kos upah membantu ibu:

1) Tolong pergi kedai : RM4.00

2) Tolong jaga adik : RM4..00

3) Tolong buang sampah : RM1.00

4) Tolong kemas bilik : RM2.00

5) Tolong siram bunga : RM3.00

6) Tolong sapu sampah : RM3.00

Jumlah : RM17.00

Selesai membaca, si ibu tersenyum memandang si anak sambil sesuatu

berlegar-legar si mindanya. Si ibu mencapai sebatang pen dan menulis

sesuatu di belakang kertas yang sama.

1) Kos mengandungkanmu selama 9 bulan - PERCUMA

2) Kos berjaga malam kerana menjagamu - PERCUMA

3) Kos air mata yang menitis keranamu - PERCUMA

4) Kos kerunsingan kerana bimbangkanmu - PERCUMA

5) Kos menyediakan makan minum, pakaian, dan keperluanmu -PERCUMA

Jumlah Keseluruhan Nilai Kasihku - PERCUMA

Air mata si anak berlinang setelah membaca apa yang dituliskan oleh siibu. Si anak menatap wajah ibu,memeluknya dan berkata,

"Saya Sayangkan Ibu". Kemudian si anak mengambil pen dan menulis "Telah Dibayar" pada mukasurat yang sama ditulisnya.

JADI DI MANA PUN IBU KORANG ADA SEKARANG NI PERGI LAH CARI DAN PELUK DIA SELAGI BELUM TERLAMBAT....

What is MiFi??

MiFi is a line of compact wireless routers produced by Novatel Wireless that act as mobile Wi-Fi hotspots. MiFi stands for 'My Wi-Fi'. The MiFi can be connected to a mobile phone (cellular) carrier and provide internet access for up to 5 devices. The MiFi works at a distance up to 10 m (30 ft) and will provide internet or network access to any WiFi enabled peripheral device.

The first MiFi device was introduced in the U.S. in May 2009 by Novatel Wireless and Novatel owns a registered trademark on the "MiFi" brand name in the U.S. The Novatel MiFi is also marketed as such in the Netherlands, Egypt, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovenia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico.However, in the United Kingdom, mobile operator 3 owns the "MiFi" trademark and markets a similar device from Huawei under the name.

MiFi (and MiFi-like) devices

MiFi 2200 from Novatel Wireless forVerizon Wireless

Novatel MiFi 2200

• Limited to 5 Wi-Fi clients such as laptops, cameras, gaming devices and multimedia players; with the exception of manually editing the devices config file to allow more clients.
• May be connected to a computer via a MicroUSB connection, though doing so disables the Wi-Fi networking, converting the device into a traditional single-client modem. (However, CNET has introduced a tweak to charge the device over USB while maintaining its functionality.)
• Includes GPS unit, which is usable on some networks (Virgin) and not on others (Verizon).
• Uses 3G data network (CDMA 1xEVDO RevA).

Novatel MiFi 23xx series

Same functionality as 2200, plus:

• Accepts SD card for in-device shared media storage.
• Uses 3G data network (MiFi 2352: HSUPA/HSDPA 900/1900/2100 MHz, MiFi 2372: HSUPA/HSDPA 850/1900/2100 MHz; both support GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz).

Novatel MiFi 33xx series

Same functionality as 23xx series, plus:

• Linux-based MiFi OS with widgets:
• Messages: perform SMS-based messaging actions such as reading, writing, sending and receiving SMS messages
• Data Usage: track MiFi data usage in home and roaming networks
• GeoSearch: leverage the GPS functionality of the MiFi to display a map of the local area, search the local area, display the search results on the map
• Weather: fetch weather data for the current and defined locations
• MiFi DLNA Server: start, stop and configure the MiFi DLNA server

4G MiFi devices

The Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show 2011 saw the introduction of two new 4G capable MiFi devices from Novatel:

• Verizon Wireless featured the 4510L model, which will connect to Verizon's new LTE 4G network, expected to support 5–12 Mbps download and 2–5 Mbit/s upload.
• Sprint featured the MiFi 4082, a WiMAX version.

Both devices maintain backward compatibility with existing 3G networks. Other features include:

• MiFiOS with widget support
• MicroSD card slot
• GPS receiver
• 4 hour battery life
• Front panel status display using E Ink technology. The front panel display shows battery, signal strength and number of connected devices. The difficulty of viewing such information was seen as a major shortcoming of earlier MiFi devices.

10 Tip Menjaga Handphone

Phone skrang klau x jage, cepat aje rosaknyerr...tmbah2 phone mahal..bru beli da rosak.. (putih mata kang...huhuhu) so.. kt cni sy share la some tips jage phone tok korang sume....

1. Jangan Simpan Dalam Poket

• Bagi lelaki yang suka menyimpan handphone didalam poket seluar, sebaiknya selepas membaca artikel ini anda akan berfikir dua kali kerana, handphone menghasilkan medan elektrostatik dan elektromagnetik yang mengakibatkan ketidaksuburan lelaki.

2. Jangan Dekat Dengan Barangan Elektronik

• Jangan gunakan handphone ketika isyarat lemah berdekatan barangan elektronik berkuasa tinggi. Contoh barangan elektronik mengeluarkan medan elektonik yang tinggi seperti televisyen, oven, peti sejuk, radio dan lain-lain. Daya yang dikeluarkan oleh barangan tersebut boleh mengakibatkan kebakaran pada printer circuit board (pcb) dalam handphone terbakar.

3. Jangan Dekat Dengan Kunci Kereta

• Dalam keadaan tertentu, handphone yang digunakan dalam kendaraan akan memberikan kerosakan terhadap peralatan elektronik kenderaan. Handphone yang diletakkan terlalu dekat dengan kunci kenderaan boleh mangakibatkan terhapusnya kod yang ada dalam sistem elektronik pada kunci kenderaan tersebut.

4. Jangan Terlalu Dekat Dengan Komputer

• Komputer dan handphone adalah alat yang mempunyai gelombang elektromagnetik. Jika berada dalam jarak yang dekat, maka keduanya akan saling merosakkan. 

5. Jangan Simpan di Tempat Bersuhu Tinggi

• Tempat bersuhu tinggi, kelembaban tinggi dan berdebu merupakan musuh bagi handphone anda. Mungkin anda tidak menyedari yang anda sering kali “menjemur” handphone anda di atas dashboard kereta, tingkap dan beg.

6. Jangan Meletakkan Kad SIM Berdekatan Magnet

• Bahaya kad SIM dekat dengan benda-benda yang mengandung magnet kerana radiasi yang dipancarkan. Handphone juga berkebolehan untuk merosakkan kad memori dan kad kredit anda.

7. Jangan Dekat Dengan Logam

• Hindari handphone anda daripada berdekatan dengan logam-logam kecil kerana speaker handphone anda akan menarik benda-benda tersebut. Handphone akan mengalami kerosakan fizikal.

8. Jangan Dekat Dengan Alatan Hospital

• Kebanyakan hospital adalah tempat yang paling tak sesuai untuk handphone. Selaian pesakit memerlukan ketenangan, peralatan media seperti alat bantuan pendengaran dan alat pengepam jantung akan terganggu. Jangan kerana handphone, anda menjadi seorang pembunuh dalam senyap.

9. Jangan Dekat Dengan Gas Yang Mudah Terbakar

• Gas merbahaya kerana mempunyai tekanan yang tinggi dan juga mudah terbakar. Berada dekat dengan gas yang mudah terbakar boleh mengakibatkan handphone anda tidak berfungsi dengan baik.

10. Jangan Basah

• Rasanya kita semua sudah tahu betapa bahayanya air bagi handphone. Air juga musuh kepada kamera handphone. Apatahlagi ketika musim hujan, boleh mengundang banyak masalah. Bagi penunggang motorsikal, bersiap sedialah untuk menyembunyikan handphone anda sebelum hujan tiba.

E Commerce Web

Tension??Stress??Not Anymore...

Salunye kn owg2 brbadan besar nie (like me la...huhuhu...have to admit that..!) will face a similar problem...SUSA NK CRIK SAIZ LA!!!..kdg2 tension jgak...yer la...cube bygkn bla g shopping, kta dh bkenan sngt dh dgn satu baju tu...tpi bla tnya size org kdai tu ckp "SORY, BAJU NIE XDE YG SIZE BSR LA DIK"....sape x frust kn...msti la kte dan diri kte kn...hahahaha...tpi, kdg2 ble jmpe yg sesuai hrga pulak jdi halangan (mahal sngt la...x mmpu cek nk beli.!!)...so,,usha pnya usha trjmpa la 1 blog nie yg agak menarik minat sy la...blog nie jual pakaian tok owg2 yg size ++...so...let's check it out !!!

http://jessabellapluzsizestealz.blogspot.com (nie blognyerr..sng2 korang bukak la yerrr...)
 nie antara yg dijual kt cnie...

VIVI Slimcut Short Jacket

Mandarin Colar Button Shirt

Formal Ribbon Shirt

Basic Flare Polkadot Maxi

>>>cntik2 kn baju2 nie sume,.. sopan pun sopan..dh kira alright ler tu... lps nie xde la tension lgi nk beli baju kn...mmg baju2 yg dijual tu dh confirm2 muat pun...so, no worries anymore...kte pn bleh brgaye like others k..huhuhu...nk tengok yg lbh menarik korang usha la sndiri yerrr... <<<<

Online Shop for Hijab

Skrang nie da rmai owg mule sedar menutup aurat tu 1 kewajipan...even artis sndiri rmai yg dh brubah skarang...Alhamdulillah....x kisah la brtudung  ke brselendang ke jnji menutup aurat dan menepati apa yg telah di gariskan dalam agama Islam...So, sy nk share la ngan korang sume online shop yg agak 'famous' skrang...

1>>http://www.radiusite.com
kt radiusite nie bnyk tudung2 tudung yg menarik...salu x tgk artis2 pkai tudung cntik2????radiusite la yg taja...so klau teringin usha2 la kt cnie...untung2 jmpa yg bkenan kn....

>>>>cntik kn tudung2 nie...law nk tgk yg lgi menarik bukak jer page dyeorg....<<<<

2>>http://www.onlinehijab.com
Nie lg 1 online shop yg jual tudung...tpi shawl pnya style la..kt cnie pun ble tahan cntikn shawl2 dye...siap ada tutorial pkai shawl ag...so sape2 yg brminat ley la usha2 yerrr...x rugi pun..

memandangkan onlinehijab nie private ckit korang buka la sndri page dye yerrr..huuhuhu...

Which is best? Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S3

Since korang sume da taw serba ckit psl Apple iPhone 5, so apa kata skrang kte 'usha' ckit sal  2 smartphone yg agak  meletop di pasaran skrang, Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Qalaxy S3.....

Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S3 – fight

The Samsung Galaxy S3 has enjoyed its time atop our Top 10 Smartphone list, but it always knew this day would come. Now that the dust has settled from our liveblog, we can pit the King of Android against the mightiest iPhone yet. Let’s see how they fare.

                Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S3 – design and build

The iPhone 5 has been given a stretch to accommodate its larger screen (more on that below), but counters that by reducing its thickness by some 18 percent to an After Eight-rivalling 7.6mm. It’s also 20 percent lighter at 112g. The Samsung Galaxy S3 is exactly a millimetre thicker than the iPhone 5 and weighs 21g more, although in its defence it should be said the screen is almost a diagonal inch larger.

Looks-wise the iPhone 5 is similar to the 4 and 4S, but the all-glass back has been given a metal centre: on the black model it’s anodised aluminium; on the white it’s raw aluminium. Other changes? The dock is now the smaller Lightning, the headphone jack has moved from the top to the bottom and the speakers are larger (and better quality, according to Apple).

Obviously which of these is the better looking phone is wholly subjective, but personally we’d sway towards the iPhone 5 based on it’s insanely solid and precise build quality, which surpasses any phone we’ve ever had the pleasure of fondling. That’s not to say that the Samsung Galaxy S3 is ugly, but it’s polycarbonate body just can’t compete with premium anodised aluminium and glass materials.

Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S3 – screen

The iPhone 5 has the biggest, best screen of any iPhone yet: 4-inch as opposed to 3.5-inch, still retaining the same 326 pixels-per-inch density and now with 44 percent better colour saturation. It’s also possessed of a more movie-friendly 16:9 aspect ratio.

The Samsung Galaxy S3’s 4.8-inch Super AMOLED screen (also 16:9) looks wondrous indeed: bursting with deep contrast, vibrant colours and true blacks. The pixel density is slightly lower at around 306ppi, so if sheer sharpness is your goal the iPhone 5 has it beat. But overall we’re inclined to believe this one is simply too close to call – both are superb screens.

Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S3 – OS and power

The iPhone 5 will ship with sparkling new iOS 6, which builds on previous, er, builds with improved Siri, FaceTime over 3G, Safari tab syncing over different devices and slicker Facebook integration. Google Maps has been tossed out in favour of Apple’s own map solution which offers super slick panning and zooming as well as a fancy new 3D building Flyover mode and turn-by-turn navigation.

The Galaxy S3 currently rocks Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which isn’t the newest version of the OS (Jelly Bean is expected to be available on the S3 soon), and has Samsung’s own TouchWiz UI laid over the top. Which OS you prefer is largely a matter of personal choice, but iOS is likely to benefit from its focus on a handful of devices (i.e. a lack of fragmentation) with smoother, less bug-addled performance.

The iPhone 5 sports an ARM A6 chip which keeps everything moving swiftly and smoothly (at least it did in our hands-on). The S3’s quad-core 1.4GHz processor is certainly no slouch, providing the slickest Android experience we’ve seen to date and rivalling iOS for stability. This could well prove a draw.

There’s no NFC on the iPhone 5, which is disappointing. The S3 certainly has one over on it there.

In terms of built-in storage, both phones offer 16GB, 32GB and 64GB options. But the Galaxy S3’s microSD slot means you can boost that by up to 64GB.

Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S3 – camera

Both smartphones sport 8MP main cameras capable of 1080p video, and front cameras capable of 720p video. Both can take stills while shooting video.

The iPhone 5 features a new integrated panoramic shooting mode and what Apple claims is improved performance due to the sapphire crystal lens cover, improved image stabilisation and A6 CPU offering better photo processing.

The Galaxy S3 is a certified camera heavyweight, offering excellent quality and shooting speed – but Ice Cream Sandwich’s default panoramic and time lapse modes have been stripped out by Samsung (why?). This is destined to be another very close run thing, and we’ll only be able to call it when we’ve compared the two thoroughly.

Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S3 – initial verdict

It’s a close thing here, it really is. The Galaxy S3 is a fantastically powerful and well-equipped phone – the finest Android has to offer. While the iPhone 5 feels sturdier and more “premium” in your hand, there are other areas (NFC, storage, screen size) where many would gladly choose the Samsung, inferior build or no. In many areas, performance is likely to be extremely similar, or things will come down to personal preference. We’ll give you our full verdict on the iPhone 5 as soon as Apple sends us a review sample – in the meantime, read our initial impression in our hands-on article.

Apple iPhone 5 – hands on review

Apple iPhone 5 – overview

After a year of wild rumours and unrelenting speculation, we've finally managed to wrap our hands around the iPhone 5 after its official unveiling. It's bigger, thinner, and has a few new tricks to boot. Let's have a look what Apple's been up to, shall we?

Apple iPhone 5 – design, build and new dock connector

The iPhone 5 is once again crafted from aluminium and glass, although we much prefer the newer extended coverage of the anodised aluminium back which is less shatter-prone and feels lovely and smooth to the touch.

The iPhone 5 is Apple's thinnest and lightest iPhone yet, and despite its increased length, its width has remained the same meaning it still fits comfortably in your hands. It's also deceptively light, and thanks to its rock solid construction, follows the tradition of Apple products which are a pleasure to hold.

The sleek 7.6mm body of the iPhone 5 is noticeably thinner than that of the iPhone 4S, a fact helped no doubt by the new smaller Lightning dock connector which visibly reduces the footprint of the old 30 pin iPhone dock. The headphones port's new position on the bottom is a welcome change, putting an end to screen-blocking cable syndrome.

Apple iPhone 5 – screen

The bigger 4in display on the new iPhone 5 looks just as sharp as its smaller 3.5in predecessor thanks to its Retina Display resolution. Apple promises 44 per cent better colour saturation, and although we didn't have much time to judge among a throng of rabid tech journalists, icons did seem to pop a little more. Or maybe that's the fatigue talking.

Either way, an extra row of homescreen icons is definitely something to cheer about, as is a full 7 day week calender view made possible by the extra real estate. An iPhone with a bigger screen has been a long time coming, and were glad it's here at last.

Apple iPhone 5 – camera

The 8MP camera of the iPhone 5 promises better low light shots thanks to a new dynamic low light mode and our initial impressions with it were positive enough, capturing the rabble of iJournalists beneath the soft lighting of the hands on studio.

The new panoramic mode is a welcome addition for keen shutterbugs and is simple enough to use. Just sweep across and let the iPhone 5's imaging innards take care of the rest.

Apple iPhone 5 – iOS 6 and power

iOS 6 doesn't look too different on the surface, but pull down the notification menu and the two 'Tap to Tweet' and 'Tap to Post' buttons will hit you instantly, allowing you to update your social networks with whatever whimsical news you desire. Speaking of which, the newer Siri will happily translate your musings into text. Just watch out for drunk Siri status updates.

4G has also hit the iPhone 5 (as we knew it would), unlocking super-fast download speeds for on-the-go interweb addicts. Lack of NFC support is still rather disappointing though, especially given the recent efforts of the Nokia Lumia 920.

  The power of the iPhone 5's A6 processor was aptly demonstrated by the buttery smooth scrolling and zooming in the iOS 6's new Maps app. Flick on 3D view with the satellite layer enabled and you can pan around very impressive models of famous landmarks such as Big Ben. Just try not to enjoy it too much while driving. Safety first and all that.

Apple iPhone 5 – initial verdict

The near-mythical iPhone 5 is myth no more. It has flaunted itself to the world, proudly showing off its larger screen, sleek thinner body and feather-weight construction, all of which are tied together by a faster processor and a feature-laden iOS 6. Still, there's no NFC support and 4S users might not be swayed enough to upgrade given that they'll be chowing down on iOS 6 too.

With the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S3, HTC One X and upcoming Nokia Lumia 920, does Apple's latest iPhone have what it takes to reclaim its number one spot in our Top 10 Smartphone list? Stay tuned for a full Stuff review to find out.