Thứ Hai, 28 tháng 2, 2011

iPhone

iPhone 5:Purported iPhone 5 part surfaces with alleged deals of sliding cover


A 30-pin dock connector cable claimed to be a prototype part for Apple’s forthcoming iPhone 5 has surfaced overseas, along with more details of a handset with a sliding screen cover that could suggest a hardware keyboard.
tw.apple.pro posted on Monday a photo of a part claimed to be from the iPhone 5. It appears to show the 30-pin dock connector and the ribbon used to attach it inside of Apple’s handset. The part is labeled 821-1300-02 HF/c1.
A rough translation of the report via Google Translate claims that recent online photos of a different part claiming to show an edge-to-edge 4-inch display in the next iPhone are fake. Some reports have suggested that Apple is considering a slightly larger screen size for its next handset.
Instead, the report claims Apple has built a new iPhone model with a “sliding cover.” It notes that the alleged device has a “frame shape” similar to the current iPhone 4, though the device is “slightly thicker” than the current-generation iPhone.
Though the roughly translated report does not specifically indicate that the “sliding cover” would involve a keyboard, the same site earlier this month said that Apple was evaluating three prototypes for the iPhone 5, and one of them allegedly has a slide-out keyboard. In that report, it was said that a “sliding cover” would conceal a keyboard on the handset.
Finally, the translated post also makes mention of a “3D screen.” It seems to suggest that a future iPhone will employ 3D, “but not iPhone 5,” it states.
iPhone 5
Apple.pro has been the source numerous hardware leaks from Apple’s overseas suppliers. Last July it showed off a mysterious small touchsreen it speculated could be used in an “iPod touch nano.” Apple eventually, in September, unveiled its new iPod nano with a tiny multi-touch display.
Other parts obtained by the site before their formal announcement include a white iPhone 4 panel, an iPhone 4 battery, and Apple’s redesigned MacBook and unibody MacBook Pro both in 2008. However, also in 2008 the same site was the source of a false 13-inch MacBook Pro casing, as well as claims that Apple was working on a 15-inch MacBook Air.

iPad 2:Production issues with new thin display could limit Apple’s initial iPad 2 supply


Posted by admin in Tuesday, March 1st 2011   under: ipad    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,    edit
The new ultra-thin glass screen set to be unveiled as part of the second-generation iPad this week has “yield issues” that could result in a limited supply at launch, one Wall Street analyst has said.
Bill Shope with Goldman Sachs said in a note to investors this week that sources in Apple’s overseas supply chain have indicated that the iPad 2 may be affected by production difficulties. These alleged problems could result in limited supply available at launch, for a surprising product availability that AppleInsider has heard could happen near immediately.
But while Apple may experience an initial production bottleneck, Shope also reaffirmed that Apple is not expected to experience delays in launching the iPad 2. Earlier reports suggesting a significant delay of months were separately rebuffed last week.
“It appears that Apple is once again pushing the technology envelope by making the device far thinner than the original iPad, and the iPad 2′s ultra-thin glass screen is generating yield issues,” the analyst wrote. “This appears to be more of a process problem as opposed to a technology problem, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see volumes ramp fairly quickly as the process improves.”
Shope noted that almost all of Apple’s new iOS products start out with limited volumes at launch. Because of this recurring trend, he said supply constraints for the second-generation iPad “should not be a major concern” for AAPL investors.
The new iPad is widely expected to have a forward-facing camera for FaceTime video chat, along with the usual technical improvements like a faster processor and more RAM. Shope also expects the new iPad to support both GSM and CDMA wireless technology, but does not expect the product to be a 4G long-term evolution compatible device.
“As of now, we are not assuming Apple will expand the storage capacity for the iPad, which should enable the company to enjoy better product margins over time,” he added.
The current financial models from Goldman Sachs project the average selling price of the iPad to be 10 percent less than the previous generation. However, he noted that iPad pricing is already more aggressive than competitors, so he does not believe a price cut is necessary for the second-generation device.
Apple is set to hold a media event on Wednesday to introduce the second-generation iPad. The event will be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, Calif., and AppleInsider will have full live coverage.

iPhone:Comments from Apple exec Tim Cook hint at lower-priced iPhone options


Posted by admin in Tuesday, March 1st 2011   under: iphone news    Tags: , , , , , , , , ,    edit
New comments from Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook that Apple doesn’t want its products to be “just for the rich” have fueled speculation that the company is interested in offering a cheaper iPhone.
Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi met last week with Cook, Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer, and Vice President of Online Services Eddy Cue. According to Forbes, the analyst came away with the impression that Apple is “likely to develop lower priced offerings” in its handset business.
Cook also reportedly said that Apple is planning “clever things” to compete in the prepaid handset market. He also said that Apple is “not ceding any market,” and the company doesn’t want its products to be “just for the rich.”
Cook’s comments, and the analyst’s interpretations, come soon after two prominent publications claimed that Apple is working on a new, smaller, $200 contract-free iPhone that it could sell directly to customers and bypass wireless carrier contracts. Both Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal said that Apple’s alleged plans were in an effort to compete with Google’s growing Android mobile platform.
But another mainstream publication, The New York Times, rebuffed those two reports only days later, and said that Apple is not developing a smaller handset. However, it was reported by the Times that Apple has explored opportunities to create a less expensive iPhone.
In his meeting with Sacconaghi, cook reportedly referred to the iPhone as “the mother of all halos,” as the handset has expanded sales of Apple’s other devices, particularly in emerging markets. Apple has long referred to sales of the iPod — and later iPhone — as having a “halo effect” that drives sales of Macs.
And one emerging market where Apple has found great success in a short period of time is China. Cook reportedly acknowledged that Apple has spent “huge energy” in China, and also noted that it is a “classic prepaid market,” which would be an ideal candidate for a cheaper iPhone.
The company is also said to be looking to expand its carrier partnerships. Oppenheimer said that Apple has 175 carrier partners, while rival Research in Motion, maker of the Blackberry, partners with 550 carriers.
Cook also said he believes the tablet market will eventually be bigger than the PC market, and that competition for tablets will be even more intense than with smartphones. He also hinted that the company has interesting new things in its product pipeline.
Finally, Oppenheimer also said that Apple’s current capital structure is not efficient. He said the company is likely to use its cash to secure supplies of key components, much like the recent secret $3.9 billion deal Apple recently revealed it made with component suppliers.

iPhone:World’s largest book publisher Random House may soon join Apple’s iBookstore


Posted by admin in Tuesday, March 1st 2011   under: iphone news    Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,    edit
Random House, the world’s largest book publisher and most high profile holdout from Apple’s eBook digital download, could soon bring its catalog of top selling novels to the electronics maker’s iOS ecosystem.
In a brief statement to the media Monday, Random House said that it has agreed to “the agency model for e‐book sales” in the U.S. effective Tuesday. That means that going forward, “Random House will set consumer prices for the e‐ books we publish, and […] will provide retailers with a commission for each sale,” the publisher said.
The concession could bring to an end a near year-long standoff between Random House and Apple’s iTunes-based iBookstore, which operates on the so called ‘agency model’ that allows the company serving the content to take a cut of sales. For its iBookstore, Apple employs the same 70-30 split that has seen renowned success on its App Store for software on the iPhone and iPod touch.
“The agency model guarantees a higher margin for retailers than did our previous sales terms,” Random House said. “We are making this change both as an investment in the successful digital transition of our existing partners and in order to give us the opportunity to forge new retail relationships.”
The statement appears to imply that the publisher could be on the verge of announcing plans to bring its catalog to Apple’s iOS devices though the iPhone and iPad maker’s iBookstore. Currently, iOS device users can only purchase and download from Random House’s digital catalog through Amazon’s Kindle app for those devices.
In the lead up to the launch of Apple’s iPad last April, Random House executives were said to be exploring the adoption of the agency model with their authors and agents before agreeing to Apple’s terms, which dictate that Apple receives a 30% cut of all sales on the iBookstore. At the time, chief executive Markus Dohle said his company hadn’t ruled out reaching a deal before the April 3rd, 2010 launch of the tablet device, but added that he was proceeding with caution.
iPad
Under the traditional business model, resellers have bought books from publishers at discount prices and then marked them up to make a profit through sales. But Apple’s agency approach has the publishers set the prices paid by consumers — something Random House executives were concerned could lead to considerably lower prices, and thus lower profits.
Word that Random House could join on the iBookstore five of its biggest competitors — HarperCollins, Hachette, Penguin, Macmillan and Simon & Shuster — comes just two days before Apple is expected to take the wraps off its second-generation iPad in San Francisco, a device that is rapidly altering the landscape of the publishing industry.

Apple //gs Emulator with Best of FTA on App Store


Posted by admin in Tuesday, March 1st 2011   under: iphone news    Tags: , , ,    edit

This one’s going to be for only a select audience. Old Apple //gs owners who enjoyed graphical demos by the Free Tools Association (FTA) will be surprised to find that they have released a “Best Of” collection for the iPhone:
To celebrate the 20 years of the *Free Tools Association*, here comes a collection of the best programs developed by the members of the FTA team : Nucleus, Modulae, Photonix, Delta Demo and much more!!! Enjoy this journey back into time ;)
The app is the ActiveGS emulator bundled with many of FTA’s Apple //gs demos.
There’s probably some legal issues with an emulator that presumably includes Apple owned ROMS, but we’re going to hope that Apple turns a blind eye to this one. But you shouldn’t hesitate in downloading it if you are at all interested, just in case. It’s free.

iPhone:’Consumer Reports’ Smacks Verizon iPhone Over Antenna Issues


Influential ratings-and-reviews magazine Consumer Reports made headlines last July when it declined to recommend the iPhone to consumers due to antenna issues that could result in loss of signal. The publication has held strong on its non-recommendation, arguing that Apple’s temporary free case over was insufficient to address the issue.

Consumer Reports is back at it again, this time hitting the Verizon iPhone for essentially the exact same reason it knocked on the original iPhone 4.
The Verizon iPhone 4 has a problem that could cause the phone to drop calls, or be unable to place calls, in weak signal conditions, Consumer Reports engineers have found in lab tests.
The problem is similar to the one we confirmed in July with the AT&T version of Apple’s newest smart phone. It can occur when you hold either version of the phone in a specific but quite natural way in which a gap in the phone’s external casing is covered. The phone performs superbly in most other respects, and using the iPhone 4 with a case can alleviate the problem.
According to tests conducted by Consumer Reports, simply placing a finger on the gap at the lower left side of the Verizon iPhone causes signal to drop over a period of 15 seconds, resulting in calls being dropped in areas of low signal. As a result, the publication is similarly declining to recommend the Verizon iPhone despite lower reports of users experiencing the signal issues, potentially due to the strength of Verizon’s network.
But given our findings, we believe the possibility exists for individual users to experience the problem since low signal conditions are unavoidable when using any cell-phone network.
For that reason, we are not including the Verizon iPhone 4 in our list of recommended smart phones, despite its high ranking in our Ratings.
Consumer Reports was unable to generate similar issues with a variety of other phones on Verizon’s network, including the Samsung Fascinate, Motorola Droid 2 Global, HTC Droid Incredible, LG Ally, and Motorola Droid X, thus isolating the issue as unique to Apple’s current iPhone designs.

iPhone:Verizon Says Short iPhone Lines Due to Strong Online Sales, Staggered Rollout


Posted by admin in Tuesday, March 1st 2011   under: iphone news    Tags: , , , , , , ,    edit

The Wall Street Journal reports on an interview with Verizon Wireless CEO Dan Mead, who claims that short lines for the public launch of the Verizon iPhone were the result of an intentional effort to push sales to online distribution and to stagger availability, not due to poor sales.
Verizon first offered pre-orders of the phone to existing customers on Feb. 3, and then began selling it in stores one week later. Mr. Mead said the company staggered the launch of the Apple Inc. device in phases so that customers would have a smooth purchasing experience. “It was a conscious decision to spread the launch over three phases,” said Mr. Mead.
Mr. Mead said more than 60% of iPhone sales occurred online. That heavy activity online contributed to short lines on launch day, which were noted by many news outlets. “If we had not done online, you would have seen a much different flow in the pictures,” he said. In a few days, the company will double the number of stores that sell the iPhone, going from 4,000 to 8,000.
Mead declined, however, to announce specific sales figures for the Verizon iPhone, choosing to wait for the company’s next earnings release to share numbers.
Mead also reported that Verizon expects Apple to offer devices compatible with the carrier’s new 4G LTE network, although he declined to offer information on which product lines they might be and when they might be released.
“You’ll see more coming from Apple on LTE,” he said. “They understand the value proposition of LTE and I feel very confident that they are going to be a part of it.”
The interview comes just as Consumer Reports announces that the Verizon iPhone possesses an antenna issue similar to that found on the original iPhone 4, although the strength of Verizon’s network makes the issue less noticeable to users.

[iPhone]MobileNotifier: Jailbreak App Aims To Revamp iOS Push Notification System


Apple’s Push Notification system has been maligned for being intrusive and modal. iOS competitors on the other hand have been doing a good job on this front of late. HP’s webOS for example has a banner notification system that has been widely acclaimed.
We’ve also heard rumors that Apple is acquiring a small developer to help them fix the Push notification system.
If you’ve jailbroken your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch then you probably don’t have to wait for Apple to fix it as developer, Peter Hajas has released a jailbreak app called MobileNotifier, which is pretty cool.
Mobile Notifier is inspired by Android’s notification system so unlike iOS’s push notification system, MobileNotifier prevents notifications from interrupting you and allows you to access your notifications from a drop-down drawer. You can also access the notifications from your iOS device’s lock screen.
Peter has also cleverly used the unused area when you activate the multitasking switcher for the Alert Dashboard to show the pending alerts/notifications.
You can checkout the demo video of see how MobileNotifier works:
Peter has recently released the third beta version of MobileNotifier, which you can install from the Cydia App Store by following these steps:
  • Launch Cydia from your jailbroken iOS device homescreen.
  • Tap on the Manage Tab and then tap on Sources.
  • Tap on the Edit button and then tap the Add button to add the following repo URL: http://phajas.xen.prgmr.com/repo
  • After it is successfully added, tap on the Search tab and search for MobileNotifier.
  • Tap on MobileNotifier from the search results
  • Then tap on the Install button and then Confirm to install it on your iOS device
  • You will be prompted to Restart SpringBoard, tap on the button to proceed.
That’s it, you should now be able to use the revamped notification system courtesy MobileNotifier.
As always, please don’t forget to tell us if you like it.
[via Peter Hajas, thanks Jeff for the tip]

[iPhone]iOS 4.3: Update On Unlocking iPhone


Posted by admin in Tuesday, March 1st 2011   under: iphone unlock    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,    edit
MuscleNerd, member of the iPhone Dev Team has revealed that baseband – 04.10.01 that comes bundled with iOS 4.3 for iPhone 4 is vulnerable, which indicates that it can be unlocked if Apple does not update it in the final version.
MuscleNerd revealed this news via the following tweet:
Current i4 unlock goal includes til 04.10.01 (4.3b3). Very weird situation…vuln cmds are there, trying to invoke them!
In January, iPhone Dev Team had announced that the unlock for iPhone 4 will be released after iOS 4.3 is released, which is widely speculated to be released this week.
So based on today’s tweet, it means that the new version of Ultrasn0w that will be released after iOS 4.3 is released will initially unlock baseband 02.10.04 (that came bundled with iOS 4.1) and baseband 03.10.01 (that came bundled with iOS 4.2.1) for iPhone 4.
iPhone unlocking expert Sherif Hasim also indicated this possibility yesterday while reply to one of his followers on Twitter:
VaMpYrE7: @sherif_hashim Hi Sherif, I dont wanna ask about an ETA but I just wanna know if uve found an exploit for bb 03.10.01 or not, w8ng patientlySherif_Hashim: @VaMpYrE7 the one I found is working for both
Though both could mean baseband 03.10.01 and 04.10.01 or 02.10.04 and 03.10.01.
This means that iPhone Dev Team will probably release PwnageTool for Mac and iH8sn0w will also release Sn0wbreeze for Windows to allow users to jailbreak and preserve their iPhone’s baseband so that it can be unlocked using Ultrasn0w.
Currently, Ultrasn0w can only unlock iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G on iOS 4.0.2 (baseband 05.13.04) or earlier and iOS 4.2.1 by upgrading the baseband to 06.15.00.
It remains to be seen if the new version of Ultrasn0w will unlock baseband 05.14.02 (bundled with iOS 4.1), baseband 05.15.04 (bundled with iOS 4.2.1) and baseband 05.16.00 (bundled with iOS 4.3) for iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G and if the Dev team will release a method that will allow users to downgrade from 06.15.00.
We will let you know as soon as we get any more information so stay tuned here at iPhone Hacks or follow us on Twitter or subscribe to our RSS feed.
Note: You can find your iPhone’s baseband by going to Settings –> About –> Modem Firmware

[iPhone]Cinq Photo updated for iPhone and iPad: Send your pix home when mobile


Posted by admin in Tuesday, March 1st 2011   under: iphone news    Tags: , , , , , , , , ,    edit
I took a look at Cinq in December. It was a cool little iPhone app that allowed you to view your iPhoto libraries on your iPhone, and send photos back to your home computer when you’re out over WiFi or 3G. I liked the idea of sending full resolution pictures home while I was on vacation, and the app worked pretty well.
Some recent updates have made Cinq even more attractive. It now is a universal app that runs on the iPad, as well as the iPhone and iPod touch. As before, you have to install the free Cinq server software on your home Mac or PC and set up a free account. The GUI of the app has been simplified, and looks more attractive. Once the server is up and running you choose to have your photos saved to your iPhoto library, or to a folder.
My past critique of the app included speed and a lack of background operation. Those issues have been addressed. You can now send a photo or multiple photos in the background, and the speed of transfer seems to have been improved. Of course the speed of your connection is important, but it’s clear from my testing that the app is faster.
Your pictures can also be shared via Facebook and Twitter (with TwitPic). The app now supports Airprint and high resolution transfers. The app is ad supported, but you can remove the ads with a US$2.99 in-app purchase. People who had bought the older versions of Cinq can remove the ads at no charge by simply clicking a button in Cinq Photo. Cinq is a nice solution to viewing photos on your main computer, or getting your photos back to it. I think it’s worth a look if you find yourself using your iPhone camera when on the go.

iPhone Game:Play Playstation 3 games on any iOS device with hack


Posted by admin in Tuesday, March 1st 2011   under: iphone Games    Tags: , , , , , ,    edit

The group of hackers and developers known as pandaelf found themselves with a PlayStation 3, an iOS device and some time on their hands. With a bit of ingenuity, they figured out a way to play their PS3 games on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. The setup is slightly complex and requires you to attach a capture device as well as an input converter with a USB mouse and keyboard to the PS3. You also need a PC to serve as the conduit between the game console and your portable Apple device.
The capture device sends video from the PS3 to a nearby PC and the keyboard/mouse converter sends and receives button presses. The iOS device then connects to the computer using a custom build of everyAir, a remote desktop application. Basically, the PS3 sends its info to the PC which processes the incoming stream and sends it to your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch via everyAir. This communication is bi-directional so the information flows both ways.
Currently, this custom build of everyAir is not available to the public so the average iOS owner won’t be able to do anything with this setup quite yet. While you wait for this build to become available, you can check out a video of the system in action below.

iPhone

iPhone:Federal rules ensure Apple’s iTunes has right to Comcast’s NBC content


Posted by admin in Monday, February 28th 2011   under: iphone Apple    Tags: , , , , , , , ,    edit
Comcast agreed to continue licensing of NBC content to online video services like Apple’s iTunes in order to receive government approval of its acquisition of broadcast network NBC.
In the terms of the acquisition approved by the U.S. government, cable provider Comcast has agreed to let online rivals that compete with its own cable subscriptions and online “Fancast” product license NBC programming, according to The Associated Press. Though NBC’s shows are already available on the iTunes Store, NBC has not participated in Apple’s 99-cent iTunes TV show rental model for the new Apple TV.
“We do not think 99 cents is the right price point for our content,” former NBC Universal Chief Executive Jeff Zucker said last year. Zucker was fired by Comcast in September. “We though it would devalue our content.”
But now it’s also possible Comcast could allow NBC content to become available for rent on the Apple TV and iTunes in order to appease the federal government, based on the terms the company agreed to. Regulators scrutinizing Comcast’s acquisition of NBC showed concern that online media services like iTunes would suffer from a cable provider owning a broadcast network.
Products like iTunes are sometimes used by customers to “cut the cord” and cancel their cable subscription. There’s also the possibility that Comcast could “throttle” bandwidth for services like Netflix and iTunes, making downloads slower or streaming content stutter and become unwatchable.
Federal officials reportedly attached dozens of conditions to the government’s approval of the Comcast-NBC deal. Specifically, Comcast must sell its content to online video services, though no specific provisions were made related to 99-cent Apple TV rentals.
In addition, Comcast may not interfere with video traffic for other, competing services over its broadband network, and it must sell standalone Internet services with 6 megabit download speeds for about $50 per month, without being tied to a cable TV package.
“Although these requirements offer no guarantees of success for new online video services, they aim to ensure that Comcast cannot impede the online businesses,” the report said. “They also break new ground by giving Internet rivals some of the same protections that have long been available to satellite companies and other subscription TV competitors.”
NBC has had a tumultuous relationship with Apple and its iTunes service in the past, before the Comcast acquisition. In August of 2007, NBC abruptly pulled its content from iTunes after Apple wouldn’t agree to doubling the wholesale price of each TV episode.
NBC eventually returned to the iTunes Store in September 2008, when Apple began offering high-definition content for $2.99 per episode, compared with the standard-definition pricing of $1.99 for an episode. The new requirements from federal regulators would make it more difficult for Comcast to pull NBC content from iTunes again.
And while NBC has continued to hold out from offering content for the new streaming-centric Apple TV, rival networks Fox and ABC both agreed to be launch partners by offering 99-cent TV episode rentals. TV executives were said to be “uncomfortable” with Apple’s pricing model, but some were willing to go forward with what they consider to be an “experiment.”

iPhone:AirMusic App Allows Users To Stream Music From iPhone, iPad And iPod Touch To PS3, XBox 360 And Windows PC


iOS 4.2.1 brought the ability to stream and watch videos and other digital media content from any iDevice to a television. While this was without doubt one of the coolest offerings in the iOS 4.2.1 software update, the AirPlay functionality was limited to users who own the 2nd generation Apple TV.
If you don’t have an Apple TV 2G, no problem, Plutinosoft has released an iPhone app called AirMusic, which allows users to stream music from iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch to PS3, XBox 360 and Windows PC or any supported DLNA device.
Here’s how to use it:
■ Connect your iPod, iPhone or iPad to the same WiFi network as your XBox, PS3 or PC.■ Start AirMusic
■ If you have an XBox, turn it on, navigate to the Music Library and select your device in the list
■ If you have a PS3, turn it on, navigate to the Music Note and select your device in the list
■ If you have a PC running Windows Vista or Windows 7, start Windows Media Player, your iPhone will show up under ‘Other Libraries’
As you can see its very simple to use and it works as advertised. You need iOS 4.2.1 to install the app from the App Store.


AirMusic costs $0.99 and you can download it using this iTunes link.
You can also checkout the hacks that allow AirPlay streaming from an iOS device to Mac and Windows.
Let us know what you think of the AirMusic app in the comments section below.

iPhone:iOS 4.3 Features Walkthrough


Apple is expected to release iOS 4.3 this week so we thought it might be a good idea to go through the new features and changes that have been discovered in iOS 4.3 beta 1, beta 2 and beta 3 that Apple has seeded to developers of iOS developer program so you know what to expect.
Here is the list new features and changes in iOS 4.3:
Personal Hotspot (iPhone Only):
The personal hotspot feature will allow users to share their iPhone’s 3G data connection with up to 5 mobile devices.
The Personal Hotspot feature can be enabled via the Settings app.
iOS 4.3 will bring the Personal Hotspot feature to GSM iPhone users. It is already available to Verizon iPhone users.

AirPlay:
Apple had introduced the AirPlay feature in iOS 4.2. It allowed users to stream digital media wirelessly from their iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch to Apple TV 2G or any AirPlay-enabled features. However, AirPlay feature was only limited to pre-installed apps like YouTube and iPod/Video app.
iOS 4.3 will allow users to stream media wirelessly from other third-party apps, Safari mobile browser and also the pre-installed Photo app, thus unlocking the full potential of the feature.
Side Switch Toggle (iPad Only):
In iOS 4.2, Apple had changed the rotation lock to mute switch like the iPhone.
In iOS 4.3, iPad users will get an option to select the side switch at the top right corner either as a rotation lock switch or mute button.

New font for Notes:
Apple had given users the option to select from two new fonts in iOS 4.2: Helvitica and Chalkboard instead of only Marker Felt.
In iOS 4.3, Apple has replaced the Chalkboard font with the Noteworthy font.

Cancel/Delete App Installations Mid-way:
iOS 4.3 finally gives users the option to cancel downloading apps and delete them mid-way. Earlier the only option, one had was to pause the download.

Customize Alerts for Messages (iPhone only):
iPhone users will be able set the number of times they want to be alerted for an unread SMS/MMS.
Repeat Alert option has changed to Play Alert Tone and you can select from Once, Twice, 3 Times, 5 Times and 10 Times.


Redesigned App Store Updates page:
The App Store gets a redesigned updates page for the iPhone/iPod Touch and iPad. It will make it easier for users to install apps that you’ve already purchased (that they had deleted previously).

Push Notification For Ping:
iOS 4.3 allows users to setup push notifications for Ping – Apple’s social network for music so that they can find out what their favorite artists or friends are up to as soon as possible.

New Wait Button:
Apple has added a wait button to the Add contact extended keyboard and has moved some of the buttons around.
Tapping on the Wait button will add a semicolon to the number as opposed to pause which adds a comma.
The pause button has moved to where the ghosted 4 button used to be, the plus button has moved to where pause was, star has moved to where plus was and a new wait button has been added to where the ghosted 6 button used to be.
Below is the screenshot of the Add contact screen with extended keyboard in iOS 4.2.1:

And the Add contact screen with extended keyboard in iOS 4.3:

Parental Controls:
iOS 4.3 gets a new parental control for Ping – Apple’s social network for music.

Location Services Settings:
Location Services settings in the Settings app has been moved to the top-level instead of under General to make it more easily assesible.

Compatibility:
iOS 4.3 is compatible with iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch 4th generation, iPod Touch 3rd generation and iPad.  Unfortunately, iOS 4.3 will not available for iPhone 3G and iPod Touch 2nd generation, which means that iOS 4.2.1 is the last iOS software update for these devices.
It needs to be seen if all the new features and changes mentioned above makes it to the final version of iOS 4.3 and if Apple will surprise us with additional new features.
So are you excited about the iOS 4.3 software update? Which one is your favorite feature? Let us know in the comments below.

[iPhone]Verizon CEO: iPhone 4 sales strong, more coming from Apple on LTE


Posted by admin in Monday, February 28th 2011   under: iphone 4    Tags: , , , , , , , , ,    edit
In a recent interview, Verizon Wireless CEO Dan Mead rebutted recent reports suggesting Verizon iPhone sales were low by confirming that the wireless carrier sold more iPhone 4s during its initial launch than any other product in the carrier’s history. Mead would not divulge the actual numbers, but he confirmed these sales figures would be released during the carrier’s next quarterly report.
The Verizon iPhone launch was characterized by fewer and shorter lines at both the carrier’s retail outlets and Apple stores. According to Mead, this was not a reflection of low demand, but the carrier’s plan to stagger the launch.
“It was a conscious decision to spread the launch over three phases,” said Mead, who also confirmed that 60 percent of iPhone sales were processed online. Verizon held two pre-sale opportunities on February 3 and 9 and kicked off the official launch on February 10.
Besides the iPhone 5, Mead hinted that Apple was interested in LTE technology and working on devices compatible with Verizon’s 4G network. Mead said, “You’ll see more coming from Apple on LTE. They understand the value proposition of LTE and I feel very confident that they are going to be a part of it.”
Apple recently addressed LTE, and COO Tim Cook confirmed the Cupertino company is not ready to adopt this 4G technology. Speaking at the Verizon iPhone launch, Cook said, “the first-generation LTE chipsets force some design compromises, some of which we wouldn’t make.”
Hopefully, Apple can work with chipset manufacturers to iron out these kinks, and we can look forward to 4G speeds combined with Apple’s solid hardware and slick mobile OS.

iPhone:iPhonewzealand app proceeds donated to NZ Red Cross Earthquake Appeal


Many New Zealand-based Mac and iOS developers are rallying to help the city of Christchurch following its recent devastating earthquake. NZ-based tech blog iPhonewzealand is the latest to join in these efforts.
The site’s old iPhone app has been withdrawn from the App Store, and in its place is an updated app with access to news, comments and forums on iPhonewzealand’s site. iPhonewzealand focuses on local Kiwi developers and apps, too, so if you live in New Zealand and have an iPhone, this site and its app are a great resource.
Of particular interest to users outside of New Zealand, the app also contains iPhone carrier settings for New Zealand’s mobile providers, streamlining the process of getting your iPhone working while you’re visiting New Zealand.
The app is priced at US$1.99 (NZ$2.59) until the end of March. After Apple takes its 30 percent cut, all further proceeds go directly to the New Zealand Red Cross. In the wake of the recent earthquake in Christchurch, which sadly seems to be shaping up to be the worst natural disaster in New Zealand’s history, every little bit of help counts. If you’re in New Zealand and have an iPhone, this purchase is a no-brainer, and it’s also a good purchase if you’re an international iPhone user planning on visiting down here.
Citing its terms and conditions for the App Store, Apple forced iPhonewzealand to redact any mention on iTunes of its app’s proceeds going to charity. Thankfully, Apple has no say on where the developer’s profits go after the company takes its 30 percent off the top, so even though iPhonewzealand can’t announce its charitable intentions on the App Store, we can still do so on the site’s behalf.
If you’re not interested in the iPhonewzealand app but would still like to donate to the New Zealand Red Cross and support its efforts to help the city of Christchurch in its time of need, you can do so directly at the Red Cross website.

[iPhone Game]App Review: Kamon is a great two-player strategy game, but a bit pricey

Posted by admin in Monday, February 28th 2011   under: iphone Games    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,    edit
Kamon (US$1.99 for the iPhone version) and Kamon HD for the iPad (available separately for $2.99) should really be one universal app. There isn’t enough meat here to justify the five dollar price tag for both versions -– not when the top-of-the-line board games like the Settlers of Catan cost $4.99. Two dollars for a universal version sounds about right in today’s App Store economy/price structure, but I also want more and more board games to come to iOS, and developers need to make their money somehow. So, with that in mind, I can recommend Kamon to anyone looking to expand their app library of well-designed two-player strategy games.
Kamon was created by renowned designer Bruno Cathala who was recently responsible for the particularly good game Cyclades. The elegant leather and wood version has been hard to find in the U.S., but now everyone has access to this simple (yet hard to master) game. Keep reading for more.

Gallery: Kamon iPhone App


The Game
Kamon is a game of putting discs on a hexagon board made up of 37 smaller hexes (technically circles, but they function the same as hexes). To start the game, 36 marker pieces are randomly laid out on the board, along with the start piece that is immediately removed from its random location. These markers each have one of 6 icons on them and a value of 1-6. What those icons are is kind of unclear. I see fish hooks, a bowl, a ginko leaf, a moustache, a flattened mushroom and a lotus flower. I’m sure I’m wrong about some of these.
The start player needs to place his first piece on one of the border (not corner) locations. After that, where you go is up to you, as long as you follow Kamon’s main rule: each piece can only be played to a location that matches either the value or the icon of where the other player just played.
The game is perhaps most interesting for its three separate win conditions (players of the abstract strategy games Six or Hexade will find this familiar). In Kamon, these conditions are:
  • Form a line of connected stones that extends from one side of the board to another (with corner pieces counting as either side they touch).
  • Completely enclose at least one opponent’s piece and/or an empty space.
  • Make it impossible for the opponent to make a legal play.
Or, as the developers put it, entirely making up a theme:
In Pharao’s gardens, by the lily pond, two architects are involved in a tricky game. Who will first finish the footbridge where the princess can take a walk without wetting her feet?
Aww, isn’t that nice? You’re not only moving pieces on a board, you’re being chivalrous.
The three win conditions are what give this games its depth. More than once, I got so focused on the way I was trying to win that my opponent was able to sneak past me using another method. Kamon is a good game for people who really like to plan their moves in advance. Since you can limit where your opponent can go (remember, totally limiting them is a way to win the game), you can sometimes guide their play –- or at least try to. Just like when playing Puerto Rico, you can imagine what your opponent will do, but they can still surprise you.
kamon iphone app
The App
Aside from being easily available and a great game, the Kamon app (Version 1.0.3 reviewed here) also includes a clever puzzle version where you alternate white and black plays and need to be able to NOT let either side win while you fill the board. As you play the game (any version), there is a nice floating background of salamanders, dragonflies and cobras (at least, I think they’re cobras) and a vaguely Egyptian/Japanese look going on. Like any abstract strategy game, the look is secondary to the gameplay, but in this case, it all works well together. There is no hidden information here, so it works great to plop the iPad down on a table (softly, perhaps) between two players and get started.
The iPhone and iPad versions have a few differences. For one thing, the iPhone board shows the piece icon and a number instead of simply repeating the design on the piece the X times to indicate the value, as it is on the iPad. Also, the iPhone version says “Game Rule” on the main screen, while the iPad version says “Game Rules.” Even better, on the iPhone, you play against the AI opponent. Minor things, but there you have it, and all the more reason for the developer to just make this a universal app and clean everything up.
The latest update made the game iOS 4-compatible, so games are saved when you exit the app, but there’s no way to exit, change a setting and come back to the game. If you touch “Exit” on the game screen, even by accident, the game is over. This needs to be changed.
You can adjust music (a decent-enough soundtrack) and sound effects, how fast the AI plays and whether or not the board displays your legal moves. There is no undo button, which is too bad, but the UI is generally intuitive and simple. Unfortunately, once you enter the rules screens, you need to tap through to the end. There’s no way to get back to the main menu. We’re throwing screen grabs of the entire ruleset into our gallery, but that’s no excuse for clumsy UI design in this area.
Sadly, there is also no way to enter player names, no leaderboards or online capability. This is strictly a barebones affair with the focus on the game itself. You’re probably better off playing against a person than the device, too. The Normal AI (mid-level) allowed me to create a loop around its piece even though I hadn’t yet forced it to give me that move. The expert level is harder, but not impossible to beat by any means.
All these criticisms shouldn’t scare you away from checking out Kamon, especially if you like the idea of having interesting games in your pocket. As a two-player abstract, you could do a lot worse. If you’re looking for it on the App Store, don’t be tricked by Kamon Maker (Kamon means family crest in Japanese). Instead, get it here for iPhone or iPad. For more on the game (tabletop version) click here or here.

iPhone 4:T-Mobile notes the “4″ in iPhone 4 does not mean 4G


Posted by admin in Monday, February 28th 2011   under: iphone 4    Tags: , , , , ,    edit

Nearly nine months after Apple‘s official announcement, T-Mobile finally points out to its customers that the “4″ in iPhone 4 does not refer to 4G. T-Mobile’s latest advertisement for its HSPA+ network takes a shot at both the Verizon and AT&T iPhone 4 with the two carriers illustrated as turtles, while T-Mobile is a hare. The eye-catching graph points out that T-Mobile has blazing fast 4G handsets while Apple’s popular smartphone is still 3G.
Of course, this slick marketing piece fails to recognize the “4′ in iPhone 4 actually refers to 4th generation as it is the fourth handset in the iPhone series. Apple never claimed the iPhone 4 had 4G LTE or HSPA+ connectivity. As is often the case, this promotional material focuses on sensationalistic claims, not the truth.

[iPhone]Tim Cook on Cheaper iPhone: ‘We Don’t Want To Be For Just The Rich’


Posted by admin in Monday, February 28th 2011   under: iphone news    Tags: , , , , ,    edit
According to SAI and Asymco’s tweets (follow!) this morning, Tim Cook in an interview with Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi had some enlightening information on how Apple sees the future of the iPhone.

  • Cook says Apple is doing “clever things” to attack the prepaid market, because he doesn’t want Apple to be “for everyone,” not “just for the rich.” Cook also recognizes “price is big factor in the prepaid market,” but Apple is not “ceding any market.”
  • Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer said Apple would not let carriers dictate terms, which Sacconaghi says reinforces, “the notion that Apple might be willing to act to disintermediate carriers with a soft-SIM.”
  • Apple COO Tim Cook strongly suggested we will see a cheaper iPhone in the near future

iPhone:Lion lets you play tunes in the iTunes Artwork screen saver


Posted by admin in Monday, February 28th 2011   under: iphone news    Tags: , , ,    edit

It seems that Apple has tweaked just about every corner of the operating system for Mac OS X 10.7 Lion even down to the screensavers.That’s right, screensavers. On the popular ‘iTunes Artwork’ one that pulls all your music album art from iTunes, you can now actually hover over an album cover and the song will start playing. Music on your screen saver. In Lion. Magical. Revolutionary. We think ‘Mac Dre’ is an appropriate artist for the screenshot. Thanks, Wayfarer87

iPhone:This is iOS notifications done right (video)


Posted by admin in Monday, February 28th 2011   under: iphone news    Tags: ,    edit
Peter Hajas, the creator of MobileNotifier, created a video for us of his new update. In short MobileNotifier is how we think iOS notifications should have been implemented. It’s obviously jailbreak-only and you can grab it from Cydia at this repo: http://phajas.xen.prgmr.com/repo

iPhone:Apple testing Android-like gesture-based lock screen for iOS


Posted by admin in Monday, February 28th 2011   under: iphone news    Tags: , , , , ,    edit

Apple has been working on a new gesture-based lock screen for iOS devices that works similarly to Android’s “dots” lock screen feature. The user sets up a pattern and needs to input that same pattern in, instead of a password or a four number code. Apple has already deployed this new lock screen internally for use in the employee ‘Apple Connect’ application for iOS devices.
There is no word on whether or not this new lock screen will make its way to iOS devices for users. We were told, though, that Apple will be pushing this lock screen down to some of their internal applications in the future. For example the applications retail-store employees use.
Apple is even planning on bringing this down to their new mobile payment system business, on the EasyPay machines. The lock screen looks just like Android’s lock screen, which Google probably has patents on, so this might never see the fingers of consumers. Three more screenshots of the system are after the break.


iPad 2: also comes in white?


Posted by admin in Monday, February 28th 2011   under: ipad    Tags: , , , , , , , , ,    edit

(Click twice for larger)
Imagine the look on our faces when these pictures of a white second-generation iPad part landed in our inbox. Yes folks, it looks like the new iPad could come in white. That seems strange since Apple could not pull off an iPhone 4 with a white front, but I’m sure they figured out a way. Also, one of the reasons for the black frame that surrounds most of Apple’s displays is that it presents the image better visually.  However, this image above, seems to refute all of that.
The piece that we have (from Shenzhen City), thanks to the folks at the iFixYouri iPhone repair shop, is the “digitizer” sometimes known as the the thick bezel.
If you look closely at the back of the part, below, you will see the camera hole, which happens to fit perfectly with the iPad 2 screen protectors from our friends in Asia. This is in addition to the ambient light sensor found on the top of the first-generation iPad. We don’t know whether or not the new iPad will also come in a black finish but, we’ll surely know all come March 2nd. The iPad 2 is expected to be thinner, faster, sport cameras, and work on both GSM and CDMA networks.

iPad channel inventory dries up

Posted by admin in Monday, February 28th 2011   under: ipad    Tags: , , , , , , , ,    edit
It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, but Apple has stopped production of the original iPads and cut of supplies to the channel.  We are getting reports that global retailers are no longer able to get their hands on iPads.  We’ve been told that this indicates Apple have halted production of 1st gen iPads and ceased shipments.
MB292LL/A – iPad 16GB WiFi – Constrained – No ETA
MB293LL/A – iPad 32GB WiFi – Constrained – No ETA
MB294LL/A – iPad 64GB WiFi – Constrained – No ETA
MC349LL/A – iPad 16GB 3G – Constrained – No ETA
MC496LL/A – iPad 32GB 3G – Constrained – No ETA
MC497LL/A – iPad 64GB 3G – Constrained – No ETA
The retailers we’ve talked to say that they only have what is currently on the shelves and could be sold out today or tomorrow – which sounds exactly right.