Archive for August 12th, 2010

Recently released Apple's rechargeble batteries were found to have many of the same characteristics as the Sanyo Eneloop model HR-3UTG batteries first developed in 2005 and launched for sale in 2006. Both batteries retain over 75% of their charge after three years of use. In addition to having identical performance, the Sanyo rechargeables also have the same minimum capacity of 1900 mAh. Moreover, Apple's new rechargeable batteries do not offer any indication of who manufactured them.

Experts took apart one of the AA batteries from Apple, but did not find any evidence on the inside that they are manufactured by Sanyo. The batteries are the first Apple’s product, which doesn’t have an Apple logo on them. In fact, the only thing known about these batteries is what that they were made in Japan. Sanyo's corporate headquarters is in Japan, and its Eneloop batteries are manufactured also in Japan.

And batteries have almost similar prices: Apples batteries retail for $29 and Sanyo Eneloop – for about $22.

Apple has not commented this situation.

Social Bicycles - a bike sharing system with a twist – plans to start using an iPhone application, the system allows users to drop off, locate, and borrow a bike nearly anywhere. The bikes are equipped with a GPS device which is locked to one of the wheels, and when the bike is locked, it's locatable using the application, so that someone can borrow it; when it's in use and unlocked, it doesn't appear in the app. The real upside to Social Bicycles is that the regular infrastructure required for bike lending systems are unnecessary, which can make lending much cheaper.

We've gotten some information that Apple plans to rename the Apple TV into "iTV", which was initially named as "iTV" in September 2006, but changed the name to "Apple TV" for its launch in January 2007. Apparently the box won't be capable of handling 1080p video. Instead it will only push out 720p clips. Moreover, video experts note that the difference in resolution is not visible to users at a normal TV viewing distance unless the screen is larger than 55 inches. The device will be getting apps and presumably an App Store entry.

iTV well be running iOS that means that it will get access to iTunes. By converting Apple TV into an iOS device, the company could erect a third new wing of apps in iTunes. This smaller, cheaper device will probably use network streaming rather than Apple TV's hard drive for local storage.

It is much of a rumor that there is going to appear a new iPad sporting a 7-inch display. Now Digitimes specifies the possible features that this Apple device may get.

It is that at the beginning of 2011 Apple is going to launch an upgraded iPad with 9.7-inch display that will feature 512MB of RAM and a new processor based on ARM Cortex-A9. The 7-inch iPad will use an IPS panel having 1024 x 768 resolution and a similar processor.

Except the introduction of the iPad, it is rumored that in December we’ll get a CDMA iPhone. It is going to be supplied to China Telecom and Verizon Wireless. Evidently it will feature an integrated antenna and a metal backplate.

Today Apple released patches for its iOS that address a security hole in Mobile Safari, which allowed users to jailbreak their iDevices. The PDF exploit they used also allowed hackers to gain remote control over the device with an iOS.

iOS 4.0.2 is available for:

• iPod touch 2G
• iPod touch 3G
• iPhone 3G
• iPhone 3GS
• iPhone 4.

Apple did NOT release the patch for the first generation iPhones.

iOS 3.2.2 is intended to use on the iPad and iPad 3G.

You can update your device via the links above or simply by connecting your device to iTunes and clicking Update. But note, if you want to continue using jailbreak you should not update your handset/tablet and don't forget to backup your SHSH blobs.