Archive for August, 2010

According to UBM TechInsights, Apple had been testing an InvenSense gyroscope in its iPad prototypes, but final version of the next-gen iPad will use a component from STMicroelectronics, which is also used in the iPhone 4. The company's product manager Steve Bitton wonders why there is no gyroscope in the current iPad.

“It seemed strange at the time that a product like the iPad would have been designed to not include a gyroscope but an iPhone 4 that was being designed at around the same time would”.

Moreover, Bitton disassembled an iPad and found an empty space where gyroscope exactly fits. And if InvenSense unit requires 24 pads, STMicro L3G4200D unit needs only 16 pads and is already used in the iPhone 4, so it obviously will be easier for Apple to use a component, which is also already supported by an iOS4.

"Apple probably chose to wait until the next iteration of the iPad to introduce gyroscope capabilities [and plans] to use [the] ST Micro’s L3G4200D to reduce the amount of [software] development required”.

New free app in the App Store called "Ht-Connect" allows you to wirelessly control Human Touch AcuTouch 9500 massage chair and even to customize it to your own needs with an iPhone or iPad. Though the chair itself will be available only this fall and its price will be $5999, the video above shows how cool it looks.

This Tuesday well-known blogger John Gruber posted a note on his Daring Fireball blog, where he said that the upcoming tablet device from Dell called Streak will cost $550 (without a contract from AT&T) and that new iPod touch will have new features that Streak doesn't have.

"That's almost twice as much as a good iPod touch, and if you wait a few weeks to buy the Touch, you'll get one with a Retina Display and dual cameras. If Dell can't make an iPod touch competitor, who can?"

Though Gruber did not say whether he obtained this information from his sources or not, previous rumors confirm that the next-gen iPod touch will support FaceTime (which requires two cameras).

Today mobile media company ParkVu introduced an interesting Facebook app called "Music WithMe", which allows publishing your music library from iTunes to Facebook. After publishing the tracks it contains may be shared, commented on, liked and discussed by your friends.

To use it properly you should also install a desktop app, which is now available only for Windows (Mac will be supported soon).  When the setup will be over the app will show your tracks in its Facebook application here. Note, that your friends also must install this app in order to comment on and like your tracks (and without it the app looks pretty useless).

Statistical analysis of the attractiveness of user profile pictures from the dating site OkCupid shows that iPhone owners have more sex than BlackBerry and Android owners.

Here is the chart that shows average number of sexual partners among iPhone, Android and BlackBerry users:

The chart pretty much speaks for itself. The numbers were calculated for all three brands for 30 year-olds, so it's not a matter of older, more experienced people preferring one phone to another.

Here is a another plot by age:

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According to the Reuters news agency, one of the Japanese authorities demanded from Apple to provide customers with the information about obtaining spare batteries for the first generation IPod Nano with respect to the fire hazard from the superheated batteries.

The authorities requested Apple to issue on the Internet an easy-to-understand statement to explain how the users of the device involved in four cases of minor burns in Japan will be able to receive spare batteries and appropriate consultations.

The Japanese authorities began to put pressure on Apple on this issue last week but the company referred to the fact that the matter had been transferred to the supplier of batteries. The company said that safety would be considered as their top priority.

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Both Windows 7 Tablet and Apple iPad look great. Here is a video with each of them being tested in email, video, browsing, mapping, etc.

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Today iPhone and iPad Box.net apps were upgraded and now allow saving necessary files for offline access, which means that with a new version you can use Box.net services even if no Internet connection available. When collaborator makes changes to documents on any of the Box platforms, previously saved files may be synchronized with its updated versions. The update also includes iOS4 support, high-res graphics and fast app switching.

One of the Box.net's co-founders Aaron Levi said that the investments in the mobile strategy are caused by several facts. First of all, the increasing number of business tasks may be now performed on mobile devices and everybody should take it into account. Besides that the service's competitors like Microsoft Sharepoint haven't yet created strong mobile offerings, which is a chance for Box.net to increase its share on this market.

At the moment iPhone and iPad apps that implement Box.net services have been downloaded 150 000 times. Levie said that up next are Blackberry and Android apps.

Now adding Flash to your iPhone and iPad is very easy. Apple didn't want Flash to be on their devices. Several hackers created a project Frash - a Flash port for iPhone and iPad. Today it is available as a package in Cydia. To install follow these steps:

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The Flash port project is called Frash. Recently it became available for iPad, now iPhone users can install it on their devices. Of course you need to jailbreak, since Apple doesn't support Flash in iDevices.

Credits go to hackers Comex for the Frash port and Grant Pannell for iPhone 4 compilation.

Here is the video proof from redmondpie:

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UPDATE: Now you should use RedSn0w, PwnageTool or Sn0wBreeze to activate.

Having problems activating your iPhone? Don't have original SIM-card? Cannot get passed emergency unlock screen? We have a solution:

If you have iPhone 3G, just use redsn0w to jailbreak and hactivate. If you have iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4 follow these instructions:

If you are already Jailbroken:

So you have an iPhone with iOS 4.0, but don't have the original SIM and stuck on the Emergency Call Screen:

1. Download ifunbox software (download link)
2. Run ifunbox software and sync with phone
3. Go to /private/var/root/Library/, delete original lockdown folder and put this lockdown folder after you extract it from the zip file
4. Restart phone

If you are not jailbroken:

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Macrumors have found a new option in the iOS "Contacts" application that allows users to make FaceTime calls using either a phone number or an email address. This basically adds FaceTime functionality to non-iPhone devices such as iPads and iPods. Email FaceTime support will also increase the privacy, since it will be allowed to make calls without showing out the phone number.

Do Apple's bumper cases fix the iPhone 4 antenna issue? CNet tested it. Watch the video:

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This week Apple announced the retirement of the iPhone and iPod division head Mark Papermaster.  Various resources started immediately discuss whether Papermaster was fired or he left on his own record as no information was revealed on that.  Some of them speculated that it may be possibly connected with the recent antenna issue situation and its negative consequences for the company's reputation.

Mark Papermaster came to Apple from IBM two years ago. That was accompanied with a legal battle between these two companies as IBM was afraid that Mark could tell Apple too many secrets. In January of 2009 a settlement was reached and IBM obtained a permission to "keep an eye" on Mark's duties at Cupertino's company. But that legal dispute showed that Papermaster was not a best choice to become a leader of iPhone and iPod division.

According to Brazilian resource MacMagazine, Apple will introduce new iPod lineup on the event that will take place either Aug. 16 (Monday) or 17 (Tuesday). As you may know, traditionally Apple holds this event in September.

The publication reveals that a new iPod touch will be announced and it will have front-facing and rear (with flash) cameras and gyroscope.

Since the event is music and media-centric, Apple may also introduce new versions of its apps. According to another report, this time from a French site Mac4ever, the company will introduce 64-bit versions of iPhoto, iWeb GarageBand and another mystery application that will became a part of a package.