Archive for November, 2010

Finally, Apple released their rumored iOS 4.2. Here is a list of the new features and improvements added in this firmware:

• AirPlay for steaming audio and video content to the Apple’s set-top box Apple TV with access to Netflix streaming.

• Find My iPhone service became free for the current generation iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.
• AirPrint: the feature allows to print over-the-air directly to certain HP printers. Perhaps, the company is interested in looking into third-party solutions.

Read the rest of this entry »

Apple finally released iOS 4.2 for iPhone 3G/3GS/4, iPad, iPod Touch 2G/3G/4G and even Apple TV 2G. Lot's of new features, especially for iPad. Apple calls new firmware 4.2, however the version is actually 4.2.1. Here are the download links:

• AppleTV 2G (AppleTV2,1) 4.2.1 (8C150)
• iPad (iPad1,1) 4.2 (8C148)
• iPhone 3G (iPhone1,2) 4.2 (8C148)
• iPhone 3GS (iPhone2,1) 4.2 (8C148a)
• iPhone 4 (iPhone3,1) 4.2 (8C148)
• iPod Touch 2G (iPod2,1) 4.2 (8C148)
• iPod Touch 3G (iPod3,1) 4.2 (8C148)
• iPod Touch 4G (iPod4,1) 4.2 (8C148)

While we are all waiting for iOS 4.2 release for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, here is a quick video review of all new iOS 4.2 features:

Here is one about iOS 4.2 for iPad:

And this one is about iOS 4.2 for iPhone:

Read the rest of this entry »

Apple recently published a press release stating that new firmware iOS 4.2 for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad will be available today.

Apple® today announced that iOS 4.2, the latest version of the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, is available today for download for iPad™, iPhone® and iPod touch®. iOS 4.2 brings over 100 new features from iOS 4.0, 4.1 and 4.2 to iPad including Multitasking, Folders, Unified Inbox, Game Center, AirPlay® and AirPrint.

The iOS 4.2 update is available today to download to iPad, iPhone and iPod touch by syncing the device with iTunes 10.1. iOS 4.2 is compatible with iPad, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, second and third generation iPod touch (late 2009 models with 32GB or 64GB) and new iPod touch. Some features may not be available on all products. For example, Multitasking requires iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, third generation iPod touch (late 2009 models with 32GB or 64GB) or later.

However users are unable to update through iTunes right now, as well as there are no download links yet. The expected release time is 10 am Pacific Time.

Full press release is under the cut:

Read the rest of this entry »

The Telegraph reports that European carriers forced Apple to abandon their plans to introduce integrated SIM-cards in future iPhone handsets. Well it looks like Apple got a little worried over the European carrier’s threats. Carriers recently accused Apple in trying to gain control of carriers’ relationship with their mobile customers, because such built-in SIM card allows customers to switch between operators easily, sign up for mobile service on Apple’s website without having to call a carrier or visit a store. Obviously, nothing has been confirmed, and, doubtfully, will be. Perhaps, Apple will announce their avoidance of implementing an integrated SIM in future iPhone handsets or may be they won’t.

These days high-end fashion journal for women Women's Wear Daily revealed that Apple CEO Steve Jobs and News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch have been working closely on some project, which is called the Daily. It is said that there is a possibility Murdoch and Jobs together will soon appear onstage to unveil their new product.

The Guardian in the United Kingdom also posted info on that and specified that this is the tablet-only project, which will be allegedly developed with the help of Apple engineers and won't have a web edition or print edition.

Read the rest of this entry »

According to a new survey, released this Friday by ChangeWave, every third U.S. smartphone buyer on carriers other than AT&T wishes he could have bought Apple's iPhone.

The aim of the survey was to study what exactly smartphone the customers want to buy next time. As it have been revealed many times before, most of the iPhone's owners are happier than any other group of smartphone users as they are "very satisfied" with their purchase.

Read the rest of this entry »

This week CNET reported that the developer of Angry Birds Rovio Mobile had apologized for poor performance of its game on some Android devices. The company told that it was too hard to deliver optimal performance for such a great variety of different devices, which can be explained by Android's platform fragmentation.

Read the rest of this entry »

GizChina reports that the genuine white iPhone 4s are being sold by unofficial resells, that means it is being sold on the Chinese gray market. As you can see from the above image, the handsets appear to be real, though it hasn’t yet been confirmed. The boxes, in which the device comes in, are marked with a label warning the phone should be used for internal company use only and not for sale. Currently, the handsets are selling for around $899. This price, obviously, is well above the official retail price of the regular black iPhone 4 in China.

As reported, Apple is developing a built-in SIM card for the Phone. Such embedded SIM card allows users to activate their devices with a broad array of carriers. Moreover, with such card, customers could insist on shorter-term contracts, using the ability to easily switch between carriers as leverage. So, some European carriers (Vodafone in the UK, France Telecom and Telefónica in Spain) are threatening Apple to withhold their iPhone subsidies if the company deploys the technology on the iPhone. Apple was accused in gain control of carriers’ relationship with their mobile customers. This technology allows customers to sign up for mobile service directly on Apple's website. It could allow customers to switch more easily from one to another and even lead to a "war" between operators and Apple. As estimated, Apple’s global iPhone sales could take a 12 percent hit if European carriers carried out their threats.

Apple seems to bring some free options to their paid MobileMe service. As you can see in the shot above, the code shows free MobileMe accounts for iOS devices. The code also says “This Apple ID cannot be used for MobileMe Mail, but you can use it for other MobileMe services.” That means that free accounts may be used for features other than email, as this message specifically restricts certain Apple IDs from being used with MobileMe Mail. Other MobileMe iPhone services include Find My iPhone, iDisk, Contact/Calendar/Safari/Notes over-the-air sync, and Photo Galleries. So, may be Apple will begin offering MobileMe syncing services for free.

Apple updated their iTunes Connect Mobile application which allows iOS developers to check their Apple developer account and see detailed information about the apps which are currently on sale in the App Store. The latest 1.1 update includes support for the iPad, graphics for the iPhone 4 and 4th-generation iPod touch Retina display and support for the viewing of iBookstore statistics for your books. This is the same application which Mac App Store developers will use to track their apps. The app is free.

Download the new iTunes Connect Mobile app

Early this week Apple released an update for its Safari Web browser, with version 5.0.3 for Windows, Mac OS X Leopard and Snow Leopard, and 4.1.3 for Mac users running Tiger. The updated browser fixes the bug that could prevent users from submitting web forms and establish an encrypted, authenticated connection to the Safari Extensions Gallery. New version of Safari for Mac also solves an issue that could cause Web content to display incorrectly.

Other fixes, according to Apple, include:

Read the rest of this entry »

While we were all waiting for Apple to finally release iOS 4.2 to the general public, the company seeded a new golden master of iOS 4.2, known as iOS 4.2.1, to developers. Apple has instructed developers not to resubmit their applications under the new build, suggesting that this new version only fixes some minute bugs and no new features have been added.

Read the rest of this entry »

Adobe’s CEO revealed this week that Abode is currently testing Flash Player optimized for Apple’s new MacBook. It’s not a secret that new laptops are shipping without Flash preinstalled due to battery problem. The new MacBook Air became Apple's first Mac to ship without Flash Player.  The battery life of the small notebook took a significant hit when browsing the Web with Flash Player. Adobe is looking to improve battery life on the MacBook Air with a new custom build of Adobe Flash. The company believes that the key to conserving battery life lies in hardware acceleration. “When we have access to hardware acceleration, we've proven that Flash has equal or better performance on every platform,” – Adobe claims.