Archive for December, 2010
Skype Video Calling for iOS over Wi-Fi and 3G Now Available
As expected, Skype unleashed version 3.0 of the Skype App for iOS. An update allows iOS Skype users make Skype to Skype video calls over WiFi and 3G. The new video conferencing feature works between capable iOS devices as well as desktop machines. Two-way video calls are only supported on the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and fourth-generation iPod touch, while iPad and third-generation iPod touch users can receive video calls. Users can make video calls in portrait or landscape mode. Skype video calling requires iOS 4.0 or above.
Apple Launches “New Year, New You” App Store Section
Today after a holiday Apple launched a new App Store section called “New Year, New You” to showcase apps “for health and wealth”. The new section will include not only apps for fitness and health. Apple has broader views and decided to include also productivity and entertainment apps in the list. It’s a whole selection of great apps to start 2011 with a perfect app library on your iOS devices.
People Buy Kindle Though They Already Have iPad
This week Amazon has revealed another press-release, where it is said that the company's third-gen Kindle became the best-selling product in the history of the online retailer. To take the top spot it surpassed the book of Joanne Rowling "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows".
Though it was said that this holiday the 3G and Wi-Fi Kindle models are the best-selling products, actual sales figures were not unveiled. But it is interesting that Jeff Bezos, who is Amazon Chief Executive, said that people who buy Kindle also have one more tablet.
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Apple's First Quarter Earnings Release Set for January 18th
Apple has announced that it will publish its earnings for the first fiscal quarter of 2011 (forth quarter of 2010) and host a conference call regarding the release on Tuesday, January 18th at 2:00 p.m. PT. The conference call will be streamed live, audio-only, on Apple’s website. A link to the webcast will be provided in the following weeks. During the conference call we’ll hear about the sales of the new MacBook Airs and iOS devices’ performances in the holiday season and get chance to listen to Steve Jobs’ thoughts again.
iPad controls this $600,000 per week superyacht
Now you are able to control this $600,000 per week superyacht Solemates with an iPad that allows you to control entertainment systems, climate systems, blinds and lights among other things and even summon a crew member for another drink. If you don’t have your own iPad the captain will, obviously, hand you one when you board.
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Apple Helps Preserve Cherokee Language By Adding it to iOS
Associated Press reports that Apple has worked with the Cherokee tribe to add their language to iOS and help to preserve it.
"Tribal officials first contacted Apple about getting Cherokee on the iPhone three years ago. It seemed like a long shot, as the devices support only 50 of the thousands of languages worldwide, and none were American Indian tongues. But Apple's reputation for innovation gave the tribe hope", - the report said.
This year support of the language was included into iOS 4.1.
British Man Delivers His Baby At Home, With A Little Help From iPhone
A British man recently delivered his own baby at home using his iPhone. An ambulance was not able to reach his house because of the terrible weather conditions which are currently affecting several parts of the UK. And when the delivery started he did not lose his courage and met the challenge. He used his iPhone to search the Internet for advice and instructions while he helped his wife give birth. As a result, he managed to deliver his second-born child himself. Congratulations to the happy family!
Prototype of Apple’s first portable Mac hits eBay
A prototype of Apple’s first portable Macintosh was offered for a sale on eBay. It has a label “this device is a demonstration unit only. Production units will comply with all applicable Federal Rules and Regulations” which confirms that it is a prototype unit. Unfortunately the devise does not power on because of the dead acid battery.
Beta-version Of Jailbreak For iOS 4.2.1 Released
The iPhone Dev team has just released the second beta of their untethered RedSn0w jailbreak (the first beta has been released few hours ago and has more bugs).
New jailbreak is called "Jailbreak Monte", as it uses new "backup method". The iPhone Dev Team warns that their beta-version is not a general release and you should back up all your media before using it. There are also other limitations and bugs:
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Mac App Store first shots
9to5Mac got some information about the upcoming Mac App Store. You can see the app's icon already, and the app will have a login screen very similar to what you already use in iTunes to install iOS apps.
Apple: Everything That Happened in 2010
2010 has been a terrific year for Apple. Apple released the new MacBooks, new iMacs / Mac Minis and Mac Pros, the iPhone 4, the iPad. Not to mention the new & improved Apple TV, iOS 4, Retina Display on the iPod touch, the fiscal results….overall, it’s been a good year. YouTube user tszheichoi has posted a look back at all the exciting moments of Apple in 2010.
Steve Jobs Named 'Financial Times' Person of the Year
Well-known British newspaper Financial Times recently announced that Apple CEO Steve Jobs was selected its "Person of the Year" for 2010.
A rebuttal of F. Scott Fitzgerald's much-quoted aphorism that there are no second acts in American life does not come more decisively than this. When Steven Paul Jobs first hit the headlines, he was younger even than Mark Zuckerberg is now. Long before it was cool to be a nerd, his formative role in popularising the personal computer made him the tech industry's first rock star .
Skype Video Calling Coming to iPhone
Skype has had an iPhone application since early 2009. Put video calling wasn’t available there till the present moment. But the company has to roll out video calling for the iPhone or other mobile platforms. Skype is rumored to announce video calling support for the iPhone and iPod touch at CES 2011 early next month. The company has told that it is going to make a series of announcements concerning video calling at CES. Moreover, Skype will be participating in a panel called “Video Calling Gets Ready for Primetime”.
Sony Has Launched iTunes Rival
Yesterday Sony has launched a new service of streaming music subscription to compete with Apple's iTunes, but in opposition to the latter it will offer another approach in digital music sales.
New cloud-based music service is called "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" and offers users to stream music they want to listen to, but not purchase and download it.
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Apple's next-gen iPad to get iPod touch-like back, wide-range speaker
Japanese blog MacOtakara published a new portion of rumors concerning Apple’s iPad 2. It claims that the second-generation iPad will have a smaller bezel, a flat back panel and a wide-range speaker. These changes might be caused by a couple of criticisms of the original iPad design. The outer plastic bezel surrounding the LCD screen of the iPad was seen as large by some. Thus, the forthcoming iPad will be 3mm smaller; reportedly measuring 239mm by 186mm. LCD screen on the next-generation iPad will stay the same size. Back of the iPad is reported to be "flat like an iPod Touch". It will allow the new iPad to sit flat on a desk surface. The current iPad has a rounded back. The Ambient Light Sensor will be moved to the "upper center of the rear panel and has a new 3mm slim hole". According to rumors, production of the new iPad has already begun and it will probably start shipping in the mid of January.