Archive for 2010
Multicolor iPhone 4G concepts
Almost every day now we publish new concepts of the hypothetical iPhone 4G, that will be probably released this summer. User Seraphan tried to invent a new device in different colors:
Penguin's Upcoming iPad books
Penguin, one of the biggest publishers, gave a very interesting presentation in London. Penguin CEO John Makinson spoke about eBooks, iPad Books and Apps.
Penguin is not using the ePub format for books, rather building the applications in html according to Makinson:
"We will be embedding audio, video and streaming in to everything we do. The .epub format, which is the standard for ebooks at the present, is designed to support traditional narrative text, but not this cool stuff that we’re now talking about".
"So for the time being at least we’ll be creating a lot of our content as applications, for sale on app stores and HTML, rather than in ebooks. The definition of the book itself is up for grabs".
"We don’t know whether a video introduction will be valuable to a consumer. We will only find answers to these questions by trial and error."
Makinson sees ebooks hitting 10% of book sales next year (up from 4%). Take a look at the video:
Rupert Murdoch Confirms The Wall Street Journal iPad Application
Apple CEO Steve Jobs recently traveled to meet with executives at The Wall Street Journal and other publications. Today The Wall Street Journal reports that Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and CEO of parent company News Corp., confirmed that the newspaper will be present on the iPad. He also mentioned that Apple gave access to one of the tablet devices.
Mr. Murdoch said the Journal planned to be on Apple Inc.'s iPad tablet computer. "In fact, we've been allowed to work on one, and it's under padlock and key. The key is turned by Apple every night," he said in response to a question. "But we will be on that with The Wall Street Journal." Mr. Murdoch said he believed in a year or so there will be a half dozen or more devices on which consumers will be able to receive newspapers and other media.
HTC is hiring patent counsel
The job was posted on February 10th. Just in time!
"In this position, you will join HTC America, Inc. at one of its most exciting phases."
You can find more details
The iPhone 4G Concept in 3D: version 2
Some time ago designer Antonio De Rosa created a beautiful concept of future iPhone 4G and even published a small video. Many users liked it and gave Antonio some feedback. Now we can see the updated version.
Let's watch photos and video of new concept:
iPhone case made of rock
In welcoming the Spring/Summer 2010 season, JOYCE presents the much anticipated “Truly Gifted III” program starting from February 25th to March 14th. Last year they collaborated with Alexander McQueen to create an exclusive USB stick. Now they invited more designers - Rick Owens, Dries Van Noten, Marni, Etro, Bless and Anna Sui specially designed limited iPhone cases for Hong Kong’s JOYCE.
The most interesting one is on the picture above. It is made out of rock! Here's the photo of all iPhone cases:
According to CNet the iPad is the worst tech product name
Here is the top 5 worst product names according to CNet. Guess who's got first place? Let's watch:
iPad Can Make Emergency Calls!
One of the developers enabled a passcode lock in iPad SDK and then decided to type it incorrectly for a few times. After 5th try iPad proposed to make an emergency call.
This option looks pretty obscure but can be explained as a following to FCC regulations, that demand wireless phones to be able to make emergency calls (even in the cases when the device isn't currently active or assigned a number).
Jobs claimed at the iPad's keynote that it has a built-in speaker and mic, so does it really can make normal calls in addition to emergency calls?
Apple From 1976 To 2010 in Video Footage
Company named Transparent House created a video tribute to an Apple. Its idea was to design some of the well-known innovative products that company has developed in their more than 30 years history.
All the animation took about 10 days to complete. The work was done using only 3Ds Max and V-Ray Render. Creators say it is not connected with Apple or any commercial company, and they hope it will be used only in educational purposes. Let's watch!
Leave a comment, read comments [1]
iPad's Release Date Is Rumored To Be March 26
The Examiner reporter Daryl Reino claimed yesterday the March 26 for iPad's release date is "very likely". He said he has information from some unnamed Apple store manager in Southern California.
Daryl also reported Apple employees will start training March 10, and the official commercials will begin to air on TV starting March 15. It will be emphasizing the e-book capabilities of the device. Those who camp out for the new device will receive some "special gift".
As we wrote before, some manufacturing bottleneck has been lengthening the production terms, but Daryl said it will not delay the launch of iPad (though the number of devices will be much more limited).
Apple and HTC commented on the lawsuit situation
When HTC found out about Apple's actions, the company told Gizmodo website they will defend their technologies:
"We only learned of Apple's actions based on your stories and Apple's press release. We have not been served any papers yet so we are in no position to comment on the claims. We respect and value patent rights but we are committed to defending our own innovations. We have been innovating and patenting our own technology for 13 years."
Steve Jobs expressed his opinion in the official press release:
"We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We've decided to do something about it. We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."
It is interesting, that 14 years ago it was Steve Jobs who said: "We have always been shameless about stealing great ideas.".
Wow! It looks like Steve Jobs totally changed his mind?
Speaking About Reasons of Apple's Actions
After the news about Apple's lawsuit many of us have been wondering why Apple did this. Obviously, the thing is not about money as the company already has $40 billion of cash and investments. Digital Daily's editor John Paczkowski thinks the reason is a desire to extend iPhone's growing lead on the market.
"Apple is suing to make an example out of HTC and lengthen the engineering time-to-market for Android handset builders."
While other Android smartphone manufacturers will spend their time solving a problem with developing of noninfringing technologies to avoid lawsuits, Apple will continue to iterate the iPhone.
Ok, this is clear, but why Apple accused HTC now?
Apple Accuses HTC of infringing its patents!
Yesterday morning began with shocking news about lawsuit that was filed by Apple against HTC. As it turned out, Cupertino's company is accusing smartphone manufacturer of infringing 20 Apple patents tied to the iPhone. Google Nexus One, Droid Eris, T-Mobile G1, Touch Pro2, Touch Diamond and the Imagio are listed as exhibits in the litigation.
Copies of the suit can be read
Free Pass for MWSF2011 Is Available!
Less than a month has passed since MacWorld Expo 2010 was closed, and IDG World Expo already prepares for MWSF 2011 (which is announced to be on January 27-29 in Moscone Cetner West in San Fransisco). Today they announced a one-week free registration window for the show! All you need you do to take a free pass is to click here and fill in the information in the form. Enjoy!
iPad Uses Cortex A8-based Chip
As you remember, Steve Jobs clearly said at the iPad's presentation that the device will have a 1 GHz A4 Chip. But after that event there was no information given about this secret two-letter name "A4". And this isn't usual, as almost every company reports the specification of every announced device before it'll come to market.
Later it was rumored that the chip is based on Cortex A9 with dual cores. But finally Arstechnica author Jon Stokes revealed that A4 is a 1 GHz custom system-on-chip with a single Cortex A8 Core and a PowerVR SGX GPU. Though the information is not announced publicly, the author is sure it is true.