Archive for September 16th, 2011

LilyPad looked like the typical iPad case but applies technology based on “solar ink” to continually charge the device. LilyPad can supply power to iPad for about 12 days in common lighting conditions (both indoor and outdoor), before having to charge it from the mains.  
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Apple is reportedly working on a process to merge multiple Apple IDs into a single login. Early developer testing of iOS 5 and iCloud have demonstrated that this issue was major.

TUAW described the problem back in July, and the answer at that time was that there was no way to consolidate Apple IDs:

Some readers have been managing two Apple IDs on purpose and are now frustrated about the fact that Apple is restricting logins for automatic downloads. Others have only just discovered that they have two IDs. Most of them have already contacted Apple, only to be given the same answer without exception: Apple will not consolidate Apple ID accounts.

MacRumors reader Robert emailed Apple CEO Tim Cook about the issue. Apple representative said that they understood the issue and that more people would run into the problem with iCloud, claiming that there is no way yet to combine accounts but revealed they are working on it.

The New York Times' Nick Bilton has heard that the iPhone 5 will be announced in just few weeks.

We’re just weeks away from the announcement of the new Apple iPhone 5, according to an Apple employee who asked not to be named because he was not allowed to speak publicly for the company.

The report also tells us that the next-generation iPhone design is quite similar to various cases and what we’ve heard from anonymous Apple employees.

From descriptions I’ve heard of the new iPhone from Apple employees, the images seemed potentially authentic.

Bilton claim that there is still no information about whether the iPhone 5 will represent a truly updated form factor, but he echoes a number of previous claims that the next-generation iPhone will receive 8-megapixel camera, possibility of near-field communication (NFC) technology for payments, though, it’s unclear whether NFC will arrive in the iPhone 5 or iPhone 6.

CNet notes that Intel’s Ivy Bridge processors will include improved graphics processing unit (GPU). According to Anandtech, Intel expects that graphics processing on next generation chips will be 60% faster than on Sandy Bridge processors that are currently shipped in Apple’s computers.

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Unwire.hk has posted first photos of a screen protector that has been designed for the iPhone 5, suggesting the elongated home button.

A second shot shows how much bigger the screen protector is than the current generation iPhone 4.

Despite we have seen different cases for the next-generation iPhone, none of them had show a front panel of the device. But we have already heard about the elongated design of the Home button from the leaked designed documents that described areas to be exposed or open to the user. From the image we may see that the hole for the front facing camera was also elongated and camera itself was included in to the hole for the speaker. But we can say for sure that this case is not the accurate image of what the iPhone 5 will look like. Apple is widely expected to release the iPhone 5 in September/October.

Winrumors has posted a very thorough 11 minutes video comparison of an iPad 2 running iOS 5 vs Windows 8 Slate. Almost every feature is compared in the video below, everything from lock-screen to social network integration. Take a look:

According to London-based research company Brand Finance, Apple takes the second position after Google in brand value rating. The 33% increase allowed Apple to overtake Microsoft, Wal-Mart, GE and IBM for the first time. The research firm attributes Apple’s high rating to loyal consumer base, successful marketing activities and innovative design.

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