Archive for 2010

In a week after the story about the lawsuit Oppenheimer analyst Yal Reiner wrote a research note, where it is said that Apple started warning Motorola and HTC in as early as January 2009. The Cupertino's company was not so happy to see that rivals' new products look like iPhone (or at least use the same concepts).

Apple COO Tim Cook even commented on this situation:

"Apple will not stand for having our IP ripped off, and we'll use whatever weapons that we have at our disposal".

The words were presumably about Samsung, LG and Nokia (Palm is not mentioned as its sales numbers are not so considerable).

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Developers have found references to multitasking in iPhone OS SDK files. The below mention of a "multitasking dialog box" is just one example:

Actually many different Apple's built-in applications already multitask. For example, phone.app, iPod.app, Safari.app, Mail.app, etc. so theoretically, the dialog box in this case could refer to current functionality.

Designer Antonio De Rosa, the author of a beautiful iPhone 4G concept, offers us his new creation iPhone Pro. Here is a video demonstration and a full image gallery:

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httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3MSjwUrxT0

HP confirmed that their slate PC can run Adobe flash and Air applications and emphasized it with a little bit provocative notes in their new ads:

• "Complete Internet - including Flash".
• "Access the full web and not jut part of it!"

The company representatives also ambiguously said:

"With this slate product, you're getting a full Web browsing experience in the palm of your hand. No watered-down Internet, no sacrifices."

For more information watch the new video ads above and below.

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Chinese companies are producing iPad clones that will have Windows 7 OS pre-installed on it. Clone makers are interested in putting it on sale as soon as possible as there is still no information about whether Apple will ship iPad to China or not.

Some Chinese stores have already started taking pre-orders for the new Apple devices. They hope to import device from those of other countries where it will be officially on sale.

Apple recently released iPad/iPhone OS 3.2 Beta 4 to developers. Let's see what's new:

1. Application "Photos" has been improved. Here is text from official changelog:

"Launching the Photos application under the iPad Simulator will initially show three tabs: Photos, Albums, and Camera. The Camera tab represents photos available via the Camera Connection Kit for iPad, and is not relevant for the Simulator. The Camera tab will disappear after a few seconds. "

Apple actually specified what we had seen in 3.2 beta 3. The tab Camera is for the Camera Connection Kit, and does not indicate any front camera on the iPad.

The fonts have been also improved and there are some new Gestures added for images.

2. The function Add Bookmark in Safari browser works now (previously only allowed to link to home).

3. When you press the button twice on the lockscreen the iPod controls appear, just like on the iPhone:

4. With the iPad simulator is open, pressing "cmd + shift + space bar" will appear a list of languages. By pressing the space bar you can change language:

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Few days ago Apple filed 4 patents about methods of cooling its devices. Company's products have never been known for the problems of overheating but we can definitely assume that new versions will be more power hungry and thereafter more heat consumable in the future.

This is a list of new patents:

• “Methods and Apparatus for Cooling Electronic Devices Using Flow Sensors”.

The technology is about using sensors that determine air velocity in a device to adjust the fan speeds and computing power.

• “Methods and Apparatus for Cooling Electronic Devices Through User Interfaces”.

The patent describes using input/output ports to increase airflow through a device.

• “Methods and Apparatus for Cooling Electronic Devices Using Conductive Hinge Assemblies”.

The talk is about using notebook screen's hinges as heat exchangers.

• “Methods and Apparatus for Cooling Electronic Devices using Thermoelectric Cooling Components”.

The document explains using Peltier Effect for active components cooling.

Apple today released the iPad/iPhone OS 3.2 Beta 4 SDK.  The build 10M2144 is 2.5GB and can be downloaded from developer.apple.com/iphone.

9to5mac found several interesting facts from Apple's iPad commercial.

The first one is about iBookstore pricing. They to be below hardcover books, audiobook, paperback prices and even Kindles's pricing. For example, Ted Kennedy's memoir, True Compass costs $23 for the hardcover, $19.25 for the B&W Kindle version and $14.95 for the iPad version. Other books show similar prices.

It looks like Apple will store documents on the iPad in a "My Documents" folder, at least for iWork touch. This is funny that Apple had chosen this name. This perhaps will make life easier for PC people. You can see that on the screenshot below:

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During the iPad presentation, Apple CEO Steve Jobs noted that it would offer a better experience than a smartphone and a notebook computer in the following areas:

• Browsing
• Email
• Photos
• Videos
• Music
• Games
• eBooks

Apple recently aired iPad ad during the Oscars, which perfectly reflects this. Tuaw analyzed the video based on the on-air time dedicated to a particular function. It showed that a particular focus was on media consumption appeal and differentiation.

About 80% of all 720 frames (30 seconds * 24 fps) of the iPad's ad showed an app being used. And within this time, the photo app was shown the most (26%), the mail app came in second (22%). iBook app used 20% of time to position the iPad as a perfect eBook reader.

Whatever the outcome of Apple negotiations with Verizon will be, estimated sales of iPhones will equal 33 million devices in 2010, analysts say.

Moreover, Scott Craig, the analyst from Merrill Lynch, claims iPhone sales in 2010 won't be affected by the outcome of Apple and Verizon negotiations.

One way or another, Credit Suisse analysts reported of 75% chance of AT&T remaining iPhone exclusivity carrier also for the next year.

O2 plans to offer video calls on iPhone, as new generation iPhones will feature a camera for video calling and chatting. And what is more, making a video call will cost the same as traditional voice-only call.

Recent discoveries suggest that the iPad OS (iPhone OS 3.2) also offers the possibility to decline and accept video conferences and maintain video calls.

Apple aired their first iPad commercial during the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. The commercial shows people using the iPad and going through the various features (iBooks, Videos, Maps, Email, Photos, Safari etc). The song is There Goes My Love by The Blue Van (iTunes link).

Take a look at the commercial below:

The Apple iPad will launch on April 3rd with pre-orders starting on March 12th.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs attended the Oscars. No surprise, Jobs previously was CEO of Pixar Animation Studios and is now a member of the Walt Disney Company's Board of Directors.

Here are several pictures taken with Steve on the red carpet:

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Today we will take a look at an interesting accessory - external microphone for iPods and iPhones. As for the iPod everything it is quite simple - in order to record something you need an external mic. iPhone has it's own internal microphone. However the quality of the recording would be better with external one.

We performed a simple test: recorded the iTunes radio using Voice Memo application on the iPhone. First we used internal microphone and later we attached the external one. The quality of the external is slightly better. It is more sensible and the level of noise is lower which is good. Here are the sample recordings (m4a format): Internal, External.

This external microphone is compatible with:
- iPhone 3G/3GS
- iPod Touch 2G/3G (you need to download and install some recording application from AppStore)
- iPod Nano 4G/5G (with pre-installed software)
- iPod Classic 120G (with pre-installed software)

You can buy one for $3.12 at BudgetGadgets. They have free shipping worldwide. Use the coupon name VM5OFF5 during checkout, it will give you additional 5% discount.

More photos:

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