News tagged ‘Hardware’

Since only one month remains to iPad's launch, such hardware manufacturers as SDI Technologies, Gelaskins Inc., Sanho Corp. and Griffin Technology gear up their production of chargers, sticker covers and other accessories for a new device. And it is not surprising - according to Poper Jaffray & Co, overall sales of iPod and iPhone accessories in 2009 were about $3.7 billion.

But while these companies want to release their products as soon as possible, some other accessory manufacturers are taking a wait-and-see approach. Jonathan von Rentzell, a representative for Blue Microphones commented on this:

"If you're making it for a product, you want to make sure there's a market."

Steve Jobs already showed 2 key accessories for the iPad - a case and a keyboard dock with charging function. Both of them are created by Apple and will be sold separately with iPad.

Patently Apple reports that Apple filed for the 'magic trackpad' trademark. US Patent & Trademark Office published application on February 26, 2010. 'Magic Trackpad' likely refers to an external peripheral device for desktop computers or laptops plugged into external displays. There has been speculation about some sort of multi-touch "trackpad gadget" from Apple. Maybe Apple will provide desktop users a way to take advantage of some external multi-touch system.

The application requests registration in International Class 009 under a number of categories relating to computer hardware and software, as well as several types of peripheral devices:

International Class 009: Computers; computer software; computer operating system software; computer utility software; computer hardware; computer peripherals; scanners; touchscreens; keyboards; computer mice; trackballs; trackpads; touchpads; light pens; joysticks; game controllers; graphics tablets; digitizers; cables and connectors; flash memory drives; USB drives; solid state storage devices; barcode readers.

There are so many iPhone 4G concepts created by different our users. Some show futuristic devices that are hard to create, while others are closer to reality.

Today we have an interesting concept designed by Francesco Maisano. It shows iPhone with more rounded design than the current one. We can also see some implementation of the future Firmware 4.0 - a special SpringBoard with Widgets for weather, calendar and clock. As for hardware there is a front camera, a flash for main camera, an intelligent Home button and much more. Take a look:

Here is our live blog from Apple's event:

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In this test one man writes a long paragraph on several different devices (including pen and paper) to test the speed. The results may surprise you.

The contestants are:

• Apple iPhone 3G’s software QWERTY keyboard (2009)
• Apple Newton MessagePad 2100’s handwriting recognition (1997)
• Palm Treo 650’s hardware QWERTY keyboard (2004)
• Palm VX Graffiti handwriting recognition software (1999)
• MacBook full-size QWERTY keyboard
• pen and paper

The test is not completely fair, since with handheld keyboards the speed greatly depends on how often you use them. The tester has been using an iPhone as his main handheld for 18 months.

The tester used an article with 221 words. Here are the results:

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iSuppli has estimated the cost of Nexus One smartphone's parts. The result is $174.15. This amount includes hardware and component costs, but does not take into consideration expenses like manufacturing, software, box contents, accessories and royalties.

The Nexus One's Snapdragon processor, which allows 720p video playback, is estimated to cost $30.50, making it the most expensive component of the phone. The 3.7-inch AM-OLED display is estimated at $23.70. Here is a full list:

Google today announced the launch of its Nexus One smartphone. It is based on the Android 2.1 operating system and offers 800x480 screen, 5 megapixel camera with flash,  Qualcomm's 1 GHz Snapdragon processor. The Nexus One offers 512 MB of Flash and 512 MB of RAM, and ships with a 4 GB Micro SD card with support for cards up to 32 GB.

Nexus One is initially available from the Google web store in the US without service for $529 or starting at $179 with a two-year contract from T-Mobile USA. In the near future, Verizon Wireless in the US and Vodafone in Europe plan to offer similar service plans.

Here is the full list of hardware and software features:

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iPhone is normally used to make calls, or at most to play. But we alway see different experiments with the iPhone involved in driving a vehicle or integrated into a robot. Today we show you how the iPhone is able to command a small rocket through an application and some special hardware!

Here is video demonstration of eMissileBox, an iPhone application to control missile launches which was developed for an ECE 4180 project at Georgia Tech in Fall 2009:

This Missile Launcher is based on an eBox running customized Windows CE 6, it launches model rockets to 200 feet. Everything is iPhone controlled (orientation, deviation and firing).

via ispazio

We published several news about new firmware 4.0 and even new iPhone 4 hardware. Recently one more iPhone developer has noted a single instance of iPhone OS 4.0 being used in their Pinch Media analytics. While such data can still be faked, it seems less likely to be. Testing of iPhone OS 4.0 may correspond with reports of new iPhone hardware also being tested. Any new iPhone would require a new version of the iPhone operating system to support the new hardware.

We can not yet imagine the features of this new OS or the new device. Apple is widely expected to release a new iPhone in the summer around WWDC 2010.

Apple today launched a new holiday-themed iPhone commercial entitled "12 Days of Christmas". The ad reworks the standard Christmas carol of the same name to feature twelve iPhone applications related in some way to the holiday season:

• 12 cookies cooking: The Betty Crocker Mobile Cookbook [App Store, Free]
• 11 cards a' sending: Postman [App Store, $2.99]
• 10 gifts for giving: My Christmas Gift List [App Store, $0.99]
• 9 songs for singing: TabToolkit [App Store, $9.99]
• 8 bells for ringing: Holiday Bells [App Store, $0.99]
• 7 slopes a' skiing: Snow Reports [App Store, $1.99]
• 6 games for playing: Christmas Fever [App Store, $0.99]
• 5 gold rings: Anna Sheffield Jewelry [App Store, Free]
• 4 hot lattes: myStarbucks [App Store, Free]
• 3 flights home: Flight Search [App Store, Free]
• 2 feet of snow: Weather Pro [App Store, $3.99]
• And an app that can light up the tree: Schlage LiNK [App Store, Free but hardware required]

Let's watch the video:

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Agile Web Solutions is offering 1Password Pro free until December 1st for iPhone and iPod touch users.

1Password will securely store your important information and can automatically log you into websites with a single tap. There's no need to remember the username, password, or even the website address.

1Password Pro is normally $7.99 and can be installed from the AppStore (link).

Feature List:

• (pro) Special easy switching mode allows you to quickly copy-and-paste usernames and passwords to Mobile Safari.
• (pro) Support for copying multiple field values (for example, both username and password) from 1Password to Mobile Safari.
• (pro) Folders for better organization (in this version a desktop application required - sold separately)
• (pro) Features coming soon: Favorites, MobileMe/WebDAV syncing, and more.
• Securely store your website names and passwords so you never forget them again
• Save important information like credit cards and membership numbers
• Jot down other notes too sensitive for stickies or bar napkins
• Synchronize it all with 1Password for Mac via Wi-Fi (sold separately, available at http://1password.com)
• Automatically log into Web sites on iPhone and iPod touch to avoid remembering and typing usernames and passwords
• Hardware-accelerated AES encryption and Auto-Lock keep your data protected even if your iPhone is lost or stolen
• All cryptographic operations are performed using standard iPhone libraries to ensure there are no security gaps or backdoors
• Two-layer defense with Unlock Code and Master Password to combine security and convenience
• Data Backup & Restore option available on Mac, Windows and Linux.

Apple today announced financial results for the fourth fiscal quarter (third calendar quarter) of 2009. Apple posted revenue of $9.87 billion and net quarterly profit of $1.67 billion, or $1.82 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $7.9 billion and net quarterly profit of $1.14 billion, or $1.26 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 36.6 percent, compared to 34.7 percent in the year-ago quarter, and international sales accounted for 46 percent of the quarter's revenue.

The numbers represent the most profitable quarter in Apple's history and include record-breaking Mac and iPhone quarterly sales.

Conference Call Notes

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Apple has updated the BootROM for the iPhone 3GS to iBoot-359.32. This software upgrade is reportedly not vulnerable to an exploit hackers previously used.

MuscleNerd, a member of the iPhone Dev Team, noted this is the first time ever that Apple has done a BootROM update in the middle of a product line, without a new hardware model. The Dev Team is a group of hackers who release tools used to exploit the iPhone OS. With the new iBoot hackers will not be able to use "24kpwn" exploit.

This means that anyone who will buy an iPhone 3GS these days, will not be able to jailbreak and unlock it, probably for a very long time.

The site 9 to 5 Mac found a new virtual keyboard in the new recently released Mac OS - Snow Leopard. The new keyboard is much bigger (finger sized) and is located in an input method (keyboard) system pref. You can resize it as well to stretch all the way across the screen. This might be the first steps towards touchscreen hardware such as Apple's much-rumored tablet computer (also known as iTablet and MacBook Touch).

For comparison, here’s the old soft keyboard in Leopard. This is not a touchscreen keyboard.

Many users are waiting for iPhone navigation software from TomTom. But it looks like TomTom will create a complete  solution with a hardware part. They plan to create TomTom GPS Kit that will have additional GPS (more accurate), docking station, charger and probably a loudspeaker.

The devices that will support this kit are iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G and even iPod Touch and iPhone 2G.