News tagged ‘iPad’

With the rumors of a 2048x1536 high resolution screen for the iPad 2, one question that has emerged is what graphics processing unit (GPU) can adequately power the device. AppleInsider claims that the new iPad and iPhone 5 will use a dual-core SGX543 GPU from Imagination Technologies. The company will not only be upgrading its video core, but also going to multiple cores. The most likely configuration of Apple's next custom chip is reportedly the SGX543MP2, which pairs two SGX543 cores to work as one, offering around four times the capability of the previous A4 in graphics and video tasks. We had previously revealed that the latest iOS 4.3 beta SDK had drivers for the new SGX543 GPU, so it should be no surprise that it is the most likely contender to be the next GPU for the iPad.

Google the new version of application called Google Places. It lets iPhones and iPads users to look for new places and review visited ones.

Google Places allows to look for locations and places nearby and mark visited places by posting individual ratings and reviews. There are default lists of places located nearby, but there is an option to customize this list by adding favorite places found with the help of Google Places. Google Places also provides “Hotspot” rating and review system in order to give an opportunity to rate favorite shop, restaurant or a night club via an iPhone.

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Research firm Asymco has published a new report that details the average number of apps that have been downloaded on every iOS device, including iPhone, iPod touch and iPad — but not the Apple TV. Asymco noticed that app downloads have been growing at a faster rate than song downloads from the iTunes Store in the past three years. By dividing the cumulative apps downloaded by the cumulative devices sold, Asymco noted each iOS device has downloaded 60 apps on average. In 2008, the apps were 10. At the end of his report, Asymco also concludes app consumption is increasing at a rate that will soon overtake PC software.

One parts supplier began selling the screen part for Apple's next-generation iPad from Globaldirectparts.com. The part listed is the "iPad 2 LCD Screen" which is "out of stock" but is listed for a price of $218.19. Since the website currently offers replacement screens for the original iPad for $63.35, the higher price of the so-called "iPad 2 screen" could possibly corroborate reports of a 2048x1536 resolution display on the second-generation tablet. Globaldirectparts.com is also selling an "OEM Apple iPad Vibrating Motor" for $9.99. No photo is provided, but it's a curious part since the iPad currently has no vibrating motor. It's possible this is simply a mislabeled iPhone part, but does raise the possibility of the feature making its way into the next iPad. The part may be evidence that Apple is working on vibrating alert functionality for the second-generation iPad.

Three new iPad offerings appeared on Best Buy's site. All three models described as "APPLE COMPUTER INC. - APPLE IPAD SKU WIFI" and availability listed as "coming soon". Two of the models carry price tags of $599.99, while the third comes in at $699.99. No other information beyond the scant details included on the product pages is available, and thus it is unclear if these listings are intended to reflect second-generation iPad models, some sort of internal SKU shift on existing models, or perhaps simply an error on Best Buy's part.

There's been a lot of talk about a "Retina" display for the next generation iPad. Based on Apple's marketing efforts for the original "Retina" display, it would suggest a DPI (dots per inch) greater than 300 to exceed the abilities of the human eye. Images accidentally left in iBooks 1.1 and 1.2 reveal that the iPad 2's resolution is likely double that of the current model. As shown above, the App's bookmark icon included versions for the iPad, the iPhone and the iPhone Retina Display (iPhonex2). It, however, also included one additional version labeled "iPadx2". Sure enough, this is exactly double the resolution version of the iPad icon and is distinct from the other versions. The most likely explanation for this added graphic is plans for a double-resolution iPad. Apple has since removed this extra artwork in subsequent versions of iBooks. The current iPad uses a 1024x768 resolution. Doubling this resolution would result in a 2048x1536 resolution at a 260 DPI.

All those Apple products’ users who can’t imagine their lives without usage of such devices as iPad and iPhone and enjoy reading get a unique opportunity to gain an access to the rarest world’s books and masterpieces of literature thanks to the newest application “Treasures” which appeared due to the collaboration of the British Library and Apple developers.

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At the latest CES, InteraXon (a Canadian company) has announced and demonstrated a headset that can connect to iPhones and iPads and allows you to control apps and games with your mind. Technically, this custom EEG headset pairs with a thought-controlling framework that has been added to the popular iPad game Zen Bound 2 game, letting users control the wooden shapes on screen with their brainwaves. Now the real question is: are you willing to put a headset on to control stuff with your brain? Doesn’t it look a little bit, well, weird?

Yesterday Engadget has revealed new information from its reliable sources on the next generation of Apple devices. While we can't be sure whether its true, many of these suggestions support previous rumors. So, here is what Engadget reported:

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This Friday Dutch website called deVolkskrant published a report, where it was revealed that Apple will soon bring in new rules for publishers. According to it they won't be able to offer free access via iPad for their paid print subscribers anymore. The changes will be made because in this way publishers currently avoid to pay Apple a 30% cut for an access through its device.

Another Dutch site nrc.nl also revealed the date when all the new restrictions will take effect - it will be after April 1.

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According to Apple daily, which is a Hong Kong-based newspaper, some components for the next-gen iPhone will come from Taiwanese supplier Kinsus, which is currently working on a new processor called A8.

The latest processor used in the iPad and iPhone 4 is called A4. It's a SoC (socket on a chip) that includes CPU, RAM and GPU. Apple have got an ability to produce this chip due to the acquisition of such chipmakers as PA Semi and Intrinsity.

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Being number-one rumor among users of Apple’s iPad the long-expected release of the first exclusively pro-iPad newspaper The Daily by News Corp. which was supposed to be debuted at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art upcoming Wednesday was delayed again and not for few days but weeks. Such disappointing for many iPad users information was announced today according to the sources which are closely related with the plans of the both companies (Apple and News Corp.).

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The iOS 4.3 beta was released a couple of days ago. But the update isn’t available for second generation iPod touch and iPhone 3G installation. iOS 4.3 beta 1 noted that AirPrint was the dominant component of attention. AirPrint requires an iPad, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, 3G iPod touch, or 4G iPod touch. AirPlay and Game Center require an iPad, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, 2G iPod touch, 3G iPod touch, or 4G iPod touch. General multitasking an iPad, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, 3G iPod touch, and 4G iPod touch. Two of the three dismiss the 2G iPod touch and all dismiss the 3G, however, AirPlay and Game Center are important features. Take it as at least a warning that the second generation iPod touch and iPhone 3G are nearing the full “end of life” designation.

Some users found the iPad 2's Camera app in the iOS 4.3 beta and made some screenshots which you may see above and below. 9to5Mac reports: "These screenshots are 1024 x 768 which indicate the same screen resolution as the current iPad. That might upset those hoping for more a retina-ish display in iPad 2. This may only be because the current simulator only simulates 1024 x 768 so those hoping for more pixels shouldn’t lose hope."

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This week U.S. Patent and Trademark Office made public another patent application from Apple. It is entitled "Touch Sensing Device Having Conductive Nodes" and reveals a new way of creating new capacitive touchscreens that allow to make devices even thinner than before.

It is noted that existing capacitive sensing technology works very well, but it can be further improved, and not only to make devices thinner, but also to achieve better results in power saving and therefore battery life.

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