Apple makes iPhone more affordable in India with discount and EMI schemes

Despite being premium priced, the iPhone is a hot product in India. It has been facing some stiff competition from other flagship smartphone makers like HTC and Samsung. In order to make the iPhone more accessible to consumers, Apple has come up with a bunch of schemes that is making the iPhone an attractive purchase.

Student who trade in their old smartphone for an iPhone will receive a discount of Rs. 7,777. If you are not a student, fear not. You will still receive a discount of Rs. 7,000 for trading in your old smartphone.

If you purchase the iPhone via your American express card, you will receive 10% cash back. If you are an American Express card user, you will get cash back of Rs. 6,000 on the purchase of an iPhone 4, 4S or 5 before June 10. This information is advertised in local newspapers all over the country. You can also avail the American Express installment offer at Redington and Ingram Micro distributor outlets. So, if you purchase an iPhone 5 (16GB), you will receive Rs. 4,550 on six monthly installments of Rs. 2,374. You will have to pay Rs. 9,990 rupees as a down payment.

BlackBerry a company struggling to keep its head above water too has introduced EMI schemes to boost the sales of its entry level BlackBerry Curve 9220 and the recently launched flagship BlackBerry Z10.

You can pick up a BlackBerry Curve 9220 at an EMI of Rs. 799 per month for 12 months and the Z10 can be yours for an EMI of Rs. 4799 for a period of 9 months. You can figure out which store near you has the BlackBerry smartphones on offer by sending an SMS - BBEMI <city or pin-code> to 575758.

Samsung too has a series of offers for its smartphone product lineup. You can catch the details of Samsung’s offers here.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Apple-makes-iPhone-more-affordable-in-India_14736.html

Apple seeks patent for wraparound iPhone display

Apple is aiming for a new display patent. The new type of display is expected to wraparound the edges of the smartphone giving it a higher viewable area overall. The patent on the display also aims to remove the physical home button from the iPhone.

The new display technology will not be limited to flat surfaces, which is a limitation with current LCD displays. At CES 2013, we saw a glimpse of what curved displays can do. Samsung showed off its curved displays at the event, showcasing some impressive features such as the ability to show notifications at all times, and more.

The Associated Press reports, “Apple Inc.’s patent filing shows a phone similar to a flattened tube of glass, inside of which a display envelops the chips and circuit board. This allows “functionality to extend to more than one surface of the device,” the filing said. The design also means there’s no frame or bezel surrounding the display, meaning it can take up more of the device’s surface area.”

With the wraparound display, the smartphone’s display will not have a bezel, which means that the front of the device will entirely made up of the display. The Nexus smartphones and tablets from Google have already eliminated the need of a physical button on the face of the smartphone. On the Nexus 4 with Android 4.2.2, you can swipe at the edge of the display to access lock screen widgets. Swiping at the edge of the display when the smartphone is locked does this. This is a simple example of gestures used by interacting with the edge of a smartphones display. With wraparound or curved display, the possibility of displaying information and interactions are numerous.

Apple filed for the patent in September 2011 and has just gone public. Is it possible that the wraparound display will make an appearance on the anticipated iPhone 5S?

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Apple-seeks-patent-for-wraparound-iPhone-display_14054.html

Apple's iOS 6.1.3 update nullifies jailbreaks, still can't fix security flaw

Apple’s latest update for iOS devices marked v6.1.3 was recently issued to fix a security flaw that let hackers unlock an iPhone without entering the security code by pressing a series of keys and buttons in a particular order. However, now reports are filtering in that the update hasn’t been able to plug the vulnerability completely and the number key lock on an iPhone can still be bypassed through a new process. If that wasn’t bad enough (at least for iPhone users), the iOS 6.1.3 update has also made the popular evasi0n jailbreak method obsolete at least for Apple devices launched after (and including) the iPad 2.

The new method to bypass the key lock on the iPhone was first demonstrated by a YouTube user and later confirmed by a bunch of tech bloggers. Apple has yet to acknowledge this new development and considering the fact that it took a month to release an update for the initial flaw, we don’t even want to guess how long it will take now.

According to a post on Redmond Pie, while devices launched after the iPad 2 cannot be jailbroken for the time being after being updated to the new version, the update can be rolled back on devices launched before the iPad 2. However, the post points out that the jailbreak for iOS 6.1.3 is of the tethered variety and will require you to connect your device, if you want to reboot it.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Apples-iOS-613-update-nullifies-jailbreaks-still_13977.html

Apple TV now officially available in India for Rs. 7,900

Apple has officially launched the Apple TV in India for Rs. 7,900, almost a year after it was originally launched in the U.S. Apple has updated its India website accordingly and you can find the Apple TV listed under the iPod section of the site.

The Apple TV, for the uninitiated, is a media streamer that lets you stream and share content from your Apple devices and from iTunes to your HDTV. The device needs to be connected to your HDTV through HDMI, while it can pull content from other Apple devices over a wireless or a wired network. Apart from content you already own, you can also use the Apple TV to purchase content from the Indian iTunes store and view it on your TV.

Apple TV also provides access to a limited section of streaming content outside of the iTunes store but since most of the content is around Baseball and international finance, it's not really something that will become really popular. Apart from music and videos, you can also use the Apple TV to view photos from your iPhone or iPad or those hosted on iCloud, mirror content (like games) from your iPhone/iPod or iPad to your TV using AirPlay and watch videos from sites like YouTube and Vimeo.

While talking to ThinkDigit, an Apple India representative stated that the company was looking at partnering with Indian content providers to stream content using Apple TV, similar to the way American users can access video streaming services like Netflix and Hulu Plus on their TVs through the device. However, there were no specific details available right now.

There are already a bunch of HD media players available in the Indian market such as the WD Live HD, Asus O! Play Mini and the Amkette Flash TV HD. These media players let you stream content from external hard drives to your TV. However, the media player segment is yet to breakthrough in terms of mass adoption. It will be interesting to see whether Apple, with its new found interest in India, will be able to drive up sales of the Apple TV.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/TVs/Apple-TV-now-officially-available-in-India_13534.html

iOS 6.1 Beta 5 code suggests a 128GB iOS device may be on its way

We have been hearing about this on and off for quite some while now, and even before the launch of the third generation iPad, that the 128GB capacity iPad and iPhones will be available soon, for the lack of any substantive proof.

However, things seem to be clearing out with the release of the iOS 6.1 Beta 5 that was sent out to developers. There seems to be a clear reference to a 128GB capacity device in the manifest. The screen-grab of the manifest suggests SystemPartitioningPadding key will also support 128GB storage, along with the existing examples of 8GB, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB.

Incidentally, hints of a 128GB device had also been dropped with iTunes 11, but no device has walked out of the door at Cupertino just yet, at least not that we know of.

It would make sense to have a 128GB iPad, both in the Wi-Fi only and the Wi-Fi + 3G versions. The 64GB Wi-Fi version of the iPad currently retails for around Rs 43900, while the Wi-Fi + 3G version costs Rs 51900. Do keep in mind that at Rs 51900, the 64GB iPad is Rs 6000 more than the 32GB version. It would be easier for Apple to absorb and justify the higher price with a hardware package that is bigger than the iPhone.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Tablets/iOS-61-Beta-5-code-suggests-a_13216.html

Nokia readying a 10.1 inch iPad competitor?

If rumours are to be believed (which they should only be with a pinch of salt), it would seem that Nokia is preparing a 10.1 inch tablet for a February 2013 reveal. It would seem that Nokia has been in talks with Qualcomm for their Snapdragon S4 processor to power the tablet.

The rumour around the supply-chain sector is that Nokia was preparing for a Q1-20122 launch for their 10.1 inch tablet, but were dissuaded by Microsoft’s push into the segment with the Surface. The testing of the tablets was assigned to ODM Compal, but then was called off in light of Microsoft focusing on its own slate coupled up with the uncertainty that surrounded the fate of Windows 8.

It would seem that Nokia is now convinced just enough to start work on their own iPad competitor again, as insiders suggest that talks between Nokia, Microsoft, Qualcomm and ODM Compal have resumed with the aim of having a working prototype ready for a reveal at Mobile World Congress in February 2013.

Up until now (and possibly till the tablet is official), Nokia maintains that it will continue to carefully monitor the tablet segment, and that a tablet from Nokia will only enter the market if it’s “uniquely Nokia.” Given Microsoft’s strict guidelines about not making any alterations to the Windows 8 OS, Nokia would probably only be left with the option of playing around with the hardware, and we have seen that Nokia has done a great job on that front with the Lumia phones. Nokia could also get an advantage over the Surface if it packs in 3G/4G radios along with offering higher storage options than Microsoft’s own.

Whether the rumours of a Nokia tablet coming out next year are real or not, one cannot deny that the lack of a tablet in the Nokia portfolio has left a gap in the company’s offering.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Tablets/Nokia-readying-a-101-inch-iPad-competitor_11833.html

Apple and Google making joint bid for Kodak patents, report says

Apple and Google might be opponents competing for smartphone and tablet customers, but according to a Bloomberg report they have joined forces to acquire Eastman Kodak's 1,000 imaging patents for more than $500 million. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the possible alliance in August. Previously, the Journal reported that Apple and Google were each leading separate consortiums to purchase the patents in the range of $150 million to $250 million.

Eastman Kodak, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January, needs to sell the patents to help pay down a $950 million loan from Citigroup. The company said that it expects to exit bankruptcy in 2013. Court documents earlier this year revealed that the company valued its patent portfolio in the range of $2.6 billion.

Read: Foss Patents: Rumors of Apple-Google alliance to buy Kodak patents show smartphone giants' auction fatigue

Apple and Google were on opposite sides in another contest for high-stakes technology patents. In July 2011, a consortium of technology companies comprising Apple, EMC, Ericsson, Microsoft, Research In Motion, and Sony bought some 6,000 patents and patent applications from Nortel Networks for $4.5 billion. Rivals Google and Intel reportedly began the bidding for the intellectual property, which included patents and patent applications for wireless, wireless 4G, data networking, optical, voice, Internet, and semiconductor technologies, at $900 million.

The digital imaging patents, which are relevant to cameras, smartphones, and other devices, could help both Apple and Google, who are engaged in numerous patent disputes. Apple has been embroiled in patent disputes with Samsung and other Google Android-based vendors. The joint effort to procure the patents could auger a less litigious atmosphere in the future.

CNET's Don Reisinger and Steven Musil contributed to this report.


Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57558033-92/apple-and-google-making-joint-bid-for-kodak-patents-report-says/

Apple updates iWork for iOS and OSX

If you are one who uses iWork instead of Microsoft office to work on documents, presentations and more, then you may want to pay close attention - Apple's iWork has been updated to version 9.3, this allowing iWork for Mac to support iWork for iOS 1.7 apps.

If you have installed Apple iWork on your Mac via a disc, then you will be able to update the app in the traditional way of software updates – clicking on Software Updates under the Apple logo in the top left corner of the screen. Just in case you have downloaded it from the Mac App Store, then you can get the update from the App Store.

With the Pages 1.7 update, users get a bunch of new features. This includes improved compatibility with Microsoft Word and Pages for Mac. Use Change Tracking to track changes to body text in a document. Accept and reject individual changes as you review a document. Import Pages and Microsoft Word documents with change tracking and continue to track changes to body text. Preserve tracked changes in documents exported in Microsoft Word or Pages format. Preserve calculations in tables when importing from and exporting to Pages for Mac. Add reflections to shapes. Lock and unlock objects.

With Numbers 1.7, users get the following update. Improved compatibility with Microsoft Excel and Numbers for Mac. Hide and unhide rows and columns. Import and export Numbers for Mac spreadsheets with filters, and turn filters on and off. Preserve rich text in tables when importing and exporting. Add reflections to shapes. Lock and unlock objects.

With Keynote 1.7, users will get the following updates. Improved compatibility with Microsoft PowerPoint and Keynote for Mac. Import and export all Microsoft PowerPoint and Keynote for Mac slide sizes. Import and export presentation themes, complete with master slides and preset styles. Play back all Keynote action builds including Move, Rotate, Scale, and Opacity. Add new slide transitions including Shimmer and Sparkle. Preserve calculations in tables when importing from and exporting to Keynote for Mac. Add reflections to shapes. New print layouts include options to print with presenter notes, with builds, and without backgrounds. Lock and unlock objects.

Users who are interested can download Pages, Keynote and Numbers from the Mac App store for Rs. 1,100 each and for Rs. 550 each for your iOS device.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Apps/Apple-updates-iWork-for-iOS-and-OSX_11627.html

Happy 40th Birthday Pong! Still an awesome game to play

One of the first video games ever made, Pong turns 40 today. On November 29th 1972, a little company known as Atari released one of the first successful video games of all time – Pong. The game can be considered as the start of the video game industry.

For those of you that don't know, Pong was an arcade game later ported to the home consoles. It was a simple concept of tennis where two sticks were present at the opposite ends of a screen and a ball bounced between them.

Here are some fun facts about how Pong came into being. In 1958, a physicist named William Higginbotham (yes, that was his name) created a game called tennis for two. This was during the era when computers were the size of entire rooms so of course not many people knew of its existence. Fast forward to 1966, Ralph Baer (a German-born American video game pioneer, inventor, engineer, known as "The Father of Video Games", who is noted for his many contributions to games and the video game industry) chased a crazy dream of a TV you can play. In 1968, Baer invents and patents a Ping Pong style game and the rest as they say is history.

There have been many versions of the games from arcades in bars to home consoles and even versions of the game made for your smartphone.

Fun Fact: The late Steve Jobs worked for Atari before he founded Apple.

Those of you that are interested in knowing the origin and the story of the legendary game Pong can take a look at this video below.

Six months ago, Atari celebrated its 40th birthday. Although the company isn’t the name it was in the video game industry, we still have memories of a time when Atari made some of the best games in the business. You can read our 40 years of Atari - the rise and fall of the company that gave us Pong here.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Gaming/Happy-40th-Birthday-Pong-Still-an-awesome_11548.html

Apple posts 'apology' to Samsung on U.K. website

As required by a U.K. court, Apple has posted a notice on its website that says Samsung did not copy Cupertino with its Galaxy lineup of tablets and smartphones. Well, sort of.

In the notice, accessible via the "Samsung/Apple UK judgement" link on apple.co.uk, Apple acknowledges that the High Court of Justice of England and Wales found that that Galaxy Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9 and Tab 7.7 do not infringe on Apple's design patent for the iPad.

But those hoping for a mea culpa from Cupertino shouldn't hold their breath. Apple goes on to toot its own horn and highlight the parts of the judge's ruling that criticize Samsung's tablets - particularly that bit about how the Galaxy Tab lineup is "not as cool" as the iPad.

"The extreme simplicity of the Apple design is striking," the judge wrote. The Galaxy Tabs, though, "do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design."

Apple concludes by pointing out that judges in Germany and the U.S. have ruled in Apple's favor on patent infringement cases involving Samsung.

Apple did not pen this note out the goodness of its heart, of course. In July, Judge Colin Birss of the High Court ordered Apple to post a note on its website and publish an ad in magazines and newspapers to say that Samsung did not rip off Apple when it designed its tablets. Not surprisingly, Apple was not pleased and appealed the decision, so its public apology was delayed. But the U.K.'s Court of Appeals last week upheld the lower court's decision. Apple has apparently decided not to take the issue to the U.K. Supreme Court, and posted the notice.

The full notice is below. Also check out PCMag's roundup of Apple's Most Notable Apologies.

Samsung / Apple UK judgment

On 9th July 2012 the High Court of Justice of England and Wales ruled that Samsung Electronic (UK) Limited's Galaxy Tablet Computer, namely the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9 and Tab 7.7 do not infringe Apple's registered design No. 0000181607-0001. A copy of the full judgment of the High court is available on the following link www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Patents/2012/1882.html.

In the ruling, the judge made several important points comparing the designs of the Apple and Samsung products:

"The extreme simplicity of the Apple design is striking. Overall it has undecorated flat surfaces with a plate of glass on the front all the way out to a very thin rim and a blank back. There is a crisp edge around the rim and a combination of curves, both at the corners and the sides. The design looks like an object the informed user would want to pick up and hold. It is an understated, smooth and simple product. It is a cool design."

"The informed user's overall impression of each of the Samsung Galaxy Tablets is the following. From the front they belong to the family which includes the Apple design; but the Samsung products are very thin, almost insubstantial members of that family with unusual details on the back. They do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design. They are not as cool."

That Judgment has effect throughout the European Union and was upheld by the Court of Appeal on 18 October 2012. A copy of the Court of Appeal's judgment is available on the following link www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2012/1339.html. There is no injunction in respect of the registered design in force anywhere in Europe.

However, in a case tried in Germany regarding the same patent, the court found that Samsung engaged in unfair competition by copying the iPad design. A U.S. jury also found Samsung guilty of infringing on Apple's design and utility patents, awarding over one billion U.S. dollars in damages to Apple Inc. So while the U.K. court did not find Samsung guilty of infringement, other courts have recognized that in the course of creating its Galaxy tablet, Samsung willfully copied Apple's far more popular iPad.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Tablets/Apple-posts-apology-to-Samsung-on-UK_11168.html

Apple sued over deal locking iPhone to AT&T network

A pair of iPhone owners are suing Apple to get their handsets unlocked.

Zach Ward and Thomas Buchar filed a putative class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Northern California on Friday alleging that the tech giant violated antitrust laws by locking iPhone buyers into voice and data contracts with AT&T Mobility. The plaintiffs claim that Apple violated the Sherman Act's prohibition on monopolization by not obtaining consumers' contractual consent to have their iPhones locked when the tech giant entered into a five-year exclusivity agreement with the wireless carrier in 2007.

To enforce the terms of its agreement, Apple installed software locks on the iPhone that prevented buyers from taking their devices to a competing wireless carrier, the lawsuit claims. That activity violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which includes an exception that allows handset owners to modify their phones for use on the wireless network of their choice, the plaintiffs said.

"Through these actions, Apple has unlawfully stifled competition, reduced output and consumer choice, and artificially increased prices in the aftermarkets for iPhone voice and data services," plaintiffs said in their lawsuit (see below).

In addition to monetary damages, the lawsuit seeks an order restraining Apple from programming iPhones in such a way that would prevent consumers from unlocking their SIM cards. The plaintiffs also want Apple to provide SIM unlock codes to iPhone owners on request, as well as an order preventing Apple from selling iPhones without adequately disclosing that the handsets are locked and obtaining consumers' contractual consent for that arrangement. 

Consumer frustration over handset software locks installed by wireless operators is nothing new, but previous lawsuits against wireless carriers over the issue have failed thanks to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2011 that found consumers no longer have the right to file class action lawsuits against wireless carriers. In AT&T vs. Concepcion (PDF), the court ruled that a clause in the carrier's customer contract limiting consumers to arbitration instead of class action met the basic standards of fairness.

However, this lawsuit takes a different tack, pursuing the handset maker rather than the wireless carrier. Whether Apple has a similar clause in its customer contract wasn't immediately clear.

CNET has contacted Apple for comment and will update this report when we learn more.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57536889-37/apple-sued-over-deal-locking-iphone-to-at-t-network/

Just kidding! Rumor now tips Oct. 23 iPad Mini launch

Oct. 10 came and went without an iPad mini invitation, but the latest rumor suggests that Apple will actually unveil the much-hyped device on Oct. 23.

Citing "people familiar with Apple's plans," All Things D this morning said Apple will hold a press event on Tuesday, Oct. 23 to unveil the iPad mini. The blog has not yet confirmed a location, but speculated that the event will be held at Apple's Cupertino campus since the company already held a big press event in San Francisco for the iPhone 5 unveiling.

Apple has not yet made any announcements.

Earlier this month, a report from Fortune said Apple would send out iPad mini invitations on Oct. 10, hold its event on Oct. 17, and start selling the new device by Nov. 2. But by the time Wednesday afternoon rolled around, invites were nowhere in site, and Fortune issued a mea culpa.

"My source was a major Apple investor who had heard it from three different sources. They were wrong about the timing," reporter Philip Elmer-Dewitt wrote. "I was wrong to pass the tip along. I don't know what I was doing in the rumor business in the first place. Mea culpa."

When it comes to Apple event rumors, All Things D has been a pretty reliable source. In August, the blog correctly reported that Apple would not unveil the iPad mini at the September iPhone 5 event. iMore.com later predicted that the iPhone 5 would be unveiled on Sept. 12. Last year, meanwhile, ATD tipped the Oct. 4 iPhone 4S launch date and the change of venue from San Francisco to Apple's campus.

Oct. 23, meanwhile, puts the iPad mini launch just three days ahead of the Windows 8 release. On that date, the Microsoft Surface tablet as well as a number of other Windows 8-based tablets are expected to hit store shelves. Can they compete against a smaller and more affordable iPad? Stay tuned.

If you can't wait, check out PCMag's roundup of the top iPad mini alternatives below, as well as some supposedly leaked images of the iPad mini.

UPDATE: Jim Dalrymple and John Gruber, both considered to be in-the-know about all things Apple, have chimed in to seemingly confirm the Oct. 23 date. Dalrymple quoted the All Things D story and issued a simple "Yep" in response, while Gruber titled his blog post "Oct. 23" and wrote: "Looks like that's when Apple is going to unveil the smaller iPad."


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Tablets/Just-kidding-Rumor-now-tips-Oct-23_11048.html

Apple to launch iPhone 5 in India on October 26?

Apple's iPhone 5 is already available for sale in several markets, and is expected to hit the Indian shores soon. Though Apple hasn't announced a launch date yet, rumours on the web suggest the iPhone 5 will launch in India on October 26.

BGR India, citing multiple sources, claims, “Apple is preparing to launch the iPhone 5 in India on the last Friday of this month, which happens to be October 26”. The site also reports Apple will be distributing its iPhone 5 on its own (via Apple Stores), instead of teaming up with the Indian carriers.

Rumours further suggest the iPhone 5 bear pricing similar or higher to the iPhone 4S (Rs. 44,500 for the 16GB model) pricing, when it launched it in India last year. It's notable the company has already slashed rates of its iPhone 4S and iPhone 4, setting stage for the launch of the iPhone 5.

Since there's no official confirmation the reports, we're taking this information with grain of salt right now. Apple Insider in its report, however, points out that the iPhone 5 “marks the quickest ever launch for an Apple product, becoming available in a total of 31 countries just two weeks after its release”. Apple aims to launch the iPhone in more than 100 countries with 240 carriers by December, adds the report.

Demand for the iPhone 5 in India is quite high with the device selling briskly in the grey market and via online shopping websites such as Ebay. However, the device is being sold at a hefty premium, with prices as high as Rs. 1,00,000 for the 64GB model.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Apple-to-launch-iPhone-5-in-India_11021.html

Camera+ now available on iPad

Tap Tap Tap has finally released the iPad version of Camera+. The Camera+ app became very popular amongst iOS users, when it first came out roughly two years ago, since then it has sold over 9 million copies.

The new Camera+ for iPad app has been long awaited and now with the release of iOS 6 and the new iPad (some time ago), this was the most appropriate moment for the app to hit the iTunes store. The app is as fully featured as its phone counterpart, offering the ability to independently set the exposure values and focusing point, something that the stock camera app in iOS has always lacked. The ability to separate focus and exposure from each other has allowed for the reduction of the number of bum shots taken by the iOS device, especially in conditions where the subject is backlit.

The iPad app utilizes the retina display of the new iPad along with its full real estate. While taking photos with the iPad app is just the same as shooting with the iPhone (save for looking silly), but the real joys of using Camera+ lies in the lightbox and editing section sections.

The lightbox allows the photos to be displayed along with their EXIF data, which is pretty nifty. The editing station has a plethora of effects that can be applied to the image, but the new feature of the app is the ability to layer effects. Earlier, each effect had to be applied one at a time, making the process cumbersome, and often turning people away to other editing apps.

Camera+ is currently on discount in the iTunes store and can be bought for just $0.99.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Apps/Camera-now-available-on-iPad_10909.html

What a smartphone will look like in 5 years

Remember that wild and woolly time before iPhones? I do. In early 2007, I used to keep a Thomas Guide in my car. I think it was also the last time I played Scrabble by picking actual tiles from a bag. As the Apple faithful contemplate the better life that awaits with a 4-inch screen and 4G LTE, it got us thinking -- not about the changes in the past 5 years but about how we'll use smartphones in another 5.

We enlisted the help of Mike Liebhold, senior researcher at the Institute for the Future, to help paint the picture. He described a hyperconnected device that can be charged wirelessly and will come in an assortment of form factors: a wearable version that straps to your forearm and includes a keyboard, and a lower-priced credit card–size phone for developing countries.

Much of the information we learn at our annual physical could be fed to us daily with smartphone apps: our pulse rate and blood pressure levels. Liebhold even suggested that our phones will detect our emotions, when we're happy or too nervous. With any luck, it'll be more accurate than a mood ring.

And just like my well-worn, heavily dog-eared Thomas Guide, my trusty leather wallet is likely to be replaced by a smartphone. The new iPhone 5 may not have near field communication (NFC), but by 2017 it should be standard issue. Just swipe your phone past a sensor to pay for those to-die-for boots that caught your eye. Liebhold says there is one obstacle: current cash registers have no way of talking to an NFC device. But he shared a rumor that could solve that pesky problem: when Apple does put NFC in its phones, it may also give retailers iPads to serve as point of sale terminals.


Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57512492-76/what-a-smartphone-will-look-like-in-5-years/

Used iPhones flood the market anticipating the iPhone 5

With hours ticking down before Apple is said to unveil the new iPhone 5, old iPhones are flooding the market. eBay and Craigslist are full of them, and companies that specialize in buying back used mobile devices are reportedly busier than ever.

According to USA Today, NextWorth, which buys back used phones and gives quotes on their worth, had a record number of iPhone quote requests the past three weeks. From August 17 to September 6, requests for quotes increased by 610 percent over the same period before the launch of the iPhone 4S.

This may be because many iPhone owners didn't upgrade from the 4 to the 4S since the device didn't appear to be much different. However, with rumors of the iPhone 5 having a completely different body shape, dock connector, and displays, people may be ready for a change.

Currently on eBay, there are more than 6,000 used iPhone 4 for sale, while there are around 4,000 used iPhone 4S. According to USA Today, half of NextWorth's quotes are for the 4 model, while just 20 percent are for the 4S.

CNET's Marguerite Reardon offered readers advice on when they should sell their used iPhone if they plan to shell out for the upgrade. Her recommendation was based on advice from NextWorth, which said that as the rumor mill churns prior to the launch of a new iPhone trade-in prices start declining and that it's best to sell used iPhones as soon as possible.

Although the new iPhone is sure to wow many users, there are still people that believe the older versions will continue to suffice since progress on smartphones has slowed. So, not to worry -- unlike a few years ago, last year's model won't look like an outdated relic.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57510074-37/used-iphones-flood-the-market-anticipating-the-iphone-5/

To fight Apple-flight, Microsoft must hang tough on Surface

I just pray that Microsoft doesn't cave to pressure from partners to punt on Surface.

The first public plea came this week from Acer, which, in effect, begged Microsoft to drop Surface.

If that happens, Microsoft will lose the consumer to Apple for good. Probably sooner rather than later.

And if Acer is that worried about Surface, then it should out-design Microsoft or look elsewhere. Right now I don't see anything from Acer that would make me chuck my MacBook and iPad.

But Surface could. And it gets even more interesting when I see that Redmond is already working on Surface 2.

(Of course, if Microsoft isn't able to follow through with a stable, reliable finished product that lives up to the hype, all bets are off. In other words, it needs to be as good as Apple at executing.)

But whatever happens, Hewlett-Packard or Dell or Acer would never have conceived of a Windows 8 Pro Surface. It's not in their design DNA and Microsoft knows this better than anyone.

So, MS came up with a 10.6-inch, 903-gram device packing a 1,920x1,080 display (that's some pretty serious pixel density), Mini DislayPort (means I can hook it up to my Apple Cinema display), Core i5 processor (let's hope it's a very power-frugal variety), and a 128GB solid-state drive.

And of course that 5mm-thick physical keyboard. 

 

To counter Surface, PC makers will engage in a lot of Windows 8 puffery about their ultracool convertible or touch-screen ultrabook. I don't know about you, but I need more than that to give Windows 8 equal time on my desktop.

OK, so Mac users aren't going anywhere and Windows 8 means diddly-squat (or worse) to them. But that's not Microsoft's objective. It simply needs to staunch the flow of defections to OS X and iOS.

Thus the June 15 Windows-8-plus-Surface pre-announcement. A soup-to-nuts hardware and software platform that is unmistakably Apple-like. And proposes to trump Apple and make Tim Cook eat his refrigerator-toaster analogy in the process.

The only remotely valid reason for Microsoft to abandon Surface is if it suddenly spurred HP, Asus, Acer, et al to design consumer devices that are cooler than Surface and go head-to-head with Apple.

Anyone out there think that's possible?

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57491412-92/to-fight-apple-flight-microsoft-must-hang-tough-on-surface/

Apple Files Another Wearable Computing Patent

At first glance, the illustration that accompanies Apple’s latest patent looks like the company wants to own the rights to bowls people wear on their heads.

But this patent, which was discovered by the blog Patently Apple, is actually for a wearable computer.

The patent is specifically for a “display resolution increase with mechanical actuation.” In other words, the patent describes a technology that can be used for increasing the pixel density of a display placed over someone’s eye.

Apple has filed a number of patents that demonstrate wearable computers.

There are also a number of patents that show displays embedded in glasses. Earlier this month Apple was awarded a patent for a “peripheral treatment for head-mounted displays” that can be used to project an image into someone’s eye.

As Patently Apple found, the latest filing also notes that the technology can be used for “other types of display devices such as television sets, computer monitors, projection systems, and so forth.” Though it is unclear when Apple could release real products based on all of these technologies.

The patent was published on Thursday by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Source: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/27/apple-files-another-wearable-computing-patent/

Apple Changes Connectors. World Freaks Out

When Steve Jobs launched the iTunes Store more than nine years ago, he also unveiled the third-generation iPod, the first device with a plug design that has become nearly as significant to independent manufacturers as iTunes has to the music industry. The bottom-mounted connector capable of transferring songs and charging the music player is now a standard Apple (AAPL) component. Makers of mobile accessories use the plug’s specifications when designing chargers, cases, speakers, and stands for iPods, iPhones, and iPads.

That $1.3 billion-a-year market will soon be upended by the connector’s first overhaul since April 2003, according to several people familiar with the design of the new iPhone expected this fall. These people, who were not authorized to discuss the change, say the new plug will have only 19 connector pins, down from 30 in the port used by more than 600 million iPods, iPhones, and iPads, as well as millions of third-party accessories. An Apple representative declined to comment.


The long-rumored change is a huge opportunity for some mobile-accessory makers, says industry analyst Ross Rubin. “Customers will want to purchase new accessories that take advantage of the new dock,” he says, because he expects the new connector to enable faster data transfer. But manufacturers who took the design for granted aren’t thrilled. “I was talking with somebody in the car industry, and I mentioned the dock connector may change, and they got this panicked deer-in-headlights look,” says Kyle Wiens, the co-founder and chief executive officer of iFixit, which publishes consumer electronics repair manuals. “There’s an entire ecosystem built around a single connector that’s going to be obsolete.”


Apple executives are well aware of that. The company sells its own peripherals and enjoys a lucrative relationship with third-party accessory makers, who pay about $4 for each accessory in exchange for official endorsements on their products, according to a person familiar with the company’s licensing plan. Apple has long kept a close eye on the accessory market and in 2010 slapped patent-infringement lawsuits on companies that sold unlicensed iPod cables, chargers, and speakers.


Regardless of the disruption it will cause, the redesign is overdue. In recent years, Apple’s connector has been surpassed by sturdier, smaller, faster data-transfer jacks used in smartphones made by Samsung Electronics, Motorola Mobility (GOOG), and other competitors, Rubin says.


Wireless software is making plugs less critical, as new accessories can play music from an iPod, tablet, or smartphone without a physical link. And there’s some precedent for easy fixes to Apple design tweaks. In June, when the company announced that its new MacBook Pro would not be compatible with older power connectors, it also unveiled an adapter that costs about $10. Many third parties expect a similar move when the new iPhone launches, says Dominic Symons, the founder of accessory maker Bluelounge Design.


Even so, some companies have stopped making Apple accessories pending a formal announcement. “It’s a challenge,” Symons says, “because we have to wait and see what’s going to happen.”


The bottom line: A design upgrade for Apple’s connector, unchanged for nearly a decade, could mean new peripherals for much of its huge existing user base.

Satariano is a reporter for Bloomberg News in San Francisco.


Source: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-07-26/apple-changes-connectors-dot-world-freaks-out

Apple: New iPhone Good

CUPERTINO, CA—During a highly anticipated media event held today at the Apple corporation’s world headquarters, CEO Tim Cook announced the new iPhone 4S is good and people should buy it. “It’s a good phone,” said Cook, walking out onto a stage and gesturing at a picture of the device projected on a large screen behind him. "It's got e-mail, the Internet, and you can get apps on it. Everybody should get one. It's good." After standing in place for another four seconds without speaking, Cook walked off stage, at which point the houselights came up and all in attendance were asked to please file out of the auditorium.

Source: http://www.theonion.com/articles/apple-new-iphone-good,26257/