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Mac software and info
Apple’s Magic Trackpad
Aug 16th
As you all know by now, Apple released a new product, aimed to the desktop users who want to bring multitouch capability into the applications they use. The device is in all respect a giant laptop touchpad, priced at $69, it fits perfectly on a desk next to the Apple keyboard, the same design and proportions.
Using the Apple Magic Trackpad, you can now click, swipe, scroll, rotate and any other multitouch gesture familiar from the macbook /pro laptops.
The device is wireless (bluetooth) and uses two AA batteries, the only other requirement is the latest version of OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.4
Here is a capture of the settings panel, as you can see, it is possible to use, one, two, three and four fingers for gestures. More >
iPhone 4 early problems
Jun 24th
The newest version of the known iPhone, iPhone 4 had not even been out for the public, but the early buyers already report problems with the thing, one of them is the classic screen yellowing problem, that hunted the 3G and 3GS models too.
Another more common problems the what appears to be signal loss when holding the device in the hand, touching the left side and the bottom of the phone.
Apple explained that the signal bars dropping problem is not related to the actual signal and it’s more to the way the bars are presented that is problematic, not the actual ability to make or receive a call/transfer data via 3G.
EDIT : It appears that the issue is not only with the iPhone 4, it’s with iOS 4, 3G users experience the same problem with bars dropping when the phone is held in hand.
Here are some videos of the issue : More >
WWDC, iPhone 4 and iOS 4
Jun 14th
As you all realized, i took some time for my own and a pause from writing here, but i’m back (and hopefully i wanna dedicate more time to this blog)
In a short timeline for this month, we had this year’s WWDC on june 7, the new iPhone 4 was presented, it looks the same as the leaked ones a month back. Next we have june 21 when the newly renamed iPhone OS, now called iOS version 4.0 will be released as a free update for the 3G, 3GS and will be shipped as default on the iPhone 4 on june 24. More >
Next iPhone screen resolution 960×640
May 30th
The next iPhone screen has been confirmed to be at running at a resolution of 960×640, according to SuperPhone.cz (via Engadget). The site claims to have obtained a next generation iPhone screen (parts have been floating around) and magnified it under a microscope.
From this procedure, they were able to count the RGB elements of the screen and found it to be exactly twice the density in both horizontal and vertical directions compared to the current iPhone. This would quadruple the total number of pixels and increase the resolution from the current 480×320 to 960×640. This would increase the pixel density to a whopping 320dpi — higher than any other device on the market. More >
iPhone OS 4 software on the next Apple TV
May 29th
As you all know, some time ago apple showed a nice device that you plug into a TV and you have access to the FrontRow interface from OSX, with small improvements and capabilities over the mac version. All went fine and well, but the device never got the public’s attention. It just silently died along the way, surrounded by all this iPhone and iPod, iPad talk around.
The news is out related to Apple’s next version of AppleTV, the device is announced to have the iPhone OS 4.0 software , and the hardware will be close related to that of the next iPhone, including the A4 chip and full 1080p output.
Apple said that they started development long before Google announced they’re Google TV device.
Don’t forget, on June 7 we have the annual WWDC conference, but as much as some want to hear more about this device, Apple announced that this year’s WWDC will be all around the iPhone OS 4.0 and the next iPhone hardware, possibly another iPod touch device will be introduced too.
The next Apple iPhone, photos and hardware
Apr 19th
The new hardware was found in the wind, lost by a Apple employee, here are some of the changes and photos of the hardware. A software testing was not possible because Apple remotely killed the device, and left it deactivated. The news if from Gizmodo, the guys who have the hardware in they’re possession.
Here are some of the changes : a new front facing camera, a better main camera with flash, micro-sim, better display, secondary microphone for noise cancellation, metallic buttons for power, volume and mute, and bigger (presumably better battery). The iPhone is now capable of battery replacement, the back part is removable. More >
Opera Mini for iPhone approved
Apr 13th
This was a nice surprise from the folks at Apple, the Opera Mini browser for iPhone has been approved and it’s available now in the app store for free HERE.
My first thought about this piece of software was that it will never see the app store, Apple tends to reject apps that “mimic the phone’s build it features”, but it looks like this one was under the guidelines.
After some minutes of playing around with Opera Mini on my iPhone 3G in parallel with a good friend from ByProzac.info, we both came to the conclusion that IT’S FAST …and by fast i mean really fast. The interface is easy to use and in general straight-forward even to the new people in the “iPhone ecosystem”. More >
iPhone OS 4.0
Apr 8th
Today was the first presentation of the next software for the iPhone and iPad. The event was not very long but Apple presented the new features and changes in the 4.0 version of the OS.
From what we know right now, the release date will be “this summer” or in common terms, until September.
As new features, one of the biggest new things is the multitasking capability for the 3GS and latest iPod Touch. The 3G and the 2-nd Generation iPod touch will have lots of new improvements too,but no multitasking.
Others include over 1,500 new APIs, Devs now have access to calendar, camera data, Quick Look, SMS within apps, etc
It includes over 100 new user features: playlist creation, 5x digital zoom for camera, tap-to-focus for video, Photos app has Places support, home screen wallpapers, spellcheck enhancements and more.
Multitasking will be made by double-clicking the home button which pulls up a “dock” showing currently-running apps.
Apple also brings some features from the iPad, like the books library, just as the one on the iPad.
Other new things will be a game center and support for background VoIP like Skype while running other apps.
The apps will now have access to carrier information and more related to connectivity, thanks to the new API’s
As I stated above, the 4.0 software for the iPhone will be available this summer and for the iPad, this fall.
The update sounds good in general, and i’m looking forward to put my hands on an iPad/Iphone 3GS and play a little with the new software when it will be out.
iPhone OS 4.0 event on April 8
Apr 6th
After a glorious day for Apple and the iPad, a new announcement has been made regarding the next big update to the iPhone OS.
The event is set to take place on April 8 and it will include a presentation of the new iPhone software and maybe some hints on the hardware to come. This is alone very exciting, but as Apple always does, nothing will get on our hands at least not so fast. The next iPhone is probably going to be released in 2-3 months time, and the new software around that time too.
iPhone OS4 is said to bring multitasking and a UI refresh as major features, i’m sure that only the latest hardware will take advantage of multitasking as the 3G and 2G versions of the phone are slow and outdated to keep up with more processes.
The curios thing for me is the new UI, as the whole ecosystem is based on the right-now look of the OS.
On the other hand, the iPad had a big success, at least on it’s first days, the apps are starting to get better and optimized for the iPad.
The road to the iPad
Apr 3rd
Apple’s long awaited device is 5 hours away from launch in the US. Until now, some apps started to appear in the app store, some only for the iPad and some for iPhone and iPad.
A new version of iTunes was released specially to include support for the iPad and the new apps. A 899$ app is already on the store.
Yhe U.S. Federal Communications Commission has published some photos with the interior of the device, Google rolled out a new iPad-formatted mobile interface for Gmail, building on the HTML5-based mobile format used for the iPhone to create a two-column interface like that used for Apple’s Mail application on the iPad.
Overall the iPad had a wide reach and people overall are interested about the product. Lots of pre-orders have been made on the apple site, and lots of people are going to receive the device in the coming days.
Full screen captures of the device are also available online ,here is a little taste of the new market segment opened by Apple with the iPad. More >
