Just 6 days after releasing iTunes 10.2, another update is available today. iTunes 10.2.1 doesn't seem to bring anything new to the table. Just like for iTunes 10.2, the changelog only mentions this new version of iTunes is needed to sync your device with iOS 4.3.
Additionally, and like the previous version, iTunes 10.2.1 brings improvement to Home Sharing. In short, this release is probably about small bug fixes...
Patently Apple, a website well known for bringing Apple's patents to the masses, has uncovered a good one. The photo above is from a patent filed late last year by Apple engineers Brian McKnight and Michael Neuman.
The documents describe methods for creating video ringtones in iOS. The technology would allow users to automatically use audio and video from iTunes and iMovie to create custom alerts for each incoming call...
Peel's journey has been an interesting one. It started last fall when we started hearing about an FCC filing from a Santa Clara start-up company named Zelfy. The product's tagline was "every remote and TV guide now on your phone." Fast forward to January of this year, and we get some more information about the mysterious Peel Fruit.
The Peel system uses an IR dongle, built into a fruit shaped casing, that must sit somewhere in IR range of all of your components. The plastic shaped fruit works like a middleman between your iPhone (or iPad for that matter) and your home theater. How does the fruit receive commands from your iPhone? Wifi of course...
9to5Mac is reporting via MacerKopf.de that Apple might plan to unveil iOS 5 on April 14 or 15. This would match announcements of previous iOS versions. For example, iOS 4 was announced on April 8, 2010.
Like I wrote in my 10 predictions for the iPhone in 2011, I have big expectations for iOS 5. I believe 2011 will be the year of the iOS and that Apple will definitely surprise us. Apple Maps, Wireless Syncing, better notification system are just a few of the expected features...
Google is constantly innovating features when it comes to web searching. They've been pioneers in the search industry for many years, and they don't show any signs of stopping. One of their most recent innovations, Instant Preview, has officially made its way to iOS devices.
The feature is actually pretty handy. If you haven't used it on your desktop yet, it's the little magnifying glass that shows up next to each search result link when using Google. Clicking this magnifying glass opens up a thumbnail preview of the website in a nice overview...
Usually, Apple lets you pre-order their new products. For example, you could pre-order the iPhone 4 to get it delivered to your house on the same day it is available in store. This has always been my preferred method of buying Apple products, as I don't have the patience to wait for hours in line.
When Apple introduced the iPad 2 last week, they announced that the new device will be available for sale in stores as of Friday 11th, 5pm. Why such an odd time of the day, you may ask.
The conspiracy theorist in me has it all figured out, and again, it's all about marketing and PR. Here is my reasoning...
6 points of sale = 6 times more publicity
The iPad 2 will be for sale in 6 locations (Apple Store, Best Buy, etc...), which is very unusual. Normally, Apple and its partners (AT&T and now Verizon) are the only one to launch a product. But the more stores that sell the iPad 2, the more publicity Apple gets.
At 5pm on a Friday, people won't mind getting in line
At 5pm on a Friday, pretty much everyone is on weekend, thus available to wait in line for an iPad. I suspect that stores like Walmart, Best Buy, and Target will have a very limited amount of iPads on stock in order to create scarcity, which will turn into free publicity (ie. news headline: iPad 2 sells out in 2 hours at Best Buy).
Huge lines = even more publicity
Apple knows that by starting to sell the iPad 2 at 5pm, this will create gigantic lines at 6 different locations instead of one, if they chose to only sell the iPad at their stores. Again, this is a marketing stunt to generate bigger headlines (ie. Thousands get in line at Best Buy, Target, Apple Store, etc to buy the new iPad 2).
What do you think?
The iPad 2 will be available this Friday as of 5pm, wherever you are in the United States. For once, Apple has several sales channels in place. I guess this is to make sure they can sell as many iPads as possible in the shortest amount of time.
This is where you will be able to buy the iPad 2 on March 11:
Your local Apple Store AT&T Verizon Best Buy Walmart TargetSo, we'll you be getting the line, or will you order it online?
We reported earlier today that Apple's iOS 4.3 would be available for download at 10:00 A.M. PST. Well that time has come and gone and MacRumors is reporting that the early release will actually occur tomorrow. They've posted a screen shot (see above) from one of their MacRumors readers, chatting with an Apple representative.
The screen shot confirms what LoopInsight reported this morning: there is to be no iOS 4.3 release today. But the speculation of iOS coming early still seems to be solid, it's just been off by a day. We will definitely let you know as soon as the download goes live, or if anything else breaks in this story...
This little trick has been around for quite some time. But if you are a new iPhone user, or plan on becoming a new iPad user soon, listen up! If you are using Google's email service, then there's a good chance you are using Google's calendar and their contact management system. This holds especially true for you, former Android users, who are forced to use the previously mentioned services by design.
Now I know you're thinking, "Cody, I already have my Gmail setup on my iPhone," and you're probably right. But if you set it up as an actual Gmail account and not under the 'Exchange' account profile, you might be missing out on some cool features. Setup as an Exchange account, your Gmail can automatically sync your contacts, your calendars, and even push your email! The best part is, it's so easy, let me show you how...
A genius jailbreak app called "OSFaker" allows you to replicate the Android and Windows Phone 7 OS on the iPhone. That's right, now you can easily show off your iPhone's chameleon abilities to your awestruck friends.
OSFaker isn't a complete OS simulator by any means, but it still gives you a nice taste of what Android and Windows Phone 7 feel like. Let's take a closer look...
One of the major features iOS lacks is Adobe Flash support. While Apple had decided to take a completely different path using HTML5, Flash still (for now), dominates internet content.
But that isn't keeping Adobe away. Late last night, Adobe announced a new prototype software for iOS devices, codenamed, "Wallaby". "Wallaby" is a new Flash-to-HTML5 conversion tool which doesn't do much yet. Wallaby currently only converts typical banner ads to HTML5, noted Adobe...
According to Boy Genius Report, iOS 4.3 will be available today at 10AM PST. That's a full three days before it was expected to be available, but the earlier the better if you ask me.
The folks at Apple said that it would be available on the day of the iPad's 2 launch -- March 11th, but I guess they decided it would be best to stagger the release date a bit.
One of the positive aspects regarding an early release is that this will give the jailbreak community even more time to jump on providing a jailbreak and solving the ASLR issues surrounding Apple's latest firmware...