Month: May 2011

Here’s How iOS 5’s Speech Recognition Might Work

Speech recognition is a hot topic right now, and for good reason. It's evident that iOS 5 is going to feature a heavy mix of speech recognition tech, and this is the way that mobile phones are headed as a whole.

But how exactly will speech recognition integrate with iOS? For instance, how will we go about transcribing an SMS message using only our voice?

Jan-Michael Cart, creator of quite a few iOS 5 mockups, has envisioned his rendition of iOS 5's speech recognition tech, and has shared it with the rest of the Apple community...

Have You Seen This Weird iPhone Keyboard Bug Before?

This is not the first time that happens while in landscape mode. The screen rotates fine, the keyboard looks fine, but for some reason when I press a key, it appears sideways. I have no idea what it's from so I was wondering if you guys had seen that before.

I do use the jailbreak app called ShowCase but I remember having this issue before installing the tweak. It's not a big deal, but I'd just like to figure out what's wrong...

iPad Survives Getting Run Over by a Car, Thanks to Extreme Sleeve

Remember that iPad case that we showed you earlier this year called the Extreme Sleeve? Let me give you a quick reminder. G-Form, a company well known for their extreme sports protective gear has ventured into the portable electronic arena. They have made protective gear for MacBooks and other laptops, and they now have one for the iPad.

Their G-Form Extreme Sleeve has been grabbing headlines over the last few months, as the G-Form team has gone through great lengths to prove its durability. They've dropped bowling balls on their Extreme Sleeve-covered iPads and have even dropped one out of an airplane. Each time the iPad has emerged unharmed.

When we previously reported on the product it was not available yet, but it promised to start shipping May 2nd of this year. Well it looks like the Extreme Sleeve is starting to make its way to user's hands, as a new video from Mobile Syrup puts the Sleeve through its own durability test. Is the Extreme Sleeve tough enough to protect an iPad from being run over by a car? Let's watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrLNVcYz6ZM

Though the video stops playing, the iPad appears to be just fine. Now that these G-Form Extreme Sleeves are available to the masses, I'm guessing this isn't the last we've seen of these extreme iPad survival videos. I'm sure G-Form is loving the free viral advertising.

What do you think?

Nuance Voices in New Mac OS X Update, Partnership Confirmed?

If you have been getting really excited about all of the rumors concerning the Apple and Nuance partnership, you'll love this. For those that don't own Mac computers, a really big software update called Mac OS X Lion is on the horizon.

In fact, Apple is slated to talk about the new release at their developer's conference next month along with the new iOS 5. OS X Lion is currently in preview mode, where developers are allowed to tinker with the new OS and its new features. One thing developers have noticed so far are the new voice samples...

State Farm App Uses Your iDevice to Grade Your Driving

Though using your phone while driving usually makes for a dangerous combination, this app hopes to have the opposite effect.

The application from State Farm, called Driver Feedback, uses the built-in accelerometer and GPS of your iDevice to grade your driving. Don't worry, the results gathered from the app won't impact your car insurance rates, you don't even have to be a State Farm customer to use it...

Customize Your Emails With Rich Text for Mail

Another day, another reason to jailbreak your iPhone and customize it to the fullest. The latest jailbreak tweak is called Rich Text for Mail by well-known iOS developer Ryan Petrich (@rpetrich).

Rich Text for Mail enables you to compose and reply to emails using custom fonts, colors and styles. That includes adding format, bold, italic, strikethrough, underline and image items to Action Menu. The app works in conjunction with Action Menu, so there are no additional buttons or apps added. Best of all, it adds all these customization tools to the stock iPhone Mail app...

Speech-to-Text Conversion Coming to iOS 5?

Following our report that iOS 5 will have voicemail transcription, a new patent has surfaced that details even more voice integration possibilities. Namely, it appears that Apple is looking into a native text-to-speech and speech-to-text converter for the iPhone.

This patent reveals some very interesting applications that could result from such a technology in iOS. Beyond the basic voice and text transcription, this patented converter could allow for a more unified experience between speech and text communication...

Next-Generation iPhone to Feature a Redesigned Camera Flash?

Following yesterday's news regarding the leaked iPhone 5/iPhone 4S components, comes additional "leaked" parts for the next-generation iPhone.

The latest leak comes courtesy of the folks over at Apple.pro, who have had a good track record with Apple leaks in the past. This time around, Apple.pro seems to have gotten their hands on the next-generation iPhone camera components which seem to have received a notable redesign from the iPhone 4. 

Apple Offering Free iOS Repairs Following Japan Tragedy

A heart warming story is traveling around the tech blogs today surrounding the often criticized Cupertino company's recent actions in Japan. No, this isn't more bad news concerning Apple part suppliers mistreating employees.

A TUAW reader sent the the blog a tip that Apple is offering free repair services for Mac users who were affected by the tsunami and earthquake earlier this year. According to the company's Japanese website, they are offering free repair on any Mac, iPhone, iPad or iPod touch that was damaged in the disaster...

Halo Maker Bungie Looking to Develop for iOS

We've been talking about iOS gaming a lot lately here on iDB. After all, the platform has some serious records in the video game industry.

Following the news that Electronic Arts was purchasing Firemint, another console software company is apparently eyeing iOS for future development. Several tech sites are reporting that Bungie, developer of the hit Xbox 360 Halo series, is preparing to launch a title on the iDevice platform...

New Case Suggests New Features for the iPhone 5

Next-generation iPhone rumors are like cute girls on an elevator; there's always room for one more. With little known about Apple's next smartphone, all we have to go on is the gossip.

The latest tidbit comes from GadgetsDNA, who have come across an "iPhone 5G" case on an online retailer's website. Kulcase LTD makes cases for smartphones and apparently they can predict the future...

Forgot to Lock the Door of Your House? There’s an App for That

Lockitron is a solution that combines hardware and software to give you wireless control of your home's deadbolts. In fact, you can control the locks on your doors from anywhere in the world.

Using a Lockitron Self-install kit and compatible phone software, you can unlock your door with the tap of a button. We've seen wireless unlock solutions for the car before, but not for the home...