Apple

Rumor: next iPhone may feature an HD FaceTime camera

Cody Lee ∙ June 6, 2012

AppleInsider points to a new research note today from KGI's Mingchi Kuo, an analyst it says is "known for having sources deep within Apple's supply chain." The note claims that Apple's next smartphone could feature a new HD-capable front-facing camera.

The high resolution shooter, which would be a significant upgrade from the current VGA sensor used in the iPhone 4S, would allow users to make higher-quality FaceTime calls, and, according to Kuo, will be repositioned to the center of the handset...

Apple starts raising WWDC banners at Moscone

Cody Lee ∙ June 5, 2012

You've heard all of the rumors and speculation, but just in case you needed more proof that Apple's highly anticipated WWDC event was on the horizon, here you go. As noted by 9to5Mac, Apple has started hanging WWDC banners at the Moscone Center.

Apple used its World Wide Developers Conference to unveil iOS 5 last year, but it has also been known to use the opportunity to show off new hardware. So what can we expect from this year's event? Keep reading...

iPad maintains its US tablet market dominance as Kindle Fire continues to fall

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 27, 2017

TUAW points to a newly-published ChangeWave survey today regarding the wish lists of potential tablet buyers. And surprise, surprise, the iPad is still miles ahead of the competition in terms of consumer demand.

According to ChangeWave's data, collected from a poll of almost 3,000 American consumers, a staggering 73% of people who plan to buy a tablet in the next 90 days will be getting an iPad...

Don’t hold your breath for Files.app in iOS 6, here’s why

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 5, 2012

Geeks have been holding their breath for direct file system access in iOS ever since the original iPhone's debut five years ago.

Unless you jailbreak, your ability to get down and dirty with the file system is limited by Apple's vision that basically boils down to Jobs' mantra that the app is the only file system you'll ever need.

It would be unwise to bet on Apple progressively breaking away from this kind of philosophy with the introduction of iOS 6 come next Monday, no matter how strongly you may feel about the rumored Files.app.

Here's why. And before you jump straight to the comments, bear in mind that this is just one writer's opinion...

Apple rolls out 5.0.2 update for Apple TV

Cody Lee ∙ June 5, 2012

It looks like Apple has just pushed out an update for its Apple TV, bringing the software to version 5.0.2. No details have been posted yet about the new build, numbered 9B830, but we expect Apple's site to be updated shortly.

Owners of second and third generation Apple TVs can download the update over the air by opening up the device's Settings menu and selecting General > Software Update. Full changelog, once Apple posts it, after the break...

Apple granted patent for magical television remote

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 5, 2012

An interesting patent grant surfaced in the United States Patent and Trademark Office's database this morning. Building upon a number of previously patented inventions, this latest filing describes an enhanced remote control that could include a touch-sensitive surface to control one or more on-screen objects...

Nuance launches Dragon ID: phone unlock using your larynx

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Nuance, the natural voice processing engine that powers voice recognition in Apple's Siri digital assistant, recently announced the Drive! platform, basically the Siri for cars.

Today, the company announced another natural-language solution, one that lets you unlock your phone just by using your voice. Introducing Dragon ID, a brand new technology tapping your voiceprint to let the device know who you are by the sound of your voice.

Count us excited! We're totally big on Nuance's voice unlock possibly debuting on the next iPhone so we can all finally kiss cryptic passwords goodbye. Here's a video of Nuance Dragon ID in action...

Sprint to launch prepaid iPhones on Virgin Mobile by July 1

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 5, 2012

MarketWatch reports (via MacRumors) that Sprint will launch own prepaid iPhone offering through its Virgin Mobile arm.

The move follows last week's unconfirmed news that Boost Mobile, another Sprint property, will be getting prepaid iPhones on June 22.

As you know, Cricket became the first carrier in the United States to announce plans to begin offering the iPhone on a prepaid basis in early September...

And just like that, Google snaps up mobile productivity suite Quickoffice

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Whoa, looks like another iOS app developer (not exclusive, though) just ended up engulfed in the Google ecosystem as the search giant announced its acquisition of the popular mobile app productivity maker Quickoffice for an undisclosed sum.

The news arrives just as we learned yesterday of Google's intentions to snap up popular instant messaging maker Meebo for a rumored hundred million dollars...

Poll: do you get all worked up over iOS exclusives going Android?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 11, 2012

When social network Path released its Android app following the successful debut on the iPhone, barely anyone paid notice. But when Instagram went Android, it spurred lots of controversy. Even Apple’s marketing boss Phil Schiller stopped using the app because it “jumped the shark” when it went to Android.

The debate over iPhone exclusives going Android really heated up with yesterday’s announcement of Instapaper of Android, Marco Arment’s read-later program which became a huge success on the iOS platform.

Should Apple work harder to secure iOS exclusives, which have been around in the console business for ages? Or perhaps this is nothing to get worked up about? Cast your vote now...

Really awesome Facebook phone mockup surfaces, our jaws drop

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 5, 2012

You must have heard rumors of Facebook poaching former and current Apple hardware and software engineers to work on its not-so-secret phone project. So, a Facebook phone.

We're still scratching our head over this rumored device. Why on Earth Facebook won't Facebook focus on perfecting its subpar mobile apps rather than waste its energies cracking the hardware biz it literally knows nothing about?

Regardless of the hearsay, here's a really interesting mockup which depicts perfectly what a Facebook phone might look like...

No sales ban on Samsung and Motorola tablets in US and Germany

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 5, 2012

A judge in California this morning decided to hold off on a ruling related to Apple's case against Samsung, meaning Cupertino won't be able to impose a sales ban on Galaxy Tab tablet sales in the United States. Apple's also been dealt another blow in Germany as a court said it's unlikely to grant them the same victory against Motorola's tablet as it'd done with last year's sales ban of the Galaxy 10.1 tablet...