If you are currently sporting an iPhone 3GS or older model and are thinking you might not be able to hold out for the next product refresh, you may want to grab an iPhone 4 while it's still available.
DigiTimes is reporting that Taiwan-based manufacturing firm Foxconn is facing a shortage of both labor and materials at its China plants. This will likely affect shipments of Apple's new iPad 2 tablet and the popular iPhone 4...
Following the news that Apple is partnering with Naunce for voice integration in iOS 5, we've heard from an inside source at Apple that iOS 5 will allow you to read your voicemails. Google Voice has offered voicemail transcription for quite some time, and, according to our anonymous source, Apple is hard at work to implement this type of service into iOS 5.
More cloud-based features are rumored to debut in Apple's next major release of iOS when the software is previewed at WWDC this June. A more Google-esque approach to cloud services makes sense if Apple wants to stay competitive in the cloud space. Voicemail transcription would be one more feature to beef up Apple's cloud offerings...
It's no secret that iOS is lacking some serious voice command options. Hopefully, Apple is looking at giving the pathetic Voice Control feature a serious overhaul in iOS 5. At least give iPhone users voice to text to compete with our Android counterparts.
We reported on an interesting job listing back in early March that suggested Apple had heard our cries for a revamped Voice Control system. Today we've got more fuel to add to the fire, as the word on the street is Apple is in talks with Nuance Communications...
Will Apple call the next gen iPhone the 4G? Most have been calling the unannounced device the iPhone 5, but recent reports speculate that Apple could end up calling it the 4s (like the 3GS).
AT&T has changed its 4G nomenclature to include devices that previously weren't fast enough to be considered "4G." In AT&T's latest series of marketing campaigns, they have started to call slower devices "4G." The devices that are referenced by AT&T posses the same speeds as what is expected from the next iPhone.
According to a new report from DigiTimes, Apple is on the lookout for a new supplier for the iPhone ambient light sensor. For those unaware, the ambient light sensor detects the light in the room and alters the screen brightness accordingly. Apple is allegedly unhappy with the current ambient light sensor supplier and has started to explore other suppliers for future iPhones'.
The report states that Apple is currently in talks with two different Taiwan-based companies: Integrated Memory Logic (iML) and Capella Microsystems. Capella is reported to already have shipped out several of its products to Apple for verification. Capella currently provides over one million ambient-light sensors a month to Taiwanese handset manufacturer, HTC.
3D has been quite a popular technology lately. First we saw it in theaters, then it made its way into our homes. More recently, it's been finding its way into our portable electronic devices.
The Nintendo 3DS led the way with their glasses-free 3D implementation. HTC has also been showing off their latest smartphones, capable of capturing and viewing in 3 dimensions. Heck, even RIM has been touting their PlayBook's ability to output 3D graphics.
While Apple has yet to add 3D to any of their products, the rumor mill is certainly turning on the topic. RCR Wireless is reporting that they are hearing from a "Hollywood insider" that Apple's next tablet is already in advanced planning stages, and very much 3D. The source is quoted by the website, saying:
"The fact that the iPad 3 is 3D is a dead cert"
She claims that major film studios are currently running around like "blue arsed flies" trying to get their 3D content in order, in time for the launch of Apple's next tablet. Music industry insiders have been dropping tidbits about Apple's future cloud service, so it's no secret that folks in the entertainment business hear exclusive information from the Cupertino company.
If Apple is really going to include 3D technology in their next tablet, I hope it's glasses-free via head-tracking technology. I personally don't see why you'd want 3D graphics in your iPad, I'd rather see something closer to retina display.
I've also read rumors that Apple has been experimenting with layered E-Ink displays, you'd think that'd make more sense in a tablet than a 3D display(especially with Amazon building a tablet). I guess we'll just have to wait and see what Steve Jobs and company have up their sleeves.
What do you think?
Most of you should be pretty familiar with the iOS update process by now. For anyone who needs a refresher, it's quite easy. You simply plug your iDevice into a USB port on your computer, and initiate the update through iTunes.
Although Apple's current method is fairly straight forward, competitors such as Google offer a more direct way for customers to get the latest software for their Android devices. I'll admit OTA (Over the Air) updates are convenient, but are they really the best way to deploy updates?
Tech sites are buzzing today in response to an interesting tweet this morning by known tech guru Leo Laporte. The former spokesman for Tech T.V. told the Twitter world that he had heard on "good authority" that Apple has hired Tomlinson Holman to head up the company's audio projects.
For folks who aren't familiar with Holman's work, just check out any THX-certified movie or stereo system. The audio pioneer developed the technology back in the early 1980's while working at Lucasfilms. He also engineered the world's first 10.2 surround sound system.
What could Apple want with an audio specialist of this caliber? One theory is that Apple has brought Tomlinson on board to help work on their rumored TV device. Apple's motto has always been to make technology easier for the everyday person, what if they were looking to do that with home theatre?
Imagine a mid-sized T.V. set (24"-37") with new LED technology and state-of-the art sound. Combine this with current Apple TV amenities like AirPlay and you have a pretty interesting concept.
Although Apple hasn't commented on the hiring of the Lucasfilm expert, it wouldn't be the first time they hired a high profile employee. Apple recently hired PR executives from Activision and Nintendo, fueling speculation that they are looking to bump up their share of the gaming market. With all of these new talented editions added to their roster, it'll be interesting to see what the Cupertino company comes up with next.
What do you think?
An AT&T customer care representative has claimed that Apple has informed the carrier that there will be no new iPhone in June or July of this year. Although general consensus has been that Apple will postpone the next generation iPhone until later this year, there has still been hope that a summer announcement at WWDC would be made.
According to an AT&T rep, Apple will definitely not be releasing a new iPhone this summer.
With news regarding iOS 5 starting to pick up, more speculation is being made about what Apple will do with the next iteration of iOS. A new notification system is one of the most requested features for iOS 5. The current system has been highly criticized for years.
Will Apple totally revamp its system for notifications in iOS 5? There's a good chance they might...
The next major iteration of Apple's mobile operating system, iOS, is scheduled to be previewed at the WWDC conference this summer. We already heard that certain developers have seen their apps tested on the next version of iOS, and it now seems that more and more apps are getting the iOS 5 treatment.
iOS 5 is expected to deliver awesome new features and extensively tie into Apple's rumored and upcoming cloud service. Is Apple already testing third party apps on this mysterious software?
Everyone knows by now that the white iPhone 4 is shipping worldwide. While the 10 month-long wait for the mysterious device has finally come to an end, is it really the end of the white iPhone 4 saga? Maybe not.
Since its launch last week, renowned iDevice hacker chpwn has been asking the Twitter nation to check their new white iPhone 4s for special markings. Apparently, a few lucky folks have limited edition iPhones and may not even know it...