Tag Archives: iOS

Oct 3 2011

Apple iPhone Event – Tuesday 4th Oct

10am, One Infinite Loop, tomorrow morning. Apple would like to talk about iPhone. Specifically, news of the imminent release of iOS 5.0 for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Apple iPhone Event

So before we talk about the iPhone, let’s talk about iOS. Tomorrow, Tim Cook will take the pleasure to announce that the iOS 5.0 GM will be available to developers. Apple stick to a familiar pattern when releasing beta releases to developers and last week, Apple skipped a release and that can only mean one thing. It’s ready.

The GM will be available to download immediately on Tuesday allowing for updates to be rushed through before it’s released to the public some time the following week. I expect this to be on Friday 14th October.

So iPhone. What’s going to be announced? There has been more noise on the internet surrounding an unreleased, unannounced product than ever before. Every rumour has been touted for what will most likely be called iPhone 4S.

In reality, the only time we’re going to find out what Apple has up it’s sleeve, is tomorrow. When they want to announce it. I’ll try to cut my way through the shrubbery and get right to the good stuff for you. Here is what I’m pretty sure will be announced tomorrow:

  • iPhone 4S in White/Black
  • Available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB flavours.
  • iPhone 4 8GB in White/Black
  • iPhone 4S will include A5 dual-core processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • Improved Camera (Possibly Sony’s 8MP)
  • Same Size/Shape as iPhone 4
  • iOS 5.0 will be very fast
As well as minor changes, like the antenna being moved so there will be no/less signal interruption with your hand. The sensors next to the ear piece will have moved near to the side of the phone. Battery life will be improved as will the microphone/noise-reduction. Which will help Apple’s new way of reacting to a long-home button press… Assistant.
There is quite a bit of last minute talk about Assistant which Apple hopes will become the new thing in voice-recognition and voice-powered software. As well as the usual ‘call Dad mobile’ and ‘play music’ Apple hopes to use it’s new acquisition Siri and their new partnership with Nuance to create the ultimate in voice powered apps.
Hoping to allow you to literally dictate messages and emails, ask for directions, book restaurants, check cinema times and book tickets. Literally, your assistant to the real world.
This hasn’t been featured in iOS 5.0 so far, only hinted at with the occasional microphone icon. This could lead to the fact that Assistant needs the RAM and the horsepower of the A5 chip to allow it to understand what you’re saying and what you’re actually asking for. This isn’t voice-recognition, this is voice-understanding.
Possible iPhone 4S

A photo of what looks to be a 64GB model of an iPhone 4-Shaped device.

There are very heavy rumours about a new device. An iPhone 5. A slimmer, sleeker design with tapered edges similar to the iPad 2. An elongated home button to allow multi-touch commands away from the screen. Less storage to allow for iCloud integration and a SIM-free phone with an Apple-designed chip instead.
Apple could announce something but it’ll be a surprise. If they do, they’ll say it’ll be ready next year. They’ll say “Have this, you love the iPhone 4, well this is faster, better and will last… We’re gonna work on this and it’s gonna be AWESOME.”
They can’t let Tim Cook walk out there saying “Hi, I’m not Steve Jobs, here’s a slightly better phone and it’s not as cool as something Steve would bring but…” They’ve gotta give something more than the iPhone 4S.
As for me, I’ll do my usual. Sell my iPhone 4 the week before release. I’ve already locked in a very nice offer from several recycle websites. I’ll be buying the iPhone 4S on an 18 month contract as soon as it’s released.
Then if/when the iPhone 5 is announced and released. I’ll do the same all over again.
I’ve done this with every iPhone since the very first launch and each upgrade hasn’t cost me a penny.
Jun 17 2011

iOS 5 – A Preview [Part 1]

I’m going to start dumping everything I know about iOS 5 here now. Over this weekend, I’ll share everything I’ve found with the iPhone’s latest software update beta.

I’ll start with the basics, the settings. The little tweaks you’ll find and the little changes which you’ll come to love.

Keyboard Shortcuts

The first is ‘Keyboard Shortcuts’ which is something like AutoCorrect but using your own commands or even sentences! The default pre-applied is ‘omw’ which instantly turns into ‘On my way!’ – It’s handy for quick replies or any frequently typed word or phrase.

I’ve found it best to put my usernames and email addresses in there, so filling in forms or logging into things is VERY quick and easy! Good little tip eh?

Next up, a handy little addition to the ‘General > Usage’ part of Settings. Previously, this section displayed your call time, data usage and little bits like that. Now, you get a breakdown of every app and the data that is being used by it. It’s a bit odd that it says ‘iPod’ even though the iPod app is missing (now being split into ‘Music’ and ‘Videos’ like the iPod Touch and iPad.)

General Usage

However, it is handy if you’re running out of space and you’re looking to delete some apps.

Finally, are the new options in ‘Sounds’ which allow you to change the ringtone, not only for calls and texts, but voicemails, sending and receiving emails, and calendar alerts! There are a few new choices and an option to ‘Buy more ringtones’ which takes you to the iTunes Store!

 

Sounds

Also, notice the new slider buttons. They’re a little different to what you’re used to in iOS but work exactly the same. Anyway, that’s enough for tonight, but more to come!

Jun 5 2011

Apple – WWDC Rumour Roundup

Well, here we go… It’s that time of year again and this year, Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference kicks off tomorrow with a keynote from Steve Jobs to talk about (at least) three special little things. Lion, iOS and iCloud.

WWDC 2011

As usual, there is a LOT of speculation around what’s gonna be discussed. So I thought I’d share my thoughts and the rumours I mostly agree with. Not to mention the things I’m hoping for…!

iOS5

iOS 5.0 is going to be the biggest change in the UI since 2.0 and the introduction of apps! (I remember being happy with iPhone 1.0 and thinking, this is it. My life is complete. How things change in just four years!)

Here are some of the new features which I’m sure will be announced.

  • Automatic App Updating – Apps will update in the background (if you so wish) and there’s a hint that Apple may ‘push’ updates for iOS itself.
  • iCloud App – Whatever it is, there’ll be an app for it.
  • Twitter Integration – Rumoured to be more than just sharing links and photos, there’s murmurs that twitter will be integrated into the core of iOS. Who knows what that could mean…
I honestly don’t think we’ll see anything about the iPhone, iPod or iPad  - Remember, this is a developer’s conference. It’s all about the platforms these guys in attendance are writing for.

OS X Lion

Which leads us nicely to the latest flavour of OS X, Lion. Now most of the features have already been announced as Apple previewed the OS in January and I’ve been using it ever since.

It’s got pretty stable so I’m certain the Gold Master will be announced tomorrow. Allowing developers to test the GM before the release date which will be the end of June. Apple may surprise us and release it on the day, but I doubt it.

The App Store will be used to deliver the OS, you can purchase your upgrade from your desk and Lion will install over your current Snow Leopard installation. It’s so easy to install and update, you’ll be rebooted into Lion in about 20 minutes!

App Store will now auto update your apps if you wish, as well as the main OS. Which means you don’t have to be bugged and that future MacDefender-style updates will be seamless. Apple want to look after you.

iCloud built in – Again, whatever that is – It will be built right into the system. Not like dropbox, but very much like MobileMe.

iCloud

iCloud

I’m just gonna throw everything I’ve got at you now, I haven’t chose a side as to what iCloud is going to be. Is it a music streaming service, a cache of your most important/used files, app updating system/cache… Who knows?!

Well, I guess we will in a number of hours. There’s one thing for certain… Apple has a HUGE-ASS data centre which is ready to be opened and petabytes and petabytes of server storage ready to be used and abused.

Word on the street is that iCloud is primarily going to be a ‘cloud’ storage system for your iTunes Music Library. Essentially allowing you to play your music from any device, wherever you are… (Providing you have an internet connection that is!) You may have to upload all your music to iCloud or Apple may scan your library and recognise the music you have. Everything purchased in iTunes will be there automatically, but what about those CD’s you ripped years and years ago? The jury is out on that one…

There could be more to iCloud, such as file syncing, Time Machine backups and the such but to be honest, I’m so happy with Dropbox and Google, I’ll be happy with iCloud either way.

Costs: Who knows how Apple is going to price this, it could be yearly subscriptions just like MobileMe is now; Or they could change things and go monthly. That would mean they have the option to tier tariff’s – $5 for basic, $10 for pro, £20 for fanboy – You get the idea.

So there you have it. Here be my predictions. Shame I won’t be in London as there’s a pub hosting a macparty streaming the keynote live! I’ll be doing my usual though, so find me on twitter during the keynote for the latest announcements and here later to either gloat or reflect on these predictions made here.

Apr 10 2011

New App – Color – iOS

It’s only really now that an app like Color would work. Color is a social-photography app. You take photos and it shares and shows photos from other people in the same room. Now if you’re at a party, or a gig or some other social gathering, then this could be amazing.

I’ve tested the app and on my own, it doesn’t really do anything. I haven’t had the chance to test in a real world environment but after hearing more about the app, I don’t know if I want to.

So first off, you have to be literally in the same room! It doesn’t work via WiFi so it’s very sensitive and it knows if you’re in the same room… Here’s how it works.

The app uses your compass to know what direction you’re facing when taking photos. Now the next part is VERY clever. Color actually listens to the audio in the room… It opens up your microphone and listens to what you’re hearing. Now it doesn’t record audio, but it listens to take a fingerprint of the room you’re in, so it can match with other users who are in the same room!

They want to make it possible for a lot of people to be able to take photos, for example at a gig, know where the performer is (as everyone is facing the same way taking photos) and then you can see photos from the front row even if you’re at the back row!

It’s a bit worrying that Color has the ability to listen to my audio without my knowledge or consent. Color don’t actually state anywhere that it listens to audio and this is because it doesn’t listen to audio… It listens to the waveform of the audio and takes a digital fingerprint. There’s no audio file transmitted anywhere and if you could listen to it, it wouldn’t be audio, it would be white noise. So I guess it doesn’t really matter right?

Recently, the Grey’s Anatomy iPad app used the same technology in a different way. The app would open the microphone to hear the show you’re watching and figuring out what you’re seeing. Enabling it to give you precise information about what’s on your TV! I mean, this is kinda cool but I’d probably like to know… Wouldn’t you?

Anyway, go download the app now and next time you’re bored. Take a photo and see if anybody else is using it in the same room!

Mar 21 2011

The Man from Apple Says…

Just read a funny story that I really hope is true and so I thought I’d share it with you.

Over the weekend, Apple have been keeping a close eye on all of the iPad 2 returns they’re receiving in. Most are the usual ‘change of mind’ but Apple want to keep an eye out for any patterns or manufacturing faults so they can quash them before they get worse.

One iPad was returned with a simple post-it on the box clearly stating the reason for return…

Wife Says No

Wife says no. I think that speaks volumes and I reckon a lot of iPad’s were returned for the very same reason!

The tale was passed around Apple internally, all as a bit of a joke and a chuckle. However, it escalated a little higher than originally thought and when two of Apple’s VP’s caught wind of this. They swiftly moved into action.

They sent the guy an iPad 2 with a post-it attached…

Apple Says Yes

The man from Apple, he most certainly say yes.