Tag Archives: iphone

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.

Feb 21 2011

Apple, Rumours Galore!

So there are a LOT of Apple rumours flying around the interwebs at the moment and just in case you’re getting bored or you’re lost in the sea of various rumours, patents and rumblings. Here’s a round up of what you need to know.

MacBook Pro

MacBook Pro

A MacBook Pro refresh is imminent and I know of at least one person who’ll be gutted if the rumours are true and we see an updated product line being released next Thursday. I for one think it will happen but it will be a simple hardware refresh. Nothing too new or different, I think new processors and various bumps to make the machines that little bit quicker and better.

Apple have also been working on new batteries and more importantly new ways to hold charge and to improve battery life. Apple have been jumping forwards in leaps and bounds when it comes to laptop batteries and the more they tweak their own design, the more life we get out of our portable gadgets!

iPad 2

iPad Retina

Yada, yada, retina display, new ports and smaller screens. All the rumours for iPad 2/3 are the same ol’ same ol’ and really. Even if a new model comes out soon, I don’t think we’ll be seeing too much of a re-design. One new patent Apple have been granted has piqued my interest though.

Smart Bezel

A ‘Smart Bezel’ could mean the first tablet without any buttons. An iPad without a home button? What gives… Well Apple have designed a way to use the bezel surrounding the screen to include touch sensors, light emitters, pressure sensors and accelerometers. So you can control apps, and navigate your way to the homescreen by touching or squeezing the iPad’s frame.

The jury is out, so let’s see if anything comes of it.

iPhone 4.5 / 5

Everyone is expecting a new iPhone to be released later this year but what have we got instore for the iPhone 5?

Well first, let’s talk about the most recent rumours. The iPhone Nano.

Some rumours say that it will be physically smaller (literally like an iPhone Nano) but I think everyone is reading it wrong… Think more of a virtually smaller device. Similar to the New Apple TV, minimal storage and easy to use. I don’t know if this will come out in the interim before we get a whole new iPhone but it may be something released alongside the iPhone 5.

New iPhones?

An iPhone 4 design handset, however with only 8GB of storage. Apple will start to push users towards cloud storage and streaming capabilities. The iPhone ‘Nano’ (let’s just call it that just because it’s easy!) will be aimed towards those who are tempted with the iPhone but still consider it too expensive or complicated.

Then in addition to this ‘lite’ version, a full blown iPhone 5 will be released. Again, there are rumours of a larger screen size or iPhones which include an RFID chip and various other new tech which Apple would introduce to it’s userbase.

So lots of rumours, but that’s all they are. Rumours. So enjoy what you’ve got and look forward to what’s new!

Jul 15 2010

iPhone 4 Press Conference

So tomorrow Apple are planning a press event to talk about iPhone 4. There’s no word as to what they’re going to talk about but it’s certain to be about the much-discussed ‘antenna issue.’

I put that in quote marks as I don’t have an issue. If I hold the iPhone in a ‘death grip’ style squeeze, it does drop bars. But I don’t hold it like that! Simple.

There’s a number of things that can happen tomorrow, I call it BURRN. Bumpers, Update, Recall, Returns and Nothing.

Bumpers: Apple have already suggested to buy a Bumper if you want to help with any signal issues, would they give them away? I think so, why not? Last time I was in the Regent Street Apple Store, there were hundreds of Bumpers dotted everywhere. Literally, every display desk had a case of them on and there were hundreds hanging with the iPhone accessories. Two days later, they were all gone… A follower on twitter reported that they didn’t have any at all. How odd… Maybe they’re saving them all to send out to any iPhone 4 owners who’d like one… A simple form to give your address and IMEI would be a nice easy way to give out free Bumpers.

Update: iOS 4.01 is rumoured to sneak out later today and possibly tomorrow. iOS 4.1 has been pushed out to developers.
There are several features added to 4.1 and first up, Game Center is back!! (More on that another day) but the main thing that’s changed are the bars. The signal indicator formula has changed and your signal is now shown more clearly and accurately. It’s a software update though and it doesn’t do anything to the real issue.
It you squeeze the iPhone, it still loses signal. If anything, it does take longer to drop all signal so it has improved slightly.

Recall: Never. There are around two million iPhone 4′s in the wild and no company would ever recall that many products. Unless it’s deadly (like a Toyota say) and the problem with the iPhone 4 (as far as I know) isn’t deadly.

Returns: Apple have always said if you’re unhappy, you’ve got 30 days to return it. That’s true if you bought it from Apple, but most networks don’t have a returns policy like that. With O2, you even had to sign a return waiver that by upgrading early, you had NO returns policy. I think Apple may keep this open for customers at their stores, maybe extending the 30 days some.

Nothing: From time to time, Apple have commented on the issue that everyone’s going on about but really, they’ve always said, there isn’t a problem. They may bring out a load of stats, specialists and PR experts to put a stop to all the concerns. They’ll release the iOS update and that will be the end of it.

By inviting ‘high level’ press to the event they’ll make sure they get the publicity they want whatever they decide to do. I’m hoping for bumpers because I’d like to try them but I’m really not concerned about the issue. I haven’t had much difference in dropped calls and if anything, I get better signal in most places.

We’ll see what happens at 18:00 tomorrow though…

Jul 12 2010

FaceTime… The Future?

Only a quick one as I wanted to share my thoughts on FaceTime.

OK, so everybody did it the first day they got their iPhone 4 and so did I. You FaceTime the person you just got back from the store with! Over the next few days, you find everyone you know who has an iPhone 4 and even if you’re on the same WiFi network – You call each other to test it. It’s great fun!

Then you think it ends… It’s a fad that’ll pass and something fun to use, once in a while at best.


OK, this is kinda extreme!

This weekend, I got to use FaceTIme a lot and I have to say, I love it. My better half was in Spain for the weekend and spent a while figuring out the cheapest way to keep in touch, bearing in mind the roaming charges.

Luckily, the hotel she was staying in had free WiFi. We spoke over FaceTime I think four times in total and every time had a different meaning and a different reason. Apart from the stuff I’m not gonna bore you with, the best experience was when speaking to a couple of people at the same time. Imagine trying to do that talking on the phone… It wouldn’t happen!

The greatest thing that happened was on Sunday night… The World Cup final was interrupted whilst I jumped on FaceTime to say hello, whilst talking I heard something in the distant… I remembered that Soraya was in Spain… Watching Spain in the World Cup Final. She held the phone out and I could hear chanting and chearing!

In the end, it was great seeing each other, even though we were in different countries! Yes you’ve gotta be in WiFi but the quality was perfect! I understand why you have to be in WiFi and it’s fine! Try it, spend some time apart and get on FaceTime… I’m intrigued to see where this goes.

Remember what Steve said… “Apple will ship 10′s of Millions of Face Time devices in 2010″ – Why say devices if you just meant iPhones…?