Apple aired their first iPad commercial during the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. The commercial shows people using the iPad and going through the various features (iBooks, Videos, Maps, Email, Photos, Safari etc). The song is There Goes My Love by The Blue Van (iTunes link).
Apple announced today that the iTunes Store reached 10 billion music downloads since it first opened in 2003. This also means they are ending their “Countdown to 10 Billion Songs” promotion. They haven’t announced a winner yet, but that lucky person can expect a $10,000 iTunes Store gift card. On their main page, they have a graph showing the growth of the iTunes Music Store starting at it’s launch on April 23,2003 to the present.
There’s very little to go on at this point, just a series of photos posted to a forum by a device repair company, but if their suspicions are correct, this could be the front panel of the presumably upcoming “iPhone 4G.” iResQ claims to have obtained the sample part from a “reputable source” that has provided genuine parts to it in the past, parts which iResQ uses for repairing products — even if those products don’t exist yet. Interestingly, the LCD is factory glued to the digitizer on this 4G wannabe (like on the original iPhone), as opposed to them being separate elements on the 3G and 3GS, meaning higher replacement costs.
Apple has just released iPhone OS 3.1.3 Software Update, which includes a number of bug fixes and security patches for all iPhone and iPod touch models. The new version appears to be a very minor update, as the previous software version was 3.1.2. However, the update is recommended for all users (except those who jailbreak), as it includes the following fixes:
* Improves accuracy of reported battery level on iPhone 3GS
* Resolves issue where third-party apps would not launch in some instances
* Fixes bug that may cause an app to crash when using the Japanese Kana keyboard
Apple has just pushed out an update to iTunes, which brings the software to version 9.0.3. It still looks and acts the same as 9.0.2, but it does come with several bug fixes and improvements:
iTunes no longer ignores your “Remember password for purchases” setting.
Addresses problems with syncing some Smart Playlists and Podcasts with iPod.
Resolves a problem recognizing when iPod is connected.
Addresses issues that affect stability and performance.
We’re also guessing that the new version probably has a few references to the iPad, so all you tinkerers better get to it! The update is available via Software Update and at Apple.com.
Yesterday Apple announced their highly anticipated tablet, dubbed the iPad. It’ll be available in 60 days and it comes in several size configurations, with the 16GB base-model costing $499. It includes 802.11n wireless networking, a 9.7″ multi-touch screen, speakers, microphone, Bluetooth, accelerometer, and compass. It appears to run a modified version of the iPhone OS, presumably iPhone OS 3.2. It’ll run current iPhone apps without modification, although an SDK has been announced to build native apps. Additionally, Apple will roll out a WiFi+3G model which will include 3G connectivity and GPS. The WiFi+3G model will cost an additional $130, although it’ll be unlocked and service will cost $15 for 250MB of bandwidth per month or $30 for unlimited data. 3G will be provided by AT&T in the states with no contract.
According to a (now deleted) tweet by major German electronics retailer Media Markt, the Apple iPad will go on sale March 1st at a price of 499 Euros (~$700) with T-Mobile contract or 899 Euros (~$1200) without. In the US prices would likely be around $500-$600 with contract and $999 without. These numbers were calculated comparing Apple items sold in Euros and USD (Mac Mini: 549 Euros / $599 USD, MacBook 899 Euros / $999 USD).
The company, however, quickly deleted the tweet but not before it was retweeted a number of times.
The iPhone Dev Team has released the Redsn0w beta version 0.9b3. The update is able to jailbreak OS version 3.1.2, but unfortunately still won’t jailbreak the third gen iPod touch. Newer iPhones with the new bootrom (iPhones purchased after the 40th week of last year) will still have to be tethered to a computer running redsn0w in order to be jailbroken, as well as every time you want to reboot. It’s pretty inconvenient if you just want to jailbreak for the sake of jailbreaking, given that Blackra1n doesn’t have those limitations.
We’ve heard a lot of rumors about the heavily-rumored-and-probably-leaked-by-Apple Apple tablet by now, but the latest may be the most surprising. Now the Apple tablet will supposedly have a webcam with which to identify your face, with the intention that the device be shared by a family. The focus of the tablet will be both on games and on repackaging old media, and that it is intended to play an integral roll in both the home and the classroom for both work and play, or so a source claims.
We’ve heard a few different rumors that the tablet everyone expects Apple to announce on the 27th will have some neat things to show off for game playing, and now rumors say EA has been working directly with Apple to make games that show off it’s gaming potential. The possibility that we may see a version of Mirror’s Edge isn’t out of the question, some say. Read the rest of this entry »
Today, the French website Nowhere Else has done something similar for the next generation iPhone. The image highlights the various rumors surrounding the next version of the iPhone (the iPhone 4G if you will) into one annotated graphic.
An OLED display, 5-megapixel camera and a release date between May and July appear to be the most likely rumors (and we agree that those all sound like very distinct possibilities). Also ranking high are rumors of a front-facing camera, dual-core processor with more RAM and a touch-sensitive case.
Tiffen, maker of photographic equipment and filters, has introduced its new Steadicam Smoothee for the iPhone 3GS. Based on the same technology found in professional Steadicam products, the Smoothee is a handheld iPhone mount with a patented design that stabilizes the iPhone when in users’ hands, enabling them to take more steady, professional-looking video. Features of the Smoothee include a fold-up hand grip, quick-release iPhone mount that can be removed and used with any standard tripod, and an included carrying strap and quick guide DVD. Pricing and release information has yet to be announced.
EA’s new racing game, Need For Speed Shift [App Store, $9.99], is now available. The new title includes 20 different cars (including the BMW M3 GT2, Lamborghini Gallardo & Pagani Zonda), 18 tracks in various international locations (Chicago, London & Tokyo) and a multiplayer mode with up to 6 players over WiFi or Bluetooth.
Alien Glyphs puzzle based arcade iPhone game, which was featured by Apple in October is quality updated.
Wat’s new:
Performance increase 15%
Multiplayer mode – Deathmatch (up to 4 players at the same time, compete their visual memory and reaction)
Three new modes:
- Quick Play – Survival game mode. Mixed visual themes with dynamic escalating difficulty
- Time Attack – Mode to strike 60 glyphs with your best time
- Count Down – 3 minutes to play, get the best Score
Extra hard difficulty (Insane) for Survival mode
Four new OpenFeint achievements for any type of difficulty
One new great power up – Robot – you can activate Auto – Play for limited time
Four new visual themes (skins)- Plastic, Acid, Doodle, Fur
Voice notifications: pleasant woman computer style voice will tell you about main events
With Apple’s pockets bulging with cash and rumblings of an impending end to the recession, ’tis the season for companies like Apple to do their holiday shopping for smaller companies to gobble up. One unnamed source says the next one on Apples list is VoIP company iCall in a deal valuing between $50-60 million.
Citing his investigation into Apple’s supply chain, analyst Yair Reiner claims that Apple will ramp up production of thewonderdevice in February 2010. His date for the Second Coming of the JesusTablet: March or April. And apparently, it’ll kill Kindle.
He says that Apple is offering 30/70 revenue split to book publishers. That’s 30% for Apple, and 70% for publishers for a non-exclusive distribution contract. Amazon—who apparently has pissed off everyone in the book industry—only offers 30/70 for exclusives, and 50/50 for the rest. He claims that the Apple device will make “ebooks more relevant for education by simplifying functions such as scribbling marginalia.” Read the rest of this entry »
Fring is a VoIP and chat client for your mobile phone. The service works with a handful of various networks, including Skype, AIM, MSN Messenger and Twitter. You can even make calls to landlines from your SkypeOut and SkypeIn account and place voice calls to your Skype and Fring address book.
Today, Fring is taking its iPhone app to the next level by bringing support for video chat. Nokia added this feature to some of its devices last week, and the new version of Fring is now in the app store. Fring is free and you can grab it here (iTunes link). That means the iPhone/iPod Touch can now accept incoming Skype Video Calls! This can lead to a bunch of ways to monitor something as well. Read the rest of this entry »
Black Friday (a.k.a., the beginning of the U.S. holiday shopping season, a.k.a. “El Stampede”) is only a few hours away and assorted retailers have begun assembling a variety of iPhone and iPod-related accessory and app specials.
So, without further ado, here’s the list as far as we know:
Toys ‘R Us: $50 Gift Card with any iPod touch purchase.
This article was made by brian and posted on gumballtech.com
Lately, there have been a burst of various lockscreen mods/apps/hacks/widgets. It’s extremely hard to actually figure out which one someone should actually use. They each have its own design and set of features. Some are free, and some cost money. We won’t go over every feature. We have extensively used each application and have come up with the pros and cons of them. Which one is for you? Continue reading to find out.
The developers of QuickSMS have added a new feature in app, it is delivery report system. A new delivery report uses the same principle as used in standard mobile phones.
How it works:
When you type the message, you can switch on the report ( the button with image of the envelop and clock on the quick-access board) and send sms.
There is a mark with gray “clock” on the left corner of sent message while the message is not delivered. This mark is green if that message have been delivered or red if otherwise. Read the rest of this entry »
