7 features Apple killed off in iTunes 11
Apple's latest iTunes brings plenty of new features, but also puts some golden oldies out to pasture. The software, which went out yesterday as a free update, comes with a redesigned player and a more extensive album view for browsing music. Apple's also more deeply integrated iCloud and its stores within the software.But some of that march towards simplicity has come at the expense of some old features. Few of the deep-sixed features seem like logical deletions, and others are already bringing ire from longtime users who expected to see them on the other side of the update.Read on to find out what's gone.Josh Lowensohn/CNET1. Cover FlowCover Flow was the headlining feature of iTunes 7 in 2006. The feature put album covers in a "flow" together, that let you flip between them as if they were floating in front of you. Short of the built-in visualizer, it was really one of iTunes' biggest eye candy features, but it was also a way to show off the fluidity and smarts of the software when browsing through music with a multitouch trackpad. Apple's even been sued over using it, and initially lost a $625 million patent lawsuit until the judge reversed the jury verdict.Apple completely nixed Cover Flow in iTunes 11 in favor of its new album view, which will expand out an album to show you the songs within when you click on it. TheCover Flow feature remains on iPhones and iPods. Josh Lowensohn/CNET2. The de-duperIn the world of collecting and organizing digital music, you might get a duplicate or a thousand in your library. By default, iTunes won't let you re-add another music file if you've already added it, but accidents happen and large libraries can overlap.In iTunes 10.7 and earlier, Apple offered a built-in tool that would sniff out duplicates and put them on a single page. It wasn't great, but it was something, and free. In iTunes 11, the feature is missing in action. Third-party tools like $40 TuneUp can bridge the gap with a feature that finds and deletes duplicates, grabs album art, and fixes metadata. Mac users can also use the $15 Dupin.Josh Lowensohn/CNET3. iTunes DJiTunes DJ was a neat feature that would let you put together a never-ending playlist in a pinch. You could even tweak it to make sure it wouldn't play the embarrassing chunks of your music collection by limiting selections to a certain playlist or genre (see above). What made it really stand out, however, was a feature Apple added in iTunes 8.1 that let other people at your party put in a request for a song from their mobile device, and even vote on upcoming tracks. If a party host agreed, that song would go on, making the whole thing feel a little more social. Google's defunct Nexus Q device (which is currently being reworked) wanted to take that same idea and turn it into a standalone product. In iTunes 11, though, it's MIA.4. Gapless playback editorAs the name suggests, the gapless playback feature plays songs back to back, without any break -- something that's useful for tracks meant to be in immediate succession. One of the best examples: Pink Floyd's "The Wall." Curiously enough, gapless playback in iTunes 11 still works just fine. You just can't tweak any of your existing music to make use of the feature from the options editor. That's a bummer for any live-show or big 1970s concept CDs you might have planned on ripping.What devil magic is this?Josh Lowensohn/CNET5. Multiple windowsIn an effort to simplify iTunes' user interface, Apple also stripped out one of the features power users loved: the option to break out functions into their own windows. This was particularly useful if you wanted to do a little multitasking, like listening to Internet radio while going through and producing a playlist, all the while keeping those two actions separate. Another example: shopping in Apple's online store while managing an iOS device. With iTunes 11 you're limited to just that one window and whatever task is in front of you -- just like on the iPhone or iPad.Maybe it's not such a bad thing this is gone.Josh Lowensohn/CNET6. The other sidebarApple merely hid the source list sidebar, but you can still get that one back. What we're talking about is the feature that would give you genius recommendations based on any song you were currently on, often polling the iTunes Store for music you might not even have.On the plus side, this means Apple is not jamming its store down your throat nearly as much, but it's moved some of those recommendations so far out of the way that you really have to hunt to find them. Apple's effectively replaced this sidebar with a special genius recommendations menu that pops out right next to a song when you click on a context menu. This shows you songs you already have in your library, but doesn't introduce you to new stuff that might be a better match. For that you need to look at the "related" or "listeners also bought" links from within a song's page on iTunes -- assuming it's there. 7. Quick volume control, song progress in mini playerApple's mini player now does quite a bit more than it used to, such as providing search and displaying album art. Even so, it's missing a few handy things such as the volume knob and progress indicator that would show you how far along in a song you were.The mini player in iTunes 10.7 (top) and in iTunes 11 (bottom).Josh Lowensohn/CNETYou can still access the volume settings without leaving the mini player, though it takes an extra step -- you can either click on the AirPlay icon and adjust the master volume, or click on the album art and adjust it from the pop-up window. But the progress bar? That's long gone.Anything we missed? Leave it in the comments. Also be sure to read CNET's full review of iTunes 11 right here.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
How to arrange iPhone and iPad apps using iTunes
How to arrange iPhone and iPad apps using iTunes
Arranging apps on your iPhone or iPad is as simple as long-pressing on an app's icon, waiting until all the icons wiggle, and then dragging the apps around to where you want them. The downside to using this method, especially if you have a lot of apps installed, is that you can only move one app at a time. This simple guide will show you how to arrange multiple iOS apps using iTunes.The first thing you need to do is open up iTunes on your computer. When your iOS device is connected to your computer, you should see it listed in the left sidebar under Devices. Click on the device's name.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiYou should then see a screen similar to the one above. While there is a lot of information on this screen, right now we are only concerned with the Apps option at the top. Click on Apps.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiOn the left you will be shown a list of what apps are installed on your iOS device, and you can check a box to install or uninstall each app. To the right you will see a picture of your device's screen, complete with your current app placement.On the far right you will see smaller snapshots of the screens on your device. These can be rearranged just by dragging and placing a screen above or below another screen.The apps on each screen can also be moved around and rearranged by simply dragging and dropping them where you choose. You can move one app at a time, or select multiple apps and move them as a group. You can also create and rename folders the same way you would on the iOS device.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiTo select multiple apps you need to hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and then click on the apps you would like to move. Each app that you have selected will get a blue border around it once it is selected.In the picture above, we have selected eight apps. Now we are going to move them out of this folder and to a new screen. Screenshot by Jason CiprianiClick and hold on one of the selected apps, dragging the group of apps to the right. There will be a grayed-out screen at the bottom of the screens list. Drag the icon stack to this screen, and release the mouse. As you hover your cursor over the new screen, the bigger screen will change to reflect what is currently on that screen. In this instance, the screen starts out blank, then changes to show the apps we dropped there.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiScreenshot by Jason CiprianiThe apps are lined up on the new screen in the same order as they were when we originally selected them. From this point you can move one, two, or more of the apps around and get them in a preferred arrangement. Screenshot by Jason CiprianiOne more thing to note: this is also a great method for deleting apps. When your mouse cursor is hovering over an app icon, you will see an X appear. Clicking on the X will delete the app from your iOS device. When all of your apps are moved into their new locations and you are happy with the layout, make sure to click Apply in the bottom-right corner of iTunes. Alternatively, if you have moved a ton of stuff around and you aren't happy with the results, click Revert to go back to your current layout.
Arranging apps on your iPhone or iPad is as simple as long-pressing on an app's icon, waiting until all the icons wiggle, and then dragging the apps around to where you want them. The downside to using this method, especially if you have a lot of apps installed, is that you can only move one app at a time. This simple guide will show you how to arrange multiple iOS apps using iTunes.The first thing you need to do is open up iTunes on your computer. When your iOS device is connected to your computer, you should see it listed in the left sidebar under Devices. Click on the device's name.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiYou should then see a screen similar to the one above. While there is a lot of information on this screen, right now we are only concerned with the Apps option at the top. Click on Apps.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiOn the left you will be shown a list of what apps are installed on your iOS device, and you can check a box to install or uninstall each app. To the right you will see a picture of your device's screen, complete with your current app placement.On the far right you will see smaller snapshots of the screens on your device. These can be rearranged just by dragging and placing a screen above or below another screen.The apps on each screen can also be moved around and rearranged by simply dragging and dropping them where you choose. You can move one app at a time, or select multiple apps and move them as a group. You can also create and rename folders the same way you would on the iOS device.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiTo select multiple apps you need to hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and then click on the apps you would like to move. Each app that you have selected will get a blue border around it once it is selected.In the picture above, we have selected eight apps. Now we are going to move them out of this folder and to a new screen. Screenshot by Jason CiprianiClick and hold on one of the selected apps, dragging the group of apps to the right. There will be a grayed-out screen at the bottom of the screens list. Drag the icon stack to this screen, and release the mouse. As you hover your cursor over the new screen, the bigger screen will change to reflect what is currently on that screen. In this instance, the screen starts out blank, then changes to show the apps we dropped there.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiScreenshot by Jason CiprianiThe apps are lined up on the new screen in the same order as they were when we originally selected them. From this point you can move one, two, or more of the apps around and get them in a preferred arrangement. Screenshot by Jason CiprianiOne more thing to note: this is also a great method for deleting apps. When your mouse cursor is hovering over an app icon, you will see an X appear. Clicking on the X will delete the app from your iOS device. When all of your apps are moved into their new locations and you are happy with the layout, make sure to click Apply in the bottom-right corner of iTunes. Alternatively, if you have moved a ton of stuff around and you aren't happy with the results, click Revert to go back to your current layout.
5 ways to get the most out of your Instagram photos
5 ways to get the most out of your Instagram photos
Instagram (iTunes link) is a free iPhone application that enables users to upload their photos, apply some filters and special effects, then upload them to a personal timeline. Instagram can turn the worst of photographers into a "photog."What if you want to do something with a photo or photos you are particularly proud of? We have put together five ways you can use and interact with your Instagrammed photos outside of the Instagram app on your iPhone.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiNo. 1: Instagrid.meOne of the biggest drawbacks to the Instagram service is the lack of a Web site. Currently, the Instagram site only allows you to edit your account details, nothing more.Instagrid is a service that enables you to browse your Instagram timeline. Instagrid will also provide a link to a grid of your Instagram pictures, allowing you to share your timeline with others who may not have had a way to view your photos otherwise.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiNo. 2: Insta-great!Insta-great is another Web site that enables you to view your Instagram pictures and timeline (and other people's timelines), but it goes a step further by supporting searches of ranging criteria. You can search by username, filter types, dates, and location.Insta-great is what the Instagram Web site should be. Screenshot by Jason CiprianiNo. 3: Postagram Postagram is an iPhone app (iTunes link) that allows you to send your Instagram photos as real-life postcards (high-quality postcards at that) via snail mail. We have discussed Postagram before, complete with a how-to for using the service.Postagram is a great service and great way to take advantage of the amazing vacation photos you put up on Instagram. Currently the price for sending a postcard using Postagram is $0.99.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiNo. 4: PrintstagramIf you want to create a giant poster of every Instagram picture you have ever uploaded, or create small stickers of a few of your favorite Instagram shots, Printstagram is for you. Screenshot by Jason CiprianiAfter you allow Printstagram access to your Instagram pictures, you can choose whether you want to create a poster or a book of small pictures. You choose which pictures are used, as well as the background of the poster. A poster will set you back $25 and a sticker book will run $10.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiNo. 5: InstadropIf you would like to have your Instagram pictures on your computer as soon as you upload them, and you have a Dropbox account, then Instadrop is for you. Instadrop connects to both your Instagram and Dropbox accounts, automatically putting every Instagram picture you take into your Dropbox account immediately. This is a great way to have your Instagram photo files saved on your computer within seconds of uploading the picture to Instagram.If you have a favorite Instagram-based service that you use on a regular basis, feel free to share it in the comments. There are plenty more out there; these five just happen to shine the brightest at the moment.
Instagram (iTunes link) is a free iPhone application that enables users to upload their photos, apply some filters and special effects, then upload them to a personal timeline. Instagram can turn the worst of photographers into a "photog."What if you want to do something with a photo or photos you are particularly proud of? We have put together five ways you can use and interact with your Instagrammed photos outside of the Instagram app on your iPhone.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiNo. 1: Instagrid.meOne of the biggest drawbacks to the Instagram service is the lack of a Web site. Currently, the Instagram site only allows you to edit your account details, nothing more.Instagrid is a service that enables you to browse your Instagram timeline. Instagrid will also provide a link to a grid of your Instagram pictures, allowing you to share your timeline with others who may not have had a way to view your photos otherwise.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiNo. 2: Insta-great!Insta-great is another Web site that enables you to view your Instagram pictures and timeline (and other people's timelines), but it goes a step further by supporting searches of ranging criteria. You can search by username, filter types, dates, and location.Insta-great is what the Instagram Web site should be. Screenshot by Jason CiprianiNo. 3: Postagram Postagram is an iPhone app (iTunes link) that allows you to send your Instagram photos as real-life postcards (high-quality postcards at that) via snail mail. We have discussed Postagram before, complete with a how-to for using the service.Postagram is a great service and great way to take advantage of the amazing vacation photos you put up on Instagram. Currently the price for sending a postcard using Postagram is $0.99.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiNo. 4: PrintstagramIf you want to create a giant poster of every Instagram picture you have ever uploaded, or create small stickers of a few of your favorite Instagram shots, Printstagram is for you. Screenshot by Jason CiprianiAfter you allow Printstagram access to your Instagram pictures, you can choose whether you want to create a poster or a book of small pictures. You choose which pictures are used, as well as the background of the poster. A poster will set you back $25 and a sticker book will run $10.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiNo. 5: InstadropIf you would like to have your Instagram pictures on your computer as soon as you upload them, and you have a Dropbox account, then Instadrop is for you. Instadrop connects to both your Instagram and Dropbox accounts, automatically putting every Instagram picture you take into your Dropbox account immediately. This is a great way to have your Instagram photo files saved on your computer within seconds of uploading the picture to Instagram.If you have a favorite Instagram-based service that you use on a regular basis, feel free to share it in the comments. There are plenty more out there; these five just happen to shine the brightest at the moment.
Radus- Subverting the browser paradigm
Radus: Subverting the browser paradigm
One of its big tricks is that its two windows--the big viewing window and the smaller table of contents sidebar--are independent. So you can be watching or reading content in the main window while you browse for new stuff in the sidebar. Then you can add stuff to your playlist without interrupting your viewing window. That's actually a really cool media consumption concept, although not a new idea for anyone accustomed to using a media player like iTunes.Radus gets its initial content from a curated list of sources, but you can add your own feeds if you like. Of course, the service has the now-standard social net of users, a sharing function, as well as the capability to embed items on other services.But in shoving all content into the Radus interface, a lot gets left behind. Photos in blogs, for example, show up in tiny (but consistent!) thumbnails, and aren't zoomable in the product. And community gets left behind as well. That means that Radus is not rich enough to serve as a user's sole browsing platform. But using Radus is such a different experience from browsing the rest of the Web that clicking over to an originating site or story from it is a big shock.Radus is, essentially, an over-the-top RSS reader that handles video elegantly. As a portal service, it can work for users who only want to see content and don't mind skipping the flavor of the site it comes from. But as an RSS reader, it's not a success. Its presentation is also too heavy to enable easy scanning of a large number of feeds at once.I do like several of the things Radus is doing, but I do not think this app is the savior of digital media. I don't think digital media needs saving to begin with.
One of its big tricks is that its two windows--the big viewing window and the smaller table of contents sidebar--are independent. So you can be watching or reading content in the main window while you browse for new stuff in the sidebar. Then you can add stuff to your playlist without interrupting your viewing window. That's actually a really cool media consumption concept, although not a new idea for anyone accustomed to using a media player like iTunes.Radus gets its initial content from a curated list of sources, but you can add your own feeds if you like. Of course, the service has the now-standard social net of users, a sharing function, as well as the capability to embed items on other services.But in shoving all content into the Radus interface, a lot gets left behind. Photos in blogs, for example, show up in tiny (but consistent!) thumbnails, and aren't zoomable in the product. And community gets left behind as well. That means that Radus is not rich enough to serve as a user's sole browsing platform. But using Radus is such a different experience from browsing the rest of the Web that clicking over to an originating site or story from it is a big shock.Radus is, essentially, an over-the-top RSS reader that handles video elegantly. As a portal service, it can work for users who only want to see content and don't mind skipping the flavor of the site it comes from. But as an RSS reader, it's not a success. Its presentation is also too heavy to enable easy scanning of a large number of feeds at once.I do like several of the things Radus is doing, but I do not think this app is the savior of digital media. I don't think digital media needs saving to begin with.
Google Play website adds option to flag apps as inappropriate
Google Play website adds option to flag apps as inappropriate
As any Android user knows, app discovery on Google Play can be a bit of a crapshoot. Since the app store has very low barriers to entry, there's a lot of dross on there: misleading apps that aren't as advertised, cloned apps that aren't from the original developer, malicious apps that contain spyware.Screenshot by Michelle Starr/CNETOn the Google Play app on your Android device, you can report these; but until recently, there had been no option to do so on the Google Play website. Now, however, Google has added a link to app pages on Google Play that lets users flag apps as inappropriate under the "Additional Information" section, Android Police has reported.Related articlesTop-five paid app on Google Play was an antivirus scamThousands of secret keys found in Android appsProtect your Android device from malwareClicking the link takes you to the Google Play help page, where you can choose the grounds on which you believe the app should be removed from Google Play. It's not perfect; for example, only copyright holders can flag cloned apps that have copied their own content; and, to flag apps as inappropriate, Google still directs you elsewhere -- either back to the Google Play app or to the Android Developer Help Centre.Users can also flag music, inappropriate app reviews -- for example, comment spam or fake reviews -- and replies from the developer. These reports are sent to Google, which then decides whether to take action.It's certainly a step in the right direction, and better than Apple's iTunes, which currently offers no easy-to-find means to report inappropriate apps, instead requiring users to use its convoluted support website.
As any Android user knows, app discovery on Google Play can be a bit of a crapshoot. Since the app store has very low barriers to entry, there's a lot of dross on there: misleading apps that aren't as advertised, cloned apps that aren't from the original developer, malicious apps that contain spyware.Screenshot by Michelle Starr/CNETOn the Google Play app on your Android device, you can report these; but until recently, there had been no option to do so on the Google Play website. Now, however, Google has added a link to app pages on Google Play that lets users flag apps as inappropriate under the "Additional Information" section, Android Police has reported.Related articlesTop-five paid app on Google Play was an antivirus scamThousands of secret keys found in Android appsProtect your Android device from malwareClicking the link takes you to the Google Play help page, where you can choose the grounds on which you believe the app should be removed from Google Play. It's not perfect; for example, only copyright holders can flag cloned apps that have copied their own content; and, to flag apps as inappropriate, Google still directs you elsewhere -- either back to the Google Play app or to the Android Developer Help Centre.Users can also flag music, inappropriate app reviews -- for example, comment spam or fake reviews -- and replies from the developer. These reports are sent to Google, which then decides whether to take action.It's certainly a step in the right direction, and better than Apple's iTunes, which currently offers no easy-to-find means to report inappropriate apps, instead requiring users to use its convoluted support website.
Refurbished iPad Mini, fourth-gen iPad now on sale
Refurbished iPad Mini, fourth-gen iPad now on sale
Customers looking to get a break on the price of an iPad or iPad Mini, this one's for you.Apple has started selling refurbished iPad Minis and fourth-generation iPads in its online outlet store. Apple is selling a customer's choice of the black or white 16GB fourth-generation iPad with Wi-Fi-and-Celluar. The price represents a $50 cut compared with the full-price model.The iPad Mini's price is $429 -- a $30 drop compared to the $459 new option. The only refurbished iPad Mini on sale is the 16GB option with Wi-Fi-and-Cellular.Buying refurbished products isn't necessarily a bad idea. In some cases, device have malfunctioned but have been fixed by Apple and are now being resold. In a large number of cases, however, refurbished products can simply mean that customers brought back a fully operational device that they thought didn't work (or they didn't need), and Apple can't sell it at full price.All of Apple's refurbished products are tested and certified and include a one-year warranty. Apple also includes a new battery and outer shell in all of its refurbished devices.
Customers looking to get a break on the price of an iPad or iPad Mini, this one's for you.Apple has started selling refurbished iPad Minis and fourth-generation iPads in its online outlet store. Apple is selling a customer's choice of the black or white 16GB fourth-generation iPad with Wi-Fi-and-Celluar. The price represents a $50 cut compared with the full-price model.The iPad Mini's price is $429 -- a $30 drop compared to the $459 new option. The only refurbished iPad Mini on sale is the 16GB option with Wi-Fi-and-Cellular.Buying refurbished products isn't necessarily a bad idea. In some cases, device have malfunctioned but have been fixed by Apple and are now being resold. In a large number of cases, however, refurbished products can simply mean that customers brought back a fully operational device that they thought didn't work (or they didn't need), and Apple can't sell it at full price.All of Apple's refurbished products are tested and certified and include a one-year warranty. Apple also includes a new battery and outer shell in all of its refurbished devices.
Refurbished iPad 2s arrive in Apple's online store
Refurbished iPad 2s arrive in Apple's online store
Apple is now selling refurbished versions of the iPad 2 through its U.S. online store, a first since the popular tablet was launched in March.Apple is carrying both colors of the device at different storage capacities, though all except for two of what's currently in stock are the models with either Verizon or AT&T's 3G networking built in, as opposed to the less expensive, Wi-Fi-only models. Apple is also not offering any of the entry-level 16GB capacity models. As for the discount, which is one of the main reasons to purchase a refurbished product as opposed to a new one, buyers are saving $50. That's not as deep as buyers get on a first-generation iPad, which has anywhere from a $100 to $130 discount, depending on the model. Those holding out for refurbished iPad 2s from Apple have had quite a wait, though this year's model took just about as long to reach Apple's online store as the first-generation device. That model, which was released in April 2010, didn't end up for sale on Apple's storeuntil late October of that year. The big difference, of course, was Apple knew people wanted the product this time around, and has been producing more units.(via Macrumors)
Apple is now selling refurbished versions of the iPad 2 through its U.S. online store, a first since the popular tablet was launched in March.Apple is carrying both colors of the device at different storage capacities, though all except for two of what's currently in stock are the models with either Verizon or AT&T's 3G networking built in, as opposed to the less expensive, Wi-Fi-only models. Apple is also not offering any of the entry-level 16GB capacity models. As for the discount, which is one of the main reasons to purchase a refurbished product as opposed to a new one, buyers are saving $50. That's not as deep as buyers get on a first-generation iPad, which has anywhere from a $100 to $130 discount, depending on the model. Those holding out for refurbished iPad 2s from Apple have had quite a wait, though this year's model took just about as long to reach Apple's online store as the first-generation device. That model, which was released in April 2010, didn't end up for sale on Apple's storeuntil late October of that year. The big difference, of course, was Apple knew people wanted the product this time around, and has been producing more units.(via Macrumors)
Aacorn app anticipates what kids want to say
Aacorn app anticipates what kids want to say
For kids, getting parents to understand what they're thinking or feeling can be a challenge all on its own. But having additional speech impairments or developmental delays can make basic communication a serious hurdle.Now, the Aacorn App for iPad is available for kids and teens with impairments to help empower them to communicate faster and more intuitively.Developed for three years at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute in Australia, the app is designed to enable children to express themselves more freely. But the app is not free -- it'll will set you back $189.99 at the iTunes Store.The researchers experimented with a predictive approach that uses words the child selects to open up a new array of words the child most likely wants to use next. By presenting the words as they are needed, and fine-tuning these results to the child's language history over time, the researchers remove to a large extent the hunting and pecking required in many other assistive tools."Our approach was to ... create an entirely new solution that has the abilities and needs of each individual child at the heart of its design, and the result is a unique 'word tree' arrangement of branching pathways with an artificial intelligence that actually learns and adapts to each child's unique communication style," said Aacorn founder and creator Wayne Whatford in the institute's news release.Related storiesTapping this app gives special-needs users a voiceApple updates App Guidelines with eye on children's privacyBrain scans could uncover dyslexia before kids learn to readThe app also uses a child's voice instead of a robotic or adult voice, and each word appears alongside some basic imagery (such as images or sign language) to make the desired word that much easier to see quickly. Kids can choose to use both simple and more complex words and sentence structures, and the developers say the app is also designed to expand their vocabularies.See it in action at the Royal Childrens Hospital in Melbourne in the video below: aacorn from AACORN on Vimeo.
For kids, getting parents to understand what they're thinking or feeling can be a challenge all on its own. But having additional speech impairments or developmental delays can make basic communication a serious hurdle.Now, the Aacorn App for iPad is available for kids and teens with impairments to help empower them to communicate faster and more intuitively.Developed for three years at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute in Australia, the app is designed to enable children to express themselves more freely. But the app is not free -- it'll will set you back $189.99 at the iTunes Store.The researchers experimented with a predictive approach that uses words the child selects to open up a new array of words the child most likely wants to use next. By presenting the words as they are needed, and fine-tuning these results to the child's language history over time, the researchers remove to a large extent the hunting and pecking required in many other assistive tools."Our approach was to ... create an entirely new solution that has the abilities and needs of each individual child at the heart of its design, and the result is a unique 'word tree' arrangement of branching pathways with an artificial intelligence that actually learns and adapts to each child's unique communication style," said Aacorn founder and creator Wayne Whatford in the institute's news release.Related storiesTapping this app gives special-needs users a voiceApple updates App Guidelines with eye on children's privacyBrain scans could uncover dyslexia before kids learn to readThe app also uses a child's voice instead of a robotic or adult voice, and each word appears alongside some basic imagery (such as images or sign language) to make the desired word that much easier to see quickly. Kids can choose to use both simple and more complex words and sentence structures, and the developers say the app is also designed to expand their vocabularies.See it in action at the Royal Childrens Hospital in Melbourne in the video below: aacorn from AACORN on Vimeo.
A virtual world for kids who rock (podcast)
A virtual world for kids who rock (podcast)
A virtual world aimed at kids between 6 and 14 enables them to interact with each other, play games, and create and share their own musical creations. The world looks like a lot of other virtual words for children, where avatars walk around and enter a variety of rooms. But each of the rooms in ToonsTunes has a music theme, and one of those rooms, the Recording Studio, lets kids use a tool called "Mixo-O-Matic" that lets them lay down tracks from drums, guitar, bass, keyboard, and other instruments.Kids can control the beat and the genre, (country, rock, etc.), and when they're done recording, they can save the song to share with others.In a post about the site, NetFamilyNews.org blogger Anne Collier (who is my co-director at ConnectSafely.org) observed that ToonsTunes focus on music "naturally nudges young users into what social-media researchers call 'interest-driven social networking,' with elements of interest and skill development as well as social development."ToonsTunes is a project of ConnectedStudios. Founder and CEO Paul Bohan said the service "is an opportunity for kids to develop more self-esteem, have positive interactions, and listen to what other kids can do with music."SafetyThe service can be configured to allow kids to interact by typing in open chat, or it can be limited to preselected phrases, which is a good idea for very young children. Software monitors chat to block inappropriate words, and there are human moderators who "walk around the world, visibly interacting with the players and keeping the tone of discourse where is should be," according to Bohan.Moderators also look for users sharing personally identifiable information. Bohan said that when the company made its online monitors visible, "the tone of conversations improved almost immediately, when it was recognized there were moderators everywhere."ToonsTunes is free, but the company plans to add pay features, including the ability to purchase additional instruments.Click below to listen to the 9:15 interview with ToonsTunes founder and ConnectedStudios CEO Paul BohanListen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) |RSS (audio)
A virtual world aimed at kids between 6 and 14 enables them to interact with each other, play games, and create and share their own musical creations. The world looks like a lot of other virtual words for children, where avatars walk around and enter a variety of rooms. But each of the rooms in ToonsTunes has a music theme, and one of those rooms, the Recording Studio, lets kids use a tool called "Mixo-O-Matic" that lets them lay down tracks from drums, guitar, bass, keyboard, and other instruments.Kids can control the beat and the genre, (country, rock, etc.), and when they're done recording, they can save the song to share with others.In a post about the site, NetFamilyNews.org blogger Anne Collier (who is my co-director at ConnectSafely.org) observed that ToonsTunes focus on music "naturally nudges young users into what social-media researchers call 'interest-driven social networking,' with elements of interest and skill development as well as social development."ToonsTunes is a project of ConnectedStudios. Founder and CEO Paul Bohan said the service "is an opportunity for kids to develop more self-esteem, have positive interactions, and listen to what other kids can do with music."SafetyThe service can be configured to allow kids to interact by typing in open chat, or it can be limited to preselected phrases, which is a good idea for very young children. Software monitors chat to block inappropriate words, and there are human moderators who "walk around the world, visibly interacting with the players and keeping the tone of discourse where is should be," according to Bohan.Moderators also look for users sharing personally identifiable information. Bohan said that when the company made its online monitors visible, "the tone of conversations improved almost immediately, when it was recognized there were moderators everywhere."ToonsTunes is free, but the company plans to add pay features, including the ability to purchase additional instruments.Click below to listen to the 9:15 interview with ToonsTunes founder and ConnectedStudios CEO Paul BohanListen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) |RSS (audio)
Alleged iPad Mini screen, battery leaked in photos
Alleged iPad Mini screen, battery leaked in photos
No, it's not a complete version of Apple's much-rumored iPad mini, but it could be a few more pieces of the puzzle. Parts reseller ETradeSupply, which posted accurate photos and videos of Apple's iPhone 5 casing some three months before its official debut, today has images of what it says is the 8-inch LCD screen for Apple's smaller iPad, as well as its battery.Neither part is connected to any electronics, or other pieces of housing, though as ETradeSupply notes, the leaked images add credence to the fact that Apple will stick with a 4:3 ratio for the iPad Mini, versus switching to 16:9 like the iPhone 5's display. As far as specs for the two parts go, there's no estimate or analysis on screen resolution, something that could clear up whether the tablet will simply work out of the box with apps made for the first- and second-generation iPad. However, ETradeSupply lists some information on the battery, specifically that it's three times larger in capacity than the one in the iPhone 5.And the battery.ETradeSupplyThese are not the first such photos of parts said to belong to the iPad Mini. Purported photos of a fully finished version of the device went up early last week, though the front of the device was not shown. Weeks before that there other shots of the rear casing, including a leak each from Chinese tech sites BoLoPad, and digi.163.The photos come less than a week away from when Apple is expected to announce the smaller iPad at a press event in San Jose, Calif. The company sent out invitations for the October 23 event yesterday with the tagline "We've got a little more to show you." CNET's live coverage of Apple's event next Tuesday(via MacRumors)This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
No, it's not a complete version of Apple's much-rumored iPad mini, but it could be a few more pieces of the puzzle. Parts reseller ETradeSupply, which posted accurate photos and videos of Apple's iPhone 5 casing some three months before its official debut, today has images of what it says is the 8-inch LCD screen for Apple's smaller iPad, as well as its battery.Neither part is connected to any electronics, or other pieces of housing, though as ETradeSupply notes, the leaked images add credence to the fact that Apple will stick with a 4:3 ratio for the iPad Mini, versus switching to 16:9 like the iPhone 5's display. As far as specs for the two parts go, there's no estimate or analysis on screen resolution, something that could clear up whether the tablet will simply work out of the box with apps made for the first- and second-generation iPad. However, ETradeSupply lists some information on the battery, specifically that it's three times larger in capacity than the one in the iPhone 5.And the battery.ETradeSupplyThese are not the first such photos of parts said to belong to the iPad Mini. Purported photos of a fully finished version of the device went up early last week, though the front of the device was not shown. Weeks before that there other shots of the rear casing, including a leak each from Chinese tech sites BoLoPad, and digi.163.The photos come less than a week away from when Apple is expected to announce the smaller iPad at a press event in San Jose, Calif. The company sent out invitations for the October 23 event yesterday with the tagline "We've got a little more to show you." CNET's live coverage of Apple's event next Tuesday(via MacRumors)This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
Air Display app for iPad brings Retina-level resolution to Macs
Air Display app for iPad brings Retina-level resolution to Macs
Avatron Software has just added a way for users see their Mac desktops at "retina-like" resolution -- via the new iPad.Avatron Software's app Air Display allows users to "extend" their Mac desktops to an iPad, essentially turning the tablet into a second monitor. An update to the app now offers an option to enable HiDPI mode, a setting tucked away in Apple's Mac OS that renders the user interface at four times normal resolution (twice the resolution in each dimension).That's well-suited for Apple's new iPad, which as luck would have it features four times the number of pixels as the iPad 1 and 2, and a higher pixel density than any panel found on Apple's desktop or notebook computers. At least for now, that is.Speculation around HiDPI has swirled for months, in no small part to its growing presence in builds of OS X. As noted by Daring Fireball shortly after the release of Mac OS X 10.7.3, Apple included a handful of HiDPI graphic elements -- for instance, the hand cursor in Safari and Mail. Other identified HiDPI elements, particularly in Apple's upcoming Mountain Lion OS X update, suggest that a high-resolution, system-wide visual polish is just around the corner. In the meantime, the $9.99 app offers a hack-free way to enable the feature and utilize it on the newest iPad's display. Related storiesHulu on your iPad? Air Display, hands-onHow to turn your iPad into a second monitor for your Mac (video)Third-generation Apple iPad review (CNET)Avatron announced plans to enable support for the HiDPI mode last week. In a blog post the company said the feature worked well in testing with Apple's iPad software simulator, but needed extensive testing after attempting to use it on Apple's actual hardware, where it underperformed without additional tweaks.To use the feature, Air Display users need to be running Lion, the latest publicly available version of Mac OS X. The software is also available on Google's Android and Microsoft's Windows platforms -- the latter of which isgetting support for high-density displays as part of its eighth major release.
Avatron Software has just added a way for users see their Mac desktops at "retina-like" resolution -- via the new iPad.Avatron Software's app Air Display allows users to "extend" their Mac desktops to an iPad, essentially turning the tablet into a second monitor. An update to the app now offers an option to enable HiDPI mode, a setting tucked away in Apple's Mac OS that renders the user interface at four times normal resolution (twice the resolution in each dimension).That's well-suited for Apple's new iPad, which as luck would have it features four times the number of pixels as the iPad 1 and 2, and a higher pixel density than any panel found on Apple's desktop or notebook computers. At least for now, that is.Speculation around HiDPI has swirled for months, in no small part to its growing presence in builds of OS X. As noted by Daring Fireball shortly after the release of Mac OS X 10.7.3, Apple included a handful of HiDPI graphic elements -- for instance, the hand cursor in Safari and Mail. Other identified HiDPI elements, particularly in Apple's upcoming Mountain Lion OS X update, suggest that a high-resolution, system-wide visual polish is just around the corner. In the meantime, the $9.99 app offers a hack-free way to enable the feature and utilize it on the newest iPad's display. Related storiesHulu on your iPad? Air Display, hands-onHow to turn your iPad into a second monitor for your Mac (video)Third-generation Apple iPad review (CNET)Avatron announced plans to enable support for the HiDPI mode last week. In a blog post the company said the feature worked well in testing with Apple's iPad software simulator, but needed extensive testing after attempting to use it on Apple's actual hardware, where it underperformed without additional tweaks.To use the feature, Air Display users need to be running Lion, the latest publicly available version of Mac OS X. The software is also available on Google's Android and Microsoft's Windows platforms -- the latter of which isgetting support for high-density displays as part of its eighth major release.
Air beware- 2.3-pound Samsung laptop hits stores
Air beware: 2.3-pound Samsung laptop hits stores
Samsung seems to be on a mission to--let's put this carefully--emulate Apple.First Samsung came out with the 13.3-inch Series 9. Like the 13.3-inch MacBook Air, it is carved out of aluminum, is super thin at 0.64 inches (the MacBook Air is 0.68 inches at its thickest point), weighs just less than 3 pounds (2.88 pounds) and has a great display (with 400 nit brightness). Now, Samsung has come out with a likeness of the 11.6-inch MacBook Air.And just like the the Air, it is 2.3 pounds.Hmm...I'm beginning to see a pattern here. The 11.6-inch Series 9 is now listed as "in stock" at stores like Amazon.Previously, it had been listed as pre-order only.Though Samsung is obviously following Apple's lead, there are some important departures from the Apple template.First, the Series 9 uses Intel Core i series processors, not the older Core 2 Duo Intel chips in the MBAs.Second, it has a USB 3.0 port (the Air only has USB 2.0, no Thunderbolt ports--yet). Third, it packs 4G WiMax capability (Air has Wi-Fi only).A few Samsung Series 9 11.6-inch highlights: Weight/height: 2.3 pounds, 0.65 inches Materials: "arching duralumin" enclosure Processor: Intel Core i3-380UM, ultra-power-efficient Core i chip Storage: 64GB solid-state drive Memory: 2GB Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0; WiMax 4GPorts: USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, MicroSD Battery life: specified at 7 hours Software: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) Price: $1,199 (though this list price is discounted at Amazon) That's a pretty impressive spec sheet.Not only matching Apple on design but besting it on hardware in some areas.Not everything comes up roses, though.The $1,199 11.6-inch MacBook Air packs a 128GB solid-state drive, twice that of the Samsung.And despite the high-end design, Samsung still must contend with the formidable Apple brand. Via Netbooknews
Samsung seems to be on a mission to--let's put this carefully--emulate Apple.First Samsung came out with the 13.3-inch Series 9. Like the 13.3-inch MacBook Air, it is carved out of aluminum, is super thin at 0.64 inches (the MacBook Air is 0.68 inches at its thickest point), weighs just less than 3 pounds (2.88 pounds) and has a great display (with 400 nit brightness). Now, Samsung has come out with a likeness of the 11.6-inch MacBook Air.And just like the the Air, it is 2.3 pounds.Hmm...I'm beginning to see a pattern here. The 11.6-inch Series 9 is now listed as "in stock" at stores like Amazon.Previously, it had been listed as pre-order only.Though Samsung is obviously following Apple's lead, there are some important departures from the Apple template.First, the Series 9 uses Intel Core i series processors, not the older Core 2 Duo Intel chips in the MBAs.Second, it has a USB 3.0 port (the Air only has USB 2.0, no Thunderbolt ports--yet). Third, it packs 4G WiMax capability (Air has Wi-Fi only).A few Samsung Series 9 11.6-inch highlights: Weight/height: 2.3 pounds, 0.65 inches Materials: "arching duralumin" enclosure Processor: Intel Core i3-380UM, ultra-power-efficient Core i chip Storage: 64GB solid-state drive Memory: 2GB Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0; WiMax 4GPorts: USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, MicroSD Battery life: specified at 7 hours Software: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) Price: $1,199 (though this list price is discounted at Amazon) That's a pretty impressive spec sheet.Not only matching Apple on design but besting it on hardware in some areas.Not everything comes up roses, though.The $1,199 11.6-inch MacBook Air packs a 128GB solid-state drive, twice that of the Samsung.And despite the high-end design, Samsung still must contend with the formidable Apple brand. Via Netbooknews
After Apple, Samsung, Acer vie for No. 2 tablet spot
After Apple, Samsung, Acer vie for No. 2 tablet spot
While Apple shipped about 4.7 million 10-inch class tablets last quarter, Samsung is shaping up to be the closest competitor at about 850,000 units shipped worldwide in the same quarter, according to Richard Shim of DisplaySearch, which pegs its numbers to vendors' public statements. Close on Samsung's heels is Acer.The new kid on the block, Acer appears to be making gains with its 10.1-inch Iconia Tab A500 tablet.Acer has shipped 800,000 units in the current quarter, the first financial period to reflect meaningful numbers, according to Shim.But that number masks some bad news.Acer cut its 2011 tablet shipment forecasts dramatically to between 2.5 million and 3 million units from a previous projection of 5 million to 7 million units, Shim said, citing statements this month by Acer. And Acer is not alone.Other tablet makers are cutting back.In a report earlier this month, J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz said that non-Apple tablet makers have received a "dose of reality" by failing to make a product that is in high demand like the iPad.Moskowitz estimates the number of tablets that companies collectively plan to build for the year has dropped to 73 million from the 81 million he forecast in March. Both Samsung and Acer, like Apple, have a strong presence in both Europe and Asia.Unlike Apple, they use Google's Android operating system. Samsung, which has been selling a 7-inch Galaxy Tab and just began selling a 10.1-inch model, is now accentuating thinness and weight, like the iPad: the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is roughly as thin and as light as the iPad 2.Acer, which has a strong PC heritage, is focused more on connectivity.The Iconia Tab 500 is relatively heavy and sports an HDMI and a USB port and a memory card (microSD) slot.Acer will also begin selling a 7-inch tablet this quarter.Also in the running is the so-called whitebox market. Though a distinct category when compared with the market share of single vendors cited above--since the whitebox market is an amalgamation of many small vendors--whiteboxes as a whole are second to Apple, according to DisplaySearch.
While Apple shipped about 4.7 million 10-inch class tablets last quarter, Samsung is shaping up to be the closest competitor at about 850,000 units shipped worldwide in the same quarter, according to Richard Shim of DisplaySearch, which pegs its numbers to vendors' public statements. Close on Samsung's heels is Acer.The new kid on the block, Acer appears to be making gains with its 10.1-inch Iconia Tab A500 tablet.Acer has shipped 800,000 units in the current quarter, the first financial period to reflect meaningful numbers, according to Shim.But that number masks some bad news.Acer cut its 2011 tablet shipment forecasts dramatically to between 2.5 million and 3 million units from a previous projection of 5 million to 7 million units, Shim said, citing statements this month by Acer. And Acer is not alone.Other tablet makers are cutting back.In a report earlier this month, J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz said that non-Apple tablet makers have received a "dose of reality" by failing to make a product that is in high demand like the iPad.Moskowitz estimates the number of tablets that companies collectively plan to build for the year has dropped to 73 million from the 81 million he forecast in March. Both Samsung and Acer, like Apple, have a strong presence in both Europe and Asia.Unlike Apple, they use Google's Android operating system. Samsung, which has been selling a 7-inch Galaxy Tab and just began selling a 10.1-inch model, is now accentuating thinness and weight, like the iPad: the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is roughly as thin and as light as the iPad 2.Acer, which has a strong PC heritage, is focused more on connectivity.The Iconia Tab 500 is relatively heavy and sports an HDMI and a USB port and a memory card (microSD) slot.Acer will also begin selling a 7-inch tablet this quarter.Also in the running is the so-called whitebox market. Though a distinct category when compared with the market share of single vendors cited above--since the whitebox market is an amalgamation of many small vendors--whiteboxes as a whole are second to Apple, according to DisplaySearch.
After rough IPO, concern for Apple supplier Japan Display
After rough IPO, concern for Apple supplier Japan Display
Japan Display, the world's largest smartphone display supplier, had a rough IPO on Wednesday.When Japan Display (JDI) listed its shares in a $3.1 billion initial public offering Wednesday, the price at opening dropped 15 percent below the IPO price, as reported by Nikkei. This despite the fact that the IPO price of 900 yen (about $8.87) was at the lower end of the suggested IPO range, according to The Wall Street Journal. And the share price got as low as 706 yen on Wednesday. "The [IPO] pricing was wrong," Amir Anvarzadeh, director of Japan Equity Sales at BGC Partners, said in CNBC interview."They're very focused on the smaller screens, low-temperature polysilicon, which is still good business," he said. JDI's low-temperature polysilicon technology is used in Apple's iPhone 5S display."[But] in the case of small screens [and] low-temperature polysilicon, we're seeing the Taiwanese coming [on] and the Koreans have moved on to AMOLED," or active-matrix organic LED, according to Anvarzadeh. The latter is used by Samsung on its popular Galaxy smartphones, for example. JDI is a merger of the display businesses of Sony, Toshiba, and Hitachi, all of which had been crippled by losses in their respective small display businesses.The merger -- which received major financial backing and support from the Japanese government -- looked doomed at first, but eventually, in 2010, the company was formed. Subsequently, JDI became a major supplier of displays for Apple's iPhone.For the nine months through December, Japan Display reported a profit of 33.5 billion yen ($331 million), exceeding the previous full year profit by about 10 times, according to the Wall Street Journal. JDI has about 16 percent of the smartphone display market, the largest share of any one company. "The question mark is what happens after this year when [Taiwanese] companies like AU Optronics (AUO) begin to bring supply in?" Anvarzadeh asked, who said repeatedly during the interview that the Taiwanese are just now beginning to get their production yields to levels that are competitive with market leaders like JDI.
Japan Display, the world's largest smartphone display supplier, had a rough IPO on Wednesday.When Japan Display (JDI) listed its shares in a $3.1 billion initial public offering Wednesday, the price at opening dropped 15 percent below the IPO price, as reported by Nikkei. This despite the fact that the IPO price of 900 yen (about $8.87) was at the lower end of the suggested IPO range, according to The Wall Street Journal. And the share price got as low as 706 yen on Wednesday. "The [IPO] pricing was wrong," Amir Anvarzadeh, director of Japan Equity Sales at BGC Partners, said in CNBC interview."They're very focused on the smaller screens, low-temperature polysilicon, which is still good business," he said. JDI's low-temperature polysilicon technology is used in Apple's iPhone 5S display."[But] in the case of small screens [and] low-temperature polysilicon, we're seeing the Taiwanese coming [on] and the Koreans have moved on to AMOLED," or active-matrix organic LED, according to Anvarzadeh. The latter is used by Samsung on its popular Galaxy smartphones, for example. JDI is a merger of the display businesses of Sony, Toshiba, and Hitachi, all of which had been crippled by losses in their respective small display businesses.The merger -- which received major financial backing and support from the Japanese government -- looked doomed at first, but eventually, in 2010, the company was formed. Subsequently, JDI became a major supplier of displays for Apple's iPhone.For the nine months through December, Japan Display reported a profit of 33.5 billion yen ($331 million), exceeding the previous full year profit by about 10 times, according to the Wall Street Journal. JDI has about 16 percent of the smartphone display market, the largest share of any one company. "The question mark is what happens after this year when [Taiwanese] companies like AU Optronics (AUO) begin to bring supply in?" Anvarzadeh asked, who said repeatedly during the interview that the Taiwanese are just now beginning to get their production yields to levels that are competitive with market leaders like JDI.
Alleged iPhone 6 images leaked by former Taiwanese pop star
Alleged iPhone 6 images leaked by former Taiwanese pop star
Photos purportedly of the iPhone 6 have popped up on Chinese site Weibo courtesy of a former Taiwanese pop star who has shown an uncanny knack for leaking early shots of Apple products.Jimmy Lin, a Taiwanese singer and actor, took to his Weibo page to reveal two photos allegedly of the iPhone 6 showing the new phone as longer than the 5S. One photo peeks at the back of the two phones, while the other offers a glimpse of their front screens.Lin spills a few alleged details, namely that the iPhone 6 sports a 4.7-inch screen, that the power button has shifted to the right, and that the coating for the built-in antenna is no longer on the outside. Lin adds that the phone offers a good grip.Most of Lin's observations fall in line with other rumored features for Apple's next flagship smartphone, most notably the increase in screen size. With other smartphones sporting larger and larger displays, Apple is under pressure to come up with a bigger screen for the next iteration of the iPhone. With Apple losing market share to Samsung and other Android vendors offering up jumbo-sized phones, literally going big is key to staying competitive and wooing consumers who may be eyeing rival smartphones. Lin has a history of leaking Apple images. He accurately leaked the iPhone 5 and the iPad Mini ahead of those two releases, according to tech site Pocket-Lint. He also had an early shot of the iPhone 5C. Still, the photos should be taken with the usual grain of salt. Despite Lin's past track record, the "iPhone 6" seen in the images could be faked easily enough.As such, we'll have to keep this latest tidbit in the rumor department, at least until the fall when Apple is expected to unleash its next iPhone.
Photos purportedly of the iPhone 6 have popped up on Chinese site Weibo courtesy of a former Taiwanese pop star who has shown an uncanny knack for leaking early shots of Apple products.Jimmy Lin, a Taiwanese singer and actor, took to his Weibo page to reveal two photos allegedly of the iPhone 6 showing the new phone as longer than the 5S. One photo peeks at the back of the two phones, while the other offers a glimpse of their front screens.Lin spills a few alleged details, namely that the iPhone 6 sports a 4.7-inch screen, that the power button has shifted to the right, and that the coating for the built-in antenna is no longer on the outside. Lin adds that the phone offers a good grip.Most of Lin's observations fall in line with other rumored features for Apple's next flagship smartphone, most notably the increase in screen size. With other smartphones sporting larger and larger displays, Apple is under pressure to come up with a bigger screen for the next iteration of the iPhone. With Apple losing market share to Samsung and other Android vendors offering up jumbo-sized phones, literally going big is key to staying competitive and wooing consumers who may be eyeing rival smartphones. Lin has a history of leaking Apple images. He accurately leaked the iPhone 5 and the iPad Mini ahead of those two releases, according to tech site Pocket-Lint. He also had an early shot of the iPhone 5C. Still, the photos should be taken with the usual grain of salt. Despite Lin's past track record, the "iPhone 6" seen in the images could be faked easily enough.As such, we'll have to keep this latest tidbit in the rumor department, at least until the fall when Apple is expected to unleash its next iPhone.
A black MacBook Air or just a wish list
Apple enthusiast site MacRumors scored the MacBook rumor of the day with this intriguing prospect.However, don't take the rumor too seriously yet as MacRumors throws in more than the usual rumor qualifiers and a report on 9to5Mac states that "a reliable source has told us that they haven't seen any black in the new MacBook Air materials." Another thing to keep in mind: Be careful what you wish for. Black can be a vexing color on metal.The Dell Adamo--an all-metal ultrathin design that competed with the Air--also came in jet black and was a magnet for fingerprints.I used a black Adamo for a few weeks, and after a day of heavy use its pristine black exterior became a fingerprint mosaic. And that may be one of the reasons Apple has yet to release a black Air or MacBook Pro. That said, this hasn't stopped Samsung.Its Series 9 is both black and metal. So, Apple could possibly offer this as an option for those with Samsung Series 9 envy, considering the rivalry between the two. And it wouldn't be unprecedented.Remember the black MacBook
A6 chip to reach iPad 3 later in 2012, says analyst
Getting new processor technology out the door (remember, Apple is also in the chip design business) is a Herculean task for even seasoned chip manufacturers like Intel.It will certainly be no different for Apple, whose next chip, dubbed the "A6," may not make an appearance in the iPad 3 until later in 2012, said The Linley Group, a chip consulting firm. If Apple keeps to its schedule and launches an iPad 3 in the first quarter of 2012, the initial version of the iPad 3 "will have to use the same A5 processor as the current iPad 2, relying on the rumored new high-resolution 'Retina' display to drive the upgrade cycle," Linley Group senior analyst Kevin Krewell said this week in a research note. Krewell adds that he expects the quad-core A6 will be competitive with next year's best mobile processors, including an expected quad-core offering from Nvidia. That Nvidia chip is expected to power both Android and Windows 8 devices, including tablets and laptops."Fabricating Apple's A6 in 28nm (instead of the 40nm process Nvidia is using for its quad-core part) will reduce both die cost and power, yielding a much better product," he said. Updated on October 26 at 10:25 a.m. PST: with clarification about Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).It is not clear now whether TSMC will make Apple's A6 processor.Samsung may continue to make Apple A series chips.
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