Apple just announced a new iPod Touch.
It is a lower memory version of just 16gb, featuring an ultra-slim design, 4-inch Retina display, dual-core
A5 chip and Apple EarPods. This cheaper iPod Touch does not include the iSight camera or loop.
More info as it arrives.
Update : Selling for $229 , $30 more than previous old iPod which has now been discontinued.
Google just had its developer conference a few weeks ago. However, there was one thing absent and that was a mention of the next version of android or next stage release to 4.3.
I must admit I did find it odd at first, but then I thought if Google did hold back and wait until Apple’s WWDC on 10th June to make such an announcement, they could upstage Apple.
Well it looks like that is exactly what Google is planning. On 10th June 2013 Google will announce android 4.3. And lets not mince words here, they will try their best to make comparisons between android and iOS.
iOS 7 is important to Apple, as it provides Mr Ive with the power to stamp his name on the software as well as the hardware.
But will it be enough?
Some surprising news.
The Blackberry Q10 in France is outselling the Samsung Galaxy S4, iPhone 5, HTC One and Nokia Lumia 520.
I’m speechless.
A few hours ago, Tim Cook was a guest speak at All Things Digital. So what did Tim reveal?
1) Tim Cook said there are plans to allow deeper access to iOS, but such changes will only be allowed if they don’t impact the customer’s experience.
2) Apple will open up more APIs in the future, but not to the degree that we put the customer at risk of having a bad experience.
3) He re-iterated that Apple continues to be a market leader, sold 85 million iPhones and 42 million iPads last quarter, and has seen drops in stock prices before.
4) There is a Grand Vision for Apple TV. Sold 13m Apple TV since release. 6m alone were in 2012.
5) Asked about the iWatch, Tim said what. And no. He didn’t like Google Glass but wearable tech is being looked at. He didn’t think Google Glass was for the masses.
6) Apple products are used more than android products.
7) Last year Apple acquired a company every 60-75 days.Not looking to acquire a social network.When
8) When asked about Samsung, he said he still doesn’t like the copying company and won’t negotiate with them. But the may shift back manufacturing to them.
There are plenty of wild rumours floating around regarding the next version of iOS.
One rumour is that iOS 7 will integrate Flickr and Vimeo. If this happens, Flickr will become even more prime time. With Flickr’s 1 TB of free storage and deep integration into the iOS this will make it a sure winner. I’m not so sure about Vimeo, but I do believe Flickr is likely.
When Apple released its own Maps app, which was using its own data, the world took centre stage and panned it for major obscurities. Warped roads, bent buildings and more.
Well, Google is now going 3D with its maps, and if you try it out you will also find similar obscurities that plagued Apple.
Maybe the two companies are sharing data. Unlikely. But it does show that despite Google’s strength in Maps, it still can face issues.
The keynote speech the world is waiting for happens at 6pm 10th June 2013 UK time. It is Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference and the anticipation is high.
There is an expectation to see glimpses of iOS 7 and the latest Mac OS. Unlikely, but maybe some hardware too. Apple has been very quiet since last year, so everyone is very keen to find out what they have been secretly working on.
One thing is for sure, the next 6-9 months will reveal major refreshes on the software front and brand new hardware to fuel sales frenzies. New iPhones, iPad and Macs are all on the cards and next year the Apple iWatch and iPhablet.
Lets hope Apple live streams the keynote. If it does the Internet is sure to ground to a halt.
So what would you like to see from iOS and Mac OS? And the same question again, but covering the updates to hardware?
Foss Patents has established that Apple has now requested that the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Google Now be included in its ongoing lawsuit.
Two of the patents specifically relate to Apple’s voice-driven Siri personal assistant, as noted on Wednesday by Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents. They are U.S. Patent No. 8,086,604, and U.S. Patent No. 6,846,959, both of which are entitled “Universal interface for retrieval of information in a computer system.”
Beyond Siri, the filing also alleges the infringement of three other Apple-owned patents:
U.S. Patent No. 5,666,502: “Graphical user interface using historical lists with field classes”
U.S. Patent No. 5,946,647: “System and method for performing an action on a structure in computer-generated data”
U.S. Patent No. 7,761,414: “Asynchronous data synchronization amongst devices”
Apple filed the motion to amend its infringement complaint in a California court on Tuesday.
As for the inclusion of Google Now, the ‘604 and ‘959 patents related to Siri are also included in the filing because Google Now has replaced the Android Quick Search Box in some instances. That search box was previously targeted by Apple in its complaint.
A hearing to discuss Apple’s motion has been scheduled for June 25 in a San Jose court in front of Judge Paul S. Grewal.
The patent litigation is nuts and thwarts innovation which in turn affects products being sold. And sometimes impacts a product after you have bought it e.g. Apple removing push email in Germany on iOS devices and Samsung removing global search on the Galaxy range. This was after you had bought the devices too.
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/pocket-informant-pro-events/id380732176?mt=8
Pocket Informant Pro version 3 has just been approved by the Apple AppStore and offers a wealth of new features and improvements including.
NEW “CLEAR” INTERFACE – a brand new re-designed interface that is beautiful, elegant and easy to use
NATURAL LANGUAGE EVENT CREATION – Enter phrases like “Coffee with Mom every Tuesday at 6am” and Pocket Informant will understand and set your event accordingly.
TODAY VIEW now shows Tomorrow, plus is fully customizable with Smart Filters and More!
CURRENT FEATURES MADE EVEN BETTER!
VIEWS – Today, List (Agenda), Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Task, Notes, Contacts views
INTEGRATED – Show events and tasks together, either what’s “in progress” or just what’s due
EVENT LOCATION MAPS – Tap a button and show today’s events mapped out for you, tap on the event and get directions (integrates with Google Maps, iOS Maps and Navigon)
RECURRENCES – Supports simple (every day/week/month/year) or complex (e.g. 4th Friday of every other month)
CUSTOMIZABLE – We give you the options you need to customize the way Informant works as well as how it looks. ISO week numbers, event and task defaults, month & week view layouts – all at your command.
COLORS/ICONS – Use Calendar or Tag coloring to visually make your organized calendar or task list more readable
UNIVERSAL – Runs on all of your iOS devices with one purchase! Other apps cost more than twice as much and have separate versions for iPhone and iPad!
NATURAL LANGUAGE CREATION – Enter phrases like “Take out the trash every Friday at 6am” and Pocket Informant will understand and set your task accordingly!
PROJECTS can now have a due date, a default template, be set to automatically complete, use parallel/sequential/single-task “next” action modes, and more!
CHECKLISTS – Create checklists for your tasks that involve lists (like grocery shopping, packing, etc.)
TODAY VIEW is now fully customizable with Smart Filters and more!
PI ONLINE EMAIL TO TASK CONVERSION – Subscribers can now email Pocket Informant Online to automatically create tasks that sync down to Pocket Informant Pro!
Current Features Made Even Better!
INTEGRATED – Show events and tasks together, either what’s “in progress” or just what’s due
FILTER – Use Tags to filter your tasks
TEMPLATES – create templates to quickly generate tasks, even with sub-tasks
The list goes on and on of new features and improvements. Just a shame you cannot make this a default app.
Apple’s top brass faced a hearing by the US Senate over the company’s tax arrangements.
Despite the tough questioning, and the attempted character assassination by Senator Levin (I personally thought he was an idiot and arrogant as he seemed to ignore what he was being told) ,I thought Apple demonstrated that they paid a fair share of tax, and well within the legal system.
What it did show was how antiquated the tax system is in the US and globally. And I thought Tim Cook did a stellar job.
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