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- Rumor Has It: LED Flash destined for Next iPhone
They say the best camera you own is the one you have on you right now. So, unless you habitually carry a high-end DSLR on your person everywhere you go, your best camera is likely your iPhone. And that's not exactly something to brag about, given how disappointing the iPhone camera can be.That might be changing. According to AppleInsider, Apple is in the market for an LED flash manufacturer:
Apple in recent months has moved to procure significant quantities of LED camera flash components that could help the iPhone maker’s next-generation mobile handsets produce superior image and video captures in low-light situations.
People familiar with Apple’s initiative claim the electronics maker is seeking allotments of LED camera flash components in the tens of millions for delivery during the 2010 calendar year, meaning future iPhones — and possibly the iPod touch — are the most likely recipients of those parts, due to their sales volume. Those same people say that Philips’ Lumileds Lighting sector is believed to be the front-runner for Apple’s business and may have already secured the design win.
It's all good news, of course, but I won't hold my breath. It took two years for Apple to upgrade the iPhone camera in any significant manner, and even now with the 3GS 3.2 megaxpixels and video recording, the camera is still a colossal waste of time.
The 3GS might be the fastest iPhone yet, but the camera app is still painfully slow. If you're taking an impulse shot with your iPhone (let’s say your cat is doing something unbelievably hilarious and you really must capture it right now, this second) the chances are you're going to miss the moment. The virtual iris takes an age to 'open' as the camera app (and all its auto-stabilizing algorithms) are loaded into memory. And then there's the issue with light; unless your cat is doing its unbelievably hilarious thing in the garden, and it's a blazingly-bright sunny day, and it’s not moving around very much, you're unlikely to get a good photo. Frankly, the iPhone makes for a lousy point-and-shoot camera.
"But I didn't buy my iPhone to take pictures," you might say, "That's what I have a real camera for!" And that's true… except for those times when you don't have your 'real' camera on you. And it is those moments — when your iPhone takes just long-enough to be roused to readiness that your cat loses interest and wanders off — that you curse Steve Jobs and all who work for him.
I've always found this paradoxical; for a company that prides itself on not making crappy products, that strives to guarantee a rewarding user experience time after time, it has given us consistently rubbish camera functionality in what is, without a doubt, one of its highest profile products.
Turning Point
I'm hopeful that, if true, this rumor marks a turning point, and that Apple is focusing (pun intended) on the camera hardware and really aiming (sorry!) to do something worthwhile with the camera on the next iPhone. The expected upgrade would be a five megapixel sensor with a super-bright LED flash. Other mobile handsets (such as the Motorola Droid and the Nexus One) already offer these specs, while Nokia and Sony Ericsson have been producing decent camera-phones for some years now. But what if Apple was to surprise us and really upgrade the camera with something far more compelling; how about a real glass optical assembly — not a cheap blob of resin atop a CCD? Or what about greatly-updated, super-responsive camera software that puts even dedicated point-and-shoot cameras to shame?
Of course, a significantly improved camera means larger hardware, and Apple is never going to tolerate a noticeable increase in the iPhone's dimensions. After all, rightly or wrongly, the perceived benchmark for consumer electronics progress is about getting things smaller, thinner and lighter.
A Difficult Place
AppleInsider adds:
[Rumors indicate Apple] has placed orders with OmniVision, its current supplier of CMOS image sensors, for as many as 45 million 5-megapixel parts for the next-generation of the handset due by late spring. The company is also likely to leverage the iPhone’s ambient light sensor, in addition to providing a software switch, to ensure that the LED flash won’t interfere in photos where it isn’t needed. […] And since the same LED flash can also be operated as a continuous light source, it would be suitable for proving light to enhance iPhone video recordings as well — not to mention closing the book on the numerous, dinky iPhone flashlight apps proliferating the App Store.
Apple is now in a difficult place with the iPhone. The company is committed to its traditional vision of producing products that are functional and beautiful, and it simply won't compromise on style; if an improved camera means a bigger iPhone, it just won't improve the camera until the technology fits its desired form factor. But, in the meantime, that leaves customers frustrated that their super-expensive 'smart' phones aren't nearly as smart as the competition.
Переслать - Simple Test Confirms Magic Mouse Not So Magical When it Comes to Power
It’s not exactly the most scientific test ever conducted, but a very practical experiment conducted by Softpedia’s Filip Truta reveals that the new Apple Magic Mouse pales next to its predecessor in at least one significant way. That area of weakness is power management, and the new slick interface device could be as much as 40 percent less efficient than the clumsy old Mighty Mouse.Reports have been flooding in that the new mouse is a power-hungry little guy, both internally among staff here at TheAppleBlog and over at the Apple Discussion boards. At least one discussion thread deals with the problem that the Magic Mouse has when working in conjunction with the Apple Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard. Apparently, using both together will result in significant battery drain in the latter.
On its own, the Magic Mouse is no energy superstar either. Many users report a much shorter battery life than they got with the Bluetooth Mighty Mouse. Truta was finding the same thing with his new pointing device, and so went about testing his theory to see what he found. Rather than timing the life of the batteries during regular continuous usage, as a lab might, Truta came up with an easy to perform exercise that you can try for yourself, too, so long as you’re in possession of both models of Apple mice.
The trick is to use a fresh set of batteries in the Magic Mouse until they run out of steam. Apple’s redesigned the mouse preferences pane to tell you when you need to change them, and even provides instructions on how to do so in case you can’t figure it out for yourself. Once the batteries are depleted, all you have to do is switch them back into your old Mighty Mouse.
Using this very simple method, Truta discovered that while the Magic Mouse saw the batteries as devoid of anymore usable energy, the Mighty Mouse would in fact report that the batteries weren’t even close to empty. In fact, his tests show that under the Bluetooth devices menu it would report as much as 41 percent battery remaining in the supposedly dead batteries. That’s not an insignificant margin by any count.
Battery issues aside, I sill love my Magic Mouse. I should qualify that by noting that I use it as the primary means of control for my home theater Mac mini, which means that I use it quite sparingly. I’m still using the same batteries I put in when I got it, which was almost immediately following its release. And my keyboard doesn’t seem to be running down with any unusual speed, either. But again, I almost never use them really, except to set up a movie or TV show or start a playlist in iTunes. I’m still planning on testing out Filip Truta method when the batteries do eventually run down, though. What are your experiences?
Переслать - Orange Executive Reveals Tablet Details
The web has been rife today with news that Stéphane Richard, an executive from France Télécom, the French communications company, had let slip could-be details about Apple’s supposedly upcoming tablet in a recent radio interview.
During the Europe 1 interview, which aired Monday morning, Richard revealed to radio host Jean Pierre Elkabbach that the highly debated tablet could feature a built-in webcam, possibly similar to that found in Apple’s current computer lineup, and disclosed that the device will have integrated 3G capabilities. According to Richard, cell phone carrier Orange will be providing the 3G network infrastructure for the tablet in France. However, he failed to specify any price points or possible contact plans.
Apple is expected to unveil its long-rumored tablet at a San Francisco press event toward the end of this month, where hopefully all will finally be made known, putting an end to more than a year’s worth of often deliberate speculation.
The translated interview between Richard and Elkabbach follows:
Elkabbach: According to the weekly magazine Le Point, in a few days your partner Apple will launch a tablet?
Richard: Yes.
Elkabbach: Equipped with a webcam?
Richard: Yes.
Elkabbach: Will Orange customers be able to enjoy it?
Richard: Of course!The entire recorded interview can be seen (in French) over on NowhereElse.fr, with the pertinent details discussed around six minutes in.
Following the interview, to little surprise, no official comment has been made from Apple, however Orange has since attempted to clarify on the “leak,” releasing the following statement a few hours after the interview aired:
“These responses in no way reflect Orange's confirmation of the existence of the rumored device. The spokesperson was merely confirming that he is aware of the speculation surrounding a launch and that Orange would be delighted to have such a product were it ever to be available."
France Télécom currently enjoys a healthy relationship with Apple, with the telecom company selling the iPhone in over 28 countries through its global mobile brand, Orange. So, I’d like to think that this slip-of-the-tongue from Richard could be deemed as credible, despite Orange’s somewhat fluffy statement.
Переслать - iType: The Craziest iPhone Accessory Yet?
Among all the introductions at CES 2010 this year, one caught my eye as either iNsane or iNgenious, depending on your viewpoint. ION introduced a full external keyboard and docking station for the iPhone and iPod Touch. One step forward or back? Maybe both.
ION is the company that creates devices to bridge the divide between the analog and digital. It makes turntables that convert your LPs to MP3 and VCRs that convert your VHS tapes to Quicktime. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the company created a new device, called the iType, to allow traditional typing via a full keyboard on the iPhone. Not quite ready for the iPhone soft keyboard? There’s an app for that.
The device is not currently available, but it will be about 12 inches by 9 inches and about 1 inch thick, weighing in just under 2 pounds. By comparison, the typical netbook is about 10 by 7 inches and weighs a bit over 2 pounds. The iType’s specs are within the parameters of similar portable devices, and it will retail for $70.
Due to Apple’s restrictions, you will not be able to type into any application. The iType will achieve its keyboard wizardry via an iPhone app that you will open when you want to type. You can then copy text out of it to paste into other iPhone apps. The iType app will also allow direct email, and ION hopes to provide support to give other app developers the ability to use the iType. This is definitely a kludge compared with native keyboard support in all apps.
The iPhone already has a soft keyboard and carrying a keyboard with the iPhone does, on the surface (pardon the pun), defeat the portability of the iPhone. Are people really going to keep an iPhone and an iType in their pocket? Maybe not their pocket.
Anyone who has tried to use an iPhone as a laptop alternative experiences the frustration of trying to type a long email via the tiny virtual keyboard on screen. While virtual keyboards encourage succinct replies, real typing needs to be done on a real keyboard. Perhaps the forthcoming Apple tablet will have a virtual keyboard that supports traditional typing and could be a real laptop alternative, but until such time, the iType could give you the functionality of the tablet and portability of a netbook for less than $100.
In particular, the iType can help people with disabilities use the iPhone more effectively. Having worked with clients who have physical limitations, they seem to have no trouble with swiping, pinching and spreading, but the virtual iPhone keyboard requires precision coordination that some people simply don’t have. Devices like the Pogo Stylus help in some situations, but the iType might be a welcome way to make the iPhone accessible to more people.
Completely unnecessary or invaluable? Maybe a little bit of both!
Переслать - Rumor Has It: New Parts and Supplier Details Emerge for Apple Tablet
Everything’s beginning to come together for the launch of Apple’s tablet — quite literally, in fact, as Apple’s suppliers for the device begin to ship component parts or are ramping up for production in the near future. That’s according to a report issued by news service Reuter’s Friday afternoon.Two Taiwanese companies are cited in the report as having received the contracts for the aluminum casings and the touchscreen panels that the upcoming Apple slate will use in its construction. If true, this means that the tablet will indeed sport an aluminum enclosure, and I’d expect something akin to the unibody construction process used in the MacBook Pro casing to be applied here. Imagine the build quality of that machine, without a hinge as a point of weakness. It’ll be quite hardy.
AVY Precision Technology is said to be the supplier for the cases. The company manufactures covers for various electronic devices. The cases haven’t yet begun production, though they will very soon, according to Reuters’ sources:
“Production of the cases will begin in February, so everything points to a second-quarter launch right now,” said one of the sources. “It doesn’t take that long for the company to assemble the PC together, but a second-quarter shipment date is what we’re looking at now.”
As for the touchscreen panels, the sources cite TPK Solutions as yet another supplier for that component of the devices. It joins Wintek, which is reportedly already producing panels for the tablet, too. Apple seems to be preparing for a fairly ambitious initial production run. The panels have reportedly already begun shipping.
The timing of the orders and shipments implies a second-quarter 2010 launch for the device.
I’m of the opinion that this new rumor is fairly reliable, for a few reasons. First, at CES last week, many manufacturers took the opportunity to try to steal some of Apple’s tablet thunder by unveiling slate-type computers and media devices themselves, Microsoft and HP being the most notable among them. Second, in the wake of the Mac Observer piece by a former Apple marketing manager revealing the internal workings of and purposes behind Apple’s intentional leaks, this latest rumor seems to fit the bill pretty well.
Stoking the rumor fires with relatively inconsequential information about parts suppliers manages to draw some of the attention back to Apple and away from competitors, while not really revealing any major new details about the upcoming device — except for the aluminum casing thing, which could actually be pretty cool.
Переслать - Retail Rumors: Apple to Build New Prototype Store
"Dream bigger," Steve Jobs told a Disney executive as they discussed plans to reinvent the media company's retail outlets. He insisted Disney develop a prototype store, much as Apple did before it launched its first brick-and-mortar outlet at Tysons Corner, Virgina, in May 2001. As the majority shareholder it's in his best interest, of course, for Disney to be successful, but you have to imagine he'd offer the same advice to anyone.Well, it has been almost nine years since Apple got into the retail store game and with Microsoft blatantly copying Apple with their recent move into retail, it's time for a change. As last week drew to a close, clues emerged suggesting Apple is looking to reinvent its retail store design, and once again it’s developing a prototype. This time, however, it's not tucked away in an aircraft hangar at Area 51, but can be found at 340 University Ave, Palo Alto.
On Friday SiliconValley.com reported:
[Apple] will build an Apple Store that project developers referred to in planning documents as “a new prototype for the company.” The facade will be entirely transparent at ground level, vast skylights will flood the store with natural light, and trees will grow inside, fed by the sunlight from above.
It sounds so beautiful. Quite unlike the building that currently stands at 340 University Avenue;
Not much to look at now, but, give it time... Image from Google Maps
According to the report the architectural review board voted unanimously to approve the plans which, although referred to as a "renovation," include completely demolishing the facade and roof of the building. It seems the structure has been altered so many times in recent years it doesn't qualify for historic protection.
The plans credit architectural firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson — the same firm behind Apple's iconic Fifth Avenue store in New York, whose entrance resembles a giant transparent-cube. SiliconValley.com's Will Oremus says several sources have told him Apple is behind the project, while Alexander Lew, chair of the arhitectural review board, said:
Apple is pretty secretive… But at the same time, when you look at it, the design is pretty unique. …I think a lot of people have kind of guessed.
The whole design is inside-outside, with everything completely exposed. With the huge skylight, there’s going to be lots of daylight and it will feel more like an atrium inside. … We’re excited about the project.
Naturally, Apple declined to comment on the plans. Shocker, eh? Thankfully, the proposal includes some tantalising descriptive prose detailing the vision for the new store, the beginning of which should sound familiar to anyone who has ever visited an Apple store.
The proposed store is a new prototype for the applicant. Fully half the function of the store serves to provide education and service to business as well as customer patrons in addition to product sales. The store is a commons for the applicant’s community to gather.
[The all-glass store front] dissolves the boundary that traditional store facades create. By not breaking the horizontal ground plane of the sidewalk with opaque wall or landscape element, for example, the street is made part of the store’s interior; the pedestrian is in the store before entering it.
Of course, we don’t know absolutely for sure if Apple is responsible; I suppose this could be Microsoft's doing. And while we're at it, Apple's much-rumoured-tablet might run Windows 7 and feature a hardware keyboard and built-in fax machine.
I'm trying to imagine what makes this "prototype" so special and new. Aside from the interesting aesthetics (Apple does like its glass-walled cathedrals) what will make this store different?
The NYC Upper West Side store has been likened to a Cathedral. Image by Apple, Inc
Are we talking the tried-and-trusted Scandinavian furniture we see today in all other Apple stores, or will we be treated to a complete overhaul? Touch-enabled surfaces everywhere? More room dedicated to iPods and iPhones? A new Tablet Bar?
I'm holding out for a luxurious coffee bar in every Apple Store 2.0. If it did that, I could practically live in my local Apple Store. What would you change in yours? Share your ideas, and coffee-cravings, in the comments below.
Переслать - Rumor Has It: Multi-touch in the iWorks for Apple Tablet
The New York Times reporting on tablets at CES offers up a tantalizing rumor concerning Apple’s imminent device, that the company has been developing a multi-touch version of iWork.According to the New York Times, conversations with former engineers at Apple indicate pervasive use of multi-touch technology for the tablet that will require a “complex new vocabulary of finger gestures.” For example, opening an application might mean swiping downward and rotating multiple fingers—ouch. Considering the number of functions one performs with a mouse or trackpad and Mac, the potential for confusion—not to mention a new class of ergonomic injuries—makes you have to wonder how this will work.
The answer to that is FingerWorks. The company manufactured several keyboard and touchpad devices incorporating gestures before being acquired by Apple, including a membrane keyboard that allowed multi-touch input over its entire surface. That’s important because the New York Times spoke with another former Apple employee, one who said the company has “spent the past couple of years working on a multi-touch version of iWork.”
If this rumor is true, it would seem that Apple not only thinks differently, but is actively engaged in making that vision a reality, rather than waiting on third-party developers. If this rumor is true, and that “if” is huge, then the world of personal computing may be about to undergo a paradigm shift not seen since the GUI replaced the command line.
Переслать
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