iPhone Firmware Update 3.1.3 Out Now, Fixes Minor Bugs
The 3.1.3 firmware update for the iPhone is out now, available through an iTunes update. It’s no revelation, fixing only the accuracy of the 3GS battery meter and the stability of some third-party app launches.
[via gizmodo]
iPhone OS 3.2 supports video calling, file downloads, SMS and…multitasking?
Engadget has just confirmed with “extremely trusted sources” that iPhone OS 3.2 contains rudimentary support for video calling, which could explain that mysterious space at the top of the iPad’s leaked pictures they received.
Engadget’s sources said there are hooks to accept and decline a video conference, flip a video feed (which suggests a front-facing camera) and — most importantly — run the video call in either full screen mode or in just a portion of the screen. Video calling in just part of the screen (the other part left open for other apps) would be indicative of some basic type of multitasking.
Engadget also confirms that “iPhone OS 3.2 supports file downloads and local storage in the browser, which means you’ll be able to pull files off the web and use them in other apps, and there’s at least the beginnings of SMS support buried within the code.”
While our sister site is quick to point out that it’s not sure if any of the code will ever be implemented, they’re starting to get the feeling that Apple didn’t tell everything there is to know about their latest creation…
[via tuaw]
Apple iPad: Everything You Need to Know
From the realm of sci-fi to Steve Jobs’ stage: The iPad is official. What is it? What can it do? How does it work? Here’s everything you need to know about Apple’s newest creation, all in one place.
[via gizmodo]
The Apple iPad: starting at $499
After nearly a decade of rumors and speculation, Apple’s finally unveiled the iPad. It’s a half-inch thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds, with a 9.7-inch capacitive touchscreen IPS LCD display, and it’s running a custom 1GHz Apple “A4″ chip developed by the P.A. Semi team, with a 10-hour battery life and a month of standby. It’ll come in 16, 32, and 64GB sizes, and it’s got the expected connectivity: very little. There’s a 30-pin Dock connector, a speaker, a microphone, Bluetooth, 802.11n WiFi and optional 3G, as well as an accelerometer and a compass. There’s also a keyboard dock, which connects underneath in the portrait orientation, support for up to 1024×768 VGA out and 480p composite out through new dock adapter cables, and a camera attachment kit that lets you import photos from your camera over USB or directly through an SD reader. The device is managed by iTunes, just like the iPhone — you sync everything over to your Mac. As expected, it can run iPhone apps — either pixel-for-pixel in a window, or pixel-doubled fullscreen — but developers can also target the new screen size using the updated iPhone OS SDK, which is available today. The 3G version runs on AT&T and comes with new data plans: 250MB for $14.99 and an unlimited plan for $29.99 a month contract-free. Activations are handled on the iPad, so you can activate and cancel whenever you want. Every iPad is unlocked and comes with a GSM “micro-SIM,” so you can use it abroad, but there aren’t any international deals in place right now — Steve says they’ll be back “this summer” with news on that front.
It starts at $499 for 16GB, 32GB for $599, and $699 64GB. Adding 3G costs a $130 per model, so the most expensive model (64GB / 3G) is $829. The WiFi-only model will ship in 60 days, and the 3G models will come in 90.
[via engadget]
New iLife, iPhone OS 4.0, and tablet next week?
Almost everybody who a) cares about Apple and b) is breathing knows already that Apple has an event scheduled for next Wednesday, January 27th. Read more
Rumor: iPhone OS 4.0 Features Revealed
BGR posted a few minutes ago what they claim to be specific details of Apple’s iPhone OS 4.0 features.
While we recommend reading this with the usual skepticism, this feature list looks actually pretty realistic to me. Here is what they have:
- There will be multi-touch gestures OS-wide. (Would make sense for that as the rumored OS for the iTablet is close if not the same as the iPhone)
- “A few new ways” to run applications in the background — multitasking.
- Many graphical and UI changes to make navigating through the OS easier and more efficient. We haven’t had this broken down, but we can only hope for improved notifications, a refreshed homescreen, etc.
- The update will supposedly be available for only the iPhone 3G and 3GS, but will “put them ahead in the smartphone market because it will make them more like full-fledged computers” more than any other phone to date. Everyone is “really excited.”
- The last piece of information is the most vague, but apparently there will be some brand new syncing ability for the contacts and calendar applications.
With the rumored release date getting closer, Apple is obviously forced to put always more people in the confidence, thus risking more leaks. On the other hand I could have made that up myself this morning…
[via appadvice.com]
It's on: Apple holding January 27th event to show off its 'latest creation'
Yes folks — the rumors are true. Apple is holding an event on January 27th to show off something the company is calling their “latest creation.” Hair standing on end? Good. The proceedings will take place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco, and will get underway at 10AM Pacific. We’ll be there live — as usual — covering every little second of the action… so get ready!
Update: We’re not ones for wild speculation, but the inclusion of splatter paint and the use of the word “creation” could suggest that if we do see the long-rumored Tablet at this event, the focus could be slanted towards art, music, and movie-making. Maybe we’ll finally figure out what the point of an Apple tablet is! On the other hand, that might just be a bit of wild speculation. Feel free to generate your own kooky concepts in comments — we promise not to judge you.
If you’d like to read (or re-read) a slew of Apple Tablet rumor coverage, click here.
[via engadget.com]
FacebookBirthdays version 1.5 [Updated]
We are happy to inform you that we submitted the version 1.5 of FacebookBirthdays for approval. In a few days it will be available to App Store.
Update: The new version has been approved. Get it here.
Pirates make away with $450 million in App Store booty?
24/7WallSt. reports that Apple and third-party developers have lost approximately $450 million in revenue from App Store piracy since the store opened in July of 2008. Out of this, $140 million of this counts as lost revenue for Apple – a huge chunk of the $500 – $700 million in revenue the App Store has generated for the company so far – with the remaining $310 million revenue loss falling on developers.
Their analysis is based on several assumptions, however, any one of which could easily be wide of the mark. They argue that with three billion downloads on the App Store (not an assumption), 17% of those are paid apps (assumption), with a piracy rate of 75% (assumption), and the number of pirate downloads at 1.53 billion. If the average price of a paid app is $3 (assumption), then there’s $4.59 billion in losses. Assuming that only about 10% of the pirates who downloaded apps would have actually bought them, that makes the total $459 million. Still with us?
According to 24/7WallSt.’s analysis, around 10% of iPhone/iPod touch users have chosen to jailbreak their devices, and it’s only about 40% of these jailbroken users who are responsible for this torrent (ahem) of piracy. This means that, according to 24/7WallSt.’s numbers, out of a rough total of 75 million worldwide iPhones and iPod touches, a mere 3 million devices are responsible for the 1.53 billion apps 24/7WallSt. is claiming have been downloaded illegally.
For those of you calculating along at home, that works out to an average of 510 pirated apps per device. That snap you just heard was suspension of disbelief.
[Via MacRumors]
There’s no question that App Store piracy is a huge problem, especially with some developers noting that as much as 90% of downloads of their apps are pirated versions. But 24/7WallSt.’s numbers seem outlandish to say the least. Analyzing how much money a company would have made if not for the dirty, dirty pirates is always a guessing game at best and economic voodoo at worst. Although 24/7WallSt. claims that Apple doesn’t see this lost revenue as a priority because the App Store essentially exists only to sell iPhones and iPod touches, it’s hard to believe that even a company as stuffed with cash as Apple would simply look the other way and twiddle its thumbs over $140 million in lost revenue.
[via tuaw.com]
