New iPhone 6 Concept

Everyone has dreams about what they would like in their smartphone. For some reason Apple fans seem to be pinning all of their hopes and dreams on the iPhone 6 rather than the iPhone 5S. I too have a list of certain features that I would love to see in a smartphone, from the mundane to the fantastical. I’d like a waterproof iPhone and considering that Apple bought AuthenTec to develop its finger-print scanner for iPhone’s, I really don’t see Apple having much of a problem with acquiring one of the many companies that will retro-fit the iPhone to be waterproof – with no change in the dimensions!
The highlight of this iPhone 6 concept is the 4.5-inch Retina+ display that offers a larger screen without adding to the overall size of the iPhone. The image above shows an iPhone 6 with a 4.5-inch edge-to-edge display, half an inch larger than the iPhone 5, and closer to the screens on the Moto X, Nexus 4 and Galaxy S3.
This isn’t just a larger display, but also a higher resolution one as well. The iPhone’s Retina Display looks good, but many would argue it is falling behind the 720P and 1080P displays on most flagship phones. In late 2012 talk of an iPhone with a Retina+ display appeared alongside reports of an iPhone 6 prototype with a 4.8-inch display. This iPhone 6 is a work of fiction, but a larger, higher resolution display isn’t out of the question for Apple. In true to Apple fashion this Retina 2 display is 1296 x 754 with 333 pixels per inch.
What do you think? Would you buy this iPhone 6, if it were real?

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Low-cost “iPhone M” expected to outsell iPhone 5S next year

An UBS analyst said in a note to investors that the upcoming low-cost iPhone will outsell the new flagship iOS smartphone next-year, although it may not be as profitable for the company as its more expensive brother. Interestingly, the device is expected to launch this quarter.
Analyzing Apple’s future, Steve Milunovich looked at the company’s various mobile products including the iPhone, iPad and iPod, reiterating a “Buy” ratting for Apple stock with a price target of $500.
However, Milunovich cut estimates for next year, saying that the iPad and “iPhone M” may have a negative effect on Apple’s profits. Milunovich expects for Apple’s fiscal year 2014 a $179.9 billion and $42.29 per share net profit, and a gross margin of 36.6%, down from $185.1 billion and $43.36 per share.
Milunovich refers to the low-cost iPhone as the “iPhone M” – various reports seem to believe that the phone will be sold as the iPhone 5C – while the high-end seventh-generation iPhone is called iPhone 5S.
According to the analyst, the iPhone M will have tremendous success with the public, selling anywhere from 92-99 million units in Apple’s fiscal year 2014 – Apple’s new fiscal years start in October of each year.
iPhone M will account for 53% of sales next year, and they’ll make up for 3% of iPhone sales this year – thus, the analyst is also suggesting the new low-cost iPhone may be arriving before the September quarter ends, which is Apple’s fourth quarter in fiscal year 2013.
However, the analyst notes that these are just estimates for the handset, and it’s not yet clear how it will impact Apple’s business. Milunovich expected the iPhone M to cost $379, but to only offer Apple a gross margin of around 32% compared to the 55% gross margin of the iPhone 4/4S, which the iPhone M would replace:
“Because the M has such a lower gross margin than the 4/4S, the M reduces earnings in our model. iPhone gross profit declines by 4% or $1.6bn with the iPhone 5/5S profit up $4.9bn and the 4/4S/M profit down $6.5bn. The net iPhone impact is a reduction to F14E EPS of $1.16.”
He further explains that at 92 million iPhone M units sold, Apple’s profit would be diminished, while at 99 million “the gross profit impact would be neutral.”
Milunovich’s report also looks at iPad and iPod sales, with the analyst concluding that growth is slowing for both devices when compared to the iPhone.
The analyst says that the iPad growth will be lower than of the iPhone, explaining that, surprisingly, the whole tablet market is growing slower than expected. Even so, Apple is expected to sell 84 million iPad units next year, and 74 million this year – the Street expects the company to sell 87 million tablets next year.
However, the launch of new iPad models may affect the growth of the tablet:
“With two new tablets anticipated over the next few quarters, perhaps the iPad is in a lull and will jump to a higher unit plateau as seasonality proves more important than saturation. Our view is that the iPad is being accepted faster but likely will not be as important as the iPhone over time. This story could play out in other new categories Apple proposes—a fairly fast benefit with rapid acceptance but a shorter half-life of earnings impact.”
Milunovich sees Samsung and Lenovo as the main tablet rivals for Apple next year.
Overall, the analyst says that the tablet market will increase to 235 million (2014), 301 million (2014) and $367 million (2015).
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Samsung beats Apple in satisfaction stakes

Samsung Galaxy phones have overtaken iPhones as the models with the highest level of satisfactions according to a consumer survey phone. But it’s a fractional difference and for the most part, people who’ve got a high-end phone are pretty happy with it.
The figures come from the American Customer Satisfaction Index, a company that regularly surveys the public on their attitudes to the products and brands they have bought. For the smartphone study, they questioned handset owners (the firm hasn’t revealed the size of the sample group) and converted the responses into a score out of 100 for each model. (The figures take into account varying levels of satisfaction in individual users, so the score isn’t simply a percentage of people who are “satisfied.”)
This time round, the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II topped the index with scores of 84; the Galaxy S 4 came too late for the study. Those scores were just ahead of the iPhone 4S and 5, both on 82, and the iPhone 4 on 81.
Other models and brands were more variable: the Motorola Razr Maxx HD scored 80, the Galaxy S II 78, and the basic Droid Razr model 77. BlackBerry handsets propped up the table with the Curve on 67 and the Bold on 64.
The problem is that without details of the actual responses, there’s no way of telling how much of this is potentially subject to sampling error. Regardless of which model scored the highest, when the top six handsets were all within four “points” of one another, all that’s really certain is that most people are happy with iPhones and premium Galaxy or Droid models.
For what it’s worth, which likely isn’t much, ACSI noted that in a similar survey in South Korea the iPhone 5 took top spot.
The firm also noted that across all models, smartphones score an average satisfaction rating of 76 out of 100, compared with 69 for feature phones. It added that, much as you’d expect, people generally like everything about a smartphone except the battery life.

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iOS 7 beta 4 confirms iPhone fingerprint feature

Apple on Monday released iOS 7 beta 4 to developers, with the new iOS version apparently confirming one particular rumored feature for the next-gen iPhone: fingerprint-reading support.
Whether posted intentionally to create buzz around the upcoming iOS handset or by mistake, a folder named “BiomatciKitUI
” has made its way into the fourth beta version of iOS 7, revealing such fingerprint-reading features.
While rumored for quite a while as a unique feature for this year’s new iPhone, fingerprint-reading has not been confirmed – at least indirectly – by Apple when unveiling iOS 7 at WWDC 2013 back in June.
The previous iOS 7 beta releases did not include references to a fingerprint sensor and corresponding functionality, but it looks like this folder has some interesting things to share. Here’s the bit of text that’s quite revealing, as posted by a developer that first found it:
“bplist00_”enroll.tutor.image.label.left.hand_fingerprint.image_#enroll.tutor.image.label.right.hand_fingerprint.status_
Photo of a person holding an iPhone with their left hand while touching the Home button with their thumb_;
A fingerprint that changes colour during the setup process._
iPhoto of a person holding an iPhone with their right hand while touching the Home button with their thumb_Recognition is”
Apparently this is the description of the fingerprint-reading technology that will be used to unlock the handset, as read to an user by the iPhone with the VoiceOver feature activated.
Furthermore, 9to5 Mac
reports that the user interface for such a feature has been completed, and the fingerprint sensor will be used to unlock the phone. Other uses for the technology are not clear at this time.
We will remind you that various reports have detailed existing Apple patents related to fingerprint-reading sensors in mobile devices, while certain rumors said that the iPhone 5S production may be delayed because of certain issues with fingerprint-reading sensors.
Moreover, Apple has purchased AuthenTec, a fingerprint sensor developer company, and it’s expected to put that technology to good use in future devices.
In addition to the folder that details fingerprint-reading capabilities for iOS 7, there are other changes in iOS 7 beta 4. Here are some of the most important ones, as described by MacRumors
and 9to5 Mac:The lockscreen has been redesigned to make it clearer to the user how to unlock it. The “slide to unlock” text now has a shifting highlight color and an arrow, while the Notification Center replaces the arrow with a “line shape.”The Notification Center contains a notification for completed uploads, and users can navigate sections by swiping left and right.The Phone app has been apparently modified to “take up less of the phone’s screen,” while the “other actions” buttons – including setting up a reminder or sending a message – have been updated to show less text than before.In the Messages app, the first name and last initial for a contact are used instead of full names.Siri has received an update as well, and it now includes a bunch of suggestions for question types.The Search app which can be accessed by swiping down on the screen comes with a “Cancel” option to dismiss it. A search function is also available in Reminders.Certain app icons for Apple apps have been updated including Mail and Safari, while the Camera app comes with a new HDR button placement. The Folders’ fade animation has been updated to work properly.The Mail application is now faster at deleting emails by swiping, as it has received a “smoother delete animation,” while Safari has new button designs for Bookmarks, Shared Links and Reading List.New icons are available for AirPlay as well, and AirDrop gets sound alerts.iOS 7 will now let users automatically set up an Apple TV by using an iOS device connected to the Apple TV via Bluetooth.iPad multitasking now supports unlimited apps in iOS 7 beta 4, while previous betas only allowed up to 10 apps to be open simultaneously.
iOS 7 is expected to be launched later this year alongside new iPhone models.

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iPhone 5C to feature various colors, plastic body

A cheaper iPhone is coming this fall and it seems like it’ll be called the iPhone 5C.
Multiple reports in the past week point to the rumored name and what consumers can expect. The iPhone 5C will feature a plastic body, come in various colors and will more than likely include the same components as the current iPhone 5.
Apple is also rumored to be releasing the iPhone 5S — a speedier version of the current iPhone — which will come alongside the iPhone 5C and iOS 7, the company’s next-generation mobile operating system.
The Chinese site WeiPhone leaked a purported photo of what the case that will hold the iPhone 5C will look like. In fact, that’s the name that Apple fans will see on the box.
And then today, the rumors continued when a case manufacturer released what it’s calling the iPhone 5C case on Amazon. The French site, NowhereElse.fr broke that news.
Of course, what will set the iPhone 5C apart from the current iPhone is its bright colors. China Labor Watch issued a report, according to the Wall Street Journal, about poor working conditions that included information about the production of the new plastic iPhone.
MacRumors gives us an idea on what colors we can expect: A reddish/orange, light yellow, white, blue and green. Of course, those colors won’t be seen if the user covers it up with a case.
The iPhone 5C is expected to cost less than $200 — most likely $100 — only if the iPhone 5S remains at its $200 price with a two year contract from a cellular carrier. But let’s say the iPhone 5S starts at a higher storage amount and includes a handful of exclusive features; I wouldn’t put it past Apple to start the iPhone 5C at $200 and start the iPhone 5S at $300 or $350.
Posted in iOS, iPhone, Rumor | No Comments » Read more from Andrew Dodson
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Want beta access to Mac OS X Mavericks? Work for Apple retail

Apple is extending a beta program for its next-generation Mac OS X Mavericks to retail employees, creating what appears to be a tradition for new operating systems.
Retail staff employees received an invite from Apple today, reports 9to5 Mac. Apple offered a similar program last year for the release of Mac OS X Mountain Lion. The memo reads:
You are invited to participate in the pre-release OS X Mavericks seed program. Participation, including submitting feedback, is completely voluntary and not an expectation of your job. If you accept, we will provide you with a pre-release version of OS X Mavericks to install and use. You will get to preview all of the exciting new features like iBooks, Maps, Calendar, Safari, iCloud Keychain, Multiple Displays, Notifications, Finder Tabs, Tags, and much more! You should use OS X Mavericks only your personal computer and on your personal time. Apple will provide you with ways to submit feedback on your experiences with OS X Mavericks, should you choose to do so. Apple also asks that you use future builds of OS X Mavericks as they are made available. The responses from prior seed programs have been overwhelmingly positive. Thank you to everyone who participated!
The program, as stated in the invite, is designed to work out the early bugs of the new operating system, which is expected to be released this fall for $19.99 via the Mac App Store.
Of course, that’s not the only way to take advantage of Mac OS X Mavericks. You could also sign up for Apple’s developer’s program, but that’s going to cost you $99-$500. And it’s pretty worthless if you don’t know how to code.
This does raise an interesting questions, from the developer’s point of view: Should the public — even Apple retail employees — get access to the operating system?
Blorge will take a stand here and say: Absolutely. It’s a huge advantage to have testers, especially testers who have a passion for Apple products. They know what makes Apple products so great and how to use them to their fullest potential. Consumers will also be happy when the version comes out more bug-free.
So far, reactions have been positive. One MacRumors forum poster, who appears to be a developer, writes, “Mavericks is very smooth for an initial beta.”
I think it’s a safe bet to say Mavericks could be the best yet.

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The iPad Mini 2 is the tablet to beat all tablets, possibly

If the rumors about the iPad Mini 2, due to be released before the end of 2013, are true, then the latest Apple tablet could be the tablet to beat all tablets. No, I’m serious.
I have been writing about the iPad since before it was even announced. Months prior to the day when Steve Jobs stood on stage and presented the iPad to the world there were rumors galore that Apple’s next big product was going to be a tablet. And so it came to pass.
However, in all the time that has passed since then I haven’t purchased an iPad. The reasons are many and varied, but the iPad Mini 2 may just be good enough to make them all inconsequential. At least if the current (and fairly persistent) rumors are to be believed.
The leak suggests that the iPad Mini 2 will feature a Retina Display boasting 2048 X 1536 pixels. This is the same number the full-sized iPad boasts, but crammed into a 7.9-inch screen. The iPad Mini 2 may also feature a dual-core A6X processor, which would be a big improvement on the current model.
Furthermore, the iPad Mini 2 may have slimmer bezels, an 8-megapixel iSight camera on the rear and a 2-megapixel FaceTime camera on the front. Last but not least will be an improved battery and a slightly larger body to comfortably house it.
I’ve always argued that the 7- to 8-inch tablets are the most versatile and useful, and this would fit that bill. And with all the small annoyances and disappointments from the original iPad Mini corrected this could be a very easy tablet to sell to the masses.
The only sticking point may be the price. Apple is struggling to innovate in the way it was a decade ago, with incremental upgrades to its existing product line becoming standard procedure. But it has one trick remaining up its sleeve… a healthy price cut.
If the iPad Mini 2 is cheaper than the original then it could be the essential tablet to own. On paper it looks the business, but will Apple and Tim Cook deliver the goods?
Posted in iPad, News, Opinion, Rumor | No Comments » Read more from Dave Parrack
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2013 MacBook Pro getting exclusive Intel Haswell CPU?

Apple is rumored to refresh the MacBook Pro later this year, and a new report says that the company may get access to some exclusive Intel Haswell processors to power the 2013 MacBook Pro versions.
A previous report indicated that the new MacBook Pro models could be launched at some point in October, with a variety of indirect evidence also pointing to the imminent product refresh, including recent price drops for 2012 MacBook Pro models as well as certain estimates from analysts.
Meanwhile, SemiAccurate
has published a new report according to which Intel is going to provide Apple some unique “ultra-high performance” Haswell chips to be used in the new MacBook Pro models.
Apparently the new machines will get special on-board graphics, with Intel’s GT3e (Iris Pro 5200) said to be included in the new chips.
The company has reportedly asked for “a special top bin cream-of-the-crop GT3e selection from Intel, with ‘as much GPU power as possible,’” according to MacRumors
, and Intel is said to provide such exclusive parts to the company.
This wouldn’t be the first time Apple and Intel team up for exclusive products, or when Apple is said to be the first to have access to new Intel chips.
Needless to say, the report can’t be confirmed just yet, as the 2013 MacBook Pro refresh is yet to become official. However, if the report is accurate, then it may be safe to assume that other Intel clients will not get access to these special Haswell chips just yet.
MacRumors reveals that next-gen MacBook Pro models may have already shown up in benchmark test in June in July for the 13-inch and 15-inch upcoming versions of the laptop, respectively. According to those results, the new MacBook Pro models offer a performance similar to current models with the added benefit of improving power efficiency and therefore offering better battery life – just as the 2013 MacBook Airs.
Interestingly, the benchmark test for the 15-inch MacBook Pro seems to indicate there is no dedicated graphics card on board. It is believed that the new 15-inch MacBook Pro may rely solely on Intel’s integrated graphics power and not include a standalone graphics card, as previous models do.
For example, the 15-inch 2012 MacBook Pro models pack an Intel HD Graphics 4000 integrated graphics card, but also a NVIDIA GeForce 650M with 512MB or 1GB of GDDR5 memory depending on models. The 13-inch models only have an Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics card. The same thing applies to 2012 Retina MacBook Pro models.
The new Iris Pro 5200 integrated graphics are apparently ready to offer extra performance, with Intel saying in its promotional materials that the Iris Pro 5200 paired with a Core i7-4950HQ chip (the same chip the 15-inch 2013 MacBook Pro model used in the benchmark test mentioned above) will offer 2-2.5 times the performance of an Intel i7-3840QM and Intel HD Graphics 4000 combo.
It is not yet clear whether the Retina MacBook Pro models will be refreshed alongside the regular MacBook Pro models, but it’s worth pointing out that Best Buy offered $200 off the 13-inch and 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro models during its Hot July Black Friday sale, a discount which could suggest the retailer may be interested in dumping existing stock before a product refresh.

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This Week’s Apple Rumors, Ranked From Dumbest to Most Plausible

Next gen Retina display MacBook Pros are rumored to be delayed until October. Photo: Peter McCollough/Wired
Each week, there are dozens of Apple rumors, reports, and patent filings that hint at what’s coming out of Cupertino next. Some are legit, but most are totally bogus. We parse the week’s rumors for you, ranking them in order from “utterly ridiculous” to “Duh, of course.” First up…
VERY DOUBTFUL: Apple discontinuing iPhone 5 in favor of iPhone 5S, cheap version
Korean ETnews.com (via MacRumors) reports that Apple is going to ditch iPhone 5 production this fall, instead pouring its efforts into the iPhone 5S and a purported cheaper plastic model.
While it would make sense for Apple to ditch the iPhone 4 and 4S in order to move to an exclusively Lightning dock connector product line, it would surprise me if the company completely abandoned production of the iPhone 5 given their current tiered lineup of iPhone models. Apple is seeing a lot of success with the free (on contract) iPhone 4 among price-conscious consumers.
ASK AGAIN LATER: Apple to ship Haswell-powered Retina MacBook Pros in October rather than September
Apple’s next iteration of MacBook Pros may not ship until October, according to a report from the China Times
(via AppleInsider). Part of the reason is yield problems with the Retina display models, something that’s been an issue with its high resolution displays from the beginning.
It’s possible that Apple could introduce new MacBook Pros at an event in September, but not have them ship until October. When Apple unveiled its latest iMacs, the 21.5-inch model didn’t begin shipping until November and the 27-inch began shipping in December.
SIGNS POINT TO YES: Apple’s Q4 guidance implies iPhone launch by late September
Apple provided financial guidance for its upcoming quarter during its earnings call on Tuesday. Based on Apple’s proposed revenues, financial analyst Walter Piecyk of BTIG’s thinks Apple will be debuting its new iPhone (and other products) before September 28. It certainly makes sense.
Tim Cook has said, on more than one occasion, that Apple has some “really great stuff coming in the fall” and in 2014. Last year, the iPhone 5 was released in late September. While Apple could feasibly debut its new fall products in October, these signs make it seem like September is far more likely. (But, as we mentioned above, some products could be introduced in September but not ship until October or later.)
WITHOUT A DOUBT: Apple testing iPhones and iPads with larger screen sizes
Doesn’t this go without saying? Apple is constantly testing devices with different form factors and different screen sizes. Before the iPad debuted in 2009, Apple was rumored to be testing a tablet in three different sizes. The company has since decided that a smaller 8-inch tablet is a welcome addition to its iPad lineup. And of course, Apple did decide that a 4-inch iPhone was more optimal in today’s smartphone environment than the 3.5-inch size of the iPhone 4S and its predecessors.
Whether or not larger iPhones or iPads ever actually surface, I would be incredibly surprised if Apple hasn’t seriously toyed with the idea.

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Apple’s Q3 2013 results reveal record iPhone sales

Apple on Tuesday posted its earnings report for the third quarter of its fiscal year 2013, beating Wall Street estimates and hinting at “amazing” new products that will arrive this fall and next year.
For the three-month period ending on June 29, 2013, Apple announced revenue of $35.3 billion, and net profit of $6.9 billion, or $7.47 per share. While revenue was up compared to the same period last year ($35 million), net profit was down ($8.8 billion, or $9.32 per share in Q3 FY2012).
When it comes to device sales, the company announced it sold 31.2 million iPhones, a record number for the June quarter, and a solid increase compared to the year ago quarter (26 million).
During the Q3 FY2013 earnings call, Apple revealed that the iPhone 5 is “by far the most popular iPhone,” although iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S sales are also pleasing. The sixth-generation iPhone is apparently the number one U.S. smartphone with 39% market share, and it’s in a similar position in Japan.
According to IDC, quoted by Apple, the iPhone is apparently number one or two in most markets.
iTunes has apparently generated $4.3 billion in billings, while quarterly revenue for the App Store was at $2.4 billion for the period.
The company announced some iOS-related stats as well, including over 320 million iCloud accounts, over 240 million Game Center accounts and mentioned that its iMessage service has delivered 900 billion iMessages, iOS users shared 125 million photos, while push notifications hit the 8 trillion mark. The App Store currently has 900,000 apps, 375,000 of them being optimized for the iPad, with developers having been paid 11 billion dollars to date.
When asked whether the high-end smartphone market has reached a saturation or not, Tim Cook said that he doesn’t believe the high-end market has reached a peak. However, Apple admitted that the iPhone ASP (average sales price has) decreased sequentially by around $27.
Apple also said that it experienced “accelerated” iPhone 4 sales as it offered “more affordable pricing in emerging markets.” According to the company, India was up 400 percent, while Turkey and Poland rose 60 percent each, when it comes to mixed iPhone sales.
Other markets, including China and Hong Kong, did not show growth in the iPhone sector, with Apple focusing during the earnings call on sell-through for the device in those regions rather than actual sales.
Apple sold 14.6 million iPads and 3.8 million Macs during the period, both numbers down compared to last year (17 million iPads and 5 million Macs).
When talking about a decreased number of iPad sales compared with the same period last year, Cook said that last year, the company’s Q3 FY2012 was the first full quarter of selling a new iPad model, unlike this year, when Apple is yet to announce one.
He also added that according to the most recent data available to him, the iPad accounts for 84 percent of web traffic for tablets. Cook took a hit at the competition saying that he doesn’t know what the other tablets are used for.
Apple also reminded us that the Mac Pro will be available later this fall, and OS X Mavericks will also be launched later this year.
Interestingly, Cook expressed his excitement for the new products that will arrive this fall and into 2014, but he did not mention anything in particular:
“We are especially proud of our record June quarter iPhone sales of over 31 million and the strong growth in revenue from iTunes, Software and Services. We are really excited about the upcoming releases of iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks, and we are laser-focused and working hard on some amazing new products that we will introduce in the fall and across 2014.”
When asked about an iPhone trade-in program – something that Apple has been reported to consider for the future – he didn’t make any specific comment on the matter, but he did say that he’s not against it.
When an analyst asked whether there are any new product categories that “are big enough to move the needle for Apple,” Cook mysteriously answered that the company is working on stuff it’s proud of, which will be announced when ready. The Verge
hinted that the discussion may have been about the rumored Apple television set.
When asked whether there are any new products shipping this quarter, Apple’s Peter Oppenheimer said the company would not comment on the matter.
Apple is said to launch several new products in the following months including an iPhone 5S, a low-cost iPhone, a fifth-generation iPad and second-generation iPad mini and the new Mac Pro, although it’s not clear when these devices will hit stores. And there are also those rumors that mention some brand new products for the company including an iWatch smartwatch and an Apple television set.

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Apple iWatch aiming for 2014 launch

Apple is aggressively hiring new employees to help launch its first wearable — the so-called iWatch — for sometime in 2014, according to multiple reports.
Financial Times reported about Apple’s recent hiring spree for the iWatch, which indicates that some outside talent was required for such a new-type of product. For more than a decade now, Apple has engineered iPods, iPhones and iPads using its in-house expertise, but apparently, the iWatch is proving to be a tad difficult.
“As Apple moves from iPods, iPhones and iPads into an entirely new category of product, it is looking beyond its existing staff in Cupertino for the talent required to build it – an indication that the endeavour involves “hard engineering problems that they’ve not been able to solve”, according to one source.”
The iWatch has been in the rumor mill for sometime now, with more than 100 designers reportedly being put on the job to make it another iconic device from the world’s most valuable computer company. One notable designer, Paul Deneve, the former CEO of fashion house Yves Saint Laurent, was hired for the special project. Deneve could also be possibly pegged for other wearable devices, such as a competitor to Google’s Glass computing glasses.
The iWatch name has already been trademarked in several countries, including Brazil and Japan.
Many Apple fans have questioned how an iWatch would work. Would it simply be a Bluetooth peripheral that talks with the iPhone in one’s pocket? Would it have data? Or would it would rely on a hard drive? The former seems like a better bet.
Apple wants to sell one iWatch — not a device that comes in 32 GB, 64 GB or 128 GB. So it’s very likely the iWatch will simply communicate with an iPhone — perhaps with an in-house type of Bluetooth technology that doesn’t drain an iPhone’s battery as drastically.
But if the iWatch is designed to simply be a notification center on one’s wrist, it’s not going to be a hit. No one wants to type on a small watch face; the iPhone is already difficult enough to type on.
If these reports prove to be true, expect to see the iWatch in an Apple Store near you sometime in mid-2014.

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iOS 7 camera to detect blinking, smiling

The updated camera that’s coming along with iOS 7, Apple’s next-generation mobile operating system, is expected to help the photographer capture better people photos.
In addition to be completely redesigned from the ground up, the camera improvements will have facial expression detection — potentially taking a photo after someone blinks or smiles. 9to5 Mac broke the news on this little gem of a feature, reporting that the add-on was part of the iOS 7 beta 2 launch from Monday.
Facial recognition was actually introduced with iOS 5 (front-facing camera for FaceTime), the new APIs will now detect expressions like blinking or smiling — features that are now found on most new point-and-shoot cameras.
The new camera in iOS 7 includes square-cropped photos — perfect for big-time Instagrammers – and a bevy of editing filters to choose from.
As MacRumors points out, Apple has been dedicated to improving the camera with additional features. For example, iOS 5 finally let us take photos by using the volume shutter control and iOS 6 brought us panorama capabilities.
It’s no wonder that the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 rank as the three most popular cameras on the popular photo sharing site Flickr.
The new camera capabilities in iOS 7 will certainly be put to good use when the iPhone 5S is released alongside the new operating system sometime this fall — likely in late September. The camera internals of the iPhone 5S are expected to include a higher megapixel count and dual LED flash, which could help photos from looking so washed out when flash is needed.
Some critics are already complaining that Apple is taking existing technology — such as blinking and smiling recognition to trigger a camera shutter — and making it seem like they came up with the idea in the first place.
But, hey, who cares. I for one am excited about taking better photos on my iPhone.

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11 improvements Apple brought to iOS 7 beta 2

iOS 7 beta 2 shows off new features of next-generation operating system
Apple gave developers the second beta version of iOS 7, the company’s next-generation mobile operating system, filled with some expected and unexpected features.
iOS 7 was formally introduced two weeks ago at Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference. A finalized version for the public is expected to rollout in September, alongside a new iPhone.
According to multiple reports, iOS 7 brings several minor interface tweaks — a more polished look, as one developer described it. Here are 11 examples:
Many weren’t sure if Apple was bringing back its built-in recording software. The app is back in iOS 7 with a much simpler look, similar to the rest of iOS 7.
Just like today’s iOS devices, Apple greets us with a welcome screen the first time we use it. iOS 7 is no different, and matches its completely redesigned look.
Find My iPhone is a great app, especially if a thief nabs your iPhone. In iOS 7, iCloud now offers new languages the specify that the app will help users locate, lock, erase and prevent re-activation.
Are you ready for a male Siri? He’s here in iOS 7 beta 2. Many developers are also saying Siri is significantly faster.
In the first beta of iOS 7, some users experienced double notifications. Those have been fixed in the second version of the developer-only operating system.
Reminders have been slightly redesigned to look more like the app Clear. Again, the Apple-based app keeps with the iOS 7 clean design.
The first beta of iOS 7 didn’t include iCloud backups. Apple has returned them in the second beta.
Spotlight is said to be much quicker when searching for items on your iPhone or iPad.
Apple’s music app had a mess of problems that have been fixed in iOS 7 beta 2. Most importantly, lock screen album art looks normal on an iPhone 4/4S again.
Apple updated the weather app to include a new icon that can bring up a listing of the weather in all of the cities tracked in the app.
Everything about the completely redesigned multitasking works much smoother with the second beta.

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Apple’s new commercials fail to inspire

Apple was once the king of commercials, with its ads being head and shoulders above the competition. Unfortunately that’s no longer the case, with Apple’s new iPad ads failing to inspire. Other companies, including its sworn enemy Microsoft, are happily filling the void left by Apple’s disappearance into the advertising abyss.
Apple recently unveiled several new ads for the iPad. The ones released so far have been titled Alive
, Together, and Hollywood (embedded below), the latter making its debut during the 2013 Academy Awards. They’re all OK, but just “OK” doesn’t compare to the quality of commercials Apple has become renowned for over the decades.
Part of the problem Apple faces is that for the first time in its history it’s absolutely on top. The world is changing, and the post-PC era has definitely arrived. This means that Apple, with its trio of iPad, iPhone, and iPod goodness, is at the peak of its powers.
This is a problem, though it’s obviously a nice one to have. Everybody has heard of Apple, knows what products it sells, and knows whether they want one and whether they’re ever likely to buy one. Which makes commercials much less important in terms of turning people onto the company and its wares.
The knock on effect of this is that the drive to innovate and be creative has been removed. When Apple was the underdog it took an incredible effort to get people to even notice the company. Now, it’s the other way around, with insipid and uninspiring commercials only likely to turn people off.
In other words Apple has become Microsoft, the company that never quite got advertising because it never actually needed to do so in order to make money. Microsoft has more recently broken out of this decades-long funk and released positive adverts with a strong message at its core. Because it’s had to in order to stay in the game.
The question that must be asked then: Has Apple got too big, too successful, and too powerful to really care what promotional efforts it’s pumping out into the ether?

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Apple takes in more than twice the revenue of Microsoft and loses market share

Apple earned twice the revenue of Microsoft last quarter but still lost over 10 percent of its market value.  What does that say about the differing expectations concerning Apple and Microsoft?  Mostly that investors expect more out of Apple and when they don’t get it they are quick to punish the company.
The Washington Post reports that Apple’s revenue for last quarter was $54.5 billion, up from $46.3 billion.  Microsoft announced that its revenues were $21.46 billion for the quarter up from last years $20.89 billion for the fourth quarter. $54.5 billion versus $21.46 billion. Hmmm.
Apparently investors were disappointed that Apple’s growth seems to be slowing even though Apple’s sales of the iPhone were an all time high of 47.8 million. Still Apple has lost 35 percent of its value since September dropping from a high of $705 per share to $450.5 as of the close of the stock market today. As The Register points out, there were some unique aspects to Apple’s earnings figures.

And that’s where things get interesting. As Apple’s CFO Peter Oppenheimer, who shared the call with Cook, pointed out, the quarter reported on Wednesday had 13 weeks; last year’s Q1 had 14 weeks. "As such," Oppenheimer said, "average weekly revenue was $4.2bn in the current-year quarter, compared to $3.3bn in the year-ago quarter." That’s a per-week revenue increase of 27.2 per cent.

Meanwhile Microsoft’s ending price on the stock market was $27.63 which was a gain of $.07 percent for the day. The Verge pointed out that Microsoft’s 2012 fourth quarter revenues increased just 2.7 percent over the same period last year.
But here is where the difference lies.  Investors see Apple growth as slowing and think that Apple’s potential for future growth has diminished.  Microsoft’s investors see potential increased growth because of the various different facets of Microsoft’s company.
Here’s the rub.  While Apple’s iPhone has sold well this year, there are parts of the world where the iPhone is too expensive for the market. Cheaper Android and even Windows Phone smart phones will sell in greater quantities.  For instance, Geek.com reports that Apple is in fifth place when it comes to the smartphone market in China, in part, because most people can’t afford an iPhone.
PCs and Macs are taking a drubbing as consumers drift away from computers to tablets.  While the iPad still remains wildly popular, Microsoft tablets are just getting started and are expected to increase in market share.
Whether you agree with the prognosticators or not, you can’t argue with the disparity in revenue between the two companies.  Of course, that’s just last quarter.  We have whole new year of competition ahead of us.  Let’s see how they finish next December.
Posted in Microsoft | No Comments » Read more from Susan Wilson
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Check out Mac OS X Mavericks multi-screen enhancements in action

One of the more exciting and “why didn’t they do it like that before” type features in Mac OS X Mavericks is the new and enhanced multi-monitor mode ability.
For those who spend half their time on-the-go and the other half in the home office, a MacBook Pro with Retina display and Apple 27-inch cinema display is the perfect setup. The only problem is that the current way of using two screens totally killed the one great feature of Mountain Lion: Full screen mode.
When you through an app into full screen on your MacBook, the monitor would black out. What’s the point? Full screen gives us the screen real estate we desire, so let’s use it.
Last week, Apple introduced Mavericks, which updates how we use multi screens. Here’s a great demonstration of it in action:
As the video shows, it’s not perfect. We can no longer stretch apps throughout multiple screens. (Let’s be honest, though, if you have 6 massive monitors, do you really need to stretch apps?) And it appears his biggest gripe is that he can’t look at the “pretty wallpaper” throughout all six of his monitors. Talk about first world problems.
Another thing this video points out is that you can switch between the old and new mode, which is interesting, because the old mode is so bad.
Mac OS X Mavericks is coming this fall for $19.99 from the App Store. Some of its new features include  App Nap, enhanced Notification Center and Finder Tabs.
Posted in Apple, Mac, news, opinion | No Comments » Read more from Andrew Dodson
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iPhone 5S bringing slow motion video recording

Apple’s iPhone 5S — the next-generation model that’s expected sometime this fall — has to bring some additional features on top of a snappier processor. Slow motion video could be one of those features.
According to multiple reports, there is code hidden inside iOS 7 — the latest generation iPhone and iPad operating system that’s supposed to rollout with the new iPhone — that offers video recording at 120 frames-per-second, or fast enough to record slow motion videos. Samsung’s Galaxy smartphone lineup already offers this features.
From MacRumors:
According to our analysis and testing of the code, “Mogul” is a feature in development that allows the iPhone to capture video at an exceptionally fast and precise rate. Specifically, our testing indicates that the feature can allow the iPhone to record video at a rate of 120 frames-per-second (FPS). The resolution at which this 120FPS video could be recorded at, however, is currently unclear.
While recording in slow motion, action seems normal, but on playback, those 120 frames per second are shifted back to the normal 60 frames, giving the action a dramatic look and feel. Get ready for some amazing running videos.
Or really boring pet videos.
Much like Siri was reserved only for the iPhone 4S when it was discovered in coding of iOS 5, 9to5 Mac found out that the hidden features of slow motion doesn’t work on an iPhone 5, which makes most of us believe that the feature will only be available on the iPhone 5S.
Apple is expected to release the iPhone 5S in September or October. It’s expected to feature a faster processor and potentially 128 GB of storage. An improved camera has also been rumored, so a video-centric new feature isn’t entirely out of the blue. Plus, high-speed video is typically a larger file size. Apple could start the iPhone at 32 GB and let it go up to 128 GB.
Apple is also rumored to be releasing a cheaper, plastic-version of its iPhone at a cheaper price that would rollout with the iPhone 5S, in a move to increase its marketshare. The cheaper iPhone could start at 16 GB, to help keep the price low.

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A new use for your iPad: Toilet Training with the iPotty

One of the reasons the iPad has sold in such high numbers, and kick-started the tablet revolution to boot, is the sheer variety and number of things you can do with the Apple device. However, I doubt whether anyone had thought of this particular use before… until now. Meet the iPotty, a training toilet designed to house an iPad.
I have neither an iPad or children, but if I did, I’d try and keep the two as far apart from each other as possible. An iPad isn’t exactly cheap, and kids aren’t exactly known for taking care of expensive gadgets. However, for those parents that can afford the risk, the iPad offers a possible learning tool for children that’s simple and intuitive to use.
The iPad is so simple to use that even the youngest children can get to grips with it quickly. To the point that it may even help to entertain them while they’re learning to use the toilet.
That’s the essence of iPotty, a new product from CTA Digital that was on display at the recent CES 2013 in Las Vegas. The iPotty is a normal potty with the addition of a stand designed to accommodate an iPad. The idea is that kids will be much happier to sit on a plastic toilet waiting for nature to take its course if they have a tablet loaded with apps in front of them.
There are no specific apps designed for use with iPotty, but there are existing toilet training apps available. Personally I’d put Angry Birds
on there instead, or load the iPad with cartoons and press Play as soon as the child sat down to do their business.
The iPotty also comes with a screen guard and a seat cover so that it can be used on other occasions. According to BBC News the product is set to go on sale in March priced around $40.
Posted in iPad, News | 1 Comment » Read more from Dave Parrack
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rumor watch | This Week’s Apple Rumors, Ranked From Dumbest to Most Plausible

The iPhone 5 debuted in September 2012, so rumors are ramping up about Apple’s next handset. Photo: Alex Washburn/Wired
Each week, there are dozens of Apple rumors, reports, and patent filings that hint at what’s coming out of Cupertino next. Some are legit, but most are totally bogus. We parse the week’s rumors for you, ranking them in order from “utterly ridiculous” to “Duh, of course.” First up…
DON’T COUNT ON IT: Leaked photos of the iPhone 5S shell, plus specs
A Chinese-language site called C Technology (reposted by BGR) published pictures of what could be the iPhone 5S shell. There’s no way to verify these photos as being accurate, as they look pretty much identical to the iPhone 5, and we’ve seen how easy it is for other manufacturers to ape the iPhone.
As for specs, a “4-inch IGZO display with the same Retina resolution as the iPhone 5, an A6 processor clocked a bit faster than the current model, quad-core SGX 554MP4 graphics, 2GB of RAM and an upgraded LTE radio,” they sound pretty reasonable, but simply can’t be verified at this point.
DON’T COUNT ON IT: Apple may delay the introduction of the iPhone 5S
Apple could be upgrading the next iPhone to a 4.3-inch Retina display screen, and that could delay the launch of the next handset until the end of the year, according to the Taiwanese newspaper the Commercial Times
(as reported by Bloomberg).
Apple just
upped the screen size of the iPhone last year, giving developers a new 4-inch screen size to accommodate. Apple is also revealing a revamped iOS 7 interface in the fall that will require a lot of app developers to redesign their apps so they fit in with the new look. So, another form factor for developers to have to wrangle? No. It’s too soon. Apple also traditionally iterates on the form factor every other generation, which would mean the next iPhone would share the same design cues and dimensions as the current iPhone 5.
VERY DOUBTFUL: Apple patent details in-display fingerprint technology — and it’s delaying the iPhone 5S
Apple patent filings are hit or miss. A patent could be an indicator of a technology the company is dedicating significant resources towards, or it could be a decoy to lead competitors (and the press) away from what it’s actually working on. One of the latest is that Apple is working on in-display fingerprint sensing technology. Apple’s been rumored to be including biometrics in upcoming iOS devices since it acquired fingerprint security firm Authentec in the fall of 2012. It’s possible that Apple could include this technology in an iOS device this year or next.
A related report suggests that iPhone 5S production is delayed because of poor fingerprint sensor yields, pushing the launch of the next iPhone into September. September, you say? The same month the iPhone was released in 2012? Wow, it really does sound delayed.
ASK AGAIN LATER: Apple pitching ad-skipping as part of its new TV service
This report lands in the middle of the list because well, Apple’s TV doesn’t exist yet, but the source is strong. Former WSJ
reporter Jessica Lessin writes on her own blog that Apple has been talking with cable companies and television networks about allowing users to skip the commercials, as long as those skipped ads are paid for.
Apple’s been coy about its endeavors in the TV space, and various rumors and reports have been swirling since 2011. It seems the major snags holding up the platform’s launch are in deals with TV and cable networks, if all the rumors and reports are to be trusted.
SIGNS POINT TO YES: Apple is aggressively hiring for its smartwatch project
Apple is on a hiring spree to dedicate personnel and resources to its rumored smart watch project, says the Financial Times
(via MacRumors).
The smartwatch project itself is akin to Apple’s television project — a lot of signs are indicating there’s something in development, but there’s no hard proof yet. However, based on Apple’s recent hirings, it does seem the company is working on a wearable device of some kind. 9to5Mac detailed a number of sensor and fitness experts that have gone to work for Apple recently. Apple also snatched up former Yves Saint Laurent CEO Paul Deneve to work on “special projects.”
WITHOUT A DOUBT: Apple is ramping up next-gen iPhone production
According to Jefferies analyst Peter Misek and sources familiar to AllThingsD, Apple is kicking up production levels for its next iPhone. Considering the last iPhone was released in September 2012, and Apple seems to have moved to a fall release date for its flagship handset, this report is spot on with where we’d expect Apple to be at this point in the year. Or: Duh, of course Apple is ramping up iPhone production right now.
Related, Digitimes reports that Apple’s integrated chip orders are also ramping up. If Apple is ramping up overall iPhone production, then yeah, integrated chips are a part of that, too.

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