Apple’s WWDC Event has just kicked off and Tim Cook has just announced that the Apple App Store has hit 650,000 apps and over $5 billion have been payed out to App Developers. 225,000 of these apps are specific to the iPad. Customers have downloaded 30 billion of the apps since they became an option four years ago.
Apple also wants its developers to know that they are taken care of.
More developing ….
A banner being put up by ground staff at the WWDC event being held this year at Moscone West. There have been other leaks of high res MacBooks with Retina displays and a new design. But the above image pretty much confirms the announcement of iOS 6, below which if you read correctly you will find the moniker ” World’s most Advanced Mobile Operating System” (Proud much Apple? )
The event happens on Monday, so stay tuned for the whole low down.
Google maps are set to add a new dimension! The announcement was made by Google from their San Francisco office where a press conference was held, keeping in mind Apple’s press event, the WWDC, which is set to take place next week. It is deploying a fleet of small, camera-equipped airplanes, via contractors, above several cities, the Internet search company’s latest step in its ambitious and sometimes controversial plan to create a digital map of the world. The images would be recorded at a 45-degree angle and would be integrated with Google Earth.
[quote]We’re trying to create the illusion that you’re just flying over the city, almost as if you were in your own personal helicopter, said Peter Birch, a product manager for Google Earth. [/quote]
Brian McClendon, Google’s head of engineering for its maps product, said that privacy issues were the same as that accompany aerial imagery. Privacy has been an issue for various countries, especially when Google’s Street View cars had been inadvertently collecting emails, passwords and other personal data from people’s home wireless networks.
A demo of a San Francisco map in 3d was showcased and it was nothing short of spectacular.
It also announced that Google maps for Android would soon get an offline caching feature, allowing users to download a part of a map on their devices and use them later.
Google doesn’t want to say when these features will become available, making it pretty obvious that today’s announcement is meant to preempt Apple’s rumored announcements next week.
They are at it again. Apple and Samsung are in legal hot waters yet again, only when things couldn’t get worse. Apple has called for early ban on Samsung’s new flagship device the Galaxy SIII. According to Apple the Galaxy S III violates at least two patents, one is the data tapping patent, the exact on in their suitagainst HTC and the other a unified search patent that covers Siri.
Apple is also arguing that a Million Pre-orders are evidence of the potential damage if the US court lets the dispute slide. Samsung has confirmed that the injunction will not affect the US launch schedule. But knowing how this battle has heated up, we can only wait nd watch what really will happen.
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Theme Sense 4 CM9/AOKP (Rs 64)
For all those android users using a CyanogenMod 9 or AOKP ROM (Oh yes, we know), who want their phones to run HTC’s beautiful Sense 4.0 UI, here comes the app that you’d been waiting for! This theme from BlackDub imitates the new streamlined and functional interface to perfection. A must have for spicing up your phone.
JetAudio Basic (Free)
This is an app worthy of replacing the default music player on your Android Smartphones.
It comes with 32 equalizer presets that will provide a wide array of listening experience.
For those who would like to customize their own sound experience, it also allows 10 bands graphic equalizer and other advanced playback functions including playback speed control, crossfading, AGC and much more. It’s available for free on the Play Store.
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[tab title=”iOS”]
SkyDrive (Free)
It comes as a shock, but Microsoft online storage service has been available for iOS users. The latest release adds a couple of new features such as support for Retina displays on the new share of apple devices. Features such as the option to upload multiple pictures and videos, sharing of these files via e-mail or web link help it to be the app of the week. The SkyDrive app also lets the user open files uploaded to SkyDrive using other iOS apps. So, if you fancy additional-based cloud storage, head to the iTunes store for the latest version.
Music Unlimited (Free Trial + subscription)
Yet another music streaming service, but this time, from Sony. It’s biggest advantage is that it is offered across a ton of Sony hardware-Android, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, and Sony TVs and Blu-ray players. It also boasts music from all the major labels, not just Sony’s own music division. If you’re interested, you can get a free 30-day trial.
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WizTiles
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There are some images floating around the Inter-webs of a new iPhone design shell, that has been received by many repair companies. UBreakiFix has added some pictures that show a completely new iPhone dock connector.
The images also indicate a brand new back design with a mix of aluminum and glass, that seems to look rather interesting to us. There is still chances that these are images from a fake chinese manufactory, pretending to be the real deal. But, it definitely strengthens the rumors of a 3.99 inch 16:9 screen and a tiny dock connector.
Absinthe 2.0 has been released, this tool developed by the “Jailbreak Dream Team” (Chronic-Dev and iPhone Dev), and will support all iPhone and iPad versions, with the exception of iPad2,4.
The jailbreak tool can also be installed on iPod3,1 and 4,1 models. Assuming your iOS device is up and running with firmware 5.1.1 , you can download the latest tool for Mac or PC from the links below.
Let us know if you want a quick tutorial video, in the comments section below.
Most folks are complaining that the new Samsung Galaxy SIII was designed by Samsung’s lawyers, to prevent further Apple vs Samsung scenarios. But, Samsung design VP Chang Dong-hoon says that the two are not related.
[quote]Our change in smartphone design is part of a five-year plan, not a sudden turn-around,[/quote]
He also claimed that Samsung has emerged as a market leader in design. He insisted that the curved shape of the Galaxy S III in particular had undergone hundreds of iterations.
Both Apple and Samsung have dropped several claims from the case against one another, after Judge Lucy Koh informed them to do so. Apple has reduced its case to one claim from each of its asserted utility patents, its four iPhone and one iPad design patents, and its trade dress claims for those two devices. While Samsung has dropped their cases to 15 altogether from a a total of 75 and completely deleted two claims.
Both parties can later re-assert the removed claims in another lawsuit if they choose to do so.
The case date for the hearing is on July 30th, after which a real outcome may finally be achieved.
According to various sources, the new upcoming Facebook iPhone messenger will have inbuilt Skype/video chat integration, to allow you to video chat with online Facebook friends. What’s more interesting is the fact that the company is supposedly working on a dedicated app for the iPad, since they have got huge back-appeal for the sloppy in-built chat in the iPad app.
[9to5Mac]
The Mac App store, apps for macintosh computers, has reached a total of 10,339 apps. Considering that most mobile app stores crossed this number in first few weeks, this may seem as a low number. But, considering the platform the number makes it the largest desktop app marketplace.
In December, the Mac App Store passed 100 million downloads making it the “largest and fastest growing PC software in the world”. According to reports Mac OS lion is the most downloaded software on the Mac App Store, followed by other apps from Apple including FaceTime and iWork apps like Keynote and Numbers.
Apple has also made the Snow Leopard OS upgrade free for all those who are on Leopard, to enable their use of the App Store.
Apple has officially launched the new iPad in India, with the usual no nonsense campaign the iPads were in low stock throughout the Apple retail stores and most people weren’t even aware of the availability.
Since we already got our iPad before hand you can check out the Unboxing video above and stay tuned for a full review.
As far as the price list in concerned:
iPad Wi-Fi only
30,500 36,500 42,500iPad Wi-Fi + 4G
38,90044,90050,900
Talk about big bucks, while companies stubble to hit the million mark, Apple continues to show good results Quarter over Quarter. The new numbers rank in at US $ 39.2 Billion in Revenue for the company , with upwards of 30 million iPhones sold and 12 million iPads sold.
The new $12.30 earnings per share, compared to an estimated $10.04 earnings per share – adds up to $39.2 billion in revenue and $11.6 billion in profit. The iPhone sales show an 88% growth from the previous years quarter and the iPad sales show a whopping 151% increase over the last years same quarter.
Apple also sold over 4 million Mac units, making it a 7 % increase, with the same quarter last year.
We’re thrilled with sales of over 35 million iPhones and almost 12 million iPads in the March quarter. The new iPad is off to a great start, and across the year you’re going to see a lot more of the kind of innovation that only Apple can deliver.”
-Tim Cook , CEO Apple
In a comparison with the last 2 years, Apple’s profits ar double compared to Q2 2011, and Four times compared to Q2 2010.
[Apple]
The new iPad ( newest iPad? Newer iPad? what? ), also known as the 3rd generation iPad, was waiting for me in my office when i returned. What next, quick unboxing and hands on time of-course.
The same packaging that we have been seeing from the original iPad, the iPad 3 also comes with a similar packaging. In the box you get the iPad, a 10w charger-adapter, 30-pin dock – USB 2.0 cable, a quick start handout, warranty and important information along with a sim removal tool ( only 4G version) .
We got the 64GB WiFi + 4G version (not that 4G will do us much good here, but 3G should work proper), in the white color. Check out the images below and we are struggling to get the video up by tonight. So stay tuned.
Apple is still at the face unlock for iOS devices, according to their new patent entitled “Electronic Device Operation Adjustment Based on Face Detection.” It describes using a forward facing camera on a device to recognize individual users and also track the orientation of their face with respect to the device.
The process would involve the device to initiate a scan and detect a specific user’s face, and then unlock the device after the person has been recognized. Failing the recognition the alternative option would be to enter a code to prevent total lockout.
“If the detected human face is recognized… an operation of the (device) can be modified based upon the recognized human face,” the application reads. “The modification can include executing a pre-defined set of operations such as opening email, opening text messages, and so forth.”
“The facial data can be used to determine an orientation of the human face relative to the orientation of the presented visual content,” the filing reads. “In other words, the electronic device can determine if the orientation of the presented visual content, is substantially the same, or different, than the orientation of the human face.”
