Tag: ipod

  • Apple Might Be Developing 7th Gen iPod Touch Claim Apple Suppliers

    Apple Might Be Developing 7th Gen iPod Touch Claim Apple Suppliers

    Apple first launched the iPod Touch in the year 2007 along with the first-gen iPhone. Essentially, the iPod Touch is an iPhone without phone call capabilities and a low-resolution camera. The company has periodically updated the iPod Touch with the latest models of the iPhones. The current 6th generation device was launched in the year 2016 alongside the iPhone 6.

    Rumours in the past claimed that Apple will phase out the iPod Touch but a latest report suggests otherwise. Several suppliers at CES 2019 reportedly told a Japanese site, Mac Otakara that a 7th Generation iPod Touch might be in development. It is possible that the suppliers were restrained to reveal confidential information of the unlaunched product. In the year 2017, Apple officially killed the two other available iPods, the iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle. Therefore, to keep the rich heritage of the revolutionary iPod alive, Apple might launch a 7th-Generation iPod Touch.

    iPod 7th-Gen Expectations

    Even though Apple suppliers did not provide any information about the specs and features of the 7th-Generation iPod Touch, consumers would surely appreciate the following features on a future device 

    Larger Display & Battery

     The current iPod Touch sports a 4-inch retina display and a 1043 mAh battery. The battery capacity on the current iPod surely seems small but the highly-optimised iOS allows the device to provide decent battery backup. A larger 5.8 inch display like the iPhone X and XS would surely be appreciated. In terms of battery, anything upwards of the current 1043 mAh battery capacity would be a nice addition.

    Faster Chipset

    The iPod Touch 6th Generation packs the Apple A8 chipset and since 2016 Apple has launched several iPhones with faster SoC’s. Therefore the iPod Touch 7th gen can have the faster A10 or A12 chipset.  

    Notch Display & FaceID

    notchFirst seen on the iPhone X, the notch display created a lot of buzz in the industry. However, it has become a common sighting even on Android smartphones. With the iPhone X, Apple did away with a fingerprint sensor and introduced the revolutionary FaceID which again has become very popular. Hence, iPod Touch 7th-generation can adopt both these features from its elder siblings. 

    USB Type-C Connector

    The current iPod has the lightning connector at the bottom for charging and data transfer. While Apple launched the iPad Pro with a USB Type-C port and reports claim future iPhones will have this type of connector. It is highly likely that the expected iPod Touch 7G also gets this type of port. 

    Whether these features make it to the final device or not is yet unknown. However, the device will surely attract attention. 

  • Apple Updates the iPod Touch

    Apple Updates the iPod Touch

    Apple’s iPod was once their hero product, now however, the story is completely different. Apple has ignored the iPod for two cycles of the iPhone. This time around the iPod gets an internal overhaul, with the new chipsets form the iPhone 6.

    The new iPod also gets new colours along with some noticeable upgrades as well. The camera has been upgraded to a new 8 megapixel iSight camera. The new iPod Touch will also get an improved FaceTime HD camera, because who doesn’t want selfies on an iPod.

    Apple’s A8 chip found in the iPhone 6 is used in the iPod Touch 2015, along with the old 4-inch Retina display. The new iPod touch starts at INR 18,900 for the 16GB model, INR 22,900 for 32GB and INR 26,900 for 64GB.

    If you are in the US, 16GB edition will cost you back $199, you can get a 32GB option for $249, a 64GB variant priced at $299 and a first time 128GB model for $399.

  • Apple May Launch Revamped iPods Today

    Apple May Launch Revamped iPods Today

    Apple revolutionized the music industry when the iPod was launched 15 years ago. However, over the years, it has suffered the same fate as  the Discman and the Walkman – it got replaced by a better system. Though it never matched the storage system that iPod offered, users started storing music on their iPhones and in the later years, streaming services such as YouTube, Vevo and Spotify literally killed the need for an iPod. It seems Apple hasn’t forgotten the iPod, despite the fact that it just launched its own streaming service.

    According to a report by iGen, a French website, Apple may launch a new range of iPods in colours such as gold, electric blue and fuchsia, plus classic black, pink and grey sidereal. The new range will include iPod Shuffle, iPod Touch and iPod Nano. While the smaller models will not receive any major upgrades, the iPod Touch will be upgraded to 64-bit from the 32-bit A5 processor that the current one uses.

    As Tech 2 puts it, the speculation is based on the code spotted inside the latest iTunes version. Apple has not yet confirmed the launch date for the new iPods.

    It will be interesting to see how Apple presents the new iPods, considering that Apple just launched its streaming service and more music lovers are lapping up its features.

  • What Happened to the iPod?

    What Happened to the iPod?

    The annual Worldwide Developers Conference begins tonight at 10.30PM IST, with a special event hosted by Apple. Every year, the company hosts the event in the first week of June, to unveil major changes in software and relatively minor hardware upgrades. While the iPhone launches are slated for later in the year, the company uses this event as an opportunity to announce the upgrades they’ve made to their various software offerings. Last year, Apple introduced us to the iOS 8, OS X Yosemite and a range of continuity features. This year, we expect them to announce iOS 9, a revamped music service and something more. Having tracked Apple’s movements closely, we’re wondering if we’re in for a surprise iPod announcement.

    The Apple iPod, when it was first introduced by Steve Jobs in 2001, single-handedly took over the online music industry, subsequently killing the MP3 CD movement. A music device, which could hold a 1000 songs and portable, was unheard of at the time. Much like the iPhone, it was a game-changer in its own field.

    Apple Computer Inc. chief executive Steve Jobs gestures as he introduces the new iPod during Apple's launch of their new online "Music Store" in San Francisco, Monday, April 28, 2003.  (AP Photo)
    Apple Computer Inc. chief executive Steve Jobs gestures as he introduces the new iPod during Apple’s launch of their new online “Music Store” in San Francisco, Monday, April 28, 2003. (AP Photo)

    Since our smartphones are now compact devices that have been designed to cater to our every need (including music), the spotlight on the iPod has faded. Apple continues to retail the iPod Touch, iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle, however, the last time the Cupertino-based tech giant announced an iPod was back in 2012. The 5th Generation iPod arrived the same year iPhone 5 did. In the past three years, the company has advanced by leaps and bounds, to say the least. We’re now impatiently waiting on the next iteration to arrive.

    The 5th generation Apple iPod Touch comes in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants, with a 4-inch retina display. The device comes with a 5MP iSight Camera and a 1.2MP FaceTime camera.

    Evidently, Apple currently has an empty canvas to paint on. There is a buzz that the 6th generation iPod will be made available in two sizes – a choice between a 4.7-inch and a 5.5-inch display. The multimedia device would come with iOS 9, out of the box; and may even come with the Apple Pay feature. There is also a high possibility we will see more action from Apple’s go-to ingredients such as USB Type-C, Force Touch and their ever-favourite, Finger-Print Scanner.

    ipodtouchfamily4pbpfnowplayingprint

    According to the rumour mill, the sixth-generation iPod is expected to arrive until later this year, along with the iPhone 6s. However we suspect otherwise; although tonight’s conference focuses on developers, Apple is known to make surprise hardware announcements. While the company is yet to confirm the details, we think it’s about time that Apple unveils another consolidated entertainment device. One with an endless battery life and a massive storage capacity.

  • Apple Launches an Updated 16GB iPod Touch With a Low Price Tag in India

    Apple Launches an Updated 16GB iPod Touch With a Low Price Tag in India

    It’s been two years, Apple has’t come up with any notable updates about its iPod Touch products. Without any formal announcement Apple decided to launch its 16GB iPod touch in India. The new device comes with a 5MP iSight camera as well as a lower price tag.

    Earlier, the 16GB variant was the only member of the iPod family that came without a rear camera and was available only in Silver color. Now, like the 32GB and 64GB variants, it will come with a 5-megapixel iSight rear camera capable of recording full-HD video and will be available in Pink, Yellow, Blue, Silver, Space Grey, and Red color.

    touch

    The iSight camera is the same which was found on the aged iPhone 4. The updated and cheaper 16GB iPod touch now comes with pricetag of Rs 16,900. The other sizes are getting a price drop, too. The 32GB is priced at Rs 20,900, and the 64GB is for Rs 24,900. This is probably because of the continued slide in iPod sales as more people shift to smartphones as their preferred mobile entertainment device.

    All members of the iPod touch family now feature the same 4-inch Retina display, 5-megapixel iSight camera, Apple A5 SoC, and FaceTime (front-facing) camera. The A5 processor is also used in the iPhone 4S. The iPod touch runs iOS 7 with support for Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant. The company claims 40 hours of battery life with audio playback, and 8 hours of video playback.

    Apple had launched its ‘iPod’ range of portable media players in 2001 and its various versions include iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano, iPod Touch and iPod Classic. According to the company’s annual report, Apple globally sold over 26.3 million units of iPods in the year ending September 28, 2013.

  • Quick Tip: Sync Your iPod to a New Desktop Without Losing Music

    Quick Tip: Sync Your iPod to a New Desktop Without Losing Music

    Picture this: You’ve recently bought a new computer (the last one died out on you.) Once you sync your iPod to it, all your old songs vanish. Still aching from pains of your laptop dying, losing out on all the music you’ve collected through the years – might just be too much to handle.

    There is an alternative, it’s quite a simple task to change the sync settings on your iPod. Here’s what you need to do:

     Things You’ll Need
    [icon name=”square-o”] iTunes
    [icon name=”square-o”] iPod

     Instructions

    [icon type=”rectangle” size=”small” name=”e-check”]Download and install iTunes on the new computer.

    [icon type=”rectangle” size=”small” name=”e-check”]Connect the iPod you’re syncing to the new computer using the player’s USB cable.

    [icon type=”rectangle” size=”small” name=”e-check”]Open the iTunes software. Wait a few seconds and the name of the player will appear in the left iTunes column (under “Devices”). Click the iPod name.

    [icon type=”rectangle” size=”small” name=”e-check”]Various tabs will appear listed near the top of the iTunes program

    [icon type=”rectangle” size=”small” name=”e-check”]Click the “Summary” tab. Options will be visible in the middle of iTunes.

    [icon type=”rectangle” size=”small” name=”e-check”]Click on the box that is positioned directly next to the “Manually manage music and videos” option.

    [icon type=”rectangle” size=”small” name=”e-check”]Click the “Apply” button, found under the previous mentioned options. The iPod will sync to the new computer without any damage.

  • BBM App For Android And iOS Gets New Features, Adds iPad and iPod Support

    BBM App For Android And iOS Gets New Features, Adds iPad and iPod Support

    BlackBerry Messenger for Android and iOS was available some time back for Android devices and iPhones. At present the BBM app on Android has more than 10,000,000 downloads and a big number of downloads from iPhones as well.

    Now, this number will increase soon, as BlackBerry has announced that BBM app for iOS will now support iPads and iPods as well(Good news for BB fans), the only condition would be you should be on iOS 6 or higher. That is not all, alongside the addition of the apps compatibility with iPads and iPods the company has also issued some bug fixes that will take care of the problems like battery drainage issue of Android devices and the missing contact name issues on iOS devices. 

     

    bbm

    BlackBerry has also added PIN Barcode system, introduced in the update to BBM for Android and iPhone, the new Share PIN option makes sharing your PIN Barcode easier. Using this option you can quickly share your PIN Barcode to any social networking site or anywhere else you like. Feel free to update your app and get more information from the links below.

    [BlackBerry, Android, iOS]

  • iOS 7 Battery Drain Fixes for iPods, iPhone 4, 4s, iPhone 5, 5c and iPhone 5s

    iOS 7 Battery Drain Fixes for iPods, iPhone 4, 4s, iPhone 5, 5c and iPhone 5s

    If you recently upgraded your iPhone 4, 4s and or 5 to iOS 7 then you are probably suffering from massive battery loss on your iOS device also known as post-upgrade-drain-syndrome. However we have been able to locate a few causes that could be the culprits behind the whole iOS 7 battery life drain issue. 

    Check out the ten quick fixes below and the ultimate fix at the bottom. 

    o-IOS-7-BATTERY-LIFE-570

    Quick Fixes

    1. Brightness and Display Timeout : It’s an age old problem, and probably the easiest to fix quickly : ensure that the brightness is not turned up too high and the timeout of the display is at 1 minute. This will save the battery considerably as the biggest consumer of iOS 7 battery is the Display.

     

    2. Location Services : In iOS 7 a lot of apps ask for location use consent and users mostly agree without realizing that the use of GPS causes sufferable battery drain, quickly fix theis by going to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and turning off apps you don’t want using this service. For example Google Chrome may use location to find localized results but you may not need that, so turn it off. Also at the bottom of the Location services menu,you will find a System Services panel, which can be further tweaked to turn off options like Location Based iAds etc. that you don’t need.


    o-IOS-7-BATTERY-LIFE-570

     

    3. iPhone 5/ 5s Parallax : The fun new animation which causes the wallpaper in the background to move, making the whole plane of the iPhone look 3 dimensional also affects the battery life drastically. Head over to Settings > General > Accessibility  and set “Reduce Motion” to On. This will disable parallax and increase iOS 7 battery life.


    4. Background App Refresh: If your apps are getting updated and refreshed while your phone is resting, its not really resting. While your phone is on standby , its actually getting drained pinging the servers for data refreshes. turning this off will improve battery life considerably. Find it in Settings > General “Background  App Refresh” you can turn it off completely or turn off apps you can refresh manually.


    5. Push Mail / Fetch Mail : Push Mail and Fetch mail also check the servers for new email frequently, using up data and battery life, setting this to manual will help the battery life of your iPhone / iPod. However some would rather have this feature on. Find the settings in Settings > Mail,Contacts, Calendars > Fetch New Data.


    6. Incompatible Apps : Some apps that have not been optimized for iOS 7 may cause battery drain issues, one such daily use app is “Whatsapp”. In our testing we saw that battery drained 200 times faster if Whatsapp is actively running on the iOS 7 device. If not using this app is not an option, then double tapping the home button and sliding the app away to fully quit the app may be a good option to save battery life.


    7. iPhone 5/ 5s Airdrop: On the iPhone 5, 5c and 5s a new feature called Airdrop allows you to share files between other iOS devices that support this feature including Mac OS devices. However if you don’t use this feature frequently turning this off from the control center will save additional battery. Swipe the control center up and tap on AirDrop , then tap “Off” and you are all set.

    o-IOS-7-BATTERY-LIFE-570

     

     

    8. Spotlight Settings : With iOS 7, you can now search for anything on your iPhone using Spotlight. All you have to do is pull down on your Home screen and you can search pretty much every part of your phone, from notes to music, to mail. This also takes a mjor hit on the Battery, simply reduce the search options to the ones you do use : go to Settings > General > Spotlight search and set it to use only things you use.

     

    9. Siri: Unless you use Siri frequently, turn her/him off. If you do use Siri, then turning off “Raise to Speak” in Settings > General > Siri will keep the proximity sensor from being used all the time. 


    10. Bluetooth and Wifi: Although the essence of any Smartphone, if you are not a frequent user of Bluetooth and Wifi, then turning them off will help improve iOS 7 battery life.

     

    Although the above fixes will help a lot with the battery life drain, turning off only those features you can live without is recommended. If all else fails try the major Fix below.

    Major Fix:

    Set Up as a new device: 

    In most cases when we update any hardware from one generation of OS to the next, it is recommended that a fresh install be done. Similarly when you upgraded your iOS 6 device to iOS7, a lot of profiles and cached files, tmp file and even some preferences get carried over to iOS 7 which may not essentially be compatible with the new OS and may cause the processor on the iPhone/ iPod to get overworked. 

    Take a backup of all your images, sync up your contact to iCloud or any similar service, and bid adieu to the old messages. Put your iPhone / iPod in DFU mode , and restore the device via iTunes, once the new iOS is downloaded and flashed on your iPhone / iPod, set it up as a new device and do not restore from backup.

    Simply sync back your images, contacts, music and apps and you are good to go. You will see a drastic change in the battery life of your iDevices, as this method will make your device fresh and delete all the garbage that was not required. 

  • Apple Ordered to Pay $3 Million Over Patent Voilation in Japan

    Apple Ordered to Pay $3 Million Over Patent Voilation in Japan

    Apple is again into the news but this time it is not because of the iPhone 5c or the iPhone 5s, it is because of the iPod as Tokyo District Court ordered Apple to pay ¥300 million ($3.3 million).

    Apple is been asked to pay this amount to Japanese inventor Norihiko Saito for infringing on a patent covering the touch-sensitive click wheel used in the iPod Classic and older models of its music player.

    The patent that Norihiko Saito’s company applied for in 1998 covers a technology for the Click Wheel controller that Apple has adopted for the music player in Japan since 2004, Judge Teruhisa Takano said in the ruling.

    ipod_classic_

    Saito’s damages come more than five years after he filed the patent lawsuit, during which time he demanded damages of ¥10 billion ($101 million), based partly on the number of iPods Apple had sold during that period. The final figure($3.3 million) that came up is way less than what was demanded ($101 million) before, Apple might not have any problems paying this amount considering the sales of the new iPhones.  

     

  • Can’t Login to Twitter on an iPhone, iPad or iPod ? Twitter knows it, Here is How you Fix it!

    Can’t Login to Twitter on an iPhone, iPad or iPod ? Twitter knows it, Here is How you Fix it!

    Many iPhone / iOS device users are facing issues logging into Twitter from their iOS devices, so much so that some people cant even open the twitter website on their browser. Twitter is aware of this bug and claims that it is working on a fix. 

    If you can’t login to Twitter on your iPhone, iPad or iPod you may be one of the many who are affected by this bug.

    [box type=”notice” title=”Bug Alert:  ” message=” Some users are having trouble sending a Tweet with photo. Some users report seeing the following errors when logging into Twitter for iPhone: Unauthorized / @(null) / Error Loading Tweets (400 or 401) “]

    Twitter Recommends the following steps to attempt to reinstate your iPhone / iOS Twitter access to your Twitter account .

    Remove your account from the app and log back in

    If clearing your phone’s cache or turning your phone off and then on again didn’t work, you should try removing and then re-adding your account to the app. This is essentially the same thing as logging out and back in again, but since there is not “log out” option on the app, you’ll need to remove the account from the app entirely and then sign back in.

    Note: The instructions for removing an account from the app are different for iOS4 and iOS5 (and higher). If you don’t know which OS version your phone is running, you can check by going to your iPhone’s Settings > General > About > Version.

    To remove your account from the Twitter for iPhone app:

    1. Go to your phone’s System Settings.
    2. Tap on Twitter.
    3. Tap on the account that needs to be removed.
    4. Select Delete Account.

    To add your account back to the app:

    1. Open the Twitter for iPhone app.
    2. Tap Sign in.
    3. Enter your username and password.
    4. Tap Done.

    If you’ve forgotten your account’s password, follow the troubleshooting steps below to recover it.

    How to send a password reset from your mobile device:

    1. If you’re using a mobile device to access Twitter, you can send yourself a password reset via Twitter for Android, Twitter for iPhone, or mobile.twitter.com.
    2. On the welcome page, select Sign in and then Forgot password?
    3. Enter the email address or username that you are trying to request a password reset for. If you have a phone number associated with the account, you can choose to receive a reset via SMS. 

    Uninstall and reinstall the app

    If above troubleshooting steps didn’t resolve your issue, you can try deleting and reinstalling the app on your iPhone.

    To uninstall the app:

    1. From your home screen, press and hold your finger on the Twitter for iPhone app icon.
    2. The icon will begin to wobble and an x will appear in the top left corner of the icon. Tap the x.
    3. Your iPhone will ask you to confirm your decision to delete the app. Tap Delete.
    4. The app will disappear from the screen and has been deleted from your phone.

    To reinstall the app:

    1. Go to twitter.com/#!/download/iphone and click Download now.
    2. Open the App Store app on your phone and search for Twitter.
    3. Tap Install.

    Try clearing your phone’s cache

    1. Tap the Settings app icon on your iPhone.
    2. Tap Safari in the list of applications.
    3. Scroll down and select Clear History and/or Clear Cookies and Data
    4. If you’ve cleared your cache but are still experiencing the issue, try turning your phone off and then on.

    Check that your time zone settings are set to update automatically

    If you’re seeing “Unauthorized” or “Invalid username and Password” when you try to sign in, this is likely caused by incorrect time zone settings or an outdated version of the Twitter client application. Please make sure your Twitter client is up to date with the latest version and that the date, time and timezone settings are set to update automatically.

    To check your time zone settings:

    1. Tap the Settings app icon on your iPhone.
    2. Tap General.
    3. Select Date & Time.
    4. Make sure the option to Set Automatically is enabled.
  • Edit : The Rise And Death Of Portable Media Players

    Edit : The Rise And Death Of Portable Media Players

    We grew up listening to the classic Beatle ( or Kishore Kumar for most) songs that our parents used to listen to. As we matured, we formed our own taste and style in music, and the technology surrounding us evolved. And as consumers, we adapted to it. We embraced the technology, incorporating it into our lifestyle and thereby becoming routine. Music plays a vital role in our society.

    Hence, it was only natural for most of us to own a portable mp3 player that we would listen to every day, everywhere. But dwindling sales have led many to believe that the days of portable media players are numbered. We take a look.

    Why MP3?

    Before there were any MP3 players, there were MP3s: invented in 1987 by a group of German scientists looking for a way to shrink video files so that they would be easier to use on computers. To achieve this they stripped out as much “extraneous” data as possible, supposedly the stuff we wouldn’t miss. This loss of quality is at its least discernable when listening on headphones with the volume cranked up, so by 1998 the first portable digital music player had arrived: the MPMan F10, created by South Korean company SaeHan. (It wasn’t a hit; SaeHan now mostly manufactures textiles.) 

    portable media player
    The world’s first portable media player.

    Mp3 also known as MPEG Audio Layer 3 is used to compress audio files so they take up lesser hard disk space. It can be stored and played on many digital devices such as computers, mobile phones and portable mp3 players. Consumers use mp3 files to listen to and store music.

    For example, “A four-minute song on a CD would create a file of 42 MB (megabytes), while the same song encoded to MP3 would be reduced to just 3.84 MB. This reduction means that the file requires one-tenth of the hard disc space, allowing 10 times as much music to be stored in the same space.”

    Quick Adoption

    These new Portable Media Players would hold 1000 songs, could be recharged within an hour and would cost around 3-4k at that time. They were compact, came in a bunch of colours and were the “in thing” during that era.

    [pullquote_left]”The internet and  easy-to-share programs like Napster and Limewire played the role of catalysts for Portable Media Players by providing easy and free access to music files.”[/pullquote_left]

    By 2004, the digital music market was still wide open, with MP3 players comprising a small portion of all portable audio sales, and the biggest players wanted in. Apple had launched the iTunes Music Store in October of 2003, but wouldn’t sell a billion songs for nearly two years. Companies like Archos, Creative, and iRiver had been building players all along, but the early aughts weren’t for purely digital music yet. With the arrival of faster internet speeds and easy-to-share programs like Napster and Limewire, acquiring music was easier than ever. 

    This led to people opening up to the idea of carrying a portable, compact device to fulfill their music needs.

    Apple – The Biggest Player

    Apple was without doubt the biggest player in this segment. The iPod was a very clever piece of hardware that utilized new 1.8?”hard drives that Toshiba had developed for a market that didn’t exist yet. Encased in a pearl white and metal casing, the iPod utilized a moving scroll wheel (later, a touch-based one) that served a novel scrolling interface on a relatively large 2″ monochromatic display.

    portable media players
    The first Apple iPod

    The iPod would set the standard for Portable Media Players for years to follow, ignoring the plethora of buttons that plagued devices at the time, going so far as to omit a power button. But while the iPod hardware had many of the markings of a success story, its ecosystem (or rather, lack thereof) and price held it back from significant sales numbers for the first three years of its life.

    During that time, numerous other companies realised the hidden potential in this segment of technology. MP3 players were substantially less expensive compared to CD players. 

    portable media players
    The Sony Walkmans were a hit among teenagers.

    Companies like Sony, Philips, Cowon began churning out various different models of Portable Media Players. The Sony Walkman series gained popularity among teenagers.

    portable media players
    Microsoft unveiled various versions of the Zune to compete with Apple.

     

    Microsoft’s Zune was probably Apple’s closest competitor. The hardware was slightly bigger than iPod’s similar hard drive model at the time, but came equipped with a large 3″ color screen, an FM tuner, a segmented circular directional pad that favored the Media Center-derived Twist interface for navigating menus, and a pair of buttons on its face mirrored by a shallow concavity on the backside. The player’s software was also a direct descendant of the Portable Mobile Center OS.

    The casing came in five iridescent color schemes. Connectivity was provided by a proprietary 30-pin connector similar to ones used by the iPod. But their success didn’t last long. 

    Non-Apple Portable Media Players were put to shame. Bruised. Battered. Beaten to death. All gadgets that attempted to outrank the iPod were ambushed and annihilated. Unless you held a personal grudge against Mr. Steve Jobs, or have had some downers with Apple in the past, you wouldn’t switch to a media player not belonging to the Apple clan.

    The Demise

    In 2007, Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone to the world. People were awestruck. But right there, a small iPod logo on the device’s screen spelled the beginning of the end for portable media players. 

    portable media players
    The iPhone killed its own parent product.

    The iPhone promised a music experience which matched that of the iPod. Except you could make calls, play games, surf the internet, all at the same time while listening to your favourite tracks. Why have two gadgets when you can have one?

    We all love our shiny smartphones, but the latest stats on MP3 players prove that the sleek handset in your pocket is a cold-eyed killer.

    Yep, according to Mintel’s research sales of the humble portable media players – and let’s face it that means mainly Apple iPods – have dropped by a massive 22 per cent year on year.

    ‘Microsoft will no longer be producing Zune players,’ the company recently said in a statement timed very close to Apple’s latest iPhone announcements – a good time for tech companies to bury bad news.

    Earlier, mobile phones did not offer music playback and so consumers were forced to carry a separate MP3 player, but when the smartphone market took off in 2007, offering devices with huge storage and comprehensive media players, the MP3 player’s days were numbered.

    portable media players
    Sales have been dwindling.

    Despite Sony and Samsung each offering alternatives to the iPod with their Walkman and Galaxy ranges respectively, iPods dominates the MP3 player market; but their sales are falling continuously as smartphones continue to thrive, and while the iPod classic is still available, it features in none of Apple’s advertising and hasn’t received an update for more than three years.

    I personally like using my 3rd generation iPod Nano and would’t trade it for anything, but smartphone provide me with the convenience of not having to carry two separate devices in the notorious Delhi public transport.

    So while you may still use your portable media players while at the gym (though I’ve seen people use tablets to listen to music in the gym! Ridiculous!) or while out for a jog, the fact is that the end of MP3 players is near.

    It’s been a nice, long journey nonetheless. 

  • THX Sues Apple Over Speaker Patent

    THX Sues Apple Over Speaker Patent

    Apple Inc. has been accused by THX Ltd., a company founded by “Star Wars” producer George Lucas, of stealing speaker technology used in iPhones, iPads and iMac products.

    According to the complaint, Apple knowingly infringed and continues to infringe upon THX’s U.S. Patent No. 7,433,483 for “Narrow profile speaker configurations and systems,” a property granted in 2008 describing methods to effectively enhance sound quality in compact speaker arrangements integrated into consumer electronics like computers and televisions. 

    As noted by Bloomberg, THX claims Apple’s violation caused monetary damages and irreparable harm, and seeks royalties or damages to make up for lost profit. 

    Given the products Apple allegedly uses the technology in, it is reasonable to assume that monetary damages could be a substantial sum.

    THX originated as a way to make sure that the audio in Lucas’s Star Wars movies could be properly produced outside of the theater. The company did this by establishing standards, as well as a certification for sound systems, reports Bloomberg.

    This year, San Rafael, California-based THX announced its first mobile application, THX tune-up, available in Apple’s iTunes App Store, according to a Jan. 29 statement from THX. The app allows consumers to use an Apple device with the iOS operating system to adjust the performance of televisions, projectors and speakers, according to the statement.

    Neither company would comment outside of THX which simply said that this was a “pending legal matter”.

    [Via Bloomberg]

  • 60% Of iPhone Users Running iOS 6

    60% Of iPhone Users Running iOS 6

    A new study says most iPhone users have updated to iOS 6, Apple’s latest operating system, despite a number of flaws that have plagued its launch.

    After only two weeks on the market, iOS 6 is running on over 60% of iPhones, 15% more than on iPads.  Chitika, an ad network and analytics firm, put together the study.

    Apple is known for having fast adoption rates for its operating systems, but it wouldn’t have been surprising if iOS 6 bucked that trend after suffering from a plethora of problems that have embarrassed the Cupertino tech company since its launched.

    iPhone users are adopting iOS 6 faster than iPad or iPod Touch users, likely because most iPhones support the upgrade, whereas the iPad 1 and iPod Touches before the 4th generation won’t be updated past iOS 4 or iOS 5.

    In particular, the iPad 1, due to its limited 256MB of RAM, was not able to update past iOS 5.1, leaving many owners angry that their first-generation product is now obsolete. While most apps will still run fine for another generation or so on iOS 5, many developers will begin enforcing iOS 6 in the coming months.

  • New iPod Nano, Touch and “EarPods” revealed! (PR)

    New iPod Nano, Touch and “EarPods” revealed! (PR)

    Apple has revealed the latest iteration of the iPod Nano, which comes with the new lightning corrector. It’s 5.4mm thin, which is a third thinner than the previous generation. 

    The physical controls are on the side, and there’s a 2.5-inch multitouch display. There’s an FM tuner with a DVR; pause live radio and go back and listen. 

    Fitness and pedometer built in, which the current nano has as well. Also Bluetooth, which is new and great. 

    Also revealed was an updated iPod touch! It’s 88 grams and just 6.1mm thick. It also has a larger 4-inch display, presumably retina as well. Apple has included the dual-core A5 chip which is bound to enhance the gaming experience on the iPad touch. It too comes with the lightning connector.  

    The camera has been updated as well, it now has a 5MP sensor, backside illumination and f/2.5 aperture, 1080p videos. Facetime HD front-facing camera, 720p with face detection.  

    Also, Siri will be moving to the iPod touch as well. It’ll also come in white, black, blue, and yello, and red.

    It will also come with an armband and iPod Touch Loop. 

    Apple has also released new head phones called EarPods! The shape is “defined by the geometry of your ear” but doesn’t create a seal. There’s a port in back for midtones, a port in the stem and a port that points to your ears. It’s to “maximize airflow”.

    They will be shipping the EarPods as standalone items and will also be included with all the new devices launched today. The EarPods will come in their own cases. 

    iPod shuffle: $50, 2GB, 7 new colors. iPod nano: 16GB for $150.

    4th gen iPod touch, 16GB for $200. New iPod touch, 32GB for $300

     

    [toggle_box title=”Press Release” width=”Width of toggle box”]

    Apple Introduces New iPod touch & iPod nano

    World’s Most Popular Music Players Reinvented With Ultra-Thin Designs & Amazing New Features 

    SAN FRANCISCO—September 12, 2012—Apple today introduced the new lineup of the world’s most popular music players including the incredible all-new iPod touch and reinvented iPod nano. The new iPod touch is the thinnest iPod touch ever and features a brilliant 4-inch Retina display; a 5 megapixel iSight camera with 1080p HD video recording; Apple’s A5 chip; Siri, the intelligent assistant; and iOS 6, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system. The new iPod touch comes in a gorgeous new ultra-thin and light anodized aluminum design, and for the first time ever, iPod touch comes in five vibrant colours. The new iPod nano is the thinnest iPod ever featuring a 2.5-inch Multi-Touch display; convenient navigation buttons; built-in Bluetooth for wireless listening; and the new iPod nano comes in seven gorgeous new colours.

    “With over 350 million sold, iPod is the world’s most popular and beloved music player,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Music lovers may have a difficult time deciding between the reinvented iPod nano, the thinnest iPod ever, and the all-new iPod touch with its stunning 4-inch Retina display, 5 megapixel iSight camera and ultra-thin design—both in beautiful new colours.”

    The new iPod touch has been redesigned with a brilliant 4-inch Retina display in an ultra-thin and light anodized aluminum body—the thinnest iPod touch ever at just 6 mm thin and weighing just 88 grams. With Apple’s dual-core A5 chip inside, iPod touch delivers up to twice the processing power and up to seven times faster graphics than the fourth generation iPod touch, all while maintaining incredible battery life of up to 40 hours of music playback and up to eight hours of video playback.* And, for the first time ever, iPod touch is available in five vibrant colours.

    The new iPod touch includes a 5 megapixel iSight camera with autofocus, support for 1080p video recording with video image stabilization, face detection and an LED flash, and the new panorama feature that lets you capture gorgeous panoramic photos by simply moving the camera across a scene. Every new iPod touch comes with a colour-matched iPod touch loop, a clever and convenient wrist strap you can use while taking photos, recording video and playing games.

    The new iPod touch comes with iOS 6, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 features, and for the first time, features Siri, the intelligent assistant that helps you get things done just by asking. Siri arrives on the new iPod touch with support for more languages, easy access to sports scores, restaurant recommendations and movie listings.** The new iPod touch also includes: built-in Facebook integration with ability to post directly from Siri; Shared Photo Streams via iCloud; and other key iOS features like iMessage, FaceTime, Mail and Game Center. Now you can wirelessly display your iPod touch screen right on your HDTV with AirPlay Mirroring, allowing you to stream photos, videos, music, apps and play games on your big screen TV.***

    The reinvented iPod nano is the thinnest iPod ever, at just 5 mm, and features the largest display ever built into an iPod nano, allowing you to enjoy more of your music, photos and widescreen videos. The new iPod nano features a 2.5-inch Multi-Touch display to make navigating your music even easier; a home button to quickly get back to your home screen; and convenient buttons to easily control volume and quickly play, pause or change songs without looking. The new iPod nano gives music lovers built-in Bluetooth for wireless listening with Bluetooth-enabled headphones, speakers and cars. At 30 hours, the new iPod nano offers the longest music playback of any iPod nano so you can enjoy your playlists* and FM radio even longer. With built-in fitness features including a pedometer and support for Nike+, iPod nano users will be ready to take their music walking, running or anywhere they like. The new iPod nano comes in seven gorgeous new colours with fun colour-matched wallpapers.

    With the App Store on iPod touch, users have access to the world’s largest and best collection of over 700,000 apps, including over 175,000 game and entertainment titles. Customers also have the iTunes Store at their fingertips, giving them instant access to the world’s largest catalogue of over 26 million songs, 190,000 TV episodes, 45,000 movies and 1.5 million books to purchase and download directly to their iPod touch.***** 

    Both iPod touch and iPod nano come with the new Lightning connector that is smaller, smarter and more durable than the previous connector. The all-digital Lightning connector features an adaptive interface that uses only the signals that each accessory requires, and it’s reversible so you can instantly connect to your accessories. The Lightning-to-30-pin Adapter is also available to connect iPod touch and iPod nano to legacy 30-pin accessories.**** 

    iPod touch and iPod nano also come with the new Apple EarPods featuring a breakthrough design for a more natural fit, increased durability and an incredible acoustic quality typically reserved for higher-end earphones.

    Pricing & Availability

     

     The new iPod touch will be available in October through Apple Authorized Resellers. The fourth generation iPod touch is available in black and white for INR15,900 (INR 14,009 ex VAT) in a 16GB model and INR 23,900 inc VAT (INR 21,057 ex VAT) in a 32GB model through Apple Authorized Resellers. iPod touch requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 port, Mac OS X v10.6.8 or later and iTunes 10.7 or later; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows 7, Windows Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 3) or later and iTunes 10.7 or later. An Apple ID is required for some iPod touch features. iOS 6 will also be available as a free software update for iPod touch (fourth generation) customers allowing them to experience the amazing new features including Facebook-enabled apps like Photos; Shared Photo Streams via iCloud; and Passbook, the simplest way to get all your passes in one place. 

    iPod nano will be available in October in pink, yellow, blue, green, purple, silver and slate for a suggested price of INR12,500 inc VAT (INR 11,013 ex VAT) in a 16GB model through Apple Authorized Resellers. iPod shuffle is available today in pink, yellow, blue, green, purple, silver and slate for a suggested price of INR 3,700 inc VAT (INR 3,260 ex VAT) in a 2GB model through Apple Authorized Resellers. iPod shuffle requires a Mac with a USB 2.0, Mac OS X v10.6.8 or later and iTunes® 10.7 or later; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows 7, Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 3) or later and iTunes 10.7 or later. iPod nano requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 port, Mac OS X v10.6.8 or later and iTunes 10.7 or later; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows 7, Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 3) or later and iTunes 10.7 or later.

    * Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.
    ** Not all features are supported in all countries. 
    *** AirPlay Mirroring is only supported on the fifth generation iPod touch.
    **** Sold separately.
    ***** Content varies by Country.

    [/toggle_box]

     
  • Apple’s new iPhone 5 will reach India sooner than imagined – 28th Oct

    Apple’s new iPhone 5 will reach India sooner than imagined – 28th Oct

    Apple is all set to launch the next generation iPhone 5 at its Moscone centre event. While still no confirmations of the event, several sources in India are claiming that the iPhone 5 will come to India almost as soon as the iPhone 4S did if not earlier. So don’t bother spending double or triple the prices, because the iPhone 5 will be launched in India on the 28th of October 2012 for the same price of the iPhone 4s presently. 

    So imagine this iPhone 5 at Rs. 45,000/-, iPhone 4s at Rs. 35,000/- and the iPhone 4 at 20,000-25,000/- , Good times? Maybe not!

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