Iphone Tutorial: 07/31/11

Sunday, July 31, 2011

iPhone Air, Mockup of Possible Next-Generation iPhone

With Apple’s annual press conference just around the bend, the iPhone 5 rumors are in full-swing. You’re probably sick of them, as am I, but this mockup (below) by Italian designers, onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.ciccaresedesign.com/?page_id=260');" target="_blank" href="http://www.ciccaresedesign.com/?page_id=260"> Ciccarese Design is slick enough to compensate for the disappointment by yet another rumor entering the rumor mill. id="more-21052">

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The supposed next-generation iPhone, depicted in both black and white versions, sports a teardrop design (thicker at top, progressively thinner as you go down), an edge-to-edge display and an aluminum body design. It’s certainly one of the best mockups the iOS community has been faced with since the launch of the iPhone.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind the thin body and edge to edge display, but the teardrop design couldn’t really be of much help other than providing a spin off of the current design of the iPhone and of course helping the overall presentation of the phone. Yeah it’ll be fine holding it in portrait orientation, but what about landscape? Wouldn’t the different thicknesses get on your nerves? Everything else does match what the iPhone 5 is supposed to look like, though, come this September, so we’ll just have to wait and see what Apple is waiting to reveal to us.

Though it’s one of the nicer mockups we’ve seen in recent times, I wouldn’t count on the design making it to Apple’s press conference this September. Various, probable, iPhone 5 cases have been spotted recently, not featuring specifications to accommodate iPhone Air’s teardrop design.

So, the final impression expectations land on your heads. Would you purchase a device like so?

[Via onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.razorianfly.com/2011/07/28/meet-iphone-air/');" target="_blank" href="http://www.razorianfly.com/2011/07/28/meet-iphone-air/">RazorianFly]

Future iPads, iPhones to be built by Robots

Xinhuanet reports that future iPads and iPhones might just be built by robots, that is if manufacturing giant Foxconn goes ahead with plans to replace workers with up to 1 million mechs:

[Foxconn] currently has 10,000 robots and the number will be increased to 300,000 next year and 1 million in three years, according to [Foxconn founder and chairman, Terry Gou].

Gou announced the robotics initiative during a company dance party, which presumably they’ll have less of in the future. Unless, of course, they’re replacing workers with dancing robots.

[Xinhuanet via MacRumors]

EA: Fastest growing gaming console is iPad

Speaking with IndustryGamers, Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello puts the previous Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony-led console market into post-iPad perspective:

Consoles used to be 80% of the industry as recently as 2000. Consoles today are 40% of the game industry, so what do we really have?

We have a new hardware platform and we’re putting out software every 90 days. Our fastest growing platform is the iPad right now and that didn’t exist 18 months ago.

So consoles are down by half, and iPad has come out of basically nowhere to become the hottest thing in gaming? Hard core gamers would argue you can’t play Call of Duty or World Of Warcraft on an iPad, just like hard core geeks would argue you can’t run Xcode/Visual Studio and otherwise use an iPad as a “real computer”.

That’s true. It just turns out the hard core base is much smaller than the mainstream, and Apple — and Angry Birds and a host of other, casual titles — is democratizing the gaming platform just as much as the computer.

And iOS 5 AirPlay mirroring, where you can play your iPad games on the big screen via Apple TV, hasn’t even launched yet.

iPhone Air – Mockup of Possible Next-Generation iPhone

Though it’s one of the nicer mockups we’ve seen in recent times, I wouldn’t count on the design making it to the Apple’s press conference this September. Various, supposed, iPhone 5 cases have been spotted recently, not featuring specifications to accommodate iPhone Air’s teardrop design.

So, the final impressions land on your head. Would you purchase a device like so?

Introducing the Soundfreaq speaker dock

The iPad can fulfill many roles but entertainment is one of the most important features. Naturally, there are two very important features that need to be taken care of: video and audio. While the video is stunning enough on the iPad, the sound quality is best enhanced through a speaker dock. In essence, you can transform your humble iPad into a fully-fledged speaker system for the entire household. In the hunt for the perfect speaker dock, fans might be impressed with the upcoming Soundfreaq Sound Step Recharge (SFQ-02RB), which comes with a Bluetooth wireless system.

In addition to the iPad, Soundfreaq can also work with a number of other mobile devices including smartphones (Apple and Android), mobile phones, Tablet PCs (Apple and Andorid) and MacBooks as long as they have a Bluetooth feature. The system works from almost 10 meters away, so this gives you the ultimate level of flexibility and freedom. You can set it up at any part of the house or you can even control the system if your iPad is not in the same room.

The system will include a 2.1 speaker configuration including a sub-woofer and the famed UQ3 spatial sound enhancement that was developed by Soundfreaq. Going wireless doesn’t mean you will run out of battery power anytime soon because the system can provide around six hours of full-blown audio experience. It will also come with a USB charger, so you do not need any extra devices or wires.

The Sound Step Recharge by Soundfreaq will be available on Amazon from the 1st of August for $159.95. If you are in the UK, you can get your hands on the system via HMV UK for £149.99. Overall the Soundfreaq system is one of the most elegant and powerful devices on the market right now. The fact that it offers a very high quality wireless audio experience and it can be used with a variety of devices makes this one of the most attractive iPad accessories thus far.

The week in iPad, July 31, 2011

Missed a compelling piece of iPad news, a great review, or a killer how-to? We’re not collecting absolutely everything in iPad here — you can hit up TiPb.com/iPad for that! — but we’re carefully picking what we think is the best of the last 7 days and presenting it here for your review.

And hey! — these double as show notes for our iPad Live! podcast tonight at 9pm Eastern. So join us and follow along!

New iPad accessories launched by Logitech

Logitech, known for its popular accessories for electronic devices, has launched a fresh range of accessories of the iPad that is guaranteed to enhance your user experience.

Logitech Keyboard Case

Logitech has joined forces with another cool firm called ZAGG to create a Logitech Keyboard case that features an elegant aluminum cover and comes loaded with a military-grade high-density padding. The protective case does its job by wrapping itself gently around the iPad 2 in order to cover the screen and the sides of the device. Like most other recent accessories, the keyboard case also uses Bluetooth connectivity to pair the keyboard without long-waiting times or any hassle. The keyboard itself has a very user-friendly layout and the performance is amazing. Amongst the cool features that have been packed into it is a recess behind the keyboard that allows users to change the iPad 2 into portrait or landscape mode. This reduces the time necessary associated with setting the device up. The keyboard charged via a USB cable. You can get your hands on this device for $99.99

Logitech Tablet Keyboard

The Logitech Tablet Keyboard is designed with mobility on mind and combined a keyboard and a stand combination. This also allows for portrait or landscape mode. The quality of the device is also very high and in terms of elegance, it is stunning. This too, pairs over the Bluetooth wireless and is effective within 30 feet in optimal conditions. This device is available for $69.00.

Both devices are excellent for those looking for a good keyboard accessory for their iPad 2. Choosing the best one really depends on how you are going to use it. If you use the keyboard regularly then maybe the keyboard case is the best. If you only use the keyboard at your office or home, then the Tablet Keyboard option might be better. Either way, both cases are superb by themselves.

Florida school scrapping textbooks and rolling out iPads to its students

Lake Minneola High School has adopted the iPad as its future learning device of choice. When students return next month they will have access to a shiny new iPad for school time and home use. Lake Minneola will be the first public school in Central Florida to buy Apples iconic tablet for all of its students.

“Students learn differently now because of the technology,” said Kathy Halbig, innovative learning manager for the Lake school district who is overseeing the project. “Students are used to having multiple sources and being able to have more social collaboration in their learning process rather than just doing it sitting quietly and reading.” “Rather than have a child have five tools on his or her desk they’ve got one tool that will function as the textbook, the Slate, the Internet access, note taker, calendar,” she said.

The school has invested around $700,000 buying up 1750 iPads for its students. Teachers are already planning lessons using the iPad as the focal point complete with selected educational apps. The school believes that it will save them money in the long term.

The iPads will be locked down to prevent students installing apps that are not appropriate to the school learning process. Each iPad will also be supplied with a rugged case to protect it from everyday school life.

[Orlando Sentinel]

Sunday, July 31, 2011

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