Archive for June, 2012
iOS 6 set for fall release with Improvements to SIRI, New Map Apps and Passbook.
At the WWDC Apple announced the new iOS 6 which is set for a fall release. The new iOS 6 concepts will power the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. The event itself was launched by SIRI which reminded many of the time when the first Macintosh introduced itself to the world.
In iOS 6 Siri will give you live Sports scores and schedules, not just find a restaurant nearby but also use OpenTable to make a reservation for you. It will launch Apps and will speak your language if you speak Spanish, Italian or French.
As we revealed here on our iOS 6 blog Facebook will see a system wide integration like twitter. You can post updates to your Facebook wall from within apps or anywhere within iOS 6. Contacts will also be updated automatically using the information available on the Facebook.
With the new Do Not Disturb function you can schedule when notifications should not make any sound or visual alerts. For instance when you are sleeping you can make sure that your iPhone does not wake you up unless it is an urgent call where the caller calls you more than 3 times or allow calls from people on your VIP list to alert you. You can also set reminders to remind you later and it will create a Geo Fence which will remind you as soon as you leave a building.
Shared photo streams will allow you to choose which photos you wish to share with family and friends. Shared photos can be viewed on iOS devices, Mac or through Apple TV.
You read it first on our blog that the iOS 6 will feature Apple’s own Map App. This will be integrated with Siri to allow turn by turn navigation, 3D maps and integration with Yelp for business listings. It will also use crowd sourced anonymous GPS information to give you up to date traffic information.
Passbook is a new wallet app that will allow you to use electronic tickets and payment cards. You will no longer need to carry your ticket with you in physical form. Airline Boarding passes and sport event tickets will be available on your iOS device. You can also purchase movie tickets through Fandango and redeem it through Passbook.
A Beta version of iOS 6 is already available to developers. The new iOS 6 will be available for iPhone 3GS and later, second generation iPad and fourth Generation iPod touch and later.
WWDC in 90 seconds
We found this amazing video. Check it out! It covers the whole WWDC 2012 in just 90 seconds.
iOS 6 to put a smile on the face of Facebook users.
There have been reports that iOS 6 concept will feature system level integration of Facebook much like the integration of Twitter on iOS 5. The revelation comes just days after the Facebook IPO and the D10 Conference where Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke positively about Facebook. Cook closed his thoughts about the relation between Apple and Facebook with the suggestive phrase “stay tuned”.
The inclusion of Facebook however does not mean that Twitter will be left out. Twitter will be as much a part of iOS 6 as Facebook will be. The company will hold session at the WWDC event to reveal more about the partnership as well as the integration in the forthcoming OS X Mountain Lion. Mark Zuckerberg thought of Steve Jobs as a teacher and asked for advice from Steve on various subjects.
The integration of Facebook will be very important for Apple due to Facebook Connect a feature which allows Facebook users to use their Facebook ID and Password as a universal identification on tons of apps as well as websites. Apple is undoubtedly aware of the huge user base that Facebook has and decided that it was time to bring them on board.
Apparently Apple and Facebook are still trying to figure out how things will be shared on Facebook as it has various levels of permissions as a privacy and safety feature. Apple has been known to change its mind however things seem all set to the integration and introduction of Facebook as a part of iOS 6 concept at the WWDC.
Apple to bid goodbye to Google Maps with iOS 6.
You read it first on our iOS 6 blog; Apple is all set to replace Google Maps service with its own proprietary mapping software according to iOS 6 concept news featured on the Wall Street Journal. As it was reported Apple is all set to oust Google maps as the default mapping software on its iOS devices. Up until now Apple was dependent on Google for its Google mapping solution which is about to change soon.
A new mapping app will run on the iPad and iPhone which will be part of the new mobile operating system platform presumably named iOS 6. Armed with its very own mapping solution Apple will aim to encourage developers to embed its map within social media and search apps.
Apple bought a number of mapping companies including C3 technologies which specializes in 3D mapping. This was a step towards reducing its reliance on Google which was made obvious by its acquisitions and filling up job postings. You already read on out iOS 6 blog earlier how Apple had moved its mapping services in house and was using GPS data generated by its users to create a crowd sourced traffic database.
Earlier this year Apple launched the iPhoto for iOS application devoid of Google maps. Instead it used OpenStreetMap and other services for creating map tiles.
Will the entire Mac Lineup witness an update at the WWDC?
There have been reports that the entire Mac lineup will be updated at the WWDC event in June. Four out of the five Mac products are set to be upgraded. The MacBook Pro seems to be a solid candidate for an upgrade as it has not been through any upgrade since its current iteration was updated in 2011.
The MacBook Pro will apparently be introduced in an all new slim form factor. It is not just the MacBook Pro but also the iMac and MacBook Air will enjoy updates next week. The MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are all set to feature the ultra-high resolution retina display which up until now could only be found on the iPad and iPhone. The iMac is also set to get this display however it might not be introduced next week and will have to wait until Apple engineer’s figure out how to integrate this display at such a large screen size.
This brings us to the other members of the Mac family the Mac mini and Mac Pro. The Mac mini is rumored to see an update and will feature the new line up Ivy Bridge chips which might also be integrated in the 13 inch MacBook Pro.
The fate of Mac Pro however hangs in the balance. Xenon E5 chips which are a worthy candidate to be integrated in to the Mac Pro have been around for months however Apple does not seem keen on updating its professional level workstation. In fact the Mac Pro has seen no major updates in nearly two years.
Apple may also introduce new accessories to go along with the new Mac lineup however details regarding this are still not clear. Stay tuned to our iOS 6 Blog to learn more.
An Apple Television Operating system coming soon at the WWDC?
There have been claims by BGR that they have received information from a secret yet trusted source that Apple is all set to unveil an Apple Television Set Operating system along with OS X Mountain Lion at the WWDC event on June 11. If you are wondering if the actual Apple HDTV will be unveiled too, then that is high unlikely. Apparently Apple aims to release the operating system to allow third party manufacturers and developers to build functionality in their components that will allow the user to control them using an Apple television set and remote.
The new iOS 6 concept is rumored to be packed with more features when compared to the existing OS that runs on Apple TV. It is also expected to run on the upcoming Apple HDTV. Apple is said to have been actively trying to involve manufacturers to use the new Apple control out API. The API will allow users to control third party accessories connected to the upcoming iTV using the apple remote or even the Apple remote iOS app.
As stated earlier Apple will not unveil the much awaited iTV at the WWDC and it is not expected to be introduced anytime earlier than later this year. BGR has a mixed track record of delivering inside news which tends to either be a hit or a miss. They released a lot of accurate information on iOS concept features last year however their predictions related to hardware has usually been a miss.
Take Note! Apple has confirmed Keynote at the WWDC on June 11 at 10am Pacific, Special App for attendees.
Today was a day of a number of announcements by Apple on its Worldwide Developers Page. A page specifically designed for the developers who are expected to attend the WWDC each year. The Page featured a conference schedule which confirmed that there would be an opening keynote at the Moscone Center on Monday, June 11 at 10.00 AM Pacific Time. Apple has already issued media invitations for the keynote.
There are no further details available regarding the keynote however we can presume that it will be delivered by Apple CEO Tim Cook. You can expect him to present to the world the iOS 6 concepts and OS X Mountain Lion. The curtains will also be lifted on the eager and much sought after upgrades to the Mac Line up.
The complete schedule is only made available to the conference attendees, however it includes the by now customary suite of labs, sessions and various other events. These events are aimed towards helping developers learn from insiders the Apple experts themselves as well as an opportunity to socialize and make contact with other developers. The schedule also contains few “To Be Announced” sessions which will be clearer once the keynote is delivered and usually builds upon products and concepts which are revealed first at the keynote. An Attendee guide has also been published which will make life easier for conference attendees to plan their week, know what they should carry and prepare them for conference sessions.
Speaking about making life easy, how can they leave out apps which were built to make our life easier? That is right Apple has released a free multi platform app for the WWDC. The app will run on your iPod Touch, iPad and iPhone. The WWDC 2012 app contains conference schedule and a way for you to favorite sessions which might be of your interest, it also contains latest news. Also while we wait for Apple to unveil its own mapping software you can use the app to find your way to the Moscone center and watch photos from the event. Remember you read it first on our iOS 6 blog.
iOS 6 confirmed to be part of WWDC!
It was almost certain that we are going to see a new Version of iOS at WWDC, now Apple has put up banners about their next mobile OS. This confirms that we are going to see iOS 6 at WWDC 2012.
What we can expect from iOS 6:
- Siri 1.0 (New features, API’s and iPad support)
- Design changes
- iCloud “2.0″
- Facebook integration
- AirDrop
- Support for lot’s of chines services, for example Baidu.
and a lot more…
iOS 6 is expected to launch, together with the next generation iPhone, in September or October.
Retina Displays for Next generation iMacs too?
The latest tech gossip doing the round is that the MacBook Pro would not be the only Apple computer sporting the breath taking retina display. The iMac line might also be set to gain the high resolution Retina display. If you thought the new iPad was the device with the largest retina display on the planet then Apple seems to be all set to break its own record.
The MacBook Pro has been at the center of rumors of HiDPI or in other words the retina display. We all have heard so much about it that we expect Apple to unveil MacBook Pro with the retina display at the WWDC. However the notion of the iMacs benefiting from this ultra-rich display does actually make sense. Apple has been a pioneer in bringing amazing technology to its consumers first. They would want the retina display to be standard on all iOS devices. What most tech experts are curious about though is how Apple will bring this technology to big screens considering that most iMacs already feature retina resolution displays when viewed from particular distance.
Some people think that Apple will replicate what it did for the iPhone and iPad however on a much larger scale. They will double the screen resolution which translates to each screen carrying four times more pixels than the earlier version. We have already heard about this and how the new generation MacBook pro would feature a 2880 x 1800 display compared to the 1440 x 900 display on the current MacBook pro.
However as the screen size increases the question arises is if the hardware would be able to handle the demand for high resolution display. Will the iOS 6 concepts prove too much for the graphic processing unit and display hardware?
A 17 inch MacBook Pro with a 3840X2400 resolution might still seem within the realm of possibility however the doubts arise when you consider the rumor of the iMacs getting the retina display treatment too. A 21.5 inch iMac would use a similar display to the 17 inch MacBook Pro however a 27 inch iMac would see its display bumped up to a mammoth 5120×2880! If Apple can pull that off they could use the same display panel in a new Apple Thunderbolt display. This is however subject to the hardware’s ability to handle such resolutions.
iOS 6 concepts suggest that increasing the resolution to such high numbers might bring along a few challenges. Apple might increase display resolutions on its Mac computers by a smaller amount when compared to present iOS devices. Most Mac models already offer pixel densities of 100 to 130 pixels per inch or PPI. Increasing that to a 160 to 170 PPI might be a challenge and is the benchmark to qualify as retina display.
The icons and fonts which you see on your screen do vary in physical size based on the machine you might be using. However most software and programs are designed to run a seamless display within the 100 to 130 pixels range. If we were to move to a 160 to 170 ppi range the icons and fonts on the screen would be too small for users to work with. Updating all the programs to make them compatible with this high resolution could take a long time thus leading to compatibility issues from the outset. Otherwise the elements can be scaled to the same physical size which you find on lower resolution displays. This would however defeat the purpose as the image quality would inevitably be affected.
Apple can actually turn to using the pixel doubling motif on larger Mac displays without the need to quadruple the number of pixels and add strain to the hardware. This could however lead to a smaller workspace for users. For instance, rather than upgrading the current Mac display of 2560×1440 on the 27 inch Mac to 5120×2880, Apple could get away with a 3840×2400 display which would present a retina display workspace of 1920×1200. This can however annoy users as the icons and elements displayed on the screen would be smaller compared to what they use at present.
So once again Apple seems to be ahead of time with technologies that current hardware might not be capable to handle. They will face challenges no doubt however the company seems committed to make the transition. The OS X Lion and Mountain Lion seem to be already equipped to take advantage of the retina display. What is left to be seen is how Apple can pull off this technological home run.
Google Chrome Browser to make its debut on iOS?
Safari is a great browser no doubt however when it comes to market share many users choose Google Chrome Browser to browse the internet. Many users would love the idea of using Google chrome on their iOS devices. Well it seems like the wish might just come true based on reports of iOS 6 concepts.
The Business Insider has reported that Google is working on a version of its popular chrome browser to bring it to iOS devices. It goes on to say that Apple may already be reviewing the app and if things go well you could soon download Google Chrome from the app store.
The way things are now the Safari browser uses Google search engines to provide results for a keyword. Google is obliged to split ad revenue shares for search performed through the safari browser. This translates in to Google paying Apple around $ 1 Billion per year. If the Google chrome is made available on iOS 6 concepts it could lead to a substantial financial gain for Google not to mention an increase in its user base.
The challenge however that Google will face is that Apple iOS 6 concepts like its predecessors would not make it easy to use third party browsers like dolphin, Opera or Chrome. When you click a link on you iOS device it will open it using the safari browser since that is how it is meant to be. If you wish to use a different browser you have to take additional steps which would lead to inconvenience and thus discourage the user. That is the reason why most users prefer to use the Safari browser on their iOS devices.