Posts tagged ‘iOS 6’
The New Generation MacBook Pro has Arrived and can be yours for $2199.
You read it first at our iOS 6 blog about Apple introducing a MacBook with Retina display and update for all Macs. Well the New Generation MacBook Pro was Introduced to the world by Phil Schiller and you can bet it has already changed the game. The new MacBook Pro is the best computer Apple has ever Built. This could be made possible only if they were willing to let go of legacy technologies which these days are branded as cutting edge by other companies and sold to the consumer. If you did not notice how advanced Apple was when compared to other computer manufacturers well then one look at the new MacBook Pro will suffice to convince you.
The new MacBook Pro features a 15.4 inch Retina display the same kind of display you will find on an iPhone 4 or the third generation iPad. If you have experienced the clarity of this display then check this out, with a 2880×1880 resolution the new MacBook has 3 million more pixels than an HDTV! Besides as the display is directly integrated in to the aluminum unibody it reduces weight by eliminating need of a cover glass.
It features the very best Quad core Ivy Bridge processors with up to 2.8 GHz and with turbo boost that can be bumped up to 3.7 GHz. You have available for you memory up to 16 GB at 1600 MHz and a flash storage of up to 768 GB. The flash storage architecture is what allows the MacBook to be 4 times faster and yet consume less space and energy. You can get up to 7 hours of usage time and 30 days of standby time on the new MacBook Pro.
The Pro weighs at 4.46lbs and is 0.71 inches thin which is 25% thinner than the old MacBook Pro. With all that power and so little space Apple has designed a thermal system that keeps your MacBook cool and yet you won’t hear a thing. The blades on the fans integrated in to the MacBook Pro are asymmetrical as opposed to the fans used on any other notebook. This keeps your MacBook cool and makes no sound at all. The components inside are sculpted in a way to allow maximum air flow through them.
As for the Input output devices the MacBook Pro has 2 thunder bolt and 2 USB 3.0 Ports. It also has the usual MagSafe power port, SD slot and an HDMI port. Apple will soon offer a firewire 800 and Gigabit Ethernet to thunderbolt adapters. It also features the best stereo speakers and dual microphones found on any notebook.
At $2199 you can get the base model which has the retina display, 2.3GHz ivy bridge i7 processor, 8GB of Ram, 256 GB of Flash storage and NVidia GeForce GT 650M 1 GB graphics card.
We all have been through times where the hardware always had to play catch up to the software. Apple ushers in a new era where the software needs to be upgraded to match and take advantage of the features the Hardware has to offer. For the Retina display Apple will ship a special build of Mountain Lion with HiDPI support and updated versions of mail, Safari and iPhoto. Final Cut Pro and Aperture will also receive updates. Apple will work with Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk AutoCAD, Diablo 3 and many other developers to update their Apps to work with the retina display.
iPad Users to talk to Siri with the new iOS 6 update.
This fall if you see someone talking to their iPad do not stare at them, as Siri voice assistant is all set to make an appearance on the iPad based on iOS 6 concepts. Apple’s breakthrough voice assistant Siri up until now was available exclusively for iPhone 4s users. According to sources Siri for iPad will be one of the key features. This won’t be just the voice dictation bought to the third generation iPad with iOS 5.1 this will be the real deal with complete Siri Voice assistant.
Siri will bring along all of its features that are found on iPhone 4s since it was introduced in September last year. You can use Siri for music playback, calendar, reminders, weather, maps, notes, iMessaging, searching contacts and Safari.
Unlike the iPhone 4s Siri for iPad will not take advantage of the larger 9.7 inch iPad display. Like on the iPhone 4s Siri will be activated by pressing the home button either from the lock screen or any other screen. The interface will slide up from the bottom of the screen and will have rounded corners. It will pop up as a small window over any page that you might be using on your iPad which will be visible yet shaded out in to the background. The interface will be positioned at the bottom center and will occupy very little space on the screen. The Siri interface will feature the same linen texture skin as found on the iPhone 4s.
There have been speculations about whether Siri would receive commands accurately as unlike the iPhone the iPad is usually held at a distance. Some observers claim that this could lead to issues as the microphone might not pick up your commands leading to errors in results. However this is not true and will remain mere speculations as the voice dictation works well for the third generation iPad.
There have been reports that Apple has been testing Siri for iOS 6 concepts both on the third generation as well as the second generation iPad. However some say that Siri for iPad will be launched exclusively for the third generation retina display iPad as opposed to covering the entire family of iPads. For those who have been questioning Apple’s logic behind launching Siri exclusively for iPhone 4s and not for iPhone 4, it was done to address scalability. Siri depends on Apple servers, by launching Siri exclusively for iPhone 4s Apple ensured that the usage would grow at scalable rate which could be handled.
It is unclear if Apple will introduce Siri for iPad along with iOS 6 at the WWDC in June or will save the announcement to make final changes and launch it along with the next generation iPhone.
iOS 6 to feature OS X Mountain Lion features: iCloud Tabs, Mail VIPs and DND toggle.
OS X Mountain Lion which is set to be released next week borrows few features from iOS 5 while at the same time contributing features to the iOS 6. iOS 6 concepts suggest that the new version will feature iCloud tabs support, Mail VIPs and the now popular and handy notification center.
iCloud tabs takes the concept of tabs to a whole new level it is like bringing the best of both iCloud and tabs both popular with users by now. iCloud users will be able to access a whole list of tabs on their safari browsers which are opened across different iOS devices. It does not actively sync your current browser across all your devices connected to the cloud. When the iCloud tabs button is clicked on a Mac or iOS 6 concept devices all of the tabs open are synchronized and presented as a list.
This allows you to quickly pick a tab that you were working on in a different iOS device and use it. The button will be concealed behind the bookmarks toolbar on the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Mail VIPs is another feature from Mountain Lion which will now feature on the iOS 6. How many times have you found yourself scouring through your mailbox trying to find emails from people at work or your inner circle of friends? The Mail VIPs feature allows you to star mails received from this group. VIPs assigned to iCloud accounts will sync across all your iOS devices thus you will always receive the emails sent from this special group of people.
This bring us to the third and final feature which is the Do not Disturb toggle. The Do Not Disturb toggle can be found on the Mountain Lion and when it was first revealed many people thought it was just a minor addition. However people who have used it find it very productive as it gives you the ability to conveniently turn off notifications. Though you will find this feature under the Mountain Lion notification center on iOS devices it will be integrated a lot like the airplane mode toggle switch. This allows easy access to the feature when required.
iOS 6 is expected to make an appearance on your nearest iOS device sometime this fall and will feature the much awaited in house developed mapping application from Apple. The new software is set to be launched along with the revamped iPhone which will have both internal and external upgrades.
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.
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.
MacBook Pro to go the MacBook Air way.
Apple has put the MacBook Pro on a diet and the results will soon be available for all to see along with iOS 6 concepts. Bloomberg has confirmed that the new generation of MacBook Pro will be thinner and will feature the breath taking Retina Display.
The new models are expected to be unveiled to collective gasps at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference on June 11 as well as new iOS 6 concepts. The MacBook Pro will go the MacBook air way not only in terms of dimensions but will also feature flash memory. Flash memory drastically reduces startup times and boosts battery life.
The reports are reliable and not just rumors because they are part of controlled leaks that Apple is known for before major product launches. People who did not wish to be named due to obvious reasons as the plans haven’t been made public yet. They have however confirmed that the MacBook Pro will feature the high definition Retina display which is found on the new iPhone and iPad.
This will be the most significant update to the MacBook Pro which was last updated in October 2011 however has yet to witness a major redesign since 2008. Apple will also announce the launch date for the OS X Mountain Lion that was previewed by Apple this year.
Notes and Reminders to feature on iCloud.com with iOS6
There have been indications that Apple is up to something again with the testing of a revised iCloud.com portal which could be found at beta.icloud.com. Those who have used the standard iCloud.com website will instantly notice the difference. The standard iCloud.com features icons for mail, contacts, calendar, iWork and Find my iPhone. There are two additional icons in the background of the login screen. Yes, you guessed it right these icons belong to notes and reminders applications part of iOS 6 concepts.
If you try to login to the beta portal right now you will come up empty handed. It would either show broken images, a page not found error or redirect you to Apple’s standard iCloud website.
This exciting news follows reports of Apple testing notifications on the standard iCloud portal. There have also been reports of developers finding text which asks them to use iOS6 to login to the beta icloud services. Thus making it apparent that Apple is indeed working on enhancing the successful iCloud services.
Things are expected to be much clearer at the Worldwide Developers Conference. One more reason for us at the iOS 6 blog to look forward to the conference.
Will iOS6 end Google maps dominance?
If the reports in 9to5Mac are to be believed Apple aims to move away once and for all from Google Maps with the release of iOS6. All clues available through iOS 6 concepts at the moment logically point to the same conclusion. Apple bought mapping companies such as Placebase and Poly9. Last year Apple bought the 3D mapping firm C3 Technologies. Apple has been known historically to buy out companies that are leaders in a particular technology that Apple might be interested in. This is to ensure that what they create is exclusively available for iOS users.
What will set this new mapping and navigation application apart from the market leaders is the new 3D mode. Though the 3D mode will not be enabled by default, it will be obvious and easily visible on the interface. A lot like the current traffic and pin buttons which is available on Google maps at the moment. This 3D mode is the technology bought to the high table by C3 technologies. It is based on de-classified missile target algorithms which is used by missiles to precisely track and destroy targets while avoiding other structures in an urban environment.
The Apple mapping service will probably be similar in appearance to the Google Maps application which we all use. However it will definitely improve on it with a faster, cleaner and much more reliable user experience. It will also include a new icon which is based on the now famous Infinite Loop Headquarters in Cupertino.
It has been fairly obvious to tech pundits and industry observers that Apple has been working to reduce its dependence on Google in the mapping domain as suggested by iOS 6 concepts. Their acquisition of companies and hiring experts in the field has not been as secretive as they would like. Android which is developed by Google is a direct rival to the iOS so it is understandable that Apple wishes to ends it reliance on almost all things with a Google seal on it. They have already moved the mapping development in house and are using the GPS data of its users to create the database and structure which is required.
The first step has already been taken with the release of iPhoto for iOS in March. The Photo journal feature of the application makes use of the OpenStreetMap and other services. People who have had access to the new mapping app and industry insiders who do not wish to be named have claimed that the features will blow our mind.
All eyes are on Apple with the expected preview of iOS 6 at Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco. You can expect to get your hands on this ground breaking 3D mapping service and iOS6 along with the new iPhone hardware sometime this year.
Bring out your iOS 5.1.1 devices, Absinthe 2.0 is here.
The news many iOS 6 concept device users have been waiting for is finally out. The Chronic Dev Team has announced the release of Absinthe 2.0 which allows users to jailbreak their iOS 5.1.1 devices without the need to tether the device to a computer to reboot. Absinthe apparently makes jail breaking so easy that even your grandma would be able to do it.
Jail breaking a device allows access to a whole new parallel world of apps, third party software and hacks which are not authorized by Apple. It allows you to truly unlock the potential of your iOS 6 concept device for the future.
Absinthe 2.0 would work only if your device is updated to the current iOS 5.1.1. It allows you to jailbreak all iPad models except the revised 16GB iPad2. This could however change in the future with support for the device being made available. It can jailbreak all iPhones from the 3GS onwards as also the third and fourth generation iPods. Many users have however noticed their CDMA iPhone 4 displays as iPhone 3 on the program.
Absinthe 2.0 is available for OS X, Windows and Linux. For users who have already jail broken their devices using the tethered option which was available earlier can now untether their devices with the help of the Rocky Racoon 5.1.1 package available through Cydia. You read it first here on our iOS 6 blog.
Absinthe 2.0 is a product of the partnership of the Chronic and iPhone Dev Team. The same team which released Absinthe A5 this year. The Absinthe A5 allowed jailbreak of devices based on the Apple’s A5 system on a chip which powers the iPhone 4S and iPad2.