Mobile Apple Me

Section: Apple News, Conferences, Press Events, Rumors, iPhone / iPod touch, Originals

At this point, yes, an Apple tablet is all but a given. If Apple doesn’t make the announcement on Wednesday the faithful (and the shareholders) are likely to torch the village. But one thing we still don’t know is what the tablet will be called. Well, a recent, fairly innocuous press release about an iPhone crossword app seems fairly certain the tablet will be called the iPad.

Stand Alone, Inc. announced today they’ve been working on a “larger” version of their Crosswords iPhone app. The headline reads, “Crosswords iPhone App Coming to the upcoming iPad device.” iPad? Okay, is that a guess? Something less significant? Or is it a slip?

I’m not going to put much weight on this, although it is fun to consider. Is Apple going to go the “i” route with this as with the iMac, iPod and iPhone, or stick with the more straightforward “Apple tablet,” as with “Apple TV?”

So, is iSlate any better? iTablet? Apple tablet? Quite honestly, we’re too close to the event to worry too much about it. We’ll find out soon enough.

More interesting than the usage of the term “iPad” is what the developers are doing with Crosswords to get it ready for the Apple tablet. According to Stand Alone president Ben Gottlieb, “We have been anticipating the Apple tablet as the greatest piece of hardware for App developers since the iPhone itself, and Crosswords will be even better on the new device. The goal is to utilize the larger screen, but keep both the functionality and the sleek, intuitive, custom design that our users love.”

Hopefully, this is an approach all app developers take with the tablet. We don’t just want larger buttons and images, we want a clean layout that maximizes the rumored 10” screen with options for easy navigation and usage. Having a touch device with buttons that are actually large enough to be touched will be great, provided developers don’t let the UI take over the design, as we’ve seen with many of the artist mock-ups.

Whether iPhone developers will be able to make this jump to a larger screen, I guess we’ll find out soon enough. Before we worry about that, let’s first worry about getting an official announcement.

Oh, and a name. To find out what it’ll be, join our Apple event live blog tomorrow starting at 12:00 noon EST for complete coverage of the announcement. Before then, be sure catch up on the latest Apple tablet rumors, as well.

Product Crosswords

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Apple News, Conferences, Press Events, Rumors, iPhone / iPod touch, iPhone OS, SDK and hacks

A McGraw-Hill CEO went on record during an interview with CNBC admitting they’ve been working with Apple for “quite a while” on the tablet that Apple is announcing tomorrow. So much for secrecy. Thankfully, I doubt Apple would refrain from announcing the tablet tomorrow just to make this guy look silly, but I’m sure he’ll get an informative lesson on how secrecy works at some point. Madness you say? This…is…Apple!

He actually did confirm a few things for us on the tablet.  Apple is indeed targeting the educational market by trying their darndest to get textbooks onto the Apple tablet in electronic format.  We now know that 95% of McGraw-Hill material will be available at some point on the tablet, and likely much more from other publishers.  Look out, Kindle.  I’d call the Apple tablet a Kindle-killer, but I’m sure there are quite a few other products out there that are about to spend a while in a body gadget bag, as well.

Here’s the exact quote and a video just for good measure.  The last line is my favorite.

Yeah, Very exciting. Yes, they’ll make their announcement tomorrow on this one. We have worked with Apple for quite a while. And the Tablet is going to be based on the iPhone operating system and so it will be transferable. So what you are going to be able to do now is we have a consortium of e-books. And we have 95% of all our materials that are in e-book format on that one. So now with the tablet you’re going to open up the higher education market, the professional market. The tablet is going to be just really terrific.

Be sure to join our Apple event live blog tomorrow starting at 12:00 noon EST for complete coverage of the announcement.

Via MacRumors

Full Story » | Written by Jake Gaecke for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Macintosh Software, iPod, iPhone / iPod touch, iPhone, iPod touch, iPhone OS, SDK and hacks, Mac + Computers, Software, Originals

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for January 26, 2010:

Macintosh

• iPresentee has released Keynote Motion Themes 9.0, a package of new Keynote themes to be used with Apple’s Keynote presentation software. This new package includes fifty two themes in all, and introduces five new themes: Blue Illusion, Red Illusion, Green Illusion, Black Illusion and Yellow Illusion. Forty seven more designs are carried over from the previous version. New Keynote Motion Themes are available in standard and HD formats.
• Zevrix Solutions has announced InPreflight Pro 2.6.13, a maintenance update to its document preparation solution for Adobe InDesign. InPreflight combines batch-packaging, quality control and graphic reports, going well beyond the InDesign basics. For example, batch-packaging can collect shared links of multiple documents into one folder helping graphics and print professionals save gigabytes of space and hours of time. The new version addresses a relinking issue of collected images.
• SuperMegaUltraGroovy has announced FuzzMeasure 3.2, an update to the award-winning audio and acoustics measurement package for Mac OS X. This release carries many general improvements, including new AppleScript commands, 64-bit support for Mac OS 10.6, and various performance enhancements. Since FuzzMeasure deals with large quantities of data, the 64-bit support in 3.2 is a welcome feature for users that regularly capture measurements at higher sample rates and bit depths.

iPhone/iPod

• AmazBarcode is a barcode scanning item search tool for iPhone and iPod touch. After detecting a barcode, it shows the item page on Amazon.com. By using this software with Amazon.com Shopping Card and Wish List, you will be able to check the item on your Mac or PC later.
• Pangea Software has announced the release of their latest game—Warheads—an action-arcade game with spectacular visuals and intense audio. The game is inspired by the classic arcade game Missile Command, but it brings a modern feel to the genre. Incoming warheads attempt to destroy your cities, and you tap the screen to launch ground to air missiles to intercept them. There are also various powerups which increase your defensive capabilities, and give you more points and ammo.
• PhatWare Corporation has announced WritePad French Edition 3.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. WritePad French Edition offers natural handwriting recognition input in the French language in addition to keyboard entry and integration with Bing Translation services. WritePad recognizes cursive, print, and mixed handwriting styles. To enter the text you can simply write with your finger on the iPhone screen in either landscape or portrait mode employing your own handwriting style.
• Ki Systems, Inc. has announced the release of KiBiz 5.5 and the introduction of KiBiz Mobile. With this new mobile application you can now view sales, products, contacts on your iPhone/Droid. KiBiz 5.5 is a customizable integrated multi-user business management and accounting system that fosters greater productivity and efficiency. From managing contacts, staff and customer relations, to managing the sales, inventory, purchasing, fulfillment, invoicing, payments, and accounting.
• ColorMe is a coloring booklet for children at the age of 2-6 years. Diverse pictures and color palettes will trigger the development of your child’s imagination and shape his/her senses. A very friendly and intuitive application enables your child to easily create extraordinary pictures. With only the touch of a finger, the selected element will be filled with colors. Shaking the iPhone will cause the cleansing of the picture, therefore providing endless possibilities. It is also possible to save the masterpieces of your child in the image gallery.
• Together with traditional Scandinavian children’s book publisher Satukustannus, game studio BeiZ has announced Mandy and Andy Renovating 1.0, their first interactive children’s book for iPhone and iPod touch devices. Mandy and Andy Renovating consists of cuddly characters and a story full of surprises. Cuddly cats, Mandy and Andy help their friend in renovating his cottage. Children can listen to the story or read it by themselves and peek under the “flaps” to see which animals are hiding.
• Republic of Fun, has announced the release of Slug Wars, their first self-published game for the iPhone and iPod touch. Slug Wars is a real-time strategy game that brings to light the epic battles fought by brave slugs in yards across the nation. Slug Wars is all about managing unit queues for maximum impact on the battlefield. Slug units move down one of three lanes to reach the enemy base, engaging enemies along the way. Players carefully utilize eight different types of combat slugs, ranging from slow-moving (even for a slug!) tanks to salt-shaker-wielding kamikazes to defend their base from the slug onslaught while trying to capture their enemy’s base. Effectively selecting the order to release slug units is the key to success in this surprisingly deep, yet easy to play strategy game.
• Together with traditional Scandinavian children’s book publisher Satukustannus, Beijing-based game studio BeiZ has released the interactive iPhone book for children: Mandy and Andy Renovating. The book consists of cuddly characters and a story full of surprises. Together the two lovable friends have provided entertaining and educational moments for children for over 30 years and are now ready to enter digital time. Satukustannus educational books have clear graphics and promote children’s reading in a fun and non-violent way.
• RogueSheep has announced RoseGlobe 1.1 for iPhone and iPod touch devices. RoseGlobe turns an iPhone into an elegant, love-themed snow globe. Users can decorate the globe with photos of their sweetheart, which is filled with dancing hearts that react to movement and gravity just like a real snow globe. The elegant globe in the simulation can be decorated with any photo from the user’s library, or a new photo can be taken directly in the application.
• Lilliput Labs Pty Ltd has announced WebPresenter 1.1, an update to their mobile web presentation tool for iPhone and iPod touch. WebPresenter allows web developers and designers to demo their iPhone optimized websites running on an actual iPhone or iPod touch. Wirelessly connect your iPhone or iPod touch to a computer and stream the rendered website using the iPhone’s built in WebKit browser to that computer. Version 1.1 includes performance improvements, and more.
• Freeverse has announced Parachute Ninja, coming soon for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Launch your ninja through 30 action-packed levels and 4 picturesque regions to exact revenge on a mysterious enemy. Parachute Ninja is a unique slinging platformer with tap-activated parachute and satisfying physics. Defeat hovering enemies, avoid danger and collect fireflies to get the highest score as you embark on your flinging, flying adventure.
• After 12 years in the industry working for companies such as EA and Rockstar Games, Kevin Ng has released WordCrasher for iPhone and iPod touch. WordCrasher differs from other word games by offering a tactile, physics-driven environment and high production values.
• The PixelMags platform is officially live on the iTunes Store and is taking the digital publishing world by storm. PixelMags is fast becoming the preferred portal for the publishing world, with a list of publications that continues to grow. The first week alone generated an incredible 1 million page views. Over 53 million iPhone & iPod Touch users now have access to more than thirty titles, including MacUser, iCreate, and Advanced Photoshop, and more are going live every day.

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Apple Business, Apple News, Steve Jobs, Rumors, iPod, iPhone / iPod touch, iPhone, iPod touch, iPhone OS, SDK and hacks, iPhone Carriers, Mac + Computers, Originals

Apple is about to prove once and for all just how much they really don’t need Macworld, but what can you expect from Apple during their special event on Wednesday?

A Tablet

Well duh. If Apple doesn’t, at the very least, announce a brand new tablet device, their stock price is going to plummet based on the expectations of this event. Most rumors agree this device will be like an enlarged iPod touch. It will more than likely have a 10 inch multi-touch screen. Battery life will obviously be important, but I’ve heard no reliable rumors. Price point will also be important, and that could range from as low as $400 to over $1,000. No matter the price, these things are going to sell like crazy.

Now, since we’ve pretty much agreed this is going to be a large iPod touch, I’m doubting that the interface will be drastically different from what we’re used to with the iPhone and iPod touch. But, you never know. The operating system will likely support more multi-touch gestures than the iPhone currently supports. This will probably wow a lot of spectators, but will become something we take for granted in a year’s time. Some think the interface will be a messy layer of complication. That’s doubtful.  Equally doubtful is this leaked image of the tablet glass. It’s just too tempting for you, the Internet anonymous, to resist photoshopping a “leaked pic” and throwing it at the fanboys, isn’t it?

iPhone OS 4.0

Yes, we all want a tablet, but again, we’re expecting it to be based on the iPhone OS. That would require a new version to support the increased resolution and functionality. Also, it’s kind of an annual thing anyway, so the next obvious step for Apple is iPhone OS 4.0.

Rumors state that multitouch gestures may be supported system-wide. This won’t quite be to Minority Report level, but we can dream. There may be some development to make background applications possible. And, of course, a few tweaks to the UI are in order. This update may forget about the first gen iPhone just like a big brother who’s past the age of birthday presents. Sorry first gen iPhone, you’re on your own now.

4th Gen iPhone

What’s the point of iPhone OS 4.0 if you can’t have another revision of the iPhone hardware to go along with it? Yeah, I know, I want a tablet much more than a new iPhone too, but it doesn’t hurt to have both. It’s still uncertain whether Apple will decide to show off the new hardware just yet, but there’s a possibility. If they do, you can expect a camera with more megapixels, an OLED display, a multi-core processor of some sort, and maybe even that front facing camera that is really more of a request than a rumor.

Beyond the hardware, consumers really want one update more than anything else: more iPhone carriers. Yes, yes AT&T might lose exclusivity of the iPhone.  Some say Verizon might be getting the iPhone, some say every US carrier is getting the iPhone, and some of us still think this is all BS.  Someone is crazy, but who is it?  I don’t know.  What I do know is not being able to surf the web and talk at the same time is quite a hurdle for Verizon to over come.  Tough call; not being able to surf and talk at the same time on AT&T because their network can’t always handle the traffic, or the same problem on Verizon because they technically can’t support it.  Does anyone else feel like U.S. cell providers are just taking our money instead of trying to catch up with the rest of the world?

So, we’ve rambled on about what we’ve heard is happening on Wednesday, but what do you think?  Apple’s tablet is the most likely thing to come out of this event; what do you think it will do? What’s the “wow” feature?  How much will it cost?  How much will you be willing to pay?

Full Story » | Written by Jake Gaecke for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »