Iphone Updates

Given China’s status as the worlds largest producer of rare earths and its recent proclivity for reducing exports of the stuff, everyone else is looking for ways to reduce dependency on rare earths or optimize the use of these sought-after elements. Well, neodymium is one of those rare earths, and a team from St. Pölten University in Austria recently discovered “disturbances in the crystalline structure in neodymium magnets” that weaken their magnetic fields — and consequently the efficacy of all those electric motors and hard drives that utilize such magnets. For now, research is ongoing to fully understand the properties of neodymium and other rare earths so that their use can be “optimized.” We aren’t exactly sure how we’ll benefit from all this optimization, but we hope it means cheaper and more powerful gadgets, TVs, and cars for all of us.

[Image source: Thomas Schrefl]

Researchers find flaws in neodymium magnet crystalline structure, still in love with its personality originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 04:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Man, talk about a flustercuck. After missing a cycle with its mobile phone strategy, the last thing Microsoft needed was a support fiasco related to its very first Windows Phone 7 software update. But after re-releasing a patched software update meant to solve the update issues seen by some Samsung owners, we’re now seeing reports of a new issue on Twitter and in a variety of support forums and blog comments. At the moment, there’s no clear fix to the dilemma characterized by a wonderfully descriptive “error code 800705B4.” Unfortunately, what solves the problem for some (reboots, removing apps, freeing up space on the handset) doesn’t work for others. Microsoft’s official Windows Phone 7 Support Twitter account has responded to one frustrated customer saying, “We are aware of the error code are are looking into it right now,” telling another to hold off on the update while MS investigates. Funny thing is, this minor WP7 update wasn’t meant to do anything except prepare phones for the first feature update scheduled for early March. Not funny ha ha, funny queer.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Updated Windows Phone 7 update isn’t updating some Samsung phones for March update originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 04:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s time to mark your calendar Star Wars fans, whether you plan to be first in line to check out the new 3D-converted editions of each movie, protest their rerelease in a new format or just avoid the theater altogether now that The Phantom Menace has officially been slated to return next year on February 12th. The effects guys at Fox, Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic reckon the immersive visuals of each flick lend themselves to being viewed in 3D and the yearly releases of the movies should be good test of both whether a 3D conversion really is worthwhile and if audiences are interested in paying to watch it. Of course, there’s also the alternative of just grabbing the Blu-ray discs (original trilogy only, if you so desire) skimming the Red Letter Media review and calling it a day, but we won’t get pushy.

Continue reading Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace returns to theaters in 3D February 12, 2012

Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace returns to theaters in 3D February 12, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 03:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Following close behind the low-power Nano X2 comes the Eden X2, or what VIA is calling “the world’s most power-efficient” fanless dual-core processor. While we’ve yet to see any official numbers, the original Eden did 500MHz on one watt of power, so we should see similarly thrifty specs here. Aside from that, the unit houses two 64-bit cores in a 21 x 21 millimeter package, is compatible with Windows CE and Linux operating systems, and was built using a 40-nanometer manufacturing process. The Eden X2 made its debut at the World Embedded conference this week, and should make it to the real world by the end of Q2. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading VIA says Eden X2 is world’s most power-efficient dual-core processor

VIA says Eden X2 is world’s most power-efficient dual-core processor originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 02:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Your processor may be able to react to your every, fickle demand when it comes to churning out the numbers that make the magic happen, but when it comes to managing its own power it’s a bit more lazy. Chips can throttle an individual core’s consumption back, but do so slowly, a problem that Harvard grad student Wonyoung Kim appears to have solved. He’s created an on-chip multi-core voltage regulator that uses what’s called fast-voltage scaling, a technique of rapidly cutting power that could drastically extend battery life on mobile devices — or, you know, make it so that your gaming rig doesn’t dim the lights quite so badly when you crank it up to the gigahertz. No word on when this regulator will start making an appearance in consumer electronics, but Mr. Kim has achieved a patent for his work, so you can be sure he’ll be making bank whenever it does.

Multi-core voltage regulator uses fast voltage scaling to curb your processor’s wasteful habits originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 01:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Chrome OS update finally fixes the Cr-48′s touchpad issues originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 01:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You might have seen Motorola’s WiFi-only Xoom popping up at European e-tailers, but it’s reportedly flying the red, white and blue today, having materialized at Sam’s Club in the good ol’ USA. Droid-Life stumbled upon several snapshots of these Xoom Wi-Fi vouchers, with a $539 price tag hanging above their heads — plenty cheaper than a cellular Xoom, and also slightly more affordable than a similarly specced iPad 2. Of course, Sam’s Club deals in wholesale merchandise, and even should this price be accurate the tablet may not be widely available at the same rate, so don’t count out $599 as the Xoom Wi-Fi’s MSRP. Meanwhile, let us know if you manage to find and ring one up at the register, eh?

[Thanks, Michael]

WiFi-only Motorola Xoom appears at Sam’s Club, bearing $539 price? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 23:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Courtney, who obviously thinks the virtual iOS keyboard isn’t svelte enough for her needs. If you’re looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

“I’m sort of overwhelmed by the amount of iPad keyboard cases on the market, and would love to hear opinions from owners. Which one feels most sturdy, and which has the nicest key travel? They’re all priced nearly the same, so it really comes down to quality, fit and finish. Thanks for any guidance!”

Ignore the fact that the iPad 2 is likely just a few weeks away — we’re talking about the here and now. You’ve read our $0.02 on a few of these, but why not throw a few opinions of your own in comments below?

Ask Engadget: what’s the best iPad keyboard case? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google gave folks a brief glimpse at its super secret self-driving cars last fall, but nothing like what it’s just showed off at the TED conference that’s happening this week in Long Beach, California. The company is not only actually letting attendees inside the autonomous car for a first-hand demonstration, but it’s intentionally stepped things up to an “aggressive” level to show just how capable the car really is — we’re talking squealing tires and really tight cornering (all on a closed course, naturally). Head on past the break for a view from both inside and outside of the car courtesy of Search Engine Land.

Continue reading Google’s self-driving cars take TED attendees for a wild ride

Google’s self-driving cars take TED attendees for a wild ride originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve caught wind of many whispers about a Windows designed specifically for tablets, but the latest scuttlebutt states we won’t get to add them to our mobile arsenal anytime soon — Bloomberg‘s anonymous sources report that Microsoft won’t release a tablet operating system until the 2012 back-to-school season, and will only begin to publically test the OS at the end of this year. That suggests not only a timeframe, but also a likely plan — it’s not hard to imagine Microsoft would enjoy a slice of the educational market before iPads replace textbooks entirely at schools with cash to burn. Of course, Dell seems to think there’ll be a Windows 8 slate in January of next year.

Microsoft tablet OS not coming until fall 2012? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When you buy an app for your iOS device, you only have to buy it once. If you buy it on your iPhone, you can download it on your iPad later and pay nothing at all. If your Mac’s hard drive dies on you, as far as your iOS apps are concerned it doesn’t matter; you can download them again later without paying a cent.

So why isn’t the same true of music downloads from the iTunes Store?

According to Bloomberg, Apple’s recently been asking that same question of the music labels and trying to negotiate for unlimited downloads of music. This isn’t the perennially-rumored iTunes subscription service, where you’d get a la carte music downloads for a monthly fee. Instead, iTunes music would have the same model as iOS apps: pay once, download as many times as you want. It’s essentially the same cloud-based backup solution we heard rumors of last week.

It’s not unlimited streaming or a subscription service, but unfettered downloads of music you’ve already bought is definitely a step in the right direction. According to Bloomberg’s sources, Apple expects to reach an agreement with the major labels by midyear.

[via Appleinsider]

Apple negotiating for unlimited iTunes music downloads originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T introduced two new postpaid plans for tablets, a category that includes the upcoming iPad 2. Unlike prepaid plans which require customers to buy data allotments upfront, these new plans can be added to a customer’s current monthly cellular bill. This new postpaid option is month-to-month and does not require a long-term commitment.

Pricing for the postpaid plans mirror the prepaid plans with a $14.99 plan that provides 250 MB of data or a $25 plan with 2 GB of data. Overages on the new postpaid plans will be charged at a rate of $10 per 1 GB of overage. This is slightly less than the prepaid plans which charge customers $25 for an additional 2 GB of usage. These new plans give customers the freedom to choose how they would like to be billed for data to be used with their shiny new 3G iPad 2.

As a benefit for early adopters of the iPad 2, AT&T is offering a limited-time promotion that provides one free month of service for those that signup for the new $25/2 GB plan.

AT&T intros new postpaid plans for the iPad 2 and other tablets originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple has just posted another GM seed (number 2 if you’re keeping count) of Xcode 4. Build 4A304a is ready for you to download, install, use and love. You need to be a paid member of either the iOS or the Mac dev programs to access this build.

Now, if Apple would only get around to, you know, releasing Xcode 4… It would make life ever so much interesting.

Be aware that if you are beta testing Lion, you will need to download and install the separate Lion-specific tools. Xcode 4 GM is built for Snow Leopard.

A tip of the developer’s cowboy hat to Morgan for telling us about the re-release

Apple releases Xcode 4 GM. Again! originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last night, I was browsing through story after story on the interwebs that hoped to help people decide on a tablet purchase by comparing the Motorola Xoom specifications with the iPad 2. From multitasking to chip speed to RAM, analysists attempted to find consumers the best possible value for the money.

And they completely missed the point.

When it comes to tablets, it’s not about the specs. It’s about user experience. It’s about the way we use the device and how the device fits itself to the way we want to use it.

Continue reading Deciding on a tablet by comparing specs? You’ve missed the point

Deciding on a tablet by comparing specs? You’ve missed the point originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No sooner had Steve Jobs bid farewell to the crowd at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco yesterday than the TUAW inbox began filling with news of iPad 2 accessories. While many of the accessories aren’t as snazzy as the bath tub lid-inspired Smart Covers, I thought you might like to take a peek at what manufacturers have been working on under NDA.

Booq is coming out with a nice looking folio case for the iPad 2 that includes a non-digital component — a built-in and replaceable paper notepad. The Booqpad for iPad 2 (below) starts at $49.95, with a “luxury option” available at $99.95. The notepad sheets are the same size as an iPad 2 screen, and are perforated for easy removal. Knowing Dave Caolo’s penchant for cool notebooks, I’ve been asked by his wife Mia to tell him to not buy one of these.

Continue reading iPad 2 accessories: The flood begins

iPad 2 accessories: The flood begins originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A brand new app called Labelbox is taking the iOS App Store by storm this week, and for good reason. It does something simple – putting labels on photos – in an aesthetically pleasing and, really, quite fun way.

The app asks you to take a photo or choose from your camera roll, at which point it prompts you to apply a label of your choice by swiping over the area the label will go (much like you were actually putting down a strip of tape, neat)! Labelbox also has some pretty deep sharing features built in, including uploading to Facebook, Twitter, and the ever-growing Steply photo service.

Oh, and the best part? It’s free in the iOS App Store. So what are you waiting for? Quit clickin’ and start stickin’!

Labelbox tags your photos in a beautiful way originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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According to a report from AppleInsider, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) this week disclosed a recent patent application for delivering educational content to students in a classroom setting. Filed by Apple in August, 2009, under the title “External Content Transformation,” the patent describes new methods for a host computer to deliver content to multiple client devices in a format that accommodates the individual needs of each user.

Apple’s concept aims to help educators address the diverse learning needs of every student in their classrooms. For example, a teacher could use Apple’s technology to more effectively deliver the material for a lesson. Based on individual preferences, some students may see the content in a larger font size while their classmates simultaneously receive the same lesson as synthesized speech or in Braille.

“A host device can share content with many users, without needing to do significant processing on the host device to accommodate users’ needs and preferences,” states Apple’s patent application.

Apple’s patent highlights the concept’s potential to address the specific needs of students with disabilities, including descriptions of new formats tailored to address the impairments of each individual user. Content would also be adjusted to suit a user’s custom system settings or preferences.

Continue reading Apple seeking new paradigm for educating students with special needs

Apple seeking new paradigm for educating students with special needs originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iOS 4.3 will be released to the general public next Friday, on March 11th. Today, Apple uploaded the gold master seed for developers. The release remains under the NDA umbrella until next Friday, however, with details outside of those publicly discussed by Apple remaining off limits.

The new 4.3 firmware will include many new improvements including enhanced AirPlay and personal hotspot support.

If you are a paid developer, head on over to the Apple iOS developer site to download your SDK and firmware. You will need to sign in with your credentials in order to get behind the paid firewall for these items.

Apple releases iOS 4.3 GM seed to devs originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple’s new service for small businesses moving to Mac, Joint Venture, appears to be off the ground. The service starts at US$499 for up to five systems, although complete pricing details are not immediately visible on the web page touting Joint Venture.

So, what does Joint Venture provide for the small business that wants to buy Macs? Pretty much everything. To begin with, the Apple Store that you work with will set up all of the new Macs “usually within 24 hours.” The setup includes moving data from an existing Mac or PC, and installation of any software that you purchase through Apple.

Apple also sets up a unique Joint Venture page for your company, on which you can set up training for your employees, book appointments with a Genius or Business Specialist at the store, sign up for workshops, or get tech support.

The training consists of up to three two-hour sessions, held at the Apple Store, for your employees. The classes are rather general in nature, but according to the Joint Venture web page, the staff will work with businesses to customize the training. There are also Getting Started workshops held on a regular basis that are designed to bring new employees up to speed on using Apple products.

As for tech support, Joint Venture gives business owners access to the Genius Bar via phone (or in-store visit). The service will even provide loaner machines while your computer is “in the shop.”

Like Apple’s alliance with OnForce, the Joint Venture program has the potential to cut into the business of Apple Consultants Network (ACN) members. For many ACNs, the initial setup of Macs at a customer site is not only a way to gain revenue, but also provide training to new employees at a firm and integrate the new Macs into an overall system design. Troubleshooting and resolution of issues at a client’s location is also the bread-and-butter of many ACN members, and now that service has the potential of being sidetracked by the Joint Venture program.

Apple’s Joint Venture small business service plan launches quietly originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CBS, Turner Sports and the NCAA announced this week that streaming content from the March Madness basketball tournament will be made available to iOS users for free. In the past, CBS has streamed the content for free over the internet and to iPhone owners via a paid application. Last year, the iPhone March Madness On demand application cost sport fans $10. An iPad version was not available as the iPad was not yet on sale.

With the subsequent debut and explosion of the iPad, the trio of companies coordinating the March Madness broadcast have decided to extend their reach to Apple’s popular tablet. They also dropped the $10 price tag and made the app available for free. The tournament will kick off March 15th and the iOS app will be made available soon (watch here for updates). I know I will be watching on my iPad, anyone going to join me?

March Madness to stream to the iPad and iPhone for free originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CNET reviewer Scott Stein writes that “the new 13-inch MacBook Pro’s significant CPU updates and fantastic battery life make it one of the top laptops we’ve reviewed.” Stein likes the device’s “excellent” ergonomics, keyboard, and large Multi-Touch trackpad, as well as its seamless metal body, which “compared with other flexy laptops…feels like modern art.” He adds: “…for the price and the size, it’s hard to beat what the 13-inch MacBook Pro offers.”

PC Magazine reviewer Cisco Cheng calls the new 15-inch MacBook Pro “the fastest, most technologically advanced laptop to grace our Lab’s benches.” Highlighting standout features like its “mind-blowingly fast” performance, improved battery life, ultrafast Thunderbolt input/output connection, and new FaceTime HD camera, Cheng calls MacBook Pro a “technological tour de force.”

Computer Shopper gives the new 13-inch MacBook Pro a score of 9.3/10 and makes it their Editors’ Choice. Reviewer Jonathan Rougeot writes that MacBook Pro “continued to trounce its competition in our battery test” and notes that the processor performance “far exceeded expectations.” He concludes: “…once again, Apple takes a notebook that we already loved and makes it even better.”

Apple today introduced iPad 2, featuring an entirely new design that is 33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter than the original iPad while maintaining the same 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD screen and up to 10 hours of battery life. iPad 2 also features Apple’s new dual-core A5 processor for blazing-fast performance and stunning graphics and now includes two cameras — a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime and Photo Booth and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video. iPad 2 is available in black or white, features models that run on AT&T’s and Verizon’s 3G networks, and introduces the innovative iPad 2 Smart Cover in a range of colors. iPad 2 will be available on March 11 in the US through the Apple Online Store, Apple Retail Stores, and select Apple Authorized Resellers.

Apple today introduced iOS 4.3, the latest version of the world’s most advanced mobile operating system. New features in iOS 4.3 include faster Safari mobile browsing performance with the Nitro JavaScript engine; iTunes Home Sharing; enhancements to AirPlay; the choice of using the iPad side switch to either lock the screen rotation or mute the audio; and the Personal Hotspot feature for sharing an iPhone 4 cellular data connection over Wi-Fi.

Apple today announced that Random House, Inc., the largest trade book publisher in the US, has made its full catalog of 17,000 ebooks available on Apple’s iBookstore, including bestsellers by Stieg Larsson, John Grisham, Dan Brown, Danielle Steel, Laura Hillenbrand, Cormac McCarthy, Lee Child, and many more of the world’s preeminent authors. With the addition of Random House, the iBookstore now offers ebooks from all six major trade publishers and thousands of independent publishers.

At the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter received the Oscar for film editing for their work on “The Social Network.” Wall and Baxter recently spoke to Vanity Fair’s John Lopez about the digital revolution in filmmaking and how they use Final Cut Pro to craft a perfect scene from dozens of takes. Says Wall: “When I switched to Final Cut, it made me rethink how I work….I love it because it’s so flexible. It doesn’t force you into a way of thinking about editing.”

Apple today updated the industry-leading MacBook Pro family with next-generation processors and graphics, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology, and a new FaceTime HD camera. Featuring the very latest dual-core and quad-core Intel Core processors, the entire MacBook Pro line is up to twice as fast as the previous generation. The new 13-inch MacBook Pro, 15-inch MacBook Pro, and 17-inch MacBook Pro are available now on the Apple Online Store and at your favorite Apple Retail Store.

Apple today released a developer preview of
Mac OS X Lion, which takes some of the best ideas from iPad and brings them back to the Mac for the eighth major release of the world’s most advanced operating system. Lion features Mission Control, an innovative new view of everything running on your Mac; Launchpad, a new home for all your Mac apps; full-screen apps that use the entire Mac display; and new Multi-Touch gestures. Lion also includes the Mac App Store, the best place to discover, install, and automatically update Mac apps. The Lion preview is available to Mac Developer Program members through the Mac App Store today, and the final version of Lion will ship to customers this summer.

To make a critical Christmas 2010 release date for their Oscar-nominated film, “True Grit,” the Coens negotiated several tight turns in post-production with a custom Final Cut Pro editing workflow honed over the course of their last several features. Says Joel Coen: “We had to get the movie done in a very short period of time. Final Cut Pro, because of its efficiencies and speed, enabled us to meet that deadline.”