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Tag: apple

  • iPhone 5′s New Camera: ‘same as iPhone 4S but thinner’

    The iPhone 5 comes with a brand new camera but its not ‘that new’ as Apple explains: “Same as the iPhone 4S, but thinner.”

    Its an 8-megapixels with a 3,264 x 2,448 backside-illuminated sensor, five-element lens, and f/2.4 aperture great for low light pictures. The camera is 25% thinner to match the iPhone 5′s 7.6mm thin body.

    The camera is still branded the iSight camera which when coupled with the new A6 processor takes quick and highly detailed images.

    iPhone 5 camera iPhone 5s New Camera: same as iPhone 4S but thinner

    New features of the camera include the new dynamic low light mode, “smart filter” which helps in color matching images, 40% faster shutter speed and the ability to capture still images in video. There’s also a brand new panorama mode which joins multiple smaller images into a huge 28 megapixel image.  Apple is also improving on the image sharing capabilities of the iPhone 5, images can now be shared with multiple persons who can later comment on them.

    Video recording is still the same as the iPhone 4S offering 1080p 30fps capture with improved image stabilization. The front camera also got a small upgrade in the form of 720p video in Facetime.

    Image Credit: The Verge

  • VirnetX sues Apple again over same patents

    A few days ago Apple was ordered to pay an unknown company, VirnetX, a hefty sum of $368 million in a patent infringement case. For a small company like VirnetX, $368 million is like finding a gold mine. But no, these guys are clearly out for more. In the original article we told you how VirnetX isn’t planning to just sit tight after receiving the payment for Apple and are looking to mint some more money out of them.

    The patent in question that resulted in the $368 million settlement was regarding some very obscure FaceTime networking protocols (or something). Immediately after winning that case VirnetX filed another lawsuit. The difference? The original payment was for older Apple devices that infringed on their patents. This new lawsuit is for the newer devices and include the iPhone 5, fourth-generation iPad, iPad mini, fifth-generation iPod touch and the “latest Macintosh computers.” VirnetX is looking to force a preliminary injunction against the alleged infringing Apple devices as well as damages related to their sale.

    Originally VirnetX was looking to get all infringing Apple products banned. But it’s pretty clear they’re looking for a sizeable sum from Apple that will let Apple use their patents. Let’s see how this pans out.

  • Apple begins seeding iOS 6.1 beta 2 with Passbook enhancements

    iOS 6 was launched only a little over a month ago. It brought with it new features like the all new Apple Maps, Facebook integration, shared photo stream and much more. Then iOS 6.0.1 was seeded to users a few days ago. It most fixed issues related to iPhone 5 and wasn’t a feature release. In that same period though Apple seeded iOS 6.1 beta 1 to developers. It was available for download as well. The beta 1 focused on Mapping improvements.

    pass Apple begins seeding iOS 6.1 beta 2 with Passbook enhancements

    The iOS 6.1 beta 2 seeded just yesterday doesn’t bring in any major new features. So far the only one picked up is related to the Passbook app. In iOS 6.1 beta 2 when you launch Passbook for the first time you will be greeted with an explanatory note. The current iteration of Passbook directs users to Passbook enabled apps directly.

    The beta also enhances the Map Kit framework in iOS, allowing developers to search for map-based addresses and points of interest. It’s compatible with the fourth-, third- and second-generation iPad, iPad mini, iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPhone 3GS, and fifth- and fourth-generation iPod touch. Because it’s an early beta, it will have its fair share of bugs associated with it, though it’s stable enough for a quick spin.

  • Apple now shipping LTE capable iPad Mini

    Apple announced the iPad Mini a few weeks back and the new tablet was of to a great start. Positive reviews from the web and strong sales figures meant that the iPad Mini, which many were skeptical about, was indeed a success at least until that point. Apple mentioned during the unveiling that the LTE capable iPad Mini will be available a few weeks after the WiFi only version.

    Well that time is now. If you were waiting for a LTE capable iPad Mini, you can go grab one now on Apple’s website. Those who pre ordered it are now getting confirmation from Apple that their tablet is now being shipped. The orders are scheduled to arrive this Friday, Nov. 16. Both the white and black versions are available. Initially Apple was suffering with supply shortages for the iPad Mini, but it looks as if they have subsided for now.

    Now that the LTE capable iPad Mini is rolling off the assembly line, it will further increase the previously stated 3 million commulative sales figure. Although Apple has so far not revealed the iPad Mini specific sales figures. The iPad Mini will go head to head with the Nexus 7 and the Amazon Kindle Fire.

  • iPhone 5 shipping time improved to 2-3 weeks

    It’s no secret that iPhone 5 launch has not exactly been ideal. It was after all successor to one of the best selling smartphones of all time. While the lack of innovation is debatable, the hardware related issues that followed suit are not. Camera, built, touchscreen, none are spared from issues of their own. And to top that Apple was suffering with severe manufacturing delays which resulted in long iPhone 5 shipping time for customers.

    Recent reports are however a little more positive. Foxconn seems to have fixed whatever was causing delays on their ends. Retail stores now have ample stock of iPhone 5 with them. Even previously the iPhone 5 shipping time was 3-4 weeks if you ordered online from the Apple Store. That is now reduced to 2-3 weeks if you order now. It’s not perfect, but at least things are improving.

    Improving iPhone 5 shipping time is the only way Apple can ensure customers get the desired product as soon as possible. 2-3 weeks is still a lot for a smartphone, but a marked improvement from before. Let’s supply improves further and the delivery time is reduced to 24 hours. That will take some doing though.

  • Apple brings Passbook and Siri support to iOS Apple Store app

    The online Apple Store is one of the best places to purchase any Apple products at OEM rates. Of course Apple also has an iOS Apple Store app for its iDevices in case you want to purchase the latest and greatest Apple hardware right from the comfort of your smartphone.

    appstore Apple brings Passbook and Siri support to iOS Apple Store app

    Apple has now updated the iOS App Store app and has brought in some important and much awaited changes. For starters the new app now has Siri support. If you ask Siri for any Apple product, it will open the app and give you the relevant details. For example, the question, “How much is an iPhone 5″ opens the app directly to the dedicated iPhone page. The app also supports the new Passbook feature introduced in iOS 6. According to the change log, users will be able to purchase gift cards and email them to friends and family directly from the Apple Store app. And if you happen to receive a gift card as an email, you can store it in the Passbook app and use it in one of Apple’s retail stores.

    The new iOS Apple Store app is available on the App Store for free. It weighs in at 6.0MB.

  • Apple publishes Samsung apology in UK newspaper

    If you’ve been following the Apple vs. Samsung saga, that does not seem to have an end in sight, then you’d be aware of a rather interesting development that took place a few months back. The UK court ordered Apple to run advertisements/apology on its website and newspapers citing clearly that Samsung products do not infringe its products. This was the result of an infringement case that involved the Galaxy Tab lineup of Samsung tablets.

    court Apple publishes Samsung apology in UK newspaper

    Apple chose not to appeal and went ahead with the decision. Their attempt at an online apology was a disaster, for which the UK court gave them a 48 hour deadline to rewrite it. Today the newspaper part of that apology is out. The picture above is from The Guardian on Friday. It’s the advertisement Apple was ordered to run. The advertisement provides readers with a link where they can read the full judgement, not that anyone will actually be typing that long URL.

    Whether Apple has done a better job this time around still remains to be seen. It is still an advert full of cryptic looking numbers and figures that the general public will probably have no idea about. Let’s wait and see if the UK court agrees or not.

  • Apple Fusion Drive benchmarks show impressive results

    When Apple announced the iPad Mini and iPad 4, one announcement went fairly unnoticed. It was the brand new iMac. Apple brought its A game when designing this beautiful all in one. Naturally it comes with the most up to date hardware as well. Apart from the usual CPU and GPU based hardware, Apple added a little bit of its own home made magic. It’s the fusion drive.

    Techfast Lunch&Dinner got their hands on the new Mac Mini and took the fusion drive for a spin. How did this hybrid hard drive + SSD storage work? Extremely impressive.  Their tests found the Fusion Drive Mac mini started in just 15.7 seconds, while the 2012 Mac mini with a traditional hard drive took 34.1 seconds to start. Fusion Drive can also achieve write speeds of more than 300 MB/s, and write speeds of 400 MB/s. In comparison, the Mac mini with 5400-rpm drive fails to exceed exceed 100 MB/s on either the read or write test.

    This fusion drive is found on both the upcoming iMac and the new Mac Mini. It features 128 gigabytes of flash storage paired with either a 1-terabyte or 3-terabyte 5400-rpm hard drive. OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion operating system calculates which files and applications are used the most and automatically places them on the faster solid-state drive

  • Apple reportedly paid $21M to use Swiss Railway clock design

    In the wake of all patent infringement cases it’s impossible to keep track. Even more so if it involves Apple. One such case was regarding the new clock app in the iOS 6 update for iPads. This new app had a clock that closely resembles a famous Swiss Railway clock design. Back then we heard that Apple and SBB have come to a licensing agreement that will allow Apple to continue to use the Swiss Railway clock design and SBB will ignore it from there on.

    It was never revealed what the terms of agreement were and how much was Apple going to pay SBB, if they were going to pay at all. Today the amount is unveiled. Apple has reportedly agreed to pay a lump sum of $21 million to SBB for rights to use the clock design on iOS 6 on the iPad.

    $21 million sounds a lot for a simple clock design, especially when Apple could have just changed the design. But in the spirits of the overall aesthetics of the clock app Apple might have deemed the $21 million necessary. Not every day you see such sums being paid out for minor designs. But then again, you rarely ever see two companies reaching agreement amicably.

  • iPhone 5 suffering from quick scrolling issue

    Apple may be all set to sell a record number of iPhone 5 but it doesn’t change the fact that the launch has been far from ideal. Initially right after release reports started coming in about iPhone 5 that were either too easy to scratch or were scratched out of the box. Then there was the camera issue and no one can forget the Apple Maps. Now if that wasn’t enough another issue has popped up. This quick scrolling issue is now reported confirmed.

    What is this quick scrolling issue? Rapidly swipe back and forth diagonally. On an iPhone 4S the screen will scroll/respond accordingly. On the iPhone 5 however it will eventually stop registering touch input, or will intermittently drop touch inputs. This is easy to check in the Mail app.

    While under normal use there won’t be a situation that will cause a user to scroll in this manner, but games like Fruit Ninja work entirely on this principal. It’s not known whether the quick scrolling issue is a software one or hardware. It is however present in iOS 6, 6.0.1 and 6.1 beta 1. Apple needs to respond to this as soon as possible and they better hope this is not a hardware issue.