Jordan Kahn

Update: This isn’t likely real

The image above was posted on Weibo, a Chinese Twitter clone of sorts, showing what is thought to be components of Apple’s yet to be released next-gen iPhone.

Clearly showing the familiar Apple “A5” stamp, the chipset is mysteriously not from an iPad 2, and as Phone Arena points out, closer resembles that of the current iPhone 4’s A4 chipset layout. Curiously, the visible part of the battery reads “430 mAh”, which leads us to believe a similar battery to the iPhone 4’s 1420 mAh battery may be included in the next-gen iPhone.

There is reason to be skeptical of these images. Apart from the overall blurriness of the shot, the A5 logo itself seems a little off and the source of the image cannot be confirmed.

We still expect two variations of a next-gen iPhone to be unveiled late September and becoming available for purchase sometime around October 7th. You can get all the details here.

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Following the first shipments of Apple’s new 27-inch Thunderbolt Display, a new support document reveals some limitations regarding multiple display support that we weren’t exactly expecting.

Nearly every current Mac model is able to support two Thunderbolt displays. The exceptions are the 13-inch MacBook Air (mid 2011), which only supports one, and the 13-inch MacBook Pro which supports two, but disables the device’s main display to do so. Also of note, the $800 Mac mini can support three Thunderbolt displays thanks to the AMD graphics and its HDMI port.

One other somewhat surprising limitation of the new displays is the inability to daisy chain a Mini DisplayPort screen off the new Thunderbolt display. The support document explains:

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T67JQkf0OA&feature=player_embedded]

The concept video above shows off the Mercedes-Benz’ vision for the “future of multimedia online systems” using smartphones as a media hub, most of which seems to resemble the description of their newly announced “iPhone Interface Plus” concept. 

Mercedes is showing off some pretty impressive iPhone integration at this year’s IAA Motor Show in Frankfurt. In what we assume is a major evolution of their Media Interface Plus accessory unveiled last year, the company is set to introduce an “iPhone Interface Plus” concept, available as a retrofit on every Mercedes Benz starting summer 2012.

Working together with a free app from the App Store, an iPhone will be concealed in the “glove compartment and fully integrated into the vehicle electronics”. You can then use hardware controls and the a larger display on the vehicle’s dashboard to control and view content with as little distraction as possible while driving.

The press release explains:

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjgHkKU7kio]

Apple certified solar-powered iPad case anyone? LilyPad resembles the average iPad case but utilizes “solar ink” technology to continually charge it on the go for up to 12-14 days in typical lighting conditions.

While the main selling point for LilyPad is clearly its solar charging capabilities, the rest of the case sports some pretty impressive specs too. Also included is a built-in iPad-compatible HDMI  output as well as USB Power out for charging other devices such as an iPhone. The case also doubles as a stand (like most iPad cases these days) allowing you to prop up your device at a 15 degree angle for typing, or a “movie stand” position for watching video or reading.

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Top U.S. Brands via Brand Finance

According to Brand Finance, a London-based research firm, Apple is now second to Google in brand value after a 33% increase to overtake IBM, Microsoft, Wal-Mart, and GE for the first time. The firm attributes Apple’s success to “innovative design, loyal consumer base and well-executed marketing activities.”

Google, sitting in the top spot with a brand value of almost $48.3 billion was up 9% among the top 30 U.S. brands analyzed by the Brand Finance. Other top companies other than Apple and Google all seen a significant drop including Microsoft down 9% to $39 billion, and IBM and AT&T both experiencing decreases from the year previous.

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Kensington has just announced two new security products for iPad and iPhone including the SecureBack lock mechanism and the BungeeAir integrated alarm case for iPhone. We had some hands on time at Pepcom last night with working demos.

The BungeeAir tech ($99) is packed into a typical looking iPhone case (above), a key fob, and the BungeeAir app. Simply attach the fob to your keys or any other always handy location and configure your preferences from within the app. Now, when you are separated from your device (based on your preferred settings) you will receive a buzz and/or beep notification to the key fob. The device will also go into Password protect mode if it was left open. You can even locate your lost keys or fob itself by activating the key fob from within the app.

The case also integrates a built-in back up 1500 mAh battery and the ability to prop up the device in landscape or portrait view.

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeRUkNRyycA]

Looks like Bentley isn’t the only one unveiling some new Apple-related features at this year’s International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Auto-part and equipment supplier Valeo was showing off a variation of their Automatic Park4U system, this time remotely parking a Volkswagen using an iPhone.

Equipped with only the ability to brake and accelerate, CNET explains a “Valeo representative stood outside the car, a Volkswagen Sharan, and parked it merely by using an iPhone app.” We dug up the video above posted by Valeo that shows the iPhone app in action towards the end.

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xkfp2HNIEBM]

(Concept video via MacStories)

Could Apple have plans to integrate iMessage, the new all-in-one messaging app in iOS 5, into OS Lion’s iChat, an app that is indeed in need of desperate attention? Perhaps.

The evidence comes from a developer who provided the following hints found in iChat’s framework in Lion. Of course it is only speculation at this point, but MacRumors guesses these elements have been added to provide cross-platform support for the iMessage protocol in iChat.

MacRumors reports:

Buried in the framework of OS X Lion’s iChat, are two new properties – The “timeDelivered” and “timeRead’ fields that indicate the tracking of delivery and read receipts for instant messages. These features, however, are not supported in any of iChat’s native messaging protocols, while the same features are offered in Apple’s iMessage protocol. These properties were also not present in previous versions of iChat prior to OS X Lion.

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Epson has just introduced their new ‘MegaPlex’ line up of light-weight, portable projectors specially designed for iOS devices.

Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch sits and charges on a built-in dock, allowing you to project photos, movies, and presentations from your iOS device to a big screen. Both of the two models in the series can spit out an image up to 12 times larger than a 40-inch screen, and include built in stereo sound with two 10-watt speakers.

The Megaplex MG-850HD ($800) is the more expensive of the two models on offer and sports HD 720p resolution and 2800 lumens color, and a built-in mic. The MG-50 model is pretty much the same only without the 720p resolution and costing a hundred less at $700.

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IDC has just released their second quarter results for tablet and eReader shipments as well as an updated forecast for the remainder of 2011. While Apple continued to dominate with 68.3% of the global market during Q2, IDC expects Apple’s share to fall as vendors bring competitive Android devices to market later this year and early next.

The study reports second quarter tablet shipments worldwide increased 88.9% (303.8% year over year) citing robust demand for the iPad 2 and sales of 9.3 million units, leading the firm to raise its estimates for the remainder of 2011 from 53.5 million units to 62.5 million.

From the report:

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Belkin took a little bit of time today at IDF to show off their new Thunderbolt Express Dock that provides a selection of ports that mirror the new 27-inch Apple Thunderbolt Display, sans the $999 price point.

The accessory sports three USB ports, a Thunderbolt port, Firewire 800 port, and Gigabit Ethernet. Perhaps the dock could use some more of that Apple “mimimalism” – we’re sensing some wasted space being used here.

There is no word on pricing or availability as of yet, and Daily Tech reminds us we might still have to cough up $50 for a Thunderbolt cable. We’ll keep you updated when the device is officially announced. More Thunderbolt accessories here, another image after the break.

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Mac Mini Vault just announced a customized 48U APC cabinet that accommodates colocation of up to 140 Mac Minis, allowing for a high-density, high-efficiency data center solution.

Shelves specifically designed for the machine make for easy access to all power buttons and ports, with individual slots pre-wired for internet connectivity and power. Tied to the network connection are several Cisco Gigabit Switches with “redundant fiber connections to the data center’s backbone network”.

Each cabinet provides remote power cycling capability thanks to six APC switched Power Distribution Units. The PDUs themselves are powered by an APC UPS with Generac generators for back up.

Also on offer is the Mac Mini Vault RAID Storage Vault service, which will allow you to expand up to 9TB of direct-attached storage for $350/monthly. The Mac Mini Vault colocation service starts at $29.99/monthly (which includes 500GB transfer and 15Mb/s burstable speeds) and also offers an Enterprise package for $50/month (1TB transfer, 30Mb/s). You can check out the sign-up page here.

The company has also recently posted a “Why a Mac Mini?” page detailing the efficiency of their solution and running Apple’s new i5/i7 Mac mini as a cost-effective e-mail server, ftp server, offsite backup, web server etc. Mac Mini Valut is operated by CyberLynk Networks with data centers located 80 miles north of Chicago. You can get a good look at the Mac Mini Vault cabinet in the gallery after the break.

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Apple was just granted a patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office (via Patently Apple) detailing 3D display & imaging technologies that could potentially lead to advanced Kinect-like navigation through performing gestures or manipulating holographic images within a virtual 3D space.

Essentially, this would allow you to perform hand gestures within a virtual space while your hands are displayed on a screen, allowing for precise manipulation of on-screen elements.

The patent’s inventor also notes that these imaging technologies could be used for presence detection, head tracking, and auxiliary display capabilities as well. We can’t help think of Kinect-like gaming for a potential future Apple TV, although the extent of the gestures and tech described in the patent goes well beyond current implementations.

As Patently Apple notes, the “virtual elements have no real physical embodiment” but could potentially take advantage of holographic technology that the same inventor outlined in a previous Apple patent. The application could also include audio feedback. For example a clicking sound when pressing a button within the virtual space would provide confirmation of the action.

Patently Apple explains:

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Bentley used the Frankfurt Motor Show this week to unveil a new concept for their flagship Mulsanne luxury vehicle that integrates two iPads, two Apple wireless keyboards, one Mac mini, and an iPod touch as the heart of its entertainment system.

As you can see from the gorgeous images of the hand-crafted cabin, the Mulsanne concept packs in two retractable iPad workstations (equipped with full internet access) for rear passengers, with a wireless Apple bluetooth keyboard enclosed in a custom housing.

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According to a report from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, Apple could sell 4.6+ million Macs in the September quarter, topping the company’s previous record of 4.1 million during the holiday quarter ending in December 2010. This lines up nicely with estimates of 4.5 million from Wall Street.

The estimates, based on NPD data that shows Mac sales are up 22% for first two months of the September quarter, suggests Apple is slated to sell between 4.4 million and 4.6 million Macs. Largely contributing to the growth is the refreshed MacBook Air lineup, which is expected to account for ten to twenty percent of total Mac sales during the quarter.

Wall Street predicts iPod sales will top 7 million for the quarter, which also lines up with the 7.2 to 7.7 million units predicted by Munster using NPD data.

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Adobe is finally bringing decent Flash video support to iOS, only it will have to do an on the fly transcoding to do so. The latest release of Flash Media Server, version 4.5, implements new features that will allow same source video delivery thanks to “on demand repackaging” to both Flash and iOS via HTTP Dynamic or Live Streaming.

“Now publishers can simplify their video publishing and protection workflows with Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5 with protected HLS support, audio channel extraction, DVR/PVR live, on demand and variant playlists. One set of content without any preparation or additional storage and deliver safely to both Adobe Flash with HDS and to Apple devices using HLS.”

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A new report from Taiwan Economic News claims Apple’s main supplier Foxconn has significantly upped its iPad 2 shipment estimates from 14 million to  20 million units for Q3. The report notes this marks a significant “42.8% increase from its original projection” made in July. This confirms previous reports for third quarter estimates we told you about last week.

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The Apple online store was updated with some pretty minor tweaks this morning, but welcomed nonetheless. After hitting the “Buy Now” button on the iPad product page you’re now taken to a new and improved interface for selecting your color, model, and carrier preferences. As of right now, only the iPad ordering page for the US and UK stores seem to have received the update.

It also appears that the usual “Ships in 24 hours” is now displayed as “In Stock”. It’s possible that “In Stock” will now replace both “1-3 business days” and “24 hours”. Some products are still listed at 2-4 business days, however.

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Apple has just introduced a new program for matching charitable donations made by Apple employees for up to $10,000 per year. The program was announced in an internal email from recently appointed CEO Tim Cook (below) and is currently available only to full-time employees in the US. Cook’s email says they have plans to extend the program to other countries in the future and MacRumors notes the initiative has been officially confirmed by an Apple spokesperson.

Team: 

I am very happy to announce that we are kicking off a matching gift program for charitable donations. We are all really inspired by the generosity of our co-workers who give back to the community and this program is going to help that individual giving go even farther. 

Starting September 15, when you give money to a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, Apple will match your gift dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000 annually. This program will be for full-time employees in the US at first, and we’ll expand it to other parts of the world over time. 

Thank you all for working so hard to make a difference, both here at Apple and in the lives of others. I am incredibly proud to be part of this team. 

If you’d like more information on the program, you can get it on HRWeb, which can be easily accessed through AppleWeb. 

Tim

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If you haven’t heard by now, plans for construction of Apple’s 175-acre “Spaceship” campus are well under way. A meeting hosted by Cupertino mayor Gilbert Wong to address any community member’s concerns is scheduled for tonight.

However, it now looks like Apple may have plans to build another campus, as Wong told Mercury News that Apple execs have already approached him with plans for a third campus:

Wong said Apple executives have told him the company is expanding so fast that it expects to start working on Apple Campus 3 at an unknown location after they finish the second headquarters in 2015.

An Apple spokesperson declined to comment. We’re not sure if this is just really early planning for a potential third campus in the future, or if the company has more specific plans. We already know that Apple’s proposed Spaceship campus will be home to 12-13,000 employees.

Perhaps Apple will start moving employees out of Infinite Loop once the spaceship is complete and rebuild a ‘satellite’ campus at that location?

The report from Mercury News also notes that city officials have suggested a sculpture of Steve Jobs be placed on the campus to “honor his contributions as the iconic leader of Cupertino’s biggest taxpayer and cache-maker.”
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In a report from Bloomberg, HTC has apparently filed claims of patent infringement against Apple after acquiring patents from Google last week.

The patents were apparently snatched up by Google sometime over the last year from the original owners including Motorola Inc., Palm Inc., and Openwave Systems Inc. According to the US Patent and Trademark Office, they were then transferred by Google to HTC on September 1st.

Six days after acquiring the nine patents, HTC today filed a suit in Delaware against Apple claiming patent infringement on four of the patents (originally issued to Motorola) that they acquired from Google. However, they aren’t letting the remaining patents go to waste either, they also filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission for five of the others (two originally owned by Palm and three by Openwave).

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