Mark is an award-winning journalist who worked at 9to5Mac for over six years. He covers Apple and other topics related to the consumer technology industry.
We’ve been getting millions, billions, trillions (OK, ours shipped) of emails to our tips@9to5mac.com account letting us that the new touch screen nanos are departing Shanghai, and heading to costumers. The delivery date says September 13th, but they’ll probably arrive a few days earlier. If you aren’t lucky, they’ll lose it like they lost my iPhone 4.
In other news, Developer Steven Troughton-Smith has gotten his hands on the new nano’s firmware and states it’s version is 1.0. This means it’s not really iOS or the old nano/classic OS but something else entirely, multi-touchy and new.
With iOS 4’s launch only days away, we thought it would be interesting to provide a complete walkthrough of the new operating system. iOS 4.1 will be a free upgrade to all iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, iPod touch 2G, and iPod touch 3G users. It will also come standard on Apple’s newly announced 4th generation iPod touch.
Bug Fixes:
As promised, Apple will be providing fixes for the three major well-known issues in iOS 4.0/4.01/4.02. The first, which for me is worse than the antenna issue, deals with the iPhone 4’s proximity sensor issues. Many users find they are accidentally inputing commands into the iPhones screen while on a phone call. 4.1 promises to rectify this issue.
The update also promises a fix for bluetooth connection issues as well as a bug that makes the iPhone 3G very sluggish while running iOS 4.0. Initial tests conclude that the update lives up to its word, especially in the Google Maps and Messages applications.
Enhanced Bluetooth audio playback:
As we reported back in mid-July, iOS 4.1 brings full AVRCP bluetooth playback. This enhanced bluetooth protocol allows for more audio controls via bluetooth such as skipping forward, back, and volume. Before iOS 4.1 only volume controls were supported by bluetooth car stereo systems and such.
Click ‘Read More’ to read the software walkthrough.
A fairly undocumented feature in the new iPod touch is the ability for the device to vibrate like the iPhone. It seems this vibrate function was designed with the deaf in mind, as its primary use is vibrating when a FaceTime is received. Apple markets FaceTime as the perfect way to have a phone call using sign language, and vibrate helps hard-of-hearing users know when a call is incoming.
No word on whether this vibrate function can be used in games and such like on iPhones but hopefully we’ll find that out soon. Another change in this year’s iPod touch is the absence of the plastic WiFi antenna strip. It will be interesting to see if it has any affect on signal strength.
That’s an iPad testing next-gen firmware in the field and those settings are for video call debugging. You may recall iPhone 4 field-test devices having a similar menu.
Update: Apple changed the September 8th launch date back to “Coming Soon” on both the UK and France iPhone software update websites. Release date changing? Was Sept. 8th a mistake? Who knows?…
According to both Apple’s United Kingdom and France websites, iOS 4.1 for the iPhone and iPod touch is set to publicly launch on Wednesday, September 8th. For those counting down, that’s just 5 short and magical days away. In case you haven’t heard, iOS 4.1 ups the ante with Game Center, HDR Photography (awesome btw), $.99 TV Show rentals, iTunes Ping support, WiFi HD video uploading, and all the bug fixes Jobs told us all about via e-mail.
Apple did not officially announce a set launch date for iOS 4.1 but did state it would launch next week complementing the launch of their new iPods. Maybe the new kit will hit retail on the 8th too? Who knows? In case you’re wondering, iOS 4.1 is already out for those with the new 4th gen iPod touch… pity that doesn’t apply to many of us. Expand Expanding Close
Remember El Steve mentioning that one of the board members would use their new nano as an iWatch? Remember Seth’s genius thoughts? Well the above completes it all.
No folks, you can’t get iOS 4.1 on your current kit unless you’re a developer and are up for installing the Golden Master seed. What is available though, is iOS 4.1 for the just announced 4th generation iPod touch. So who does this apply to? Folks who have the yet to be shipped 4th generation iPod touch that are in need of restoring to a fresh copy of 4.1. If you do happen to have one of these new toys laying around, drop us a line.
Oh, and if for some reason you feel the need to download iOS 4.1 that only will install on a 4th gen touch, be our guest. Expand Expanding Close
It’s only been around 48 short hours since the launch of Apple’s Ping social music network, and the service has already managed to get one million users. According to Apple’s Chief of Internet stuff, Eddy Cue, those one million Ping accounts make up 1/3 of iTunes downloads. If you crunch those numbers you’ll find out iTunes 10 has already had 3 million downloads. Expand Expanding Close
This morning we discovered in a local Beverly Hills Newspaper (The Courier) that Apple and Steve Jobs will be honored at the Visions Awards in Beverly Hills on September 23rd. For the 40th anniversary of this awards ceremony, Apple’s co-founder will be honored with the “Lifetime Achievement in Technology.”
As you can see in the article’s snapshot above, the event will be taking place at the Beverly Hills Hilton. We’ll be following this story closely for additional details. Expand Expanding Close
If you’re like Jobs you’d say “who wants a stylus?” If you’re not Apple’s CEO, then you may want to check out Just Mobile’s Alupen. It’s crafted from premium, long-lasting alu-min-ium (Ive style) and looks awesome. It’s as tall as your iPhone, and slightly thicker than ye olde’ number 2 pencil.
The stylus works great as a… stylus (didya guess?) and if you were thinking about getting a stylus for your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, it has never been a better time now that the Alupen has met light. You can get your own for like 20 bucks at Just Mobile’s online store. And hey… we just might give a few of these away sometime, we just might.
One of the most popular iOS Apps of all time got its biggest upgrade yet, moving to version 3.0 and adding prime iOS 4 status. The app got some mad fast-app switching skillz as well as support for that hott iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4 retina screen.
Shazam also gets a fresh new look that adds features while simplifying the controls. Hit up the full release notes above, check out the new interface after the jump, and download the update here.
Mac Life notes that Apple has removed the create your own ringtone feature from iTunes 10. The feature introduced after the launch of the original iPhone in 2007 allows users to download a song from iTunes for 99 cents and then turn it into an iPhone ringtone for 99 more cents.
At a later Fall Apple music event, Apple added a new section to the iTunes store for both Mac and iOS devices that allows for the purchase of pre-cut iPhone ringtones. Expand Expanding Close
Apple has just released their 3rd preview/beta of their upcoming Xcode 4 software. Hot off the heals of iOS 4.1’s golden master release, this new preview of Xcode 4 includes iOS 4.1 compatibility and a few new features. As always, bug fixes are included. — They’re free!
New features include a new activity interface for developers as well as a completely fresh user-interface for the new code completion technologies in Xcode 4. The second preview of Xcode 4 was issued to developers in late July and the first preview was provided exclusively to WWDC 2010 attendees in early June.
Twitter has just released their official Twitter client for the iPad. It’s a free universal binary (one download for all devices) and it looks amazing!
The iPad version uses a lot of multi-touch so tweeting is fun again. We’re skipping the in-depth walkthrough (Giz has one) and going right to download. You should do the same if you want to be cool. Expand Expanding Close
Folks, this is one for the books. Apple has announced they will be live streaming tomorrow’s music related event. This is the first time in recent (thanks, commenters) keynote history that a live stream will be offered. This gives us the sense that something HUGE is going down tomorrow and Apple wants to make sure it’s all seen. Maybe they have to show off something indescribable with live blog pictures? Who knows?
You can catch the stream at Apple.com at 10 AM sharp! Oh, and that live-audio stream we said we’ll try to find? Use this one :) Also: You’ll need a Safari rocking Mac or iOS device to catch the action, PC’s: screw you! It also makes sense that Apple will be offering this stream to ensure their WiFi doesn’t go out like at WWDC due to them’ bloggers. That said, Apple shouldn’t have much issue demoing their new video streaming service and FaceTime-capable iPod touches.
Hard Candy broke their iPod touch 4 cases loose, and they seem to follow what we’ve heard so far. There’s that camera on the top-left corner as well as a spot for a microphone, not an LED flash, on the back. Also check out that funky diagonal on the 30-pin docking bay.
Hard Candy says they are already in full production and should have them ready for launch (below). Thank you Mr. Devine?
Autodesk today announced the Mac release of their professional engineering and design software, AutoCAD. The initial betas of the Mac version hit in late May and up until then the software was a Windows-exclusive. On top of a Mac version, Autodesk is doing the whole 360 by releasing an iOS version to go along with it. The Universal (iPad, iPod touch, iPhone) app allows you to edit and share your funky pro-design work on the go.
Phil Schillz (Schiller, Apple marketing guru) even got in on the action saying “Apple is thrilled that Autodesk is bringing AutoCAD back to the Mac and we think it’s the perfect combination for millions of design and engineering professionals.”
The Mac version takes full advantage of Apple’s Mac OS technologies such as multi-touch (on laptop and magical trackpads) as well that neat cover-flow interface. AutoCAD for Mac and iOS will be released between August (that’s like today?) and October and free versions for them’ students will be made available then. Pre-ordering is a go on Wednesday (iDay!)
The Financial Timesis reporting that Google is in deep talks with them’ popular movie studios to bring à la carte movie rentals to YouTube. In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last month, it is well known that Apple is also in very deep negotiations with the major content hubs to bring morelower-priced movie rentals to iTunes.
We are just days away from the possible unveiling of Apple’s radically new AppleTV, rumored to be re-named as its former codename, iTV. Since this device is speculated to be running Apple’s iOS, there are countless rumors and debates as to how the planet’s folks will control the thing. Apple’s current remote definitely won’t do the job with its 5 physics buttons. There’s the Magic Trackpad but that might not be convenient with it’s desktop design. Then there’s using an iPhone/iPod/iPad app which would double or triple the $99starting price for some. Maybe something cheaper?
The concept you see above, put together by Dan Wineman, is the perfect concept of an iTV remote. The remote is a pure fusion of the Magic Trackpad and an iPhone. The remote takes the physical appearance and multi-touch technology from the Magic Trackpad and scales it to the size of an iPhone. The controller will adapt some iPhone-hardware features like the gyroscope, compass, and accelometer. Essentially, an iPhone without a screen. Or it could be just like this Wii-like “Magic Wand” patent we covered last New Years Eve (pictured below).
According to a new report from Digitimes, Samsung’s 7-inch Galaxy Tab is being aimed to take on Apple’s rumored 7-inch iPad. Samsung’s Tablet is set to debut in Berlin, Germany on September 2nd, one day after Apple’s annual Fall music event (coincidence?).
A smaller iPad is rumored to be in Apple’s pipeline and Digitimes’ sources indicate Apple could be planning to show off their latest tablet at this event. Their sources also claim that Samsung skipped the current iPad’s 10-inch form factor to go right against its upcoming smaller iteration.
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab is powered by their own processor and runs Android’s Froyo 2.2 operating system. Samsung unleashed a promotional teaser for the device just days ago and it admittedly looks like an interesting concept, packing in iPad-esque features in a smaller package, bundled with camera and calling features.
For some other (shocking….shocking!) duplication check Samsung’s accessories below:
