Mark Gurman

iTV Mockup

The Wall Street Journal published a lengthy report that details everything known about Apple’s upcoming television set rumored to be called iTV. The report sources information from meetings with media companies and Apple during recent weeks. The WSJ said newly appointed Apple Senior Vice President of Internet Services Eddy Cue is a large proponent of the set, and his expertise with music labels and studios is critical for the creation of the dream that Apple cofounder Steve Jobs “cracked.”

Here is what Apple is said to be working on for the TV set:

• The Apple television set is said to be very reliant on the cloud, something we’ve heard before, in order to download (and likely stream) television shows, movies, and other content. There does not seem to be a large differentiating factor here from the $99 Apple TV set-top-box, but this content component is just the surface of the TV set.
• Apple is looking at new forms of interaction with not only TV sets but with mobile devices like iPhones and iPads. These new ways of interacting with technology include voice and movements. The voice aspect (Siri) is something we’ve heard in reports before and movement is something that Apple has been prototyping for a while now. The Siri component would be used to change channels and search for content.
• Apple is also said to be working on an enhanced version of AirPlay that allows a user to start watching video content on a television, for example, and pickup the video on their mobile device. This would be the opposite of the current AirPlay solution where someone starts watching content on their iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, and continues via streaming to their Apple TV box. The WSJ says this may simply be an Apple TV box feature, not exclusive to the set.
• The report also says late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has been an advocate for controlling the Apple TV box with iOS devices (via the App Store Remote application), so we’ll likely see the Apple TV set being controlled with iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches versus a standalone remote control.
• Obviously, this Apple TV set would eliminate the need for the Apple TV set-top-box, and would allow users to stream content directly from the iOS device to the Apple TV set. Companies like Time Warner Cable have not been a fan of Apple’s current go through the set-top-box for streaming solution, according to the report.
• Finally, the report says Apple is working on an iCloud-based DVR service, purportedly for this Apple television set.

The WSJ is a historically well-sourced publication, so it is likely that the above report is in discussion between Apple and TV studios. Of course, plans do change, and users may never see the above goals come to fruition. The creator of iTunes, Jeff Robbin, was reportedly left in charge of the TV project. Another report claimed Apple is set to launch the voice-powered TV by 2013.

UPDATE [Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 2:06pm ET]: It appears the app had originally slipped past Apple’s censors after all as the company just yanked the program out of the App Store.

A new iOS application called Quickpick hit the App Store (no jailbreak!), and it fills a void that many feel Apple left in their implementation of the iOS 5 Notification Center.

For those unfamiliar, Notification Center is a place on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch where a user can view their device notifications along with weather and stocks widgets (iPhone and iPod touch only). Many hoped Apple would add a universal launching feature within the Notification Center, but the company did not do so. Until the time comes (if it ever does), Quickpick fills the void.

Quickpick uses the iOS web-based shortcuts feature to initiate phone calls, text messages, website launching, emailing, and more from the Notification Center.

For example, I have set up a calling shortcut, emailing shortcut, web address shortcut, and a shortcut to open YouTube. Since the application uses native iOS URL scheming, the possibilities are endless. Here are some giant databases (1, 2) of URL schemes you can use, and there are cool examples:

• fb://profile – Open Facebook app to the user’s profile
• twitter://post?message – Open Twitter.app to send a tweet
• fb://friends – Open Facebook app to the friends list
• fb://notifications – Open Facebook app to the notifications list
• fb://feed – Open Facebook app to the News Feed
• itms-apps:// – Open the App Store
• maps:// – Open the Maps app
• sms:// – Open the compose window of the Messages app
• music:// – Go to the currently playing song in the Music app
• youtube:// – Open the YouTube app
• itms-books:// – Open the iBooks app

The aforementioned calling, texting, website launching, and emailing examples do not require a special URL; the app sets those up automatically.

Quickpick is now available as a universal application for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch for $0.99. After the break are instructions on how to setup custom URLs in Quickpick:

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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qcmCUsw4EQ]

Apple aired a new television commercial for Siri featuring its iPhone 4S voice control feature. The commercial is based around Santa Claus and Siri. The voice control feature helps Santa to deliver gifts around the world. The first scene highlights Santa asking Siri how to find a house, and then it shows Siri displaying directions in the iOS Google Maps application.

The next scene depicts Siri asking for the weather in Santa Fe and Cleveland, after which Santa is shown checking a text message from Mrs. Claus, then confirming how many appointments he has left on his calendar (3.7 billion). The ad is reminiscent of Apple’s Santa-based Facetime ad from last year’s holiday season. Apple is also airing new iPhone 4S Camera, iCloud, and other Siri ads. Thanks, Matthew! 

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Facebook recently went public with an awesome new feature called Timelime, a brand-new interface for profiles. That feature launched for the mobile web view of Facebook for iPhone but until today has not been available in Facebook’s native application on the App Store.

Today’s Facebook app update for Mobile Timeline is iPhone and iPod touch exclusive, but Facebook is promising Timeline support on the iPad “soon.” Some other new features work across the iOS ecosystem, though, including Friends Lists, better photo management, and subscriptions support. All the details after the break:

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Probably the new default

iOS 5.1 has a little gem for wallpaper fanatics like me: Apple will include four new wallpapers in the iPad version of iOS 5.1 (likely the release launching alongside the iPad 3 next year). The new wallpapers are water crashing onto a sand beach, grass blades, and two ocean wallpapers. These are reminiscent of some of the OS X Lion wallpapers, but scaled to the iPad’s screen size.

Apple has yet to include these new wallpapers for the iPhone, but we’ve shrunk them down to iPhone and iPod touch Retina size. Something interesting to note: Apple shipped an all-new wallpaper set with the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 was the first iPhone to include a new screen resolution, so Apple needed to make new wallpapers of the Retina size. Apple could be doing the same with the iPad, but we’ll have to wait and see. To clarify, these downloads aren’t for a Retina iPad.

Downloads: iPad (1, 2, 3, 4), iPhone (1, 2, 3, 4)

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Apple has seeded Mac OS X 10.7.3 build 11D33 to testers (not developers yet). Apple asks these testers (full release notes after the break) to focus on the Mac OS X Address Book application, iCal, Mail, Spotlight, and Safari. Apple says there are no known issues with this build. The 11d33 build will likely make its way to registered Mac developers soon.

Apple says this build can install as a delta update to the previous beta builds labeled 11D16 and 11D24. Apple should release 10.7.3 to the public fairly soon as sources say Apple is nearly done with work on Mac OS X 10.7.3 save for any last minute hiccups in the final rounds of testing. Like most point upgrades to major OS X versions, 10.7.3 focuses on bug fixes, performance, and minor enhancements.

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The Grand Central Terminal store opening had Steve Cano and Bob Bridger in attendance

Until November 1, 2011, Apple’s widely successful retail branch was headed by Ron Johnson, J.C. Penney’s new CEO. Since announcing his leave in June of this year, discussion has run ramptant in regards to the successor of Apple’s vital retail division’s leader. Under Ron Johnson sat three central executives responsible for the upkeep and success of Apple’s retail business: Jerry McDougal, Vice President of Merchandising; Bob Bridger, Vice President of VP of Real Estate; and Steve Cano, Senior Director of  International Retail Operations.

In early November, a report claimed that Steve Cano was tapped as the successor of Ron Johnson, but Apple quickly shot down this report and provided comment to 9to5Mac on the situation:

The search for a replacement for Ron Johnson continues, and Apple has nothing to announce about this subject at this time.

With Apple yet to announce a successor for Ron Johnson, the above comment still stands true. Apple has been actively searching for a new retail chief and according to a report from August, Apple has been working with world-renowned executive search firm Egon Zehnder International to find their new retail chief. At this point, it also appears that Jerry McDougall and Bob Bridger won’t be running Apple retail as neither of them are running the retail show right now.

So, who is running Apple retail? 
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Today, Twitter announced an all new online version of Twitter, and to complement this new site, the popular micro blogging service launched a re-designed iPhone application. The new application features an all new user-interface and it looks awesome. The new app has four tabs across the bottom: Home, Connect, Discover, and Me, detailed below the fold.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qqDy5BmYKE]

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While TV shows have been available through iTunes in Canada, the Apple TV has not been a source of TV show downloading. Now, Apple appears to have sent an over-the-air update to Apple TV boxes in Canada, and TV show downloading is now available. Episode downloads cost between free and $2.49 a pop and are actually full downloads, not rentals. Apple recently traded single TV show episode rentals for a TV show downloads service. Episodes you purchase will be streamed with no limit from the iCloud storage locker. More photos after the break. Thanks, iH8Sn0w!

Update: We’re also starting to receive multiple tips from Australia and UK as well.

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With the Flipboard iPad news application only growing in popularity, the company behind the software is launching an iPhone version. The iPhone variant of Flipboard looks just like and functions almost like its larger iPad sibling but is obviously formatted for the iPhone’s much smaller display. Flipboard explains Cover Stories, Flipboard’s latest enhancement:

With Flipboard for iPhone we’re introducing Cover Stories. Think of Cover Stories as the feed to check when you’re in line at the coffee shop, commuting on the train or just hanging out at home. It contains a constantly updated selection of interesting articles and photos being shared with you right now.

Cover Stories come from all your Flipboard tiles, including social networks like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. As you add more sources to your Flipboard, their posts will begin to appear in your Cover Stories.

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

Flipboard’s Cover Stories feature is currently exclusive to the iPhone and iPod touch, and an iPad version is coming at a later date. Flipboard for iPhone appears to still be propagating through iTunes, but is available for some. We have more screenshots of Flipboard for iPhone after the break. 

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Apple has pushed out a fairly major update to its iBooks application for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The 1.5 update includes a new nighttime reading theme for a better digital reading experience in the dark. In addition, the new iBooks update adds a full-screen option – does wonders on the iPad – to focus on content and remove the tool bar, page numbers, and other distractions. The updated iBooks application also packs new “beautiful covers” for classic titles, popup footnote support, and an improved annotation system. On top of all of this, the free update includes performance and stability enhancements. (Thanks @chronic) Apple’s release notes:

iBooks 1.5 adds the following new features as well as some stability and performance improvements:

• Nighttime reading theme makes reading books in the dark easier on the eyes.
• Full-screen layout lets you focus on the words without distraction.
• iBooks now features an improved selection of fonts, including Athelas, Charter, Iowan, and Seravek.
• Beautiful new classic covers for public domain books.
• Support for pop-up footnotes, included in select iBookstore titles.
• A redesigned annotation palette makes it easier to choose a color for your highlighted text.

Apple also updated their Cards app to version 1.0.1, bringing with it improvements to the checkout process and verification of postal addresses, as well as enhancements to text entry.

Full screenshot gallery of the new iBooks update is after the break: 

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RockLive, best known for their popular Mike Tyson Main Event game for the iPhone and iPod touch, is back for another high-profile game partnership. This time, the game studio has teamed up with world-leading soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo for a very fun and addicting game called Heads Up with Cristiano Ronaldo (now available). The game is insanely addictive and combines aspects from puzzle and brick-breaker type games with eye-popping graphics, crisp animations, simple pick-up-and-play game play to make a great gaming experience.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mLap2bB0aQ]

The goal of the game – as displayed in our video above – is to knock out as many soccer balls above Ronaldo in order to advance to the next level. Unlike a simple brick-breaker, knocking soccer balls down is nowhere near the full story. In order to clear the soccer balls, two of the same colored soccer balls (whether they be blue, purple, green, or orange) need to be touching. In order for those two soccer balls to disappear, a third ball of the same color needs to be launched by Cristiano Ronaldo. Knocking away all of the balls, though, is still challenging as combinations need to be discovered by the user in order for all the soccer balls to completely disappear. This makes it a fun, pick-up-and-play puzzle-type game…

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While Apple officially announced via a sign at the location that the mega Apple Store in New York’s Grand Central Terminal will open its doors for the first time on December 9th, Apple has now noted this on its website. The new retail webpage for the Grand Central Terminal Apple Store, notes the 10 AM Grand Opening on that Friday. The new retail store’s official address is marked as 45 Grand Central Terminal New York, NY 10017. Perhaps the most interesting finding on the retail website is the business hours of the new store. This particular store sits in the heart of Grand Central Terminal. Some have even said that the store is a part of the terminal, not just a squared off store like Apple’s other locations.

Because of this, Apple’s Grand Central Terminal’s business hours will flow with the terminal’s hours of operation. Unlike Apple’s many other stores, this one will open at 7 AM Monday-Friday to accommodate commuters (an hour after the terminal’s 6 AM opening). Weekend employees will get a rest, though, as the store will open at 10 AM on Saturdays and 11 AM on Sundays. Closing time Monday through Friday is 9 PM (three hours short of the terminal’s midnight closing), 7 PM on Saturdays, and an atypically early 6 PM on Sundays. The holiday hours for this particular store pretty much line up with the standard business hours (shown after the break), and the first workshops at the new location will begin on Monday, December 12th.

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You may remember TJ Maxx’s $399 iPad sale late in 2010, and now you can prepare for that to happen again. The Verge has word from a tipster that TJ Maxx will be selling the iPad 2 16GB for $399 in its stores tomorrow. Supplies will reportedly be low (around 15 per store), so get there early. TJ Maxx is yet to confirm this sale, so you should call your store in the morning if you’re interested. This sale is most likely unauthorized by Apple with Steve Jobs telling a 9to5Mac reader last year that TJ Maxx isn’t an official Apple reseller.

Update: The sale is confirmed to be going on today. Call your local TJ Maxx to see if they have them in stock, because we’re hearing there’s only about 25 per store. Our original tip from last night:

If you call the TJ MAXX in Lakewood ,NY they confirmed to me they are selling it for 399 tommorrow and have 25 in stock!!!

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Image via AppAdvice

Yesterday was iOS 5.1 day, and we broke the news on everything relating to the beta release. End users won’t find any new features in the operating system, but the release was gold for those interested in the future of iOS hardware. Here’s our roundup of the new devices found in iOS 5.1:

-The sixth-generation iPhone:

Located deep inside the iOS 5.1 file system is a reference to an iPhone 5,1. As explained yesterday, a 5,1 identifier is significant as it means this next-generation iPhone will pack in a new processor. The A6 in all likelihood.

-The iPad 3 and a new iPad 2:

-Located in the file system is a reference to a third iPad 3 model, perhaps a carrier variation, known as iPad 3,3. Even more interesting is an iPad 2,4 reference: an updated iPad 2 that is either a carrier variation, a GSM+CDMA dual-mode device, a Sprint iPad 2, or something completely new.

-The next Apple TV:

-We were able to find the J33 codename for the Apple TV 3,1 in addition to references calling for this new Apple TV to carry Bluetooth 4.0/Smart capabilities.

New user features:

There is hardly anything noticeable save for iTunes Match streaming over 3G and extremely minor keyboard enhancement in the iOS Mail application. Apple is also more open about geo-fencing (such as in Reminders.app) in the location services preferences (Thanks Jonathan). If you find anything else please let us know at tips@9to5mac.com.

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When Apple ships new hardware elements in a product, they typically have good reason. With the future of wireless input devices flashing forward, Apple has realized that the next-generation of Bluetooth – Bluetooth Smart (4.0) – will be the ticket to Apple being a part of this integrated wireless future. Apple demonstrated this with the release of this Bluetooth 4.0-powered phone – the new iPhone 4S – and also with the addition of bluetooth 4.0 in the latest versions of the popular MacBook Air and Mac mini computers.

More evidence for a next-generation Apple TV:

The next-generation Apple TV, the one we first revealed as Apple TV 3,1 with the J33 codename, will include Bluetooth 4.0 technology. Before even getting into the advantages of Bluetooth 4.0, it is worth noting that our code-based finding in iOS 5.1 beta 1 of a next-generation Apple TV with Bluetooth 4.0 is further evidence that an Apple TV refresh will soon be upon us.

The advantages of Bluetooth 4.0: 

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We’ve already spilled out an iPad 2,4 and the next-generation Apple TV codename tonight, and now we have, perhaps, the most important find of all: iPhone 5,1. That’s right, the next version of the iPhone is has been dubbed 5,1 internally. A new 4,x model would represent minor external changes, but nothing new on the inside in terms of processing power. For example, the iPhone 3G went from the original iPhone’s 1,1 to 1,2 because there were no internal speed and performance enhancements, just 3G and a GPS.

This comes right after the iPhone 4Ss 4,1 identifier. The jump from 4,1 to 5,1 represents major internal changes, meaning the iPhone 5/6 will pack in a brand-new processor. The A6 in all likelihood. Rumored additions for externals are a 4 inch display and a new aluminum casing. Apple just released the iPhone 4S in October, and it is yet to be seen if this new iPhone will come next October or in the summer as rumored. With the 5,1 reference appearing this early, we like to think the latter.

Thanks Jack and Mike!

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UPDATE [Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 1:52pm]: Apple has yanked the app from the App Store.

This one will probably be removed any moment now, but Apple has allowed an unlimited tethering application called “iTether” into the App Store. The $14.99 application is very simple. Install the app on your iPhone, install its complementing application for the Mac or PC, plug in your USB cord and you’re good to go. Speeds will likely depend on your network connection but it’s working great for me. In fact, I’m writing this post with an internet connection through iTether. Get it while you can! (Thanks, @hrbrt)

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iOS release history tells us that as a product in development moves even closer to release, it is assigned a proper codename. Not only an identifier like “3,1” but a codename such as N94 (iPhone 4S) or K48 (original iPad). The next-generation Apple TV has reached that stage. Thanks to today’s beta release of iOS 5.1, we have on our hands the codename for this new Apple TV (3,1).

As you can see above, the new Apple TV is rocking a the J33 codename, the second JXX product we’ve seen from Apple. The first was the J2 – a new iPad – that we discovered just last week. Apple’s iPad 2 almost reached the peak of Apple’s KXX options with the CDMA version dubbed as K95, so Apple’s move to JXX nomenclature is something that would have to happen sooner or later. With Apple recently beefing up their flagship tablets and phones with dual-core A5 chips, we think this new Apple TV represents an A5 dual-core model that packs in 1080P playback abilities. As to whether this thing has a display on it, it is too early for us to tell.

Thanks, as always, iH8Sn0w!

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In the just released beta of iOS 5.1, Apple has outed yet another new device. We recently brought you the first references to the upcoming, faster Apple TV internally dubbed 3,1, and now we have iPad 2,4 on our hands. With references to iPad 3,1 and 3,2 – likely the new iPads launching in March – having appeared months ago, we’re thinking this iPad 2,4 could be the Sprint version that Apple recently completed work on – but only if it has WiMAX.  A 3G-only Sprint iPad would be the same hardware as the Verizon iPad. Other options include an iPad for China’s TD-LTE, an early LTE model or a dual-mode device like the current iPhone 4S. The rumored March iPad 3 launch quickly approaching so we’ll know soon.

Update: iPad 3,3 found as well, shown after the break (thanks, Jack!): 

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Apple has just seeded iOS 5.1 to developers, a pre-release version of iOS that runs on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. In addition, Apple has released Xcode 4.3 beta to developers, a required version of Xcode for those wishing to develop and test their applications with iOS 5.1 devices. This iOS 5.1 release is crucial. The 5.1 beta brings along an under-the-hood change for alternative interpretations for Dictation input in different apps. We’re looking into this API change.

We’ve also found some references to a new iPad in the code.

iOS SDK 5.1 provides support for developing iOS applications and includes the complete set of Xcode tools, compilers, and frameworks for creating applications for iOS and Mac OS X. These tools include the Xcode IDE and the Instruments analysis tool among many others.

With this software you can develop applications that run on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 5.1. You can also test your applications using the included iOS Simulator, which supports iOS 5.1. There are two Xcode iOS SDK 5.1 images, one for installing on a Macintosh computer running Mac OS X 10.6.7 (Snow Leopard) or later, the other for installing on a Macintosh computer running Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion).

This version of iOS is intended only for installation on devices registered with Apple’s developer program. Attempting to install this version of iOS in an unauthorized manner could put your device in an unusable state.

Along with the release notes, you can also find some new features we’ve found in iOS 5.1 after the break:

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