iOS Devices

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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When author of the official ‘Steve Jobs’ bio, Walter Isaacson, sat down for an interview with Fortune earlier this month, we learned that Steve Jobs had three key industries he wanted to reinvent: the television, textbooks, and photography. We’ve certainly heard a lot of rumors about an iTV in the works, and Apple has arguably already done a lot for the textbook business, despite Jobs having loftier goals for the industry as a whole. While the iPhone 4S’s redesigned camera might be good enough to get an endorsement from photographer Annie Leibovitz, the guys at ADR Studios have created this new ‘iCam’ concept imagining a separate accessory that would turn the iPhone 5 into a full-fledged point-and-shoot.

Keeping rumored iPhone 5 specs in mind, ADR’s concept would include a 10.1 megapixel sensor and provide an “ISO range from 100 to 3200 (extendable up to 6400 equivalent)” for full HD at 60fps. Imagined specs for the accessory include an aluminum unibody, interchangeable lenses, a small touch-screen on the front, LED flash, pico-projector, SD UHS-i slot, motion sensor, and bluetooth. We’re guessing a few companies are already at work on a similar accessory after seeing these gorgeous mock ups.

[slideshow]

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The noted jailbreak development team Chronic Dev put out a blog post yesterday that details some of the work they have been doing on a proper jailbreak for iOS 5. The group says that Apple patched the jailbreak-prone exploits found in iOS 5 betas with the release of the golden master build in mid-October. This, obviously, puts a damper on the group’s plans to release an iOS 5 jailbreak and is obviously an upset for those looking to add some tweaks to their iOS 5 devices.

Chronic Dev explains that Apple uses their iTunes-based crash reporting system in order to find these jailbreak exploits before they are released into the wild. In order to avoid losing exploits in the future, the Chronic Dev team has announced a bold move: they want to sidestep Apple, install software onto your computer, and re-route crash reports to the jailbreak development team. Doing this will allow the team to pinpoint areas in the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch operating system that are prime for jailbreak exploits. Chronic Dev explains:

Using this agglomeration of your crash reports and our ninja skills, Chronic Dev will be able to quickly pinpoint vulnerabilities in various programs by using the same techniques Apple currently employs. At the very least, your data will help point us in the direction of which applications are the most vulnerable, so we can focus our time & energy on these with laser-like intensity. And, of course, this will also prevent Apple from accessing all your valuable data, just so they can then turn around and use it against you.

If you’re interested in participating in this work with Chronic Dev, you are at your own risk. Apple is likely already working on iTunes and Mac OS X security updates to combat this move from Chronic Dev. 9to5Mac does not take a stance on jailbreaking, hacking, or this software , we are just reporting this as news. 

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3Azblo1taY&feature=player_embedded”]

The Siri Dictation feature that is currently exclusive to the iPhone 4S — along with Siri — can now be used on the iPhone 4, iPod touch 4G, and iPhone 3GS. Developer Eric Day has released a new jailbreak package called Siri0us, that is available via a Cydia repository, and will allow you to easily get Siri Dictation working. As you can see in the video above, Siri0us works just like Siri Dictation would on the iPhone 4S, but sadly it does have ads. This tweak uses Nuance’s technology, but it’s cool nonetheless.

Meanwhile, developers are still working to bring a Siri port to the iPhone 4, and have already come up with some pretty cool custom use cases. If you already have your iPhone 4 jailbroken this wouldn’t be a bad thing to check out.

Update: The developer has pulled the app from Cydia as he finds a new voice recognition service to do this legally.

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[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eChSxAxcxUE]

Not only can Siri and a Proxy Server start or lock you car, it can help you watch TV.  This is, of course, using the Siri Proxy we’ve talked about before with a Plex command line interface allows the developer, above, to start movies almost immediately.

But, this works so quickly and effortlessly that we wonder if this is the “finally cracked it” interface that Steve Jobs was talking about in the bio.

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A Sharp factory

This is something we’ve heard before from analysts, but the Wall Street Journal is now saying that Apple has tapped Sharp to supply the LCD displays for the next version of the iPad. This new iPad is expected to launch early next year, with dates from all the way to the beginning of the year to March being floated around. This new iPad is rumored to include a Retina Display – the super clear screen technology that was pioneered in the iPhone 4, as well as a faster processor. Earlier this year, reports claimed that Apple struck a billion dollar deal with Sharp to supply displays for Apple products. The WSJ says:

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We already know about all of the excellent Black Friday deals popping up in our live price guide— like an 11” MacBook Air for $849.99, and this 13″ 2.4GHz MacBook Pro for $1050. In addition to all of the great hardware on sale, almost all of the biggest iOS app publishers are running Thanksgiving and Black Friday promotions too. There’s also some great Mac App Store apps on sale. We’ve compiled the best of the best…
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As of last week Gartner was reporting Android doubled its market share to 52.5 percent in Q3, while Apple recorded a decline from the year previous at 15 percent in the face of a delayed iPhone 4S. Despite that, a report from research firm GfK (via Reuters) claims iPhone owners are much more likely to display OS loyalty by picking up another iPhone when upgrading their handset.

Specifically, 84 percent of iPhone users included in the research said they would be upgrading to another iPhone, in contrast to just 60 percent of Android users who plan on purchasing another Android device. RIM was of course behind both with 48% of users planning on sticking with a Blackberry.

“The scope for brands to lure customers from rivals has diminished and the richest rewards will go to those providers that can create the most harmonious user experience and develop this brand loyalty” -GfK

So why don’t they want to switch? 33% of consumers included in the research cite not wanting to change the apps and features associated with their device. 29% of respondents didn’t want to learn how to use another device, while 28% didn’t want to transition their content from one device to another…

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

Microsoft’s Craig Mundie shoved his foot knee deep in his mouth this week when he said that Siri was nothing special, and Microsoft’s own voice capabilities have been around for over a year.  The reason for Siri’s success?  Marketing, of course.

People are infatuated with Apple announcing it. It’s good marketing, but at least as the technological capability you could argue that Microsoft has had a similar capability in Windows Phones for more than a year, since Windows Phone 7 was introduced.

To be fair, Siri isn’t even about the Voice Recognition, it is what the iPhone does with it.  The voice recognition is outsourced to Nuance’s engine. The Microsoft Phone barely made it to the point where you could make sense out of what its engine produced.

If you were Microsoft, would you rather Mundie be so out of touch with the technology he is talking about that he can’t tell the difference, or that he’s just flat out shamelessly lying?

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We already knew that Apple has been trying to get iPhone 4s made in Foxconn’s new Brazil plant, but we have to see any iPhones with “Designed by Apple in California, Made in Brazil” engravings on the back in the hands of customers. Now, thanks to Brazilian website MacMagazine, we may have our first look at such a device. While obviously unconfirmed, the publication says that a reader has gotten their hands on an 8GB white iPhone 4 with “Brazilian Industry” written on the back instead of “Made in China.” The labeling, of course, is written in Portuguese. Additionally, the model number labeling includes a “BR” for Brazil at the end of the scheme (image after the break). On a final note, the site says Brazilians should expect to be able to pick up their own 8GB iPhone 4 on December 2nd. Have you spotted your own Brazilian-made iPhone? Let us know.

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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGrDMVk2isc]

Apple has rolled out a new commercial for the iPod touch (which is on sale for Black Friday) , showing off the white model that was just introduced alongside the iPhone 4S. The advertisement is called “Share the fun” and also demonstrates some of the new iOS 5 features like native tweeting and iMessage. In addition, great iPod touch additions from last year’s iOS 4 release like Game Center (improved with iOS 5) and FaceTime are demonstrated. Our favorite comment so far : “I’m pretty sure that was an Urban Outfitters commercial.” Leaves yours:

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

Last week we saw how a developer created a proxy server to sit between Siri and Apple to make certain commands perform command line functions.  Another developer today took that proxy server and hooked it up to his Viper Car system which allows him to turn his car off and on.

The “Siri Proxy” plugin I wrote handles interaction with a php script that runs on my web server. The php script, which I developed months ago for personal use, allows me to send commands to my car which has a Viper SmartStart module installed.

Current commands accepted are: “Vehicle Arm”, “Vehicle Disarm”, “Vehicle Start”, “Vehicle Stop”, “Vehicle Pop Trunk”, and “Vehicle Panic”.

Siri hacking is rapidly turning into a fun sport.  How long until Apple blesses third parties with this type of functionality?

Locking and arming the car alarm video below:

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Bloomberg reports Apple has removed Big Fish Games‘ subscription based game from the App Store. Big Fish Games was reported last night to be the first to make available a game that offered a subscription model inside, a feature that was originally exclusive to news apps. After last night’s report that the game was able to receive this new subscription feature, there was much speculation that this app wasn’t actually offering subscription inside — as one of our readers explained. The game’s founder Paul Thelen says, however, that his team worked with Apple for several weeks to make sure it met requirements regarding in-app subscriptions, and that Apple even approved the press release announcing the game.

The way the app worked was a user could purchase a Big Fish Games subscription for $6.99 a month to play unlimited games that the publisher made available through the dedicated app. Games were then streamed to the user’s iPad from Big Fish’s data centers. Apple reportedly took 30% of the revenue, just like the company does with news apps.

Oddly enough, Thelen says Apple didn’t provide any information as to why the app was removed. We’ll let you know more as this story develops.

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A few months ago Analyst Peter Misek reported that iOS and OSX would become one in 2012.  That kind of flies in the face of Mac OS 10.8 that’s been hitting everyone’s Web logs. He’s also talked about Apple opening up super data centers all over the world for a confusing Netflix service that mostly already exists.

With that boulder of salt consumed, AllThingsD quotes Misek as saying that Apple has selected Sharp specifically to manufacture new TFT LCD panels for the upcoming iTV, an Apple-branded television set rumored to boast Siri as the flagship feature (here and here).

The analyst speculates the iTV could ship mid-2012:

Over at Jeffries, analyst Peter Misek suggests that Sharp is retooling a production line at its factory in Sakai specifically to manufacture modified amorphous TFT LCD panels that will be used in the so-called iTV. If all goes well, the line should be ready for commercial production by February of 2012, which means we could see Apple’s take on the TV by midyear.

The report also mentions some manufacturers of current televisions are becoming nervous of what exactly iTV might be (we know Sony is one of them) and hope to adapt quickly so they don’t suffer the same fate vendors in other  industries face, such as the smartphone folks. It should be noted that Misek has been wrong one too many times, so you’re cautioned to apply skepticism to his thinking. The iTV reportedly isn’t the only thing Sharp will be supplying displays for…

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LA Times reports that Apple’s Find My iPhone app was used to assist in the arrest of an armed robbery suspect last Thursday. The male suspect entered a female’s home at gun point and took her purse, which held her beloved iPhone inside. The suspect left the home, and thought the coast was clear.

However, the victim then called police and remembered that she had Find My iPhone and notified them. Luckily for her, a random citizen on the street let police use his laptop to track the suspect down via Apple’s website. The officers later found the man and he was arrested on robbery charges. The LAPD told the LA Times how crucial it is to have tracking software installed whenever possible:

LAPD officials say computer and phone theft is a major contributor to crime in Los Angeles, and the theft — and its outcome — illustrate the value and benefit of using tracking applications and software for computers, cellphones and portable tablets.

Find My iPhone was also used in September to help sift through the wreckage in the terribly sad Chilean plane crash. Find My iPhone has important use cases everyday, and we’re glad to see the poor woman got her items back. This is a great reminder that you should have it installed (and to criminals to pass on taking Apple devices!)

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUEzGSMNA4A&feature=youtu.be]

The touch screen is now working from this post from before.  This feels like an alternative universe like what if Apple never pursued iOS and followed Windows onto the tablet with a desktop OS.
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Digitimes recently reported that their supplier-based contacts say that Apple is currently prototyping two versions of the third-generation iPad. The site says the iPad 3’s are codenamed J1 and J2 and Apple has not yet decided which model to launch. Based on code strings I have seen (shown in screenshot above), the J2 iPad mentioned in the Digitimes report is definitely an Apple device. Based on Digitimes accurately predicting the iPad 3’s codename, it seems at least somewhat plausible that the site’s attached rumors of a Retina Display and a dual LED-bar system to power this ultra-high-resolution display are accurate (or at least planned possibilities).

What Digitimes said about the J1/J2 (and more device findings):

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[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs3a8NDPPl4&feature=channel_video_title”]

Apple has begun airing their new “Love” iPad 2 ad, which showcases how the device is used in the daily live of people. In the ad you can see people using Apple’s iMovie to edit video, a basketball coach showing his team new plays, a band mixing their music, a designer, and more. The narrator remains the same as their other new ads like the iPad 2 “Learn” ad that aired in August. Expect more ads like this as Apple begins ramping people up for the holidays.

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

Business Insider says they have a friend who knows some Apple employees who say that the iPad 3 will have a 3D display.

We’re definitely not convinced.

What we have heard however is that Apple is working on 3G gestures which they’ve patented and could be used in iOS devices – though those would be more for an Apple TV type device.

There was an app that used the iPad 2 camera to figure out where your head was and made 3D objects appear on the screen.

Perhaps the person making up the rumor got those confused.

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