Some have been working on gathering more information about a new Apple (AAPL) portable device from several different sources during the past 6 months. I have pieced together the puzzle which portrays a picture of what can be perhaps best described as Apple’s rival product to the Intel Ultra Mobile PC [UMPC] initiative which has unsuccessfully tried to marry Microsoft’s (MSFT) Windows OS to a highly portable computing platform.
My strongest piece of evidence came from a trusted tipster about 4 months ago who described an image s(he) had seen of a mysterious touch screen device larger than the iPhone featuring one distinguishing button or depression on each side. At the time, unsure about the actual size of this new device, I reasoned that it could be a new generation of iPhone/iPod Touch or the much rumored Apple tablet. However, the device was later described to have been oriented horizontally on its long end, indicating that it was meant to be gripped with one hand on each side similar to a Sony (SNE) PSP. This ruled out the Apple tablet which is, more than likely, a significantly larger device. It also ruled out iPod Touch since I have been previously tipped on the forward path of the iPod lineup by different sources, essentially confirming that touch screen iPods will not grow much in screen size.
Then about a month ago, another source revealed that Apple has shown significant interest in a 5.2″ 800 x 480 pixel touch screen design by Balda, a German company and the current iPhone screen supplier, and Wintek, an Asian component supplier. This second piece of evidence reveals the real purpose of this new device, an ultra mobile device occupying a position between the 3.5″ iPhone and the much rumored 7-10 inch Apple tablet. There was also a previous article I wrote which highlighted Apple’s sudden concern for flash memory supplies in 2008, despite industry predictions for next year which emphasize greater production and softer demand. This further confirms that Apple is working on a new device due sometime in 2008 that will put strains on the flash memory supply chain.
One thing not seen by any of my sources is a keyboard: it’s clear Apple will not be using a physical QWERT keyboard for this device, instead relying on its patented multi-touch screen as the sole interface for user input. This may be the reason why some have speculated that Apple may be on the verge of introducing a new generation of its famed Newton PDA. However, I firmly believe that the shrinking market for dedicated PDAs puts those speculations to rest, although various PDA functionalities may in fact be included in the final version of the device.
This new Apple device, which could be an Ultra Mobile Computer, has not been sighted out and about the Apple campus or even in the area normally designated for testing new Apple products, suggesting that it’s still in the software and hardware design period. Once it’s physically spotted outside Apple’s secretive labs, we may see an actual product release of 6-8 months, closely following other new Apple product introductions.
Above is a rendition of this new device based on what we know so far
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
iPhone or iTablet either way iwant
iphone GPS ..make it more accurate and help man kind
re you the giving-type? Do you like to help others for the betterment of society? Well, you might be interested to hear that you can help Skyhook Wireless map WiFi hotspots in your area. If you’ll recall, Skyhook is the company that provides the iPhone’s v1.1.3 Google Maps’ My Location feature with WiFi hotspot location data, so contributing to their database should make the iPhone’s Google Maps My Location position-data more accurate and useful.
Here are the instructions on how to go about adding your positional data to Skyhook’s database (from iPhone Central):
1. Find your location as latitude, longitude
First we need to determine the location of the AP. Go to Google Maps (http://maps.google.com) and find the location of your access point on the map. Center the map (double-click on it) on the location and then enter the following into your Address Bar:
javascript:void(prompt(”,gApplication.getMap().getCenter()));
This will open a prompt giving you the latitude,longitude of the center of
the map. Copy and paste that into an email. If you are having problems there is a little more detailed tutorial here.
2. Find the MAC Address of your wireless access point
Next we need to get the MAC Address of your AP. This can be tricky, so its best to use software to find it. We recommend NetStumbler and iStumbler on Windows and Mac respectively. You can download the programs at the following links:
Windows: http://www.netstumbler.com/
Mac: http://istumbler.net/
Find your AP in the list and the associated MAC address for it. Now paste the MAC address in the email.
Now you should have a MAC address, latitude and longitude. Its good to recheck the location by pasting the latitude, longitude back into Google Maps to make sure its the right location. Once you verify it, send us the information and we’ll add them to the database. It may take up to a week before the AP is available when using your iPhone or iPod touch.
Just make sure you add accurate data, okay? It would be ashame to actually lose positional resolution because a bunch of dimwits decided it would be funny to add inaccurate WiFi hotspot data.
iPhone 1.1.3 firware update
Cre.ations.net's Nate True wrote a blog post describing what he found inside the iPhone firmware 1.1.3 update. Whilst digging around in the iPhone's firmware innards, he found that Apple has made some startling changes to the iPhone's OS, including:
The SpringBoard doesn't have to be modified to show custom Applications installed on the iPhone
Applications no longer run as root, instead they run as 'mobile'
Preferences are no longer stored in /var/root
True states additionally that he has also found what appears to be widget support in the SpringBoard.app. 'SBWidgetApplication' manages package locations and icons. So, what does this all mean? It might mean that the stars are aligning so properly that this might be the release: the one that makes it possible for 3rd party developers.
iPhone gets it's own movie site
January 22, 2008 - 20th Century Fox and Apple have launched an iPhone tie-in site for the forthcoming sci-fi adventure film Jumper. In the Doug Liman-directed film, opening February 14th, a genetic anomaly allows a young man to teleport himself anywhere.
He discovers this gift has existed for centuries and finds himself in a war that has been raging for thousands of years between "Jumpers" and those who have sworn to kill them.
The Jumper iPhone site is formatted specifically for iPhones, allowing the user to experience the "jumper" phenomenon by redirecting them -- "jumping" -- to other cool iPhone sites. Just punch JumperTheMovie.com/iPhone/ into an iPhone browser and you'll "jump" to a custom iPhone site.
Furthermore, the Jumper iPhone site offers a Jumper graphic novel (an iPhone first), wallpapers, trailers, character bios, and more.
Macbook Air enjoy a little discount
I had come across this link and it provides a some savings off the new apple offerings. As expensive as these products are, even a little discount is helpful!
Purchase and enjoy.
iPhone News
I have heard that AT&T will be providing enterprise accounts for iPhones.
There also seems to be a strong monthly discount on the data package as well.
I know alot of business that have rouge iPhones being used on a personal level and this now will be the turning point in sales. I predict that the iPhone will overtake blackberry's market share in just one year. With the release of the iPhone SDK arriving next month, we will see the release of blackberry like e-mail integration software. In my opinion, enterprise e-mail support and wirless sync are the only missing peices stoping the iPhone from becoming competitive business use product.
As much as I love my iPhone, I deeply miss the instant sync of e-mail, calander, contact, ect that my blackberry provided.
I had also been a palm user taking advantage of the GOOD LINK server which was also outstanding.
Apple, if you are listening, fix this and sales will come. Enterprise accounts will be big business and they are aching to use the iPhone.
iphone firmware update 1.1.3 hacked
The latest version of the firmware for Apple's iPhone has fallen to hackers less than a week after its release.
Two hackers working separately have both succeeded in jailbreaking version 1.1.3 of the firmware, iPhone Atlas reports. One of the hacks requires hardware modification, so it's not suited for those of a nervous disposition or lacking in electronics expertise You can see the hack in action on this video:
Another hack by Jonathan Zdziarski, developer of the NES emulator for iPhone, is software only but somewhat complicated. If previous experience is anything to go by, easier jailbreaks will emerge over coming days. ®
