The ugly truth about wearable technology
When it comes to putting computers on our bodies, everyone’s an armchair Anna Wintour. Take a look at the comments on any story about wearable technology, just about anywhere. Ugly is in the eye of the beholder. And with good reason. While some of us view our PCs, smartphones and tablets as status symbols, our clothing and accessories are more closely tied to our identities than anything else.
Over the past few years, the frenzy for wearables has reached its peak. This week alone, Sony, Samsung, LG and Motorola have all shown off their next attempts at wrist-worn technology. And with each announcement comes a new set of sartorial critiques.
And yet, despite a seeming consensus from the tech press about the aesthetic appeal of devices like the Moto 360 and Pebble’s Steel, the world is still waiting for the one wearable that will have us all strapping a computer to our wrists, faces, waists or whatever. But the real obstacle to wearable adoption isn’t a matter of style; it’s a matter of taste.
The real obstacle to wearable adoption isn’t a matter of style; it’s a matter of taste.
New York Times tech-scribe-cum-style savant, Nick Bilton recently penned a speculative editorial proclaiming the as-of-yet-unannounced iWatch as the device that could finally take wearables mainstream. Apple will no doubt roll out a beautiful piece of machinery — it has an excellent track record and a proven team of designers, engineers and businesspeople on board — but the truth is, no matter how good the software, no matter how innovative the functionality, no matter how versatile and beautiful the design, there will never be one wearable for everyone.
Almost every player in the wearable game thus far has proven an ability to produce successful consumer technologies. Some of us can even agree that they’re starting to get the style right, but the truth is we all fancy ourselves individuals when we get dressed in the morning. No single company, whether it’s Apple or Motorola or even Swatch is ever going to make a single device that we all want to wear.
Apple’s wearable device, whether it’s a watch or a fedora or even a condom, will no doubt be a meticulously designed piece of hardware, but it’s going to take a much more robust and diverse market, full of choice for wearables to really take off. It’s going to take more than NFC, fitness tracking and Jony Ive’s magic touch. It’s going to take more than killer features and refined hardware.
It’s going to take time.
[Images: Evgeny Dubinchuk and Fuse, Getty]
Filed under: Wearables, Apple, Samsung, Sony
.CPlase_panel display:none;
iWatch Roundup Updated
With just four days to go until we get our first look at Apple’s wearable device, rumors are ramping up. New information suggests the iWatch will have a curved, flexible OLED display covered in sapphire, NFC support, and wireless charging capabilities. Check out our roundup for all of the latest rumors.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Apple Makes Gains in U.S. Smartphone Market Share as Launch of iPhone 6 Approaches
As the launch of the iPhone 6 approaches, Apple continues to hold its title as the number one handset manufacturer among consumers in the United States, making significant gains in share during the three month period ending in July.
According to ComScore’s latest numbers, the iPhone had a 42.4 percent share of the market, up from 41.4 percent in April. Samsung also saw small gains, jumping to 28.4 percent from 27.7 percent in April. Meanwhile, LG, Motorola, and HTC lost share, a trend that’s been ongoing for several months.
While Apple is the top handset maker, iOS has always fallen behind Android when it comes to operating system share, due to the large number of Android-based phones on the market. Apple did make headway during the July period, however, as Android lost share, dropping to 51.5 percent from 52.5 percent during the April period. iOS, meanwhile, jumped from 41.4 percent share to 42.4 percent share.
iOS is the only platform that continues to gain significant ground, with BlackBerry and Symbian losing share while Microsoft gained 0.3 percentage points.
It will be interesting to watch ComScore’s numbers in the coming months, as Apple may see gains in both handset and operating system share. The company is preparing to launch the iPhone 6, which will offer larger displays of 4.7 and 5.5-inches. Display size has been one of the major features differentiating the iPhone from larger Android phones, and the increase in size may encourage a number of Android users to switch to Apple’s platform.
Because ComScore’s data tracks installed user base rather than new handset sales, it is more reflective of real-world usage but slower to respond to shifting market trends than some other studies.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Apple to Expand AppleCare+ to Australia Soon [iOS Blog]
AppleCare+ for iPad, iPhone, and iPod is set to debut in Australia in the near future, perhaps ahead of the launch of the iPhone 6 in the country. According to a tipster who spoke to MacRumors, Apple Store employees in Australia are currently receiving training on the service.
AppleCare+ for iPhone originally launched in the U.S. in 2011, offering two years of extended warranty protection along with for two accidental damage incidents (with a $79 service fee).
The program expanded to include the iPad in 2012, and since then, Apple has rolled out AppleCare+ coverage in a number of countries including Canada, China, Japan, Singapore, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, and several countries across Europe.
Currently, customers in Australia are limited to standard AppleCare protection for the iPad and the iPhone, which provides two years of additional coverage but does not include accidental damage replacements. Pricing on AppleCare+ in Australia has not yet been divulged, but it will likely be similar to pricing in the United States, which is $99.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
China Telecom Launches Preorder Page With Fictional iPhone 6 Claims, Rendered Images
Following in the footsteps of China Mobile, Chinese carrier China Telecom has also begun taking preorders for the iPhone 6 ahead of the device’s official launch in order to drum up interest with customers. As noted by TechCrunch, the site has a preorder page that sports rendered images of the iPhone 6, along with several suspect specifics about the device that have undoubtedly come from unconfirmed rumors.
The preorder page depicts the 4.7-inch iPhone, which China Telecom suggests has a pixel density of 416, which would be in line with a 1704 x 960 resolution. While that resolution has been rumored for the iPhone 6, recent images of a supposedly functional device have leaned towards a 1334 x 750 resolution with a 326 ppi first proposed by Apple pundit John Gruber.
An A8 processor and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor are highlighted in the image, which are two likely inclusions for the iPhone 6, but the image also points towards a 2,100 mAh battery. While that capacity has been rumored, there have also been several photos of an 1,810 mAh battery bearing an Apple logo and regulatory text. Finally, China Telecom’s image suggest a 3-megapixel front-facing camera, another unsubstantiated rumor.
According to TechCrunch, the graphic originally included a non-blurred version of the word “iPhone”, but it was later updated by China Telecom, likely at Apple’s request.
Earlier this week, China Mobile began accepting preorders for the iPhone 6 and garnered more than 33,000 orders in just hours, pointing towards strong interest in the iPhone 6. Analyst predictions have suggested the iPhone 6 launch could bring a in more upgraders and Android switchers than normal, due to its larger display and redesigned body.
Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 6 at a September 9 media event, which is now just under four days away. Rumors and part leaks have suggested the device will have an A8 processor, NFC support, and an upgraded camera. It’s expected in two sizes — 4.7 and 5.5 inches — but it is unknown if both versions of the phone will ship to consumers at the same time due to production difficulties with the larger model.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Apple Seeds OS X Mavericks 10.9.5 Build 13F31 to Developers [Mac Blog]
Apple today seeded Mavericks 10.9.5 build 13F31 to developers, just over a week after seeding the fifth OS X 10.9.5 beta, build 13F24, and more than a month after releasing OS X 10.9.4 to the public.
The beta is available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store and through the Mac Developer Center.
It is unclear what improvements the 10.9.5 update will bring to Mavericks, but it is likely to include bug fixes and stability enhancements. Apple is asking developers to focus on USB, USB Smart Cards, Graphics, Safari, and Thunderbolt.
Along with working on improvements to Mavericks, Apple is also beta testing OS X Yosemite, which is due to be released in the fall. The last Mavericks update, 10.9.4, added several Wi-Fi fixes and improved wake from sleep reliability.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
New 27-Inch 5K Display From Dell Rekindles Thoughts of Retina iMacs
Dell yesterday unveiled its new $2500 27-inch 5K monitor (UP2715K) that boasts an impressive 5120 x 2880 resolution at 218 pixels per inch. This ultra-high resolution places the monitor on par with Apple’s Retina MacBook Pro, which has a pixel density of 220 pixels per inch, and would be the equivalent of a Retina 27-inch iMac or Apple Thunderbolt Display.
Dell does not detail the technology powering the monitor, but AnandTech believes the company is using Multi-Stream Transport (MST) to stitch together two 2560 x 2880 panels in order to provide 5120 pixels horizontally. Dell demoed the monitor to Maximum PC using a 5K H.265 video streamed from a workstation-class NVIDIA Quadro K5000 video card.
As outlined in our display roundup, customers have been looking toward a higher-resolution large display from Apple for some time, whether it be a true Retina version of the existing display or a somewhat lower resolution 4K display, particularly since Apple has been touting the 4K capabilities of the new Mac Pro. Rumors of Retina iMacs date back to 2012, but the machines have yet to appear, likely due to both cost and technological constraints.
With Dell listing its display at $2500, it is clear pricing remains a challenge for Apple’s ambitions to launch Retina iMacs and standalone displays. Standalone displays may stand a better chance, as Apple has historically been willing to develop expensive large-screen displays priced in the thousands of dollars for its pro-level customers. An iMac almost certainly priced well north of $3000 could be a difficult proposition, however, so Apple may yet need more time for prices to come down before such a machine becomes commercially feasible.
Besides its impressive resolution, Dell’s monitor ships with Dell’s PremierColor technology and an edge-to-edge glass that includes both anti-smudge and anti-reflective properties. Also included in the display is an integrated media reader, six USB ports and 16W Harmon Kardon speakers. Video out support includes dual DisplayPort 1.2 ports for 5K video and a miniDisplayPort for 4K operation.
Dell’s UltraSharp 27 Ultra HD 5K monitor will be available in the fourth quarter of this year.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Rear Camera of 5.5-Inch iPhone 6 With Optical Stabilization and Other Parts Shown in New Photos
A number of parts from Apple’s upcoming iPhone 6 models have leaked in recent months, but a new photo set from Feld & Volk [Instagram page] offers some fresh details on the new devices.
At the top of the list is the rear camera from the 5.5-inch iPhone 6. As shown in comparison photos, the module is thinner and otherwise larger than the one from the iPhone 5s, but with Apple shaving down the iPhone’s thickness, previous leaks have indicated the company has needed to create a slight protrusion on the rear of the device to accommodate the camera.
Rear cameras from 5.5-inch iPhone 6 (left) and iPhone 5s (right)
Feld & Volk says the rear camera does indeed appear to include optical image stabilization (OIS), as the camera assembly has some freedom to float within its module. Rumors have differed on whether the iPhone 6 will include OIS and if so, whether both the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models will support it.
Rear cameras from 5.5-inch iPhone 6 (left) and iPhone 5s (right)
Feld & Volk indicates the 5.5-inch camera module does not fit in the 4.7-inch rear shell the firm has on hand, suggesting the two iPhone 6 models will use different camera modules. Supply chain analysts have indeed predicted that OIS will be a differentiating factor for the larger iPhone 6 model.
Inside rear camera module from 5.5-inch iPhone 6
Along with the rear camera, Feld & Volk also draws attention to several other parts, including protective mesh for the speaker and microphone holes, color-matched to the various iPhone color options.
Speaker and microphone mesh for iPhone 6
While the iPhone 6 power button has been seen previously, Feld & Volk has highlighted the presence of a rubber seal around it, which is a new addition for the iPhone line. The seals would help increase dust and moisture resistance for the iPhone 6.
iPhone 6 power button with rubber seal
The photos are the latest in a long line of recent leaks from Feld & Volk, which has been working to acquire iPhone 6 parts in an effort to quickly release its own version of the device. The company specializes in luxury modified versions of the iPhone selling for thousands of dollars, and is planning to launch its iPhone 6 models as soon as possible after Apple’s official announcement next Tuesday.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Apple Already Preparing to Seed Carrier Partners With iOS 8.0.1
With still a few days to go until Apple’s media event where it will undoubtedly announce its launch plans for iOS 8, the company is already preparing to seed its carrier partners with an iOS 8.0.1 update for testing, according to BGR. Details on the update are unknown, as is a release timeframe, although last year Apple released a launch-day iOS 7.0.1 update for the iPhone 5s and 5c to fix a few bugs on those devices.
Visits to MacRumors from devices running iOS 8.0.1 on Apple’s networks
MacRumors has seen a significant increase in iOS 8.0.1 web log activity coming from Apple’s networks over the past couple of weeks, although the first signs of the version appeared as long ago as mid-July.
The last developer release of iOS 8 came one month ago in the form of iOS 8 beta 5, with the company likely holding back further seeds as it finalizes the software for its upcoming hardware. A sixth beta was reportedly seeded to carrier partners a couple of weeks ago, but with much more limited distribution for that release, developers have not had access to dig into it to look for new hints about the next-generation iOS devices.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Apple Rolls Out Refreshed iTunes Connect Web Portal for Developers [iOS Blog]
Apple late yesterday rolled out its overhauled iTunes Connect web portal with a new visual design and improved features to help developers manage the sales and marketing of their apps, books and other media. Apple first introduced the new iTunes Connect at WWDC 2014 and is rolling out the interface ahead of the expected fall launch of iOS 8.
The web-based tool has an iOS 7-inspired flat design that is similar to iCloud.com and brings the site in line with the iTunes Connect iOS app [Direct Link], which was updated earlier this year.
Besides visual changes, the latest version of the web portal also includes an improved My Apps management section and a “Resources and Help” tab for troubleshooting media distribution and payment issues. The “Users and Roles” section also was updated to make it easier to manage both iTunes Connect and Sandbox users. Developers and other media producers can check out the changes at the iTunes Connect website.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
AIVAnet 