iPhone 6 Mockups of Low Quality, Antenna Breaks Not in Final Design
We’ve seen a steady stream of mockup devices that claim to represent the form factor of the rumored 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6. According to sources for Nikkei (via GforGames), these mockups provide a fairly accurate look at Apple’s upcoming iPhone hardware.
Though they may reflect the overall design of the next generation iPhone, the mockups, thus far, have been produced quickly with low quality materials. This haphazard construction misses a few key design elements, the most notable of which such as a curved glass display that Nikeei sources say will seamlessly transition into the aluminum shell that encloses the device.
This isn’t the first report that claims the iPhone will feature a curved glass display. A rumor earlier this year from Mac Otakara and one from Bloomberg last year also claimed the iPhone 6 will ship with a curved display that will lay flush with the iPhone’s round corners.
Nikkei sources also say the white stripes on the back of the some mockups will not appear in the final version of the iPhone 6. These lines are thought to mark out the location of the back panels and are not actual design elements. As a result, the backing on the iPhone 6 may closely resemble the iPhone 5/5s.
Apple is rumored to be preparing both a 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch version of the iPhone 6 for launch in September. The devices are thought to feature an A8 processor, an improved camera and a thinner design with oval buttons that are similar to the sixth generation iPod touch. The iPhone may be priced in tiers, with the larger 5.5-inch model costing $100 more than the 4.7-inch version.
LA school officials shift from free iPads to laptops and hybrids
An iPad for every student was the plan. Then, some students were too smart for their own good, quickly enabling their for-learnin’ iPads to access to anything on the web, including Twitter, Facebook and all that other fun stuff. LA’s school district now plans to differentiate what it offers its students, authorizing purchases for one of six different devices, including laptops and hybrids such as Chromebooks, Microsoft’s Surface Pro 2 and Lenovo’s Yoga Touch. This fall, teachers and students will test these laptops to see if they fit. “The benefit of the new approach is clear,” said Los Angeles school board member Monica Ratliff, talking to the LA Times. “Why would we treat all our students – whether they are a first-grader or a high school freshman – as if they all had the same technology needs? They don’t.”
Last year’s iPad scheme rolled out to 47 schools, but alongside those aforementioned security filter woes, distribution of the tablets soon fell behind schedule. Worse still, educational materials were apparently often incomplete. (In the new scheme, materials from three different publishers are also being trialled) Given the touchscreen keyboards, iPads were apparently difficult to use while sometimes exam problems were often obscured due to the screen size. iPad distribution across LA’s school district remains on hold, although some school are still scheduled to receive them later this year.
Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, Apple, Microsoft
Source: LA Times
‘Pangu’ Jailbreak for iOS 7.1.x Updated with Support for OS X and English [iOS Blog]
The Pangu development team today updated its jailbreak for iOS 7.1.x bringing support for the English language and OS X systems, as well as a fix for a bug that caused boot loops on iOS devices.
The jailbreak was originally released last week and marked the first time that users were able to deploy an untethered jailbreak on any device running iOS 7.1.1 and below. However, the release was only available for Windows systems and installed “25PP”, which is a third party app store for Chinese users. Pangu’s newest release now disables installation of 25PP for English users by default.
Pangu’s jailbreak tool follows an updated version of the popular Evasi0n jailbreak that was released last year for iOS 7.0 to iOS 7.0.4. However, Evasi0n was also the subject of controversy after Cydia administrator Jay Freeman revealed that evasi0n did not include an official version of Cydia and installed a third party app store called Taig for Chinese users. In response to Freeman’s statement, the evad3rs development team announced the removal of the Taig app store from the jailbreak and apologized for the issues caused by its inclusion.
The updated Pangu jailbreak for iOS 7.1.x can be downloaded directly from the project’s official website.
Apple Debuts New iPhone 5s TV Ad ‘Parenthood’
Apple today debuted a new iPhone 5s TV ad called “Parenthood“, focusing on various iOS apps and products for parents.
The song features “Life of Dreams” by singer-songwriter Julie Doiron and showcases apps such as My Teeth, Draw Animal, Pet Manager Pro, and Kinsa. Devices shown off in the ad include the Withings Withbaby baby monitor, Kinsa’s smart thermometer, and the Parrot Flower Power.
The ad ends with the "You’re more powerful than you think" tagline, which was initially featured in Apple’s first "Powerful" ad in April and in its "Strength" ad earlier this month.
Apple’s iPhone Trade-In Program Expands to Italy [iOS Blog]
After it expanded to Germany in April, Apple has launched its iPhone trade-in program in Italy, reports 9to5Mac.
The program gives customers the opportunity to trade in an older iPhone model and receive an Apple Store Gift Card worth up to €220, which can be used towards the purchase of a newer iPhone. On its end, Apple says that it will responsibly recycle devices that are traded in, making it a more environmentally conscious option than throwing a phone away.
First launched in the U.S. before the release of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c last year, Apple’s iPhone recycling trade-in program has expanded to a number of countries including the UK, France, and Canada. Alternatively, the company also offers a mail-in recycling program that allows customers to send in an iPhone to receive store credit.
Google to Remove ‘Quickoffice’ from App Store Soon [iOS Blog]
Google today announced that it will be removing its Quickoffice app from Apple’s App Store in the coming weeks. The move comes as Google looks to integrate Quickoffice into its Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps. Current users of Quickoffice will be able to continue using the app, however new users will not be able to download the app once it is removed.
Quickoffice for iOS was originally introduced in 2013 and was designed to allow users to view and edit Microsoft Office files, with its launch coming after the announcement of Apple’s iWork suite for iOS. Quickoffice also featured integration with Google Drive storage, along with the ability to create .ZIP folders and view charts.
For users looking to continue using Google’s web-based office suite on iOS, the company’s Google Docs [Direct Link], and Google Sheets [Direct Link] app can be downloaded from the App Store at not cost. Google Slides for iOS will be released in the near future.
GE Announces Line of ‘Link’ Smart LED Light Bulbs, Starting at $15 [iOS Blog]
General Electric has unveiled its new line “Link” smart LED light bulbs, which can be controlled by an iOS device and start at $15. The product is being developed in collaboration with design company Quirky, which will make the smart LED bulb accessible in a future update to its Wink [Direct Link] app.
The GE Link will be available in three variations:
– 60-watt replacement soft white (2700K) LED bulb, or A19 shape, commonly used for general lighting in table and floor lamps.
– Indoor soft white (2700K) floodlight LED, or BR30 shape, installed as downlighting found in dining room, living room or other entertainment spaces.
– Indoor/outdoor-rated bright white (3000K) spotlight LED, or PAR 38, used for outdoor security or spotlight.
The Wink app will allow users to adjust brightness settings and create settings for specific environments and situations. Users will also be able to turn specific lights remotely at any given time, useful for vacations or extended periods away from home.
GE’s Link enters a growing market of smart LED lightbulbs that is led by the Philips Hue, which was introduced two years ago and has expanded to a wide variety of products. The Philips Hue Starter Pack retails for $199 and comes with three bulbs in addition to a connection bridge, while the GE Link will be sold starting at $15.
A number of companies are also creating home appliances that can be controlled by iOS devices under Apple’s new HomeKit initiative, which allows products and their apps to work with iOS services using a unified protocol. Apple itself is also rumored to be developing smart home products for HomeKit.
Customers will be able to pre-order the GE Link line of smart LED lightbulbs starting Monday on Home Depot’s official website.
Corel Looking to Attract Aperture Users to AfterShot Pro 2 With $59 Pricing, Easy Migration [Mac Blog]
While Adobe has responded to Apple’s announcement that it is ending development of its Aperture professional photo editing and management app for OS X by promising to “double down” on Lightroom, there are other players in the market. Corel is one of those competitors, and the company is hoping to attract some current Aperture users to switch to its AfterShot Pro 2 software launched last month.
AfterShot Pro 2 is normally priced at $79.99, but Aperture (and Lightroom) users qualify for special $59.99 competitive upgrade pricing. The offer was announced as a limited time promotion alongside the debut of AfterShot Pro 2, but with Apple’s announcement today Corel is reminding users that it remains in effect. In addition, Corel notes that it will be looking at additional ways to help Aperture users migrate to AfterShot Pro 2.
Launched last month, the new AfterShot Pro 2 offers competitive upgrade pricing ($59) to Aperture users. We’re getting ready for Yosemite now and unlike Lightroom, AfterShot Pro already supports use of a more Aperture-like file system to manage your photos. In the coming weeks, we’ll be looking for more ways we can make the transition easy for Aperture users and you can expect to see more from us with AfterShot on the Mac in the near future.
Corel promotes AfterShot Pro 2 as significantly faster than competing photo editing and management apps, with a host of advanced non-destructive editing features and pricing on par with Aperture and significantly lower than Lightroom.
Toyko, Zion National Park Added to Apple Maps Flyover Feature [iOS Blog]
Apple has added two new locations to its Maps Flyover feature in iOS, including Tokyo, Japan and Zion National Park in Utah. The new additions to Flyover allow users to take a close 3D look at the areas, zooming in on buildings and landmarks.
First introduced with iOS 6 and based on technology acquired from the purchase of C3 Technologies, Flyover is now available in 88 different locations across the world.
Zion National Park in Utah
The new additions to Flyover come as Apple works to continue to improve its Maps app. Recently, users have reported significant improvements in Apple Maps data, with errors being fixed with quick turnaround and additional POI locations added in many places. Apple also made notable updates to Maps in China, Japan, and several other countries back in March.
iOS 8 is expected to bring new features to Maps, though not at release. Transit directions and other Maps improvements are in the works, but may not be available to customers until the first significant iOS 8 update, possibly iOS 8.1, in 2015. iOS 8 also includes a new “City Tours” Flyover feature hidden within the code that lets users view a city’s major points of interest via Flyover, but it is not yet unlocked.
Apple’s Professional Video Apps Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Compressor Updated [Mac Blog]
After announcing plans to cease development of its professional photo editing software, Aperture, Apple is assuring users of its other professional-oriented software that it plans to continue video development with a series of new updates.
Final Cut Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage Pro are all being updated today, with Final Cut Pro receiving the largest update. The update for the professional video software includes a range of new features and improvements:
– Optimized, proxy, and rendered media can be stored at any location outside of the library
– Easily delete optimized, proxy, and rendered media from within Final Cut Pro X
– Used media indicators for Compound clips, Multicam clips, and Synced clips
– Option to show only unused media in the Browser
– Apply a standard (Rec. 709) look in real time to high dynamic range and wide color gamut video from ARRI, Blackmagic Design, Canon, and Sony cameras
– Automatically apply an ARRI embedded 3D LUT from the new AMIRA camera
– Support for Apple ProRes 4444 XQ
– Improved speed and accuracy when synchronizing clips
– Audio recording improvements including countdown and automatic Audition creation from multiple takes
– Fast export of cuts-only projects containing XDCAM media
– Export entire library as a single XML file
– Selecting a library displays key metadata in the Inspector
– Adjust relative and absolute volume of a clip or range selection
– Create Keywords from Finder Tags when importing media
– Option to sort events by date or name in the Libraries list
– Import a clip by dragging directly into the Browser
– Share 4K video to Vimeo
The other apps have gained minor improvements, such as support for Apple ProRes 4444 XQ in both Motion and Compressor along with improved sequence text behavior in Motion and improved performance in Compressor.
All of the apps are available from the App Store, with Final Cut Pro priced at $299, and Motion and Compressor priced at $50. According to TechCrunch, a MainStage update is also coming later today.
– Final Cut Pro [Direct Link]
– Motion [Direct Link]
– Compressor [Direct Link]
Update 11:46 AM: The MainStage 3.0.4 update is now live, addressing several bugs.
AIVAnet 