Apple reportedly testing inductive, solar and motion charging for its unannounced smartwatch

We’ve heard that when Apple reveals its first smartwatch product, there’s going to be a heavy focus on health and fitness, but There might also be a way to charge the wearable without plugging it in, according to a report from the New York Times. Inductive charging came in a wave of smartphones last year, including Google’s Nexus 4 and Nokia’s Lumia 920 range, although we don’t often see it in anything smaller than a phone (or camera) form-factor. Apple, however, is looking into cramming the same technology into its iWatch, or whatever it eventually calls its debut wearable.

It works like this: electromagnetic fields are generated from a charging base, which are then picked up by metal coils and transformed into for-real electricity that charges your device. The Cupertino company is experimenting with other new charging methods too, although these are apparently years away from consumer products. Sources close to the matter also mentioned the inclusion of a solar layer beneath the device’s display, while the company has also looked into kinetically charging its wearables — something that is already used in many modern (non-smart) timepieces.

Filed under: Wearables, Apple

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Source: New York Times

Social Sharing Sends ‘Flappy Bird’ Developer to Top of the iOS App Store [iOS Blog]

Indie developer Dong Nguyen has achieved an App Store first — he has three apps in Apple’s Top Free Apps list including the viral hit Flappy Bird [Direct Link], the now #2 Super Ball Juggling [Direct Link] and the #8 Shuriken Block [Direct Link]. Dong is unable to explain his recent success, chalking it up to luck and not any particular effort on his part. As a result, it likely wasn’t Dong’s activity but the power of the social Internet that propelled his games to the upper echelon of the App Store.

Dong notes in an interview with Elaine Heney of Chocolate Lab Apps (via TechCrunch) that he did zero promotion for Flappy Bird and claims he doesn’t even own the social network accounts for the app.

“I didn’t use any promotion methods. All accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram about Flappy Bird are not mine. The popularity could be my luck.”

What Heney did notice about Flappy Birds was a viral campaign to write the best review for the game. As a result of this challenge, the app now has over 47,000 reviews and almost a half a million ratings. These statistics put Flappy Bird on par with powerhouse apps like Evernote and Gmail.

Flappy Bird launched in May 2013 and only recently topped the iOS App Store charts. The app challenges players to keep a flying bird from running into pipes by tapping the screen. Its 8-bit graphics give the appearance of simplicity, but it is a deceptively difficult game that is so hard to master that most people score in the single digits and brag about their failure. Dong’s other two hits are equally basic and are likely receiving attention due to the popularity of Flappy Bird.

Sketchy Report Claims Full iPhone 6 iPhone Details: Larger IGZO Screens, More RAM and Storage [iOS Blog]

A sketchy new report [PDF] from analysts at KDB Daewoo Securities Research shared by OLED-Display.net (via BGR) claims to have full details on Apple’s iPhone 6, but there are several issues with the claims that call the entire report into question.

According to the report, the iPhone 6 will be available in two sizes, one with a 4.7-4.8 inch display and a second at 5.5 inches. These displays are said to run at 1920×1080 (440 ppi) and 2272×1280 (510 ppi) respectively, using indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) technology rather than the low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) technology used in current iPhones.

While the claimed display sizes are in line with circulating rumors, the claim of IGZO over LTPS raises some doubt given that LTPS offers better electron mobility and thus greater efficiency than IGZO. IGZO is starting to gain popularity in larger devices such as tablets due to technical limitations with creating LTPS displays at those sizes, but LTPS remains the preferred technology for many high-end smartphones. Still, it is possible that larger displays at higher pixel density for the iPhone 6 could spur Apple to change its display technology.

Other claims in the report include a bump in RAM to 2 GB alongside a new A8 chip, a new 128 GB storage option at the high end, and an upgraded 3.2-megapixel front camera. In line with a previous claim, the analysts predict that the rear camera will remain at 8 megapixels, although it could gain other improvements.

Another questionable claim of the report comes with regard to the device’s operating system, with the analysts pegging the device as running iOS 7.2. Each new iPhone model has been accompanied by a major iOS update, and so the iPhone 6 would be expected to run iOS 8 at launch. iOS 8 has been observed in web logs and other sources, but there has been no evidence yet of Apple working on an iOS 7.2.

Finally, the report gives a fairly wide launch window of the second or third quarter of this year. iPhone launches have come at the tail end of the third quarter or even early in the fourth quarter over the past several years, with repeated rumors of Apple possibly returning to the mid-year launch window used for early models failing to come to fruition.

Apple Releases Mac 30th Anniversary Video ‘1.24.14’: Filmed on iPhones, Edited on Macs

On January 24, Apple commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Mac with a “Happy birthday, Mac” promotion on its website, 30th anniversary t-shirts for its employees, and executive interviews with both ABC News and Macworld. Just ten days later, the company now has released an anniversary video, recorded on the anniversary using iPhones and edited on Macs, that shows how the the promise of the Mac has been fulfilled by putting “technology in the hands of the people.”

Produced by Apple’s longtime ad agency TBWA\Chiat\Day headed by Lee Clow, the “1.24.14″ video includes footage from 10 countries spanning 5 continents. The video was directed by Jake Scott, son of filmmaker Ridley Scott, who was behind Apple’s iconic “1984″ ad, and showcases current generation Apple products being used in fashion design, musical performances and more.

On January 24, 1984, Apple introduced the Macintosh. And with it a promise that the power of technology, put in the hands of everyone, could change the world. On January 24, 2014, we sent 15 camera crews all over the world to show how that promise has become a reality.

From sunrise in Melbourne to nightfall in Los Angeles, they documented people doing amazing things with Apple products. They shot over 70 hours of footage — all with the iPhone 5s. Then it was edited and scored with an original soundtrack. Thanks to the power of the Mac and the innovations it has inspired, an effort that normally takes months was accomplished in a matter of days.

Apple was rumored to be working on a Super Bowl commercial, but the company instead partnered with U2 and Bank of America in a new (Product) RED promotion announced in an advertisement broadcast during the game. For every free iTunes download of U2′s new single “Invisible” [iTunes Store], Bank of America will donate $1 to (Product) RED’s fight against AIDS. The promotion will end 11:59 PM EST on February 3.

Bank of America Donating $1 to Product (RED) for Every Free iTunes Download of U2’s ‘Invisible’ [iOS Blog]

During yesterday’s Super Bowl broadcast, a new ad featuring rock group U2 announced that Bank of America would donate $1 to (Product) RED‘s fight against AIDS for every free iTunes download of the band’s new single “Invisible” [Direct Link]. The promotion will be active until 11:59 PM EST on February 2.

Product (RED) was co-founded by U2 lead signer Bono and activist Bobby Shriver in 2006, with Apple raising more than $65 million for the charity since then through special products. Last year, one-of-a-kind products designed by Apple’s senior vice president of design Jony Ive and designer Marc Newson were sold off at Sotheby’s charity auction to benefit Product (RED), which raised over $13 million.

(Product) RED is also affiliated with several other companies in addition to Apple, including American Express, Nike, and Starbucks, raising more than $200 million to date.

Apple Testing Induction, Solar, and Motion Charging for Curved-Glass iWatch

Apple is exploring a variety of different charging methods for its upcoming “iWatch” smart watch project, according to a report from The New York Times. At the top of the list for Apple appears to be induction charging, allowing users to recharge their watches wirelessly.

For its wristwatch, Apple has been testing a method to charge the battery wirelessly with magnetic induction, according to a person briefed on the product. A similar technology is already used in some Nokia smartphones — when a phone is placed on a charging plate, an electrical current creates a magnetic field, which creates voltage that powers the phone.

Apple’s sixth-generation iPod nano with one of several included watch faces
Other options for Apple include solar and movement-based charging, although it appears those ideas may still be several years from becoming practical. The report also reiterates the newspaper’s claim from last year that the iWatch will feature a curved glass display.

Apple has also experimented with new power-charging methods for a potential smartwatch, people close to the efforts said, though such experiments are years from becoming a reality. The watch is expected to have a curved glass screen, and one idea is to add a solar-charging layer to that screen, which would give power to the device in daylight, they said.

Another experiment at Apple has involved charging the battery through movement, a method that is already used in many modern watches. A person’s arm swinging could operate a tiny charging station that generates and pushes power to the device while walking, according to a patent filed by Apple in 2009.

The report notes that with battery technology improving relatively slowly, Apple has focused on improving power efficiency of various components in its devices, as seen with the latest generation of the MacBook Air.

iPod creator and Nest co-founder Tony Fadell is also quoted as confirming that Apple had explored solar charging for the iPhone and iPod for a number of years, but the technology proved infeasible due to users storing the devices in pockets and other dark places for extended periods of time.

For the iWatch, Apple has been working on flexible new battery designs and looking at new charging technologies, but battery life has reportedly continued to be one of the sticking points for Apple as it seeks to create a powerful smart watch capable of lasting several days between charges.

Tim Cook Visits United Arab Emirates Amid Rumors of Apple Retail Store Plans

Following his visit to Ireland on Friday, Apple CEO Tim Cook has been spotted in the United Arab Emirates this weekend, as highlighted by tbreak media. Cook posed for photos at Apple reseller Virgin Megastore at the Al Wahdi Mall in Abu Dhabi yesterday, while several photos from today place him in Dubai at the massive Dubai Mall.

The reason for Cook’s visit is unknown, but Apple users in the region are unsurprisingly speculating that he may be meeting with relevant parties about the possibility of an Apple retail store. MacRumors received an unconfirmed tip last year claiming that Apple was making plans to open a major store at The Galleria in Sowwah Square in Abu Dhabi, a luxury mall that opened late last year, but no additional reports of such a project have yet surfaced. The source claimed that the store would not open for several years and that it could arrive as the world’s largest Apple retail store.

Alternatively and much less interestingly, Cook may simply be visiting to check up on the company’s existing reseller network and maintain relationships with government officials in the region.