iOS 5 Beta 5 Released

Aug 062011
 

Apple has released iOS 5 Beta 5 (build 9A5288d) to developers, alongside with Xcode 4.2 Developer Preview 5, iTunes 10.5 Beta 5 and Apple TV Software beta 4.

Like iOS 5 Beta 4, Beta 5 is available as an over the air update at only 128MB. However, the new beta firmware is still downloadable from Apple’s Dev Center at 787 MB.

According to the Read Me file, one of the strange things about this update is that users must first erase all content and settings by choosing Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. However, according to MacRumors, some users have been able to upgrade fine without going through that process. BGR has posted the full release notes, which details some fixes and changes.

As always with any beta, it is recommended that you backup your device either via iTunes or iCloud prior to installing the new software.

MWD predicts that the public version of iOS 5 will most likely be released sometime early September.

 

Facebook for iPad released! Sort of

Jul 282011
 

The iPad has come a long way from it’s origin, an oversized iPod touch. Even the naysayers, predicting that this tablet was Apple’s downfall have quietly submitted to Steve Job’s will, starting to review iPad related gadgets, such as portable speakers, cases, and so on. Even Mark Zuckerberg has been converted, if these screens above are true. His comments that the iPad wasn’t connected enough to justify a Facebook app seem to have been redacted, with Facebook for iPad looming around the corner.

From data extracted in the iPhone app, it seems that the groundwork has already been laid for a update to come shortly. The interface has changed drastically, from the stale, iPhone inspired interface, with the four underlying interfaces. The iPad app features a side bar, rather than the group of icons underneath. Accessing different parts of Facebook can be done with a touch of a button, or with a flick of one’s wrist. Flipping the iPad horizontally results in Facebook chat activating, and enabling you to communicate with them easily. The photo section has become 150% more stalkerish, with the photo interface resembling the iPad’s own photo viewer.

Facebook is also updating the iPhone app, with the latest incarnation bringing back the ‘send’ button, after unintelligent people probably posted some things they shouldn’t have… ‘accidentally’. Skype for the iPad app hasn’t been commented on yet, perhaps that will be yet another ace that Mike Zuckerberg holds in his sleeve. Most of the coding is done in HTML 5, a small nod towards Steve Jobs, a proponent of the whole ‘HTML 5′ thing.

At the moment, you can have Facebook for iPad now, all you need is a jailbroken iPad, and to find a guide on how to do it, obviously. To find a guide on how to use Facebook for iPad, there’s a guide here.

iOS 5 Final Release and iPhone 5 Coming Soon

Jul 282011
 

iOS 5 Beta releases have been circling around for over 2 months now, I personally have it since iOS 5 Beta 1 came out. While doing some research I found out exact release dates when iOS 5 Betas will be released to developers and now that iOS 5 Beta 4 has been released, its time to talk about the final iOS 5 release.

ios 5 logo with iPhone 5

My predictions for iOS 5 release was spot on, except this last one I missed the release date by only 42 hours. That means according to my research and calculation iOS 5 final release should be coming out either last week in August or fist week in September, said that I think iPhone 5 will be released around that time as well.

Apple will probably start sending invites for the Apple event within next two weeks, in which will just say “you are invited to bla bla bla on this date, the MOTD of the event is going to be called bla bla bla”, I am so used to those PR invites that is not even Wowing me anymore.

Anyway, if you are looking for new phone and really cant decide whether you should wait for iPhone 5 or buy some other smartphone, than wait just this one month and your deciding factor will chose what you want to get, iPhone or Android or maybe even Symbian :)

 

Disc Mouse

Jul 252011
 

 

 

In a disturbing display of technological evolution, Yanko Design has come up with a mouse, which can be stored in your nearly obsolete CD Drive. The CD shaped mouse may have a few issues, such as being recognized as a CD, and turned into fragments, after being whipped around your drive, possibly damaging the laser in the process. However, with the continuing trend towards flash based media devices, it seems that this may be one of the only uses left for the CD drive, a glorified mouse holder.

Below are a few diagrams, on how to use this ludicrous device. However, before running off to your nearest site to purchase a CD Mouse, this is only a prototype- probably a short lived one too. There are no comments about a few important components- battery life, how it connects to your computer, perhaps even how it sustains its shape.

Fake Apple Stores under investigation

Jul 252011
 

Despite the realistic impersonation of the Apple Store, in the small Chinese town of Kunming, it seems as if the party is over. Chinese Government officials have stepped in, promising an investigation of the false Apple Stores. In fact, Chinese state media has reported that the store’s supplier is being audited, as well as their business licence to operate. Considering the brazen nature of the store’s illegal activity- it seems that this is a face saving measure, instead of what seems to be serious action. Why? Apparently, there are at least another three stores such as this one, mere blocks away from it. Secondly, it has been reported that thousands of illegal Apple resellers operate, while being much smaller, or discreet than this operation.

Incidentally, the blogger which first discovered the store has reported that the store is legal, and the products supplied to it are authentic. Also, the manager himself has apparently never said that he was an Authorized Apple Store, which seems slightly contradictory compared to the picture above. The manager of the store has supposedly commented, “I am sure we will become their authorized reseller in the near future,”… “After all, we invested a lot in this store.”

Considering that China is home to an entire unlicenced themepark for Blizzard Entertainment Intellectual Property, it seems unlikely that this independent store will be severely sanctioned.

Monster Tron Lightdisk iPod Dock Review

Jul 242011
 

So, Tron Legacy has come and gone, featuring Daft Punk and a lot of computer generated graphics, to create a mostly forgettable movie, save for… the computer generated graphics, and that sick aesthetically feel of the grid. As a result, Monster has decided to create an iPod dock, based on the iconic weapon in Tron, the light disk.

As you can tell, the two defining features about the dock, are its circular body, and its blue centered design. Featuring over 80 independent LEDs in the dock, it’s perfect for dark environments, or as a bedside light. But with the Advanced Light Drive System, these LEDs can transform this dock into a disco ball, for a cooler, more disaffected generation. Something like that anyway. This Advanced Light Drive System can create effects with the disk, or change the color of the dock to reflect your iDevice’s charge status.

The Lightdisk dock also comes with a few free apps to improve it’s functionality, with a iDevice mounted equalizer, a game which can be played with the Dock, and the cool Alarm Clock app. While the other two apps are mediocre at best, the Alarm Clock app, will play your selected track of choice when you’re supposed to wake up, and provide you with a beautiful lightshow, forcing you to actually press that snooze button.

Underneath the hood of the dock, there are five speakers, plus a downfiring subwoofer. Monster assures that four high performance drivers provide ‘ultra-crisp highs, a clear midrange, and extended low-end effects’. Incidentally, if you’re worried that this device is only aimed at the rich iDevice owners (considering the devices RRP of $300) there’s nothing to worry about. The dock also features a 3.5mm jack, in case you have other devices that happen to not have an Apple on it.

If you’re quick, the device is on sale for $200 at Amazon, if you’re interested, move quickly before the deal is Derezed…

Mac OS X Lion 10.7 released for public use – get 250 new features at just $29

Jul 222011
 

The 8th and the latest version of Mac OS X Lion i.e. version 10.7 has been released for public use. In a very dramatic style, Apple announced its newest operating system and not only that, Apple also didn’t shy away from calling it the “the world’s most advanced desktop operating system”.

According to Apple, 250 new features have been added in the latest version of the MAC OS i.e. OS X Lion 10.7. The OS has picked up quite a bit from the iOS and that makes you feel like using an iPad instead of a Macbook. The OS can be obtained in two ways: first, by downloading it from the Mac App store for $29 and second, by means of a USB flash drive install which is a little pricier at $69. Once downloaded the installation takes less than 20 minutes.

After installation, the first feature that grabs your attention is the inverted scroll, to add further surprise Apple calls it as ‘natural scroll direction’ (thankfully, the feature can be switched off from system preferences).

Two other features that will greet you when you boot up are Mission Control and Lauchpad. Mission Control will take a shot of desktop with all opened windows in the center of the screen, whereas, Launchpad will effectively transform your Mac desktop in to a mobile looking one. Another new useful feature is the ‘Spotlight’. In the latest OS, using ‘the spotlight’ search results will also include results from the internet (from Wikipedia and also dictionary results).

Applications like QuickTime and Safari have also been upgraded in the OS X Lion 10.7 upgrade. Many features like merging, exporting audio-only tracks, rotating clips, and recording a portion of the screen are the highlights of QuickTime. Safari has been given a performance and security update which fills up quite a few holes that existed in the earlier version of Safari.

Another feature of the upgrade is the multitouch gesture support. Apple integrated this in the ‘Finder’ and other proprietary applications. For example if you swipe three fingers from left to right, dashboard will appear. Though this is a good feature but sans two fingered scrolling and cursor control, the rest are not that useful.

Now arguments can be made on whether the OS is the ‘best till date’ or not; but features like AirDrop and versions are enough to keep you interested. If not them then at least one out of the 250 will catch your attention. Thus, with the modest tag of $29, it is a must buy.

Macbook Air refreshed say bye to the old Macbook Air

Jul 212011
 

Apple Inc. has launched a new generation of Macbook Air notebooks. Apple has equipped the new notebook with a faster processor based on Intel’s Sandy Bridge architecture and has added a new backlit keyboard to the device. The Cupertino, CA Company has also dumped the old Macbook on the same day.

Talks about revamping the Macbbok Air were on for quite a while and were mostly cantered around the new operating system i.e.  the OS- ‘X Lion’. The operating system was released earlier on the same day and from now onwards all new Macbook Air models will ship with this new operating system.

The new Macbook Air comes in two sizes, one with an 11.6-inch screen and the other with a 13.3-inch screen. For both the models, two variants are available, an entry level one and another model with all the top specs. In all, four new models will be available.

Specs of ‘MacBook Air’ vary with the models; Both the 11.6 inch models are powered by a 1.6 GHz processor, RAM of the 11.6-inch entry level model is 2GB while for the high end model is 4GB. The storage capacity is 64 GB and 128 GB for the lower and higher end model respectively. Similarly, the 13.3-inch Macbook Air is powered by a 1.7 GHz processor along with 4 GB RAM. The storage capacity is 128 GB and 256 GB for the lower and higher end models respectively. Users can upgrade to a 1.8 GHz processor on demand.

Another part of the revamp was the addition of Thunderbolt port. The new notebooks don’t have any additional ports but a single Thunderbolt port for connecting to external hard drives and new Apple Thunderbolt display (with a resolution of 2560 x 1600!). Also the power supply is now inbuilt and Apple has provided with a built in speaker for Bluetooth connectivity with other iDevices.

The prices remain in the same range. Earlier the entry price for the Macbook Air was $999, though the good old Macbook Air is gone but the entry price remains the same ($999) for the lower end 11.6 inch Macbook Air. The 11.6-inch high end model, 13.3-low end model and 13.3-inch high end model are available for $1199, $1299 and $1599, respectively.

Fake Apple Stores?

Jul 212011
 
IMG_6527-625x468

Wait what? Okay, get this, see this picture above? That’s not a real Apple Store- it’s fake. How do we know? The store is located in a small village in China which Apple doesn’t have any official presence in. Except, it looks like a real Apple store, no?

 

They say that imitation is the best form of flattery, but for China, it’s an industry. This entire Apple Store has been lovingly recreated, from the Apple store geniuses in blue t-shirts, to the shillouettes of people wearing the iconic white earphones. The standard wooden tables, the white surfaces, all here. And of course, liberal splashings of the Apple logo, to ensure that you know which company you’re buying from. Quite impressive, but that’s nothing compared to the deception of the employees themselves. Supposedly, they believe that they work for Apple, even though they are paid in cash… Hmm…

 

The most disturbing thing, is after you’ve seen these photos, and had your share of double and triple takes… this store is one of three in the town itself. Apple’s legal team have not yet commented, but considering the fact that an unofficial Blizzard themed ‘Starcraft/Warcraft’ themepark is actually up and running, perhaps they have realized that this is a hopeless cause.

Finally Google+ iPhone App has been Released to iTunes

Jul 192011
 

Well there is nothing really much to say except that Google+ app for iPhone has been released to iTunes, and you can download it via iTunes Link . Here is the thing! I was able to download the app and also use it for a bit, and then all of the sudden it started crashing on my iPhone!

Google+ for iPhone

I do know why! I am on iOS 5 Beta 2 and should upgrade to Beta 3 because from what I hear is that lots of people saw app improvement and less apps crashing. So far my 3 apps are not working correctly on iOS 5

Hulu Plus

Netflix

and now Google +

iOS 4.3.4 Jailbroken

Jul 172011
 

Recently, Apple released an iOS 4.3.4 update to patch a PDF vulnerability that allowed several pirate crews to jailbreak the iPad, iPod and iPhones. The effects on piracy advocates such as Apptrackr was negligible however, with an iOS tethered jailbreak being released by Redmond Pie, a short time after Apple’s update.

This jailbreak enables access into Cydia for all current iOS devices, save for the iPad 2. However, due to the nature of the jailbreak, some users have advised potential pirates to wait for an untethered jailbreak, to prevent the inconvenience of re-jailbreaking one’s phone after every update.

Current users of jailbroken iPhones don’t have much to miss out on though, considering that the only updates in the latest iOS are there to prevent the jailbreaking of iOS devices, except perhaps, the ability to delete and cancel downloading applications.

You can follow the tutorial here if you want to jailbreak your iOS 4.3.4 device, at Redmond Pie.

iOS 4.3.4 available now, solves PDF vulnerability, disables jailbreak but another unlocking tool out

Jul 162011
 

Apple has released a new version of iOS, which is iOS 4.3.4 (and 4.2.9 in the case of Verizon iPhone). With the help of this version, the vulnerability regarding the malicious PDF files corrupting the system is removed. Apple implies that a fix is being applied, which will prevent the execution of arbitrary code when crafted PDF is opened on your device but there is a catch, before you decide to update your iPhone with this latest version of iOS remember that your jailbreak won’t work any further.

The new iOS update is now available for iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 which are running on iOS 3.0 or higher, on 3rd generation iPods (running on iOS 3.1 or higher), and iPads with iOS 3.2 or higher. Apple’s iOS 4.3.4 update has fixed the vulnerability in the CoreGraphics framework, which created problems relating to the way PDF files were handled. Hackers could have remote controlled the iDevices after tricking the user into opening a malicious PDF file. The flaw was first uncovered by ‘Comex’ , member of a hacking team as named by iPhone Dev team. ‘Comex’ using this flaw created a loophole to jailbreak the iOS.

The update targets three components of the iOS: buffer overflow in Free Type’s handling of True Type fonts; signature issue in Free Type’s handling of Type1 fonts; and invalid type conversion issue in use of IOMobile Frame Buffer queuing primitives. ‘Comex’ had earlier brought out ‘JailbreakMe 2.0’ aimed at iPhone 4. Apple prevented the hack by launching another similar iOS update (4.3.3 update).

For all the Jailbreak fans who are disappointed at the latest update of the iOS need not do so. Just after 12 hours of the release, a poster appeared at the Redmond Pie which claims to have certain ‘PwnageTool 4.3.3’ a bundle that will unlock your iDevice. We will get you an update on this as soon as we get our hands on it.

Our iOS 5 Beta 3 Prediction Was 100% Spot On

Jul 122011
 

Back in June, I personally predicted when iOS 5 release dates are going to be published.Now that iOS 5 Beta 3 was released on July 11th our predictions are so far 100% accurate.

iOS 5 release date prediction

OS 5 Beta 1 = June 6th

iOS 5 Beta 2 = June 25th

iOS 5 Beta 3 = July 11th

iOS 5 Beta 4 = July 25th

iOS 5 Final Release = Early September!

As you can see final iOS 5 release date we say its going to be early august, but then again after looking at some dates and stuff, my new prediction is late August and to be more accurate:

August 22nd or first week of September is my final prediction when iOS 5 will be released to public for iDevices.

Got any of your own predictions? Leave comment in the section below

 

Apple’s iTunes App Store Reaches 15 Billion Downloads

Jul 082011
 

Apple has announced that it’s iTunes App Store has reached an amazing 15 billion downloads. The App Store currently offers more than 425,000 apps for iOS devices, including 100,000 native iPad apps.

In the press release document, Apple claims to have more than 200 million iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users worldwide. However, as pointed out by John Gruber of Daring Fireball, Apple claim to have sold over 200 million iOS devices. But the number of devices and users don’t correlate one-to-one as some users own multiple iOS devices.

According to MacTalk, that’s roughly about 75 apps per user or 833 million apps per month.

“In just three years, the revolutionary App Store has grown to become the most exciting and successful software marketplace the world has ever seen. Thank you to all of our amazing developers who have filled it with over 425,000 of the coolest apps and to our over 200 million iOS users for surpassing 15 billion downloads.” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing.

Apple’s App Store has a huge lead over both Google’s Android Apps Market and Microsoft’s Windows Phone Marketplace in terms of number of apps available. To put things into perspective, the Android Apps Market currently has over 200,000 apps available and the Windows Phone Marketplace recently just reached 25,000 apps.

Last month at this year’s WWDC, Apple revealed that 14 billion apps had been downloaded. This means that roughly a billion apps have been download in just a month. Staggering.

Continue reading »

Applying Multiple Instagram Filters Is Easy – How To

Jul 072011
 

I just got involved with Instagram app recently and since day one I must say that I am addicted to it. Well first thing I wanted to know is how to apply multiple filters to pictures on Instagram, and since I learned how to, now its time for me to share it!

Applying Instagram Filters

First open up Instagram App and click on the Share Button.You have two options , either take a picture or chose one from the photo library.

Either way it you chose…follow these steps:

Apply first filter to the picture you chose… in this case I chose X-Pro II, click next!

instagram picture filter

Now that you are on the page like showing in picture below, you see that circle at the top? Wait until its gone, and then click back button!

instagram pictures applied multiple filters

Click on the button to chose pictures from the gallery, and chose same picture you applied filter too:

And then apply 2nd filter, as you can see I used poprocket as my 2nd filter, you can chose as many filters you want. just remember to go back and forth and wait until that circle is done processing.

 

Don’t see any pictures you saved? For this type of trick you have to go to Settings>>Instagram and enable “Save filtered photo”

Well done!

If you are curious what I share on Instagram lookup for username joehobot.

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