1. Apple unveils faster, more powerful iPhone 4S
This post was originally published on theage.com.au
Apple's newest iPhone left investors and fans wishing for more than a souped-up version of last year's device, at a time when rival smartphone makers are nipping at its heels.
The new iPhone 4S has a faster processor and upgraded camera and Australia will be one of the first countries where it is sold. It will be launched here next Friday.
Apple is including a "personal assistant" application called Siri, which responds to spoken questions and commands such as "Do I need an umbrella today?" It's an advanced version of speech-recognition apps found on other phones, but will work only on the iPhone 4S, not previous models.
Apple demonstrated a variety of scenarios in which users of the new iPhone 4S seemed to hold a conversation with the device, managing calendar appointments, finding restaurants and inquiring about the weather.
"That was a pretty big step forward," said Forrester Research analyst Frank Gillett, who attended the launch at Apple headquarters. "To be able to just converse with your gadget. You've got more options than just poking and swiping at it with your finger."
There had been speculation that Apple would reveal a more radical revision of the phone, an "iPhone 5". The no-show leaves room for speculation that Apple will reveal a new model in less than a year.
Apple was also expected to include a near-field communication (NFC) chip that could turn the iPhone into a mobile wallet but no mention of this was made at the launch.
Apple's stock fell nearly 5 per cent following the announcement.
New chief executive Tim Cook led the show after Jobs, who has been battling health problems, resigned from the post in August.
Cook, wearing a navy blue button-down shirt and jeans, opened by calling his nearly 14-year tenure at Apple "the privilege of a lifetime".
Those in the audience clapped as he entered, but Cook ceded the critical iPhone presentation to another executive, and failed to generate the same level of excitement and buzz that predecessor Steve Jobs was famous for.
Cook said the latest iPhone, which came out in June last year, sold more quickly than previous models, but the iPhone still has just 5 per cent of the worldwide handset market.
Apple is hoping to grow that with a new model. The iPhone 4S has an improved camera with a higher-resolution sensor. The processor is faster, which helps run smoother, more realistic action games.
The new iPhone also comes with new mobile software, iOS 5, that includes such features as the ability to sync content wirelessly, without having to plug the device to a Mac or Windows machine.
IOS 5 will also be available next Wednesday for existing devices - the iPhone 4 and 3GS, both iPad models and later versions of the iPod Touch.
Apple said next Wednesday would also mark the launch of its new iCloud service, which will store content such as music, documents, apps and photos on Apple's servers and let people access them wirelessly on numerous devices.
Apple said the new phone would come in black or white. Bought outright, it will cost $799 for a 16 gigabyte version, $899 for 32GB and $999 for 64GB.
Telstra, Optus and Vodafone say they will stock the device in Australia but have yet to release specific plan details. Pre-orders open on Friday.
The previous version, iPhone 4, will now cost $679 for 8GB. The 2009 model, the iPhone 3GS, will cost $449.
It is difficult to compare pricing with the US, as Americans must sign two-year contracts. On the contracts in the US the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models can be had for $US199, $US299 and $US399.
Apple also touted the popularity of its products and unveiled a new line of iPods, including a Nano model with a multi-touch display that promises to be easier to navigate. Apple made no mention of its Classic model, which many people had speculated the company might discontinue.
The new iPod Nano, which has 16 new digital clock faces and improved built-in fitness features, is available today starting at $149. Apple has also released new iPod Touch models starting at $219.
The event took place in Apple's Town Hall room, where the first iPod was launched a decade ago. Cook said Apple had sold more than 300 million iPods worldwide so far, including 45 million in the 12 months until June.
The iPhone came six years later and has gained millions of fans, thanks to its slick looks, high-resolution screen and intuitive software. Thirty-nine million iPhones were sold in the first six months of this year.
It remains to be seen whether the iPhone 4S can stem market share gains by phones running Google's Android software. Samsung Electronics, notably, is growing global shipments several times faster than Apple and is now estimated at within a hair's breadth of catching up in worldwide market share.
While the iPhone 4S sports many of the features leaked in tech blogs before the event, it lacked the "wow" factor that some were hoping for to sustain the popularity of the brand.
In some ways, Apple may have been a victim of past success. Product launches by Jobs, now chairman, had been some of the hottest events on the tech calendar.
The event, though as usual choreographed to a tee, lacked the oomph and pizzazz of Apple events in years past and sorely missed the star power that Jobs brought to the unveilings.
Heading into the event, many on Wall Street had questioned Cook's ability to lead the company as Jobs had. In terms of stage presence, Jobs was a tough act to follow.
While it did little to alleviate concerns about whether the company would stay a creative force to be reckoned with without its founder and visionary at the helm, analysts say the event's proceedings hinted at Apple's new team-based approach.
"What he did is let the team shine through," said Forrester Research analyst Frank Gillett. "What we may see is a somewhat different style, and frankly a healthy style that says: Look, this is a team that works together, there's a deep bench, it's not just one person."
AP, Reuters and smh.com.au
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/apple-unveils-faster-more-powerful-iphone-4s-20111005-1l7nb.html#ixzz1ZwtrbA8f
2. How to Talk to Siri, the iPhone's New Virtual Assistant [Video]
Yesterday Apple announced Siri, the new voice-controlled assistant for your iPhone, and we detailed how it works to give you an idea of the things it can help you do. But have you been wondering what you can say to it, specifically? The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) has posted a very comprehensive list of options. Here are a few examples and how they work. More »
3. GoodPlayer: The Stronger, Faster, Pricier Media Player
Long ago, I reviewed an app called "VLC Media Player," and though I was less than amazed by the app's performance at the time, I'll admit that it grew on me. VLC made it easy to play a wide variety of videos on an iPhone without futzing with an MP4 converter. You could just load up videos through iTunes directly to VLC, then play them regardless of what format you were dealing with -- AVI, WMV, MPG or even the iPhone's own MP4. Sadly, though, VLC was not long for this world.
4. Lemon Is an Easy to Use and Free Receipt Tracking Tool for Mobile Phones and Browsers [Personal Finance]
iOS/Android: Keeping track of receipts can be a pain, but Lemon simplifies the process by allowing you to scan in receipts and track your purchases from your phone or online.
5. Amazon's Kindle Catches Fire
Amazon has launched what may become the first real threat to Apple's iPad. The Kindle Fire has been anticipated for many months now, but this week Amazon officially took the lid off and showed everyone what it's really about. For a device that could eventually loosen the iPad's stranglehold on the tablet market, the Fire's spec sheet doesn't exactly match that of an iPad 2. It offers just 8 GB of onboard storage, WiFi but no 3G or 4G wireless access, no camera, no microphone, no gyroscope -- and it's much smaller, at just seven inches.
6. Giving a Clunky Old CMS the WordPress Treatment
eMusic's old, custom-built content management system was slowing the team down. We're a digital media company, and our team has to be able to react quickly and share content on hot topics. When reviewing the different content management systems out there, we found that WordPress was an ideal solution to suit all of our CMS needs. We wanted an open source tool with support from a passionate community of users -- WordPress developers. We also wanted a mature platform.
7. Dynamic Views: seven new ways to share your blog with the world
As we said a few weeks ago when we launched a completely rebuilt, streamlined authoring and editing experience, we’re in the process of bringing you a much improved and modernized Blogger. The next phase of these updates starts today with seven new ways to display your blog, called Dynamic Views.
Built with the latest in web technology (AJAX, HTML5 and CSS3), Dynamic Views is a unique browsing experience that will inspire your readers to explore your blog in new ways. The interactive layouts make it easier for readers to enjoy and discover your posts, loading 40 percent faster than traditional templates and bringing older entries to the surface so they seem fresh again.
Dynamic Views is much more than just new templates. With just a couple clicks, you’ll get infinite scrolling (say goodbye to the “Older posts” link), images that load as you browse, integrated search, sorting by date, label and author, lightbox-style posts for easy viewing, keyboard shortcuts for quickly flipping through posts, and one-click sharing to Google+ and other social sites on every post.
No two blogs are the same, so you can choose from seven different views that display text and photos differently. For example, if you have lots of photos on your blog, you may prefer Flipcard or Snapshot. If your blog is more text-heavy, then Classic, Sidebar (what you’re seeing now on Blogger Buzz) or Timeslide may be preferable. Here’s a quick description of each of the new views, along with links to some of our favorite blogs where you can check each of them out in action.
.blogspot.com Preview
Adding a Dynamic View to your blog is as easy as changing your template. Log in to Blogger, click on the Template tab on your dashboard, and select whichever view you want to set as your default. Note that readers can still choose to navigate your blog in a different view by selecting from the pulldown in the upper left of the screen.
If you want to add your own touch to any of these new views, you can upload a header image and customize the background colors. We’ll be adding more ways to customize Dynamic Views in the coming weeks.
We hope you enjoy the latest update to Blogger, and that, as always, you tell us what you think by completing this short survey.
Note: In addition to Blogger Buzz, several other official Google blogs will be featuring Dynamic Views through the weeks and months ahead, including the Gmail Blog, LatLong Blog and Docs Blog. We’re excited to bring Dynamic Views into the fold and we'll be looking at how to incorporate this new technology across Google’s blog network in the long term.
This post was originally published on theage.com.au
Apple's newest iPhone left investors and fans wishing for more than a souped-up version of last year's device, at a time when rival smartphone makers are nipping at its heels.
The new iPhone 4S has a faster processor and upgraded camera and Australia will be one of the first countries where it is sold. It will be launched here next Friday.
Telstra, Optus and Vodafone have confirmed they will stock the device, which will sell outright from $799 for the 16GB version.
Apple is including a "personal assistant" application called Siri, which responds to spoken questions and commands such as "Do I need an umbrella today?" It's an advanced version of speech-recognition apps found on other phones, but will work only on the iPhone 4S, not previous models.
Apple demonstrated a variety of scenarios in which users of the new iPhone 4S seemed to hold a conversation with the device, managing calendar appointments, finding restaurants and inquiring about the weather.
"That was a pretty big step forward," said Forrester Research analyst Frank Gillett, who attended the launch at Apple headquarters. "To be able to just converse with your gadget. You've got more options than just poking and swiping at it with your finger."
There had been speculation that Apple would reveal a more radical revision of the phone, an "iPhone 5". The no-show leaves room for speculation that Apple will reveal a new model in less than a year.
Apple was also expected to include a near-field communication (NFC) chip that could turn the iPhone into a mobile wallet but no mention of this was made at the launch.
Apple's stock fell nearly 5 per cent following the announcement.
New chief executive Tim Cook led the show after Jobs, who has been battling health problems, resigned from the post in August.
Cook, wearing a navy blue button-down shirt and jeans, opened by calling his nearly 14-year tenure at Apple "the privilege of a lifetime".
Those in the audience clapped as he entered, but Cook ceded the critical iPhone presentation to another executive, and failed to generate the same level of excitement and buzz that predecessor Steve Jobs was famous for.
Cook said the latest iPhone, which came out in June last year, sold more quickly than previous models, but the iPhone still has just 5 per cent of the worldwide handset market.
Apple is hoping to grow that with a new model. The iPhone 4S has an improved camera with a higher-resolution sensor. The processor is faster, which helps run smoother, more realistic action games.
The new iPhone also comes with new mobile software, iOS 5, that includes such features as the ability to sync content wirelessly, without having to plug the device to a Mac or Windows machine.
IOS 5 will also be available next Wednesday for existing devices - the iPhone 4 and 3GS, both iPad models and later versions of the iPod Touch.
Apple said next Wednesday would also mark the launch of its new iCloud service, which will store content such as music, documents, apps and photos on Apple's servers and let people access them wirelessly on numerous devices.
Apple said the new phone would come in black or white. Bought outright, it will cost $799 for a 16 gigabyte version, $899 for 32GB and $999 for 64GB.
Telstra, Optus and Vodafone say they will stock the device in Australia but have yet to release specific plan details. Pre-orders open on Friday.
The previous version, iPhone 4, will now cost $679 for 8GB. The 2009 model, the iPhone 3GS, will cost $449.
It is difficult to compare pricing with the US, as Americans must sign two-year contracts. On the contracts in the US the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models can be had for $US199, $US299 and $US399.
Apple also touted the popularity of its products and unveiled a new line of iPods, including a Nano model with a multi-touch display that promises to be easier to navigate. Apple made no mention of its Classic model, which many people had speculated the company might discontinue.
The new iPod Nano, which has 16 new digital clock faces and improved built-in fitness features, is available today starting at $149. Apple has also released new iPod Touch models starting at $219.
The event took place in Apple's Town Hall room, where the first iPod was launched a decade ago. Cook said Apple had sold more than 300 million iPods worldwide so far, including 45 million in the 12 months until June.
The iPhone came six years later and has gained millions of fans, thanks to its slick looks, high-resolution screen and intuitive software. Thirty-nine million iPhones were sold in the first six months of this year.
It remains to be seen whether the iPhone 4S can stem market share gains by phones running Google's Android software. Samsung Electronics, notably, is growing global shipments several times faster than Apple and is now estimated at within a hair's breadth of catching up in worldwide market share.
While the iPhone 4S sports many of the features leaked in tech blogs before the event, it lacked the "wow" factor that some were hoping for to sustain the popularity of the brand.
In some ways, Apple may have been a victim of past success. Product launches by Jobs, now chairman, had been some of the hottest events on the tech calendar.
The event, though as usual choreographed to a tee, lacked the oomph and pizzazz of Apple events in years past and sorely missed the star power that Jobs brought to the unveilings.
Heading into the event, many on Wall Street had questioned Cook's ability to lead the company as Jobs had. In terms of stage presence, Jobs was a tough act to follow.
While it did little to alleviate concerns about whether the company would stay a creative force to be reckoned with without its founder and visionary at the helm, analysts say the event's proceedings hinted at Apple's new team-based approach.
"What he did is let the team shine through," said Forrester Research analyst Frank Gillett. "What we may see is a somewhat different style, and frankly a healthy style that says: Look, this is a team that works together, there's a deep bench, it's not just one person."
AP, Reuters and smh.com.au
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/apple-unveils-faster-more-powerful-iphone-4s-20111005-1l7nb.html#ixzz1ZwtrbA8f
2. How to Talk to Siri, the iPhone's New Virtual Assistant [Video]
Yesterday Apple announced Siri, the new voice-controlled assistant for your iPhone, and we detailed how it works to give you an idea of the things it can help you do. But have you been wondering what you can say to it, specifically? The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) has posted a very comprehensive list of options. Here are a few examples and how they work. More »
3. GoodPlayer: The Stronger, Faster, Pricier Media Player
Long ago, I reviewed an app called "VLC Media Player," and though I was less than amazed by the app's performance at the time, I'll admit that it grew on me. VLC made it easy to play a wide variety of videos on an iPhone without futzing with an MP4 converter. You could just load up videos through iTunes directly to VLC, then play them regardless of what format you were dealing with -- AVI, WMV, MPG or even the iPhone's own MP4. Sadly, though, VLC was not long for this world.
4. Lemon Is an Easy to Use and Free Receipt Tracking Tool for Mobile Phones and Browsers [Personal Finance]
iOS/Android: Keeping track of receipts can be a pain, but Lemon simplifies the process by allowing you to scan in receipts and track your purchases from your phone or online.
5. Amazon's Kindle Catches Fire
Amazon has launched what may become the first real threat to Apple's iPad. The Kindle Fire has been anticipated for many months now, but this week Amazon officially took the lid off and showed everyone what it's really about. For a device that could eventually loosen the iPad's stranglehold on the tablet market, the Fire's spec sheet doesn't exactly match that of an iPad 2. It offers just 8 GB of onboard storage, WiFi but no 3G or 4G wireless access, no camera, no microphone, no gyroscope -- and it's much smaller, at just seven inches.
6. Giving a Clunky Old CMS the WordPress Treatment
eMusic's old, custom-built content management system was slowing the team down. We're a digital media company, and our team has to be able to react quickly and share content on hot topics. When reviewing the different content management systems out there, we found that WordPress was an ideal solution to suit all of our CMS needs. We wanted an open source tool with support from a passionate community of users -- WordPress developers. We also wanted a mature platform.
7. Dynamic Views: seven new ways to share your blog with the world
As we said a few weeks ago when we launched a completely rebuilt, streamlined authoring and editing experience, we’re in the process of bringing you a much improved and modernized Blogger. The next phase of these updates starts today with seven new ways to display your blog, called Dynamic Views.
Built with the latest in web technology (AJAX, HTML5 and CSS3), Dynamic Views is a unique browsing experience that will inspire your readers to explore your blog in new ways. The interactive layouts make it easier for readers to enjoy and discover your posts, loading 40 percent faster than traditional templates and bringing older entries to the surface so they seem fresh again.
Dynamic Views is much more than just new templates. With just a couple clicks, you’ll get infinite scrolling (say goodbye to the “Older posts” link), images that load as you browse, integrated search, sorting by date, label and author, lightbox-style posts for easy viewing, keyboard shortcuts for quickly flipping through posts, and one-click sharing to Google+ and other social sites on every post.
No two blogs are the same, so you can choose from seven different views that display text and photos differently. For example, if you have lots of photos on your blog, you may prefer Flipcard or Snapshot. If your blog is more text-heavy, then Classic, Sidebar (what you’re seeing now on Blogger Buzz) or Timeslide may be preferable. Here’s a quick description of each of the new views, along with links to some of our favorite blogs where you can check each of them out in action.
- Classic (Gmail): A modern twist on a traditional template, with infinite scrolling and images that load as you go
- Flipcard (M loves M) - Your photos are tiled across the page and flip to reveal the post title
- Magazine (Advanced Style) - A clean, elegant editorial style layout
- Mosaic (Crosby’s Kitchen) - A mosaic mix of different sized images and text
- Sidebar (Blogger Buzz Blog) - An email inbox-like view with a reading page for quick scrolling and browsing
- Snapshot (Canelle et Vanille) - An interactive pinboard of your posts
- Timeslide (The Bleary-Eyed Father) - A horizontal view of your posts by time period
.blogspot.com Preview
Adding a Dynamic View to your blog is as easy as changing your template. Log in to Blogger, click on the Template tab on your dashboard, and select whichever view you want to set as your default. Note that readers can still choose to navigate your blog in a different view by selecting from the pulldown in the upper left of the screen.
If you want to add your own touch to any of these new views, you can upload a header image and customize the background colors. We’ll be adding more ways to customize Dynamic Views in the coming weeks.
We hope you enjoy the latest update to Blogger, and that, as always, you tell us what you think by completing this short survey.
Note: In addition to Blogger Buzz, several other official Google blogs will be featuring Dynamic Views through the weeks and months ahead, including the Gmail Blog, LatLong Blog and Docs Blog. We’re excited to bring Dynamic Views into the fold and we'll be looking at how to incorporate this new technology across Google’s blog network in the long term.
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