• apple,  ios,  iphone

    Rumor: Apple to Hold Media Event Sept 10

    August 11, 2013 /

    Ina Fried, of AllThingsD.com, has suggested that Apple fans “Circle Sept 10 on Your Calendar.”

    Tuesday, September 10 is the rumored date that Apple will hold their media press event to show off what they have in store for the iPhone product line.

    Will the iPhone 5S have a biometric finger print reader as widely expected?  Will the iPhone be available in other colors beside black and white? Will Apple finally release a “low cost” iPhone, possibly the iPhone 5C and will it be available in a rainbow assortment of colors?

    About all we do know is that there will be a new iPhone this year and that it will be running iOS 7.

    All will be revealed in just 30 days.

    [Via AllThingsD.com…]

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  • android,  google,  samsung

    Samsung’s New Business Model: Copy Palm, Access, and HP

    August 7, 2013 /

    Samsung, as previously reported by many websites, it working on it’s own operating system called “Tizen.”

    BGR recently posted an article in which they report on Samsung’s hopes Tizen will be the alternative OS.  I believe that Samsung intends Tizen to be the OS that breaks them free of the need for Google’s Android operating system for smartphones and tablets.

    But Samsung doesn’t just want to stop with smartphones and tablets, they see Tizen powering all sorts of devices.  In a recent interview with CNET, Samsung co-CEO J.K. Shin states:

    “There are many convergences not only among IT gadgets, including smartphones, tablets, PCs, and cameras, but also among different industries like cars, bio, or banks.  Cross-convergence is the one [area] Samsung can do best since we do have various parts and finished products.”

    I don’t know about you, but a few things make me worry for Samsung.  First off, that co-CEO thing.  Ask RIM how that worked out for them.  Secondly, Samsung does a horrendous job putting their software on top of Android, now they’re writing their own operating system.  And lastly, when I hear talk about putting smartphone operating systems in all sorts of consumer electronics like cameras, banks and ATM machines, cars…I start to think about all the grandiose plans I recall reading about PalmSource Palm OS 5, ACCESS’ Access Linux Platform (aka Palm OS 6), and even Palm/HP webOS.   All of those efforts failed to even come close to reaching the kind of market penetration that was talked about.

    Samsung, for it’s part, does control a number of product lines where they can just say we’re going to put the Tizen OS into this refrigerator and it will happen.  And Tizen will gain marketshare just from the sheer amount of gadget spam and appliances they put out.  But will people really want to run apps on their fridge, coffee maker, and toaster?  Maybe some day, but it looks doubtful for the next few years.

    At least Samsung isn’t planning on abandoning the use of Google Android in their smartphones and tablets any time soon.

    [Via BGR.com…]

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  • apple

    Videos That Make Me Happy

    July 27, 2013 /

    I was feeling a little under the weather last night, so I decided to share two videos that helped pass the long sleepless night.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAo8gnUCWzE]

    Steve Jobs: We don’t ship junk!

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBq3WoQyinY]

    Come on, who doesn’t love some flying toaster?!

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  • apple,  ipad,  iphone

    WSJ: Apple Testing Larger Screen, Smaller Screen Devices

    July 23, 2013 /

    In this morning’s edition of the Wall Street Journal, a story appeared stating that Apple was working with one or more suppliers to develop different sized screens for prototype devices.

    From WSJ.com (subscription maybe required):

    “People at Apple’s suppliers said it asked for prototype smartphone screens larger than its current iPhone in recent months, and has asked for screen designs for a new tablet measuring slightly less than 13 inches. Whether the designs will make their way to market is unclear, but they could lead to Apple phones and tablets that are larger than the current 4-inch iPhone 5 and 9.7-inch iPad.”

    Shocker.  Is anyone really surprised that Apple is not standing still and working on prototype devices?  My guess? This is a “strategic leak” to get the spotlight off of the recent developer portal website hacking.

    [Via WSJ.com…]

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  • apple,  security

    Apple Developer Center Hacker Identified

    July 23, 2013 /

    Earlier today, Ibrahim Balic, a “security researcher” identified himself as the hacker who breached Apple’s Developer Center portal.

    According to AppleInsider, Balic identified himself as the person who hacked into Apple’s servers on the TechCrunch website.

    “Balic said he found a total of 13 bugs on Apple’s site, one of which provided him with access to user information. He claims to have taken 73 user details — all of whom are Apple employees — and given them to the company as an example.”

    “Security researcher” or “hacker,” I think we should let the courts decide, don’t you?

    [Via AppleInsider.com…]

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  • galaxy s4,  galaxy tab,  samsung,  sdc

    Samsung Announces Developer’s Conference

    July 23, 2013 /

    Earlier today, consumer electronics giant Samsung announced a cross-platform developer’s show, Samsung Developer’s Conference , or SDC.

    Scheduled to take place October 27-29 at the Westin St. Francis Hotel, Union Square, the event is being billed as a cross-platform event that will cover topics including their Android-powered Galaxy smartphones and tablets, Windows PCs, Windows Phone smartphones, and even their SmartTV and Boxee offerings.

    If I was Larry Page, I’d be more than a little worried that my largest Android partner is “going rogue.”

    Bottom line: still looks like Samsung can’t come up with any original ideas.

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  • microsoft,  surface rt,  windows rt

    Microsoft Surface RT with Touch Cover Now $379

    July 21, 2013 /

    I can’t say that I’m a “fan” of the Microsoft Surface RT tablet, but I am intrigued by it.  But, even at $349 for the entry level 32GB version, it still is a bit expensive to buy at a toy.

    But if you are in the market for a Microsoft Surface RT, you might want to also consider that the Redmond company is now selling referbrished 32GB Surface RT tablets, with the $100-ish Touch Cover, for $379.

    Check it out now in the Microsoft Online Store.

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  • apple

    Apple Developer Portal Attached By Hacker

    July 21, 2013 /

    Apple’s Developer Center portal has been offline since Thursday, and now, iMore’s news team has the reason: the website was attacked by hackers.

    “Apple has sent an email out to developers addressing the reason behind the ongoing multi-day outage of their developer portal, confirming suspicions that it was the result of a security breach.”

    The email that was sent out by Apple reads:

    “Last Thursday, an intruder attempted to secure personal information of our registered developers from our developer website. Sensitive personal information was encrypted and cannot be accessed, however, we have not been able to rule out the possibility that some developers’ names, mailing addresses, and/or email addresses may have been accessed. In the spirit of transparency, we want to inform you of the issue. We took the site down immediately on Thursday and have been working around the clock since then. 

    In order to prevent a security threat like this from happening again, we’re completely overhauling our developer systems, updating our server software, and rebuilding our entire database. We apologize for the significant inconvenience that our downtime has caused you and we expect to have the developer website up again soon.”

    Before announcing that the Developer Center was attached by a hacker, Apple posted a generic system maintenance page that appears below.

    [Via iMore.com…]

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  • apple,  ios,  rumors

    Rumor: Apple Having Trouble with iPhone 5S Biometric Sensor

    July 17, 2013 /

    DigiTimes, which has a spotty track record with regard to their Apple rumors, is reporting that the iPhone maker is having trouble with low yield rates with the rumored fingerprint reader that is said to be part of the upcoming iPhone’s Home button.

    From DigiTimes:

    “Volume production of fingerprint-recognition and LCD driver chips for the iPhone 5S should have started at the end of June or early in July, but issues related to yield rates will delay commercial production of the two chips to the end of July, therefore affecting the initial supply of the iPhone 5S, the sources explained.”

    Many people, myself included, expect Apple to follow last year’s September announcement of a new iPhone followed up with October shipments.  If that is true, and full production runs of the iPhone 5S are just now ramping up, there should still be plenty of time to build the millions of iPhone 5S handsets that will be needed globally in October.  If that is true, one had to wonder how a device that Apple has not yet publicly talked about or announced be considered ‘late’ if it ships in October and not September.

    I think that there are two more important things to consider here.  The first is that Apple really does leverage last year’s acquisition of Florida based AuthenTec to build and include a biometric fingerprint scanner into their smartphone.  I would love to be able to use that technology to secure my iPhone with a finger swipe rather than a clumsy PIN code.  That would be an amazing feature that will be a head of the competition.

    The second thing to consider is whether iOS 7 is ready in time to be installed on the new hardware.  If the software takes longer to work the major bugs out, it could impact the ship date as I don’t see Apple launching the iPhone 5S without iOS 7.

    [Via DigiTimes.com…]

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