Apple filing details multitasking touch-screen for mobile gaming

Apple is always had less-than-enthusiastic stance towards gaming, so the company's latest patent filing seems a bit out of character, seeing as it details a multitasking touchscreen that would allow games to be played while still controlling other applications like media players. The system works be categorizing touch inputs and routing the data to the appropriate application -- a simple tap might go to the game, while a longer press might be sent to the media player. According to Apple, "the invention allows various applications to be integrated and used on devices that are not readily suitable for supporting multiple applications at the same time." Of course, there's no word on when we might see this make its way into an actual product, but if this means we might see games on the iPod touch and iPhone, bring it on.

Via Engadget

New iPod Nano Clone PMP With Integrated Camera And Touch Screen

The China-based manufacturer, ECNokia has recently released its new PMP (Portable Media Player) which designed like latest third-generation iPod Nano, just as what you see in the photo.

The Chinese iPod Nano clone features a large 2.4-inch TFT touch screen display, FM radio tuner, voice recording capability and an integrated 1.3 megapixel camera, sounds like better deal than Apple’s iPod Nano. The new ECNokia iPod Nano-like MP4 player which measures 90 x 60 x 3.5mm also includes a SD/MMC card slot (up to 2GB) to store your musics/videos. No words on its price and availability yet.

Source:
My Digital Life

iPhone Firmware 1.1.2 Hacked Before Release

When Apple announced the release of the iPhone for the UK, it also announced that iPhone and iPod touch firmware version 1.1.2 would be released at the same time. Released today, firmware 1.1.2 closes the TIFF vulnerability in mobile Safari that was used to jailbreak firmware 1.1.1. Confirmed by DailyTech, the TIFF vulnerability no longer works. However, despite Apple's effort to lockdown the iPhone and iPod touch, firmware 1.1.2 has already been jailbroken.

View: Full Story @ DailyTech

Researcher: Leopard's Firewall is a Mess

The launch of Apple's newest OS, Leopard, has been, to say the least, tinged with negative press, what with reports of bluescreens due to third party applications and Java incompatibilities. On Friday, Rich Mogull, a security consultant and former Gartner analyst, added more fuel to the fire when he said "[Leopard's] firewall is a mess" after spending two days digging into the new firewall's capabilities. "It's a step back from Tiger's firewall. I was originally pretty bullish on Leopard's security, and I still am on the concepts, but the implementation makes most of its advances ineffective or unusable."

The firewall in Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard uses a bare-bones interface -- earlier this week, Mogull called it "so simple as to be nearly useless" -- that offers users three options: allow all incoming connections, block all incoming connections, and set access for specific services and applications Unfortunately, the implementation seems fraught with problems. "'Block all' does seem to block actual connections," said Mogull, "but any shared ports are detected as 'open/filtered' on a port scan." And unless users turn on stealth, some services -- Bonjour, Apple's network-device-locating technology, is one -- are seen as open by scans, no matter what firewall setting is selected. Only by using "Block all" with stealth enabled are shared services actually invisible.

Those inconsistencies pale against the firewall's ability to break some applications without warning. When the "Set access" mode is turned on, the firewall digitally signs applications that the user allows access to incoming communication; although most firewalls will block a program from running if it detects change, such as an upgrade to a new version, Mogull discovered that Leopard takes it one step further, blocking applications that change at runtime. Skype, the popular VoIP software and instant messenger, is one such program. If the user has set the firewall to "Set access" and runs Skype, the icon will bounce a time or two on the dock, but not load. Nor does Leopard tell the user that Skype has failed or why it won't launch. Only the Mac OS X Console gives a clue, with a message such as: 11/2/07 9:47:51 AM [0x0-0x35035].com.skype.skype[399] Check 1 failed. Can't run Skype.

However, Mogull isn't all bad news. "Fortunately, all of this is fixable," he said. "Apple clearly was a little rushed, but they're moving in the right direction. It's our responsibility to keep on Apple to make sure they convert these concepts into actual implementations."

Source:
Neowin

"Time" declares iPhone as invention of the year

Oh! I am definetly surprised! iPhone is cool but there are better things invented this year. Apple's "love it," "hate it" or "hack it to pieces" iPhone is Time's "Invention Of the Year," !

Invention of the year that was unlocked by a 17-year-old teenager, needs $0.99 to set a ringtone of favorite song, can only be used legaly on AT&T network, expensive and has nothing to offer better than many other phones except its so called icandy interface and iPod music. Is it invention of year because more than 1.4 million iPhones were sold? ...does it helps to make our lives really better than before? (except playing with icons and listening to iPod quality Music). What about OLPC?

What Lev Grossman of Time wrote is ...

Stop. I mean, don't stop reading this, but stop thinking what you're about to think. Or, O.K., I'll think it for you:

The thing is hard to type on. It's too slow. It's too big. It doesn't have instant messaging. It's too expensive. (Or, no, wait, it's too cheap!) It doesn't support my work e-mail. It's locked to AT&T. Steve Jobs secretly hates puppies. And—all together now—we're sick of hearing about it! Yes, there's been a lot of hype written about the iPhone, and a lot of guff too. So much so that it seems weird to add more, after Danny Fanboy and Bobby McBlogger have had their day. But when that day is over, Apple's iPhone is still the best thing invented this year. Why? Five reasons:

1. The iPhone is prettyMost
high-tech companies don't take design seriously. They treat it as an afterthought. Window-dressing. But one of Jobs' basic insights about technology is that good design is actually as important as good technology. All the cool features in the world won't do you any good unless you can figure out how to use said features, and feel smart and attractive while doing it.
An example: look at what happens when you put the iPhone into "airplane" mode (i.e., no cell service, WiFi, etc.). A tiny little orange airplane zooms into the menu bar! Cute, you might say. But cute little touches like that are part of what makes the iPhone usable in a world of useless gadgets. It speaks your language. In the world of technology, surface really is depth.

2. It's touchy
feelyapple didn't invent the touchscreen. Apple didn't even reinvent it (Apple probably acquired its much hyped multitouch technology when it snapped up a company called Fingerworks in 2005). But Apple knew what to do with it. Apple's engineers used the touchscreen to innovate past the graphical user interface (which Apple helped pioneer with the Macintosh in the 1980s) to create a whole new kind of interface, a tactile one that gives users the illusion of actually physically manipulating data with their hands—flipping through album covers, clicking links, stretching and shrinking photographs with their fingers.

This is, as engineers say, nontrivial. It's part of a new way of relating to computers. Look at the success of the Nintendo Wii. Look at Microsoft's new Surface Computing division. Look at how Apple has propagated its touchscreen interface to the iPod line with the iPod Touch. Can it be long before we get an iMac Touch? A TouchBook? Touching is the new seeing.

3. It will make other phones better
jobs didn't write the code inside the iPhone. These days he doesn't dirty his fingers with 1's and 0's, if he ever really did. But he did negotiate the deal with AT&T to carry the iPhone. That's important: one reason so many cell phones are lame is that cell-phone-service providers hobble developers with lame rules about what they can and can't do. AT&T gave Apple unprecedented freedom to build the iPhone to its own specifications. Now other phone makers are jealous. They're demanding the same freedoms. That means better, more innovative phones for all.

4. It's not a phone, it's a platform
when apple made the iphone, it didn't throw together some cheap-o bare-bones firmware. It took OS X, its full-featured desktop operating system, and somehow squished it down to fit inside the iPhone's elegant glass-and-stainless-steel case. That makes the iPhone more than just a gadget. It's a genuine handheld, walk-around computer, the first device that really deserves the name. One of the big trends of 2007 was the idea that computing doesn't belong just in cyberspace, it needs to happen here, in the real world, where actual stuff happens. The iPhone gets applications like Google Maps out onto the street, where we really need them.

And this is just the beginning. Platforms are for building on. Last month, after a lot of throat-clearing, Apple decided to open up the iPhone, so that you—meaning people other than Apple employees—will be able to develop software for it too. Ever notice all that black blank space on the iPhone's desktop? It's about to fill up with lots of tiny, pretty, useful icons.

5. It is but the ghost of iPhones yet to come
the iphone has sold enough units—more than 1.4 million at press time—that it'll be around for a while, and with all that room to develop and its infinitely updatable, all-software interface, the iPhone is built to evolve. Look at the iPod of six years ago. That monochrome interface! That clunky touchwheel! It looks like something a caveman whittled from a piece of flint using another piece of flint. Now imagine something that's going to make the iPhone look that primitive. You'll have one in a few years. It'll be very cool. And it'll be even cheaper

Jason D says about poor iPod touch battery life

I’m always leary of manufactures claims of battery life, my rule of thumb is to cut what the manufacturer says in half.Apple claims that the iPod touch gets “up to” 22 hours of audio playback time and “up to” 5 hours of video playback time when fully charged according to Apple’s iPod touch Tech Specs page.

Many users have been complaining of significantly lower battery runtimes with the touch.

Here’s an example:
I purchased an iPod Touch (16 gig) last week. I have been waiting for iPhone service in my area, but waiting is painful.

I am really disappointed with the battery life and standard features of the iPod Touch. Battery life is totally unacceptable. After 3 to 4 hours of listening to podcasts I got the warning that 20% of the battery remained.

After a fully recharge I attempted to play a 2 hour movie (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade). The touch made it through about 1 hour and 50 minutes then the battery crapped out. None of these times are close to Apple’s estimates and what some reviewers are indicating.

This particular reader disclosed that he ran iJailbrake on the iPod touch and installed some third-party applications–which could be the culprit, but I’m not sure.

Update: The reader quoted above clarifies the process of problems with his touch battery:

1. Ran iPod Touch as shipped from Factory for several days. Battery life terrible. 2 to 3 hours max when I got a message battery life was low.

2. Ran the iJailbreak hack and battery life was no better or worse.

3. Restored iPod Touch to default settings and used for another day. Less than an hour of listening to podcast (PowerPage Podcast), showed friend the features over lunch. Listened to remainder of said podcast and got the warning of less than 20% of battery life remaining.

4. Did a full recharge upon returning home. Disconnected from charger and started movie (Indiana Jones) got about 1 hour and 50 minutes when the iPod Touch turned off.

Source: ZDnetBlogs

OS X v10.5 Leopard Available October 26, Pre-order Today!

Back in April, Apple announced a delay from June to October for the next version of its operating system due to needs of the iPhone program. Well, October has finally arrived. The company says that OS X v10.5, which is now expected to ship on October 26, contains over 300 new features and “installs easily, and works with the software and accessories you already have.” Some of the highlighted features include a revamped desktop, a new Finder which includes Cover Flow technology, Quick Look which gives full-scale previews of documents before opening them and Time Machine which creates incremental backups of files.

A single-user license costs just $129.00 direct from Apple while a five-user license will set you back just $199.00. Customers who pre-order OS X v10.5 today from Apple are guaranteed to have their copy on their doorstep on October 26.

Source: DailyTech

399$ cellphone and you can't set a song as ringtone for free

Apple iPhone introduced a stupid idea (as most people say) on the launch of iPod that iPhone users have to pay $0.99 if they want to set thier favorite song as ringtone.

Crackers cracked this stupidity but Apple has released an update to iTunes that blocks users from creating free custom ringtones and then syncing them to an iPhone. Despite Apple's best efforts to thwart users, a workaround has already been found and posted to the Internet. A method of using iTunes to create ringtones for the iPhone using songs not purchased from the iTunes Store was first posted by Macrumors.com on Friday. Users confirmed after installing iTunes 7.4.1 last night that the method no longer worked.

However, an Engadget post on Saturday details a workaround for the update, again allowing the free ringtones to be synced to the iPhone

Apple introduces new iPod Nano, iPod Classic and iPod Touch

Steve Jobs Introduced some new ranges of Apple's iPod that are exciting

iPod nano with video support:
The iPod nano has been upgraded to add video support with 24 hours audio and 5 hours video Battery Life.
Cost:
4 GB version costs $149
8 GB version costs $199

iPod Classic:
A thicker model than nano but with more power has storage of upto 160GB and 40 hours audio and 7 hours video battery life.

Cost:
80 GB model costs $249
160GB model costs $349

iPod Touch:
It's the most exciting phone! iPod Touch looks like iPhone and has 8mm thickness with 3.5 LCD screen. Has multi touch screen interface (like iPhone) and also wi-fi. User can stream YouTube videos and browse internet through wi-fi.

It has 22 hours audio and 5 hour video battery life.

Cost:
8 GB model costs $299
16 GB model costs $399

Apple's iPhone unlocked by a 17 years old teenager!

A 17 years old teenager unlocks the Apple iPhone and is using on T-Mobile's network, in New York.

The iPhone was officialy released to be used on AT&T connection only but three separate hacks that fully unlock the Apple iPhone from AT&T surfaced, two of them claiming to be software-only.

Best documented was a hack by George Hotz, 17, of Glen Rock, N.J.

With a little soldering, a lot of command-line computing and about two hours of time, Hotz was able to switch an iPhone over to T-Mobile, which he documented in detail in a YouTube video and on his blog.

The point emerges...is this product designed so unsecure?. Apple and AT&T are not having a good time with this product.

Hotz is selling one hacked iPhone on eBay, mostly to recoup costs from his summer-long project. Another hacker donated an iPhone to experiment with, which is now a mess of parts and wires, and Hotz needs to buy him a new one. Hotz is keeping a third.

As of 5 p.m. EDT Friday, bidding was over $4,500! wow! The bidding will end on 30th August.


View complete story on FOXNews

Links:
ebay bid
Hotz blog (detail about unlockign the iPhone)

Conan - iPhone Commercial

A fun about Apple iPhone frm NBC...check it out!

It's much more than just a phone! Check out some of its additional functions.

Guidelines for Apple iPhone developers

Apple has released its developer’s guide for its remarkable product, iPhone. Users or developers can refer to the Apple’s Developer guideline (called “Apple Developer Connection”) to create their optimal website or application that can be used on Apple’s extraordinary product, the Apple iPhone.
Apple's Guidelines says Safari on iPhone uses the same Web Kit engine as Safari on the computer desktop. With the Safari Web Kit engine, you can develop sophisticated Web 2.0 sites and applications that will impress and delight iPhone users. To design a web application that shines on iPhone and ensures a great user experience, you’ll want to:

• Understand the capabilities of iPhone.
• Follow established design practices for the web.
• Adopt iPhone-specific design principles.

The guidelines will help to prepare web content and design a website or web-based application for iPhone

Apple guidelines :
http://developer.apple.com/iphone/designingcontent.html

iPhone Torture Tests -- Will it Survive?

Can you scratch it? What happens when you drop it? PC World's Eric Butterfield takes the iPhone through a grueling set of tests to check how the device handles abuse.

Apple gets rid of irreplaceable iPhone battery.

Apple iPhone gets rid of its irreplaceable battery criticism by announcing battery replacement program for $79 plus $6.95 of shipping. Apple says repair will take three business days not counting the days of shipping and from the repair center.

Apple isn't taking responsibility of dat so when you want to replace your battery, make backup of all the data of your iPhone because all the data on your phone will be erased when u send it off.
For those who cant live without their iPhone and cant wait for a week(including shipment time) to get their iPhone repaired, Apple will renbt you another iPhone for 29$ as your iPhone is getting repaired.

So if you wanna get your iPhone battery replaced and you also cant live without your iPhone, so the total amount you need to spend is

$79 + $6.95 + $29 = $114.95

In the end it seems to be a big hassle but the good thing is possibility.

Apple iPhone

As Apple like to put the letter 'i' while naming almost their every product, so they invented a phone and named it 'iPhone'. The most awaited Apple iPhone came up to the phone market with profit margin of 56% on every device as calculated by El Segundo, California-based iSuppli Corporation. Apple's most cool and revolutionary hand held device is finally here but the thing is is it really revolutionary and cool? Including its cool multi touch technology screen it has many cool features but one of lack behind is irreplaceable battery.

Though the device is cool but it doesn't has all features offered by Microsoft Windows Mobile. So I think at starting, profit margin of about 56% on every device is not a good idea.
My friend Taimur Asad writes a perfect comparision of Apple iPhone with Microsoft Windows Mobile in his blog, he proved that Apple iPhone isnt better than Microsoft Windows Mobile as he says "Apple iPhone is body beautiful minus soul"...check out your self
http://microsoftwow.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!28962096F48747EA!426.entry?owner=1

Price of Apple iPhone:
$499 for a 4 GB
$599 for an 8 GB

Basic Specifications of Apple iPhone:
Screen size: 8.9 cm (3.5 in)
Screen resolution: 320×480 pixels at 160 ppi
Input method: Multi-touch screen interface (the "Home" button is the iPhone's only physical front panel button)
Operating System: OS X Storage: 4 or 8 GB Flash memory
Quad band GSM (GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900)
Wi-Fi (802.11b/802.11g), EDGE and Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR
2 megapixel camera
Built-in rechargeable, non-removable battery with up to 8 hours of talk, 6 hours of internet use, 7 hours of video playback and up to 24 hours of audio playback, lasting over 250 hours on standby.
Size: 115×61×11.6 mm (4.5×2.4×0.46 in)
Weight: 135 g (4.8 oz)
Digital SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) of 0.974 watts per kilogram
Links:
Apple iPhone
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