Images have leaked of what is allegedly a part for the next-generation iPod touch, according to a MacRumors source. In particular, the images show a front panel produced by an unidentified supplier. Noticeably it has room for a much larger display, which the supplier claims should measure 4.1 inches.
Facebook has updated its iPhone and iPod Touch app Facebook Messenger to version 1.7, primarily adding the ability to text friends for free using one's existing data plan. This extends the program's ability and enables messages to reach friends even if they don't have the Messenger app on their own device, either on the web or directly on their phone. The update also adds the iChat- and iMessage-like "typing indicator" that lets a user know when someone is replying.
Today at Apple's online store save on refurbished iPods iPads and more. A variety of iPod touch models start at $169 for the 8GB iPod touch and include a $120 price break on the refurb. 64GB iPod touch, now $249. A $30 price break is available on the refurb. 8GB iPod nano in green, pink, orange, blue, black, or silver, now only $99. The 16GB Nano in pink, green, silver, black, blue, or orange, now $119.
Today at Apple's online store save on refurbished MacBook Pros, iPads and more. The 13.3-inch MacBook Pro with a 2.4GHz Intel dual-core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive is now $1019 after a $180 price cut. Save $540 on the refurb. 15.4-inch MacBook Pro with a 2.2GHz Intel quad-core i7 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 750GB hard drive, now $1659. Or for $1719, after a $580 price drop, is the 17-inch MacBook Pro with a 2.53GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive.
One of Samsung's lower-key introductions at Mobile World Congress was a new and still rare Android-based MP3 player, the Galaxy S Wi-Fi 4.2. We gave it a spin at the event, both to see how it stood up on its own and to see how it stacked up against the current iPod touch. Impressions are after the break.
In North America, iOS' share of mobile ad impressions grew a full 12.1 points between October and January, according to mobile advertiser InMobi. Traffic from iOS devices hit 35.3 percent in January, as compared to 32.7 percent for Android, and 11.6 percent for BlackBerry. Android in fact slipped 3.2 points between October and January, allowing iOS to seize leadership.
Although standard Bluetooth keyboards can also be paired with an iPad or iPhone, the process can be time-consuming for users who regularly like to switch between computers and mobile devices using the same keyboard. Often, the answer was to buy two keyboards -- but accessory maker Matias is taking its classic-style, wired One Keyboards up a notch with models that feature a holder for the iPhone or iPod Touch, and can switch instantly between the computer and the iOS device at the touch of a button.
Today's deals from DealNN include price breaks on iPods, cameras, and more. Apple's online store recently lowered the cost on multiple refurbished iPods, such as the refurb. 64GB iPod touch 3G with built-in video and audio streaming support, Bluetooth compatibility, and a 3.5-inch LCD display with maximum resolution of 640 x 480. Currently featured at DealNN, this iPod touch has now dropped to $249 in price and delivers savings of up to $130.
Sports technology company Velocomp, already known for its iBike Dash housing-and-app combo, has expanded its lineup with the iBike Powerhouse [website not yet updated], a motivational and user-directed fitness program incorporated into a water- and shock-resistant casing for the iPhone or iPod Touch that includes wireless speed/cadence sensors and other detectors to measure the cyclists' "power" (level of effort in pedalling) for maximum impact according to user goals.
AOC has just introduced a new 23-inch monitor that's rare in carrying an integrated dock for the iPhone and iPod touch. The e2343Fi will stream any video content of the docked iOS device to its screen, and sound will be delivered through a pair of integrated SRS Premium speakers.
People still using versions of iOS 3.1.x on an iPhone or iPod touch have begun encountering problems with the App Store, according to threads (1, 2) on Apple's support forums. On a basic level, pages on the store may contain broken layouts and missing content. More serious are problems with actually downloading apps, such as having to use the Update All command, instead of having the flexibility of updating apps individually.
Developed in 1995 for the SNES by a "dream team" of Japanese animation and game-development all-stars, Chrono Trigger has now been made available for the iPhone and iPod Touch, including two additional areas of the game not included in the original release. The graphics have been optimized for iOS without changing their retro character, and moving the game to a touch-based platform makes it easier to play.
The first hack to bring all the features of Siri to other devices has been released on Cydia, the distribution network for jailbroken iOS software, reports say. The 100MB software is called H1Siri, and available via two Cydia repositories, Cydia.be and iphone3gsystem.fr/cydia. Currently the code works on both GSM and CDMA iPhone 4 models, as well as the fourth-generation iPod touch.
The non-profit educational organization TED has released an iPhone and iPod Touch version of its iPad app, which allows users to browse and watch excerpts of TEDTalk videos running from three to 18 minutes in length. The iPhone app also offers an audio-only version of the talks for those who may be listening while on the move or at the gym. It also introduces a streaming audio option, TED Radio, that can run in the background.
Various online retailers have cut prices on Apple products for this holiday shopping weekend. Amazon.com has a 13.3-inch MacBook Pro with a 2.8GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 750GB hard drive, now $1419.99 after a price break of $79.01. Special holiday pricing is available on the fourth generation 8GB iPod touch, now $188 with FREE shipping.
Apple chose the start of Thanksgiving to roll out one of its increasingly rare iPod ads, here for the iPod touch. The ad, set to the tune of Grouplove's "Tongue Tied," shows off iOS 5 and the return to white on the iPod after several years. The iPod is pitched as a communicator as much as a media player as friends "share the fun" by passing on iMessages, posting photos to Twitter, recording videos and talking to each other through FaceTime.
Apple Australia and New Zealand have crossed into Friday and have started Black Friday deals that confirm earlier leaks. Both are offering discounts on all iPads, the iPod nano and iPod touch. The MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iMac are all also on sale.
A leaked pamphlet shows the some of discounts Apple is planning to offer for this year's Black Friday sale, according to 9to5Mac. In terms of computers, the company is taking $101 off the iMac, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro. iPad 2 discounts range from $41 to $61, depending on storage capacity, and a similar philosophy applies to the iPod touch, which is getting between $21 and $41 off. Both the 8 and 16GB iPod nanos are $11 chepaer.
Chitika Insights, a market survey and analysis firm, has analyzed IOS traffic from the last week of October -- just two weeks after the release of iOS 5 -- and found that nearly 38 percent of iPhone users had already adopted the new platform, with 30 percent of iPad owners doing the same. Owners of the iPod Touch were the least likely to immediately upgrade, with only 12.2 percent having done so at the time of the survey. The survey also determined what portion of iOS device users were on an earlier iteration.
Hackers, who have been busy trying to get the Siri system interface to work on non-iPhone 4S devices, have found some degree of success with almost all members of the current iOS family now that an enterprising pair have grafted Siri onto a current-generation iPod touch, reports Engadget. As with the other hacked versions, however, the trick is only partly successful -- the modified versions can't work with Apple's servers, leaving the program mostly "brainless."
Apple's iPod on Sunday marked its tenth anniversary in a very different landscape. The MP3 player was unveiled on October 23, 2001 at an event in Apple's Town Hall at its Cupertino headquarters in what's now considered one of the late Steve Jobs' crowning achievements. Its first iPod, available in just a 5GB capacity with only Mac and FireWire support, reached stores on November 10 that year for $399.
The days of having to have an employee search the backroom or warehouse area of a store took another step towards extinction with the announcement by Sears Holdings (owners of both Sears and KMart) that the company would be rolling out Apple iPads and iPod Touches across 450 Sears stores nationwide, as well as introducing free Wi-Fi availability to shoppers. The move is part of an overall plan to modernize and upgrade the shopping experience.
Nintendo saw some hope return to its mobile gaming on Thursday after it crossed a historic milestone. Based on NPD September data, the DS line passed 50 million lifetime sales since its launch in 2004. This helped cement its position as the bestselling game console in history, Nintendo claimed.
Box.net, the online content access, sharing and collaboration service is offering 50GB of free storage to owners of iPads, iPhones and iPod touches. The cloud-based storage is free "forever," it claims The offer itself is time limited, starting tonight at midnight and running for the next 50 days.
While the processor inside the iPhone 4S has already been shown to have given the new phone a significant speed boost for web browsing and JavaScript benchmarks, tests on other models reveals that iOS 5 may play a significant role as well -- allowing the iPhone 4, iPod Touch and iPhone 3GS to gain a noticeable performance boost when it is released on Wednesday. In the case of the iPhone 4, initial testing has shown it catching back up to its latest rivals.
Accessory maker Belkin has introduced additional cases for the iPhone 4S (and iPhone 4) along with models for the current-design iPod Touch in addition to the models announced yesterday, and ZAGG is now selling a version of its popular Invisible Shield clear film for the iPhone 4S and 4. Belkin's cases offer protection and durability in a wide array of designs and colors, while the Invisible Shield film provides strong scratch protection in a micro-thin coating that preserves the look of the iPhone.
Apple used its October 4 event to unveil modest updates to the iPod touch and iPod nano. The iPod touch keeps its familiar design but now has the option of white. It's still believed to keep the A4 processor as it stops at 720p video recording, although it may now have a new oleophobic (oil-resistant) coating.
At Apple's online store today save on refurbished iPods starting at $129 for the 8GB iPod nano, or $149 for the 16GB iPod nano. A $40 price cut is available on the refurb. 160GB iPod classic in silver or black bringing the price down to $209. The refurb. 64GB iPod touch, originally released in September of 2009 has been reduced to $249 after a $120 price break.
A next-generation iPhone has made its way into Apple inventory systems, according to a source for 9to5Mac. The device is said to be the N94 model long associated with Apple's near-term iPhone plans. Specifications are typically expected to include an A5 processor, and possibly 1GB of RAM, a dual-mode GSM/CDMA chipset, and an 8 megapixel rear camera.
Entries for slightly modified iPhone 4s and iPod touches are showing up in Apple's inventory system, an anonymous source says. The new iPhone models are reportedly identified with the codename N90A, linking them to the regular iPhone 4, the N90. The association may mean that the new SKUs are simply cheaper, 8GB iPhone 4s, rather than rumored iPhone 4S models, which would theoretically have the same amount of storage but a few upgrades, like faster processors.
Gameloft is offering the official iPhone and iPod Touch version of The Oregon Trail, a classic historical and educational simulation game, for free on the App Store for a limited time, MacRumors reports. The description of the sale on the application's page in the App Store says the giveaway will continue for "a few days," but gave no specifics. The game, which re-traces the travels and struggles of early pioneer families as they crossed from Missouri to Oregon, normally sells for $1.
Inmoo.com, which has been streaming independent movies and short films on its website since last year, has announced two iOS apps -- Inmoo Free for the iPod Touch and iPhone, and Inmoo HD for the iPad. Both apps, which are free but ad-supported, offer a choice of nine new independent films per week from Inmoo's growing content library. A paid version of the apps (Inmoo Plus) offers access to the entire library, advanced search and filtering as well as a forum.
Apple is only working on one new iPhone model, and a fairly incremental one, argues Wedge Partners analyst Brian Blair. "We expect the focus of the new iPhone will be iOS 5, a speedier A5 processor and a higher resolution 8 MP camera with a small possibility of a larger 4 inch screen," he writes in a new memo. "We believe the casing will be largely similar to the iPhone with some particular modifications to the antennae. We don’t expect a second, dramatically different iPhone to accompany this as we don’t think Apple needs to have 3 models in the market to address the high end, mid-tier and low end since the iPhone 4 (with memory lowered to 8 GB) will drop to $99 and effectively attack those markets."
A security researcher going by "Phil P" and running the Superevr security blog has found a serious scripting vulnerability in the chat messaging feature of Skype versions 3.01 and earlier for the iPhone and iPod Touch that could execute malicious Javascript code without the user being fully aware, giving the attacker access to file contents of any file that the Skype app would have access to -- such as a user's address book.
The fifth-generation iPod touch will see "very minor" changes over its predecessor when it's announced in the next few weeks, MacRumors claims to have learned. The biggest change will allegedly be the addition of a white option, something well supported by various part leaks. Other modifications should include an oleophobic screen coating, and an improved ambient light sensor.
The only next-generation iPhone in production is a mild upgrade known as model N94, sometimes nicknamed the iPhone 4S, says Concord Securites' Ming-Chi Kuo. Based on sources, the analyst suggests that there are no signs of a redesigned iPhone 5 in Apple's supply chain. He moreover claims that the new phone will continue to use 512MB of RAM and a 3.5-inch display, despite repeated reports of a larger LCD measuring at least 3.7 inches. Kuo adds that the camera module's height should be almost the same as the iPhone 4's; Sony alleged started shipping sensors to Apple manufacturers in July, and help from OmniVision is expected to come in September or October.
Apple is expected to ship the finished version of iOS 5 to manufacturers the last week of September, Concord Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo understood from sources on Monday. The current schedule would have the iPhone 5 and fifth-generation iPod touch get the completed (gold master) OS between September 23 and 30. He explained to AppleInsider that, with preloaded firmware, the devices should take about 10 to 12 days to ship and will conveniently line up with an iPhone 5 release in the first half of October.
Apple may be ready to launch a 3G-equipped iPod touch as soon as this month, a source claims. The company has allegedly worked out contract-free plans with its carrier partners that are similar to those for the iPad. A speculated reason for the push is iCloud, since Apple might want to ensure the device keeps up with other iOS hardware. Because the current Touch is restricted to Wi-Fi, it can only sync with iCloud in a limited number of places, meaning that a person might as well sync with their Mac or Windows PC in many instances.
A company called Luna Commerce is selling what it claims is a fifth-generation iPod touch part, according to Macotakara. The component is a white headphone jack, which may back other reports pointing to white Touches being in development. The jack is also notably slanted, suggesting that Apple will be sticking with the curved edges used on the fourth-generation Touch.
Apple's online store today is offering a range of refurbished items from iPods and iPads to iMacs. Currently iPods start at $129 for the refurb. 8GB iPod nano which comes in blue, green, pink, yellow, black, or silver. The refurb. 16GB Nano is also available in the same colors but is priced at $149 after a $30 discount. Or upgrade to a refurbished iPod touch, now starting at $249 for the 64GB Touch originally released in September 2009.
Stem Innovation has released a wireless network video camera that streams audio and video to an Apple iPod touch, iPhone or iPad for remote viewing. The iZON Remote Room Monitor can also be controlled through these iOS devices. With it, a user can observe a baby's room or other living area remotely for up to 5 minutes, or can record 30 second segments and upload them automatically to a private YouTube account.
Retailers are beginning to offer substantial discounts on iPods, including the flagship iPod touch, site checks and tips to MacNN show. Of special interest is OfficeMax, which is running a clearance event for Nanos and Touches with discounts up to 34 percent. Stock is limited; the only Touch listed on the OfficeMax website, a 32GB model, is available in-store only, and all items are marked as selling "while supplies last." Two 8GB Nanos are listed as "discontinued," even though Apple itself is continuing to sell them. Some of the lower prices are only applicable online.
Talk of Apple plans for a white iPod touch this year were backed up Saturday after repair shop iFixDirect sent out photo evidence of parts. The shots show a complete front panel for the iPod in the same white as the iPhone 4 and iPad 2. The TechnoBuffalo sighting supports notions that the iPod touch will be a modest visual update with the same 3.5-inch screen.
Music and performance accessory maker IK Multimedia is now shipping the iKlip Mini, a universal mic stand adapter intended to support the iPhone and iPod Touch in either landscape or portrait orientations without any tools required. The adapter attaches to mic stands and poles or tripods of .43 to .79 inches in diameter and keeps all buttons and controls on both devices accessible. The holder allows users to use the iOS devices for teleprompter use, photography or video, karaoke, tablature and more.
Today's deals from DealNN include iPods, iMacs, and more. Apple's online store always has a wide range of refurbished iPods available, however the refurb. 64GB iPod touch 3G with built-in Wi-Fi and Safari support, 3.5-inch widescreen multi-touch display, rechargeable battery, and the ability to stream TV and videos, is currently being featured at DealNN. The 64GB iPod touch has now dropped in price to only $249 and provides up to $120 in savings.
Instant social-sharing of photos snapped (primarily) on the iPhone or iPod Touch through apps like Instagram has caught on with both artists and amateurs as a way to quickly pass on discoveries and documentation of their lives. A new service and app, GLMPS (pronounced "glimpse," free) offers a twist on the idea by pre-recording the five seconds before a photo is taken, making the photo the last "frame" of a short video -- giving more context to the picture.
MacNN has reviewed the Verbatim Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard, a re-branded version of the Freedom i-Connex bluetooth keyboard that features a folding design, media keys to control iTunes, a tucked-away stand for the iPhone or iPod Touch and other controls aimed at iOS device users -- but which can also be used with other smartphones and tablets. Our review reveals a few surprising touches, along with a few portability compromises -- read the full review for more.
Apple's online store today is offering a selection of refurbished iPods, Macs, iPads and more at discounted prices. The current-generation 8GB iPod nano is now only $129, with the 16GB Nano priced at $149. Apple TV is also available for only $85 after a $14 price drop. Pick up a refurb. iPod classic for $209 in silver or black. Or for $249 is the refurb. 64GB iPod touch.
iPhones represent almost two-thirds of the mobile devices using Gogo's in-flight Wi-Fi service, the network provider says. The category notably excludes tablets and notebooks, which are classified as computers and require people to pay more for in-flight connections. In the mobile arena the iPod touch is in fact the second-place device, with a 20 percent share.
(Updated with alleged white iPod touch photo) New estimates by Concord Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggest Apple will bring white back to the iPod for the first time in years through the fifth-generation iPod touch. The design is rumored to be much like that of the iPad 2, where only the front gets the new color. Kuo told AppleInsider the design showed few signs of direct changes and would be in volume production in late August.
