WebProNews

Tag: iPhone

  • iPhone 5 Rumor: Part Leak Confirms Taller Screen

    This morning we brought you the latest in a string of rumors about the screen size of the upcoming iPhone 5 (or, as it will probably be called, “the new iPhone”). According to the report, the next iPhone would be getting a screen that was 3.95 inches long on the diagonal, with pixel dimensions of 640×1136, which is the same width as the current iPhone, but a 176 pixels taller. That would bring the iPhone’s display to within thousandths of an inch of the 16:9 aspect ratio of most modern widescreen movies.

    Another new piece of information that’s come to light today, though, suggests that the 3.95-inch display may not be accurate. Earlier this afternoon MacRumors posted pictures of what appears to be the front panel of the next iPod Touch. Assuming the display dimensions remain consistent across the two devices (as they have for five previous generations), then these images confirm that both the iPhone and iPod Touch will be getting larger screens. What’s interesting, though, is that the screen area on these panels doesn’t measure 3.95 inches. They measure 4.1 inches on the diagonal. While that’s not a huge difference, it is a difference. The plot, as they say, thickens. Check out the images for yourself below:

    iPod Touch Front Panel

    iPod Touch Front Panel

    It’s hard to be sure from the images, but it looks like the panel itself isn’t all that much bigger than the older version. It looks like the top and bottom borders of the panel are simply smaller. That could mean that the iPod Touch (and the new iPhone) won’t be getting much of an overall size increase, if any.

    Meanwhile, the front panel isn’t the only part that has leaked. BadGizmo seems to have gotten their hands on some iPhone parts as well. In addition to the iPod Touch front panel and the home button, there are also images of what appear to be the front and rear camera:

    iPhone 5 Front Camera

    iPhone 5 Rear Camera

    This isn’t the first time that we’ve seen components of the next iPhone (assuming they’re genuine) leak. Last week we brought you news that the dock connector, speaker, and cellular antenna had also been leaked, confirming rumors of a smaller dock connector for the new iPhone.

    Put it all together, and, assuming all these component leaks are genuine, you’ve got pretty strong indications that the new iPhone will be getting a major redesign that includes a bigger screen. Just how much bigger that screen will be, though, is still very much up for debate.

    [Lead Image: Concept design from ADR Studios]

  • iOS Still Tops Android In HTML5 Performance

    These days, pretty much anyone will tell you that HTML5 is the future of the internet. Where Adobe Flash once ruled the day as the primary means of delivering rich content on the web, HTML5 is making huge strides in replacing it. HTML5 is the backbone of many of the most popular and useful web apps out there, including many of those in Google’s Chrome Web Store, as well as the competing marketplace that will be launched by Mozilla later this year.

    One of the driving forces behind the adoption of HTML5 – apart from the fact that it’s non-proprietary, unlike Flash – is its importance to the mobile web. If you know much at all about smartphones, you know that the built-in Safari web browser in Apple’s iOS devices doesn’t do Flash. When asked, Apple has always cited stability and security concerns, but whatever the reason, the fact of the matter is that the single most widely-used mobile web browser can’t deal with one of the most widely-used content delivery methods on the web. Given Apple’s stubbornness on this point, those who have wanted to make websites that are viewable by iOS users have had to turn to HTML5.

    That raises an interesting question, though: just how good is iOS at delivering HTML5 content? As a corollary, how good is Android at delivering HTML5 content? Given Google’s increasing reliance on HTML5, that’s a pretty significant question in its own right. And finally, which platform does HTML5 better? Back in March Spaceport.io did a study that looked at those very questions. Spaceport is a company that specializes in development tools for fames on various platforms, particularly mobile platforms like iOS and Android. Given the potential of HTML5 for creating platform-agnostic apps and games, Spaceport decided to compare the performance of iOS to that of Android. What they found in their original PerfMarks Report is that iOS handled HTML5 far better than Android (in that case, the Galaxy Nexus).

    Now, Spaceport has released the PerfMarks II Report. PerfMarks II subjects the most recent versions of Mobile Safari and Chrome for Android running on their respective top-of-the-line devices to a broader and more thorough battery of tests than the original PerfMarks. The results are interesting, to say the least. Once again, the iPhone beat Android by a considerable margin. The test compared the iPhone 4 running iOS 5.1.1, the iPhone 4S running iOS 5.1, the Samsung Galaxy S II running Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich, and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus running Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. The Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S II were running Chrome for Android beta, while the two iPhones were, of course, running mobile Safari.

    Between the two Android devices, the Galaxy S II was the clear winner, performing considerably better than the Galaxy Nexus. That is quite surprising, considering that the Galaxy Nexus is newer, and was designed to be Google’s flagship Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich device. Among the iPhones, however, the results were predictable: the iPhone 4S, with it’s much-improved processor, easily outperformed the iPhone 4. When the iPhone 4S and Galaxy S II are compared, the report shows that the iPhone 4S rendered HTML5 web content as much as 7 times faster than the Galaxy S II.

    That’s not all, however. Given that HTML5 is viewed as platform-agnostic, the report also compares the two top-performing smartphones to a control device: an Apple MacBook Pro running OS X 10.7.3. The MacBook was tested using the Google Chrome 18 and a build of WebKit that closely mimics Safari 5.1.5. Here again, the results were not especially surprising: while the iPhone was 7 times faster than the Galaxy S II, it was 6 times slower than the MacBook. The Galaxy S II, meanwhile, rendered HTML5 content 10 times slower than the MacBook.

    iOS vs. Android on HTML5

    Click To Enlarge

    This data leads the report to conclude that as a true multi-platform solution (especially for gaming, which is Spaceport’s primary focus), “the sad truth is that [HTML5] is just not ready for prime time,” and that its “lackluster performance,” especially on smartphones, “it is currently an undesirable platform for many types of applications, especially games.” They remain confident, however that reports like this that show the problems with HTML5 will lead to improvements in the platform. Spaceport founder Ben Savage expressed hope that “the spaceport.io PerfMarks report will help both browser creators and app developers know what to push for in terms of HTML5 technology necessities.”

    For more information, you can check out the full PerfMarks Report here.

  • Next Media Animation Tackles iPhone 5 Rumors

    Next Media Animation Tackles iPhone 5 Rumors

    In this latest video from the Taiwan animation news organization NMA, The ghost of Steve Jobs comes back to congratulate Darth Vader Tim Cook for stabbing a hippie in the back for literally sitting on the domain name iPhone5.com. Then, after seeing the size of Androids “phone” in the bathroom, Darth Tim Cook uses a penis pump to increase the size of the iPhone for the next release. Yep, That’s what happens.

    They touch on the fact that Apple has won injunctions to block HTC shipments to the U.S. And even cover the latest news that Siri prefers the Nokia Lumia when asked which smartphone is best. Darth Vader Tim Cook wastes no time in “silencing” the digital help AI.

    They also manage to touch on Disney’s rocky road in the eighties. I love a good opportunity to bash Disney, but I don’t get this one. Disney rebounded in the late eighties, and Apple is far from going out of business since Steve Jobs death. Although, you could make the case that this is the last thing that Steve Jobs had a hand in designing, so maybe Apple just comes out with crap from now on. I kind of doubt it, though. Apple is a lot more than just Steve Jobs at this point.

    It is true that Steve Jobs is rumored to have major input in the next design, which is to be larger and may have a metal rear panel similar to the iPad. Although I doubt a penis-pump had anything to do with the redesign. As far as a statement about Tim Cook’s masculinity and whether or not Apple is involved in a pissing contest with Google, I’ll leave that up to you.

    This is not the first time we have seen Darth Vader represent Apple. Steve Jobs killed Billed Gates and donned the helmet in the last NMA video. That is, before he took a bunch of LSD and literally gave birth to a Macintosh.

    Nor it is the first time we have seen NMA tackle Apple rumors. This parody video highlights the ridiculous fervor people put into Apple rumors, and some of the outrageous claims they come up with.

    One thing is for sure: We are going to continue to watch NMA’s zaniness, as they cover everything from the Facebook IPO to Sex Robots.

  • iPhone 5 Rumor: 3.95-Inch Model One Of Several In Testing

    The torrent of iPhone 5 rumors continues today. Last week we brought you a series of reports that appeared to confirm that the next iPhone will have a 4-inch display. Yesterday came a report that the new iPhone will be getting a metal back like the one on the new iPad.

    Today the size-related rumors are back, but this time with a new wrinkle. According to a report today from 9to5Mac, Apple actually has several varieties of new iPhone in testing, and hasn’t actually decided which to release yet. It seems there are currently at least two models undergoing internal testing, the iPhone 5,1 and the iPhone 5,2. The details of the two models are unknown, but in at least one respect, they are identical. Both sport a display that is 3.95 inches (not 4!) on the diagonal. Interestingly, both displays are the same width as the display on the current iPhone. The increased height comes with an extra 176 pixels, as well: while the iPhone 4S is 640×960, the new iPhone will be 630×1136.

    The new additional pixels in the vertical dimension will allow the new iPhone to keep – and even improve – its retina display while also bringing the aspect ratio much closer to 16:9. That means that when you watch widescreen videos on the new iPhone, they’ll be able to play in their native resolution much more comfortably on the screen.

    What’s more, it seems that iOS 6 will be getting some enhancements specifically designed to deal with the new resolution. The most notable feature will be a fifth row of home screen icons, as well as extra features in app user interfaces.

    The source also gave a few details about the new iPhone’s other features, including the fact that it will be getting the oft-rumored smaller dock connector. Also, in a move that should surprise no one, Apple will be keeping the physical home button.

    This information, assuming it’s accurate, also provides a clue as to the new iPhone’s release. That is to say, if anyone had any lingering hopes that Apple might unveil the new iPhone at WWDC and release the device in June or July, this report should put them to rest. If Apple is still testing the new iPhone and iOS 6 in late May, it’s extremely unlikely that they could be ready for a summer release, which means that the next iPhone really will be coming in the fall – probably October, though possibly September.

    Meanwhile, if you’re curious about the yesterday’s report that the new iPhone will resemble the iPad, then you’re in luck. At the end of March artist Antonio De Rosa posted a gallery of concept photos showing what the new iPhone might look like. You can see one such image above. Here are a few more for your viewing pleasure. You can check out the whole gallery at De Rosa’s ADR Studios.

    ADR Studios iPhone 5 Concept

    ADR Studios iPhone 5 Concept

    ADR Studios iPhone 5 Concept

    ADR Studios iPhone 5 Concept

  • iPhone 5 Rumor: Redesigned iPhone Will Closely Resemble iPad

    Last week we brought you all sorts of news about Apple’s upcoming iPhone. Reports were coming fast and furious from major news agencies that the iPhone 5 (or, more likely, “new iPhone”) would be getting a major redesign, the main feature of which would be a screen at least 4-inches long on the diagonal, and which was designed in large part by Steve Jobs himself before he passed away in October.

    Today, a report from PiperJaffray analyst Gene Munster provides some more information about the redesign. In a note to investors, Munster discussed the redesign, as well as the potential problems Apple could have with the iPhone’s release due to shortages of 28 nm chips manufactured by Qualcomm (which produces the cellular baseband chips for the iPhone 4S and new iPad). Munster said that he did not expect these shortages to negatively impact the iPhone’s launch, and estimates an 80% change of Apple meeting Wall Street’s December quarter expectations of 49 million iPhone sold.

    As to the redesign, he said that the new iPhone will have a metal rear panel like that of the iPad, rather than the glass panel found in the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. The metal rear panel is a long-anticipated change, and would be welcome to those who feel that the glass rear panel on the current iPhone is too fragile and a poor design choice.

    Munster also said that he expects the new iPhone to sport LTE functionality. Given the increasing size of the major carriers’ 4G LTE networks and the proliferation of 4G-capable competing smartphones, that seems extremely likely. The fact that the third-generation iPad also has 4G capability makes a 4G iPhone a virtual certainty.

    [Lead Image: Concept Photo from ADR Studios]

  • Sprint Offers $100 Trade-In On Other Carriers’ iPhones

    Sprint Offers $100 Trade-In On Other Carriers’ iPhones

    In a bid to bring more iPhone customers into the fold, Sprint has started offering $100 credit towards the purchase of a new iPhone when you trade in an old iPhone from either of its competing carriers. The program began on Friday and runs through early July.

    There are a number of ways to take advantage of the deal. You can take your old iPhone to a Sprint store and trade it in directly, after reserving a new iPhone 4S online. This way you get the $100 rebate instantly. You can also order your new iPhone and set up your service on Sprint’s website, then submit your old iPhone through their buyback program. If your old iPhone turns out not to be worth $100, then Sprint will make up the difference. If you go this route, the $100 credit will be posted to your account, and may be split up over 2-3 billing cycles.

    The catch (not surprisingly) is that this deal excludes upgrades. That is, you can’t upgrade an existing line with a new iPhone and get the $100. You have to start a new line of service. That’s not terribly surprising, given what Sprint is trying to accomplish with this deal. Though Sprint sold a respectable number of iPhones last quarter, the company is still having major issues with profitability. In fact, the company has bet heavily on the iPhone, the point that iPhone sales are a major part of what is keeping Sprint afloat. With this deal, Sprint is plainly looking to draw in customers from other wireless carriers – i.e., AT&T and Verizon. While the company’s continued offering of unlimited data plans is a major differentiator, Sprint needs all the iPhone customers it can get. Offering $100 toward the purchase of a new iPhone (which effectively cuts the price of the 16GB iPhone 4S in half) is an excellent way to do it.

    In order to get the $100 trade-in, you have to activate your new iPhone by July 3rd, and complete the trade-in process (if you go the online route) by August 14th. The deal only started on Friday, so there’s no way to know yet how well it’s working for Sprint. Unless they make a special announcement about the program’s success, we’ll probably have to wait until their next quarterly earnings report, which should come in July.

  • iOS 5.1 Jailbreak “A Matter Of Days” Away

    It seems there was quite a bit of jailbreak-related news over the weekend. First and foremost, it looks like pod2g’s jailbreak of iOS 5.1.1 is nearly ready for public release. Second, it looks like the public tool that will be released is going to be named Absinthe 2 (the tool that was released for jailbreaking iOS 5.0 back in January was called Absinthe).

    The Absinthe news isn’t especially surprising. What’s really exciting is the fact that, according to pod2g, the public jailbreak of iOS 5.1.1 is “a matter of days” away. Yesterday he posted the following tweet:

    pod2g
    @pod2g     Thanks to awesome work of @planetbeing and @pimskeks, we’re near ready for a release. Now it’s a matter of days.
    1 day ago via Twitter for iPad · powered by @socialditto
     Reply  · Retweet  · Favorite

    Since then, more information has been coming fast and furious. Yesterday iPhone hacker xvolks, who is a good friend of pod2g, tweeted that he had tested Absinthe 2.0 on his iPhone 4 running iOS 5.1.1. He even posted a video of the tool in action, though pod2g asked him to remove it:

    xvolks
    @xvolks     I’ve tested Absinthe v2 on my iPhone 4 GSM, iOS 5.1.1. It jailbroke it flawlessly.I’ve took a (bad) video of it 😉
    14 hours ago via Twitter for Mac · powered by @socialditto
     Reply  · Retweet  · Favorite

    xvolks
    @xvolks     I’m currently uploading the (poor) video on youtube : http://t.co/fLL58QYLI have to wake up in 4 hours now, so good night.
    13 hours ago via Twitter for Mac · powered by @socialditto
     Reply  · Retweet  · Favorite

    Today, some more information is being released for those who plan to jailbreak their devices. Last week pod2g posted a list of tested devices for the jailbreak. Today Musclenerd has tweeted an info sheet with some basic details about the upcoming release:

    MuscleNerd
    @MuscleNerd     Quick info sheet for 5.1.1 jailbreak+untether: http://t.co/8ar9chXB
    1 hour ago via web · powered by @socialditto
     Reply  · Retweet  · Favorite

    Pod2g posted the same info sheet to his blog, and advised that those who wished to do so could go ahead and update their devices to iOS 5.1.1:

    pod2g
    @pod2g     Some facts about 5.1.1 jailbreak : http://t.co/Tk6Rrpow . You can safely upgrade to 5.1.1 now if you want to be ready.
    28 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto
     Reply  · Retweet  · Favorite

    Now, updating to iOS 5.1.1 will kill the jailbreak on an already-jailbroken device, so if you’ve got a jailbroken iPhone or iPad (or iPod Touch) you might not want to click the update button until Absinthe 2.0 actually releases. Fortunately, though, it’s looking like that’s going to be very soon indeed. We’ll let you know when it actually releases, or if any new information about when it will release becomes available. You can keep track of our jailbreak-related coverage here.

  • iPhone Dock Recreates Iconic 2001: A Space Odyssey Scene In LEGO

    Okay, so before you get started reading this, head on over to this video and get it started playing in the background, then come back. Done? Alright, here we go.

    If you’re familiar with Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi classic 2001: A Space Odyssey, you will no doubt remember the scene near the beginning where the black monolith appears amongst all the apes. Upon touching it, they begin to make significant evolutionary leaps, including walking upright and using tools (and killing each other with said tools). In fact, chances are you’re familiar with it anyway. It’s so deeply ingrained in popular culture that most people are at least vaguely aware of it. It’s also been parodied and referenced in countless other movies and TV shows, including Pixar’s Wall-E.

    Well, thanks to the magic of the internet, we’ve found another awesome tribute to this particular classic. Last night on reddit a user posted a photo with the title “A friend’s husband just built this iPhone charging station.” The link led to this Imgur page, where you can see the following picture (click for full size):

    2001: A Space iPhone Dock

    This is just all kinds of awesome. Unfortunately, the image is not posted to any particular Imgur user’s account, so there’s no way to give proper credit to the creator. Whoever he is, though, he’s definitely had a stroke of genius here.

    And speaking of iPhones and 2001: A Space Odyssey, you’re probably better off not asking Siri to open the pod bay doors…

    Siri Doesn't Appreciate HAL Jokes

  • iPhone 5 Rumor: Steve Jobs Heavily Involved In Redesign

    Reports of an iPhone redesign continue to roll in. On Wednesday we received word that sources had confirmed to the Wall Street Journal that the iPhone will be getting a 4-inch display, to be manufactured by LG, Sharp, and Japan Display. The next day Reuters, not to be outdone, confirmed the rumors as well.

    Today, Bloomberg is adding its own confirmation of the redesign rumors – including the 4-inch display. According to “three people with knowledge of the plans,” the iPhone is getting an “overhaul,” including the 4-inch display. These sources also add something new: it seems that the next iPhone was one of the last projects on which Steve Jobs worked before he died last October. According to the sources, Jobs “worked closely” on the redesign, and “played a key role in developing the phone.”

    Bloomberg’s sources also seem to confirm a rumor that we brought you way back in November, that the redesigned iPhone existed (at least in prototype form) before the iPhone 4S launched. The rumor at the time was that this redesigned phone was intended to launch instead of the iPhone 4S, but that Jobs scrapped the plans at the last minute. While Bloomberg’s sources do not confirm that last bit, they do say that Jobs was working on the new iPhone well before the old iPhone launched.

    Now, those of you keeping track may have noticed something: in the past three days we have seen separate stories by three reputable news agencies all citing inside sources and confirming the same rumor. While it is possible that the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and Bloomberg are all getting bad information and the next iPhone won’t be getting a bigger display, that’s unlikely. In fact, this smells an awful lot like a calculated leak. That is, Apple wants the press to know that the iPhone is getting redesigned with a bigger display, but can’t actually announce anything until the actual unveiling (which is likely still almost 5 months away).

    That being the case, I think we can probably start treating the 4-inch display rumor as a given. While anything could still happen – after all, nothing is official until Tim Cook gets up on stage and says it is – it looks like Apple really is finally ditching the good old 3.5-inch display in favor of a bigger phone. What else might be coming along with the redesign is still very much in the air, though, and for that we’ll likely have to wait until October.

  • Facebook Releases “Pages Manager” App

    As Facebook readies its IPO, some investors have been frightened beyond the general terrors afforded by founder Mark Zuckerberg’s refusal to remove his rebellious-yet-comfy hoodie – they fear that Facebook might run into a bit of an issue concerning the effectiveness of its ad content in general, mainly the present lack of viable translation to mobile – Though, Zuckerberg has pointed out that Facebook’s mobile app is the number one priority for 2012, and the social network has just released a new “Pages Manager” app for iPhone. Below are some screens:

    iphone pages manager

    iphone pages manager

    iphone pages manager

    The new pages manager is reminiscent of the main Facebook app, as applied to brands and fan pages. Users can access Facebook’s Insights to monitor analytics, including page views, total number of users exposed to page content, etc.

    The app is presently being pushed in New Zealand, and will make its way to the U.S. soon. Expect a slew of new mobile apps for Facebook, with the IPO in effect.

  • iPhone 5 Rumor: Four Inch Screen Screen Gets More Confirmation

    Yesterday we brought you a news that rumors of a 4-inch screen for the iPhone 5 had been confirmed. Sources told the Wall Street Journal that Apple was in talks with three manufacturers to supply displays at least 4-inches on the diagonal to Apple for the next iPhone.

    Today, those rumors have apparently been confirmed again. Reuters is reporting that Apple is indeed making preparations to expand the display of the iPhone. Citing “people familiar with the situation,” the report pegs the iPhone display at 4 inches (most rumors have said it would be at least 4 inches, maybe bigger). They also confirm that Apple is in talks with Sharp, LG, and Japan Display to build the screens. The report speculates that Apple will order displays from all three manufacturers in order to speed up production, which may start in August.

    Reuters also suggests that the increase in screen size is a response to the increasing screen size of Android-based smartphones, particularly made by Apple’s arch-rival Samsung. While that’s possible, it’s not necessarily true. Apple traditionally prefers to create market trends, rather than following them. Though it’s possible that Apple could be just hopping onto the bigger screen bandwagon, it’s also true that they’ve taken the 3.5-inch screen of the previous five iPhone models about as far as they can. Unless they decide to add haptic feedback or some other new technology to the display, there isn’t much they can do to improve it other than make it a little bigger. They’ve hit what appears to be an upper limit on display resolution, and there are only so many ways you can redesign the body around a 3.5-inch display, so bumping the display size a little is an easy way to make the new phone stand out from its predecessors.

    There’s one other major factor, though, that Reuters doesn’t take into account and that is probably a major driving factor in the increase in size. Recall, if you will, that in March Apple debuted a shiny new iPad with only a handful of new features. One of the most notable of those features (apart from the retina display) was 4G. Now, it probably goes without saying, but there’s no way that Apple would launch a 4G iPad in March and then not launch a 4G iPhone in October.

    But adding 4G comes with a price – the 4G radios take up more space inside the casing of the device. They’re also power hogs, which means that using your new iPhone on a 4G LTE network will drain your battery a lot faster. Battery life has been one of the chief complaints about the iPhone for years now, with the iPhone 4S being one of the poorest of the bunch in this area. Apple can’t afford to increase the new iPhone’s power consumption and leave the battery as is. And since fuel cells for mobile phones haven’t really caught on, that means making the battery bigger. Extra components plus a bigger battery to power them means that the iPhone itself needs to grow.

    With reports of the iPhone’s growth spurt coming from increasingly reputable sources, it’s looking like a sure thing at this point. Nevertheless, we’ve still got a few months to wait until we know for sure. In the meanwhile, there are sure to be some interesting things coming at WWDC 2012, and more information about the next iPhone is bound to keep leaking out. We’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available.

    [Lead Image: Concept Photo from ADR Studios]

  • Google Schemer iPhone App Hits The App Store

    The iPhone app for Google’s intriguing new Schemer service hit the iOS App Store today, continuing Google’s fine tradition of apps that are feature-rich and aesthetically just okay (for the exception that proves the rule, see the new Google+ app).

    What’s that you say? You’ve never heard of Schemer? Well, that’s okay. Google hasn’t actually made too big a deal out of the service, though perhaps they should. Schemer was first introduced back in December. At the time it was in an invite-only closed beta, so getting in to try the service out was not easy. Google finally opened Schemer to the public late last month and launched an update to the Android app, promising that an iPhone app would be coming along shortly.

    In case you’re not familiar with it, Schemer is meant to help you find cool things to do out in the real world. Basically, it’s Google’s way of helping inspire people to actually get out from in front of their computers and do stuff. The things that you do are called “Schemes,” and they can be pretty much anything at all: reading a book, watching a movie, hiking a trail, seeing a landmark, cooking a meal, and more. It can be simple stuff like “read Steve Jobs’s biography,” or “watch all the Lord of the Rings movies in one sitting.” It can also be more complicated stuff like “learn HTML,” or “write a novel.” It also has social aspects, which is to say that it integrates with your Google+ account and allows you to share your Schemes to other social networks like Facebook and Twitter. Basically if you take social networking, check-in services like Foursquare or GetGlue, and a giant to-do list for your life and shake them all up together, you’ve pretty much got Schemer.

    So, now that you know what Schemer is, it’s time to talk about the iPhone app. You already got the short version up above: the app has is pretty well kitted out in the feature department, but not all that pleasant to look at. When you open up Schemer on your iPhone, you’re first treated to your basic sign-in screen. Schemer doesn’t have a separate login, so you just sign in with your Google account:

    Google Schemer

    Once logged in, you’re taken to your profile. Here you can see how many times you’ve inspired people (i.e., how many people have done or said they wanted to do a Scheme you created). You can also access the Schemes you want to complete, those you have completed, and more. Scroll down a bit and you see your top Schemes. (Note: Any conclusions you can draw about my personality based on my top Scheme are… probably accurate.)

    Google Schemer

    The Schemes page is designed to help you find stuff to do. As you can see, the top two selections are designed to help you find stuff in your immediate area, and stuff you can do without leaving your house. Tapping either of these will prompt you to select some favorite categories, so Schemer can streamline your options a bit. Below that, you can pick Schemes in a pretty wide variety of categories ranging from entertainment to hobbies to fashion to fitness.

    Google Schemer

    Of course, you can also create Schemes. Tapping the pencil-and-paper button at the top of the Schemes page brings you to a screen where you can type in whatever kind of Scheme you want. Here, though, we come to the one place where Schemer is lacking a feature that might be nice to have: there’s no way to put your new Scheme in any particular category. You can choose whether to make it public or not (hence the lock icon in the top right corner of the screen), but you can’t decide which category it should go in.

    Google Schemer

    You can also choose from the seemingly endless variety of Schemes that have been created by other Schemers, or by the Schemer team itself:

    Google Schemer

    Once you’ve chosen a Scheme, you can see more details about it, as well as what other Schemers are saying. You can also choose whether you want to do it or have already done it.

    Google Schemer

    You can also share Schemes you find with your friends via email, or on social networks like Google+, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also add to the conversation about the Scheme, or you can delete it (if it’s a Scheme that you created).

    Google Schemer

    All in all, Schemer is a pretty awesome service. The app is available for free from the iOS App Store, and the Android version is available on Google Play. Give it a try, and let us know what you think in the comments.

  • Apple Patents A Remote For Your Steering Wheel

    For many of us these days – myself included – smartphones and MP3 players have taken the place of our car’s built-in stereo system. More and more auto manufacturers are recognizing that fact, and are building compatibility with such devices into their vehicles. Ford’s SYNC system, for example, can connect with an iPhone via Bluetooth and allow the driver to control music playback and make phone calls using either voice commands or the car’s stereo controls.

    Many of those systems are imperfect. With SYNC, for example, you can’t use voice commands to control music playback over a Bluetooth connection (though you can when connected via USB). Moreover, many cars don’t have such systems. If you drive one of those cars, getting your phone or iPod’s music onto your stereo requires a little extra work – an AUX jack, an FM transmitter, or a tape deck adapter. And then, once you get your phone hooked up to your stereo system, actually controlling music playback can be difficult, and even hazardous.

    Apple, it seems, has a solution to that problem in the works. Yesterday, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted Apple a patent for a wireless, steering wheel mounted iPod/iPhone remote control that allows the user to control music playback, among other things. The patent covers a touch-sensitive rotating faceplate attached to a base that mounts to the steering wheel of a car by means of a pair of hinged (possibly spring-loaded) clamps. The rotating faceplate is intended to allow the user to put the remote wherever they want to on the steering wheel.

    Apple Steering Wheel Remote

    The remote’s wireless functionality actually limits its use somewhat. Of the current line of iPods, only one – the iPod Touch – has built-in Bluetooth capability. While Bluetooth adapters exist that would enable the iPod Classic and iPod Nano to work with the remote, that would require an extra purchase from the consumer; unless, of course, Apple starts building Bluetooth functionality into its new iPods, which is always a possibility.

    As with any patent, this should not be treated as an indication of what Apple has coming down the product line. All we can know at this point is that Apple is exploring the possibility of a remote of this kind. On the other hand, there are precious few remotes of this kind on the market, and one made by Apple for Apple products is bound to be popular. That being the case, don’t be surprised if you see this hit the market at some point in the future.

  • iPhone 5 Rumor: Four Inch Screen Confirmed?

    iPhone 5 Rumor: Four Inch Screen Confirmed?

    One of the most tenacious rumors surrounding the iPhone 5 (or, more likely, “new iPhone”) has concerned its screen size. Apple has held doggedly to the original 3.5-inch screen through five generations of iPhone, beginning with the very first one in 2007. With the launch of the Android platform in 2008, smartphones began to get larger screens. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus, launched last year, has a 4.65-inch screen, while the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S III has a 4.8-inch display.

    Yet as Android screens have gotten bigger, the iPhone’s screen has stayed the same. That, however, may be about to change. The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that the next iPhone will in fact be getting a screen that is at least 4 inches on the diagonal. Citing “people familiar with the situation,” the report says that Apple is currently in the contact with several display manufacturers, including LG, Sharp, and the newly-formed Japan Display, Inc. Notably absent from the list is Samsung, which supplies the displays for the current iPhone and iPad.

    As noted above, rumors of a larger screen iPhone have been around for years. As soon as the first Android phones debuted with screens larger than the iPhone’s, people began to speculate that Apple would follow suit. Apple, however, has consistently refrained from following the latest trends in a market it effectively created. Nor was that decision arbitrary. When asked, Apple has often pointed out that given the size of the average human hand, 3.5 inches is about as large as a screen can get and still allow the user to operate the phone one-handed.

    Nevertheless, a larger screen has been the major focus of the rumor cycle concerning the upcoming iPhone. Reports from multiple – and increasingly reputable – sources have seemed to confirm the increase in the iPhone’s size. One of the first rumors (this time around) came from a South Korean newspaper that listed LG as one of the possible suppliers for a 4.6-inch iPhone screen. Since then an industry analyst has said that Apple would be increasing the iPhone’s size to 4 inches. Another report earlier this month iLounge seemed to confirm the 4-inch size.

    Now with the Wall Street Journal adding its voice to the mix, it’s starting to look like we really will be seeing a 4-inch (possibly larger, but probably not) iPhone when Tim Cook takes the stage in October (probably). Of course, nothing is confirmed yet. Apple could well stick with the 3.5-inch screen for the sixth time in a row. As always with Apple, nothing is certain until Apple actually says it.

    [Lead Image: Concept Photo from ADR Studios]

  • iOS 6 Starts Showing Up In App Usage Data

    iOS 6 Starts Showing Up In App Usage Data

    With WWDC 2012 right around the corner, more details about iOS 6, which is likely to be unveiled at the conference, are starting to emerge. At the same time, it appears that iOS app developers are starting to see iOS 6 in the usage data for their apps, which suggests that Apple has reached an active testing phase with the software.

    In data obtained by 9to5Mac, at least one developer has found iOS 6 in the analytics data for an app. The usage is still pretty minimal – only a few hits came from iOS 6 devices – but the data gives a bit of a hint as to where iOS 6 is in development. Check out the usage data below (click to enlarge):

    iOS 6 App Usage

    It’s also looking more and more like iOS 6 won’t be the only goody Apple will show off at the conference. In addition to OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and possible updates to iCloud, it also appears likely that we’ll be seeing upgrades to the MacBook Pro, iMac and MacBook Air.

    Given that Apple is testing iOS 6 internally with App Store apps, as this data suggests, the odds are extremely good that Apple will unveil the software at WWDC 2012. It’s possible that a release of the software could come within a couple months, however it’s most likely that iOS 6 will release with the next iPhone, which will probably be coming in October.

    [Image Credit: iPhone Hacks]

  • Google Maps Now Lets You Save Home, Work Locations

    If you’re a regular user of Google Maps, you’ve doubtlessly noticed the My Places tab that appears in the left-hand menu. In case it’s evaded your scope, the My Places tab is an option that allows you to make interactive maps of cities you like, mark your favorite places with a star (basically, a bookmark) so you can quickly access the locations anytime, or directions you’ve saved in case you happen to like a particular route. Today, Google Maps announced an addition to the My Places tab that will likely make some of your cartographical decisions a little easier.

    When you next visit Google Maps, you’ll see a pop-up message in the left-hand column that points to a place where you can set a location for both home and work (see the lead image to this article). You’ll need to sign into your Google account in order to save a location for Home and Work (you don’t even need to enter your honest work or home locations – go nuts with the new feature!) but once you’ve done so, you’ll then be able to simply click on either the Home or Work link to jump to the respective locations.

    Google Maps Home & Work Bookmarks

    If you’re using an iPhone, this feature won’t work with the native Maps app that comes with the phone. However, you can access Google Maps via the web app version and, again, as long as you’re signed in to your Google account, still access the locations you’ve saved as Home and Work. Similar with the webpage, if you begin to type in either word in the search bar, you’ll see your bookmark appear as part of the auto-complete suggestions.

    Google Maps Home & Work Bookmarks

    Likewise, you can access the web app for Google Maps if you’re using an Android or Windows phone. As far as Google Maps for Android goes, Google just released version 6.7 last week but I imagine 6.8 or a version soon after will have the Home and Work bookmark features included. If you’re using a Windows phone, give the web app a try.

  • Android Making Gains Overseas

    Data from Kantar WorldPanel has shown that Google’s Android OS has been making gains in the first quarter in seven major markets, including Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United States.

    In Italy and Spain, Android popularity more than doubled year-over-year in both markets, at 49% and 72% respectively. Germany saw a 62% rise, roughly double. Apple’s iPhone made gains on Android in the U.S. and the UK over the same period, but lost users in Europe. Android still is king in the UK, with over a third of that country’s smartphone users adopting the platform.

    Microsoft’s Windows Phone has doubled its share in Germany at 6 percent, and has risen to roughly a 3-4% market share in France, Italy, the UK and the U.S. Microsoft has also seen a boost in Windows Phone use in emerging markets, having released the platform in 23 new countries in February.

    Android gains have prompted losses in Nokia’s Symbian and the Blackberry platforms. RIM’s market share in the U.S. has dropped from 16% to 12% in the last year. Though, RIM still garners more app downloads than both Android and iOS.

  • Google+ For iPhone: Google Finally Gets A Sense Of Style

    Despite the perennial concerns over privacy and security, Google’s services remain pretty popular. Google can generally be counted on to make services that are easy to use and that make our lives easier. Even iPhone users tend to rely pretty heavily on Google’s services – Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, etc. Unfortunately for Google, though, there is one thing they are definitely not known for: pretty apps. Their iPhone apps tend to be perfectly functional, doing pretty much anything users could want them to do, but they’re distinctly lacking in aesthetics.

    Take the Google Voice app as an example. I use this app with some regularity, and in terms of features, it’s everything I could want it to be. In terms of aesthetics, it leaves a fair bit to be desired. It’s not that it’s an ugly app, per se. But it’s hardly pretty, either. It’s really just okay. The same can be said for most of Google’s other iOS apps. Most of them, with the exceptions of Google Search and Gmail, are pretty plain: not ugly, but not great, either.

    Up until a few days ago, the same could have been said for the official Google+ app, too. It had pretty much everything you could want in terms of features, but the aesthetic left a lot to be desired. Thanks to Google’s latest update to the app, though, that has changed. The feature set on the new Google+ iPhone app, which was released last week, remains basically unchanged from the previous version. The user interface, however, has gotten a major overhaul. While it might be an overstatement to say that Google finally grew a sense of style, it wouldn’t be much of one.

    The first and biggest change you’ll notice is in your streams. Entries are now sized in such a way that they display one at a time, and no more. No matter how short the post, you can only ever fit one entry on your iPhone screen. The most you’ll ever see of the next or previous post is just small section of the top or bottom (respectively). The goal, Google says, is to make your stream experience more immersive, and to help you give your undivided attention to one post a time. While this is great for the posts that you want to pay attention to without being distracted, it’s a real hindrance to skimming your stream and skipping the stuff that may not strike your fancy just now:

    New <a href=Google+ for iPhone” />

    As you scroll down your stream, the next entry appears to “drop” into place with a neat little animation that I was not able to get a decent screenshot of, unfortunately. The sole purpose of this feature is aesthetics. It increases the immersive feel of the stream, and is a generally pleasant effect.

    The other aspect of the stream that got a makeover is the circle selection process. Now there’s no swiping back and forth between streams, and no need to select wich circles get the swipe treatment. Now there’s a dropdown menu at the top that you tap to bring down a list of all your circles. Simply tap the one you want, and off you go:

    <a href=Google+ for iPhone” />

    The status update screen is mostly unchanged, except for one thing: now there’s no separate button for Foursquare/Facebook-style checkins. That’s all handled from the same status update screen:

    <a href=Google+ for iPhone” />

    One final screen got the major makeover treatment, and that’s the main menu screen, where you can access your own profile, photos, circles, and the messenger service. Gone is the plain white background and the grid of icons. Now you’ll see a sleek black list. And instead of having your profile picture in miniature inside the profile icon, now it’s blown up and spread, banner-like, across the top. Which is great, unless being stared at by your own eyes is creepy:

    <a href=Google+ for iPhone” />

    All in all, the new Google+ for iPhone update is pretty slick. While it’s not perfect (personally, I wouldn’t mind a slightly less immersive stream), it’s definitely a step in the right direction, aesthetically. Here’s a video Google posted that shows the new app in action:

    In an ironic twist, the new Google+ app is currently only available for iPhone. The Android version is still a few weeks out. There is still no word of when – or if – Google will decide to share the Google+ love with the iPad.

  • Google Chrome Browser Coming To iPhone?

    Google Chrome Browser Coming To iPhone?

    UPDATE: Google has replied to a request for comment, and their answer is what you might expect. A Google spokesperson told WebProNews, “We do not comment on rumor or speculation, and have nothing new to share at this time.” Not terribly helpful, of course, but it isn’t surprising, either. Nevertheless, a Chrome browser for iOS is a logical move for Google, provided they can do it well, so don’t be too surprised if one pops up in the App Store sometime soon.

    ORIGINAL STORY:

    Google may be preparing to bring their Chrome browser to Apple’s iOS platform, according to a recent report. The browser would be an attempt by Google to get a bigger piece of the monetary pie for searches done on Apple’s devices.

    According to Business Insider, analyst Ben Schacter of Macquarie suggests that Apple could already be in the process of reviewing Chrome for iOS, and the browser could hit the iOS App Store as soon as this quarter. Even if it doesn’t come this quarter, though, Schacter says we should expect it by the end of the year. By having their own iOS browser, Google could get back some of the millions of dollars it currently pays to Apple for its share of mobile search revenues generated by Google searches performed on iOS devices.

    Google Chrome for iOS – assuming it’s actually coming – is Google’s follow-up to the popular Chrome for Android, which launched back in February. The two mobile versions are in turn an attempt to duplicate the wild success of the desktop version of Google’s Chrome browser, which is the second most popular browser in the world (following the ubiquitous Internet Explorer).

    To match the success of its desktop and Android cousins, however, Chrome for iOS will face a major uphill battle. Unlike desktop operating systems and Android, the iOS platform does not allow users to change their device’s default browser. That means that no matter what you do, Safari is the default browser on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. There are third party browsers in the App Store, and some of them are relatively popular, but they all face a distinct disadvantage.

    Of course, as BI points out, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer was in a similar situation in the 1990s, and the U.S. government conducted an antitrust lawsuit to put a stop to it. At the moment it doesn’t seem likely that Apple will face the same kind of government action, but if it does, it would pave the way for Chrome, or even for an iOS version of Firefox, to gain a much larger share of the mobile browsing market.

  • iPhone 5 Rumor: Apple’s iPhone 4S Orders Begin To Taper Off Ahead Of Launch

    With the launch of the iPhone 5 (or iPhone 6, or, most likely, “new iPhone”) getting ever closer, Apple appears to be reducing its orders of the current generation iPhone 4S. The reduction is not large yet, as the launch is still about five months away (probably), and Apple can still sell an awful lot of the iPhone 4S in that time.

    According to Shaw Wu of Sterne Agee, though, Apple’s orders of the iPhone 4S have dropped to around 27 million for the current quarter. Wu speculates that the reduction in orders is not being driven by a reduction in demand. Rather Apple is preparing itself for the sharp dip in demand that is likely to occur in the month or so prior to the launch of the next iPhone in October (or maybe September).

    Wu also said that he expects Apple’s reduction in iPhone orders to cause Apple to miss Wall Street estimates unless analysts revise their expectations. Apple missed expectations in the September quarter of last year due to a similar reduction in iPhone shipments prior to the launch of the iPhone 4S. On the flip side, Wu also said that he expects shipments of the new iPad to meet or exceed Wall Street estimates, which may alleviate some of the problems caused if iPhone shipments do not meet expectations.

    While Apple tends not to comment on things like how many iPhones they’re ordering or selling (at least until their earnings call), and it’s difficult to know whether Wu’s estimation is correct, a move like this does make sense. Apple sold 35.1 million iPhones last quarter, but that was still only the second quarter since the iPhone 4S launched. It stands to reason that the natural decline in iPhone sales, coupled with the anticipation of the next iPhone’s launch, would prompt Apple to reduce the number of phones it’s ordering over the next two quarters.

  • iCloud Getting Major Upgrades At WWDC 2012

    With Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference kicking off in San Francisco in less than a month, rumors are starting to swirl about what will be unveiled this year. The conference has traditionally served as the forum for Apple’s announcement of new iPhones, but with the late launch of last year’s iPhone 4S pushing back the release schedule for the next iPhone, it’s not clear what Apple may have up its sleeve.

    Of course, WWDC is a software conference, so most of the speculation has centered on iOS 6 and OS X Mountain Lion, both of which are likely to be showcased. Now, however, there are reports that iCloud might be getting a big makeover, too. According to a report this afternoon by the Wall Street Journal, Apple is set to unveil some major upgrades to the service at WWDC this year. Citing “people familiar with the matter,” the Journal reports that most of the upgrades will center on how iCloud handles photos. As it currently stands, iCloud effectively acts as little more than a photo backup. Photos taken with your iPhone are automatically (if you want) uploaded to your Photo Stream. While your friends can see them, there is no way to share or comment or organize the photos into albums. With the new update, Apple will be setting its sights on the kind of photo sharing allowed by Facebook and Instagram.

    That, however, is not the only change coming to iCloud. The WSJ’s source confirms what we learned yesterday: iCloud’s web interface will be getting the same Notes and Reminders apps that are currently on iOS, and will be coming to OS X Mountain Lion when it launches later this summer.

    Assuming the WSJ’s report is accurate, as seems highly likely, WWDC 2012 will be pretty exciting even without the launch of a new iPhone. Previews of OS X Mountain Lion, iOS 6, and even iTunes 11 are likely. With all that on the (likely) schedule, WWDC ought to be worth watching. When the time comes, of course, you can follow our coverage of the conference here.