On July 31, the beta services will join iTools, .Mac and MobileMe in the great eWorld in the sky.
Category: Apple
‘Bullshit’
Ben Brooks calls Apple out about the AT&T iPhone 4S showing “4G” in the menu bar when running iOS 5.1
I agree with Ben. This leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
On Apple, iPhoto and OpenStreetMap
After my post yesterday on the map tiles in iPhoto for iOS, I heard from several people who have worked with map tiles.
The general consensus is that Apple is using OpenStreetMap data, but has rendered their own tiles.
There is strong evidence that this is what Apple is doing, at least outside of the US.
Furthermore, the OSM Foundation has confirmed Apple is using the group’s information outside the US, but that the data is old, dating from April 2010.
Discovery
Today, with iOS 5.1, Apple’s added a second gesture to the lock screen.
Previously, getting to the camera required a tap on the camera button, which only appeared after double-clicking the home button.
While that’s not that convoluted, in hindsight it clearly lacked the ease of discovery Apple usually ships features with.
The new gesture, with its ever-present icon is much easier to discover.
Apple’s even taken care of those of us trained for the old way of doing it — tapping the new button makes the screen jump, showing off the movement needed to now launch the camera.
iPhoto for iOS Not Using Google Maps [Updated]
Whatever map tiles are in iPhoto for iOS, they don’t look like Google Maps:
Apple, back in 2009, bought PlaceBase, a mapping company. Rumors have been circulating for years that Apple was developing its own mapping solution. Last year, the company bought C3 Technologies, a group working on 3D map tiles.
The desktop version of iPhoto uses standard Google Maps:
These two images show the same location. The top one — Google Maps, in desktop iPhoto — is more accurate, showing the land correctly, and labeling the golf course a “Recreation Ground,” as it is known today. The second image, from iPhoto on iOS, isn’t as accurate, and has the old name:
Thoughts on Today’s Apple News
iPad: The Hardware
Retina display iPad. Is there anything else to say? I cannot wait to take a look at this thing.
Without changing the case or button layout, Apple has re-defined its tablet offering. It’s all screen, and with four times the pixels, it’s got to be breath-taking.
4G/LTE caught me a little off guard. Historically, LTE chips have been very power hungry. With the new iPad being a tad heavier and thicker than its predecessor, my guess is that while Apple has gotten the power consumption down on these chips, it still had to pack some extra battery in there to make up the difference. I suppose we’ll know when iFixIt tears one down next week.
Apple Launches AppleCare+ for iPad
Every iPad comes with one year of hardware repair coverage through its limited warranty and up to 90 days of complimentary support. AppleCare+ for iPad extends your coverage to two years from the original purchase date of your iPad and adds up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage, each subject to a $49 service fee. Whether you use your iPad with a Mac or a PC, just one phone call can help resolve most issues.
Apple Posts ‘New iPad’ Pages
The iPad 3 New iPad
01:20 PM
The 16 GB, Wi-Fi iPad 2 will be sold for $399.
01:13 PM
iPhoto for iPad is just $4.99. Can publish journals to iCloud… Like .Mac, back in the day. The app is universal, according to MacStories.
01:10 PM
At each of these hardware events, Apple likes to remind the world that it views itself as a software company first.
01:06 PM
Apple has brought all of iLife that matters — iPhoto, iMovie and Garageband — to the iPad. iWork for iOS was present from Day One. Clearly, Apple is moving the iPad more and more in to “the real computer” category of things, which is great. Hopefully iCloud plus Mountain Lion will make it easier to work on both platforms, seamlessly.
File This Away for Later Today
‘Competing With Free’
On his podcast this week, Marco Arment talked about Instapaper’s newly-revived rival, Readability. He is very open about his history with the other company, and talks about how he works in the ever-growing market for “Read it later” apps. It’s the best episode of any podcast I’ve heard in several weeks — be sure to check it out.
The 2S
The new iPad is going to have almost identical specs to the iPad 2, just with a new display. Yes, it is a big, important feature, but it’s only one feature. Siri is a huge feature — the ability to literally speak with your phone — but it only earned the iPhone 4S status as an “evolutionary” product.
That’s a good point, but I think Apple is going to make a huge deal out of the Retina Display. I’d be surprised if the new iPad gains the “2S” title.