iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

Flipboard Update Includes New Audio Section

RoryPiper — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:01:45 +0000

The latest update to the popular social app “Flipboard” brings a great new feature. Audio streaming. Now you can check out some of your favourite online audio, right in Flipboard.

What’s New in Version 1.9

Connect Flipboard to SoundCloud and enjoy amazing sounds created and shared by your friends and people you follow.
Explore dozens of recommended audio feeds in new Audio category in the Content Guide.
Accessibility for visually impaired people. Apple’s VoiceOver helps users navigate Flipboard and listen to articles.
Fully localized Japanese edition of Flipboard.
Use Readability to save articles to read later.
View related sections for social networks (new on iPhone). For example, tap on the “Twitter” section title to view sections like “Your Tweets,” “Your Favorites” and “Tweets Mentioning You.”

This is great way to check out audio clips on the web. When you tap an audio feed, the clips are just played back to back until you stop the feed. I listened to the Vancouver Film School feed for a while. It is just a bunch of sound effects, but kinda funny, actually. You can even control the audio with the music controls in the app switcher. (The screenshot below is using the jailbreak tweak “Switchy“)

Another great feature in this version, is Flipboard now takes advantage of Apple’s VoiceOver. You can have your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad read your articles to you.

This is a free update for Flipboard, and it’s in the App Store now.

Flipboard Update Includes New Audio Section is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

Facebook Pages Manager iPhone App Now Available for Download

Gary Ng — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:07:19 +0000

As noted by 9to5Mac, Facebook has launched their Facebook Pages Manager app to enable users to manage their pages from their iPhone. Admin access to pages is available from a web browser on your Mac/PC, but not from the Facebook iPhone app. Pages Manager changes all of this to make it a lot easier for businesses to manage pages.

Here’s the description below:

Pages Manager helps admins connect with their audience and keep up with activity on multiple Pages, all in one place.

Features:
- Post new updates and photos as your Page
- Get notified about new activity on your Page when it happens, no matter where you are
- Respond, post and comment as your Page while you’re on-the-go
- Manage all your Facebook Pages from one app
- View your latest Page Insights

Just install Pages Manager and then log in using Facebook to quickly access and manage all of your Pages from wherever you are.

Facebook needs to integrate the admin of Pages into the existing iOS app, as that would make things much simpler.

Click here to download Facebook Pages Manager–it’s free and available now in Canada. Let me know what you think!

Facebook Pages Manager iPhone App Now Available for Download is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

Fold To Unlock Concept For Your iOS Lockscreen

RoryPiper — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:00:15 +0000

Designer Anton Kudin has posted some new images of a “Fold To Unlock” concept for iOS. This possible tweak would fold your entire lockscreen, when you perform the “Slide To Unlock” motion, revealing your home screen.

As this is just a visual concept, so there would have to be a few things worked out to make this a reality. Like, when enabling the Camera Grabber, would the lockscreen fold upwards? Then there’s notifications; would the lockscreen fold the same way when unlocking notifications? There are also lots of other lcokscreen tweaks in Cydia already, that would have to be considered.

Hopefully, one of the great Cydia tweak developers will tackle this and bring it to life.

Fold To Unlock Concept For Your iOS Lockscreen is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

Switchy – A Bigger, Better App Switcher [Cydia Tweak]

RoryPiper — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:00:44 +0000

Switchy is a new tweak for the app switcher in iOS. It doubles the size of your switcher, allowing you to see more apps that are running in the background. It also enhances the iPod controls by adding more info for whatever music is playing. They have added a “Settings” page to the switcher that gives you quick access to your Settings app, and has a “Clear Apps” button. This button is basically a kill all switch, and closes all the apps in the switcher.

Switchy makes the task switcher how it should’ve been from the start.

Brent Caswell’s concept for a better task switcher is brought to life in this tweak. Working closely with Brent, his design choices took top priority. Switchy delivers the fully functional product that he envisioned.

Switchy expands the task switcher to include two rows of icons. It adds Artist and Album information to the Now Playing area, bringing it together with not only more information but also by adding a volume slider to the same area.

The much requested “Clear Apps” button is added into a new page dedicated to settings. The settings page is also a quick way to adjust the display’s brightness, as well as functioning as a shortcut to the Settings app.

Visit the website for support and to request any further features you’d like to see in Switchy.

Reach on Twitter:
@punksomething, @brentcas

No options to configure.

There a lot of tweaks that I try out and think, “That’s kinda cool.”, then never use them again. I can see myself keeping this one on my iPhone. It is designed well, fitting in with Apple’s design of iOS. I am also using SwitcherMod on my iPhone 4S, and there seems to be no conflicts. There does seem to be a conflict with Springtomize, as I have it set to show five apps across. Switchy seems to be overriding that. Not a big deal, since I now have 2 rows of apps in the switcher.

I have just a couple of criticisms about this tweak. The iPod controls page seems to have a glitch. Where it should have a volume control bar, there is a brightness control bar, but it is still affected by the volume buttons. Hopefully this will be fixed in the next update. Also, I would like to see the settings page customizable. We could add a couple more apps there. Perhaps an SBSettings button?

Switchy is compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch, on iOS 5 or higher. You can get it now for $1.00, in Cydia, under the Big Boss repo.

Switchy – A Bigger, Better App Switcher [Cydia Tweak] is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

“Who Was Steve Jobs?” Book Is Available For Sale

Ex — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:04:48 +0000

A new children’s paperback book, “Who Is Steve Jobs?”, is available for sale at Amazon and Chapters for $5.99.

This is quite amazing because according to the publisher details, the paperback was released in April 2012 and no one heard of it!

The authors are Pam Pollack and Meg Belviso, with illustrations done by John O’Brien and Nancy Harrison. The book is 112 pages and as you may have guessed focuses on the life of Steve Jobs.

You can take a look at some sample pages at Amazon.

[via TheLoop]

“Who Was Steve Jobs?” Book Is Available For Sale is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

Samsung Takes A $10 Billion Hit In Reaction To Apple’s Massive Chip Order

Usman — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:49:36 +0000

Following a report by DigiTimes, claiming that Apple has recently placed massive mobile dynamic random access memory (DRAM) orders with Elpida, Samsung’s major chip rival in Japan, shares of Samsung Electronics fell down more than 6%, wiping $10 billion off the electronics giant’s market value, according to Reuters. Samsung, which is the world’s biggest DRAM maker, suffered its biggest daily stock fall in nearly four years. At the same time, SK hynix, another one of Apple’s DRAM supplier from Korea, saw its biggest one-day drop in nine months.

According to the source:

“It looks like Apple doesn’t want to see Samsung and hynix dominate the chip market. Apple wants to maintain its bargaining power by keeping Elpida running,” said Choi Do-yeon, an analyst at LIG Investment & Securities.

U.S.-based Micron Technology Corp is in talks to acquire Elpida’s business as the Japanese firm tries to restructure after tough market conditions and global competition drove it into bankruptcy protection.

“A merged Micron-Elpida could pose a significant threat to South Korean memory chipmakers, and Elpida’s huge order from Apple was the spark that triggered these worries,” said Lim Dol-yi, an analyst at Solomon Investment & Securities.

Some analysts are claiming that Samsung shares were already facing pressure since offshore investors began cutting back on risk during the latest streak of sell-offs, but the news surrounding Elpida was “the straw that broke the camel’s back“.

Samsung Takes A $10 Billion Hit In Reaction To Apple’s Massive Chip Order is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

Nearly 8% Of All Cell Phones Sold Worldwide Are iPhones [Report]

Usman — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:23:27 +0000

Latest mobile device data released by research firm Gartner reveals that Apple now accounts for 7.9% of global mobile phone market selling 33.1 million iPhones during the first quarter of calendar 2012 (via Apple Insider). The report represents worldwide mobile device sales to end users instead of total shipments. It is notable that the 33.1 million iPhones that Gartner says Apple sold, is off by two million from the 35.1 million Apple itself reported last month. During the same quarter, Samsung became the largest mobile device maker in the world overtaking Nokia, the market leader since 1998.

Detailing from the source:

Apple’s 7.9 percent share put it squarely in third place, well behind Nokia but still comfortably ahead of ZTE, which sold 17.4 million units in the quarter and took 4.2 percent of the market. In fifth was LG, which sold 14.7 million handsets for a 3.5 percent share.

Huawei came in sixth in the first three months of 2012, selling 10.8 million handsets and earning a 2.6 percent slice of the market. That was enough to beat out seventh-place Research in Motion, which saw its market share fall from 3 percent in the first quarter of 2011 to just 2.4 percent in the same period in 2012, with sales of 9.9 million handsets.

Motorola came in eighth, selling 8.4 million handsets and taking a 2 percent share, while Sony Mobile Communications was close behind with 7.9 million sold and 1.9 percent of the market. Rounding out the top 10 was HTC, which sold 7.7 million devices and represented 1.8 percent of the market.

Gartner’s research also notes that Samsung sold the most smartphones during the quarter i.e 38 million as compared to the 33.1 million iPhones sold by Apple.

Nearly 8% Of All Cell Phones Sold Worldwide Are iPhones [Report] is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

Apple Responds To Lawsuits Against Siri’s Performance

Usman — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:08:14 +0000

In response to lawsuits filed last month against Siri, alleging that the intelligent personal assistant software introduced in iPhone 4S doesn’t perform as advertised, Apple has today filed a motion to dismiss the cases, reports Wall Street Journal. Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP, defending Apple against these claims, said in a recent court filing that Siri is currently in Beta and may not be perfect, something the company has already been upfront about but nonetheless, the technology is still “cutting edge”. Apple is also working to get the class-action lawsuit dismissed by claiming customers could return the iPhone within 30 days of purchase if they are unhappy with Siri.

From Apple’s motion to dismiss:

They offer only general descriptions of Apple’s advertisements, incomplete summaries of Apple’s website materials, and vague descriptions of their alleged—and highly individualized—disappointment with Siri. Tellingly, although Plaintiffs claim they became dissatisfied with Siri’s performance “soon after” purchasing their iPhones, they made no attempt to avail themselves of Apple’s 30-day return policy or one-year warranty—which remains in effect. Instead, they seek to take an alleged personal grievance about the purported performance of a popular product and turn it into a nationwide class action under California’s consumer protection statutes. The Complaint does not come close to meeting the heavy burden necessary to sustain such claims.

A lawyer for the plaintiffs didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Apple Responds To Lawsuits Against Siri’s Performance is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

WSJ: Apple Ordering At least 4-Inch Screens For Next iPhone [Update]

Ex — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:40:04 +0000

A report from The Wall Street Journal reveals that Apple has placed orders for screens of at least 4-inches diagonally for the next-generation iPhone.

This screen change would represent the first time Apple has changed the display size in the iPhone and this further changes the typical dimensions of the device.

Apple Inc., which is expected to launch its next-generation iPhone later this year, has ordered screens from its Asian suppliers that are bigger than the ones used in iPhones since they debuted in 2007, people familiar with the situation said.

Production is set to begin next month for the screens, which measure at least 4 inches diagonally compared with 3.5 inches on the iPhone 4S, the latest phone from Apple, the people said.

It’s reported that Apple is collaborating with LG, Sharp, and Japan Display for the new screen.

At this time the report does not specify what aspect ratio the larger screen will use, but The Wall Street Journal has had a fairly good track record with regards to Apple rumors, so it will be interesting to see what comes of this.

Update 1: Reuters has written its own report in regards to a 4-inch iPhone screen:

The new iPhone screens will measure 4 inches from corner to corner, one source said. That would represent a roughly 30 percent increase in viewing area, assuming Apple kept other dimensions proportional. Apple has used a 3.5-inch screen since introducing the iPhone in 2007.

If Apple kept the phone dimensions the same, could we see a ‘taller’ screen like the concept we’ve seen below:

WSJ: Apple Ordering At least 4-Inch Screens For Next iPhone [Update] is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

Aaron Sorkin To Pen Screenplay For Film Based on Isaacson’s Steve Jobs Biography

RoryPiper — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:54:57 +0000

Sony Pictures announced today, that Aaron Sorkin, Academy Award winning writer of The Social Network’s screenplay, will adapt Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs biography into a screenplay.

Sony’s take on the life of Steve Jobs will be different than the movie currently being filmed, titled “Jobs: Get Inspired”. The indie movie in production right now, stars Ashton Kutcher as a young Steve Jobs, and is rumoured to focus on the early years of Jobs’ life. Sony’s film will be an adaptation of the biography written by Walter Isaacson last year.

There were rumours flying last year that Sony was going to pick this up, and that Sorkin would be the man to adapt the book into a screenplay. Today, these rumours were confirmed. At the time, it was also rumoured that the likes of George Clooney and Noah Wiley were in the running to play the iconic tech pioneer. Sony has not announced any casting information for their upcoming Steve Jobs film.

With “Jobs: Get Inspired” already under production, they are likely to beat Sony’s film to the box office. Wether this will hurt ticket sales or not, is debatable. Sorkin’s adaptation of “The Social Network” won numerous awards, and I expect Sony’s Steve Jobs film will be billed, as such.

[via AppleInsider]

Aaron Sorkin To Pen Screenplay For Film Based on Isaacson’s Steve Jobs Biography is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource