miércoles, 5 de septiembre de 2012

iPad By Davis: “Withings set to launch the Wireless Scale, bathroom scales with iPhone connectivity” plus 19 more

iPad By Davis: “Withings set to launch the Wireless Scale, bathroom scales with iPhone connectivity” plus 19 more


Withings set to launch the Wireless Scale, bathroom scales with iPhone connectivity

Posted: 05 Sep 2012 03:06 AM PDT

Withings set to launch the Wireless Scale, bathroom scales with iPhone connectivityWell known manufacturer Withings has just announced a new model to its range of bathroom scales and this one looks to cut the cord completely. The new bathroom scales offer Bluetooth connections for local connectivity to your iPhone as well as Wi-Fi and all the initial set up of the scales is done wirelessly without the need for any Mac or PC. The Withings WS-30 scales look to not only bring a beautiful set of scales to your bathroom but also the motivation you need to shed those excess pounds too. The companion app will send you push notifications to remind you to get weighed in the morning as well as provide you with inspiration to meet your weight loss goals.

This scale combines Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity to offer a seamless, PC-free experience, from install stage to everyday use. This gem of simplicity features the latest Withings technology to provide people with an ultra-intuitive experience. The scale instantly recognizes individual users and gives them access to exclusive Withings services in order to take control of their weight anywhere, anytime, using the new Withings Health Companion app.

It features Withings Position Control technology, which offers visual feedback for users to properly position themselves for high-accuracy weighing. The scale provides an easy and secure access to weight and BMI data through the new free Withings Health Companion app, which comes rich with features such as goal setting and coaching services. Weight graphs are generated automatically and accessible whenever people need them, enabling all users to easily control the evolution of their body mass, to stay motivated and ensure they stay in shape.

The WS-30 will not replace the current WB-S01 model of scales offered by Withings but instead will just become a slightly cheaper alternative with additional Bluetooth connectivity; the WB-S01 does have some additional features like body fat measurement that the WS-30 will not do. The suggested retail price of the new WS-30 scales will be around €120 ($150) and they should be available later this month.

Do you own or want to own a set of intelligent connected scales? Do you think it's worth paying the extra money for a set of scales that can automatically record your weight on your iPhone or is it just as easy to do it manually and save yourself a few dollars?

Source: Withings Blog




Share humorous e-cards with someecards for iPhone

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:27 PM PDT

If you're a big fan of the popular humor site someecards.com, then you'll love someecards for iPhone. With it, you can view and send new cards as they go live, get topical humor right to your iPhone (including cards that make fun of iPhones), enjoy the same categories that are offered on the website (from flirting to workplace to cry for help), save cards as favorites, and more.

someecards organizes its content by newest, popular, or category. You can also search for keywords and mark cards as favorites. The news tab is essentially someecards' twitter feed with links to posts on their website. Since the Twitter feed is basically just spitting out someecards' RSS feed, I think it would've been better of they pulled directly from RSS instead of using Twitter.

When you come across a card you want to share, you can send it to Facebook, Twitter, Email, SMS, or save it to your Camera Roll.

I tend to see a lot of e-cards from someecards on Facebook these days, so if you're one of those people to love to spam shower your friends with these images, then someecards for iPhone is definitely for you!

$0.99 - Download Now




How to send a contact card with iMessage or SMS

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:19 PM PDT

How to send a contact card with iMessage or SMS

If you need to quickly send contact information from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, it's easy to do with iMessage or even good, old-fashioned SMS. Sharing a contact via iMessage is much faster than typing it out, after all. As long as you have the information listed in your iOS Contacts app, you're always only a few taps away from sharing a vCard file (vcf) containing phone numbers, email, street addresses, and much more.

Waring: Because iMessage shares the entire vCard file, that could include more personal information that you intend. For example, sharing your own vCard could include all your Siri relationships. If there are contacts you need to share frequently, and don't want to share every bit of information about, you might want to create a duplicate, less detailed vCard to share.

How to share a contact card from your iPhone using iMessage

You can send a contact card with your iPhone through either iMessage or SMS which means the recipient can be another iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac user, or any other kind of smartphone user.

  1. Launch the Phone app from your iPhone Home screen.
  2. Tap on the Contacts tab.
  3. FInd the contact you'd like to share and tap on their name.
  4. Find contact to share via iMessage
  5. Scroll down to the bottom of the contact and tap on the Share Contact button.
  6. Tap share contact to share via iMessage
  7. Choose the Message option.
  8. Your iPhone will automatically insert the contact into a blank message.
  9. Choose message option to insert contact into iMessage
  10. Choose the recipient you'd like to send the contact to in the To field.
  11. Tap Send and you're done!
  12. Send a contact via iMessage on iPhone

If the bubble surrounding the contact is blue, it was sent using iMessage. If it is green, the other person does not use iMessage, or iMessage was unavailable, and it was sent using regular SMS/MMS.

How to share a contact card from your iPad or iPod touch using iMessage

The iPad and iPod touch will only be able to share a contact with another iMessage user so make sure whoever you're choosing to send a contact to is using iMessage as well.

  1. Launch the Phone app from your iPad or iPod touch Home screen.
  2. Tap on the Contacts tab.
  3. FInd the contact you'd like to share and tap on their name.
  4. Find contact to share via iMessage
  5. Scroll down to the bottom of the contact and tap on the Share Contact button.
  6. Contacts app on iPad
  7. Choose the Message option.
  8. Your iPad or iPod touch will automatically insert the contact into a blank message for you.Choose contact card to send in iMessage on iPad
  9. Choose the recipient you'd like to send the contact to in the To field.
  10. iOS will verify the recipient is using iMessage.
  11. If they are, their name shows up blue and you can tap the Send button.
  12. iMessage contact card from iPad

How to share a contact card from your Mac using iMessage

  1. Launch the Contacts app on your Mac running OS X Mountain Lion.
  2. Contacts app on OS X Mountain Lion
  3. Find the contact that you'd like to share and click on it.
  4. In the right hand pane you'll see a share button at the bottom. Click on it.
  5. Choose Message Card.
  6. Share contact OS X Mountain Lion
  7. Your Mac will automatically insert the contact card into a new message window.
  8. Ciick Send.
  9. Send contact with iMessage in OS X Mountain Lion



This is my body - Anatomy for kids for iPad review

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:28 PM PDT

This is my body - Anatomy for kids is an iPad app that teaches the principles of human anatomy in a playful and engaging way. It features informations about all important aspects of the human body in a beautifully designed and illustrated app package.

Since Anatomy is designed for kids, all of the screens are fun animations and everything is narrated by a young girl. Before you start, you get to choose from 8 different characters. There are four girls and four girls to choose from. Anatomy does make a point to mention that how you look doesn't have an impact on how your body works and that all bodies function the same -- every human is unique, yet we are all very similar.

After choosing your character, there are nine different modules to explore: Growing, My Skin, My Senses, I am Hungry!, Breathing, Heartbeat, My Muscles, My Nerves, and My Skeleton. At each section, you can tap and interact with different elements of the screen to learn about body parts or to participate in actions like putting a bandaid on a cut.

At the top and right of the screen of the main page of each section of Anatomy, you'll see ribbons. Pulling the top ribbon down will navigate to the next module and pulling the right ribbon to the left will move to the next page of the current module. There are multiple pages with each section that provide a lot of great information. For example, in the Growing module, there are five pages that discuss uniqueness vs similarities of people, fingertips, pregnancy, hair and fingernail growth, and more. Some pages can be scrolled up for even more information. If you tap on a block of italicized text, the narrator will read it to you.

Anatomy does mention that we originate from an egg cell that is fertilized by a sperm, so if you're not ready to answer the questions your child may ask when learning this fact, you may not want to have your child use This is my body quite yet.

When swiping down to navigate between modules, you are essentially removing layers of the body. Your character will start fully clothed, then just tank top and underwear, then to being in only underwear or completely naked, then different screens for digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems. Next, the skin will be removed to show the muscular system, then the nervous system, and lastly, the skeletal system. From the Settings app, you can choose whether the My Senses module will show your character completely naked (with genitalia that can be identified) or in underwear only.

The good

  • Engaging and fun for young users
  • Educational
  • Tap text to have it read to you (for the younger ones who are still learning to read)
  • 8 characters to choose from
  • Option show character in underwear or nude for My Senses module

The bad

  • Anatomy mentions the the app's settings in the parents section, but doesn't make it clear that they are in the Settings app and not in-app

The conclusion

This is my body - Anatomy for kids is a fantastic way for children to learn more about their bodies. It is very engaging and fun for all young learners and makes learning about the human body fun and exciting.

$1.99 - Download Now




iMore contest winners: HDR photography and Follow and Win!

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:02 PM PDT

iMore contest winners: HDR photography and Follow and Win!

If there's one thing iMore loves even more than iPhones and iPads, it's giving cool iPhone and iPad accessories and apps to our awesome readers. This week we have...

Follow iMore and Win August winners

Watch for this month's prizes to be announced later this week, and keep following for your chances to win

Weekly Photo Contest: HDR!

HDR photo contest winner LanceWebb

Winner: LanceWebb; Pro HDR app

HDR photo contest honorable mention for3nsicguy

Honorable mention: for3nsicguy; Pro HDR app

You can see all of the spectacular entries in the HDR photo contest over in the forums, and be on the lookout for the next photo contest theme to be announced soon.

Congratulations to all the winners! You will be contacted during the week with information on claiming your prizes.




Remains of the Day: Copy machine

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 04:30 PM PDT

Remains of the Day: Copy machine The iPad mini's hardware may just be a copy of the iPad 2's, some say that Apple does nothing but copy-and-paste from others, and app developers now have a way to report copycats.


Leaks accurate, this is what the new iPhone will look like

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 02:57 PM PDT

Leaks accurate, this is what the new iPhone will look like

iMore has learned that recent parts leaks and dummy phones are accurate representations of what the new iPhone (iPhone 5,1) will look like when Apple announces it on September 12, 2012. Almost identical in design to the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, the major visible differences will include a 4-inch display with a 16:9 aspect ratio, a metallic plate across most the back, and a miniaturized Dock connector and relocated 3.5mm headset jack along the bottom.

Apple originally prototyped a 3.5-inch and at least one 4-inch designs for the 2012 iPhone. iLounge accurately reported on one of the 4-inch prototypes back in May. iMore also learned that Apple would decide which prototype to go with sometime in July, and on July 17, the Wall Street Journal reported Apple had begun manufacturing. On July 30, iMore learned Apple had settled on September 12, 2012 for the iPhone 5 announcement event, which has since been confirmed by Apple. iMore has also reported that September 21 will be the U.S. iPhone launch day, with the second wave of launches currently scheduled for on or around October 5.

This information comes from sources who have been reliable in the past. While nothing is confirmed until Apple shows it off on stage, based on the parts, dummies, and other reports, it seems highly probable.

There's too much to cover, so we'll sum up. On February 23, 2012, iMore learned Apple would be miniaturizing the Dock connector for the iPhone 5. On March 23, iMore learned Apple would be including LTE networking in the iPhone 5, as they had the new iPad. On May 11, iMore learned Apple would be trying to remove Google from the iPhone and iOS. On May 29, 9to5Mac posted images of the new, unibody back casing for the iPhone 5. On July 29 and July 30, many of the leaked parts that had been floating around were assembled and shown off in stills and on video.

A fully assembled iPhone 5 chassis was caught on camera on August 31, and a dummy unit, representing near-final hardware, was caught on video at IFA 2012 on September 1.

Conspiracy theories have been floated suggesting Apple is deliberately leaking false parts or a discarded prototype to create a bigger surprise come September 12. If that's the case, they're spending a lot of time, effort, and money, and doing it at an incredible scale. While Apple has over $100 billion in the bank and could do almost anything they want, they don't have any more time than anyone else, and it seems doubtful they'd waste what precious time they do have on on practical joke when there's so much for them still to do on the real product.

Just like last year when we tried to help set expectations before the iPhone 4S event, to the best of our knowledge everyone would be best served going into the September 12 event with their expectations set on the iPhone 5 you see above, and have seen leaked to date.

If anyone doesn't believe Apple would use a similar design to the 2010 iPhone 4 and the 2011 iPhone 4S, go back and look at the 2005 Project Purple prototype. Consider that Apple's current platonic ideal for how their phone should look and be built.

The iPhone design isn't fashion. Jonathan Ive has said repeatedly, it's function. It's iconic. It's a piece of industrial design rooted in Braun and Leica and Dieter Rams that could sit on any museum shelf. It's some of the best manufacturing ever seen in mobile, and it looks as good today as it did in 2005 and in 2010, and as any phone currently on the market. Apple isn't concerned with making the newest looking phone. They're concerned only with making the best phone.

Add a larger screen and a metal back, and shave off a few micro-milimeters from the existing iPhone design, and it would be hard to argue that's not just exactly what they're doing with the iPhone 5.

We'll find out for sure in one week's time.




Apple device IDs hacked: What you need to know

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 03:00 PM PDT

Apple device IDs hacked: What you need to know A hacker collective known as AntiSec has published over a million Apple device IDs that it claims were captured from the laptop of an FBI agent. If you own an Apple device, what does that mean for you?


TechHive: Anti-security group claims FBI breach, posts 1 million iOS UDIDs

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 02:30 PM PDT

TechHive: Anti-security group claims FBI breach, posts 1 million iOS UDIDs Hacktivist group AntiSec has released what it claims are 1,000,001 Apple Unique Device Identifiers (UDIDs) that were allegedly obtained from an FBI breach.


Analysis: Forecasting Apple's Sept. 12 press event

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 01:40 PM PDT

Analysis: Forecasting Apple's Sept. 12 press event As the technology world at large now knows, Apple will host a special media event on September 12 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The next version of the iPhone is likely to be the star of the show, but Macworld's staff ruminates on what other surprises the event might bring.


Report Says iPad Cannibalizing PC Sales in Education Market

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 01:25 PM PDT

iPads in School

Image Source: iPad in Schools

PC sales data for the June quarter of this year provides some clear evidence that the iPad is cannibalizing a significant chunk of PC sales in the education market – at least according to one Wall Street analyst.

As Apple Insider reports, Charlie Wolf of Needham & Company that while PC sales in the education arena are falling iPad sales are booming.

Apple, meanwhile, sold nearly a million iPads in the K-12 market in June, which he said is "definitive evidence" that the iPad has been "cannibalizing" PC sales in the U.S. education market.
Apple's iPad sales in the June quarter were double what the company sold a year prior. The iPad also reached nearly double the number of Macs Apple sold to education buyers during the quarter.
"Clearly, a significant portion of iPad sales represented an expansion of the market," Wolf wrote. "But in view of the fact that Mac sales held steady at around 520,000 units but overall PC sales declined by 265,000 units from 1.90 million to 1.64 million units, we believe the inescapable conclusion is that the iPad is beginning to cannibalize a material portion of PC sales in this market."

I'm sure the availability of the iPad 2 at its lower $399 price has been a big part of the iPad's growing sales momentum in education. If and when the iPad Mini arrives, at its expected far lower price, I would imagine iPad sales will really take off in this market, as well as with consumers in general.


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Create reminders when you aren't in Reminders

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 11:00 AM PDT

Create reminders when you aren't in Reminders It's annoying that Mountain Lion has no built-in way to create new reminders without launching the Reminders app. But you can set up that capability yourself, with an Automator workflow and a keyboard shortcut


Apple announces iPhone 5 event for September 12

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:24 AM PDT

Apple announces iPhone 5 event for September 12

Apple has announced their September 12 special event, expected to see the introduction of the next generation iPhone 5. The information on the invitation is sparse. According to the graphic shared by Jim Dalrymple of The Loop, it shows the number 12 (the date of the event), and the number 5 (make of that what you will), along with the following line: "It's almost here". According to Jim:

The invitation I received says the event will take place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts at 10:00 am.

iMore posted the September 12 Apple event date back on July 30, along with what we believe to be the U.S. launch date of September 21. Back on August 13 we posted what we believe is the second wave launch date of October 5.

For more on the iPhone 5, including previews of the expected features, check out our iPhone 5 page and make sure you enter our $500 iPhone 5 giveaway now!

Source: The Loop




Apple announces Sep. 12 special event

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:21 AM PDT

Apple announces Sep. 12 special event Apple has announced a special event in San Francisco on September 12 with the tagline "It's almost here."


PhotoToaster Gets a Major Update & It’s On Sale for 50% Off

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:25 AM PDT

Lion PhotoToastered

PhotoToaster, the superb and easy to use photo editing / effects app for iPad and iOS, has had a major update today – to Version 4.0. This new version brings a number of cool new features to an already stellar app.

Here are some of those new features:

Lighting Brushes

  • Professional level control of lighting exactly where you need it
  • Non destructive editing lets you go back into the lighting room
  • Create dramatic effects
  • Correct lighting problems with fixes that look natural

New Previews

  • Easily browse borders and textures in sliders mode

Expanded Borders and Textures

  • More borders and textures are at your fingertips, neatly packaged in folders (via in-app purchase)

Misc

  • Enhanced recent presets functionality
  • Expanded help screens
  • Performance improvements

(...)
Read the rest of PhotoToaster Gets a Major Update & It's On Sale for 50% Off (165 words)


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How to fix the rear facing camera in an iPhone 4S

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:46 AM PDT

How to replace the rear facing camera in an iPhone 4S

The iPhone 4S has a great camera that can capture amazing photos, so if that camera stops working, it's a pretty big deal. If the damage isn't covered by AppleCare or insurance, it can also be a costly problem. Luckily, a DIY repair is possible, and isn't too difficult. It'll only take you around 20-30 minutes and cost you less than $60, which makes it a great option for anyone out-of-warranty and not considering a new phone.

Follow along and we'll get your iPhone 4S camera back in working order in no time.

Disclaimer: As with any repair, neither iMore nor PXLFIX can be held responsible for any damage you may do to your device. It's also worth considering that opening up your device to perform any repair or modification can and will void your Apple warranty. If you don't feel comfortable opening your device, don't. Use extreme care and caution when performing a repair on any device.

What you'll need to DIY replace an iPhone 4S rear camera

PXLFIX recommends using only quality and genuine parts from a reputable supplier like eTech Parts. They have quality parts, tools, and much more for all your repair needs. You will find links to the specific parts you'll need for this repair in the list below.

Power off your iPhone 4S

iPhone 4S slide to power off

Before performing any repair you should always power off your device before opening it up.

Remove the back plate

  1. Using your security screwdriver, remove the 2 screws on either side of the dock connector port.
  2. iPhone 4S dock connector screws
  3. Set them aside. They are both the exact same size and length so it does not matter if you mix them up. They are interchangeable.
  4. Gently slide up the back plate by applying a bit of pressure along the bottom with your thumbs and sliding upwards.
  5. iPhone 4S remove back plate
  6. Now lift off the back plate and set it aside.
  7. iPhone 4S back removal

Remove the battery and grounding clip

  1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the two screws holding the battery in place.
  2. iPhone 4S top battery screwiPhone 4S bottom battery screw
  3. These screws are different lengths so make sure you remember which one goes where. The one that is slightly larger is the bottom screw.
  4. There is a tiny grounding clip underneath the battery clip where the first screw is located. Use your spudger tool or finger to remove it before prying the clip up. Many times it can go flying if you don't remove it first and then you'll have difficulty locating it so it's best to remove it first.
  5. iPhone 4S grounding clip removaliPhone 4S grounding clip
  6. Now use your spudger tool and at the bottom of the battery clip, gently pry upwards so the clip pops up.
  7. iPhone 4S battery clip
  8. Move to the edge of the iPhone where the volume buttons are located and use your spudger tool to carefully pry up the battery. It is stuck down with a good amount of adhesive so be careful when prying upwards that you don't bend the battery. This is why I do not use the plastic tab that is provided. It typically rips or bends the battery. If one part is resistant move your pry tool a little further down and gently start prying it up in different places taking care not to come too close to the volume button cables towards the top.
  9. iPhone 4S battery removal
  10. Once you've gotten the battery pulled out of the iPhone 4S we can move on to inserting the replacement battery.

Remove the top logic board shield

The camera cable is protected by the top silver logic board shield. To replace it, we'll need to remove that shield for a few minutes.

  1. Remove the 4 screws labeled in the picture below using your #00 Phillips screwdriver making sure you remember which screw came from where as they are all different sizes.
  2. iphone 4s top logic board shield screws
  3. Use your spudger tool to carefully pry up the shield. There is a tiny clasp at the bottom of the shield. You'll need to make sure you push the top of the shield down a bit so it slides out. Once it does you can pull the shield out of the iPhone.
  4. iphone 4s top logic board shield removal
  5. Set the shield aside for a few minutes.

Replace the rear camera assembly

  1. The camera is connected in the upper left hand corner by only one flex cable. Use your spudger tool to gently pry the camera off the logic board.
  2. iphone 4s remove rear facing camera
  3. Remove the defective camera assembly from your iPhone 4S.
  4. iphone 4s camera removed
  5. Now position the new camera assembly into the iPhone and snap it down to the logic board.

Replace the top logic board shield

Now that the new camera assembly is secured into place on the logic board, we can go ahead and replace the shield.

  1. You will notice that there are little teeth on the left hand bottom side of the shield. These slip into the shield on the left side of the logic board. Line them up and carefully place back down the shield.
  2. Make sure the clasp to the right lower side of the logic board is also positioned underneath the cables and into the groove. All the screw holes should also be lined up at this point.
  3. iphone 4s top logic board shield removal
  4. Use your #00 Phillips screwdriver to replace the 4 screws you removed previously.
  5. iphone 4s top logic board shield screws

Replace the battery and grounding clip

  1. Pay attention to how the cable is bent on your old battery and if the new one is not crimped in the same fashion put the folds in it before inserting it into the iPhone 4S.
  2. iPhone 4S battery cable
  3. Line up the grounding clip you removed previously over the screw hole before snapping down the battery.
  4. iPhone 4S grounding clip position
  5. Snap down the battery in place to the logic board and then position the battery and press down firmly to make sure the adhesive sticks.
  6. Replace the two screws you removed in a prior step starting with the top one using your #00 Phillips screwdriver. Make sure the grounding clip stays positioned. Use your other hand to hold it straight while you replace the top screw if you need to.
  7. iPhone 4S top battery screw
  8. Now replace the bottom screw.
  9. iPhone 4S bottom battery screw

Replace the back plate

  1. To replace the back plate line up the hinges around the edges. It should fall right into place. There will be a gap at the bottom.
  2. iPhone 4S remove back plate
  3. Using slight pressure slide the cover down into place with your thumbs. If there is resistance make sure the hinges are lined up correctly and don't force it down and you can easily snap the hinge if it's caught up on something.
  4. Once the back cover is securely in place and flush with the antenna band, replace the two screws on either side of the dock connector using your security screwdriver.iPhone 4S dock connector screws

And ...done!

That's it. Now that you've finished reassembling your iPhone 4S you can go ahead and power it on. Pop into the camera app and test the new camera to make sure it's functioning correctly. That's all there is to it. Now get back to taking all those amazing pictures. You can also check out our guide to creating amazing photos with your iPhone 4S for photo tips as well.

Want to know how to perform another type of iPhone repair or modification? Send me suggestions to ally@imore.com.

For questions or to inquire about mail-in repairs through PXLFIX, you can follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or e-mail us directly!

Additional resources:




iOS 6 preview

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:47 AM PDT

iOS 6 preview: Everything you need to know about Apple's upcoming iOS 6 software update for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

Everything you need to know about Apple's upcoming iOS 6 software update for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

iOS 6 was previewed at Apple's WWDC 2012 and has been in a closed developer beta ever since. While Apple has promised some 200 new features, we've only seen them show off 10 major ones to date. Still, there's a lot within those 10 for us to sink out teeth into. We've compared them to previous iOS flagship features, and to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, Windows Phone 8, and BlackBerry 10 flagship features, and explained why the focus this year might be more on Apple's platform than user-facing features. We've also broken them down feature by feature, looked at what Apple's has said about them, and analyzed what they have to offer.

Now we're rounding all the up here, and we'll keep it updated here through the Gold Master (GM) seed we expect on September 12, and the release we anticipate sometime around September 19.

Maps

iOS 6 preview: Maps gets turn-by-turn navigation

With iOS 6, Apple is replacing the previous, Google-powered Maps app on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, with a completely redesigned, re-rendered, and re-imagined Apple Maps app. The data itself is supplied by TomTom and others, but Apple has created all-new vector map art, and while they've lost some features, like Street View, and are handing off transit date to App Store apps, they're adding a dramatic new Flyover mode, traffic data, and turn-by-turn navigation. And if you miss the old app, good news, a Google Maps app should be headed to the App Store as well.

Siri: Sports, restaurants, movies, status sharing, app launching, and iPad support

iOS 6 preview: Siri knows sports

Siri, as introduced in on the iPhone 4S, is an able if not particularly well-rounded personal assistant. With iOS 6, however, Siri is adding several knew services to its repertoire. Soon, with Siri, you'll be able to find out everything about your favorite sports teams, make reservations at your favorite restaurants, find out where your favorite movies are playing, share it all to Facebook and Twitter, and... do it on the new iPad as well.

Facebook integration

iOS 6 preview: Facebook integration, Like everywhere

Facebook integration for iOS has been rumored for a couple years now, buy iOS 4 shipped with nary a Like in sight, and iOS 5 with only Twitter and tweets to show for itself. With iOS 6 Facebook hits the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad in full force. We're talking built-in status sharing, content sharing, calendar and contacts integration, and a whole lot of stuff you can Like, built-in.

iCloud: Shared Photo Streams

iOS 6 preview: Shared Photo Streams

Photo Stream debuted in iOS 5 as part of iCloud and while it offered some nifty automatic backup and sync store and push features, it lacked a lot of the sharing and gallery features that made Mobile Me so family friendly. Now, with iOS 6, Apple is adding sharing back to their cloud photo solution, and while it's not the same as before, it could be just as social.

Passbook

iOS 6 preview: Passbook

Passbook is a brand new, built-in app for iOS 6 designed to serve as a one-stop repository for all the tickets, coupons, gift cards, and other vouchers provided by third-party App Store apps. That means all the stuff in your Apple Store app, Starbucks app, Delta app, Fandango app, and more is easily accessible via a single Home screen icon, and what's more -- Passbook knows what time it is and where you are, so it can put whatever card you need right on your Lock screen, right when you need it.

FaceTime over cellular

AT&T responds regarding FaceTime over cellular restrictions

FaceTime over cellular -- the ability to place Apple's version of video calls using 3G and 4G networks -- is coming with iOS 6. Thanks to the carriers being insane, it took 2 years to happen, and even now might be painful, but it's coming. Also coming is the ability to unify your iPhone FaceTime phone number and iPad/iPod touch FaceTime email address, so you no longer have to try and guess which one to reach a multi-device user at.

Phone: Do Not Disturb and Remind Me Later

iOS 6 preview: Do Not Disturb and Remind Me Later

While Apple improved their alert system with Notification Center in iOS 5, they're finally bringing some sanity and serenity to it with iOS 6. Too much notification turns into interruption, especially if your only options are to answer or hang up, to leave everything on or turn everything off. It makes us the single-points of failure in our memory chain, and let's face it, why bother having these fancy devices if we're the ones who have to remember to call back, or remember to activate and deactivate alerts every morning and night. Which brings us to Remind Me Later and Do Not Disturb.

Mail: VIP inbox and photo and video attachment

Mail is getting a little bit of love in iOS 6 as well. First off, you'll be able to designate certain contacts as VIPs, which flag their emails with stars, and collects them in a special VIP inbox, and syncs them over iCloud so your VIPs are VIPs on all your iOS devices. Secondly, the already crowded popup menu gets yet another option, and a great one, Insert Photo or Video. That's right, you can finally add items from your Camera Roll to an email already in progress without the copy/paste hack-around.

Safari: iCloud tabs, image uploading, offline reading, full-screen mode

iOS 6 preview: Safari tab sync, uploads, banners, and full screen mode

Safari has been on the iPhone since the first version launched in 2007, and has been steadily improved, year after year, version after version, ever since. iOS 6 follows the same, steady, evolutionary pattern, addressing long standing user pain-points like image uploads, and providing parity with features from other browsers, like Chrome's tab sync. It also makes Reading List more robust, and provides an interesting way for websites to alert users about, and move them into, apps.

Accessibility: Guided Access and single-app mode

iOS 6 preview: Guided Access and single-app mode

Something that Apple absolutely does not get enough credit for is their longstanding -- and outstanding -- support for accessibility features, and iOS 6 is no exception. To the already impressive list of accessibility features, Apple is adding Guided Access, a way to lock the iPad into a single app, to help people with autism or similar challenges work independently, without having to worry about accidentally closing an app. It also provides single-app mode functionality for everyone, which makes the iPad far more useful for everything from school tests to mall kiosks.

How iOS 6 compares to previous versions of iOS

Experiencing an iOS keynote like WWDC 2012 today, and watching Senior Vice President of iOS, Scott Forstall, lay out the new flagship features for iOS 6 -- what Apple's has called tent poles in the past -- it can be hard to weigh them against flagship features of the past, and to judge them free from expectations.

When compared side by side -- or slide to slide -- with keynotes past, the impact of each step of Apple's iOS evolution become easier to measure. Here's the full rundown:

How iOS 6 compares to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, Windows Phone 8, and BlackBerry 10

It's harder to compare iOS 6 to Android 4.1, BlackBerry 10, and Windows Phone 8, since they not only made different design choices and engineering compromises, they made different marketing decision about which features to showcase -- sometimes deliberately to counter-program Apple and/or each other. But for that very reason, to highlight the differences, the comparison is especially interesting. Here's the side-by-side (scroll down to the second section of the article).

Why iOS 6 is more about Apple than new user features

iOS 6 preview

Looking at everything we just went through, some may argue iOS 6 is more of a minor point release rather than a major new OS version. Or that was inattentive to power-user interests, and a sign that Apple was slowing down. Sure, the low hanging fruit is gone for iOS, but a lot of higher-hanging fruit remains.

However, that's not Apple's focus this year. This year, there's no iPhone OS 2.0 App Store-level feature addition for iOS. No iOS 5 PC-free/iCloud-level addition either. There's not even an iOS 4 or iPhone OS 3.0 multitasking or cut, copy, and paste-level addition. No new Home screen interfaces or fast app switcher visualizations. No actionable notifications or methods for inter-app communications. What there is, is all about Apple. And here's why:

More on iOS 6

More previews




TechHive: Who's still not on the iTunes Store?

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:30 AM PDT

TechHive: Who's still not on the iTunes Store? At one time, if you'd dominated the Billboard charts in the 1970s and lost at least one member of the band to an excessive life style, it was the fashionable thing to not find your work gathered in the iTunes Store. Many have changed their stance, but a few artists continue to hold out, making the catalogs of some artists who are on the Store incomplete. Who and what's missing?


Postbox offers a serious alternative to Apple's Mail app

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:00 AM PDT

Postbox offers a serious alternative to Apple's Mail app Postbox 3 is a superb, and inexpensive, upgrade for those who want more out of their email client than Apple's Mail provides.


iPhone 5 dream device giveaway!

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 07:25 AM PDT

iPhone 5 dream device giveaway!

Design your dream iPhone 5 and show (or tell) us all about it for your chance to win $500!

Apple has just announced the iPhone 5 event! Now, sure, there have been parts leaks, but nothing is confirmed until Tim Cook, Phil Schiller or Jonathan Ive hold it up on stage. That means there's still time to let our imaginations run away with us!

If you ran Apple, what would YOU announce as the next generation iPhone? What would it look like? What specs would it have? What special features would make it the best phone on the planet?

The contest

Design your iPhone 5 dream device!

Break out your Photoshop or 3D program and make a killer rendering, write out your version of Phil Schiller's keynote intro telling us all about it, make a fake web page with all the tech-specs, create a spoof video commercial, or just tell us, in your own words, what your dream iPhone 5 looks like. It has to be original (you can't copy anything you've seen online, the other forum members will turn you in!), and it has to be creative (make us want your iPhone 5 even more than Apple's!), but other than that, the sky's the limit. Wow us!

The editors of iMore and Mobile Nations will go through all the entries and pick our favorites. Rene's going to want something with killer design. Simon and I are going to want the best gaming iPhone ever. Leanna's and Daniel are going to want an awesome camera sensor. Ally's going to want repairability. Chris O... will just want Siri to work in the UK. Phil and Chris P. will take some customizability. Kevin is either going to want a physical keyboard (ugh!) or something in the $2000 range. You won't be able to please all the judges, so pick and choose your targets, and execute something too great to be ignored! Insanely great!

When you have your entry ready, post it in the official iMore forums iPhone 5 dream device giveaway thread!

The prizes

We know the iMore nation is the most creative, most intelligent, best looking community in mobile, and that means it's going to be really hard to pick just one winner. So we're going to add a couple of runner-up prizes, just to make it more interesting.

  • Grand prize: $500 U.S. Apple Store gift certificate to put towards the purchase of the real iPhone 5 when Apple launches it later this month!

    • Runner up prizes: 2x $100 Apple Store gift certificates to put towards the purchase of the real iPhone 5 when Apple launches it later this month!

The deadline

The contest starts now and ends Tuesday, September 25, 2012, at midnight PST. Winners will be announced live on the iMore show on September 26, 2012, some time between 6pm and 7pm PST.

Bring it!

Are you ready? Are you set? Then go, go, go! Post your dream iPhone 5 now!




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