Apple’s highly anticipated mobile software iOS 7 was unveiled during the headline keynote event at WWDC on Monday. The keynote began with a video about Apple’s design philosophy which gave a clear indication of some drastic changes we were about to witness.

iOS 7 was introduced with a video where Jony Ive, SVP of Design, shared the concept behind the look and feel of the next major version of iOS. As the video revealed photos of iPhone 5 running iOS 7 it showed a whole new direction the company was heading towards. This new direction was about getting rid of unnecessary ornamentation and about bringing a sense of focus and purpose to the OS.

From the lockscreen to the homescreen to the native apps, the design screams one word, “flat”. iOS 7 no longer features the heavy wooden, linen or leather textures. The design brings focus to the features of the app and what you can accomplish by utilising every pixel on the screen to deliver content to users.

The use of translucent overlays for control center, share sheets, keyboard and even Siri helps bring about a sense of understanding the functional hierarchy of features rather than hiding the unseen screen space with skeuomorphic textures. This also brings a fresh new look to your phone every time you change the wallpaper as the overlays reflect the colors underneath it.

Every element on iOS 7 has been redesigned from the fonts to the icons and even a new color palette. iOS 7 is a bold move from Apple, a move that shows the company’s ability to “think different”. It’s a well known fact that Steve Jobs was the one who was in favor of ornamentation and heavy textures. But, with Jony Ive as the head of software and hardware design the company has taken a whole new direction and whole new perspective of how iOS should be designed.

Tim Cook in an interview shared that Steve Jobs told Cook to never run Apple thinking “what Steve would have done” rather he advised Cook to do what was right for Apple. The introduction of iOS 7 is a perfect example of Cook’s leadership taking Apple to a different level.

iOS 7 doesn’t “revolutionise” the existing mobile OS, it didn’t showcase any features that haven’t existed on other mobile platforms however, it does show that Apple is willing to let go of the “old” to make way for what’s “better”.

I have never been against the use of ornamentation on iOS. In fact, it gives Apple’s iOS an exclusive elegance that has a “wow” factor. The wooden bookshelf in Newsstand and iBooks tries to connect technology with real life and brings about a sense of bridging the gap between the real and the virtual. However, I can clearly see how the leather stitched Notes app on the iPad takes away a lot of functional screen space. I think iOS had reached a point where balancing the real and the virtual ornaments had become an argument about design over functionality and focus.

With iOS 7 Jony Ive has tried to bring back the focus on functionality by simplifying and getting rid of the unnecessary. However, it’s worth noting that iOS 7 doesn’t let go of its connection with the real world. The OS now responds to motion to create a sense of depth as you tilt your device it shows the underlying content. Even as you change your wallpaper the reflection of the colors of the photo you choose has a very noticeable impact on the entire OS.

Apple didn’t deliver any breakthrough features in iOS 7 but, it has begun a new design journey which is modern, simplistic and unobtrusive in every sense. First look at iOS 7 may create a sense of unfamiliarity but, the more you look at it the more you understand the purpose behind such profound changes.

iOS 7 Marks the Beginning of Apple’s New Design Direction originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

Apple’s WWDC 2013 keynote event will go live today at the Moscone West convention center in San Francisco. Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, will kick off the event with a keynote presentation at 10 AM Pacific Time.

At this years Worldwide Developers Conference Apple will unveil iOS 7 and the next major release for OS X. A live video stream of the keynote event will be available at Apple’s website and requires Safari 4 or later on Mac OS X v10.6 or later; Safari on iOS 4.2 or later. The company has added a new section for streaming via Apple TV and requires second- or third-generation Apple TV with software 5.0.2 or later to stream the event.

iOS 7 will be the first release that has been developed under the leadership of Jony Ive, SVP of Industrial Design, as Apple fired Scott Forstall allegedly over Apple maps fiasco and an internal divide over the skeuomorphic design elements. In addition to a redesign iOS 7 is expected to open new API’s for developers giving more control over features and could also introduce AirDrop for iOS to make sharing between iOS devices easier.

No details have been available about what’s new in OS X. Apple usually previews new version of OS X earlier in the year however, it is believed that the company had to pull engineers from OS X team to work on iOS 7.

Banners for iOS 7 and OS X suggest a clean and flat design for the upcoming update. Apple is expected to release the software updates later this fall. Apple’s online store is down at the time of writing which suggests that the rumors about possible MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models could turn out to be true.

What are your expectations from this years keynote event? Let us know what you think in the comments section. To watch the live keynote event visit Apple’s website.

WWDC 2013 iOS 7 Live Keynote Event Video Stream Available originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

Apple will unveil the new music streaming service rumored to be called iRadio at WWDC 2013 keynote event according to a new report published by The Wall Street Journal.

Apple has been long rumoured to enter the music streaming business, since they acquired an online music company, LaLa in 2010.  iRadio is expected to be a free to use service supported by iAds that will display image ads and stream audio ads. The music streaming service will support options to buy tracks that users wish to download from the iTunes music store.

The service will launch for customers in the US. Details about international rollout remain unclear at this point. Offering a free streaming service as opposed to offering a paid subscription is quite interesting since Apple has always refrained from the ad supported model.

The company has taken quite long to enter the music streaming business even as other services that began by offering apps on the App Store have become hugely popular. Many believe that establishing deals with the record labels was the biggest hurdle in rolling out the service and the company waited until the terms were favorable. Eddy Cue, Apple’s SVP of Internet and Software services, is believed to have played a major role in getting all major record labels. One of the major points of differences in negotiating the deal had been been compensation for songs skipped by users, according to the report.

The highly anticipated new service—expected to be available only in the U.S.—will allow users to stream a radio-like channel of music based on their interests. It will be supported by text and audio ads from Apple’s iAd service, people familiar with the matter said. It will feature “Buy” buttons to drive downloads, they added.

The WSJ also reported on sources confirming the rumors about iOS 7 redesign featuring a new “flat” look. Apple is also looking at introducing new ways to share photos and videos.

The new iOS will also include new ways to share photos and videos with other iPhone users and other enhancements, these people said.

WWDC 2013 keynote event goes live today at 10 AM (Pacific Time) where the Cupertino, Calif. based company will unveil the future of software for iOS and OS X.

New Report Confirms iRadio Launch at WWDC 2013 Keynote Event and iOS 7 Design originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

Over the weekend the banners for iOS 7 and the next major version of OS X went up at the Moscone Center where Apple’s WWDC 2013 keynote event will be delivered.

This is the first time we are getting a preview of any promotional material for iOS 7 and OS 10.9. The banner for iOS 7 shows the number 7 written on a plain white background. The number 7 appears to be “flat” devoid of any 3D textures or imitating real life elements. This design language seems to confirm rumors and reports about Apple’s next major mobile software release to be “flat” in design and feature a complete re-design of the OS. The font used in the banner appears to be Helvetica Neue Ultra Light, which is a very thin variant of the popular Helvetica font.

The banner for the next release of OS X, mentions “X” in Helvetica Neue Ultra Light font but features a colorful “wave” background. After viewing these banners it is easy to assume that in addition to the new features the software release will introduce a re-design of the UI elements and the user experience.

Apple’s WWDC 2013 keynote event will go live today at 10 AM (Pacific Time) as Tim Cook will take the stage to announce the future of mobile and desktop operating systems.

{via 9to5 Mac}

iOS 7 and OS X Banners at Moscone Suggest “Flat” Software Design originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

Last month BlackBerry (formerly known as RIM) announced that it will release a multi-platform version of BlackBerry Messenger, adding support for iOS and Android. BBM has been hugely successful messaging service with over 10 billion messages sent per day with 60 million monthly active users.

BBM on iPhone will compete with Apple’s own iMessage and other popular instant messaging services like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. The release date for BBM for iPhone hasn’t been announced yet and it’s availability is likely scheduled for later this summer.

BBM set the standard for mobile instant messaging with fast and reliable service and an added layer of engagement with delivered and read statuses. You’ve shared with us your stories about how BBM has kept you connected when it mattered most to you. Upon release of the multi-platform BBM service, you can broaden that real-time connection to friends and colleagues on other supported mobile platforms.

Yesterday, Salshgear was first to spot a tweet from T-Mobile’s twitter account that announced “Great news – BlackBerry Messenger will be available to download on iOS and Android from June 27th!”. That tweet was later deleted and when BlackBerry PR was contacted by Mashable they confirmed that the release date was incorrect.

While there have been reports that BBM will be available to iOS and Android on June 27, this is not accurate,

A multi-platform BBM client on iOS and Android will fuel the growth for the instant chat messaging service. The first version of BBM on iPhone will include the following features:

- The immediacy of BBM chats
- Multi-person chats
- Voice note sharing
- BlackBerry Groups, where BBM users are able to set up groups of up to 30 people and share calendar, photos, files and more

Since, Apple allows messaging services other than iMessage to be available on the App Store, the approval process shouldn’t be an issue for BlackBerry.

T-Mobile Tweets Incorrect Release Date for BBM for iPhone originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2013) will kick off on June 10 with a keynote presentation by Tim Cook. At this years WWDC Apple will announce the next major software updates iOS 7 and OS X 10.9.

The company has decorated the venue Moscone Center with banners of the event. These banners are similar invite that Apple sent out to the developers. The photo of the banner had a tagline saying “Where a whole new world’s developing”.

More than 5000 developers attend the conference every year and Apple uses this as a platform to announce the latest mobile and desktop operating systems. In addition to previewing the future of iOS and OS X Apple will also share beta versions of the software with the developers to test the upcoming updates.

According to the rumors and reports we’ve reported in the past Apple is widely expected to unveil a redesigned version of iOS with a flatter design that lacks glossy look and 3D textures. The company could also announce new MacBook Air and Pro models during the keynote.

We’re not expecting any new iPhone during the WWDC as the focus of the entire conference will be software related. It’s not clear if Apple will live stream the event however, we will be bringing you all-in-one live feed of the keynote event as it goes live on June 10.

{via 9to5 Mac}

WWDC 2013 Banners Go Up At Moscone Center originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Samsung have been fighting the legal battle of patents in the courts in many countries. AAPL won a significant lawsuit against Samsung last year where the court awarded $1 Billion to Apple after finding that Samsung products infringed Apple’s patents.

On Wednesday the U.S International Trace Commission reached a decision {PDF} on Samsung Patent No, 7,706,384 described as “Apparatus and method for encoding/decoding transport format combination indicator in CDMA mobile communication system” and ruled that Apple had infringed on Samsung’s patent.

As a result of this ruling the ITC has issued a “cease and desist” order that would prevent Apple from selling the products that infringe the patent. The devices that would be affected are AT&T iPhone 4, 3GS, iPad 3G and iPad 2 3G.

Under the modified constructions, the Commission has determined that Samsung has proven that the accused iPhone 4 (AT&T models); iPhone 3GS (AT&T models); iPhone 3 (AT&T models); iPad 3G (AT&T models); and iPad 2 3G (AT&T models) infringe the asserted claims of the ’348 patent.

The Commission has further determined that the properly construed claims have not been proven by Apple to be invalid and that Samsung has proven that a domestic industry exists in the United States with respect to the ‘348 patent.

Apple would most definitely appeal this decision. The ban won’t come into effect immediately as this is a preliminary final ruling. Apple will take this matter up to the Federal Circuit Courts to review this decision.

The legal battles between tech companies in recent years is being viewed as a means to prevent competitors from grabbing a large market share by securing bans in the court. However, Apple’s view on its legal battle is to prevent Samsung from “blatantly copying” its products.

{via MacRumors}

Apple Inc. (AAPL) Infringed on Samsung Patent ITC Rules originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

Apple’s next major mobile software release, iOS 7, is expected to receive a complete redesign of the user interface. Under the leadership of Jony Ive, the SVP of Industrial Design iOS 7 will get a “flatter” look.

An image recently posted by iDownloadBlog could possibly be the home screen in iOS 7. The photo appears to be taken of an iPhone running iOS 7 where the app icons look different when compared with iOS 6.

When you look at the current state of stock apps icons, it seems that all of them were designed by different teams. Most of them have a different look. They don’t have unified features that tie them all up together. Some of them have a gloss effect. Some of them don’t. Some of them have borders. Some of them don’t, etc…

From what we’ve seen, we believe Jony Ive’s touch on iOS 7 will homogenize the look of Apple’s stock apps icons.

While the authenticity of the photo could not be established, 9to5 Mac did note that the photo is of an early build of iOS 7 and added that the design has changed a lot since then.

It’s been widely reported that there was an internal divide in Apple over the use of skeuomorphic design elements. Jony Ive has been leading the hardware design at Apple and his focus has been clean minimalistic design. As he takes over of the human interface design of iOS many expect the user interface to be just like the hardware, clean and simple, without the glossy effect and the 3D textures.

iOS 7 will be unveiled at WWDC 2013 keynote presentation and will be released to users later this fall.

iOS 7 Home Screen Image Reportedly Leaks Shows ‘Flat’ Design originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

According to a new report iOS 7 will feature AirDrop wireless sharing between iOS devices and OS X. AirDrop for iPhone and iPad could make file sharing between devices much easier.

AirDrop has been a part of OS X Lion and was introduced to share files between Macs without the need for a WiFi network.  9to5Mac reports that AirDrop for iOS 7 could be integrated into the iOS share menu and allow sharing of files between iOS devices or even a Mac.

The feature will make it easier than ever to transfer, for example, a photograph or document from one person’s iPhone to another person’s iPad.

There are a few third party apps available in the App Store that allow sharing of photos, contacts, videos between iOS devices and Macs however there is no native solution to make sharing between devices easier.

When Apple introduced iCloud, it did try to resolve the issue of syncing photos across the devices you own however, sharing of individual files between friends’ or other devices is not easy. Android has a host of sharing features and with iOS 7 Apple could be looking at introducing some new ways to share files on iOS.

iOS 7 will be unveiled during WWDC 2013 keynote presentation. The next major iOS software release is expected to receive a major redesign under the leadership of Jony Ive.

iOS 7 to feature AirDrop Wireless File Sharing Between iOS Devices and Mac? originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

Apple quietly updated it’s online store with a new iPod touch model recently. The new 16GB iPod touch is similar in design to the fifth gen model that was announced in September last year.

The new 16GB iPod touch costs $229 and the price reduction was made possible by getting rid of of the rear camera and the loop wrist strap. The iPod touch still features a front facing HD 1.2MP camera with HD (720p) video recording.

Even though the iPod sales continue to decline year over year, Apple’s iPod still accounts for 70% of the mp3 players sold in the market. The new fifth gen model was made available in 32GB and 64GB variations costing $299 and $399 respectively. Launching a more affordable 16GB model will allow Apple to keep a strong hold in the market and keep competition away.

A teardown of the 16GB model by iFixit revealed that the internal components of the new device are nearly identical to the fifth gen model. With the area for rear camera and loop strap having a small void.

Apple didn’t wait for WWDC to announce the new 16GB iPod touch as it would want the entire focus to be on new OS X and iOS 7.

The 16GB iPod touch is available only in black colour and ships within 24 hours. Are you excited about this launch? Were you waiting for Apple to launch an affordable iPod touch? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Apple’s New 16GB iPod touch Makes Owning iOS Device More Affordable originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

New photo of iPad 5 bezel and digitizer have appeared online again. Apple.pro has published new image that appears to be of the upcoming fifth-generation iPad. This is not the first time we are seeing these images. The rumor mill in the past has leaked photos that claim to be of Apple’s next gen tablet.

The upcoming iPad 5 is expected to receive a new design similar to the iPad mini. Recent rumors and leaked images all suggest that iPad 5 will get a “narrower” bezel. The photo above was published to a Photobucket account, it shows the bezel and ribbon cable of the digitizer of the rumored fifth-gen iPad.

Apple announced the fourth-gen iPad and iPad mini in October last year and it’s likely that the company will announce the new iPad during the same time frame this year. While recent leaks all point to new hardware design for the next iPad however, the authenticity of the photo is difficult to establish.

Product leaks have become fairly common for Apple since the iPhone 4, even as Tim Cook last year during All Things D suggested he wanted to double down on product leaks, it is still an issue for Apple. With leaks about upcoming products the sales of Apple’s existing product line up take a huge hit which has been evident in Apple’s annual financial report following any major product launch.

{via MacRumors}

Update : NowhereElse.fr has revealed that the photo above is of an iPad mini part taken from a Chinese part vendor.

Photo of iPad 5 Bezel and Digitizer Appear Online? originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

Apple’s next gen iPhone, widely rumoured to be called iPhone 5S or iPhone 6, is expected to be unveiled later this fall. According to a new rumor published on WeiPhone.com, iPhone 5S will carry twice as many pixels as iPhone 5. The hardware will reportedly receive minor makeover with a narrow bezel.

According to sources, iPhone 5S (or iPhone 6) or to have a more narrow screen frame, is now preparing, will ship in September. In addition, the product also has a screen 1.5 million pixels, compared to nearly 730,000 iPhone 5 the number of pixels, if not the screen size continues to increase, the resolution will be greatly improved.

Apple could be looking at increasing the pixel density in the next iPhone which would result in a resolution of 1704 x 960 with 489 pixels per inch (PPI). This could however, pose potential issues for developers who would be forced to change the app design to fit the increased pixel density by 1.5 factor in each dimension.

The design of iPhone has remained same for two generations such as in iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. Rumor posted on WeiPhone is contrary to the popular belief that iPhone 5S / 6 will retain the same design as the iPhone 5. Apple invests a huge amount in researching and developing the hardware design and could possibly look at retaining the existing design.

Apple’s next iPhone will compete directly with Samsung’s Galaxy S4 which boasts a large screen of 4.99 inch and 441 pixels per inch with a Super AMOLED screen of 1920 x 1080 resolution. It is highly unlikely for Apple to introduce a new iPhone with a larger screen and it will be interesting to see how exactly does Apple plan to increased the number of pixels if this rumor indeed turns out to be true.

{via MacRumors}

iPhone 5S / 6 to Feature Twice as Many Pixels as iPhone 5? originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

Apple recently aired a new iPhone 5 TV ad spot called “Music Every Day”. The ad campaign is similar to “Photos Every Day” ad spot. The latest advertisement from Apple highlights the fact that more people enjoy music on their iPhone that any other phone.

Both music and photos ad spots target the fact that Apple has a huge customer base and that the customer who use iPhones are very satisfied with their phones. This campaign is just an extension of the recent web campaign where Apple posted a new page to their website titled “iPhone 5 – Loving it is easy. That’s why so many people do.” In the online campaign the Cupertino, Calif. based company highlights the fact that the iPhone has received nine straight J.D. Power and Associates awards for customer satisfaction.

Apple is facing increasing competition from Samsung as the smartphone market is growing; both tech giants are looking to capture larger market share. Samsung recently unveiled the Samsung Galaxy 4, which boasts a number of new software features. Apple’s new iPhone won’t be unveiled before this fall, so it was natural for Apple to launch ad campaigns for the iPhone 5 to capture customers interest even as other companies launch newer products.

Even as Android device makers are offering devices in screen sized larger than 4 inches, Apple’s next iPhone would continue to feature the same 4 inch screen that we saw in the iPhone 5. The company is expected to introduce new hardware features such as a fingerprint sensor, new camera and ship the new iPhone 5S with iOS 7.

Apple Posts New iPhone 5 TV Ad “Music Every Day” originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

Apple is expected to announce iPhone 5S release date later this fall. A new report published earlier today suggests that one of Apple’s display partners, Sharp, will begin manufacturing iPhone 5S display panels in June.

The latest claim by Japanese newspaper Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, confirms claims made by The Wall Street Journal last month about iPhone 5S production beginning in the second quarter. The report also mentions that Japan Display and LG Display have also received mass production orders for the LCD panels.

It’s been widely reported that Apple had been facing production issues with the fingerprint sensor in IPhone 5S, which caused delay and the release date was pushed further. Apple had faced production issues even with the white iPhone 4 which caused delay in the launch of the white color model.

Apple has pushed the iPhone release cycle from June every year to September – November timeframe. The iPhone 5S is expected to be announced at a special event later this fall. During the quarterly earnings call Apple CEO, Tim Cook, did hint at a strong product lineup which will be introduced during the fall and beyond.

According to the rumors and reports published online iPhone 5S is widely expected to carry the same design as the iPhone 5 but, will feature fingerprint sensor, upgraded camera, faster CPU performance and more.

{via MacRumors}

iPhone 5S Release Date Near As Sharp Begins Display Production? originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

We have a number of strategies in progress to increase loyalty and attract more customers, including our announcement today that we will begin offering Apple products later this year. By further strengthening our device portfolio, we’ll give consumers another great reason to switch to U.S. Cellular, and enable our existing customers to choose from an even wider variety of iconic smartphones, and enjoy the outstanding U.S. Cellular customer experiences they deserve.

The carrier announced that its smartphone penetration is at “43 percent of core market customers and growing quickly”. It is in Apple’s best interest to make its smartphones and tablets to more local carriers in the US and globally. The Cupertino, Calif., based company has been facing intense competition from Samsung. Increasing the availability of Apple’s devices on more carriers would help in gaining more market share and customer satisfaction.

Apple is known to ask carriers to commit purchase of certain number of iPhones and most carriers have been happy to strike deal with the iPhone maker. Major carriers like AT&T and Verizon have been reporting iPhone as a popular smartphone and accounts for a large portion of their activations.

{via MacRumors}

Apple Products Coming to US Cellular This Year originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) plans to spend $100 billion in share buy-backs in the next few years. AAPL recently sold $17 billion’s worth of corporate bonds in order to fund its buy-back plan.

During FY 13 second quarter earnings call Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) announced that it has a cash balance of $145 billion where two-thirds of this money is in overseas subsidies. If Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) were to bring the cash back to the US, the company would be liable to pay huge taxes and therefore borrowed the money in form of corporate debt.

According to a report published by Bloomberg, Apple Inc. (AAPL) saved approximately $9.2 billion in taxes by borrowing a part of the money that it requires for the stock buy-back plan. The figures were provided by Moody’s Investment Services and a senior vice president at Moody’s said, “From a pure corporate-finance theory perspective, this was a no-brainer,”. The report further mentions:

If the funds had come from Apple’s offshore cash pile of about $100 billion, the Cupertino, California-based iPhone maker would have had to pay a 35 percent tax to repatriate the money, Granovsky said. That means Apple avoided about $9.2 billion in taxes. And since interest payments are tax-deductible, that’s another $100 million a year, Granovsky said.

The $17 billion corporate debt sale set a new record as the world’s largest debt sale. A report by The Financial Times reveals that the demand for the bond reached $52 billion as bond investors were confident about Apple’s cash structure.

Apple’s stock has dropped since its September record due to investors being skeptical about the company’s ability to bring the “next big thing” to the market. Investors are likely waiting for Apple to enter into new markets with the widely rumoured Apple TV or smart watch.

Apple Inc. (AAPL) Saves $9.2 Billion In Taxes By Raising Corporate Debt originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

Apple’s App Store is about to hit yet another milestone as the company has updated its website with a countdown to 50 billion downloads. Apple will also be giving away US$ 10,000 App Store Gift Card to the user who downloads the 50 billionth app. The next 50 users who download apps from the App Store could win $500 App Store Gift Cards.

No purchase is necessary in order to be a part of this giveaway. All users in supported countries are automatically entered as they download free or paid apps. Additionally, you can also visit the official promotion page here to fill out a form (limited to 25 entries per person per day) and enter the giveaway.

In January this year Apple announced the App Store had crossed 40 billion downloads and has added another 10 billion in just under 5 months.

The App Store today offers some of the best apps and games created for smartphones and tablets. It changed the way people thought about apps on a mobile device and continues to revolutionise what we can accomplish with them.

Even as the App Store is about to hit 50 billion downloads it’s worth remembering that Steve Jobs was opposed to the idea of having third party apps on the App Store as he was concerned “his team did not have the bandwidth to figure out all the complexities that would be involved in policing third-party app developers.”

Today Apple continues to dominate the mobile app market with high quality of apps available in the App Store and the amount of revenue developers generate from it.

Apple’s App Store about to hit 50 billion downloads originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

iOS 7 is the next major software release for Apple’s most profitable product lineup. Following the ousting of Scott Forstall the development of Human Interface design has been handed over to Industrial Design chief, Jony Ive. It has been widely reported that under Ive iOS 7 is expected to receive a complete overhaul and feature a very flat design without much of the skeuomorphic elements.

According to a new report published by All Things D, in order to stay on schedule for iOS 7 release date and the preview slated for WWDC 2013 Apple has allocated additional engineers from OS X team. The publication cites unnamed sources close to the matter as saying, “the company has been “borrowing” engineers from the OS X 10.9 team as part of an effort to double down on iOS 7.” Apple had to resort to similar measures during the launch of the original iPhone when engineers from OS X 10.5 were asked to work on the iPhone OS. Even though Apple is working in a crunch mode the sources expect iOS 7 to be on schedule for preview and final release date.

iOS 7 is being touted as a major release as Apple’s operating system over the recent years has come under intense criticism for lack of innovation and stale design. By appointing Jony Ive as the head of interface design the company has sought to bring increased collaboration between hardware and software services. The face of Apple’s hardware has been in the hands of Ive and the company has seen tremendous success and won customer satisfaction for its design.

Many reports suggest that Ive is leading the design team to work on a flat design as opposed to the faux textures, leather border and seams.

“Put it this way,” said one source who has been briefed on iOS. “You know Game Center’s green felt craps table? Well, goodbye, Circus Circus.”

Will replacing skeuomorphic design with a flatter one help give iOS the much needed refresh it needs? Will it cause unrest among users who have grown to love the leather stitched seams and book shelfs? We will get a preview of iOS 7 during WWDC 2013 and it will be interesting to see what Jony Ive’s team has in store for us.

iOS 7 Release Date on Schedule As Apple Adds More Engineers originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

As iOS 7 release date nears, new details about the upcoming software update are being revealed in the blogosphere. We recently reported on iOS 7 design to be very flat and feature an overhaul of default icon sets. According to a report published by 9to5 Mac, Apple is looking to introduce tighter in-car integration in iOS 7 maps and Siri.

According to people familiar with the plans, Apple is working with car makers on updated versions of car center consoles that could attach to iOS devices like the iPhone. Specifically, an iPhone could be plugged into a car and an optimized, redesigned version of Apple Maps will appear on the car’s built-in display instead of a proprietary GPS system found in many cars.

Sources have described this as a feature akin to a video-out or mirrored display representation of the iPhone’s Maps app onto the bigger screens included with most modern vehicles.

Apple introduced “Eyes Free” in iOS 6 last year and many top car manufacturers committed to integrating the feature in new car models. Chevrolet was one of the first manufacturers to integrate “Eyes Free” in Spark and Sonic models.

The report further mentions that the technology to control Maps and Siri via increased in-car integration will be included in iOS 7 however, public launch could possibly see some delay due to the need for “extensive car-based testing, improvements to apple Maps and Siri infrastructures, and deals with car makers.”

Even though these plans may sound ambitious given the fact that Apple’s mapping and Siri technologies have been under constant criticism. It appears that the Cupertino, Calif., based company is committed to making their cloud services better and expand its use outside the iOS environment.

iOS 7 to Boost In-Car Integration of Apple Maps and Siri originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

Apple’s next major mobile software release, iOS 7, will feature a flatter design losing artificial textures and skeuomorphism. According to a new report published by 9to5 Mac, iOS 7 is expected to introduce a complete redesign of the operating system but will continue to keep the basic functions and behaviour of the OS.

Last October, Apple fired Scott Forstall and made Jony Ive the head of human interface design. It has been widely reported that Ive was never a fan of the skeuomorphism used in iOS and actually leans more towards a flatter and clean design.

 

While the look of the updated system may be surprising to some, iOS 7 is reportedly not more difficult to use than earlier versions of software platform. There is apparently no new learning curve in the same way there was no learning curve when the iPods went color. While iOS 7 does look different, its core apps and system fundamentals (like the Lock and Home screens) mostly operate in a similar fashion to how they do today.

iOS 7 is codenamed “Innsbruck,” according to three people familiar with the OS. The interface changes include an all-new icon set for Apple’s native apps in addition to newly designed tool bars, tab bars, and other fundamental interface features across the system.

A recent update to the Podcasts app for iPhone and iPad could give us some clue to what we could expect in iOS 7. When Forstall was heading the iOS team the app featured design of an old tape recorder and later when the app was updated under Ive’s leadership the skeomorphism was replaced with flatter design elements and focused more on ease of use.

The report on new features in iOS 7 points us to new gestures being investigated by Apple that could reveal more information to the user by just swiping left or right of the screen, just like how Notification Center can be accessed by swiping the screen downwards.

Since Jony Ive now leads both hardware and human interface design teams, the software design teams now get early access to the prototype designs so that the software and hardware look even more similar. Apple feels that this move will “increase collaboration across hardware, software & services”.

iOS 7 to Feature ‘Flat Design’ Under Jony Ive’s Leadership originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

Apple will showcase the next major release of OS X during WWDC 2013 keynote event and according to a new report OS X 10.9 will focus on power-user features. OS X 10.9 has been widely reported to be internally codenamed as “Cabernet” which won’t bring a complete UI change to the operating system but will improve the overall performance and functions of the OS.

In a new report 9to5 Mac details the upcoming features of OS X 10.9 highlighting tags and tabbed browsing mode in the Finder. A new version of Safari is also reported to be in the works that will feature a “redesigned backend for improved page loading, speed and efficiency”. Another pro-user friendly feature that could be introduced is the ability to open different full-screen apps in a multiple monitor setup.

The report further details a new multi-tasking system for OS X that could be similar to iOS and also bring app pausing for background apps to OS X. This could bring more efficiency, performance and battery improvements to the MacBook lineup.

Siri for OS X has been rumoured to be in the works since the introduction of speech dictation in OS X Mountain Lion. The report suggests that it’s possible that Apple may launch Siri only on next gen products.

Apple’s WWDC 2013 press release also clearly mentioned that the company will showcase “advances in software technologies and developer tools” which suggests that we will see a preview of Xcode 5.0 as well.

Last year, Apple previewed Mountain Lion before WWDC and then released it in July. This year due to management shakeup in the iOS department the teams from OS X were brought over to work on iOS and thus the company had to push the OS X 10.9 preview to June.

It will be interesting to see if Apple would still launch OS X 10.9 in July or if it will push the release of iOS 7 and OS X 10.9 to later this fall.

OS X 10.9 Release to Focus on “Power-User” Features originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

Apple’s WWDC 2013 keynote event will kick off on June 10 where the company is expected to preview OS X 10.9, iOS 7 and now according to a new report we may also see next gen MacBook Pro models. The company in the recent years has used WWDC as a platform to showcase the latest advancements in its software and has made efforts to schedule hardware announcement events separately.

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in his report about Apple’s WWDC 2013 mentions that the company will introduce new models of MacBook Pro and MacBook Air that will be based on Intel’s latest Haswell processors. Kuo also believes that Apple will continue to offer non-Retina MacBook Pro models which is contrary to the claims made earlier.

Contrary to our previous projection, we now think Apple will continue to make the MacBook Pro alongside the MacBook Air and Retina MacBook Pro because the 13” MacBook Pro remains the most popular product in the MacBook line. Also, there is still demand in emerging markets, where Internet penetration isn’t advanced, for optical disk drives.

Kuo is his predictions for WWDC 2013 notes that updated non-Retina MacBook Pro models could ship “very soon” after WWDC but, the new Retina-MacBook Pro models may ship at a later date.

MacBook Air lineup is also expected to be refreshed however, the analyst believes that we may not see a Retina MacBook Air just yet and cites “cost, thickness and production concerns” as the top issues.

{via MacRumors}

WWDC 2013 Keynote To Feature Launch of Next Gen MacBook Pro Models? originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

According to a new report Apple is expected to launch lower priced iPad mini this year that could hit the market at $199 – $249 price points. With Android gaining market share in the smartphone and tablet market many analysts believe that the Cupertino, Calif., based company should address the low priced market segment.

We’ve reported on rumors about Apple working on a cheaper iPhone and now as iPad mini refresh is expected soon reports about cheaper iPad mini are beginning to flourish. The second gen iPad mini is expected to carry the same design but feature high resolution retina display and upgraded cameras. The processors and RAM would also see an update to support the high processing power required by the retina display.

In a research note, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo mentions:

Prior to iPad mini 2 launch, Apple might roll out a more affordable iPad mini to compete with Android products. To cut costs, Apple might push for lower component prices, use a more advanced process to produce the A5 processor, simplify metal casing production, remove the rear camera, cut storage to 8GB and find more component suppliers to lower costs. We think this cheaper iPad mini retail for US$199~249.

Kuo believes that at a lower price point Apple will be able to cater to the low end of the tablet market which is currently dominated by Android tablets. Apple has publicly denied all reports of a low-cost product and have continued to stress on quality of the products. However, it will be interesting to see if the company introduces a low cost tablet in the market to remain competitive and stop Android from dominating any particular market segment.

{via MacRumors}

Apple to Launch “More Affordable” iPad Mini at $199 – $249? originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

Adam Bell, a jailbreak developer, has now released an iOS jailbreak tweak that brings Facebook chat heads to iOS systemwide. The new jailbreak tweak is called ‘Message Box’.

Facebook recently announced Facebook Home for Android that offers deep integration of the social media giant’s services into the operating system. One of the features highlighted on Facebook Home was the ability to have “chat heads” systemwide no matter which app you were using.

Facebook chat heads on homescreen and floating on top of other apps allows users to always stay connected with their friends and continue the conversation without the need to switch apps. Facebook recently updated it’s iPhone, iPad app and brought chat heads to its native app however, the feature is limited to being just inside the Facebook app for iOS.

Message Box for iPhone / iPad allows users to float the active chat heads and access the messages on the homescreen or any other app. The jailbreak tweak is known to be stable however, a few stability issues have been reported on the web.

If you find yourself using Facebook chat a lot then this jailbreak tweak could be a must have for you. The tweak is available for free on the developers GitHub page and will also be made available on on BigBoss Cydia repo.

Jailbreak Tweak ‘Message Box’ Brings Facebook Chat Heads to iOS originally appeared on: Touch Reviews

With Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) under intense criticism over the past several months, it is not surprising that the company’s CEO, Tim Cook would come out and regret some of the steps they took in the past. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has been seeing its stock in a tailspin, analysts worrying about gross margins, and many claiming that the company is lacking in innovation.

On Tuesday, during Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s Q2 2013 earnings call, Cook admitted that Apple should have waited until 2013 to release the new redesigned iMac. The new iMac uses a new screen lamination process that caused many problems when it was introduced in late 2012, and the radically thin design appeared to be slightly bold for something was to be released within weeks of its announcement.

The new iMac was released into a mass of customers that hadn’t seen any new products in months, and as a result, expectations were high. Unfortunately, the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) delayed the iMac, which resulted in a decline in sales for the holiday quarter. Mac sales slipped to 4.1 million, mainly because of the failure of iMac’s launch. Cook admitted during the earnings call that this was a mistake and commented on the situation:

We felt our customers had to wait too long. In retrospect, yes, I sort of wish we had done it after the turn of the year. Customers wouldn’t have had to have waited as long as they did.

Tim Cook’s apology is a sign of the type of leadership that the company is now under, with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s former CEO, Steve Jobs rarely offering up an apology for any mistakes made. Jobs simply found a way to prove the company right or make amends through actions. Cook has already apologized for the failed Maps app in iOS, as well as for its subpar handling of warranty issues in China.

{Via AppleInsider}

Apple Inc. (AAPL) CEO Admits Release of Redesigned iMac Could Have Waited Until 2013 originally appeared on: Touch Reviews