Apple – Page 3 – NerdBeach

Take Live 360 Degree Video With Your iPhone 4 Using Dot

We can all agree that the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S have a great video capability, and ithe auto focus and great light sensitivity makes it very easy to use. But did you now that it could grab 360 degree videos just as easy? You can, if you have Dot.

Dot is a mechanical device that is designed to hook to your iPhone and provides a small dome shaped mirror for grabbing the video. You snap it on, turn the iPhone flat, and start grabbing everything around you. A dedicated app processes the raw dome shaped video into a 360 degree panoramic that allow you to pan and move while the video plays. Simple and effective – how cool is that?

This capability really allows the user to share everything that was going on around the user at a given time. You can even revisit taken videos and see what was happening beside or behind you as needed. I think this is a great idea, and puts a whole new spin on the VR pictures you can find on the web now, but puts the power in your own hands.

The Dot Project is a Kickstarter project, and a pledge of $99 gets you the Dot device, the app, an invitation to the launch party, and even a hug when it launches in 2012. I am actually excited about Dot, and would love to see such capabilities built into a future device. If included by Apple, it could be as simple as a small bump on the top of an iPhone. But in the meanwhile, this should be a great way to share videos with anyone. Who knows, maybe you and a friend can explore a place together, since you may have missed something the first time around.

Kickstarter

Kickstarter is an online threshold pledge system for funding creative projects. Kickstarter has funded a diverse array of endeavors, ranging from indie film and music to journalism, solar energy technology and food-related projects.

source:wikipedia

2012 iPad Rumor Roundup

Greg Chaffins

Well, the end of a year usually means one thing for sure – new Apple product rumors. At NerdBeach we have been collecting those rumors, and trying to sift through the information to try to get to the base rumors that at least seem to make sense. So, what have we dug up for the next iPad? Let’s take a look.

Two iPad Models

It is rumored that the next iPad will be offered in two different models in order to hit the widest possible market. One of the models will, logically enough, compete with the Kindle Fire as a more entry level priced unit. The other will be a more upscale version in the price range we are used to seeing to day. It is hard to determine the distinguishing factors between the two models, but at this time both appear to be coming with a 9.7 inch screen, not a smaller 7 inch model as reported elsewhere. This would also make sense if Apple was trying to minimize the impact the new display would have on developers.

5 Megapixel Camera

The higher priced iPad is rumored to be sporting a new camera, capable of 5 mp. Samsung is providing the CMOS image sensor for the device. At this point it looks like the more economical iPad would still have a camera, but a lower resolution version.

Dual LED Light Bars With QXGA Display

The next iPad will sport dual backlighting to make the screen even sharper than it is now. Reportedly both Sharp and Samsung are participants in the supply chain to produce the 1536 x 2048 QXGA displays. This gets the next generation iPad close to a Retina display quality, and would definitely make full screen PDFs and magazine pages more pleasurable to read.

Quad Core Processor

The quad core A6 processor should find its way into the next iPad. This should boost computational power above the current model, which is itself no slouch. Of course, this extra power will come at the expense of at least a little more battery power, which brings us to the next rumor:

High Capacity 14,000 mAH Battery

The next iPad will carry a 14,000 mAH battery, which should power the advancements with no problem. Simplo Technology and Dynapack International Technology are lined up to supply the power cells.

When Will We See it

Some sites are reporting that the new models could be revealed as early as January 26th at iWorld. However, I don’t see this happening given the recent history with Apple. Of course, anything is possible, but I would look for the unveiling to be somewhere in the March – June timeframe. Then again, it’s Tim Cook’s show now, so maybe there is a change in the air.
Please note that rumors are subject to change, and nowhere is this more true than with Apple products that have not hit the market yet. Last minute deals or issues beyond the control of the suppliers can change plans quickly, and Apple has shown in the pat that it can roll with the punches as needed. But far as we can today, this is what you might come to expect in the next iPad. And, I’m not ashamed to say, I would like one.

iPad 2 Tech Specs

Display

9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi)
Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously

Processor: Apple A5 Processor

Farewell to Steve Jobs (Infographic)

Greg Chaffins

Steve Jobs was an iconic person that took a concept from his parent’s garage to a multi-billion dollar company. Not everyone will agree about his level of genius, but it is hard to argue with his results. You will find Steve Jobs’ fingerprints on many areas of modern computing, and his blending of the user experience with technology will probably be his lasting footprint in history. With that said, let’s look at an infographic titled “Farewell To A Genius”.

via

The Passing of Steve Jobs

In 2003, Jobs was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Though it was initially treated, Jobs reported of a hormone imbalance, underwent a liver transplant in 2009, and appeared progressively thinner as his health declined. In August 2011, during his third medical leave, Jobs resigned as CEO, but continued to work for Apple as Chairman of the Board until his death.

On October 5, 2011, he died in his Palo Alto home, aged 56. His death certificate listed respiratory arrest as the immediate cause of death, with “metastatic pancreas neuroendocrine tumor” as the underlying cause. His occupation was listed as “entrepreneur” in the “high tech” business.

source:wikipedia

Aluminum iPhone 5 with 4 Inch Screen Coming in March 2012?

Greg Chaffins

The iPhone 5 might be a different form factor than the 4, but will it be available in white? Probably.

When the iPhone 4S surfaced, there were many that were vocal about their disappointment. This was no doubt fueled by many different articles in the tech blogosphere. Those rumors were running rampant about a completely new design for Apple’s flagship mobile device. But they turned out to be false.

Of course, if you look at recent history, something along the lines of the 4S should have been expected. After all, the iPhone 3GS followed the iPhone 3, and it was an improvement over an existing design – the same relationship that the 4S has with the iPhone 4.

But now we are facing the strong possibility of a new iPhone design. What are the rumors this time around about the potential new device? Let’s take a look at them.

4 Inch Screen

According to multiple sources, both Sony and Hitachi are already supplying 4 inch screens for the new device. This is in sharp contrast to the “one handed thumbs reach” theory of the current device, but pressure from competitors may be pushing the change. The fact that both Sony and Hitachi have been identified as suppliers is in line with Apple’s long standing habit of having multiple suppliers for key components. In other words, it sounds likely.

High Tech IGZO Screen

That big 4 inch screen is new for more than just the size. The rumor mill has it that the device will utilize a IGZO (iridium, gallium, zinc) display, which could allow for a potentially thinner design. How much of that space saving will be translated to a thinner design instead of more battery is unknown, but the potential is there.

Metal Case

Instead of the glass wrapped design of the current model, the new device may have an aluminum case. This is inline with other Apple devices, so it is at least believable. While Apple has just went to a glass backed device starting with the iPhone 4, the increased size of the device and the cost of durable glass may be a factor in the change. Then again, it could be a shape that simply works best in metal. One thing we will probably not see is the teardrop shape rumored for the 2011 model.

8mm Longer Design

According to industry sources (okay, tech blogs sharing rumors), the iPhone 5 will be longer – 8 mm, to be exact. While it will still fit in a pocket okay, you can forget about the current cases. Of course, you already knew this due to the bigger screen.

Possible March 2012 Launch Date

Now this is one rumor that I don’t agree with – they are saying that the iPhone 5 will launch as early as March 2012. Feeding this rumor is the supposed delivery of prototype units to Apple headquarters, and the possibility that Asian factories are already mass producing the device.

Instead I would expect more of a summer release, with June/July as the target. This is especially true if you look back at Apple’s history of mobile releases. Of course, without Steve Jobs in place there are certainly changes afoot at Apple, so it really is anyone’s guess.

4G Support

I can’t imagine the new iPhone not having LTE / 4G support. Giving the expected lifetime of the device, it would almost certainly need to play on those fields. Of course, LTE means greater battery drain, and this might be why a thinner display may not directly translate to a thinner device – it needs the battery room.

While we can spin rumors all day long, one thing is certain – we won’t know for sure until it ships. When that inevitably happens, it might be fun to take a look back at all the rumors to see how many were hit or miss. But until then, please, no gambling – unless, of course, you are an iPhone case or accessory manufacturer.