ios5

iTunes slip-up reveals auto app-updates feature

A message that appeared in iTunes briefly last night before being taken down by Apple hints that automatic application updates are on the way to iOS users as part of the upcoming system update.

Discovered by MacRumors, the hint came inside of the iTunes app update page, where users can opt to have the iTunes software fetch application updates in bulk, as opposed to waiting for them to update one at a time on the device itself. The boilerplate text on this section was otherwise identical to what's been there for years, with the exception of the end line, … Read more

Twitter photo integration rumored for iOS 5

Next week Apple shows off iOS 5 at its Worldwide Developers Conference, and while much remains unknown about what will be included, a new report suggests Twitter is on the VIP list.

In a post this afternoon, TechCrunch says Apple is baking Twitter into the operating system to help users post photos they've taken on their iOS devices directly to the service. The feature is said to be integrated into the camera and photo roll to let users share pictures to Twitter just like they would a video to YouTube, Vimeo, or one of the other video-hosting sites Apple includes.

That idea in itself is not so outlandish with the expected launch of an official photo-hosting service from Twitter, which AllThingsD says will be announced tomorrow night at the outlet's D9 conference. As the Twitter photo-sharing landscape currently stands, users have to venture to outside sites for photo hosting, scattering the options across a number of providers. With Apple's current sharing tools for photos and videos, such an expansive list could prove challenging to fit and maintain. … Read more

Rumor: iOS 5 will not be available for iPhone 3GS

Such is the way of technology. Just two years after its release, the iPhone 3GS may be deemed "too old" for Apple's next iteration of its mobile operating system, iOS 5.

Mobile phone blogger Eldar Murtazin, from the Russian site Mobile-Review, stated frankly in a tweet recently (via MacStories): "Just one comment. Apple iPhone 3GS wont be upgradable to iOS 5.x. iPhone 4 will."

The comment did not come with a follow-up on sources of the information and could very well just be an educated guess on Murtazin's part. Whether fact or fiction, … Read more

Does the iCade prove that the iPad needs a controller?

A fellow co-worker who's an unabashed iOS enthusiast passed by my cube yesterday and saw me playing on a table-top arcade machine sitting on my desk. He stopped, eyes drawn to the bright colors on the sides and the top, and the arcade graphics on the small glass screen. I explained that it was an iPad sitting in the iCade, a $99 self-assemble arcade cabinet with Bluetooth joystick.

Naturally, he wanted to try it out on a few games he liked. I explained that the iCade currently only works with Atari's Greatest Hits app, which admittedly has 100 games, but lacks arcade classics like Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Joust--games that are, of course, made by other publishers. I also explained that it really only worked in portrait mode (or a slightly precarious but still-possible landscape mode, by using a groove on the outside edge).

He started to sour. Eventually, he walked away.

Of course, for arcade nuts and fans of novelty bar-top/desktop toys, the iCade is still a pretty awesome little treat. But until it can support other games--which Ion, the maker of the iCade, says will happen via a shared API--its appeal will necessarily be limited. I can think of dozens of games in the App Store that would be perfect for the iCade: Street Fighter IV. Death Rally. NBA Jam. Pinball HD. Tetris. Space Invaders Infinity Gene. The aforementioned Pac-Man. … Read more

Apple, Verizon to offer wireless updates to iPhone?

Will Verizon iPhone users finally be able to update their devices wirelessly without the need for iTunes?

Multiple sources have told Apple news site 9to5Mac that Apple and Verizon Wireless will soon offer over-the-air updates to the iPhone following this fall's expected release of iOS 5. Although iOS 5 itself won't be available wirelessly, 9to5Mac reports that any future updates to the OS will come over the air. With such a change, people would no longer need a PC and iTunes to act as the middlemen to keep their smartphones current.

If the reports are true, Apple would join rival Google, which already offers Android users the ability to update their devices sans computer. Apple reportedly also has the technology to update its devices over the air already, but the company has apparently been cautious about opening it up everywhere. However, Apple has been chatting with Verizon about unleashing this technology since early this year, said 9to5Mac.

The sources didn't say whether wireless updates would also be available on AT&T or international carriers of the iPhone. No specific mention was made to the iPad or iPod Touch, but the same technology logically should extend to all of Apple's iOS devices.

Though over-the-air updates would provide a convenient, mobile way to keep the iPhone updated, there are a couple of potential pitfalls.… Read more

iPhone 5: Concept for dream notifications system

iOS notifications concept from Andreas on Vimeo.

On our list of iPhone 5 most wanted features, at No. 13 we have "improved home screen" with a better notifications system. A lot of people have been hoping Apple would come up with a more modular home screen that's more Android-like and has something akin to customizable widgets.

We suspect we'll get something like this when Apple rolls out iOS 5 next month at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), but in the meantime, take a look at this concept for a redesigned notifications system/home screen that the folks at 9to5 Mac have highlighted. It's pretty slick.

Developer: iOS 5 spotted in the wild

According to one developer's findings, Apple is rumored to be already testing iOS 5. A crash report received by developer FutureTap showed that the mobile operating system of note was iOS 5 when the crash took place.

FutureTap posted a short tweet to let its followers know of the development.

Taking into account recent location tracking drama, FutureTap also noted an "interesting" file called MKUserLocationBreadCrumb in the report. It is unknown whether this file is related to the consolidated.db file currently under investigation by several European countries and South Korea, as well as by Congress. Steve … Read more

Mac OS X 10.7 Lion close to Golden Master release

According to tech news site TechCrunch, Apple may be ready to deploy the first Golden Master (GM1) of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion. The release will be a major update since last month's developer preview, which many thought, according to the report, wasn't as smooth as it could have been.

"Apple has been working through many OS X Lion bugs and performance issues as they move towards the stated Summer release date. Given that GM candidates are already nearing, they definitely appear to be on schedule."

This is good news for those of us patiently … Read more

Apple releases iOS 4.3.1, but iOS 5 is a question

Apple has released the latest update to iOS 4, and TechCrunch reports that iOS 5 will be pushed back to the fall.

Launched on Friday, iOS 4.3.1 mostly fixes a few bugs here and there in the operating system for the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Apple TV, according to Apple. The update resolves connectivity issues when joining certain cellular networks and authenticating with some enterprise Web services. It also takes care of a couple of graphics-related glitches--one affecting the 4G iPod Touch and another between Apple's Digital AV adapter and certain TVs.

iOS 4.3.1 … Read more

Rumor: Apple to hold iOS 5, MobileMe event in early April

According to a German Web site claiming to have a reliable source, iOS 5 and the new-look MobileMe, widely expected to become a free syncing service offered by Apple, will be unveiled at an event in early April to be held on the Apple campus in Cupertino, Calif.

MacRumors.com, via Macerkopf.de, is claiming to have knowledge of the event, to be held "on Apple's campus in the 14th or 15th week of the year."

This rumor may be closer to an educated guess, though, as Apple announced (and showed a preview of) iOS 4 on … Read more