Summertime Apple Rumors: New iPhone, iOS 6 and an Apple Television

Throughout the year, Apple-related rumors are always present; whether it be a new MacBook or iPhone, publications always seem to find something to gossip about. For the past few years, summer has been the time of iPhone and iOS-related rumors –the iPods used to be included in these rumors, however interest in iPods have dramatically decreased as have rumors surrounding them. This year is no different with both the iPhone and iOS taking center stage, although there is a new addition, the Apple Television.

Based on its history, the iPhone is due for a new design this coming generation. Based on rumors, this is true. It is said that the coming iPhone will feature a larger display which is 3.999 inches diagonally (as opposed to 3.5 inches) allowing 16:9 videos to play full screen at their native aspect ratio. It is possible that this new device will feature a fifth row of icons (besides the stationary app dock) on the homescreen. 9to5Mac has received photos of the supposed new iPhone which sports a unibody-esque build, a new dock connector (long rumored), room for the previously mentioned larger display, and moved earphone jack and FaceTime cameras. The publication has also received word the new device will feature 1GB of RAM (like the iPad) and a new GPU chip.

It is rumored iOS 6 will be released alongside the newest iPhone. 9to5Mac has learned Apple’s three major stores (App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes) will receive a major overhaul in iOS 6 and  ”focus on improved interactivity when making purchases in iTunes, the App Store, and the iBookstore.” Social integration plays a big factor behind the changes including the addition of Facebook (also to be added in a way similar to twitter in iOS 5) integration. Continue reading →

Incase’s Pro Slider Case Review: It Doesn’t Stand Up to the Task

Incase is a brand known worldwide for its protective cases for Apple products –whether it be sleeves or hardshells. Today the company has hundreds if not thousands of different product variations to choose from, most of which are very nice. However, there are a select few which simply do not stand up to the job. It’s Pro Slider Case is exhibit A.

The Pro Slider Case is basically Incase’s basic Slider with a rubber bumper around the edges to offer grip –and apparently protection. In nearly every other aspect, the two are identical.

I found myself using Incase’s Pro Slider Case shortly after removing its overly slick Slider Case from my iPhone. In part, I was satisfied. My phone no longer was able to slide out of my pocket in the car, nor did I ever drop it mid-text. Design-wise I was satisfied.

In terms of durability, it is a different story. Continue reading →

Apple Stores to Sell Nest Thermostat

iLounge is reporting Apple will soon offer Tony Fadell’s Nest, a “learning” thermostat which first debuted back in 2011. Fadell, who is currently both founder and CEO of Nest, formerly served as senior vice president of Apple’s iPod division and holds unofficial title of “father of the iPod.”

9to5Mac has also independently confirmed the Nest Learning Thermostats have already appeared in Apple’s internal inventory database and will be coming to Apple Stores “soon.”

Both sites confirm the Nest Learning Thermostat will be sold at Apple Stores for $249, the same price as via Nest’s own online store.

iOS Apps on Sale for Memorial Day

9to5toys, a sister site of 9to5Mac, has compiled a list of iOS apps which are on sale for this Memorial Day –and apparently accompanying weekend. 9to5Toys will be updating its list throughout the weekend. The current list follows:

Universal Apps (iPad, iPhone, iPad)

Grand Theft Auto 3 for iPad, iPhone, iPod, regular 99 cents, regular $4.99
Infinity Blade II, $2.99, regular $6.99
Mass Effect: Infiltrator, $2.99, regular $4.99
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, 99 cents, regular $9.99
Burnout CRASH!, 99 cents, regular $4.99
Combat Arms: Zombies, $1.99, regular, $6.99
Solar Walk 3D Solar System, $1.99, regular $2.99

Continue reading →

MacPaw releases CleanMyDrive, a Free Mounted Disk Utility

Earlier this week, MacPaw, the team behind well-known CleanMyMac, released CleanMyDrive, a powerful Mac utility capable of cleaning, monitoring space, and ejecting mounted drives.

CleanMyDrive offers users a new, efficient means of maintaining removable media. Through the use of cleaning algorithms MacPaw mastered with CleanMyMac, CleanMyDrive clears annoying service files and trashed data like DS_Store, .Spotlight which in turn frees up space. In addition, the app is able to automatically clean up drives on unmount.

“We extremely love how OS X is built. But still, there are things like mounted drives handling that can be further improved. As laptop users we face such issues while working with removable media as the necessity of regular trash bin cleanup, removing unwanted and annoying service files, inability to eject all drives in one click if needed,” said MacPaw CEO, Oleksandr Kosovan, “That had made us think how the ideal experience of using mounted drives should look like, and eventually we came up with the CleanMyDrive application.”

CleanMyDrive is free on the Mac App Store here.

Leap 3D More Accurate than Kinect and More Affordable

Leap Motion, a California-based motion control start-up has just released a demo of its Leap 3D motion control system. The Leap 3D is accurate down to .01mm making it 100 times more accurate than Microsoft’s Kinect motion control system.

The Leap 3D ecosystem consists of a small-sized USB device (fit with high-tech sensors and cameras) which,  in conjunction with software, creates a workspace of roughly four cubic feet in which gestures and objects can be utilized. In its demo, Leap Motion demonstrated the Leap 3D’s ability to pinch-to-zoom, precisely draw, as well as to enhance the every day web browsing experience.

The Leap 3D system is set for launch early 2013 at a price tag of just $69.99 –though it is taking pre-orders now. The demo video follows… Continue reading →

Disk Art Giveaway

Clean Cut Code, the makers of CalendarBar, DisplayPad and Cloud Calendar have just released a new application on the Mac App Store, Disk Art. It is an app which allows you to easily find and delete large unwanted files on your disk. On the App Store, Disk Art will cost $4.99 (link), however the team has provided us with 10 promo codes. Here’s how to win one… Continue reading →

Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin on Steve Jobs Screenplay

In an interview with Reuters, screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, the man behind “The Social Network” and the soon-to-be Steve Jobs screenplay disclosed the production will not be “a straightforward biography.”

On Tuesday, movie studio Sony Pictures announced Sorkin will be adapting Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs, the former CEO of Apple who died at 56 in October after a long struggle with pancreatic cancer.

“I know so little about what I am going to write. I know what I am not going to write. It can’t be a straight ahead biography because it’s very difficult to shake the cradle-to-grave structure of a biography, ” Sorkin told reporters at a news conference for his upcoming HBO drama “The Newsroom.”

In the interview, Sorkin revealed the film studio hired Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, the man that helped found Apple from a garage in 1976, as a “tutor” on all the technical aspects of computers and on Jobs himself. Continue reading →

Marshall Headphones Pitch Black Series Delivers Shock and Awe

Today, Marshall Headphones released its “dark horse” of the company, the Pitch Black series. Among these new “black” products lies The Major and Minor.

The Major symbolizes much of what makes up the Marshall Legacy; It is a powerful set of headphones designed with non-stop all day listening in mind. It comes equipped with an in-line microphone and remote for cell phone usage. Price-wise, its affordably priced at $120. (Link)

The Minor is an advanced, strong in-ear model. Not only does The Minor offer stunning sound, but it also feature EarClick, “a patent that ingeniously secures the earphone into position in your ear.” The Minor too comes equipped with microphone and remote for cell-phone use. It costs just $65. (Link)

Fold To Unlock Concept Extremely Sharp

Artist and designer Anton Kudin has created what I believe to be the best looking concept for a replacement of Apple’s “Slide to Unlock” feature: Fold To Unlock. As noted by Cult of Mac, it brings a Smart Cover-esque fold to the iOS homescreen.

Kudin’s creation was inspired by Dribbble user, ididi’s Android concept which was based on Guillaume Gaubert’s.

Keep on reading for a full hi-res image… Continue reading →