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What Steve announced today at WWDC

Monday, 7 June 2010 Apple, Applications, Business, Communication, Gadgets, GPS, iPhone, Mobile, Music, Netflix, Networking, OS, Software, Video HD, Web One comment

Here’s my summary of what happened at WWDC and the announcements made today. This is all draft and I’ll add some meat to the bones later:

  • 2 million iPads sold since launch = one sold every three seconds
  • New iBook app launching today, which also will display PDFs
  • 15,000 apps submitted to Apple each week, 95% apps approved within seven days
  • Reed Hastings CEO of Netflix announced they’re coming to iPhone in the summer. Wifi and 3G
  • Apple have just passed the five billion apps download mark, 70% of revenue goes to the developer – and Apple have just hit the $1billion payout mark
  • US Smartphone market share RIM 35%, iPhone 28%, Windows 19%, Android 9%, Other 9%
  • Steve Jobs “In 2008 we added 3G and the App Store, in 2009 the 3GS was twice as fast, and we added some other cool features like video… in 2010 we’re going to take the biggest leap since the original iPhone.”

iPhone 4

  • 24% thinner than the iPhone 3GS
  • Front facing camera
  • LED flash
  • Noise cancellation mic
  • Antenna built into the side panels to improve strength
  • Glass front and back to improve scratch resistance
  • Stainless steel fro strength
  • 326 PPI, 960×640 display, 800:1 contract resolution, 4x better than the 3GS, IPS technology
  • Phone powered by the Apple A4 chip
  • Battery life 40% more talk time, 3G talk 7 hours, 10 hours of Wifi, 10 hours of video, 40 hours music, 300 hours standby
  • Wireless 802.11n
  • GPS + Accelerometer
  • Now, the iPhone 4 will have a gyroscope for 6 axis motion sensing. A Jenga game demo was very impressive
  • A whole new camera system built into iPhone 4, 5 megapixel camera, backside illuminated sensor, 5x digital zoom, LED flash
  • Video! 720p at 30fps, HD video, edit on phone
  • iMovie for iPhone, fantastic, transitions, timelines, library, geolocation, five themes, export – not free $4.99

iPhone OS 4

  • iPhone OS 4 becomes iOS 4
  • Multitasking, folders
  • Threaded email, integrated inbox
  • Adding Bing to the options to search
  • Close to selling the 100 millionth iOS (iPad, iPod touches, iPhone) device
  • iBooks to the iPhone, same book purchase once and then use on all your devices, iBooks automatically syncs your place, bookmarks and notes
  • Oh, and iAds. These are some of the companies advertising: Nissan, Citi, Unilever, AT&T, Chanel, GE, Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Geico, Campbells, Sears, JC Penny, Target, Best Buy, Direct TV, TBS, and Disney
  • Oh, and video calling with wifi only in 2010 – called Facetime

When?

  • Two colours, black and white
  • $199 for 16GB, $299 for 32GB
  • If you’re with AT&T and your contract ends anytime in 2010 you can upgrade. You can get it six months early
  • The iPhone 4 arrives on June 24th, you can pre-order from June 15th
  • Shipping to 5 countries: US, France, Germany, UK, Japan

What to expect at WWDC

Thursday, 3 June 2010 Apple, Applications, Business, Communication, Gadgets, Gaming, iPhone, Mobile, Music, Networking, OS, Photography, Software, Video HD, Web No comments

Apple will kick off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) with a keynote address by CEO Steve Jobs on Monday, June 7 at 10:00 a.m. PST. The 7th promises to be an exciting day as Apple announces all the fun new gadgets to play with this year. I always like to make a few predictions, so here we go:

iPhone HD/4G

500x_iphone10

As timing suggests, this WWDC should be no exception for a new iPhone to be announced. Everything points to a new model. AT&T have cancelled vacation for staff, have changed their dataplans (effective 7 June), etc – so that’s pretty locked in. I’m wondering if the new phone will go on sale instantly straight after Job’s announcement.

If the rumours are correct, this phone promises to shape up quite nicely:

  • Larger, extended life battery. 5.25 watt-hours, which apparently is 17% increase from the iPhone 3GS battery
  • Screen resolution a whopping 960×640 which might just look as good as a high-end glossy magazine, and that would be incredible
  • Forward facing camera for video iChat. Not sure if this can be used on the cellphone network, it might be constricted to wifi only
  • Rear facing camera. I would expect the camera should be fairly high spec if the iPhone has a high quality screen. I think 5 megapixels or above. There will be a high intensity LED flash in there too. Some people are predicting 720p video recording
  • Not really new news, but the iPhone will take a MicroSIM
  • The new look is sleek. It seems to have a more glass-like back. This is good for signal reception, but maybe less durable. Apple did put a patent in a while back for a ceramic/glass-like material
  • I don’t think an iPhone for another US network will be announced at this time

iPhone OS 4.0

This new OS has been finely tuned and will offer many benefits for the newer iPhones such as:

  • Multitasking
  • The iAd mobile advertising system for developers
  • Perhaps Facebook built into the OS or a social networking platform
  • A gaming store or network similar to XBox Live or Playstation Network
  • Many OS improvements such as integrated Mail and folders
  • For AT&T US users, for the first time tethering will be available

iTunes in the cloud

Jobs said this week that Apple are ‘working on this’ – so I doubt the availability will be announced on the 7th. However, I believe at some point Apple will be offering music streaming from iTunes.com and you’ll be able to access your music or other purchased content via any Apple device. Apple recently purchased the streaming site Lala – and then shut it down.

  • Multitasking
  • The iAd mobile advertising system for developers
  • Perhaps Facebook built into the OS or a social networking platform
  • A gaming store or network similar to XBox Live or Playstation Network
  • Many OS improvements such as integrated Mail and folders
  • For AT&T US users, for the first time tethering will be available

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