Apple has published a very interesting patent application in which they explore how to provide a Karaoke experience on the iPhone. Not only would users be able to sing along with their favorite songs, but Apple wants to give real-time feedback to singers letting them know how they are doing.
The systems and methods for providing users with real-time feedback while they are singing on key/pitch and providing real-time feedback to the user while the karaoke song is being sung. The feedback will be positive feedback if user is on key/pitch and it will be negative feedback if user is off key/pitch.
The patent application addresses "one of the biggest obstacles faced by amateur sings: singing on key/pitch". Apple suggests that this system could actually improve the quality of people's singing. One novel way to accomplish this would be to measure the pitch of the singer's voice and if it were to be too low, the device could exaggerate the low pitch of the user's own voice to encourage them to sing higher.
Apple clearly depicts pictures of the iPhone's iPod application with an additional menu option for "Karaoke". The interface for the Karaoke section is also shown above. We don't know if Apple will pursue this option in a future version of the iPhone software, but it's a fun and interesting proposition.
By Arn
Friday, July 3, 2009
Last week, Nowhere Else began receiving reports [Google translation] from owners of the white iPhone 3GS that had experience significant overheating, leading in some cases to distinct pink or brown discoloration on the iPhone's back case. A later report from Wired suggested that faulty battery cells may be the cause of the overheating and could lead to a significant recall of the affected iPhones.
Image from Nowhereelse.fr
A number of reports today have pointed to an Apple support document providing advice on how to keep iPhones from overheating as an acknowledgement of the problem on the part of Apple. As Macworld points out, however, the document was originally posted many months ago, and was recently updated only to add references to the iPhone 3GS to the existing ones for the iPhone 3G. According to the Apple document, an overheating iPhone will display a warning screen and become inoperable with the exception of allowing emergency phone calls to be made. Apple also describes several situations that can lead to activation of the temperature warning screen.
- Leaving the device in a car on a hot day.
- Leaving it in direct sunlight for extended amounts of time.
- Using certain applications in hot conditions or direct sunlight for long periods of time, such as GPS tracking in a car on a sunny day or listening to music while in direct sunlight.
While heat is definitely a concern for any electronic device, particularly ones like the iPhone that pack a significant amount of power into a small space, Apple assures its iPhone 3G and 3GS customers that the devices do meet international safety standards for such devices. At this time, Apple has made no official response to these latest reports of overheating and discoloration on the new iPhone 3GS.
By Eric Slivka
Image from Nowhereelse.fr
A number of reports today have pointed to an Apple support document providing advice on how to keep iPhones from overheating as an acknowledgement of the problem on the part of Apple. As Macworld points out, however, the document was originally posted many months ago, and was recently updated only to add references to the iPhone 3GS to the existing ones for the iPhone 3G. According to the Apple document, an overheating iPhone will display a warning screen and become inoperable with the exception of allowing emergency phone calls to be made. Apple also describes several situations that can lead to activation of the temperature warning screen.
- Leaving the device in a car on a hot day.
- Leaving it in direct sunlight for extended amounts of time.
- Using certain applications in hot conditions or direct sunlight for long periods of time, such as GPS tracking in a car on a sunny day or listening to music while in direct sunlight.
While heat is definitely a concern for any electronic device, particularly ones like the iPhone that pack a significant amount of power into a small space, Apple assures its iPhone 3G and 3GS customers that the devices do meet international safety standards for such devices. At this time, Apple has made no official response to these latest reports of overheating and discoloration on the new iPhone 3GS.
By Eric Slivka
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
SemiAccurate claims that Apple will be dropping NVIDIA-based designs in their next iMacs and laptops for at least the next few years. They claim the reason is due to the recent NVIDIA manufacturing defects which affected a number of MacBook Pros.
The shift back to Intel-based chipsets was not entirely unexpected, however, as Intel and NVIDIA have been under a licensing battle over whether or not NVIDIA can even produce Nehalem-based chipsets in the future. Apple currently uses the Nehalem processors for their Mac Pro line, and is expected to adopt the mobile Nehalem processors for its mobile line later this year.
The shift from Intel to NVIDIA chipsets, however, was responsible for notable gains in the low-end graphics processing power in the new MacBooks and iMacs which will also be leveraged in Apple's upcoming Snow Leopard operating system.
By Arn
The shift back to Intel-based chipsets was not entirely unexpected, however, as Intel and NVIDIA have been under a licensing battle over whether or not NVIDIA can even produce Nehalem-based chipsets in the future. Apple currently uses the Nehalem processors for their Mac Pro line, and is expected to adopt the mobile Nehalem processors for its mobile line later this year.
The shift from Intel to NVIDIA chipsets, however, was responsible for notable gains in the low-end graphics processing power in the new MacBooks and iMacs which will also be leveraged in Apple's upcoming Snow Leopard operating system.
By Arn
Apple yesterday seeded iPhone OS 3.1 and iPhone SDK 3.1 betas to developers for testing, and users have been digging through the new releases to document new features. Among the changes found so far by readers in our forums, at Redmond Pie, and at MobileCrunch:
- Trimming video clips on the iPhone 3GS now offers the ability to save the edited version as a copy rather than simply overwriting the original file.
- Voice Control over Bluetooth is now available, allowing users to Initiate calls and control music playback via Bluetooth headsets.
- MMS is now enabled by default, but still not supported by AT&T.
- iPhone vibrates when rearranging Home screen icons.
- A "Fraud Protection" toggle is now available in Safari settings.
- iPhone startup and shutdown and app launching times have improved.
- New APIs allow developers of third-party application to access and edit videos.
- OpenGL and Quartz have seen improvements.
By Eric Slivka
- Trimming video clips on the iPhone 3GS now offers the ability to save the edited version as a copy rather than simply overwriting the original file.
- Voice Control over Bluetooth is now available, allowing users to Initiate calls and control music playback via Bluetooth headsets.
- MMS is now enabled by default, but still not supported by AT&T.
- iPhone vibrates when rearranging Home screen icons.
- A "Fraud Protection" toggle is now available in Safari settings.
- iPhone startup and shutdown and app launching times have improved.
- New APIs allow developers of third-party application to access and edit videos.
- OpenGL and Quartz have seen improvements.
By Eric Slivka
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
us apple retail store iphone 3gs supplies begin to tighten
Late last week, we reported that Apple had posted an online availability database showing iPhone 3GS stock levels at each of its over 200 U.S. retail stores. At the time, the database showed solid availability of the new iPhone, with nearly 90% of stores showing availability of all four iPhone 3GS models and only five stores being completely sold out.
Apple's retail store stock levels declined over the course of the weekend, and the availability database is now showing significant iPhone 3GS shortages. According to the database, only about 40-45% of Apple's retail stores currently maintain stock of all four models, while nearly 15% of stores are completely sold out. Three states are currently listed as being entirely out of stock of all four models: Alabama (two stores), Oregon (three stores), and Utah (one store).
By Eric Slivka
Apple's retail store stock levels declined over the course of the weekend, and the availability database is now showing significant iPhone 3GS shortages. According to the database, only about 40-45% of Apple's retail stores currently maintain stock of all four models, while nearly 15% of stores are completely sold out. Three states are currently listed as being entirely out of stock of all four models: Alabama (two stores), Oregon (three stores), and Utah (one store).
By Eric Slivka
Monday, June 29, 2009
/apple to adopt micro usb connectors for iphone charging in Europe /
Reuters reports that ten top mobile phone manufacturers, including Apple, have agreed to adopt the Micro-USB connector standard for smartphone chargers in the European Union. The shift, planned to begin next year, will allow smartphones from the companies, which control 90% of the market, to use the same charging cables. Apple currently uses a proprietary dock connector compatible with both the iPhone and iPod touch.
The chargers will be usable only for data-enabled phones, which have more capability than just standard calls and SMS texts. Data-enabled phones are expected to account for almost half of all new mobile handset purchases in 2010.
The Commission hopes that as people discard their old handsets, within three to four years all data-enabled phones in Europe will be using standardized chargers.
The plan also calls for new phones to be sold with Micro-USB chargers for a period of time before ultimately selling phones and chargers separately in order to allow customers who already own chargers to continue using their existing ones. While the agreement extends only to European phones, it is expected that the standard will make its way into phones around the world as companies attempt to keep their design and manufacturing costs streamlined.
Written by Eric Slivka
The chargers will be usable only for data-enabled phones, which have more capability than just standard calls and SMS texts. Data-enabled phones are expected to account for almost half of all new mobile handset purchases in 2010.
The Commission hopes that as people discard their old handsets, within three to four years all data-enabled phones in Europe will be using standardized chargers.
The plan also calls for new phones to be sold with Micro-USB chargers for a period of time before ultimately selling phones and chargers separately in order to allow customers who already own chargers to continue using their existing ones. While the agreement extends only to European phones, it is expected that the standard will make its way into phones around the world as companies attempt to keep their design and manufacturing costs streamlined.
Written by Eric Slivka
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Apple Apps Save the Flight
Thanks so much Apple for the amazing App Store. I am currently sitting on a plane as I write this. The apps that I have been using through this flight have really helped me. My favorite app right now has to be the tiger woods PGA app. This app can take a long time to be beaten and will last a long time. I highly reccomend it even though it is a little pricey compared to other apps. Another game that is awesome is Real Racing. This app is $10 and worth every penny. Realistic, fun, and exciting describes it best. It is one of the best simulators on the store. There is a career mode which can get challenging. The last game I want to talk about is Brothers in Arms. This app is a shooting game that represents World War II. It has very good graphics and beats most of the other apps that are of this genre. Although I have not gotten far in this game yet, I have not seen to many different weapons or tanks. The story line isn't spelled out buti'mm sure anyone playing can figure out what it is. Well, I guess I'm going to get back to my apps now since I do have many more hours on this plane.
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