The iPad’s Smart Cover Could Someday Be A Second Display

Apple is trying to patent a Smart Cover for the iPad that has an embedded secondary display. Or in other words: eat it, Surface.

The cover would use a connector on the side of the iPad that would supply data and power to the cover. Here’s Apple’s description from the application:


[The] accessory device comprising: a flexible flap having a size and shape in accordance with the host device display, wherein at least a portion of the flexible flap is covered by a flap display configured to present visual information; and a connecting portion, the connecting portion arranged to provide at least a communication channel arranged to convey information between the host device and the accessory device wherein at least some of the information is presented visually on the flap display.

It looks pretty cool. But applying for a patent doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going to see this, or that Apple even has the technology to pull this off. For now, it should put Microsoft and its Surface keyboard covers on notice. [USPTO via Engadget]

iPhone 5 will use nano-SIM

The iPhone 5 will be the first mobile handset to use the new nano-SIM design and European networks are already stocking-up

The iPhone 5 will be launched soon and it’ll be the first device to use the new nano-SIM card design, which is even smaller than micro-SIMs. 
A report from the Financial Times claims carrier networks in Europe are now stocking up on nano-SIMs in anticipation of the iPhone 5 release. 
The nano-SIM design was recently approved as new standard by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) after reaching an agreement with major manufacturers. 
There was some reasonably well-publicised competition between Apple and a collective of Motorola, RIM and Nokia, each with different proposals for the new nano-SIM design, but after prompting from ETSI the group eventually reached a consensus. 
The new cards are 40 per cent smaller than existing micro-SIMs, which are themselves still by no means ubiquitous – there are still plenty of handsets on the market using conventional, full-size SIM cards. Micro-SIMs first appeared with the iPad in 2010 and now several premium smartphone models use them, including the HTC One X and the Nokia Lumia 800. 
The new design measures 12.3mm long by 8.8mm wide and there’s now very little excess material surrounding the metal chip component. ETSI’s announcement assured that the new SIM could be ‘‘packaged and distributed in a way that is backwards compatible with existing SIM card designs.’ 
The smaller form factor of micro-SIMs and nano-SIMs enables manufacturers to come up with thinner, unibody phone designs, although current rumour surrounding the iPhone 5 suggests it’ll feature an aluminium back panel.

Apple iOS 6 beta 3 is now seeding to developers

Apple iOS 6 beta 3 is now seeding to developers

Three weeks after iOS 6 beta 2 became available, Apple has began seeding the third beta version of its latest mobile OS. The iOS 6 beta 3 update is available as an over-the-air download to everyone running the previous release.

As always, the update offers various bug fixes and performance improvements. They include the addition of more 3D city flyovers in the Maps application, as well roadwork and traffic information. Furthermore, the update brings the beginning of the migration of MobileMe (me.com) email addresses to iCloud.com ones.

Source

Do The New iPhone Prototypes Have NFC?

Recently Apple announced Passbook, a new mobile wallet that will debut in iOS. Its existence prompted speculation that future iPhones will include NFC — and now 9to5mac is reporting that new iPhone prototypes feature the technology.

9to5mac has previously analysed data from two new prototype iPhones, codenamed N41AP and N42AP. But their latest investigation reveals that those same prototypes appear to have Near Field Communication (NFC) controllers directly connected to the power management unit (PMU).

Among the massive speculation about what the next iPhone will look like, the small inclusion of NFC perhaps seems trivial. But if the rumor turns out to be correct, it will see Apple poisitoning itself in direct competition with Google Wallet and another similar service unveiled by Microsoft last week.

If Apple follows its usual release patterns, then we won’t see an actual iPhone 5 until October. Will it feature NFC? Maybe, maybe not. But you can be sure that, if it does, Apple’s take on mobile payment could be enough to force the concept into the mainstream. [9to5mac]

G-Technology kicks out USB 3.0 G-Drives for Macs, keeps your Retina MacBook Pro well-fed

If you've just picked up a MacBook Pro with Retina display or a 2012-era MacBook Air, you may be jonesing for a matching external hard drive to take advantage of that much-awaited USB 3.0 support. G-Technology has you covered -- and how. Updated versions of the laptop-oriented G-Drive Mini, Mobile and Slim (you're looking at the Mobile up top) all roll in the higher peak speeds and progressively trade raw speed as well as 1TB capacities for sleekness, while the twin-drive, 1.5TB G-RAID Mini will tax that 5Gbps bandwidth without becoming too ungainly. Not taking your external storage on the road? The single-disk G-Drive now climbs to 4TB in addition to jumping on the USB 3.0 bandwagon, and the dual-drive G-RAID will serve up as much as 8TB at the newly brisk speeds. All but the G-Drive Slim support FireWire to ease those jitters over transitioning from old to new, although they won't all arrive at the same time. Most of the G-Drive and G-RAID gear will be showing up in August at prices between $110 and $810, but the two Mini-labelled drives could be a bit late to the party with a less defined summer target. You can get the full scoop after the break.

iOS 6 goes official with new Maps and Facebook integration

Apple has just announced the next version of its iOS platform for the iPhone, iPod Touch and the iPad. iOS 6 has an updated Siri, Facebook integration and completely new Maps application with built-in turn-by-turn navigation as its key features.

The evolved Siri got the most stage time – it now launches apps, can fetch you news and facts about sports, movies, people, read your notifications. Apple is working with BMW, GM, Mercedes, Land Rover, Jaguar, Audi, Toyota, Chrysler, Honda and others in an attempt to put a dedicated Siri button on the steering wheel on all cars throughout the next 12 months. This would enable completely hands-free operation of your iDevice when you are driving.

 

The updated Siri

Siri also got support for new languages – Canadian English, Spanish (Spain, Mexico), Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese and Chinese. 

 

The updated Siri

With iOS 6, Siri is finally landing on the iPad, but only if you have the latest Retina-packing version of the slate.
The iOS 6 also brings the long-awaited Facebook integration. It works throughout the whole platform, just like the already available Twitter one. You get an Android-style phonebook app, where your regular contacts are connected to their Facebook profiles and you get updates on their albums, messages and status updates right from the contact's screen.

                        

                        

iOS 6 Facebook integration

The Notifications Center has two new additions – Update Twitter and Update Facebook status shortcut keys.

                         

iOS 6 Facebook integration

The next new feature is Reply with Message when you can’t answer a call. Okay, this one isn't really major and everyone else probably already has it, but it's still good that Apple finally enabled it. There's also another new button on the incoming call screen, which will mute the call and will remind you about it later so you can call back.

The new call options

The iOS 6 brings a new Do Not Disturb mode, which mutes all push notification, incomming calls and prevents the screen from lighting up, so it doesn't disturb your sleep or hard work. You can schedule your iDevice to automatically enter Do Not Disturb mode at a specific time every day.

The Do Not Disturb mode can be set to still let through messages and calls from your favorite contacts and groups as well as repeating calls, so your loved ones and those that need to contact you urgently can always reach you.

 

The new Do Not Disturb Mode

FaceTime also got updated with iOS 6. The video-call app now works over cellular networks, not just Wi-Fi. About time, we would add!

The FaceTime/iMessages ID is now unified and if someone is calling/texting you, you will be able to get the call from your iPhone, iPad or Mac – whatever works for you.

The Safari browser has learned a few new tricks in iOS 6. It now has iCloud Tabs, which are synced with your desktop Safari in real time along with an offline reading list. Another cool extra is the ability to upload photos right from the browser to Facebook, Twitter, Picasa, etc.

 

The new features in Safari

Shared Photo Stream is another new feature with a social taste. It lets you select contacts and give them access to the photos you are uploading. Once you upload a new album said contacts will be notified and they will get the chance to check your shots and post comments on them.

 

Sharing photos in the Photo Stream

The next new feature is VIP contacts. You mark a contact as VIP and all the messages you get from that contact will be highlighted, so you'd know to check them out first.

 

The new Mailbox

The iOS 6 introduces a new preinstalled app called Passbook. It will collect all of your boarding passes, tickets, coupons, loyalty cards etc. and keep them neatly organized. QR codes scanning is supported, so you can easily get those on board.

  

 

The Passbook

As the main change brought by iOS 6 is a new Maps application, called... Maps. Apple has ditched Google Maps and is introducing its own service to replace it. The new maps have cool design and offer local search options with Apple claiming to have inserted more than 100 billion business listings already. The new Maps support 3D mode and satellite view.

The new Maps

As long as you are touting an iPhone 4S or an iPad 3 you get turn-by-turn navigation which works even on the lockscreen and a Flyover view mode just like the one Google announced the other day. Even more impressively, there is integration with Siri (search of gas stations, parking lots, etc.).

The new Maps

The final noteworthy features of iOS 6 include accessibility extras, better privacy controls, improved voiceover and dictionaries, redesigned apps and stores and improved camera HDR, etc.
The iOS 6 is compatible with iPhone 3GS and later, iPad 2nd and 3rd gen, iPod Touch 4th gen. This means the first-gen iPad is out of the game. Sorry, guys.
The iOS 6 beta is available as of today, while the final release will hit the supported iGadgets this fall. We can't wait to put the beta through it paces.

(Credit Verge)