Category Archives: Mac – Apple

Mac – Apple

3 High-Tech Features Of The Apple Iphone

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What’s the big deal behind the Apple iPhone? It’s expensive. It’s revolutionary. But are its features worth the money?

With all the popularity, you can assume everyone’s at least heard about it. What does the Apple iPhone feature and what can it do?

#1: Multi-Touch Technology

The most outstanding feature is the iPhone’s radical multi-touch screen. The MT screen allows any mechanical button to appear on this high tech toy. It simply allows you to use your fingers to operate it. This is contrary to any other phone today, which either have mechanical keyboards or a stylus.

By tapping the screen with your finger, you can navigate menus, dial phone numbers, write e-mail messages and likewise use the whole functionality of the popular gadget. The three-point-five-inch screen displays a keyboard for inputting text via multi-touch. Most consumers are seemingly skeptical about typing with the virtual keyboard, but Apple has predicted the common problems and has made sure the iPhone was constructed with features like automatic spell check and word prediction, not to mention an enhanced customizable dictionary. More so, the iPhone addresses the problems of typos commonly known to multi-touch usage by adding self-correction capabilities.

When scrolling, the usual wheel is not found at the side of the gadget. The multi-touch screen functionality allows its owner to scroll by dragging a finger in the desired direction. The speed of scrolling is designed to be proportional to the speed at which you drag your finger.

The multi-touch feature furthermore enables several more functions like multi-touch sensing for magnifying or reducing photos and even web pages. Using this feature, you can regulate object size simply by placing two fingers at the side of the object and then moving them, by dragging, either further apart or closer to one another. This feature does not distort images because images are initially scaled according to its original dimensions in the first place.

Hands down, the iPhone is more intelligent than any other phone today.

#2: Revolutionary Sensors

The gadget’s sensors have the ability to detect changes to the iPhone’s environment. The sensors are minuscule yet absurdly powerful. The three major sensors include an accelerometer, sensor for ambient light, and a proximity sensor.

The accelerometer sensor conveys the ability to detect any changes in the iPhones positioning. …The iPhone’s screen display will actually rotate to portrait or landscape, while still packing its contents into the 3.5-inch screen. Because it changes the view according to ratio, images are not distorted among web pages, videos, or photos.

The proximity sensors.

These high-tech features detect the location of the iPhone with regard to the skin. When you make a call and hold the iPhone up against your ear, the display will automatically set to standby. This is important in that it serves two basic functions.

One, by shutting off the display when not necessarily needed, this saves your battery’s life. More so, this avoids accidental touches to the screen, which would otherwise be sensitive. As soon as the cell is moved away from your face, the proximity sensors react in this way.

Ambient light sensor.

Through the AL sensor, changes in the phone’s environment are detected and instantaneously adjust the display’s brightness. Your iPhone’s display will always be well adjusted in regard to lighting.

#3: Mac OS X Operating System

The hype behind the Apple iPhone increased when Mac fans found out the Mac OS X would be included. The Mac OS X is the operating system inside the latest Apple computers. On the other hand, the electronic doesn’t have the complete functionality of the operating system. The entire OS X is too large to fit within the 4GB or 8GB internal memory. The iPhone contains a 500 MB version of the operating system.

Create, Design & Launch Your Iphone Application

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The Apple iPhone is an amazing device that invites  creativity. You’ve probably said to yourself: ‘I wish I  could do that on my iPhone.’

With the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK), programmers can make your ideas reality – even if you yourself don’t know the difference between a C-pointer  and a SQLite database.

More than 200 iPhone application projects have already  been posted on Elance.com. Check out these tips in this article to get  your project kick-started.

We focus on the development of applications for the Apple iPhone, and we asked Nick Dalton, iPhone SDK specialist, to give Elance buyers a few tips on how to scope and post an iPhone Application project. Here’s what he had to say:

The iPhone is an amazing device that invites creativity. If you’re an iPhone owner I’m sure you’ve said to yourself: ‘I wish I could do that on my iPhone, or I have a great idea for an iPhone application’.

With the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK), programmers can make your ideas reality – even if you yourself don’t know the difference between a C-pointer and a SQLite database. But before you go ahead and post your application idea to the buzzing iPhone project area on www.Elance,com. here are some pointers to get your project kick-started:

Study the Masters

Apple has already spent a lot of time thinking about how to present information and build interactive applications on the iPhone. The applications that come with the iPhone are the results of this research. Study them in great detail and try to apply as many of the user interface metaphors as possible to your application.

Not only will Apple be flattered if you imitate the user interface in their applications, but they actually mandate it to a great level of detail as described in their Human Interface Guidelines.

Dream in Color Screens

Most applications for the iPhone will be very visual. Therefore it makes sense to provide your requirements as screen images or sketches. You don’t have to be a graphics artist to do this effectively. An iPhone programmer is looking for the following information:

- The type of layout each screen should have

- The buttons on the screens

- The actions associated with each button

The exact shape and format of your screen sketches is secondary. As long as they are readable, it’s a great way to communicate your application design to a programmer.

Be Realistic About Your Budget

Look at other iPhone projects posted on Elance to get a sense for the bid amounts on these projects. Read the descriptions of these projects to see if they seem to be larger or smaller projects than what you have in mind. If you set your budget to under $500 for something that is realistically going to take a programmer two months to implement, you are not likely to attract many bidders.

From a programming perspective, some things are easy to do on the iPhone, while other seemingly simple things are very time consuming. For example the beautiful cover-flow animation used in the music application on the iPhone should be simple to use in other applications. Unfortunately you can’t. If you want this animation within your application it will have to be written from scratch, probably costing a one month of work.

If you talk to an approved iPhone developer early in your application design process you can learn how to get most out of your budget by avoiding the things that are really difficult to do on the iPhone.

Don’t Be Too Original

iPhone users already know how to do certain tasks on their phones by convention. For example, if you tap an item in a list that has a > icon next to it, you expect to be taken to another screen with more information about that item. If your application needs similar functionality, don’t be creative and come up with a new way to solve the same problem. Use the conventions already established by Apple.

New conventions are difficult to establish especially with the touch interface because there is no way to discover how your application works on the iPhone. Unlike a website where you can hover with the mouse pointer over areas that look like you can interact with them and a tool tip or the status bar will reveal some clues to you.

Know Your Limitations

The current version of the iPhone SDK, which is used to write applications for the iPhone, has many restrictions and limitations. Some of them are common sense, e.g. you can’t send text messages from an application. Imagine an application that sends out thousands of text messages without your knowledge, who is going to pay the phone bill for that?

Other restrictions are maddening: applications cannot access the log of phone calls, or interact in any way with the calendar or the music stored on the iPhone.

To Apple’s credit, the iPhone SDK is an amazing piece of software especially given that it was publicly released as a Beta just three months ago. Some of the shortcomings listed above will likely be addressed in future releases of the SDK.

As a buyer with an idea for an iPhone application, you should educate yourself about these limitations before you spend too much time designing an application that is impossible to implement. Talk to a developer or company that specializes in iPhone development (and there are many available on Elance) and they can help you get on the right track from the start.

About

Nick Dalton (username: 360mind) is an experienced iPhone SDK specialist and Elance.com service provider. He has 15+ years of background in programming, and currently focuses his business, 360mind, 100% on the development of iPhone applications. For more information on Nick, check out his book, 101 iPhone Tips and Tricks.

 

Apple 16 Gb Iphone

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This Apple 16 GB iPhone offers an extended talktime of about 5 hours. This offers ample usability for watching videos, listening to music or for basic phone usage. The phone has just one button and the rest is to be managed by the virtual keypad on the touch screen. The display screen is about 3.5-inches and is one of the largest and the brightest ones. It has a 2-megapixel camera which takes quality images. The sound quality of the iPhone is retained from the popular iPod and the music experience is illuminated. The phone has Wi-Fi capabilities and a YouTube viewer which makes browsing the net and watching videos a piece of cake.

User Friendly Aspects

The design of the phone is highly appealing. The looks are killer and the style is mesmerizing. The phone has easy usable options for changing profiles and volume level. The phone is huge display and offers a virtual keyboard for messaging and e-mailing. The sleek phone can fit into pockets easily and not feel bulky.

The bright screen resolution makes viewing videos and photos a sheer pleasurable experience. The easy of operations is evident from its simple navigations. The phone works on Mac operating system and functions fairly well.

Cons

The iPhone isn’t perfect like any other phone. It has some shortcomings when compared with other smartphones. A big letdown is the Bluetooth function limited only to its headset. One cannot transfer files to other phones or computer through Bluetooth. The camera cannot record video but this can be enabled by using third party software which is widely available. The phone has limited ringtones and you need to buy one from iTunes store if you want a different ring.

The iPhone, like the iPod cannot be detected as a storage device and needs iTunes software enabling any transfers. This can be a letdown when you want to transfer stuff from your iPhone to other computers. The speaker of the phone is disappointing but the earphones output is enticing. The virtual keyboard is stylish but the usability is questioned while travelling in a bus or a train. It becomes difficult to message when you lack the keypad, but with time one does get used to it.

Performance

Truly stylish this phone is sure to win hearts worldwide by it appeal and uniqueness. The sound reception of the phone is commendable. It does lack a few small but utility features but its scope of accepting third party softwares is making it more acceptable. It a luxury offering and people with high internet usage will love to use it. It is definitely a device to flaunt in style.

Conclusion

Once you get used to this Apple 16GB Iphone you won’t feel like switching but if you dont get the hang of it you might not find it appealing. Either ways it is a smart design or a unique preposition which does make a bold statement.

 

Apple Ibook G4 Latpop Review

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Getting an Apple laptop was unthinkable for me at first. I felt nothing from Apple’s clever “Switch” ads, and as with many fellow PC/Windows users, I thoughts Macs were for newbies, graphics designers, grannies, and others who couldn’t handle more than one mouse button.

 

However, when I began my quest to purchase an affordable portable, I ran into many problems. The ultraportables and subnotebooks often lacked basic features I wanted such as an optical-drive, and would easily burn a hole in my wallet… several times over. Thin-and-Lights looked very appealing, so I researched that category the most. Some of my favorites include the Fujitsu S6210 battery,IBM T40 series battery, and inspiron 600m battery . Yet, even the ones I liked didn’t work out because they didn’t fit my budget (about $1,000).

Then I was introduced to a strange mix of the above. Apple’s 12″ iBook weighs in at touch under five pounds, but is in the ultraportable form factor. It’s too heavy to be an ultraportable, but it’s small screen means it doesn’t fit with most thin-and-lights. What really caught my attention was the price tag. Other than Averatec, this is the only notebook I came across with a retail price of $999 that came in under 5 pounds. But like any consumer ready to shell out hard-earned money, I was still skeptical.

I continued to do my research and consistently heard good things about the iBook. Finally, Apple and Amazon gave me a sign. In late October, Apple (apple laptop battery)included Airport Extreme (802.11g) and bumped up the base processor to 1.2Ghz. Additionally, Amazon still had a $150 rebate for Apple laptops. It didn’t take long for me to figure out that $850 + $20 shipping was a darn good deal. I placed my order on the following and paitiently waited.

Specifications



12.1″ TFT XGA

1.2Ghz G4 processor w/ 512k level 2 cache

256MB PC2100 ram, 1 slot available

30 GB ATA/100 4200RPM hard drive

Slot-loading combo drive (DVD/CD-RW)

1 FireWire 400 port

2 USB 2.0 ports

VGA Out, S-Video and composite video cable optional

56K V.92 modem

10/100BASE-T Ethernet

Airport Extreme 802.11g wireless

Mac OS X 10.3 Panther

90 phone support, 1 year hardware warranty





First Impressions

There’s not a doubt Apple spends more money on design than its competitors. Just the box itself screams ‘gorgeous’. I tore through the packaging like an child on Christmas morning. Underneath all the booklets, manuals, and CDs, I finally got to the iBook. I recommend keeping the thin foam as a screen protector.

Once I turned on the notebook, I was immediately filled with dread. In the upper right corner was a stuck blue pixel. I decided to not think about it, and continue exploring my new toy. (note: all images are of the replacement I received)

The laptop is absolutely gorgeous. Had I not seen the price tag, I would’ve thought the iBook to be much pricier. The bare simplicity of the notebook is stunning. Other than the obligatory Apple logo on top (which lights up!), there’s nothing but rounded edges. No bevels; No latches; No doors. When I hold it in my hands, it feels like holding a polished piece of marble. (in reality: polycarbonate plastic, and magnesium alloy)

The construction is really top grade. Pressing against the back of the reinforced LCD doesn’t cause any ripples in the image, nor does flexing the screen between my hands. I’d feel safe putting this notebook in a cramped backpack. The hinge connecting the screen also looks quite beefy and doubles as an exhaust for heat. The slot loading drive is just too cool to describe. Everyone gets mesmerized by how the iBook sucks in CDs. Apple also claims to have rubber-mounted the hard drive to absorb vibrations and impacts. (apple ibook g4 battery)

I consider myself to be a PC poweruser and often have multiple applications and windows open on my desktop. I’m very used to working on one document, and then switching over with alt-tab in a Windows environment. Luckily, in this latest version of OS X shipped with the iBooks, Command-tab does the same. What’s more is how hotkey friendly OS X is. While command-tabbing, I can tap other keys to have an action done on the highlighted application. I can cmd-tab to an application I no longer want, and tap Q to quit it or H to hide it. There are also hotkeys to open the Applications folder, and my Documents folder.

Display

The display is very crisp, and more than bright enough for use indoors and outdoors. The lowest setting turns off backlighting completely. The display didn’t have the same wow-factor as the Fujisu S6210, but it’s definitely bright and clear. Thanks to the separate ATI video chip, DVDs run without any artifacts, and color representation is sharp. There’s also an optional S-Video and Composite adapter available for $20. Unfortunately, there is only screen-mirroring. In order to achieve screen-spanning, there is an a well known hack one can use. Since I don’t see myself using this feature, I’d rather not risk it.

apple ibook g4 battery relative:

apple ibook g3 battery

apple powerbook g4 battery

apple macbook pro 17″ battery

Broken Imac Logic Board, Bad Macintosh, Macbook Logic Board?

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 If you have been recently handed an insane repair bill for a new apple logic board, there is other options out there worth exploring! In the past quotes in excess of $1000 dollars have been handed to apple computer lovers for a logic board replacement. This just happens to make it worth spending the extra few hundred to just buy a whole new macintosh computer!

  Well, if you are unwilling to part with your current broken computer, there is no blame here.The economy is a repair economy not a replacement economy like we just recently had. If you search around there are a few select shops that can actually provide a clean, fast and cost effective repair of the broken apple computer you need repaired.

 Apple logic boards were placed in laptops and desktops. When searching for a logic board repair or refurbished apple logic board repairs, make sure the company can provide repair of apple laptops and apple computers in general. Some shops will only repair desk tops because they feel it is to much effort to repair the apple laptop models like: ibook, macbook, macbook pro, powerbook, and so on.

 There are many reasons why an apple logic board will fail. You can overheat your logic board and cause the equipment to break. Spills are common issues and your chosen shop should be able to handle anything up to redoing the power jack or running new traces on your apple logic boards.

 The repair should cost no more than $250 and vary by the apple computer actually being repaired or worked on. The actual repair should be tested for a minimum of 48-72 hours before passing the quality control check. Most likely you will have to mail out your logic board level repair since the shops are VERY specialized and required hundreds of thousands in equipment to perform the apple computer repair properly.

 There you have it a great reason not to throw away that expensive macintosh computer when the apple store tells you it is cheaper to replace that apple computer than to repair it!

The Microsoft and Apple Comparison

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Microsoft and Apple are two powerhouses when it comes to the computer related and consumer electronics industry. Both of these companies have many similarities and differences with each other, and they both went corporate within several years of each other.

Lets start with some information about Apple. The corporation was formerly known as Apple Computer, Inc. but changed the name to Apple Inc. eventually. Apple focuses on manufacturing and designing consumer electronics and closely related software products.

They are best known for their personal computer, the Macintoish, the media player known as the iPod, and recently the iPhone. All of these products have received great reviews and are only getting better with time and technology advances. From Warner Brothers maps to having GPS on your phone, technology has definitely made leaps and bounds in the recent years.

Along the lines of software, Apple products include the iLife suite of multimedia and creativity software, Final Cut Studio relating to audio and film industry, iTunes media browser, and most popular the Mac OS X operating system. Currently there are over two hundred retail stores in seven different countries as well as an online store where practically every Apple product that is currently being made is sold.

The iTunes store is also available which has recently expanded their depths into selling. They now provide music, television programs, music videos, podcasts, audiobooks, and iPod games which can be downloaded to your Mac OS X or Windows and then put onto your iPhone or iPod touch.

The company was established in 1976, and has been growing ever since. The annual sales in its fiscal year 2007 were 24.01 billion dollars. A great acheivement for the company that continues to grow.

Now onto the Microsoft Corporation. This comapny is an American multinational computer technology corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a great range of software products for computer devices. They are best known for the Microsoft Windows operating system as well as the Microsoft Office series.

Bill Gates became the richest man in the world through this company, and although he no longer holds that spot, being the second richest man in the world is nothing to be upset about. Recently Bill Gates has thrown in the towel and stepped down from Microsoft Corporation to further pursue his charity organization.

One of the visions that he had for Microsoft was to have a workstation running Microsoft software in every office desk and home. Microsoft has been so successful over the years that due to the release of an initial public offering in the stock market, Microsoft made 12,000 millionaires and four billionaires from their employees.

Microsoft is also very popular in several other markets too, such as the mouse and home entertainment products. These consist of the Zune, MSN TV, Xbox, and Xbox 360. With all of these streams of revenue coming in for Microsoft, they have made strides to purchase the powerhouse search engine Yahoo. Unforunately, their offer of 44.6 billion dollars did not satisfy Yahoo.

As you can see, Microsoft and Zune have had huge strides throughout the years. There is definitely some intense competition between the two especially for the computer market with all of the Apple commercials using Microsoft as a dummy. That’s pretty brave of Apple to be throwing punches at the big guy in the computer industry, but it seems to be working.

You will definitely be seeing these two corporations continue to dominate when it comes to releasing software and hardware that uses the newest and most advanced technology. Both of these companies specialize in certain hardware and software products of their own, but it seems that for every line that Microsoft has, Apple has too and vice versa.