Apple picker The regular Sunday overview of events from the world of Apple this week brings: Facebook ropes in Apple employees, the revolutionary Nest thermostat is sold in the Apple Store, Samsung is again unorganized copying Apple, the search for new engineers to redesign the connector or the alleged overhaul of the App Store, iTunes Store and iBookstore in iOS 6.
Facebook hires Apple employees Will it make its own phone? (May 28)
The New York Times claims that Facebook wants to introduce its own smartphone next year. It reportedly now employs more than half a dozen former software and hardware engineers who worked on the iPhone, and one who was involved with the iPad. Why should Facebook want to your own phone? One of his employees claims that Mark Zuckerberk is afraid that Facebook will not end up as just an application on all mobile platforms.
While Facebook has struck a deal with HTC that will see Android smartphones on the market by the end of the year and an exclusive tie-up with Zuckerberg's social network, it won't be a pure "Facebook smartphone." Apparently, Facebook would also use Android as the operating system for its social phone. After all, Amazon made a similar attempt with theirs Kindle Fire, whose sales, however, took off sharply decline. Does a device with deep integration of a single service stand a chance? Do people even want a phone like that?
Source: TheVerge.com
Nest thermostat from 'father of iPods' now available at Apple Store (30/5)
Already a week ago, we pointed out that a revolutionary product should appear on the shelves of the Apple Store Nest thermostat. This thermostat actually appeared in the offer of American Apple stores after the temporary shutdown of the Apple Online Store and is already sold at a price of $249,95. It also went on sale in Canada this week, but the Canadian Apple Store does not yet carry the Nest.
A thermostat is not exactly a typical shop item. Nevertheless, Tony Fadell, who is considered the father of the entire iPod family and was also significantly involved in the first generations of the iPhone, is behind the design of the thermostat. The appearance of Fadell's product is very similar to the style common to Apple products. The design of the thermostat is very clean, precise and the way the product is packaged is also familiar. One of the features of the thermostat, and one of the main reasons it is sold in the Apple Store, is the fact that it can be controlled with an iPhone.
Source: TheVerge.com
Apple is said to present a new OS for Apple TV at WWDC (May 30)
Server & Hosting BGR has learned from his supposedly trusted source that Apple will introduce a new operating system for its Apple TV during WWDC, which should also be ready for the rumored Apple HDTV. In Cupertino, they are also said to be working on a new API that would allow all devices connected to the TV to be controlled using an Apple remote.
It is true that Apple TV received the new operating system a few months ago together with the new version, but this speculation could be fulfilled in the event that Tim Cook et al. were really preparing a new "iTV", then a new operating system would probably make sense.
Source: 9to5Mac.com
Samsung copies Mac mini (31/5)
It is no open secret that the Korean giant draws significant inspiration from Apple, and it is clearly not ashamed of it. Samsung has already copied the design of iPads, iPhones, even some features and additional services, which Apple offers. The latest copy from Samsung's workshop is called Chromebox. It is a computer with Google's Chrome OS operating system, which is built mainly on cloud services and thus requires a continuous Internet connection.
The Chromebox is a compact computer housed in a relatively small box that more than resembles a Mac mini, both in shape and design of the bottom part with a circular base. The only difference is the black color and a larger selection of ports, where two USB connectors are also located in the front. Samsung considers the entire Chromebox more of an experiment and does not expect a big sales success.
Source: CultofMac.com
New Apple jobs hint at new connector (31/5)
There has been speculation for a long time that the 30-pin dock connector could be replaced by another, smaller type of connector. The current solution first appeared on the iPod from 2003, and since then the connector has not undergone a single change. Today, however, great emphasis is placed on minimalism, and the wide 30-pin connector takes up quite a lot of space in the body of the iPhone and iPod. The change and minimization of this part of the device by Apple therefore makes sense in this direction. On the other hand, it would have an adverse effect on all existing accessories that are on the current connector, and even a reduction may not be an ideal solution.
Rumors about the new connector were also supported by a job offer on Apple's website. The Cupertino company is looking for candidates for the position of "Connector Design Engineer" and "Product Design Eng. – Connector”, who should take care of the development of new connectors for future iPod series. The lead engineer would then be responsible for determining suitable technologies, modifying existing connectors and also creating completely new variants.
Source: ModMyI.com
Smart Covers earn two billion dollars annually (31/5)
In addition to the expected launch of the iPad 2 last year, Apple surprised everyone with something else - the packaging. The Smart Cover (including the iPad) contains a series of aligning magnets that simply attach the cover to the iPad. Nice gadget, you say. But if we take into account the number of sold iPads 2 and the third generation and the percentage of customers who bought a Smart Cover for their tablet, it can be easily revealed that even a secondary product of the apple company can earn a nice "package". Richard Kramer of Arete Research estimates that every three months Apple's coffers will add 500 million US dollars, which is certainly a very nice number.
Source: CultOfMac.com
MobileMe ends in 30 days, Apple warns (1/6)
Even before the arrival of iCloud, Apple stopped offering this paid service to new customers. The existing ones could extend it, but the end of MobileMe is fast approaching, specifically on June 30. Users were notified to move their data to iCloud. When it comes to contacts and calendars, Apple offers a simple one migration. Unfortunately, services like MobileMe Gallery, iDisk and iWeb will be discontinued at the end of June. If you don't want to lose your data, be sure to download and save it from MobileMe.
Source: MacRumors.com
iOS 6 is set to bring redesigned iTunes Store, App Store and iBookstore (1/6)
At WWDC, Apple should let us see under the hood of the new iOS 6. The latest speculation is that we will see three major changes, all of which will concern virtual stores, i.e. App Store, iTunes Store and iBookstore. The changes should be significant and mainly concern improved interactivity during shopping. For example, the implementation of Facebook and other social services is said to be being tested.
thermostat or thermometer?
Thermostat
Will iOS 6 be available on the day of the presentation at WWDC, or will we have to wait?
iOS6 will only be presented at WWDC, it will be released with the sale of the new iPhone, so probably October 2012
Well, I hope that they will finally add a function that the last phones have had for about 10 years since the time of the single-color LED display... and that is the confirmation of reading the sent message. Then there is only some poor external application for it.
It won't be, developers will get it first, classically to modify their Apps. So I'm already looking forward to it, I'll be able to provoke users that I already have it ;)
Oh, we are on the website of a magazine about Apple and one of the authors writes "Apple TV" epic fail.
“The Nest Thermostat from the 'Father of iPods' is Now Available in the App Store
" Isn't the App Store a store with applications in iOS and the Apple Store a brick-and-mortar store where Apple products are sold? :)
That Samsung is pathetic...