While Apple’s latest iOS 6 beta didn’t make any significant changes to the platform’s front-end — aside from removing the YouTube app — it did make some changes under the hood. In addition to “bug fixes,” it appears the fourth beta has made some improvements to App Store download times that make updating your apps super snappy.

As shown in the video below — spotted by Brazilian site BlogdoiPhone — an update to Apple’s Podcasts app on the iPhone takes significantly less time to download and install than it does on iOS 5.1.1.

While it could be that the iPhones in this clip are connected to different Wi-Fi networks, with one faster than the other, I was able to confirm this myself by downloading this morning’s BBC iPlayer update on my iPhone 4S running iOS 6 beta 4, and my wife’s iPhone 4S running iOS 5.1.1. although there wasn’t a major difference — nowhere near the difference shown in this video — mine was slightly quicker.

BlogdoiPhone speculates that this could be a sign Apple has finally introduced support for “delta” updates in iOS 6. This means that rather than downloading entire apps all over again, just to introduce new features or bug fixes, you just download a patch containing the changes.

Of course, for that to happen, iOS developers would need to change how they upload their apps to Apple. rather than updating the entire package, as they do now, they’d have to update just the changes — or the delta update. or they’d have to update the entire app, and the delta update for existing users.

Having said that, seeing as the app in this video is Apple’s own Podcasts app, it’s possible the Cupertino company is testing delta updates before opening them up to third-party developers.

Delta updates would certainly be a welcome introduction to iOS, especially to users who use their data connection to update their apps. It’s likely to be only a matter of time before they arrive. But it is also hard to say whether or not this is a delta update in action.

• Source YouTube
• Via BlogdoiPhone

Latest iOS 6 Beta Makes App Store Updates Super Snappy

I’ve said it a million times: software keyboards are alienating and clunky. They’re not exactly comfortable to use and making mistakes is much easier to do on a virtual keyboard than it is on a physical one. What’s worse is correcting said mistakes. Placing the cursor accurately can be a cumbersome and frustrating task. And neither the magnifying bubble in iOS or the drag-and-drop method in Android and Windows Phone make things any easier.

While the added display real estate of a tablet makes it great for many things, like viewing Web pages, watching movies from virtually anywhere and providing hours of non-stop entertainment, it only improves text entry and editing so much.

Nonetheless, I do it day in and day out. Most of you know by now I’m a tablet fiend and that I do a lot of my Web browsing and writing from the keyboard-less slabs. In fact, every article I have written in the past several weeks has been written almost entirely on either the Transformer Prime or a (new) iPad. (I usually only switch to my MacBook to publish.) In short, they keep me focused on a single task at a time versus trying to do everything at once from a PC.

But there are few who would argue that soft keyboards couldn’t be better.

On an iPad, you are at the mercy of Apple’s software engineers. And currently, there are only three different keyboard modes on the iPad: portrait, landscape and split. the landscape keyboard isn’t all that bad. (It’s what I’m using to write this.) the letters are nice and big, and all the essential keys are easily accessible. but make a single mistake and might find yourself stumbling all over the place, trying to fix a single typo.

On Android tablets, you have the luxury of downloading and trying out various keyboards. Finding a keyboard that suits your needs is as simple as a Google search or perusing soft keyboards in the Play Store. I typically use the stock Android keyboard for the majority of my Android tablet writing, and I use SwiftKey 3 when holding the tablet instead of propping it on a table or docking it in the keyboard attachment. the soft arrow keys in SwiftKey work wonders, but are still no match for a physical keyboard. (Oh, how I love the keyboard dock!)

Mobile software companies have yet to overcome the hurdles associated with editing text (copying, pasting, selecting, etc.) via touchscreen. Auto-correction and personalization software helps avoid typos, but does not snuff them out completely. Essentially, there is no great way to edit text on a tablet.

On Wednesday, however, a video was uploaded to YouTube by one Daniel Hooper, demoing a way that iPad text editing could be much better. the video begins with Hooper typing, ”Editing on iPad is slow. but it could be better.” He went on to show an altered version of the iPad keyboard that he made. rather than tapping different parts of the text to move the cursor, he simply slid his finger across the keyboard laterally. to move the cursor faster (what looked to be an entire word at a time), he used two fingers. And to selected text, Hooper simply held the shift key while sliding another finger.

I want this, and I want it now. It’s simple, effective, quick and (somewhat) intuitive. just judging by how fast Hooper was typing, selecting, deleting and editing words, his mod seems to be quite effective and relatively easy to pick up on. (I would have to get over my learned habit of swiping right-to-left to delete the last word typed when using SwiftKey, that’s for sure.) the only thing I would suggest, however, are hotkeys for copy and paste.

Lucky for us, something great will come of this one way or another.

Apple has been known to pick up developers, hackers and various software companies with great ideas in the past. just last year, they hired 19-year-old iOS hacker, Nicholas Allegra, as an intern. Many speculated that Apple hired Allegra to beef up iOS security. And, as many of you may recall, Apple acquired Siri, a virtual assistant app, in April 2010 for use with iOS 5 on the iPhone 4S. hopefully, something similar will happen here as Daniel Hooper certainly has some pretty impressive ideas. (The modest developer doesn’t seem to be aiming for a job from the Cupertino-based tech company, and instead just asks YouTube viewers to submit a feature request directly to Apple.)

If Apple doesn’t hire Hooper (or steal his idea), however, all hope will not be lost, as it is very likely either Hooper or another developer will create a similar jailbreak mod for the iPad. the only problem with that is it would only be available to those who are willing to sacrifice their warranty. Hey, you win some and lose some.

Either way, I can’t wait for this feature to be on my iPad, officially or unofficially. what say you?

If Apple wants to improve the iPad keyboard, they need to hire Daniel Hooper

Just over a year after launching, Apple’s Mac App Store now contains over 10,000 apps for use with the company’s desktop and laptop machines.

Apple’s Mac App Store appears to be growing steadily, with estimates from two separate sites — MacRumors and MacGeneration — suggesting it now contains 10,000 apps (both free and paid) for Apple’s desktop and laptop machines.

The download-only Mac App Store launched in January last year as the Cupertino-based company pushes to change the way its users obtain new software for their computers. Inspired by the success of the iOS App Store, Apple has designed the Mac App Store to be a simple, straightforward, one-stop shop for users’ software requirements.

The store has been designed to make it easy to search for new software titles, with categories, product descriptions and user reviews offered. if you’ve already bought a product through Apple, the company will already have your payment details on file, so purchasing something through the Mac App Store will be just a click away. 

Of course, Apple does well out of the deal, taking a 30 percent cut of any sales, leaving the developer with the remainder. Apple also keeps tight control on what appears in its store as submitted software must first be passed by a team of evaluators.

While the landmark figure of 10,000 apps may sound very reasonable for a single store, it pales in comparison when you consider the size of the iOS App Store, which now offers over half a million apps to users of Apple’s mobile devices. The high number can be partly attributed to the fact that the iOS store opened for business almost three years before its Mac counterpart, and also the large number of iPhones and iPads in existence makes the iOS market more attractive to developers.

As for how popular the Mac App Store is proving with users, in December last year — just 11 months after the store launched — the tech giant announced that downloads had already passed the 100 million mark.

Not surprisingly, Apple now sells its own major software titles through its online store, and last year famously offered its latest OS X, Lion (v10.7), as a download-only release through the store.

Mac App Store hits 10,000 apps milestone just over a year after launch

Apple's current MacBook Pro model.

(Credit:Apple)

Apple is expected to bestow speedier Intel chips on its notebooks just about any day now. but according to three years’ worth of pricing data, you’re likely to save some cash for waiting just a few days after said models are released.

Yes, you read that right. Waiting to buy technology will result in saving some money. Bear with us though, this is kinda neat.

Following up on an identical study it did this past July, discount tracker Dealnews has once again put together three years’ worth of Apple product pricing data to illustrate when discounts can be had on Apple’s Macs and iOS devices.

The preliminary finding for Apple’s notebooks is that waiting just a day or two can save you anywhere from $45 to $49 on the price tag if you’re buying a 15-inch MacBook Pro or 11-inch MacBook Air respectively.

Deeper cuts can be had on both machines if you’re willing to wait a bit longer. Dealnews found buyers of those same machines saving $299 for waiting three months on the MacBook Pro machine, and $149 for waiting four months on the Air.

“Never buy an Apple product on the day of its launch,” the site touted in its study last year. “Our deal archives show that most Apple products receive a discount within eight days of their launch (excluding theiPad andiPhone).”

That remains true, and has actually improved more recently, Dealnews’ Louis Ramirez writes. “We’ve noticed that deals on Apple products are happening more quickly and are getting more aggressive,” he said. in fact, the longest waits for any price drop whatsoever on the iPad and iPhone came 2 months and 11 days after release, respectively. The rest took just a few days.

Ramirez also reiterated the site’s stance on purchasing products from third-parties instead of Apple if you were looking to save on retail price.

“The first and most important thing you can do to save money on new Apple products is not purchase them from Apple; otherwise, you’ll never see significant deals,” Ramirez said. “Rather, we recommend hitting the authorized resellers for discounts and promotions.”

Apple was rumored to update its MacBook line sometime in April, a deadline that’s just about to pass. The company’s last refresh to its MacBook Pro was in October, with a speedier processor, more storage, and upgraded graphics capabilities. It’s been a bit longer for the MacBook Airs, which were refreshed in late July to coincide with the release of Apple’s Lion OS X software update.

Not to be left out is the iMac, Apple’s all-in-one desktop machine, which is due for some sprucing up. Dealnews says buyers saved $94 on the 21.5-inch iMac by waiting a week after it came out, with buyers saving $144 by waiting seven months.

Below is Dealnews’ full infographic for its findings:

Delay that Apple gratification and save bucks, data shows

A new unlock method has been discovered that works on every iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and iPhone 3GS running iOS 5, iOS 5.0.1, and even iOS 5.1, the only requirement is the iPhone must be jailbroken already. if you’re already jailbroke go ahead, otherwise here are guides to jailbreak iOS 5.1 and another guide for the iPhone 4S with iOS 5.0.1.

The downside to the SAM unlock method is that it requires a jailbreak, that means if you lose your the jailbreak you lose the unlock. if you don’t want to jailbreak or you can’t for some reason, you can officially unlock an iPhone from AT&T by phone or through AT&T via web chat instead. it can take several weeks for the unlock request to process with AT&T and the iPhone must be out of contract, but it doesn’t require any funky software mods and is much easier than the aforementioned SAM method.

Great find by Singularity and @musclenerd.

Unlock Any iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, or iPhone 3GS Right Now with SAM

Apple is on fire. Even though Apple [NASDAQ: AAPL]  just released the much anticipated iPad 3 – otherwise known as the new iPad – it looks like they are planning on a June iPhone 5 release. let me repeat, the iPhone will be released in June of 2012, according to a report in the Washington Post. This is going to do wonders for the already hot Apple stock, ticker AAPL. Check out the latest iPhone 5 rumors.

iPhone 5 Release Date

Just last week, we had pegged the iPhone 5 release date to come this Fall, however a new report from today changes things in a big way. According to the Washington Post, Apple is already staffing up for a June iPhone5 release. there is no current word on iOS 6, but given Apple’s previous releases, it wouldn’t be unlikely for a simultaneous announcement.

Here’s the report from the Washington Post:

A report from M.I.C. Gadget mentions that Foxconn is in the midst of a hiring drive for production of the iPhone 5, causing some to speculate that the next iPhone will be coming in June, instead of in the fall.

Apple reworked its iPhone release schedule to show off its newest iteration in the fall instead of the summer, and it seems unlikely — no matter who’s hiring — that the company would cut the product life of its most successful iPhone to date.

iPhone 5 Specs

There are currently three major rumors swirling around the updates around the iPhone 5. now, these are still rumors but here they are. First is a much larger iPhone screen – this of course has been on Apple fanboys wishlist since day one (see report below). second is 4G LTE compatibility for the iPhone5. Apple is currently late to the game with this as most Android phones are already using the 4G network. third, a quad core processor and upgraded chipset.

TechCrunch is reporting:

Pulling from a Korean newspaper called Maeil Business Newspaper, Reuters is reporting that “Apple has decided on the bigger 4.6-inch display for its next iPhone and started placing orders to its suppliers.” By suppliers, we assume that references LG and Samsung within Korea, but the unnamed sources declined to confirm.

Mashable is reporting a potential iPhone 5 being made of glass:

Apple has filed a patent application that describes a handheld device with a case made entirely out of glass.

Such a case could be formed from a “hollow glass tube” or two pieces of glass bonded together. The material would be radio transparent, and the device could be hermetically sealed and thus water resistant.

iPhone 5 Photos

Intertational Business Times put a slide show together of the top 5 concept designs for the iPhone 5. Check them out.

With every iPhone 5 rumor round up, please take them with a grain of salt.

Latest iPhone 5 Rumor Roundup: iPhone 5 Release Date This Summer, Specs & Leaked Images [Photos]

The much anticipated Apple [NASDAQ: AAPL]  iPhone 5 gets better every day. And even though Apple spoiled us with the iPad 3 release last month, it looks like the iPhone 5 will have a release date of June, 2012. In addition to a June iPhone5 release, the latest Apple rumors are revolving around a 3D camera, OLED display, new chips, a much better camera, NFC, improved Siri and a longer battery life. In addition to the news of the iPhone5, we are already starting to hear reports about iOS 6 and it’s damn good.

However, with Apple’s World Wide Developers’ Conference (WWDC) now just eight weeks away, things can change fast. that conference, which is usually where Apple unveils its new mobile OS, might also be where Apple releases the iPhone 5, too, but it’s way to early to tell.

Here are the latest and greatest rumors surrounding the upcoming iPhone 5.

iPhone 5 Release Date

The iPhone5 release date has been a bit of a mystery so far – is it fall or is it summer? well, according to a Foxconn employee the iPhone 5 will be released in June of this year. According to CNET, “A Foxconn recruiting office is telling potential hires that the iPhone 5 is expected to go on sale in June, according to a Japanese broadcaster. In a conversation recorded here by TV Tokyo and aired April 2, a Foxconn recruiter says the company needs to hire about 18,000 people to manufacture the iPhone 5.”

While it certainly is an aggressive move by Apple, it makes sense. The last upgrade to the iPhone was only a minor one – iPhone 4S – and certainly pissed off its share of Apple fanboys. There is no doubt that Apple can release two major products in a three month span. keep an eye out for the iPhone 5 to be released in June.

iPhone 5 Specs

There are currently hundreds of rumors swirling around what kind of specs that we can expect to see in the iPhone 5, however, only a few of them seem to be gaining steam. Here is what you can expect to see new in the iPhone 5.

• Bigger screen – the iPhone screen has yet to change. Be ready for a much larger and sharper display.
• 4G Network – Apple is currently behind Android on 4G connectivity, not for long.
• 3D Camera
• NFC – Mobile payments are coming!
• Quad Core A6 Chip – Faster iPhone and better battery life. thank you!

iPhone 5 Photos

Intertational Business Times put a slide show together of the top 5 concept designs for the iPhone 5. Check them out.

As always this is a rumor round up so please take these with a grain of salt.

iPhone 5 Release Date: Latest iPhone 5 Rumor Roundup, June Release, Specs, 3D Camera & Leaked Photos

Steve Jobs hated Google: Biographer

While Larry Page recently revealed in an interview that Steve Jobs’ hatred for Android was just ‘for show’, Job’s biographer has hit back at page saying that the late Apple co-founder hated Google.

“In an interview with Forbes, Google’s chief executive dismissed Jobs’ angry criticism of Android as merely a tactic to get Apple employees to “rally around” a rivalry with a competitor. that take seemed at odds with what Jobs pretty plainly said about Android in Isaacson’s best-selling biography of the iconic tech leader,” reports PC Magazine

Speaking at the Royal Institution Steve Jobs’ biographer Walter Isaacson explained that Steve hated Google for stealing the iPhone interface. Quoting Jobs, he added, “Apple’s iOS] is almost copied verbatim by Android.”

If you’ve forgotten what Jobs said to the biographer, here’s a quick look (courtesy all things D.)

“our lawsuit is saying, ‘Google, you fucking ripped off the iPhone, wholesale ripped us off.’ Grand theft. I will spend my last dying breath if I need to, and I will spend every penny of Apple’s $40 billion in the bank, to right this wrong. I’m going to destroy Android, because it’s a stolen product. I’m willing to go to thermonuclear war on this. They are scared to death, because they know they are guilty. Outside of Search, Google’s products – Android, Google Docs – are s***.”

Steve Jobs hated Google: Biographer « readiscover

The Apple iPhone 4S is the most popular smartphone in the world, with millions of users around the world choosing the phone for its innovative features and ease of use. a major part of the success of the iPhone 4S is the iOS operating system. in this article I will look at the software and some of its key features.

IOS is the smartphone and tablet operating system found on all Apple smartphones, tablets and iPod touches. It is instantly recognisable due to its simple interface in which apps are neatly laid out, ready to be opened with a tap of the touchscreen. When the phone is unlocked, 16 apps are displayed in a 4x 4 grid, and to access the next or previous screen, you simply swipe the screen left or right with your finger. Like other versions, the iPhone 4S has the standard apps such as Phone, Messages, iPod, Safari (Apples web browsing app) etc already installed on the phone, along with a number of others. Users also have access to the famous AppStore, which plays a massive part in the popularity of the iPhone 4S. allows users to browse various categories, where hundreds of thousands of apps are available to be downloaded, either for free or for a fee ranging from a few pence to several hundred pounds depending on the title of the app.

The latest version of iOS, version 5, has a number of customisable features. For example, users can set up folders, where they can group a number of apps. For example, you can create a folder for all your social networking apps, where you can relocate you Facebook or Twitter apps, or make a shopping folder where you can store your eBay and Amazon apps for example. this makes it easy to group apps of the same category, and for added convenience you can give the folders a title of your choice. Even if you choose not to, iOS 5 will automatically label a folder based on the nature of the apps it contains.

If you wish to view the last 4 apps you used, simply double tap the home button, and these will appear along the bottom of the interface. this is a handy feature if you tend to use the same apps often, as it allows you to access then instantly. If you hold down the home button, you will be taken to the Siri feature, where you can then interact with the phone using your voice to accomplish a range of different tasks. When you double tap the home button when the screen is locked, it shows an iPod shortcut, which allows you to play music without unlocking the screen. the available controls are limited to simple functions like play/pause, skip tracks and volume settings. For more control over your music, simply select the iPod app when the screen is unlocked.

As you can see, although the iOS 5 platform appears simple, it offers many more features than meets the eye. the iPhone 5 is due for release later this year, so we can expect to see even more innovations to the popular platform.

A Look At Some Lesser Known Features Of iOS On The Popular iPhone 4S

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iOS 6 with Siri

We have a solid proof that iOS 6 is in development after being caught up on Ars Technica servers when Apple was giving a pilot run to iOS 6 on the iPad. iOs 5.1 ended up being released with the new iPad. however, it is almost certain that Apple will introduce iOS 6 along with the new iPhone, because the tech giant has always released a new software/software upgrade with new product launches.

With the new iPad, Apple made it clear that it does not want to debut Siri on iPad. but that does not mean that Apple is keeping Siri out of the new iPhone. iPhone 5 is surely going to feature Siri (Siri v.2.0?), which in its current beta version, can speak a total of 6 languages.

New Design with Corning Gorilla Glass

The design of the original iPhone was quite plain. iPhone 3G and 3GS had relatively different but identical design. the blueprint changed in iPhone 4, and was also followed by iPhone 4S. Apple gives a new design to its every iPhone build. iPhone 5 will have a spanking new design. Corning Gorilla Glass rumors are also catching fire. Corning Gorilla Glass will raise the production cost high and iPhone 5 is reported to priced higher than current price of iPhone 4S. Possibility of Corning Gorilla Glass is all-time high.

Release Date

Looking at Apple’s behavior, iPhone 5 may come out in summer 2012. Many reports give a glimpse of June launch. but most geeks believe that Apple will release its new iPhone in September or first week of October. October 4 release date rumors are also high.

(reported by Johnny Wills, edited by Surojit Chatterjee)

To report problems or to leave feedback about this article, e-mail: To contact the editor, e-mail:

iPhone 5 Rumors Roundup: From Release Date to Features (What We Know So Far)