WWDC 2012 Details Leak

With the announcement of iCloud, a fully-fledged cloud service, Apple considers the importance of constant updates and innovations, and is said to take the wraps off a refreshed iCloud service at this year’s WWDC. The move is also said to be strengthened with the Microsoft and Google’s recently presented cloud-based services- SkyDrive and Google Drive.

The sources familiar with the subjects claim that the advanced iCloud type of service will allow image share and comment ability to users, just like Apple’s favorite Instagram. Moreover, users will also be enabled to synch Videos to iCloud.

The advanced features will be introduced at this year’s world-wide developer conference, commencing on June 11th when Apple usually announces the new and exciting technologies, products and features. This year the Cupertino Company is strongly believed to shed a light on its upcoming iOS 6 and the augmented iCloud service with new, vaguely Instagram-like features.

What iCloud offers now is the ability to store a set of photos, but there is no existing sharing infrastructure prepared for those with an interminable need to share the whole kit and caboodle. It is quite hard not to mention Instagram once more- with all the mess and a war between Android and iOS Instagram users, many iOS customers are quite likely to shift their whole gallery in an upcoming updated iCloud service.

Have you heard any other rumors of what WWDC will bring? If so, do not hesitate to share with us below in the comments.

Ashton Kutcher Captured Dressed Up As Steve Jobs

Remember we’ve shared the rumors about Steve Jobs upcoming biopic? Nothing was confirmed then, and neither is now… but one thing is clear with no confirmation needed – it’s Ashton Kutcher who will play the world’s most innovative visionary.

Being spotted walking the streets dressed entirely as the man he will be playing in an upcoming movie, Ashton seems to look like almost exactly as Steve Jobs, the former Apple CEO and co-founder who died last year.

The snapshots are apparently taken on Ashton’s way to filming, showing the actor wearing what turned into Steve Jobs’ uniform of a black turtleneck sweater and Steve’s beloved blue denim jeans.

Ashton Kutcher, known for his technology entrepreneurship as well as his acting, is said to be playing Steve Jobs in one of the two movies that are currently being worked on – one by Sony Entertainments, based on Steve Jobs’s biography by Walter Isaacson- bestseller of its genre. Those who’ve read the book claim that it exposed things that not even Jobs’ closest associates will have been aware of at the time, so the movie is going to be quite interesting watch too, indeed. Love him or hate him, you have to confess that Ashton Kutcher will definitely bring a little charm to the role of Steve Jobs, as if it was necessary… By then, have a look at the pictures provided and do not hesitate to express your opinion below in the comments.

Group Your Contacts By iPhone Easy Group

We’re glad to introduce the next winner of our Free App Poll - iPhone Easy Group! The app lets you group iPhone contacts, as the name hints. Moreover, you are able to simply send one SMS, Text and Email to all group members, as your groups automatically appear into your iPhone Contacts application in an organized way.

Easy Group enables you to select group members preferred phone numbers and email address. You are also allowed to change group names from the default – family, friends and colleagues to more personal ones. The app is quite convenient when you plan a party or organize a group meeting, as it enables you to easily get in touch with the target group of contacts and not miss anyone.
To get a closer look at how the app works, check out the video guide provided below:

The current iPhone Easy Group version 2.3 includes the improved graphical interface, meaning that when a new group member has multiple emails/phones, you’re allowed to just tap on the entries you want to use for group messaging.

iPhone Easy Group is available in the Apple App Store for free. The app is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad and requires iOS 4.2 or later to be fully functional.

For Developers: To become the next winner of the weekly poll and see the review of your app on our blog, get started now, check out:

How-to Promote Your Apps On iPhone Blog For Free!

iOS 6 To Ditch Google Maps, To Use 3D Technology Instead

The recent reports claim that Apple will drop Google Maps in iOS6 and use cleaner, faster and more reliable in-house apps instead. If we take a retrospective look at Apple’s history, the company has started working on improving its mapping software since it bought Placeware in 2009. This purchase was followed by an Poly9 acquisition, the company that specializes in 3D mapping solutions. Moreover, Apple has also purchased C3 – also providing 3D mapping technology in 2011 and absorbed the principals of the company.

The multiple “previously trusted” sources cite that Apple’s purchases of Placebase, C3 Technologies, and Poly9 obviously hint that the Cupertino-based company is set to create its own complete mapping database and no longer contribute to creating additional source of income for its head-to-head competitor- Google.

Additionally, the new feature is said to also sport a non-standard 3D mode, meaning that users will need to select and click on a button to enable it. The report reads: “3D mode is said to essentially be technology straight from C3 Technologies: beautiful, realistic graphics based on de-classified missile target algorithms.”

With the previous experience, when Apple bought Siri in 2010 and add voice-recognition functionality to iOS powering its iPhone 4S, the rumors seem to be quite relevant. All we’ve left to do is to keep tracing the updates and not miss the World Wide Developers Conference held in mid-June this year, when Apple is believed to unveil its iOS 6 we all long for so much.

Apple’s Evolution- Chronological Sequence Of Amazing Mobile Products

The Music Event of Apple, that took part on October 23rd, 2001, was dedicated to unveiling a unique product of the whole decade- an iPod! Bringing 1000 songs in your pocket, the first iPod was a boxy, white plastic-and-stainless steel gadget. The product came with a price tag as high as $399 for 5 GB of capacity and offered surprising 20 minutes of anti-skip technology. Below you’ll find the video of the official introduction of the first iPod, with Steve Jobs’ mannerisms, the fact that he refers to Apple as ‘we’ and just the way he…DID things:

Many things have changed since then…A year later iPod 2G was introduced, compatible with Windows too, then iPod 3G came up in 2003, followed by iPod mini and color iPods in 2004. Then came iPod Shuffle, fabulous iPod Nano and a video iPod in 2005. This regular update process created a need for better and better products, and in 2006 at Macworld in San Francisco Apple finally introduced its best version of iPod, which was not an iPod at all- it was the first phone by Apple – an iPhone! The widescreen, touch-controlled iPhone was the first iPod (with a screen) lacking a scroll wheel, but had a new series of groundbreaking touch controls, plus “swiping” through menus.

Sometime later, in 2007, iPod touch, ‘Fat nano’ was introduced, basically, an iPhone without the phone features which was shorter and wider than previous models, offering a color screen for video. Despite the new product, one more announcement was made- Apple suggested $200 price cuts to the iPhone, which infuriated early adopters. However, this compromised the iPod Touch price, which was quite high, but there has always been a wide assortment of iPod Touch deals available, enabling users to find the flexible payment methods and schedules that completely meet their budget and plans….

2010 appeared to be quite busy for Apple, as the company announced and shipped its iPad tablet — a big success so far — and its newest iPhone, which represented a significant upgrade over the previous models. The following year brought more and more updates and enhancements; and what we’ve got now is an iPhone 4S, multiple iPod types for satisfying each and every need of even the most capricious customer, the new iPad and even more to come!

As a conclusion, we should emphasize the role of Apple in the US and the whole world economy and welfare, As the amazing evolution of its products has not only benefited the end buyers and the Cupertino-based company itself, but has created the amazing capabilities for third-party developers to sell their software and apps, and the creative manufacturers who contribute to producing the accessories to Apple products, such as iPhone protective case, iPod docking station , iPad smart covers and many more….

New iPhone Liquid-Metal Concept Declined, Larger Screen And Smaller Dock Connector To Come Instead

Contrary with all the previous iPhone 5 concept designs we’ve seen so far, including the rumors about 3D camera and display, and a popular liquid-metal concept, the recently emerged rumors suggest the next iPhone to follow the conventional form factor seen its predecessors- the iPhone 4 and 4S. This concept is strengthened with an argument that iPhone will find it easier to compete with Android with a larger screen.

The rumors suggest that the device, which nobody seems sure what will be called, is reckoned to finally be breaking the small-screen mold and seems those using the Apples next smartphone will have more screen real estate to play with. Despite being more conservative, the new iPhone is also said to be be longer and thinner than the iPhone 4S, with the measurement guesstimation of 125mm x 58.5mm x 7.4mm – meaning that the new device will be full 10mm longer than the current flagship 4S, as well as 2mm svelte.

Importantly to the third-party app developers, the aspect ratio will also be changing as the pixels will be added to the top and the bottom of the current display. However the width will stay the same, but it still is a trouble for those who need to produce titles in different resolutions to support old and new.

As for the smaller dock connector, expected to debut with a new iPhone, it’s said to be around half the size of the current one while also containing fewer pins…With all the Apple devices we’ve seen so far using a larger connector, the iPhone 5 and all the subsequent iDevices are said to be switching on a more compact one, just like micro Sims that save on internal space. Check out the images and do not hesitate to express your opinion on how credible this latest rumor seems to you.

Humane Rigging

I recently started watching the Blender Foundation Humane Rigging DVD by Nathan Vegdahl, and I’m about halfway through it. The DVD¹ is great, but it doesn’t really have anything to do with iOS or graphics programming.

Sometimes, however, you find amazing things in unlikely places, and this is one of those times.

If you’re interested in learning or getting better at rigging 3d models for animation, especially using Blender, you absolutely should pick up this video. It’s one of the best pieces of Blender-related pedagogy that I’ve seen. In fact, it’s one of the best training videos of any kind that I’ve ever watched. It does a tremendous job of breaking down complex concepts and focuses on teaching the why as much as, if not more than, the how. You walk away not just knowing how to build a rig: You walk away knowing how to build nearly any rig you might need.

But even if you don’t give a rat’s ass about Blender or rigging, you might want to check this DVD out anyway. The reason for that is the third chapter. If you’ve ever had trouble with some of the basic 3D concepts like axis-angle rotation, Euler angles, gimbal lock, or just what the hell these quaternion things are, you should watch Chapter 3 and just ignore the Blender-specific parts. If you’re not interested in learning rigging, you can skip the last video in the chapter that applies what’s been learned to Blender. The rest of the chapter is almost all theory and concepts, and it’s brilliant.

I can almost guarantee that you’ll walk away with a solid understanding of the what and why of these foundational concepts, and that will help with any graphics programming you might be wanting to do, whether it’s OpenGL ES, Unity3D, Cocos3D, or whatever.

I would strongly encourage you to buy the DVD if you’re interested in the video, but it was released under a Creative Commons Attribution license, so you can torrent it legally and mostly guilt-free. Throwing a little money at the Blender Foundation will result in good karma, though.

1. This is a data DVD of video files, not a video DVD you watch on a DVD player.

The New iPhone Coming In September, iPad Mini In August

Multiple trusted sources have come up with the exciting news today – the reports claim that Apple will launch a sixth-generation iPhone in September, followed by the long-rumored seven-inch iPad mini in August and a fourth-generation iPad in Q4 2012.

The iPad Mini is sad to be hitting the lower-end tablet segment, yet dominated by Amazon’s $199 Kindle Fire, while the sixth-generation iPhone is currently in works and will be hitting the high-end part of the smartphone market. According to the reports, Pegatron has reportedly landed orders for the sixth-generation iPhone, instead of the previously shared belief that Foxconn was in charge of iPhone 5 manufacturing. Both being Apple’s favorite contract manufacturers, Foxconn will now manufacture a seven-inch iPad.

The rumors say Pegatron has also internally decided to downsize its SI motherboard department and to shift resources to Apple’s orders, while Foxconn is set to open 10,000 square meter state-of-the-art China headquarters in Shanghai scheduled for 2015, together with a R&D and sales centers…

No matter how exciting the rumors should sound, we advise you to take each and every information skeptically, as the imagination and creativity of iPhone 5 fans and mock up designers have gone beyond any imaginable border.

The Best iPhone 5 Concept Ever?

Whether you believe in endless iPhone 5 rumors or not, we have something that will definitely appeal to you. The liquid metal rumors were widespread during the buildup to the iPhone 4S, and the same has happened in case of iPhone 5 too recently.

Antoine Brieux, a French designer, has taken those rumors and created some absolutely stunning renders of what a liquid metal iPhone could look like.Called iPhone LM, the device looks astoundingly beautiful! If Apple designers manage to make the final iPhone 5 to look anything like the iPhone LM, whatever the case may be, we think there would be quite few complaining.

Take a look at the images provided below and do not hesitate to have your say about this amazing new iPhone concept below in the comments!