The latest rumors about the next generation comes from a DigiTimes report that claims trial production for the iPad 5 will begin soon and volume production will begin in July. This would mean the new iPads would arrive in the Fall, perhaps as soon as September.

According to the article, [...]]]>

The latest rumors about the next generation comes from a DigiTimes report that claims trial production for the iPad 5 will begin soon and volume production will begin in July. This would mean the new iPads would arrive in the Fall, perhaps as soon as September.

According to the article, an unnamed source from a supply chain in Taiwan stated; “the 5th-generation iPad is estimated to be 25-33% lighter than the 4th-generation one.”

The 4th generation iPad (without cellular) weighs 1.44 pounds. This would drop the iPad 5 to just under 1 pound. The screen size is expected to still be a 2048 x 1536 Retina display, but with narrow side bezels that closely resemble the iPad mini.

The report also claims that the iPad 5 will have a 0.2mm glass substrate and will only use one LED light bar for backlighting. By comparison, the 4th generation iPad uses a 0.25mm glass substrate and two LED light bars.

If the rumors are true, a thinner glass substrate, smaller side bezels and eliminating a LED light bar would certainly shed some weight from the previous version iPad.

DigiTimes hasn’t always been the most reliable with Apple rumors, but this report does seem plausible.

If you use a split keyboard on an iPad or iPad mini [...]]]> Apple occasionally includes some clever tricks on iOS devices that are not found in user manuals or on Apple’s website. We have five useful tips that the average iPad, iPhone or iPod touch user probably doesn’t know about.

Tip One – Hidden Keys

If you use a split keyboard on an iPad or iPad mini you have six hidden keys along the inside edges of the keyboard. The hidden keys are Y, H, B, T, G and V. There’s nothing ground breaking, but it allow users to tap the letters without having to use your opposite hand.

Tip Two – Swipe to Delete (Calculator App)

Using the stock calculator app on your iPhone or iPod touch you can delete the last number by sliding your finger in the numbers box at the top of the screen. This trick also works on several third-party calculator apps for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch devices.

This will be much simpler than hitting clear and starting over if you are working on a long equation and hit the wrong button.

Tip Three – Long Hold for Drafts

To quickly access your most recent email drafts, you can hold your finger down on the compose message button in the mail app on your iOS device.

Just tapping the compose button goes straight to a new message screen, but a long hold will give you a choice of a new message or a list of your most recent drafts.

Tip Four – Shake to Undo / Redo

This tip works on all iOS devices, but it’s easier to use on iPhones and iPod touches. If you shake your iOS device after typing in almost any app (Mail, Notes, Safari, Gmail, etc.) you can undo the last bit of typing. What’s even better is if you shake it again, you have the option to redo the text. This tip isn’t that practical for iPad users, but iPhone users may want to give it a try.

Tip Five – Tap to the Top of the Screen

This is something I use daily, but some people may not be aware of it. If you tap the status bar while using almost any app (Safari, Mail, Twitter, etc.) you will quickly be taken to the top of the page. This is a time saver and is much easier than scrolling manually to the top on a long page.

Have any more hidden iOS tips? Please feel free to share them in the comments.

After a few days [...]]]> Recently, a 5-year-old boy named Danny Kitchen racked up a bill over $2500 in ten minutes on premium add-ons while playing an iPad game called Zombies vs Ninja. Of course, App Store purchases require a password, but Danny’s parents foolishly provided him with the password.

After a few days the family was able to get Apple to reverse the charges. Danny’s parents could have also avoided this problem if they disabled in-app purchases altogether on their iPad.

How to Disable In-App Purchases

Step 1. Tap Settings then General.
Step 2. Tap Restrictions and then Enable Restrictions.
Step 3. Enter a Restrictions passcode (one that your child can’t guess.)
Step 4. Scroll down and slide In-App Purchases to the Off position.

That’s all there is to it. I recommend turning off in-app purchases for anyone who has a child that is using an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch.

Rumors of an iOS watch with a flexible display has picked up steam recently when Bloomberg reported Apple has about 100 product designers working on the project. The size of such a team would suggest that Apple is beyond the experimentation phase and is in the development phase.

Bloomberg reported days later that Corning, the maker of the flexible Willow glass sees a 3 year wait on the flexible glass. Corning sent out samples of the flexible glass in June of 2012 to hardware manufactures, at the time the company hoped it would be available in products this year.

However, James Clappin, the president of Corning Glass Technologies, now believes it will take 3 years because “very big name” customers are not accustomed to glass you roll up.

Corning is not the only Apple supplier that has developed flexible glass. Han Sang-beom, LG Display’s CEO stated back in August of last year that they would be able to mass produce flexible OLED displays in the second-half of this year.

Apple could use LG Display to supply the screens or they could to use a curved glass in the first version of the iWatch instead of a flexible glass. The display would only need to curve slightly to get rid of any sharp edges.

Below are some concept photos that show an Apple watch with an OLED display with a narrow touch pad, a solar cell and volume controls.

I expect we will see the real iWatch from Apple much sooner than 3 years.

In [...]]]> According to a report from The New York Times, Apple is working on a smart watch that runs on Apple’s iOS platform and utilizes curved glass. The blogger Nick Bilton claims that the information is from people familiar with the company’s explorations, but didn’t want to name the source of the information.

In its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., Apple is experimenting with wristwatch-like devices made of curved glass, according to people familiar with the company’s explorations, who spoke on the condition that they not be named because they are not allowed to publicly discuss unreleased products. Such a watch would operate Apple’s iOS platform, two people said, and stand apart from competitors based on the company’s understanding of how such glass can curve around the human body.

iWatch Concept Photos

The Wall Street Journal has also reported that Apple is indeed working on such a device and claims the company has discussed the iWatch with its major manufacturing partner Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.

Apple Inc. is experimenting with designs for a watch-like device that would perform some functions of a smartphone, according to people briefed on the effort. The company has discussed such a device with its major manufacturing partner Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.

Foxconn, as Hon Hai is known, has been working on a spate of technologies that could be used in wearable devices, one of these people said. In particular, the Taiwan-based company has been working to address the challenges of making displays more battery-efficient and working with chip manufacturers to strip down their products. The technologies are aimed at multiple Foxconn customers, this person said.

Both of the articles come only one day after Bruce Tognazzini, a former Apple employee and founder of Apple’s Human Interface Group, published that he believes Apple is working on an iWatch.

Tognazzini speculates that the watch will be an accessory for the iPhone versus trying to replace it. Some of possible features could be eliminating the need for an iPhone passcode, notifications when you leave your iPhone behind, Siri and much more.

The iWatch will fill a gaping hole in the Apple ecosystem. It will facilitate and coordinate not only the activities of all the other computers and devices we use, but a wide array of devices to come. Like other breakthrough Apple products, its value will be underestimated at launch, then grow to have a profound impact on our lives and Apple’s fortunes.

The article makes many interesting points and is definitely worth reading.

Of course, this is not the only possible break through product Apple may be developing. The company is also rumored to be working a television set that could go on sale as soon as late this year. The advantage of the iWatch is that Apple will not have to negotiate with media companies for content.

Apple’s stock has taken a beating over the last few months and many are wondering if Apple is still the innovative company it was under Steve Jobs. Apple is in need of another break through product with Tim Cook at the helm. If Apple reinvents another device it will likely happen with an iWatch or iTV.

Evasion is not only the first untethered jailbreak for iOS 6, but it is also the first time [...]]]> Thanks to a team of talented and hardworking developers, iOS users can now jailbreak almost any iOS device that is running iOS 6 – iOS 6.1. The jailbreak is called Evasion and it’s incredibly easy to install.

Evasion is not only the first untethered jailbreak for iOS 6, but it is also the first time a public jailbreak has been released for the iPhone 5.

List of Compatible Devices

• iPad 2
• iPad 3
• iPad 4
• iPad mini
• iPhone 3Gs
• iPhone 4
• iPhone 4S
• iPhone 5
• iPod touch 4th Generation
• iPod touch 5th Generation

Here are some important notes to read before installing the jailbreak.

• Backup your device using iTunes (or iCloud) before using evasi0n. If something breaks, you’ll always be able to recover your data.
• Please disable the lock passcode of your iOS device before using evasi0n. It can cause issues.
• Avoid all iOS and iTunes related tasks until evasi0n is complete. Why not just enjoy a brief break from the computer to stretch your legs?
• If the process gets stuck somewhere, it’s safe to restart the program, reboot the device (if necessary by holding down Power and Home until it shuts down), and rerun the process.
• If you get an error on OS X 10.8 saying that evasi0n can’t be opened, control-click (or right-click) the app and on the revealed context menu, choose ‘Open.’ On the ensuing dialogue box, choose ‘Open’ as well.

Step 1. You will need to visit evasi0n.com on your Mac or Windows computer and download the software for your operating system.

Step 2. After you have downloaded the Evasion software, open the application and plug your iOS device into the computer (quit iTunes if it’s open).

Step 3. Evasion should recognize your device, once it does click on jailbreak.

Step 4. After a few minutes you will be prompted to turn on your iOS device and tap the Evasion icon on the screen. Wait for the jailbreak tool to tell you when to do this.

Step 5. The process should complete on your iOS device and when it’s finished Cydia should be installed.

Happy jailbreaking!