iTunes 11 Released

Apple has finally released iTunes 11, a completely new version of iTunes. The new iTunes features a new redesigned store, simplified player, and new iCloud features.

The new iTunes is currently available through Software Update in the Mac App Store, and on Apple.com , it should be available via its iTunes pages soon.

The software update is around 200MB in size.

iPhone 5 Shipping Estimates Drop to 1 Week

Last week, we reported that Apple has started to catch up on iPhone 5 demand in the U.S. Now, iPhone 5 shipping estimates for Asia and Pacific markets have dropped to just one week. That’s the shortest shipping estimate since the iPhone 5 went on sale back in September. A shorter shipping time might  mean demand is dropping, or more likely Apple has been able to ramp up production of the iPhone 5 to meet demand. Continue reading “iPhone 5 Shipping Estimates Drop to 1 Week”

Apple Beginning to Catch Up on iPhone 5 Demand in U.S.

AppleInsider reports that Apple has nearly caught up with demand for the iPhone 5 in the US. Gene Munster and his team at Piper Jaffray checked of 100 retail Apple Stores. They found that supply of AT&T and Verizon models has significantly improved, while Sprint models remain available.

“As we get closer to the holiday, we believe consumers will likely have the ability to walk into an Apple Store and walk out with an iPhone 5 within the next two weeks,” Munster said.

In addition, Apple’s own online store shows shipping estimates dropping to 2 weeks for the first time. Previously, iPhone 5 ship dates were 3-4 weeks, improving to 2-3 weeks last week, and now at 2 weeks.

Apple Posts Two New iPhone 5 Television Ads, ‘Orchestra’ and ‘Turkey’

Apple has just released two new iPhone television ads. The ads are called  ‘Orchestra‘ and ‘Turkey‘. Orchestra highlights the microphones and noise canceling technology on the iPhone 5. This technology helps reduce background noise during calls. Turkey focuses on the Share Photo Stream feature of iOS 6.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qBaTYNKluM&feature=player_embedded

Excuse me, maestro? Bring it down please!
Better.
That’s what happens to background noise when you’re making a call on this.
This microphone here picks up the sounds around you and helps turn them down.
So when the world gets noisy, calls sound better.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xHquhlr45w&feature=player_embedded

Well, it’s that time of year again.
You know, picture taking season?
And, with Photo Stream, you can share all the photos you want.
With just the people you want.
It’s as easy as pie. Mmmm… pie.

Both the ads are great, but Apple’s ‘Orchestra’ ad is my favorite. Apple does a fantastic job at explaining the concept of noise canceling with this ad. Simply brilliant.

Google Moving Closer to Submitting Maps App for iOS

Last month, we reported that a Google Maps for iOS app was in alpha testing. Today, The Wall Street Journal reports that a Google Maps app for iOS may be released via the App Store soon as the company is almost done with tweaking the software for Apple’s iOS devices.

“We believe Google Maps are the most comprehensive, accurate and easy-to-use maps in the world,” a Google spokesman said. “Our goal is to make Google Maps available to everyone who wants to use it, regardless of device, browser, or operating system.”

Unlike the Google’s Maps app that was included with iOS 5 and earlier, it is also reported that the new maps app will also offer free turn-by-turn navigation as has been available on Google Maps for Android and which Apple provides in its Maps app.

Nokia to Launch Free Maps App for iOS

Today, Nokia announced that it will release a new mapping service called “Here” to Apple’s iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The HTML5 based maps will offer offline capabilities, voice guided walk navigation, and public transportation directions. Nokia said that Here will be made available for download via the iOS App Store in the coming weeks.

“People want great maps, and with Here we can bring together Nokia’s location offering to deliver people a better way to explore, discover and share their world,” said Nokia President and CEO Stephen Elop. “Additionally, with HERE we can extend our 20 years of location expertise to new devices and operating systems that reach beyond Nokia. As a result, we believe that more people benefit from and contribute to our leading mapping and location service.”

This new mapping service will also be made available on its own hardware that runs Microsoft’s Windows Phone OS. In addition, Here will also be made available on Google’s Android and Mozilla’s Firefox OS.

Shipping Estimates for iPhone 5 Improve

Minutes after the first batch of iPhone 5 pre-orders went live, shipping estimates were pushed back to 3-4 weeks due to popular demand. Today, for the first time, shipping estimates for new orders of the iPhone 5 placed through Apple’s online store have improved to 2-3 weeks.  The new shipping time applies to both the black and slate as well as the white and silver models, in all three capacities.

This new shipping estimate seems to be in effect for most of Apple’s online stores around the world where the iPhone 5 is sold online.

Apple Airs Two New iPad Mini Television Ads

Today, Apple has started to air two new TV ads for the iPad mini. The company previously released  the “Piano” ad that was shown during the iPad mini media event.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L11hutds-o&feature=player_embedded

The first ad is called “Books“, which demonstrates the abilities of the iPad mini as an e-reader. In the ad, a full-size iPad and the iPad mini are both side-by-side opening and closing books in iBooks. As MacRumors points out, the ad uses classy pairings of books to show comparisons between the larger and smaller iPads:  The Sun Also Rises and The Valley of the MoonEast of Eden and How the West Was Won; and, Moby Dick and Gone Fishing.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdmkhzGD-ZA&feature=player_embedded

The second ad is called “Photos“, which uses a similar side by side presentation style as the other two iPad mini ads. This ad shows off iPhoto for iOS with the 60’s classic song Two of a Kind by Bobby Darin and Johnny Mercer in the background.

 

iPad mini First Impressions and Photos

I received my iPad mini in the mail yesterday. Later next week, I will publish my review, but here are my first initial impressions for now:

  • I like the form factor a lot. It is easy to hold in one hand and typing with two hands is a breeze.
  • The iPad mini feels great, smooth, and really durable. It doesn’t feel cheap at all like the other seven inch tablets out there.
  • The device is very light weight.
  • It is a bliss to use.
  • Existing iPad apps already work on the iPad mini without any updates, which is a huge win for developers and customers.
  • iPad mini charges really fast.
  • The screen is no Retina display, but it is much more crisper than the iPad 2’s display. First time buyers won’t even notice the difference.
  • Switching between apps is fast and I have not noticed any issues of lag.
  • Battery life is great.
  • The entire iPad mini experience feels very polished.

Continue reading “iPad mini First Impressions and Photos”

Apple Releases iOS 6.0.1

Just one day before the launch of the iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad, Apple has released iOS 6.0.1. This updates includes fixes for a keyboard screen glitch, camera flash issues, and more.

This update contains improvements and bug fixes, including:

– Fixes a bug that prevents iPhone 5 from installing software updates wirelessly over the air
– Fixes a bug where horizontal lines may be displayed across the keyboard
– Fixes an issue that could cause camera flash to not go off
– Improves reliability of iPhone 5 and iPod touch (5th generation) when connected to encrypted WPA2 Wi-Fi networks
– Resolves an issue that prevents iPhone from using the cellular network in some instances
– Consolidated the Use Cellular Data switch for iTunes Match
– Fixes a Passcode Lock bug which sometimes allowed access to Passbook pass details from lock screen
– Fixes a bug affecting Exchange meetings

iPhone 5 users are first required to install an “updater” application to fix a bug that would otherwise prevent over-the-air updates. After it is installed, users can update to iOS 6.0.1 from their devices.

Apple Store Down Ahead of iPad mini Pre-Orders [Update]

The Apple Store just went down for iPad mini pre-orders. iPad mini pre-orders begin on October 26th, and in the past they come online first thing in the morning. From observations in the past, I have noticed that they usually come online at 12:01 AM PST / 3:01 AM Eastern. I’ll make sure to update this post when things come back online.

Customers can begin pre-ordering all models of iPad mini and all models of the fourth generation iPad on Friday, October 26 through the Apple Online Store in the US, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

The WiFi only model will only be available for purchase in retail stores on Friday, November 2nd, with pre-orders beginning to arrive that same day. iPad mini with cellular capabilities will begin shipping a few weeks after the WiFi models, first in the U.S. on AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon, with other countries following later.

Update: Pre-orders are now live

New Apple Store Palo Alto Grand Opening on October 27th at 10 AM

Last year, the Mercury Newreported that the construction of what is being called a “prototype” Apple Store was just days away from breaking ground in Palo Alto, CA.The store is planned to feature an open-space architecture. It is reportedly a $3.15M project for Apple. This new store is supposed to be  5,030 sq. ft. that will feature a glass roof and facade that will allow natural light to fill the open retail space, and will offer passers-by an unobstructed view of the store’s interior. A basement and rear mezzanine will serve as office and storage space.

Construction has been completed and this morning, Apple just sent out an email notifying people that the new Apple Store Palo Alto’s grand opening will be held on October 27th at 10 AM local time. The first 1,000 customers will receive a free commemorative t-shirt.

I’ll be there and will post pictures of the brand new store and grand opening this Saturday.

Apple Testing iOS 6.0.1

According to BGR, Apple has begun carrier testing of iOS 6.0.1, which is the first bug update to iOS 6 since its release just over a month ago. The report also says that iOS 6.0.1 fixes several issues including a visual bug most commonly  seen on the iPhone keyboard when entering an account password in the App Store.

iOS 6.0.1 should fix the horizontal lines bug on the screen when the keyboard or app folder is open, and it will also fix a problem with the camera’s flash not going off.

In addition, the new software will improve Wi-Fi support, fix cellular data not working in some cases, add a consolidated cellular data switch for iTunes Match, fix a bug that allowed access to Passbook pass details from the lock screen, and also finally fix the bug that caused Exchange meetings to be unexpectedly cancelled for the entire calendar invite group.

Apple is also reportedly has just begun testing iOS 6.1, which would suggest that the update will not likely be released in time for any of the new hardware launches over the coming weeks. It is also unclear what changes are included in iOS 6.1.

 

iPad mini expected to be released on Nov. 2

On October 23rd, Apple is expected to release the 7.85 inch iPad mini. Today, TechCrunch reports that the so-called iPad mini will be made available in stores and early online buyers on November 2nd. That would be just over a week after the product is expected to be announced.

Such a launch schedule is similar to other recent products, including the iPhone 5 and the third-generation iPad introduced this year.

German site iFun.de also claims that Apple has informed a major shipping logistics partner that it should be preparing for a significant boost leading up to that date.