Today, Apple has released the fourth beta of iOS 6.1 to developers. The release has a build number of 10B5126b. In addition, Apple has released beta 3 of the Apple TV and Xcode 4.6 Developer Preview 4.
Registered developers can download the betas via Apple’s Developer page or via Software Update on iOS devices with a previous iOS 6.1 Beta already installed.
This evening, Apple announced that the sales of the iPhone 5 exceeded two million units in its first weekend of availability in China.
“Customer response to iPhone 5 in China has been incredible, setting a new record with the best first weekend sales ever in China,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “China is a very important market for us and customers there cannot wait to get their hands on Apple products.”
Back in September, the sales of the iPhone 5 exceeded over 5 million during its initial launch in 9 countries including the U.S.
Last month, it was reported that Google was getting closer to submitting a maps app for iOS. Now, AllThingsD reports that Google plans to release the maps application tonight.
Google plans to release its much-awaited iOS Maps app tonight, according to sources familiar with the matter.
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.
Earlier this month, we reported that the iTunes Music Store has launched in 56 new countries, nearly doubling the countries with access to the store. In the press released, Apple noted that movies were also being launched in Russia, Turkey, India and Indonesia with “select additional countries” also scheduled to offer the film content.
Now, MacRumors reports that movies had gone live in those countries, AppleInsider has compiled a list of 42 new countries where movies are now available.
– Europe: Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine
– Africa, the Middle East and India: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Botswana, Cape Verde, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Swaziland, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Zimbabwe
– Asia Pacific: Micronesia, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
– Latin America and the Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago
This means that just ten of the 56 countries that started to offer music content earlier this month have yet to begin offering movies. These countries include: Barbados, Bermuda, Burkina Faso, Fiji, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, and Uzbekistan.
Nexus 7 is one of the most popular Android tablets, mainly because of its good hardware specs and low cost. It was revealed some time back that ASUS was shipping close to 1 Million Nexus 7. now we are hearing reports from supply chain makers across Taiwan that this month they will be crossing the 1 Million mark.
Continue reading “Monthly shipment of Nexus 7 to cross the 1 million mark in December”
This Friday the iPhone will go on sale in China, and just days before, the nation’s second largest carriers revealed that preorders for the device has surpassed over 300,000 units less than a week after initiating reservations.
In a post on Sina Weibo microblog (via MacWorld), China Unicom said pre-sale orders for Apple’s iPhone 5 is now at over 300,000. This means that the carrier added around 200,000 reservations to the 100,000 recorded a day after reservations were made available.
China Unicom is Apple’s largest partner in the country, with China Telecom coming in second.
Today, Deutsche Telekom CEO Rene Obermann announced at his company’s analyst day event that T-Mobile USA will begin selling Apple products in 2013. T-Mobile also made the announcement in a press release. The carrier did not mention specific products, but Apple’s iPhone and iPad lineup are the only cellular enable devices offered by the company.
“T-Mobile USA has entered into an agreement with Apple to bring products to market together in 2013,” the release said. T-Mobile is the fourth largest carrier in the U.S., but regardless of its size, the iPhone has not been offered on that carrier to date. In addition, T-Mobile USA will also be offering LTE service for its customers in 2013.
Apple also confirmed to The Loop that it has struck a deal with T-Mobile.
Today, Google has updated the YouTube app for iOS. This update adds native support for the iPad and the iPhone. In addition, the app now supports AirPlay, offers more advanced playlist management, improved voice over support, and more.
Google’s Horia Ciurdar says that more than 25 percent of all YouTube watching happens on mobile. Since the launch of the YouTube app back in September, Ciurdar says Google has “been hard at work to improve the app based on your feedback.”
Now the YouTube app will get ‘enhanced’ AirPlay support, letting you shoot your videos over to your Apple TV. Videos are also said to start faster and play more smoothly. Google has also improved VoiceOver support for those with visual impairments.
YouTube also says that users will find improved performance and faster video loading with this update.
The app for iOS is available for free from the App Store. [Direct Link]
Apple has finally introduced its Music and Video store in India giving users here another avenue to get hold of content legally. Pricing is quite competent with individual tracks being priced between Rs 12-15 per track and most albums ranging from Rs. 110 to Rs. 300 depending on how old the album is and its popularity.
Movie pricing varies between Rs. 290 to Rs. 500 for SD or HD movies. You also have an option to rent them at Rs. 80 for Bollywood content while International movies will be charged at Rs. 120. Users can purchase and download music videos for priced between Rs. 15 and Rs 20 depending on content.
The Bollywood content is looking quite solid though if you’re looking for a good international collection especially movies, you might be disappointed. The iTunes Match service which lets you match your music collection to the cloud has also been launched here at Rs. 1200.
Today, Apple announced that the iPhone 5 will be made available in more than 50 new countries in December. The full list of December launches includes:
December 7: South Korea
December 14: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Ecuador, Grenada, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela
December 21: Barbados, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Egypt, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St.Vincent & the Grenadines, Tunisia, Uganda and Vietnam
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.
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 has been granted a new patent (No.8,316,046) which allows the phone to automatically geo-tag each and every event that takes place on the phone. The service will create a log of all forms of device data. The patent indicates that a map will be used to display the data with icons to segregate life events between phone call, downloads, etc.
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 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.
