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News

Updates on iWatch rumors

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“Can’t innovate anymore, my ass.” Those were the words of Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller recently when talking about the new Mac Pro. Clearly, the whispers that Apple can’t innovate anymore is have reached the company, and they’re determined to rally against such ideas.

What would really help Apple generate a significant amount of excitement akin to the release of the iPad is to launch another entirely new product. And what better than the long-fabled iWatch?

The iWatch; the concept car of the computer world. Talked about for years, rumored to exist but never actually put into production. Could this be the perfect time to make it a reality?

Analysts have referred to the iWatch as more of a hobby for Apple than a major new product line. By releasing it, they could essentially redefine the watch industry. It’s been projected that the watch could generate $10 billion to $15 billion in revenue for the company, which sounds enormous but puts the watch firmly in the “hobby” category when you consider Apple is projected to earn $187 billion by the end of 2014.

While it’s unlikely the iWatch would have quite the same impact as the iPhone or iPad, it would certainly set the tech world buzzing and bring renewed interest to the company. It would encourage investors and consumers to see that Apple still has the ability to make innovative products that the public wants to buy, even if they don’t necessarily need them. It won’t be a gigantic money-earner, but it will get people talking.

According to sources in the industry, Apple management and engineers are actively working on an iWatch that performs some of the computing tasks currently offered by the iPhone and even the iPad. The rumor is that the team dedicated to the project has grown over the last year, fueling the belief that the watch is becoming more than just a concept.

The watch-like computer has been rumored to include the Siri voice assistant and the Maps app to offer features such as walking directions. Other reports have it incorporating several fitness-related features like a heart rate monitor or calorie counter, similar to devices like the Nike Plus running chip and FitBit tracker, both of which are worn on the body and even have apps that run on the iPhone and track health and exercise-related data.

Trusted sources have revealed that Apple has worked on fitness-specific products before, none of which of course made it to market. But incorporating those features into something like the iWatch could be a whole different story.

Other reports about the iWatch have centered more on its design and appearance, especially a distinct curvature for the glass that makes it wrap around the human body. What’s more, it’s even been stated that the company will release it with a flexible wristband akin to the 1990’s slap-band bracelets. Judging by the sleek design of other i-devices and even the innovative, yet to be released Mac Pro, the styling of the iWatch will likely be simple, modern and surprising.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has promised some exciting developments for the computer giants coming throughout the fall and into 2014, and while no release date has been provided, it’s possible the iWatch could be one such development. Until that time, rumors will continue to circulate about the mythical iWatch and what we’ll be able to do with it.

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iCloud Keychain: The Latest in Password Management

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Imagine you’re shopping online using your MacBook when you get called away from your desk. Later in the day, you’re waiting for an appointment and have a moment to wrap up the task. You pull out your iPhone and pick up where you left off, with the website password and even your credit card number synced securely for your convenience. It’s possible with the new iCloud Keychain.

Amidst the many exciting bits of news that came out of the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference last week was an announcement about the new iCloud Keychain, a password manager for Safari. While it didn’t generate a lot of immediate buzz, this latest development has the potential to significantly impact consumer habits online.

For those of us who utilize iCloud across different Apple devices, the addition of the iCloud Keychain is welcome news. It is yet another way to keep synced and organized, regardless of whether we’re using our MacBooks or our iPads.

iCloud Keychain has a number of remarkable features. It will store and sync website login data, credit card numbers and even preferred Wi-Fi networks and their passwords, across all systems. It can even auto-fill information in online forms.

In an era where we all have more login credentials than we can easily manage, we are scared off the practice of using one password for everything (or even worse, writing our passwords down somewhere.) Yet studies show two thirds of North Americans still use the same password for multiple websites and services, leaving them vulnerable to phishing attacks. In this regard, iCloud Keychain will make our technology-driven lives a little easier. It will even generate and suggest new passwords for users, then store and use them from that point on, if preferred.

iCloud Keychain is Apple’s answer to services like LastPass or 1Password, which integrate with browsers across devices, enabling subscribers to access all their accounts once they’ve entered a master password. The main advantage over competitors’ products, of course, is that iCloud Keychain is free.

Not only is it free, it’s safe, too. To keep your most sensitive data secure, it utilizes 256-bit AES encryption, only syncs on trusted devices, and doesn’t store credit card security codes.

News

What is a hackintosh?

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iMacs, MacBooks – we all know a Macintosh computer when we see one. But just what, then, is a Hackintosh? A Hackintosh is, quite simply, a PC computer that is configured to run a Macintosh operating system and Mac software on it. They’ve been dubbed “Hackintosh” as a portmanteau of the Apple computers and the fact that they’re set up illegally using Macintosh software – hence, hacked.

Just how do you go about creating a Hackintosh? It used to require extremely restrictive hardware choices and considerable computing expertise. However, it’s become easier to do lately. There are a wealth of resources that guide computer users through setting up a Hackintosh as well as address related concerns and questions. Furthermore, there are even manufacturers who will set up Hackintosh computers for consumers. However, if you’re determined to build one yourself, there are a few important points to keep in mind.

First, consider carefully whether you’re truly comfortable with building your own machine and having to rely on yourself for troubleshooting and support. There are no hotlines you can call or shops you can bring your “hacked” computer into if something goes wrong.

If you feel you can handle the risks that come along with building a Hackintosh, then you should research and determine which hardware will best suit your needs. This has been compared to putting together a puzzle where it seems like many of the pieces are interchangeable, but in fact aren’t. Selecting the appropriate hardware can be the most daunting part of this project.

The parts that Apple uses to create their computers aren’t unique. Many are the same as what gets used in PCs. What differentiates them are the software drivers created to interact with the Macintosh operating system and cause the hardware to function correctly. By doing your research, you can select hardware with the correct drivers or even obtain open-source drivers online that will function with your Hackintosh.

Once you have your hardware together, it’s time to assemble the actual computer. Follow one of the many online guides regarding building a Hackintosh carefully, and read your motherboard manual word for word. By doing so, you should avoid any major issues and have a functioning computer in no time.

Next, it’s time to install the operating system so you can actually use your new machine. First, you must correctly configure the BIOS to make its settings Hackintosh-friendly. Next, you can create a partition and install the operating system. The latest guides online give specific steps for installing OS X Mountain Lion.

After the BIOS is configured and the operating system installed, you can install the drivers. From there, you should be “in” and able to do any Macintosh software updates and otherwise set up your computer for personal use!
So, with such an extensive process, what’s the point of creating a Hackintosh computer? For some computing enthusiasts, it’s merely s project or hobby, the idea of being able to handle such a significant undertaking. However, for many people the benefit lies in being able to essentially have a Macintosh computer at a fraction of the cost of buying an iMac or MacBook with comparable specifications.

While it has become easier lately, it must be stressed that building a Hackintosh is not a simple project. While the benefit is having an extremely powerful computer for a small amount of money, the trade-off for some is the amount of effort that must go into the build and the level of tinkering and troubleshooting that will always be involved.

If the idea of going it solo and having bugs to work out isn’t daunting to you, then creating a Hackintosh may be a fun project.

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New plastic iPhone available in multiple colors

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As usual, the tech world is buzzing with rumors about the next iPhone. It seemed the moment the 4s was released we were already buzzing about the iPhone 5, and now that it’s old news, we’re all speculating on the possible features on the 5s. But this time around, Apple might be changing the game a little and releasing not one, but at least two new versions of their popular smartphone in order to compete with their rivals, Samsung.

Apparently, Apple is considering two different sized versions of the iPhone 5s – one with the current screen size and one even larger – as well as a cheaper model that will come in a variety of different colorful plastic casings to differentiate from the standard model dubbed the iPhone 5c.

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While Apple CEO Steve Jobs had called their signature 3.5 inch screen “the perfect size for consumers,” after his passing the next iPhone had a slightly larger display. Current CEO Tim Cook has also recently hinted at other changes to screen sizes and the company has apparently been looking into offering iPhones with 4.7 inch and even 5.7 inch screens sizes, to compete with popular Android smartphones and “phablets,” those bigger than a smartphone, not quite a tablet devices like the Samsung Note II.

But what’s even bigger news than the changing screen sizes is the rumor that Apple will be producing an even cheaper phone. It will reportedly cost $99.00 and come in five or six different colors, according to supply chain sources. The story is that suppliers have been approached with plans for the new budget iPhones, but that the final product is still unknown. Of course Apple changes specifications right up until the last possible moment, so it’s difficult to say with any certainty what the phones will actually look like and feature by the time they’re released. Still, it’s rumored that trial production for the cheaper iPhone model is currently underway.

Even trials and production of the cheaper iPhone is now subject to rumors, as it’s been stated by those in the know that mixing of colors is taking longer than expected, due to Apple’s high and idealistic standards. If true, it’s great to know that they’re applying that much effort to even their lesser models.

The latest buzz from industry insiders is that 20 million plastic iPhones are expected to ship from the manufacturer between October and December, but the final price for the cheaper smartphone is still yet to be confirmed.

One thing, however, is for certain. Given the constant speculation about the budget-priced iPhones and the larger models due out at the same time, it shows that Apple is feeling – and responding to – pressure to compete with Android smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Samsung Note. Apple products are still immensely popular around the globe, with consumers lining up overnight to be among the first with the latest “iGadget.” But despite that, the company’s revenue growth has decelerated in recent years, and Samsung has overtaken Apple recently in market share. Perhaps offering a wider range of options in size, features and pricing for the iPhone, similar to what’s been done with the iPad and iPad Mini, is just what Apple needs to gain their market share back.

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New iOS 7 to include AirDrop

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It’s good to share, and with the new iOS 7, Apple is making doing so even easier. With the upcoming release of the new mobile operating system, the company has built in an iPhone and iPad friendly version of Airdrop, their popular file-sharing platform. Long available on Mac computers, having an Airdrop feature on mobile devices has the potential to greatly impact user behavior and will leverage the significant strengths of Apple’s unified ecosystem.

Through Airdrop, users can swap photos, videos, web pages, contacts, social media content and even free versions of apps – essentially anything with a “share” button. Unlike other file-sharing services, everyone on an Apple device will have the same user experience. Airdrop is fully wireless, requiring a direct Wi-Fi connection to move shared content through the cloud. While Android devices and older iPhone apps require “bumping” phones together to instantly share content, it simply needs the sender and receiver to be physically near one another. The service is more limited in this regard, however, compared to similar options like Dropbox or Google Drive, which allow content sharing regardless of location.

So just what can you use Airdrop on iOS for? Ideas are as varied as sharing meeting notes in the office, playing multi-player mobile games with strangers during your morning commute or having retailers Airdrop coupons into your PassBook app. Developers can use it to offer in-app freebies to customers who download from them, and friends can even Airdrop trial versions of apps to one another’s iPhones.

With all the tremendous capabilities that Airdrop for iOS 7 has, there are a few concerns as well. Critics cite safety as being their primary issue, as Airdrop could potentially alert strangers to your location and result in you receiving unwanted information. Furthermore, some technology experts believe Airdrop will leave users open to greater risk of having their files hacked. In response, Apple has stated that consumers have a choice of privacy settings, with the ability to accept data through Airdrop from anyone with a compatible device, from only their contacts or even from no one at all. The company has also stated that files within Airdrop are fully encrypted.

Other critics have questioned the usefulness on Airdrop for iOS 7, considering other private file sharing services do exist. But Airdrop can really set itself apart if businesses and developers maximize its potential by sharing trials, coupons and other perks with customers. That alone would make it different, and in many ways more useful, than other services.

In order to utilize the new Airdrop for iOS, Apple fans must have an iOS 7 compatible device, namely an iPhone 5, iPad Mini, fourth generation iPad or fifth generation iPod Touch. It’s also necessary to have an iCloud account.

The chief benefit of Airdrop for iOS 7 is the improved ability to simply and easy share a wide range of content with others. So could you see yourself using it? Or are you more likely to stick with services like Dropbox that have long offered iOS apps, even though they may not have quite the same capabilities?