Since the release of Apple’s iPhone 3.0 beta firmware, users have been scouring the configuration files looking for evidence of future iPhone capabilities. The possibility of video recording has seemed increasingly certain with files for video uploading and editing having been discovered.

A new finding, however, should put to rest any doubts about whether or not Apple is planning to include video recording in future iPhones. This screenshot, which was discovered in the latest iPhone 3.0 beta, shows the interface Apple will provide for video recording:

The interface shows the normal iPhone camera interface but with a switch on the bottom right which toggles between still camera photography and video recording. The video recording is not presently functional in iPhone 3.0 beta, and the interface is not accessible by default. Only when configuration files were modified telling the firmware that a Video Camera was present will this interface appear.

Other interesting capabilities found in the configuration files include “auto-focus camera”, “magnetometer” (digital compass), and “Voice Control”.

Apple is expected to release the final version of iPhone 3.0 this summer, and many believe that Apple will also introduce an updated iPhone around that time as well.

Via MacRumors

 Retweet This Post

3G iPhone, Apple News, Featured, What's New, iPhone 3.0, 3G, apple, firmware, iPhone, MacRumors

After leaving its once-touted background push data feature by the wayside, Apple is now reportedly mulling an option that would let iPhone apps run background processes and give the phone true multitasking.

The hint of a change in strategy was given to Mac Rumors, which now hears from unspecified sources that Apple is considering the switch away from its original approach and may let programs operate as “user selectable background processes.”

Why such a move would occur isn’t known. When the iPhone maker first unveiled background push notification at the Worldwide Developers Conference in 2008, the company famously chastised Microsoft and most other smartphone OS developers for challenging users with difficult solutions to quitting or switching between apps and suggested that then-current phones couldn’t handle the task. Even so, the solution precludes background use of third-party apps that need always-on access, like radio or VoIP calling software.

At the June event, Apple said it considered background push notification an ideal compromise that would close apps but keep them “listening” for data through an Internet channel; an instant messaging app could signal that it has received new messages without having to stay open and chew up system time.

However, the company has since remained almost entirely silent on the matter. Where early iPhone 2.1 beta firmware included background notifications, the fourth developer test version pulled the feature altogether without any commentary on Apple’s part beyond an alleged reply e-mail from CEO Steve Jobs, who stated that company wanted to get background push “100% right the first time.” The official 2.1 and 2.2 releases have similarly passed on the feature while adding others.

While no additional evidence has come up to support theories that the delay is being used to implement true background processes, speculation has surfaced that Apple may have to wait until its next major iPhone revision to implement the necessary code. With a 412MHz ARM processor and only 128MB of temporary memory, the first- and second-generation iPhone lines may struggle to support more than one or two background apps before becoming unusable. If the feature requires a new ARM processor or additional memory to be useful, Apple could either restrict the number of background processes on older models or else disable the feature entirely for these devices.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based firm may nonetheless be under pressure to add the support in spite of cutting off legacy support. In addition to existing competitors that already had background support but have only recently launched direct iPhone alternatives, Palm’s new Pre smartphone will have authentic multitasking in an iPhone-like interface by letting users shuffle or toss “cards” that represent active software.

[via AppleInsider]

 Retweet This Post

3G iPhone, Apple News, Rumors, iPhone, iPod Touch News apple, appleinsider, background, iPhone, MacRumors, push, steve jobs

It seems that the guys over at MacRumors have found that Apple’s iPhone firmware 2.0+ has evidence of the next generation iPhone which has been designated model “iPhone2,1″. Apple uses these models numbers to distinguish between different hardware models. Is this the rumored Four Core iPhone?

The original iPhone (aluminum 2G) is referred to as “iPhone 1,1″ while the 3G iPhone is referred to as “iPhone 1,2″. The model numbers only change when there is a new model and now for simple things like storage capacity upgrades. The iPod Touch (first gen) is model number “iPod 1,1″ where the new 2G iPod Touch is model number “iPod2,1″. This new iPhone2,1 model number can be found in the USBDeviceConfiguration.plist in an unencrypted firmware.

Accordig to MacRumors:

Rumors of the next generation iPhone point to the support of Multi-Core CPUs and possibly Multi-Core GPUs from Imagination Technologies. Apple has been building a team of chip engineers over the past year to participate in their own ARM processor designs that will presumably be used in future iPhones. Schiller previously outlined Apple’s natural product timelines and acknowledged that June is the usual timeframe for major iPhone revisions, although storage increases could happen at any time.

So looks like we may or may not see a new model iPhone later this year, what so you think/wish for? Me I would really like a higher resolution camera with a flash and video support (editing and chat), haptic feed back and gestures for shortcuts. All of my wishes woudl be possible with the Multi Core CPU’s or GPU’s.

What would you like to see?

 Retweet This Post

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

3G iPhone, Apple News, Featured, Rumors, What's New, iPhone apple, iPhone, iPhone2, ipod touch, MacRumors

 Retweet This Post

3G iPhone, Apple News, Featured, What's New, iPhone, iPod Touch News apple, iPhone, Keyboard, Keyboards, MacRumors, Multi-touch, Office, patent, screen, Swipe, touch, US, virtual

Apple has announced that they are now allowing iPhone developers to issue as many as 50 free promotional copies of their applications. This will allow the recipient of a promotional AppStore link to redeem your code to download a full copy for free.

As of now, the codes currently only work in the U.S. App Store. The limit on the number of codes that can be issued for each app is reset every time the app is updated.

[via MacRumors]

 Retweet This Post

AppStore News & Reviews App Store, apple, iPhone, MacRumors

German blog Schimanke.com publishes new screenshots from the iPhone 2.2 firmware that reveal that Apple has activated iTunes and App Store features that will make their debut in the next iPhone update. Prior to this past week, these new features had not been fully enabled.

The new iTunes Store screenshots confirm that Apple will be delivering over-the-air downloads for both video and audio podcasts. According to Schimanke, podcast downloads will be limited to episodes less than 10MB in size when using the cellular network.

The screenshots also show off the new App Store category view with icons embedded. Additional 2.2 features previously revealed include the addition of Google Street View and Japanese Emoji icons.

Meanwhile, there has been no evidence of background “push” notifications which were originally promised in September. Unconfirmed whispers suggest that the Apple has delayed the push notification service due to major issues with the initial implementation.

Apple seeded Beta 2 of the 2.2 iPhone firmware to developers in late October but has given no indication when we can expect a public release.

[via MacRumors]

 Retweet This Post

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

3G iPhone, Apple News, What's New, iPhone, iPod Touch News App Store, apple, Google Street View, iPhone, itunes, iTunes Store, MacRumors