March 15, 2010

Next-Gen iPhone and iPod Touch Internal Model Numbers Found in Latest iPhone SDK

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Engadget is reporting that an internal model number (N89) for an as of yet unreleased iPhone has been found in the new iPhone SDK 3.2 that was released at during the iPad launch.

Buried way inside the platform simulator lies a set of folders dedicated to specific models of iPhone OS-ready devices, including the iPhone 3GS, second generation iPod touch, something called the “K48″ (yep, the codename we were told was the internal name for the iPad), and… the “N89.” Sure, it sounds like a Nokia phone just waiting to happen, but this is — according to our extremely knowledgeable and trusted sources — likely the codename of the next iPhone (previous versions were called the M68, N82, and N88).

Another number (N80) was found in Apple’s recently released iPhone OS 3.1.3 and supposedly belongs to an as of unreleased iPod touch model.

Interestingly, Apple’s just released firmware (3.1.3) also includes another new model, the “N80,” which we’re told will most likely be the next version of the iPod touch.

For what it’s worth, it appears the iPad has an internal model number of “K48″. Historically, Apple offers incremental revisions to their consumer electronics lines of products every year. In short, we already have a gut feeling these updates are on the way, the numbers just prove that Apple is in fact working on them.

64GB and 128GB Apple Devices Possible in Early 2010?

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Toshiba has introduced a new 64 Gigabyte embedded NAND flash memory chips. This means 64GB of data can now be held on one chip, and is expected to begin production in the first quarter of 2010.

The largest capacity iPhone holds only one NAND flash module(space consumption due to cellular hardware ) at 32GB of storage. The largest capacity iPod touch however, can hold two of these chips bringing total storage to 64GB on current high-end models. This means if the 64GB chips are used in iPhone and iPod touch revisions, they could potentially hold 64 and 128GB respectively.

We have reason to believe these chips will make their way to Apple products, because Toshiba introduced 32GB chips early in the year, and they made their way into the current iPhone and iPod touch models.

Apple Drops Support for New iPod Click Wheel Games?

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Joystiq is reporting that Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes- Encore by Square Enix, includes touch enabled versions of the first Song Summoner, which was a click wheel iPod game. It also includes Song Summoner 2, which was never released, reportedly due to Apple abandoning the click wheel game format.

Rather than being a simple touchscreen-enabled port of the original click wheel game, the iPhone Song Summoner contains both Song Summoner and Song Summoner 2, which was never released due to Apple ending support for click wheel games.

Apple still offers click wheel games in the iTunes Store, 50 in total since it’s inception in September of 2006. That said, no new games have been added to the list since February of this year.

Worth noting, Apple has never publicly or officially abandoned the format. I suspect they will just allow it to dry up on the vine.

Apple Issues Update for 5th Generation iPod nano

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Apple has released an update for the fifth generation iPod nano, bringing the firmware version number to 1.0.2. Here are the release notes:

  • Fixed audiobook playbook setting so Normal, Slower, Faster, works for audio podcasts
  • Resolved issue where Genius Mixes did not work when using the Nike+ Sport Kit
  • Accessibility setting for Mono Audio in now working
  • Fixed bug so VoiceOver menu items are no longer skipped when using headphone + and – volume buttons to navigate
  • This update can be downloaded by clicking the “Check for Update” in iTunes.

    Apple Working on FM Radio Application for iPhone and iPod Touch

    screen-shot-2009-10-08-at-73151-pm.png9 to 5 Mac is reporting that they have received information claiming Apple is developing an FM radio Application to the iPhone and iPod touch. Reportedly, this application would be very similar to the FM radio functionality featured in the new iPod nanos, which is to say the user could pause music, and tag the songs to later find them in iTunes.

    Additionally, the FM radio application would be able to run in the background, while other applications are being used. It is not known if the radio functionality would be integrated into the ‘iPod’ application or would be its own standalone application. Also, the song tagging feature rumored to be included in this functionality, would supposedly integrate directly into the mobile iTunes store for quick purchases.

    The holdup on this app is that Apple is trying to integrate the Mobile iTunes Store purchases into the functionality of the program. For instance, if you like a song you are listening to on the radio (and that station supports tagging and you are in the US), you will be able to push a button and see the song (and all of the information around it) in the iTunes Mobile store.

    The Broadcom chips already built into each iPhone and iPod touch are capable of FM radio reception, so Apple could theoretically implement this feature with relative ease.

    “Rock and Roll” Media Event Round-Up

    Today’s Rock and Roll Media event has ended. So what was announced?

    iPods:

    • iPod Touch now sells at $199/299/399 for 8GB/32GB/64GB. 32 and 64GB models have same faster processors the iPhone 3GS has.
    • iPod Classic capacity increase from 120GB to 160GB for the same $249.
    • iPod Shuffle now in five new colors. $59 for 2GB and $79 for 4GB models.
    • iPod nano now has camera, speakers, FM radio, and a larger display. Built in pedometer for Nike+. 8GB for $149, 16GB for $179.

    iTunes 9:

    • Improved layout of iTunes Store.
    • 30,000 ringtones $1.29 each.
    • Genius database expanded to include “Genius Mixes”. More syncing options such as artists, genres, etc.
    • Manage iPhone apps and arrange home screens right from iTunes.
    • iTunes LP. Album packages that include bonus material such as lyrics, photos, videos.
    • iTunes Extras. Movie bonus material, Similar to DVD bonus features, also comes with interactive material.
    • Home sharing. Browse the iTunes libraries of up to five authorized computers in your house, import what you like, and automatically add new purchases made on any of the computers to your own library.

    iPhone:

    • iPhone 3.1 released. Brings “Genius” to apps.

    Comparing this to my predictions I posted earlier, I scored fairly poorly. No mention of the Apple TV, no cameras in the iPod touch, and Steve Jobs got on stage.

    Predictions for Tomorrow’s “Rock and Roll” Media Event

    I am going to shamelessly copy John Gruber’s format, and tell you how much you should wager on certain rumors regarding tomorrow’s media event.

    Wager heavily upon:

    • At bare minimum, the announcement of camera equipped iPods. I can almost guarantee the nano and touch will have cameras, I can only assume the iPod classic will too. The evidence for the former is overwhelming, while evidence for the latter is scarce. I also expect the iPod touch to receive the same processor and RAM upgrades the iPhone 3GS received in June. Lastly, I suspect the camera on the iPod touch will be able to capture video.
    • Price drops – I’ve heard both major and/or minor price drops are a possibility. This is to maintain Apple’s sales volumes while the iPhone continues to eat away at the iPod market.

    Wager minimally upon:

    Would wager agianst:

    As a whole, I suspect tomorrow’s announcements will be pretty standard. Nothing ground breaking, just the next logical step in Apple’s media strategies.

    More Photos of Next-Gen iPod Cases Surface

    Engadget has posted images claiming to be of third-party cases for the next-gen iPods expected to be announced at next Wednesday’s media event. These cases are reportedly being exhibited in Berlin at the IFA electronics convention.

    What’s so different about these cases? Glad you asked. These cases have holes in the back to accommodate the cameras rumored to be built into the next-gen iPods. If you remember, we’ve seen something like this before. One new development however, is a larger cutout to accommodate the screen on the iPod nano cases.

    To sum everything up, these cases suggest the next-gen iPod touch and nano will have cameras. The nano may even have a larger screen.

    Next-Gen iPod Classic, Nano, Touch to Have Camera?

    DigiTimes is reporting that Apple has contracted OmniVision to supply them 3.2 megapixel cameras for upcoming iPod models. We’ve heard other similar reports claiming that Apple will equip the next-gen iPod touch, and Nano with cameras. This is however, the first time we have heard of the iPod Classic also receiving a camera.

    OmniVision has secured CMOS image sensor (CIS) orders for upcoming Apple iPods, according to market sources.

    OmniVision will be the sole supplier of 3.2-megapixel CIS products for new iPod nano, iPod classic and iPod Touch models which will be launched in September, the sources indicated.

    Although no official date has been set by Apple, we have reason to believe this year’s music media event will be held on September 9th at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

    I say the iPod Touch gets a camera, the other iPods don’t.

    Apple Exploring Ways to Detect ‘Consumer Abuse’ in Portable Devices

    Liquid Sensor built in every iPhone

    MacRumors is reporting that New Scientist has brought to light, a recently published Apple patent application that shows techniques for digitally “detecting whether consumer abuse has occurred in an electronic device.” Some of the examples mentioned in the patent application include, extreme heat, liquids, excessive shock, and of course, tampering. All of which are not covered by a manufacturers warranty.

    In general, such warranty and return policies are intended only to cover failures and defects relating to the manufacture or design of the product, and typically do not cover product failure that occurs as the result of consumer abuse. In fact, many warranty policies explicitly exclude returns or repair when damage from consumer abuse, whether intentional or unintentional, is the underlying cause of the product failure. For example, consumer abuse may include exposing an electronic device to liquids, extreme temperatures, or excessive shock (e.g., the resulting impact from dropping the device). Consumer abuse may also result from tampering which may include any interaction with the device that is not related to operating the device in a normal manner (e.g., opening the casing or housing of a device and adding, removing, or altering the internal components).

    The records of any “abuse event” would be held in the device’s memory where an Apple technician could access it and quickly determine if the problem would be covered under warranty.

    In accordance with another disclosed embodiment, the abuse detection circuitry may be configured to disable operation of an electronic device upon detecting the occurrence of a consumer abuse event, for example, by disabling power to the device. Subsequent to disabling operation of the device, the abuse detection circuitry may be further configured to periodically check the sensors to determine whether the detected abuse event is still occurring and to re-enable operation of the device if it is determined that the abuse event is no longer occurring. By disabling operation of the device upon detection of a consumer abuse event, the risks of damage to the device from the abuse event may be reduced.

    As you may recall, several of the portable devices in Apple’s current line-up contain sensors that permanently change color when they come in contact with liquid. This gives service technicians an idea as to whether an issue may have been caused by the consumer, and if it can be repaired under warranty.

    Image courtesy of Apple.