Step Detection Wearable Device by Apple

Speculations are on about Apple’s `Wrist Pedometer Step Detection’, a special type of pedometer and according to US Patent and Trademark Office, this device is described as `optimizations in detecting steps when worn on the individual’s wrist’. The iPhone maker has now patented this pedometer which can locate itself when worn by the person and would be the first wearable device by Apple. This patented technology would accurately track the steps that an individual would take with the help of the device which can be worn either on the arm, wrist or the ankle. This enhanced pedometer by Apple has the capabilities of detecting the amount of steps taken by the user based on the location and the proposed tech then translates the analyzed raw data into the steps taken together with the distance travelled.

Capabilities of Constantly Adjusting and Counting
 
The pedometer can convert the motion data in acceleration magnitude using it to work out the main frequency of the steps which is combined with the location and correlates the two. Thus the pedometer would have the capabilities of constantly adjusting and counting extra steps it may have missed. Pedometer is used to count steps, in determining the distance travelled by the user of the pedometer which can be either digital or mechanical. The digital pedometers with the help of built in motion sensor namely accelerometers, helps in detecting movements of the digital pedometer. With the digital pedometer, the signals that is received from the motion sensor are analyzed to determine when the user takes a step and the algorithms for analyzing the signals depends on which part of the body the pedometer is worn.

Built in Motion Sensor, Wrist Related Device
 
This invention by Apple is a wrist related device and states that in some implementations, the wrist optimization mentioned in the invention can only be used when the pedometer is worn on the user’s wrist. In some implementation, the individual can specify a wrist area in selecting one or more options or provide input through the user interface of the pedometer and this interesting feature, is the automatic wrist classification wherein, the pedometer can be configured in automatically detecting that the pedometer is worn on the wrist of the user. In this embodiment, the device with the help of fast Fourier transform – FFT, frequency interprets and automatically detects when the user wears the pedometer on the wrist and the same method is also used when the user tends to run.


Support for Inputs – Thumb Wheel/Stylus/USB
 
According to USPTO’s listing, Apple’s future smart watch could utilize frequencies in determining where on the user’s body the device is worn. Moreover the patent also includes support for inputs like thumb wheel, stylus and USB port and probably Apple’s newly patented technology could also include the functionality of an MP3 player namely the iPod. According to some, this device could be revealed later this year with reports stating that Apple could be considering a solar powered battery for wearable devices while other findings suggest that it could be shipped with flexible OLED display with slap bracelet design. Besides this it is expected to run a fully functional version of an iOS version together with the ability to interact both with iPhone as well as other devices. You could stay tuned for more technology details coming up at Macmyth

iOS 8 Rumors About Apple's Mobile Operating System

According to the rumors; this year iOS 8 the update probably includes many exciting new features. Recently Apple released the iOS 7.1 update and so corrected several small errors in the previous iOS 7 Owners of an aged iPhone 4 look forward to the update, because it provides a noticeable speed boost.

As soon as iOS 7.1 released there start the discussions about its successor. Already In the internet numerous rumors about iOS 8 appeared, many of which highlight features that the fan community already for iOS 7.1 the much-discussed about “Health Book". The app collects apparently fitness values of the user, which it receives from co-processor of the iPhone 5S (M7) and the planned Apple iWatch SmartWatch.

Due to various errors in their own maps application, in 2012 Apple earned a bad name; and Apple is working hard to remove the stain. For the next big maps update, Apple has apparently done a lot. The Apple wants to integrate Maps - initially for large cities in the U.S., then internationally.

Various acquisitions from third parties (Embark, HopStop, WifiSLAM, and Locationary) were reaffirmed by Apple. Apple's new listing CarPlay is certainly part of iOS 8. A report in the Wall Street Journal claimed Apple is working on a new mobile payment system that not only apps can buy songs and other things from the App Store.

Apple apparently wants to establish a service that allows shopping for physical goods. To protect user the Apple introduced with the iPhone 5S Fingerprint Sensor Touch ID. The last major design update came in mid-September 2013; iOS 7 whether and to what extent the language assistant Siri finds an update, is still unknown. When iOS 8 comes, however, is clear for the fans that there is an update that too most probably in the autumn of this year.

Apple Maps Upgrades

Under the hood Upgrade for Apple Maps
 
While walking or driving and in doubt about any location, Maps could prove to be helpful in finding the way to any destination. Maps help to navigate your way around any location providing all the details to arrive at the desired destination. Apple Maps app has been providing quality experience giving users access to different modes of relevant interest with regards to tourism, traffic or weather, wherein individuals can switch on the modes related to the situation for a custom map of their choice. Apple has plans in upgrading and making major improvements to its Maps app in iOS 8 with its focus, less on interface improvement and more on enhancement to the application for reliability and accuracy.

Features displaying related Information
 
It responds to input directed to features in displaying information related to the feature and tapping or clicking on highways indicates the location of the service along the highway. Moreover, tapping two points on the map also provides available routes between them together with relevant data for each route which is computed and displayed to the user. Apple has developed a chip to improve its Maps app with the introduction of its new M7 motion co-processor in the iPhone 5s mentioning that `M7 knows when you’re walking running or driving’. The Map relates between driving to walking, turn by turn navigation and if one is in a vehicle or on foot it can easily tell Maps if driving at 100mph on a road. Besides, this, according to 9to5Mac.com, it also helps a person to locate the car parked automatically, if the location is known and users can now expect enhanced data with clear labeling together with a range of new features from its forthcoming version of Apple Maps.

Interactive 3D views 
 
In addition to this, Apple has also added public transit capabilities to the app enabling users to locate directions while using train, bus or subway transit though initial public transit information would be available in major cities only but will make headway to other municipalities over a period of time. Maps provide directions, interactive 3D views with amazing flyover features, all in a vector based interface which can be scaled or zoomed with ease. Maps helps to navigate your way to the desired destination with turn by turn spoken indication and as one approaches a turn, it speaks direction enabling the driver especially at the time of driving to keep their eyes on the road turning the screen into a 3D perspective on the road ahead.

Provision for reroutes with ETA updates
 
If the user enters a turn, the viewing angle also changes providing them with the direction to proceed and should they miss a turn, Maps automatically provide reroutes with updates on ETA along with signs and arrows to guide them in the right direction. It also provides information on how long it may take to get there even when the screen is in locked mode. With the help of Map, one can get real time traffic information, with calculation of ETA, details on what could be causing a backup indicating major incidents or temporary slowdown with alternative routes to save time. Apple plans to make more progress on iOS’s version of Maps with more points of interest making navigation to the locations much easier to the users. Check at Macmyth for more information and updates related to technology.

Apple iWork: New Design With Intelligent Format

An office suite of application, iWork, was created by Apple Inc. for OS X and iOS operating systems consisting of keynote, word processing, presentation program and desktop publishing with the help of Pages and Numbers where the attention of the audience can be drawn towards cinematic application, Pages and spreadsheet application, Numbers. iWork is one of the easiest options in creating excellent documents, presentations and spreadsheets where writing and page layout can be done easily with animations, effects in Keynote and transitions since iWork is compatible with Microsoft Office which makes sharing the work even much easier.

Oldest Application - Keynote
 
Keynote is the oldest application in iWork which was released in 2003 as a standalone application while Pages was released as the first iWork in 2005. Numbers was later added towards 2007 with the release of iWork’08 followed by iWork’09 including access to iWork.com. This being a beta service, it enabled users to upload and share documents which has now been integrated into Apple’s iCloud service with iOS port which was released in 2010. Towards 2013, Apple then released a new OS X version with iWork for iCloud with a set of cross-platform web applications and an improved version of the native software.
The same year, Apple also announced that iOS devices purchased from September onwards as well as OS X computers purchased from October onwards, whether refurbished or new, would be eligible for free download of all three iWork applications while iWork for iCloud would also be incorporated for document hosting services which would be free for all iCloud account holders. New updates for iWorks suite of productivity apps for both Mac as well as iOS have been released where these applications were rewritten to a fully 64 bit to support a file format between OS X and iOS 7 versions and iWork for iCloud beta.

Stability Improvements and Bug Fixes
 
The all new design features an intelligent format panel with many additional features along with easy options in sharing documents. Moreover it has capabilities of designed styles for objects, new templates and animations in Keynote as well as interactive charts. Keynote envisaged the biggest improvement for iOS with a variety of new transitions. In addition to it, Pages and Numbers also received unnamed stability improvements, while Keynote for Mac also received the same updated transitions similar to iOS where Pages and Numbers each received toolbar customizations options together with other bug fixes.

App with a 64 bit Architecture
 
Users with earlier versions of iWork on iOS and Mac can avail the updates at no cost like those purchasing the new Mac and iOS devices. For those with the older devices and without the apps, have the liberty of purchasing each for $19.99 on the Mac App Store and $9.99 each on the iOS App Store. Apple is all out in bringing about the best experience to their users with the provision of iPhoto, GarageBand, iMovie besides Pages, Numbers and Keynote which come free with every Mac and iOS device. With all these app built with a 64 bit architecture, users can take full advantage of the powerful hardware and do excellent work with photos, music, movies, together with their documents, spreadsheets and presentations while the iCloud built in each app also helps in enhancing the work experience. Viewers can check for more information at Macmyth for more insight in techno knowledge.

GnuTLS Affected By A Bug Leaves Users Of Apple Platforms Vulnerable To Hacks

A few days after the revelation of a major security bug iOS and Mac OS, it is the turn of the GNU / Linux to be covered by a major fault GnuTLS. GnuTLS, the library implementation of security protocols SSL, TLS and DTLS most commonly used on GNU / Linux, is a victim of a fault of any magnitude that it easily ineffective in protection, several U.S. sites reported to Ars Technica.

 A worse than go to fail discovered on Mac OS and iOS, and Apple recently patched bug. Particularly it affects at least 200 packets of free or open source software, including GNU / Linux Red Hat (RHEL, Fedora), Canonical (Ubuntu and derivatives) or Debian. In addition to implementing within distributions, we could note that various mail clients and applications are potentially subject to risk.

In fact, any software based on GnuTLS to integrate functionality on the SSL and TLS protocols can hit. The management of certain GnuTLS errors when checking the type X509 certificates. It would bring incorrect certificates validated by the system. According to Red Hat, an attacker could use the flaw to create a certificate that would be accepted as valid by GnuTLS to a site chosen by the attacker. The bug is present since at least 2005 in the library.

Many errors are related to requests "go to cleanup”, which increases the apparent similarity with the flaw affecting Apple systems. But its complexity arises primarily from the impact that many lines of code, says Ars Technica. GnuTLS developers required to upgrade to the 3.2.12 release. This does not fix the bug for now, the discoveries made following an audit requested by Red Hat has not shown all their ramifications. You may expect hear again about this major flaw soon.