Apple – Refreshing the iMac Line-up

A recent report from French blog site, MacGeneration has revealed that Apple would very soon upgrade the iMac and will be refreshing the iMac line-up most probably by next week which will be accompanied with speed upgrades.

With four flavours of Apple’s ultra-thin all in one, the site has portrayed the potential upgrades such as: the $1,499 21.5 inch 2.9 GHz version which would see its CPU speed increase by a full 3 GHz while its Turbo Boost feature that automatically manages individual cores of the processor for improved power efficiency as well as performance would go up from 3.6 GHz to 3.7 GHz.

According to MacGeneration, the $1,299 inch 2.7 GHz would have no changes. While the $1,799 27 inch 3.2 GHz variant would be increasing its processor speed to 3.3 GHz together with a Turbo Speed bump from 3.6 GHz to 3.7 GHz, the $1,999 27 inch 3.4 GHz version would increase in CPU speed to 3.5 GHz and the Turbo Speed’s performance would grow from 3.8 GHz to 3.9GHz.

These speeds are for the basic models and buyers can upgrade the speed of both the processor and the Turbo Boost when configuring the unit by paying a small fee.

Improvements – Higher Resolution Retina Display

Since its last redesign in late 2012, the iMac has retained the same look and it has greatly benefited from minor upgrades during its processing power.

Though it is not known when Apple would be changing the design of the already thin looking all in one computer, users are hoping to get at least other improvements like a higher resolution Retina Display. Presuming the details of the report to be true, presently, it seems that with this latest upgrade to the iMac, it would not be offering a Retina Display option.

Rumours have been coming in for some time that Apple would be bringing the higher resolution Reina Display to the iMac and a 5,120 x 2,880 pixel wallpaper image which has been released by Apple somewhere last year had hinted that a Retina display would be destined for the iMac together with external monitors.

Apple to expand the Technology to iMac

Apple’s MacBook Pro line-up for long had been supporting a Retina Display like the iPhone and iPad and potential buyers are going through frustration since Apple has not yet expanded the technology to the iMac or the MacBook Air.

 From a recent clue from Appleinsider, it was suggested that this would be the year for the Retina Display iMac and a code discovered in the beta of Apple’s recently announced OS X 10.10 Yosemite OS shows higher resolution setting for an unknown computer which would be the iMac.

Soon Apple would be releasing the new iMac models as per insider sources and instead of fancy new Retina displays, the upgrade is expected to be little more than minor processor speed bumps. Moreover, according to some sources speaking with the France based MacG website, the processor speed upgrade may also come with an updated Thunderbolt 2 connector along with a little price drop

Apple’s update for Virtual Currency Transaction

Apple has now updated its iOS App Store guideline enabling software developers to include virtual currency transactions in their application like Bitcoin which had previously been banned.

Apple had previously opposed Bitcoin and other crypto currencies and Bitcoin wallet apps inclusive of Blockchain which had been removed from its App Store leading in a backlash from bitcoin community.

Videos on social site Reddit started appearing with displeased bitcoin supporters destroying Apple devices due to the banning of Blockchain and a subsequent petition with a move to reinstate the wallet app was supported with 6,000 signatures.

Nic Cary, CEO of Blockchain responded to a query on Twitter with regards to when a new app for the iOS would be expected to which he responded saying that it would be as soon as Apple re-approves the same and Tim Cook would get to know that Blockchain is wanted back in the App Store.

In Compliance with all State & Federal Laws

The update which was issued recently states that the `app may facilitate transmission of approved virtual currencies provided that they do so in compliance with all state and federal laws for the territories in which the app functions’.

Apple had not specified which virtual currencies had been approved though many are presuming that Bitcoin would be included as it is the most widely used virtual currency presently.

The policy change is considered as a significant shift for Apple and the company did not initially consider the use of virtual currencies within its application but had eliminated a number of Bitcoin wallet apps from its App Store.

Apple had offered no explanation for this and no option to appeal but rather stated that the removal was due to an unresolved issue.

Virtual Currencies Built on Shared Software

The removed apps, Blockchain which had been available on the App Store for two years had been downloaded more than 120,000 times and after Apple had removed the app, several people had posted videos of themselves destroying their iPhones.

Gliph developers Rob Banagale had also told Bloomberg that he was planning to submit a revised version of his app to Apple which would restore its ability in sending and receiving payments in bitcoins.

Virtual currencies are built on shared software which mines or generates coins carrying out complicated calculations operated on computers and are not backed by any government of central bank. They are bought and sold on a peer to peer network independent of any central control.

Bitcoin a more Interesting Value Proposition 

It was reported that satellite TV operator Dish Network would be accepting Bitcoin payment from customers from the third quarter and would be joining companies like Overstock.com and Zynga for virtual currency acceptance.

Cary was of the opinion that as a result of Apple’s treatment of bitcoin app in its Apps Store, it would be playing catch-up with rival mobile operating systems and developers would not be quick in embracing the iOS platform.

It is unknown whether the outcome of this will lead Apple to focus on its own virtual currency but Cary states that there would be nothing innovative about iMoney and bitcoin seems to be a more interesting value proposition.

Apple’s Brand New Xcode Programming Language

Apple recently unveiled Swift, a brand new Xcode programming language which is said to be superior to Objective C, considering it to be fast, modern and interactive. With plans to gradually retire the long used Objective C, Apple will be introducing the programming language known as Swift for designing apps and application to run on Apple iOS devices as well as Apple Macintosh computers.

Apple demonstrated the Swift playground where developers could write code with display of results shown as soon as the code was written. Apple states that Swift was designed from ground up for Cocoa and Cocoa Touch.

Swift was designed to be intuitive and easy to use as popular interpreted language like Python and JavaScript keeping in mind the speed and the flexibility of compiled languages like C++. According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, who introduced the language to the surprised audience at the company’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference, held in San Francisco recently, he stated that besides being fast and modern it is also designed for safety enabling a level of interactive development one may not have envisaged before on the platform.

Swift for Basic Apps – Social Networking/Advanced 3D Games

Swift could be used for basic apps such as social networking or even advanced 3D games with the new `Metal’, graphics optimization since it can be operated with Objective C enabling developers to seamlessly interchange languages. Cook also stated that Swift was designed to do away with entire categories of common programming errors.

Swift includes generics enabling developers to get more done with less code written wherein an entire list of images was loaded with a simple line of code. Besides generics, it also includes modern constructs like closure, type inference, multiple return types, operator overloads as well as other time saving capabilities which the developers may want to see in their language.

Moreover it also enables developers to see the whole history of a value over time while the application runs. Swift has full control of time where the developer has the capabilities to fast forward or backward and see how their app might react in some situations.

Swift has Power of Objective C

Swift will have complete Xcode support when shipped while a language guide is already made available on the iBookstore to developers, where they can submit apps written in Swift to the App Store when iOS 8 will be launched later this year. Several Apple developers were thrilled with the Swift news and applauded Cook on the introduction to the language.

Though Apple has done a good job of maintaining the language and its developer ecosystem, Objective C tends to suffer from undue complexity in several ways according to program director for software development research at IDC, Al Hilwa. A programming language, Objective C, was based on C, which on its own is difficult to master.

 Moreover, the approach which Objective C takes in passing messages within an application or between applications is also difficult to learn. Cook also informed the audience that Swift has the power of Objective C without the burden of C and also compared some benchmarks which portrayed Swift code running much faster than Python and as quickly as Objective C.

Apple’s design history by industrial designer Hartmut Esslinger

Apple Likely to Unveil iWatch Soon 

There is a possibility that Apple may unveil an iWatch somewhere later this year though it would not be the first time that the company has considered a wrist worn communicator as per a recent published Apple’s design history by industrial designer Hartmut Esslinger. According to an image from Esslinger’s book entitled `Keep it Simple:The Early Design Years of Apple’, portrays a keypad which is designed to be worn on a user’s wrist which pairs with a wireless headset and the image is one of those excerpted from the book which was published by German weekly Die Zeit. Apple is said to be coming with the wearable segment with the rumoured iWatch and while the company has managed to keep thing under wraps, Esslinger’s disclosure has given food for thought that it is not the first time that the company has developed a smart wrist watch.

Monolithic, Foldable Workstation in Box Concept

The keypad has around twelve key in all, one each for the number 0 to 9 and which appears to be one key each for star and pound. The headset on the other hand is a single earpiece design which has in integrated microphone that could curve around to the wearer’s mouth. Besides this, it has a monolithic, foldable workstation in a box concept, based on the Lisa and large looking prototype has a full Lisa computer, a monitor together with a telephone and printer all in a single package. Both these pieces follow the `Snow White’ design language which Esslinger had created at the request of late Apple CEO Steve Jobs in 1984. At first the designs appeared in production with the Apple IIc and the company started phasing Esslinger’s work out after the release of the Macintosh IIfx in the year 1990. While Esslinger joined Apple in 1982, on an exclusive contract, he left the company after Job’s exit. He followed Jobs to NeXT though he did not join Apple again on Jobs’ return in the year 1997.

Keep it Simple - Authentic Incident between Hartmut Esslinger & Steve Jobs 

`Keep it Simple’, is the authentic incident between Hartmut Esslinger and Steve Jobs that originated in 1982 leading them in the partnership between the designer and the entrepreneur which became revolutionary with regards to historic dimension. Steve Jobs took the first step to make strategic design the core of Apple’s Business Strategy.

Thereafter Apple expanded from a technology focused company into one of the world’s most renowned and successful global brands which was achieved by creating and delivering innovative as well as intelligent products.

Though there are many books about Apple and Steve Jobs, many professionals all over would want to be in his shoes, or would even want their company to be as successful as Apple and hence they absorb account of his work with the intention of getting the magic recipe from these books.

This book relates the account of Apple’s evolution from the inside with its initial conception when Steve was driven by his power of design and developed the strategic core of Apple’s business model. Besides, the book is for all Apple users, fans as well as critics who can get to know about the origin of the products together with the brand they favour so much portraying the story of the most amazing creative journey overcoming various obstacles both within and across the wider technology industry.

Apple helps to Prevent Misdirected Messages/Emails

A recent report published reveals an Apple invention which illustrates an effective and simple way to remind users of who is on the other end of a text message of a group chat, a problem faced by people who seem to be juggling over multiple conversations at the same time. As reported by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the patent application of Apple for Generation of a user interface based on contacts will now enable users of apps like iMessage to be more conscious of who they are talking to at any point of time thus preventing any embarrassing and misdirected messages.

Background Image during Messaging Session 

Several IM clients including Apple’s iMessage app displays just the first name or the phone number of the chat friend and at first, one may not even know who is at the other end and if engaged in a group chat with multiple individuals, one could easily lose track of who one is trying to text the message. This new invention has a contact’s image or photo which would be corresponding to the contact as a background image during a messaging session. In the case of group chats, the text is overlaid on one or more images corresponding to the contacts that are involved during the conversation.

System capable of recognizing contacts

Generally the system tends to recognize that a user has received or is probably about to send an iMessage email, MMS chat or any similar correspondence and then identifies contacts which are associated with that particular message. The background image which relates to the contact or contacts is then used to create a background on which the whole conversation tends to take place and when a contact does not have any assigned photo, a female or a male avatar could be used since the system then selects gender based on stored contact information. When the appropriate image is selected, the background can then be generated by enlarging or stretching, cropping, tiling or even adjusting the image to fit into the messaging screen’s space.
Alpha Blending and Desaturation
Additional modification such as alpha blending and desaturation can blend the image in the background enabling the user to concentrate on the active conversation text that may include the time stamps, usual names along with other familiar UI assets.The capabilities to dynamically modify imagery background is useful and helpful in group chats for instance a slot can highlight the image which may be associated with the user who has sent the most recent response. Alternative, a colour image selected could be displayed while the other participants could be displayed in grey scale thus differentiating the last sent message. The idea behind a updated published Apple patent filing would be appreciated by anyone who has ever sent text messages to the wrong person
Animated Transition
Severalvariations on group messaging comprises of image thumbnails which are arranged in a Cover Flow style with rotating carousel or contact cards that have animated transitions. The remainder of Apple’s filing goes deep in the system implementation which includes discussions of API which would open the door for third party apps in order to access the technology. The UI patent application of Apple’s image based messaging was first filed in 2012 with credits to Enrique E. Rodriguez as its inventor.