iOS 7 is coming!

Apple are looking to introduce and preview their new iOS Software update- iOS 7 at WWDC 2013 ( Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, June 10-14), with a view of releasing it in September this year.

The tech world is abuzz with rumours that this iOS update ( code named Innsbruck) will be significantly different- and improved – under the direction of new Human Interface Software team director Jonathon Ive.

Ive is also the Senior Vice President of Industrial Design for Apple and has been primarily responsible for Hardware Design since 1997, but since Scott Forstall, the previous Software interface Director for Apple, was fired in October last year Jony Ive is in charge of both Hardware and Software design. Interesting.

Scott Forstall was a lover of what is called Skeuomorphic Design- basically icons and apps that replicate the look of real life items.

In relation to Apple, that means examples like the faux leather stitching on the Notepad App, grainy wood in the Newstand App, and the Casino resemblance of the Games App. Steve Jobs was said to be similarly smitten by this design choice.

Jony Ive is not.

See? So not smitten.

Sources are coming out of the woodwork almost every day now with leaked information on exactly what Jony Ive has planned, and here’s the gist of what we’ll most likely be looking at :

*Very flat, sleek design, with completely new look icons, tabs and toolbars, whilst still retaining the intuitiveness Apple is acclaimed for.

*More ‘at glance’ information with possible pull across screens similar to the pull down notification center.

*Apple Maps and Siri car integration, where you can use Apple Maps and Siri through your vehicles built in display.

*The high possibility of gesture control

Ive has been encouraging collaboration between the hardware and software teams, where previously the two worked independently, and, after last years Maps PR debacle, he is making sure that each and every change is reviewed extensively.

This means, according to most sources, (and the folks over at d’uh town), that everyone over there at Apple are working overtime to get the software ready for previewing at WWDC June 10-14. These sources have also claimed that engineers for OS X 10.9 have been pulled to help in preparation for iOS 7.

This all sounds pretty impressive and exciting- changes that will improve the way we use and interact with our iPhones forever- but there is bound to be more updates and improvements that have been so far kept under wraps.

There have been claims that the iOS 7 testers are using their devices with films over the screens that prevent anyone else around them from seeing the screen.

So, we’re expecting big things Mr Ive! ( No Pressure. … Well, a little bit of pressure… 😉 )

Walmart expanding Scan & Go iPhone shopping technology

Walmart are expanding their Scan & Go self checkout to a further 200 stores from the 70 they have currently. This means 12 more cities  (See below) will be getting the new technology that allows you to scan your items with your iPhone and pay for them at self-checkout counters.

This expansion to 200 stores is a sure sign of positive customer feedback, especially as the program has only been up and running since late 2012, starting in its home office in Bentonville, Arkansas.

If the payment option continues to give customers a positive shopping experience, the roll out to more markets will continue, confirmed Gibu Thomas, senior vice president of mobile and digital at Walmart Global eCommerce.

The new cities that will now use the Scan & Go technology are:

Denver, Phoenix, Omaha, Dallas and Austin, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Wyoming, Bozeman, Seattle, San Jose and Portland.

Happy shopping!

The Great Smart Watch Battle of 2013

With reports from the Financial times that Google is making a smart watch, and Bloomberg reports that Samsung has confirmed that they are making a smart watch, it looks like there will be a battle ahead between the three giants, Samsung, Google and Apple.

Although all three are believed to be set for release later this year, no real particulars have been given yet by any of the three companies regarding price, features or a specific release date.

Sources have said that one hundred product designers are working on the Apple version of the smart watch, which will reportedly have curved glass, mapping functionality and will run a full version of iOS.

On the other hand, Google’s smartphone will reportedly be an extension of a smartphone using the android system.

This will actually be Samsung’s third attempt at a smart watch, with the first two being devices being stand alone, which begs the question, what about this third attempt?

Although there are already some companies such as Sony and Pebble selling smart watches, we are especially eagerly anticipating the release of a version from Samsung, Google and Apple.

And our bet is on Apple to win the great smart watch battle of 2013! ( D’uh)

iPhone 5s Rumors

There are rumors abounding the Internet right now reinforcing what has been previously said about the new iPhone being released in Late June or July of this year.

According to sources, the components for the new iPhone will be shipped at the end of May, just in time, we’re figuring, for a release after it’s official announcement by Apple at the World Wide Developers Conference.

These sources also say that following on from what they have seen and heard, they predict that the new phone will not be an iPhone 6 or hugely enhanced in any kind of surprising way, rather an iPhone 5S with a higher end processer, better camera and the possibility of a fingerprint sensor.

We’ll keep you up to date with all the rumors and predictions from tech analysts and secret sources as soon as we hear of them- the momentum is building!

Big news for T-Mobile!

T-Mobile, the fourth biggest mobile phone carrier, will soon be selling Apple products and as part of it’s new ‘Uncarrier’ model, will soon be the only carrier in the US to not offer contracts.

This means that T-mobile will be scrapping the device subsidy 2 year contract deal that all the other carriers offer and as an existing customer you can come off your contract as it expires, or even apparently end your contract without being subjected to early termination fees.

As a new customer you have the option to buy your chosen device ( iPhone of course ) out right or use an installment plan, essentially separating the cost of the device from the cost of a plan.

Whilst we here at iPhone Antidote believe this is excellent news, and a great way for T-Mobile to distinguish itself from the other carriers, we are also thinking about the possible effect this move might have on the future of phone Carriers in the US.

 
Other countries have both on and off contract plans available and it has often times driven the competition within the phone industry to previously unseen levels. It also gives customers more freedom of choice and of what exactly they are paying for.

Will T-mobiles unprecedented move into no contracts be the beginning of a new chapter within the US phone carrier market? Time will tell, and until then, yay for another carrier selling Apple!

What you need to know about the unlocking stuff

Back in October 2012, some people decided on a new law that may have some impact on your future mobile use. The people were the Librarian of congress, who is the office in charge of setting the rules to execute the recently updated Digital Millenium Copyright Act.

They decided that smartphone users would only have 90 days to buy a new phone and still have the ability to unlock it. As of January 26th this year, it is illegal to unlock a new smartphone without the permission of the carrier.

Previously, you could unlock your phone to use it with another carrier or multiple carriers, or to use it with international sim cards to lower roaming fees when travelling overseas.
There are a lot of people unhappy with this move, as it seems pretty blatant that not only will it reduce competition, it is the government and the carriers deciding what you can do with your own property. There has even been a petition to the White house to revoke this new law, but more on that later.

It’s not all bad, as it is still legal to unlock all smartphones purchased before January 26th, and it also possible to purchase unlocked phones off contract from carriers. Verizon still sell their iPhone 5 unlocked, Sprint have announced that they will unlock their iPhones for international use after three months, and AT & T will unlock an iPhone once it is off contract, with a few caveats ( see http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB414532&cv=820#fbid=jBHQIEAKsA7)

The new law seems to be targeting third-party online unlocking services, but it also has the ability to affect everyday smartphone owners and users, and law-breakers face a fine of up to $500,000 and/or 5 years in jail.

As of today, a petition on the White House “We the people’ website asking to revoke this law has 61,395 signatures. It needs 38,605 signatures before February 23rd to reach it’s goal of 100,000.

So, be aware of what you can do with your carrier now regarding unlocking- and go to https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/make-unlocking-cell-phones-legal/1g9KhZG7 to sign the petition if you think it could negatively affect you in the future!

Two other exciting new Apple products predicted for 2013!

Apart from the expected Apple iTV and the next iPhone, other new products rumored for release by Apple in 2013 include a subscription music service similar to Spotify and Pandora ( proposed name iRadio) and the bluetooth enabled ‘Smart Watch’.

iRadio will be incorporated into iTunes and Apple is believed to be in final discussions with three major music labels. It will be similar to Pandora and Spotify, but will also include the ability to access concert information or tickets. If the music labels can agree to Apple’s terms, expect this service to debut mid to late 2013.

There have been rumours about an iWatch for a few years, and with more than a few secret sources and patent ‘evidence’ to back it up, 2013 could be the year to release the iWatch, a new product that is not stand alone, but, similar to the proposed iTV, a device that uses wireless technology to connect your current Apple Devices in a cool, awesomely designed way.

According to sources from China, Cupertino, and Apple’s patents, the iWatch would be a Bluetooth enabled, Siri controlled, curved glass watch that would surpass other companies current or near future smart watches because of Siri, and because of the ability of Apple to make excellent use of excellent Apps.

You would be able to take and make calls, use the internet, email and social media, use fitness, recording, organizational and other apps, gaming, and probably even tell the time on the Apple iWatch.

Commentators have actually predicted that the iWatch, if indeed released in 2013, will be released in the first quarter of the year and will be the first product released since Jony Ive has started providing leadership for human interface as well as his role as senior vice president of industrial Design.

So, two new products, both of them for people who are essentially already Apple fans and own a stand alone devices, and that’s why we love Apple- providing new, exciting products for their loyal fans. In 2013. We hope.

What’s next for Apple?

2013 should bring some interesting moves from Apple, and these are already being rigorously debated by those who are in the position to do so, and those who aren’t.

As per usual with Apple, everything is a guessing game, and we are only at the mercy of the limited amount of information analysts pour through patent documents to discover or that which is leaked – purposefully or not.

Over the next couple of days we’ll be looking at and making predictions for everything coming up in the Apple world in 2013 – their release schedule, the possibility of new products, new updates to existing products, and how this will affect you, as a customer, and the industry as a whole.

There are people who say that after the very public lawsuit with Samsung, Apple (as well as other industry players) will be reticent to create anything unless it is completely new and revolutionary. In other words, we won’t see anything new released that might be seen to have been built on the technology of other products as that would only welcome more lawsuits, which is bad for not only the company but for the whole industry.

There are others that are adamant that this year, after an arguably lackluster year in 2012, Apple must impress the tech world and it’s fans with new products or surprising updates to current products if they want to stay relevant.

Who’s right?

We’re going to pick through all of the  predictions and rumors, educated guesses and outright optimistic hopes for Apple in 2013, and give you the best of all of it.  Stay tuned!!

Suggested New Years Eve Resolutions From iPhone Antidote

Here are some good NYE Resolutions for you guys in case you never came up with a good one:

I will solve world peace

I will be a good person

I will not break my iPhone

I will buy a llama

I will try not to break my iPhone, but if I do, I will sell it to iPhone antidote for the most cash on the internet, and then I will buy a llama!

iPhone Apps to help you celebrate New Years Eve!

Oh, Hi New Years Eve!

In case you weren’t aware, the biggest party of the year is just around the corner! Here at iPhone Antidote we are always wanting the best for our valued customers, and right now that means preparing you to party! We’ve got everything covered in apps to help make your New Years Eve a memorable one.

Countdown– The most important part of the party- the countdown of the last moments of 2012, and with everyone looking forward to 2013 ( and the kiss at midnight!) with hope and joy.

We suggest you check out Countdown Timer Pro– A simple countdown app that also includes an animated NYE time-zone map that lets you see when midnight is rung in all over the world.

The first ever Times Square New Years Ball Drop App looks great. You can customize your own countdown with your time-zone and a selected photo, take part in the official Times Square countdown and even have your face projected onto the Toshiba Vision Sign and send NYE themed e-card to friends and family.

Fashion– You have to look good for NYE, I think we can all agree to that, and here are the apps to help you look your most attractive, sparkliest self.

Trendabl is like social networking for your clothes- you can upload photos of yourself in your outfit options and get expert and random objective advice. ‘Go try it on’ is good for this as well. ASOS and Shopstyle are the go to shopping apps if you think you have time!

Fireworks– If you aren’t in a position to be outside enjoying fireworks, or don’t enjoy crowds, this app if for you. Flashmob New Year’s Fireworks lets you enjoy New Years Eve firework celebrations from all over the world including major landmarks including Sydney Harbour Big Ben, and the Eiffel Tower.

Transport- Make sure you guys are safe this NYE and have your transport options sorted out for getting home on New Years Day! Download the transport app for your town’s network to make sure you can work out what’s going on with going home- no matter how many drink’s you’ve had! If you optimistically drove somewhere and then realized you forgot you were going to drink on NYE, try StearClear. They’ll send a team of two to wherever you are, one to drive you home, the other to drive your car home.

Alcohol – If you’re out and looking for a good bar, Scenetap say that they can tell you how crowded a bar is- what the gender ratio is and the average age of the clientele- mainly focused on Chicago, SF and college towns. If you’re at home, try Mixology– an excellent assistant to cocktail making, even making suggestions based solely on what you have in the cabinet. Drunkguard is a quality app for keeping you safe and out of trouble- it helps you estimate your blood alcohol level (only estimate though- don’t drive if you’re even close to the illegal level), keeps your from drunk-dialing, drunk texting and drunk tweeting.

Resolutions – Now, the serious part of New Years Eve. Everyone likes to dabble or fully immerse themselves in the idea of Resolutions. Most of these will have to do with fitness, money, career or Love. To help you keep these wonderful promises to yourself, we suggest the following apps.

For health– My Fitness Pal, or, for the smokers, Livestrong Myquit Coach.

For money– Mint to keep a track of money going in and out and helping you to save.

For career- Business Building Secrets, Evernote for organization, and CareerBuilder for those looking to switch careers.

Lastly but by no means least, Love. Here are some apps to help you step out and find that special someone in 2013! Give these a try- OkCupid, How about We, or Are you Interested?

Wishing you all a safe and Happy New Year From all of us at iPhone Antidote!