Apple has hired a new dude!

Apple has hired a new dude to be Vice President of Technologies.

Kevin Lynch, previously Chief Technology Officer of Adobe, has created quite a buzz in his new position- primarily because, in his role at Adobe, he clashed quite publically with Apple and specifically Steve Jobs over his product, Adobe Flash, with Jobs writing a whole essay about it in 2010 criticizing almost every part of its performance.

Kevin Lynch fought back, defending flash, even going as far as to accuse Apple of having a philosophy counter to the web.

And then, well, Flash didn’t do so well, in particular in comparison to Apple’s iOS. And now, only three years later, Apple has lured Lynch away in a move that has left many puzzled.

It was, of course, part of his job to defend his product, especially publically, and he does have a tech history that is somewhat intertwined with Apple, and proves that he has a good, solid employment history and work ethic.

So, time will only tell if Apple has chosen well in this latest hire- and despite the criticisms out there, we here at iPhone Antidote only wish the best for the match

New Apple Patent published!

Interesting news!
Apple has lodged a new patent with the US Patent and Technology office, which was published by them on March 21, 2013. This new patent reveals a range of new protective mechanisms they have invented in order to prevent any of their iDevices cracking or breaking when dropped.

The range of unprecedented measures include a protective mechanism that uses a sensor to detect when the device is in free fall and changes the device’s position in the air by changing the center of mass- so that a less vital part of the phone will hit the ground first.

Also included is an automatic battery ejection to change the angle of the device mid-fall to minimize damage and gripping members that expand during free-fall to hold on to headphones or power cords, and even slow down the fall.

These are only a few of the many mechanisms patented by Apple to protect their device’s and it is still early stages but it is news that will be welcomed by many a poor Apple user whose heart has been broken by a cracked or broken iDevice!

Until that comes around, if you are one of the heartbroken, send it in to us! We’ll pay you some cold hard cash for that stinky broken iDevice so you can go buy another one and cure that broken heart!

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!

Progress on the campaign against the ban on unlocking phones

Some good news today-

The ‘We the People’ protest campaign against the banning of unlocking phones has been somewhat successful, in that it has garnered the amount of signatures required in order to receive an official response from the Whitehouse. The response, as with all official responses to ‘We The People’ campaigns will come in a ‘timely fashion’, so until then, we wait.

Or do we? Even better than the recognition  and hope that comes with an official response – the campaign has caught the attention of the Chairman of the FCC- the Federal Communications Commission.

Although the Chairman, Julius Genachowski, is not wholly aware of what authority he has in the matter, he is very concerned that the ban ‘ raises competition concerns, raises innovation concerns’ and will be looking into reversing the ban if possible.

This is an ongoing issue that we will keep you up to date on!!

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!

It’s Super Bowl Time!

Alright kids, it’s SUPERBOWL TIME!

This Sunday, the Superbowl XLVii pregame starts at 11am ET with kick-off scheduled for 6:30pm ET.

The most anticipated game of the year will pit the Baltimore Ravens against the San Francisco 49ers in the New Orleans Superdome.

Over 100 million people are set to be watching the game in various settings and using different methods, from big Super Bowl parties, to streaming though the internet all over the world, to sitting in bars, to sneakily watching it at work ( poor suckers).

Whatever way you’ll be watching the game this Sunday, we have the technology that will make the experience all the more exciting!

Live Streaming:- FREE!

NFL.com will live-stream the entire Super Bowl game for free.

CBSSports.com will also broadcast the entire game. Viewers will be able to choose from different camera angles, as well as connect to social-media sites like Twitter and Facebook.

http://superbowl.livefyre.com/– A live feed that collates live chat, photos from fans at the game and all over the world, the Super Bowl commercials, and an instant game tracker.

Apps:

NFL Mobile. Only for Verizon subscribers, who can watch the game live on their iPhone.- Free

The official Superbowl XLVii guide – free
A good app for it’s intended use, but it’s only intended to be used by those lucky bastards who happen to be either at the game, or in New Orleans. Includes locations of Super Bowl events, fan stores, parking and media centers.

Foodie Recipes- Game Day Guide – Free
40 Recipes to please everyone at the party! (Cos food’s pretty important )

The Football Party Game – $5.49 ( Note, only one person in your group needs to buy the app)
Before the Super Bowl starts, your friends ( with you at the party or not) will answer 20 questions to do with the upcoming game- from What color the Gatorade is, how long the national Anthem will last, who will score a penalty first etc. Those who choose the correct answers will gain points automatically through the app and whoever wins the most points wins the game. We are definitely not suggesting that this could be used as a drinking game.

49ers Gameday Live ( iPhone App only) – Free
For dedicated Niners fans, with all the stats, team member info, photos, videos, and interviews, you could want, with live updates and information as the game is won by the Niners. GO NINERS!

Baltimore Ravens Mobile App – Free
Similar to the 49ers app, with stats and vital information with live updates during the game.

Skype, Facetime, TOK Football Apps.

If you are unable to be in the same room with all of your football lovin’ friends, Skype and Facetime can be a useful tool to celebrate touchdowns, argue over calls or gloat over opposite team goals. Another App to add to this list is The TOK Football App. After registering an account, this app gives you the chance to invite and speak (Live and continuously) with up to 4 friends while watching the game on TV. The app also includes real time stats and info about the game.

So, hopefully now you have all you need to watch the Super Bowl this Sunday and make it the best game-day experience possible!

… GO NINERS!

New iPad announced today

Apple has today announced an iPad with 128gb storage capacity, double that of the current iPad. The new device has retina display, will be available in black and white and both Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi and cellular capabilities.

The new iPad doesn’t count as a new model so will still be referred to as an iPad 4, however this version is catering more for the business market, who are anxious for the ability to use the tablet for more detailed projects, such as blueprints, X-rays, film edits and music tracks.

The new iPad will be available Tuesday, February 5 starting at $799 for the Wi-Fi only model and $929 for the cellular model.

jOBS – A Steve Jobs Biopic

The Steve Jobs biopic ‘jOBS’ will be shown for the first time to the public at the Sundance film festival tomorrow, however the first clip has been released online today. See; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rOiXeKaUUM.

Directed by Joshua Michael Stern and starring Ashton Kutcher as the man himself, the movie is a college dropout to tech-hero of a nation story, cost approx. $8,500,000 to produce and will be coming to a cinema near you in April.

We’ll have to wait and see the reviews when they come out after the official screening tomorrow, but just from the clip, Steve Wozniak, played by Josh Gad in the movie, told website Gizmodo today that both his character and Jobs’ are ‘totally wrong’, but that he wouldn’t mind it if the movie was ‘fun and entertaining’.

A second biopic, a Sony produced, Aaron Sorkin written movie is in the works, but this version is an adaptation of the official Jobs biography, and Sorkin says he plans to have his movie contain only three scenes, shot in real time, with each one taking place before a product launch.

Although much anticipated, this film is still being written and doesn’t even garner a mention or Sorkin’s IMDB page, so it won’t be in direct competition with jOBS.

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.

Apple iTV

The Apple product we believe will knock your socks off in 2013 is the much speculated Apple iTV.

There have been analyst’s like Richard Greenfield from BTIG ( An equity trading company) recently stating that while the Apple TV is an exciting future product, they don’t believe Apple can release it this year because of legal issues , tying up the loose ends with cable providers and networks, etc.

Call us optimistic, but we disagree. Not only do we believe that Apple needs this product this year, there have been intense rumors all over the internet about this very product- with numerous ‘secret sources’ giving legitimate sounding information.

Sounds familiar to the time before the iPad and the iPhone were released right? Which means that there is a revolutionary product coming with Apple’s name all over it!

In a recent interview, Apple Ceo Tim Cook spoke about the possibility of Apple entering the television market; “ It’s an area of great interest to me. I can’t say more than that.”
Of course he can’t, because marketing. Let’s get everyone excited!

There have been sources from Sharp that say that they are building HD screens for Apple already, there is the patent that Apple have for a universal television remote, the news from Foxconn visitors that production on specialty components for the TV had already begun last summer. Sources ‘familiar with the matter’ at the end of 2011 have said that “Apple executives have discussed their vision for the future of TV with media executives at several large companies.”.

So what is Apple TV? Well, in the words of Tim Cook, “When I go into my living room and turn on the TV, I feel like I have gone backwards in time by 20 to 30 years”. So, the Apple TV will be a product that will bring the television market into the present, if not the future.

Sounds good right?

Now, imagine your TV in HD, with an A6 Processor, Retina screen capabilities, run by iOS, and with the ability to be controlled by your voice via Siri (voice and face recognition is predicted).

The Apple TV will be a homebase for all of your apple products, (Statistically, if you own one product, you’ll own more than one – around 2.6 actually), all connecting wirelessly with the ability to share content.

Imagine Internet, social media and wireless connectivity, Apps, gameplay, and add in content from iTunes or streamed though Airplay, combined with content from a cable provider.

Sounds revolutionary. Bring it on in 2013, Apple.