Apple Unveils iCloud, iOS 5, Shows off Mac OSX Lion

It's that time of year again! Apple holds a developer's conference every year in San Francisco called WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference, discussing, usually from more of an app developer's point of view, some of the new products or services that Apple is creating. This year's event was sold out in less than ten hours, and tickets weren't cheap either, so we'll see what they paid to see.


Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO (Currently on medical leave), with the help of some fellow Apple employees, announced three new products/services, and showed off one more, that had already been announced. None of these three products are actual physical products, but they are just as interesting.

Apple's iCloud logo

iCloud: The first product announced is called iCloud, and is an online service similar to the current, and slowly phasing  out, Apple service Mobile Me. iCloud is an online service that stores and syncs "your music, photos, apps, documents, and more", as written on the Apple website. The service then syncs all of that data with any other internet-connected Apple device. iCloud will also work on a Windows 7 or Windows Vista device will iTunes. Best of all, it's all free, for up to 5GB of storage.

iCloud will store any music bought via the iTunes Store, but you will also be able to store music you got any other way, be it a ripped CD or the Amazon MP3 store, for $24.99 a year. iCloud does this by scanning the song and matching it with an existing song in it's library of over 18 million songs. iCloud now knows you have the "rights" to the song, and will stream it at your command. This won't work for any song not in the library of 18 Million, so if you have music you created yourself, or an unpublished remix of an existing track, this won't work. One of the major benefits of this service, though, is the fact that if you have a song saved as a very low quality track, iCloud will play it back as the 256Kbps quality that iTunes currently offers.

iCloud in Action

iCloud also will take any picture you take with your iPhone, upload it to the cloud, and sync it with any of your other devices. The service lets you see your already purchased apps, and allows you to download an app again, for free on up to five devices. iBooks will also be synced between devices, as well as any documents created with iWorks, which apple just released the iPhone version of.

Another really important feature, iCloud backs up all of the data on your iPhone or iPod touch over the air, so there is no need to connect your device to a computer.

iCloud will be available for free this fall, along with iOS 5, which will be discussed later in the post.

Mac OSX Lion: After discussing iCloud, Jobs handed over the presentation to Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, who talked a little bit about the latest edition of Mac OSX, called Lion.

Mac OSX Lion will be available as a 4GB download from the Mac App-Store, and will cost $29.99. Most of the new features in Lion, at least the ones that Apple showed off, were already talked about, and you can read my post about those here.

iOS 5: The last service talked about at today's keynote was iOS 5. iOS, Apples mobile operating system that's used on the iPhone and iPod touch, is updated every so often, but a major release, like iOS 5, is released only around once a year.

iOS 5 will be available in July as a free update for your iPod touch or iPhone, and will many new features. One of those is the "Notification Center".

The notification center is accessed by simply swiping down on the screen. This will show a list of notifications, including email, text messages, and notifications from other apps on your phone. Notifications will also no longer interrupt everything you are doing, rather they will just slide in above the app you are currently using, and disappear quickly. Notifications are also accessible from the lock screen, and you can easily respond to a notification from the lock screen.

Revamped Notifications for iOS 5

iMessage will replace the SMS app for the iPhone, and will also be available on the iPod touch. iMessage allows users to send text messages via their 3G data provider, or they can send free text messages over a data connection to anyone else with an Apple iOS device. Messages can also include pictures, sound, and video.

iMessage for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch

Newsstand, one of the new additions in iOS 5, is the iBooks for magazines. Newsstand differs from all other apps, because instead of opening up like a normal app, it opens as a regular folder currently in iOS would. The folder differs from a regular folder, as it contains digital magazines, instead of apps. The background in the Newsstand folder looks like the wooden bookshelf currently found in the iBooks app.

Newsstand, a folder of magazines

Reminders is a new app that will be found in iOS 5. Reminders allows one to set reminders for himself, and organize reminders in to do lists. Reminders syncs with iCloud, Outlook, and iCal, so your to do's will be everywhere.

Reminders for iOS 5

Although Twitter already has an iOS app, with iOS 5, it will be integrated as an app that comes with the device, similar to what Apple is doing already with YouTube. Twitter will now be integrated into many of the apps Apple already has on their devices, such as Safari, Photos, Camera, YouTube, and Maps. One will be able to tweet directly from any of those apps.

Twitter, integrated into iOS 5

The camera is now accessible from the lock screen, so if you ever have a photo you really need to capture, and fast, your iDevice will help you. The camera button on the lock screen even bypasses any passwords set on the device, so your camera will be ready when you need it. The camera also has a new grid that you can use for better alignment while taking a photo.

The camera app, accessible from the lock screen

The Photos app will also be improved, with new photo editing features such as crop, rotate, enhance, and remove red-eye. The camera app also allows you to organize the photos in albums right on your iDevice. Of course, with iCloud, your photos will be synced to all of your other Apple devices.

The new photos app, now with editing

Safari, Apple's built in web browser, is also improved with new tabbed web browsing, a reader function that strips out all of the junk from a website, and just shows you the content you want to see, as well as a reading list that allows you to save articles for reading later. Procrastination at it's finest.

Safari with tabbed browsing

With iOS 5, any iDevice is completely PC free, no computer is needed to set up the device, or to put on music movies, or anything else. The new iCloud service takes care of backup, so you can easily restore a device wirelessly.

Some of the smaller improvements include some new features for the Mail and Calendar apps, an update to GameCenter, Apple's gaming social network, which allows users to set a profile picture, WiFi sync, which allows you to sync music, podcasts, and videos wirelessly with your computer over a WiFi connection. Apple also added multitouch gestures to the iPad, which allow you to swipe through apps by swiping your fingers across the screen, etc. The iPad 2, with the iOS 5 update, will be able to mirror the image you are seeing on it's screen wirelessly, instead of using the HDMI cable currently available.

I myself got extremely excited when writing this post, because this update to iOS 5, along with iCloud, really takes care of many of the problems people had with iOS devices. The only negative is that iOS 5 and iCloud will only be available in the fall, so we've got a while to wait.

The reason that Apple announced these products so early is because they need developers to write apps for these platforms, which takes a while. Apple developers have access to Lion, iCloud, and iOS 5 now, and can start developing for those platforms. If these new products really have you salivating, you could shell out the $100 is costs to become an Apple developer, but you have to own a Mac computer.

Apple brings iAds to the iPad

iAds on iPad

     iAds is Apple's advertising service for mobile apps on the iOS platform. iAds allows ad creators to add videos, music, and even small interactive games to their ads. The iAd platform has been available on the iPhone and iPod Touch for a while, and the first iAd appeared on the iPad today.
     The first iAds advertisement on the iPad is an advertisement for Dove Men+Care. The maker of Dive Men+Care, a company called Unilever, put out the ad, which contains a basketball jumbo-screen with videos and interactive NCAA-themed trivia questions.
     iAds on the iPad is a good thing for both Apple and ad creators because it brings the interactive advertisement to a larger screen. This would be a great place for movie trailers, and other things that just look better on a larger screen.
  
Source: CNET

iPad 2 Jailbroken 2 Days after Launch

Cydia running on a white iPad 2

      The iPad 2 has only been out two days, but yet it has already been hacked. An iPhone developer and hacker called Comex has apparently been working on a jailbreak ever since he got his white iPad 2. According to his Twitter stream (@comex), the jailbreak could have been ready yesterday, but he had to search for a whole new exploit.
      This jailbreak allows the user to run Cydia, an alternative app store, which also allows many more features, on his or her iPad. Engadget says that Comex is apparently hard at work getting this jailbreak out to the public and available as an easy process as soon as possible, so, iPad 2 owners, expect to be able to hack your new device very soon.

iOS 4.3 Brings Lower Credit Card Bills

     Along with the iPad 2, Apple announced iOS 4.3. Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO, had said that 4.3 would be available on the same day as the iPad launch, March 11, but it came unexpectedly a few days before. I immediately downloaded 4.3 for my iPod Touch, and really, I didn't see much difference. Apparently parents with kids who spend thousands of dollars on in-app purchases will.
     There was a recent request for investigation of Apple from the FTC due to the fact that kids were charging their parents credit cards hundreds of dollars buying FarmVille cash, or really any other in-app purchase.

     There is a 15 minute time period before you have to enter your password again for buying anything through Apple ID. Without that period, it would be extremely annoying to have to enter your password six times when buying six songs or TV shows, but apps with in-app purchases have been taking advantage of that by offering in-app purchases soon into the launch of the app, hoping that kids will go for it, and not have to enter their parent's password.
     With iOS 4.3, a separate period of time can be set for in-app purchases. This means that you still will be able  to buy movies or songs within that 15 minute period, but in-app purchases would need a password.
     This mostly seems like Apple trying to get out of any FTC investigations, but it should make parents happy. Until they see that their kid spent $50 on Weird Al Yankovic music videos.

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iPad 2 Announced

     The original iPad was, like Apple said, a magical and revolutionary device. It was the first majorly successful tablet PC, and started the 2011 "Tablet Rush".
     At an event earlier today, Apple's CEO Steve Jobs announced the next generation of the iPad: the iPad 2. Steve Jobs was, or maybe still is, on medical leave. There had been reports that he had only six weeks to live, and pictures of him walking out of treatment very thin, so everybody was relieved when he walked on stage, looking just like he did a year ago.
     The iPad 2 is thinner, lighter, and has a faster processor than it's predecessor. It comes in WiFi only and 3G models, both of which are 9.50 inches high, and 7.31 inches wide. They are also both only 0.34 inches thick, making it easier to hold than the original iPad. Also, the WiFi version weighs 1.33 pounds, with a the 3G  version weighing in at 0.1 pound heavier. Both the WiFi and 3G models come in 16, 32, and 64 gigabyte versions.
     Both the WiFi and 3G versions come with Bluetooth, making it good for wireless keyboards. The 3G version is available on both the AT&T and Verizon wireless carriers.
The iPad's 9.7 inch glossy capacitive touchscreen makes playing with the iPad a beautiful experience. There was some speculating about the iPad 2 bringing a better screen resolution, but it stays at the same 1024 by 768 resolution.
     The iPad 2 comes to the market as the first shipped dual-core tablet with Apple's new A5 processor. This 1GHz custom designed chip gives high performance without draining battery life. Another improvement is in the graphics, which Steve Jobs says are now up to 9 times faster.

Steve Jobs at iPad 2 Event

     It also has the expected front and rear facing cameras. The rear facing camera is capable of taking 720p video at 30 frames per second, while the front facing, VGA camera can also do 30 frames per second video. These cameras are great for the iPad's new integrated FaceTime app. FaceTime allows you to videochat with other iPad owners. It also has compatibly for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and Macs, so you can videochat with anyone in the Apple Universe.
     Despite the added features and slightly smaller body, the iPad 2 claims the same 10 hour battery life on WiFi as the original iPad, using 3G, the battery life should be about an hour less, at 9 hours.
     The iPad 2 also brings the gyroscope of the iPhone and iPod Touch to the iPad experience, which will greatly enhance the gaming experience on the iPad.

iPad 2 with FaceTime

     Some other new features include the ability to completely mirror the iPad's screen onto an HDTV via the $39 HDMI connector, the choice now of black or white, and a new kind of case.
     Last iPad, Apple did it's own case. The case was simple but efficient. Apple wanted to do another case this time, but one that wouldn't take away from the sleek design of the iPad, and also wouldn't add too much weight. They came up with the iPad Smart Cover.

            Smart Cover Closed

     The smart cover was designed long with the iPad 2, making it work extremely well with he device. The Smart Cover is a screen cover that attaches with magnets. There are magnets inside the iPad and on the cover, so it's easy to put on, and it also auto-aligns. The cover is made out of 5 flat attached by either Polyurethane or leather. It can be lifted up and folded to use as a stand for typing, or a stand for watching movies. The iPad also automatically wakes up when the cover is raised, and locks when it is placed back on. As an added bonus, the side of the cover touching the iPad screen is made of microfiber material, so the screen is cleaned anytime you open or close the device.
     A big thing Apple focused on in then announcement was the software. iPad 2 will run iOS 4.3 which brings some new features with it. 4.3 brings new AirPlay enhancements. AirPlay allows users to stream content from their iOS devices to an Apple TV or other compatible device. The update allows AirPlay from the Photos app, and makes streaming a lot easier, as it will scan your network for an Apple TV, so you don't have to set up anything.
     4.3 also brings Apples Nitro JavaScript engine to the iPad's Safari app, making web pages load a lot faster, especially ones with a lot of interactive JavaScript.
     Another cool feature in iOS 4.3 is iTunes Home Sharing. Home Sharing allows you to stream your entire library to your device over a shared WiFi connection. This seems like a cool feature, but if you ever have to leave your house, your content won't come with you.
     Apple also introduced two new apps, both available for $4.99 in the app store. These apps are iMovie and Garage Band. iMovie allows users to do complex movie editing, and offers cool themes. Garage band allows users to create and edit music, even without any musical talent.
     The iPad 2 brings many new features to a thinner, lighter package, and keeps the $499 price tag of the original iPad. Available on March 11th, the iPad 2 seems like a good buy for anyone who wants to spend $499 on a new device.