Exclusive: Panasonic refuses to deny weatherproof G series camera
One of the key features of the new 12-35mm premium 'X' lens from Panasonic, is that it's weatherproof and dustproof, however there are currently no G series bodies which also boast the same qualities.
Last year, Olympus announced a new weather and dustproof 12-50mm lens towards the end of the year, that was followed up by the OM-D in January, which, surprise surprise, was equipped with dust and weatherproofing. Could its Micro Four Thirds cohort, Panasonic, follow suit with its own line-up?
Asked by TechRadar, Barney Sykes from Panasonic UK said he was unable to say anything in relation to any future launches, but didn't deny such a development.
Panasonic recently introduced the GF5, and update to the GF series of entry-level compact system cameras less than 10 months after the GF3. However, other lines in the company's range have not been updated in some time, such as the GH2, first introduced in 2010.
Replacements
Some also expect a replacement for the G3 to be announced soon, while the GX1 although only announced in November could also be a potential area for a quick upgrade if it follows the same pattern as the GF series.Speaking about the two-year-old GH2, Sykes said, "Sales have just picked up in the last few weeks, actually. Of course, there's always improvements we can make, we're watching things like the Olympus OM-D and Sony NEX-7, and the new technologies that those cameras are bringing."
Rumours have suggested that July will see Panasonic make new announcements. Meanwhile, with Photokina coming up in September, it looks set to be an interesting year for camera manufacturers, so watch this space for more as it develops.
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TomTom confirmed as official partner for iOS 6 Maps
TomTom has announced it is providing the mapping data for Apple's new operating system, which was unveiled at WWDC this week.
Apple has shunned Google in its next iteration of its mobile platform, with a brand new mapping solution coming with iOS 6.
Engadget initially reported the possible partnership between Apple and TomTom, before receiving the following statement from the sat nav manufacturer: "TomTom has signed a global agreement with Apple for maps and related information."
The end of in-car sat navs?
The move by Apple to provide its own mapping software, along with turn-by-turn navigation, sees it follow in the footsteps of Google's successful offering on Android handsets.However with more and more people now getting free access to navigation software on their phones, has TomTom seen the opportunity to ditch dedicated devices in favour of handset based solutions?
We've contacted TomTom to see where they expect the business to go, and we'll update this article once we hear back.
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Updated: OS X Mountain Lion: what you need to know
Mac OS X Mountain Lion: what you need to know
Apple has today released details of its next-gen OS. Dubbed Mountain Lion, it's the follow-up to OS X 10.7 Lion and prior to that Snow Leopard and Leopard.As such it's full name will be OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion.
Let's make one thing clear - this is not a mega update to Mac OS X. But what's striking about Mountain Lion is how much further towards iOS Apple is taking its desktop OS - Mac purists will be rightly concerned that Apple seems to be moving its operating systems together to a point where they will converge, but for the rest of us a unified OS is a tantalising prospect.
"The Mac is on a roll, growing faster than the PC for 23 straight quarters, and with Mountain Lion things get even better," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing in a statement when Mountain Lion was first talked about back in February.
At WWDC 2012, the company's head of software engineering Craig Federighi was keen to point out that the new OS would have 200 new features but talked about several key ones we already knew about; this wasn't that big a reveal for the new version of OS X and so, from a Mac perspective, the OS was overshadowed by the new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.
There will be system-wide sharing to various services including Flickr and Vimeo, Facebook integration and Dictation plus Power Nap and Game Center.
Dictation enables you to dictate text anywhere you can type, while Power Nap, keeps the new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air (second and third generation) up-to-date while it sleeps. Power Nap automatically refreshes Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Reminders, Notes, Photo Stream, Find My Mac and Documents in the Cloud, and when plugged in, downloads software updates and backs up your Mac using Time Machine.
Here's the full rundown on Mountain Lion's features and details:
OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion: release date
We have learnt the OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion release date is July. It'll be available via the Mac App Store for $20 in the US, so expect £20 to download it in the UK. As with Lion, it'll be a Mac App Store download only.OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion: iOS integration
The new OS incorporates a number of features right from iOS - we had some in Lion of course, but Mountain Lion includes reminders, notifications and Twitter integration as well as Messages, Notes (separate, not within Mail) and Game Center.Reminders and Notes help you create and track your to-dos across all your Apple devices.
These all sync to iCloud, as does your gaming record in Game Center. More importantly, the arrival of Game Center in OS X means you can play iOS users in the same game. Apple has demoed cross-platform gaming with Reckless Racing - expect many other games to follow suit.
OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion: iOS terminology
One of the most striking things about the new OS is how Apple is renaming everything on its desktop OS to fall in line with iOS. So iCal is now called Calendar, while Addresss Book has become contacts, for example.OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion: iCloud integration
Apple says Mountain Lion is the first OS X release built with iCloud in mind for easy setup and integration with apps. Whatever that means.Well actually what it means is that Mountain Lion will use your Apple ID to automatically set up Contacts, Mail, Calendar, Messages, FaceTime and Find My Mac.
And iCloud will also sync Documents across your devices - any changes are pushed across all your Apple kit so documents are always up to date. Apple has also announced a new API to help developers make document-based apps work with iCloud.
OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion: iMessage
There's also a Messages app that takes the place of iChat, allowing you to continue conversations started on Mac on any iOS device. iMessages will work much as they do on iPad. Again, messaging is unlimited between Macs and iOS devices.You can include attachments, photos and HD video, and iMessages appear on all devices. iMessage also includes group messaging, delivery and read receipts, typing indicators and secure end-to-end encryption.
This includes high-quality photos and videos, while the Messages app will continue to support AIM, Jabber, Yahoo! Messenger and Google Talk. The continued support for the later is especially pleasing.
OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion: Notifications
Mountain Lion also nicks notifications from iOS. Again there's a Notification Center that provides easy access to alerts from Mail, Calendar, Messages, Reminders, system updates and third party apps.And, just like in iOS, you pull it across from the right of your desktop. Developers will be able to bake in support for this in their own apps.
You can choose to temporarily suspend all notifications when you want to work or watch a movie.
OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion: Safari
Safari now gets the ability to search right from the address bar, just as you can in Chrome and Firefox. There will also be tab syncing between your devices via iCloud plus more multitouch gestures.OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion: Share Sheets
A new feature, called Share Sheets, is supposed to make it easy to share links, photos and videos directly from Apple and third party apps. Sounds like a clipboard to us. However, it enables you to share various types of content with whoever you choose. The interesting thing here is that Apple has partnered with Flickr for photos and Vimeo for video.OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion: Twitter and Facebook integration
And, of course, there's Twitter and Facebook. Both services are integrated throughout Mountain Lion so you can sign on once and tweet directly from all your apps including Safari, Quick Look, Photo Booth, Preview and third party apps.
OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion: AirPlay mirroring
Following on from other attempts at computer-based wireless displays, such as Intel's WiDi, Mountain Lion introduces AirPlay Mirroring. You'll be able to mirror your computer screen on a TV wirelessly, though you'll need an Apple TV to connect through. There's 720p HD support (although other systems do support 1080p, Apple TV doesn't) and supposedly amazing realtime response rates for gamers using the mirroring app.OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion: Gatekeeper
Think there's no need for security software on a Mac? Think again. Apple has introduced a new security feature called Gatekeeper that allows for personalised security settings, working as a kind of safety net for less confident users by offering a setting that allows the Mac to accept only software downloaded from the Mac App Store.OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion for developers
Apple says it has created hundreds of new APIs for OS X 10.8. As well as that iCloud Documents API we talked about earlier, the Game Kit APIs tap into the same services as Game Center on iOS, making it possible to create multiplayer games that work across Mac, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.There's a new graphics infrastructure underpins OpenGL and OpenCL and implements GLKit from iOS 5, to make it easier to create OpenGL apps.
What more is there? "Using Core Animation in Cocoa apps is easier than ever, and new video APIs deliver modern 64-bit replacements for low-level QuickTime APIs. Enhanced Multi-Touch APIs give developers double-tap zoom support and access to the system-wide lookup gesture. Kernel ASLR improves security through enhanced mitigation against buffer overflow attacks," says Apple.
OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion for Chinese users
China is now a massive market for Apple. And as such Mountain Lion introduces new support for Chinese users, "including significant enhancements to the Chinese input method and the option to select Baidu search in Safari."Apple has also announced easy account setup for some of China's biggest email service providers including QQ, 126 and 163.
Chinese users can also upload video via Share Sheets directly to video websites Youku and Tudou, and while we like Twitter, there's system-wide support for Sina weibo.
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Hermes Launches 500 Parcelshops across the UK
Even with the best delivery partner in the world and flexible delivery times you still can't guarantee that a customer will be in to take delivery, or there to make a return. However delivery business Hermes has a solution, the Parcelshop.
Hermes has launched a network of 500 Parcelshops nationwide that take the pain out of home delivery for businesses and customers. Businesses will initially be able to offer the myHermes ParcelShops as a cost-effective means of returning unwanted online purchases, with plans to extend the service to allow consumers to specify their nearest location as an alternative to home delivery.
According to independent research carried out by Hermes last year the returns process remains a continuing issue for online shoppers. The research showed that 16 percent of people return at least one item per order and, while more than 50 percent use the Post Office to return goods, they find it inconvenient and slow.
Parcelshops located in local convenience stores
The branded myHermes ParcelShops are located in local convenience stores such as Spa, Nisa, Premier and Co-op as well as local independents, in major urban locations that have been specially selected based on population density and home delivery demand.The initial network of parcel shops is expected to be increased by a further 500 locations by the end of the year to extend the nationwide reach of the service.
Parcelshops open 8 to 8
Each store offers extended opening hours, typically 8 until 8, and in the first phase will be providing a drop off service for people who want to return goods they have purchased online. This will help retailers to address the difficult area of returns providing a quicker, simpler and more efficient option to their customers and giving them an alternative to the current courier collection option.
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Sainsbury's looks to ebooks with Anobii acquisition
Supermarket giant Sainsbury's is to take on Amazon and offer up ebooks to its online shoppers.
Sainsbury's has been busy building up its web services for a number of years now but its latest acquisition could well be the company's shrewdest yet.
It's bought up HMV's stake in ebook store Anobii – which equates to 45.5 per cent of the company – and added in a few more shares for good measure, taking its share total in the service up to 66 per cent.
As Anobii was something of a loss maker for HMV, Sainsbury's didn't have to dig deep for the shares, buying them for just a pound.
But where HMV couldn't do anything with Anobii after it sold off Waterstones, Sainsbury's reckons the store will be key to its online services going forward and perfect for rivalling Tesco, which already is up and running with its own ebook site.
Seize opportunities
Speaking about the deal, Mark Bennett, Sainsbury's Head of Digital Entertainment, said: "Anobii's innovative use of social media is a clear differentiator. This acquisition is a valuable addition to our digital portfolio and shows our commitment to becoming a key player in the digital entertainment market."It further demonstrates how we are constantly looking to innovate and seize opportunities that will support the future growth of our business. We're excited about working together with the Anobii team and our fellow shareholders in supporting Anobii to become a leading retailer of ebooks."
The 'clear differentiator' Bennett is talking about is to do with Anobii's social sharing – the site links into a number of social-networking sites and already has a member base of 600,000.
According to Sainsbury's, there are currently 60,000 ebooks available from the site and HarperCollins, Penguin and Random House Group are shareholders in Anobii.
And for those who only know their latin from Harry Potter spells, Anobii apparently means bookworm - well, its variant Anobium Punctatum does. Sainsbury's will be hoping it also means money spinner.
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The equation for business success
If you've always thought that there was an answer to your business problems but couldn't put your finger on it, then think no longer, the answer to business success is not sweat and toil, it's IG = 3E (to the power of D)
or at least that's what the experts at Henley say it is.
The equation created by Henley Business Schoolresearch project and sponsored by Orange helps business owners like yourself to be able to score all those business ideas running around your head, so you know which ones to pursue, and which ones to avoid.
According to the Henley study, three quarters of small enterprises (75%) are generating more business ideas now, compared to five years ago but over half of these ideas (52%) aren't practical and can't be implemented. To help small businesses generate more useful ideas Professor Dominic Swords from Henley Business School has developed the world's first equation outlining how firms create consistently great business ideas.
The formula - the result of interviews with innovation leaders like 3M, Diageo and Bupa and an analysis of 2,000 British businesses - identifies experience, engagement, energy and diversity as the elements needed to generate useful ideas in a group environment (e.g. a brainstorm).
The ideas generation equation
IG = 3E (to the power of D)IG = rate of Ideas Generation
3E = Experience + Engagement + Energy
D = Diversity
To help small businesses implement the formula in their day-to-day operations, Professor Swords has turned it into a seven-step plan to run the optimal ideas generation session. This easy to follow plan gives techniques on picking the best participants, identifying the optimum ideas and then implementing them.
The plan also highlights innovation examples from world leading firms such as inviting external guests to give first-hand insights; asking participants to pretend to be the target audience when giving feedback; using separate rooms to test ideas; and eliminating negative comments by giving yellow cards to participants who say "no, but".
To download the free guide, please visit: www.orange.co.uk/innovation
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Review: Jabra Halo2
The Jabra Halo2 is a Bluetooth headset that enables you to make and receive phone calls, as well as listen to music, from your Bluetooth-enabled smartphone wirelessly.
The headset itself is pretty small, and attractively designed. The padding on the speakers for each ear is pretty thin, and while this helps keep the overall size of the headset down, it makes it a bit uncomfortable to wear, since you can feel the plastic edges of the headset pushing against your ears.
Pairing with a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone was very simple - just pressing the single round button on the headset enables the smartphone to find the headset, and after typing in the default passcode it was ready to go.
The sound quality was great, and although the microphone is discretely built into the headset - presumably to keep the aesthetics nice and simple - it picked up voices clearly. The design also enables you to fold the headset so that is it very easy to compact and carry with you. Volume can be controlled via the headset as well.
Verdict
While not the most comfortable headset in the world, the Jabra Halo2 is portable, looks good and sounds great.
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Gary Marshall: Why Apple's sometimes an incredible Hulk
If there was any doubts that Apple's genius is often in execution, not innovation, this year's WWDC 2012 keynote blew them away: while many of the things we saw were wonderful, many of them were awfully familiar too - especially when it came to software and services.
Take dictation, for example. Remember when built-in voice recognition was a selling point for Windows Vista and Windows 7? I can go back even further: I was trying and failing to get voice recognition to understand my accent back when by law, every mention of Apple had to be accompanied by the word "beleaguered".
Power Nap? Intel's Always On, Always Connected. iOS Maps? Google Maps, obviously. Safari's unified address/search bar and cloud-based tab syncing? Chrome, and Chrome Tab Sync. Offline Reading List? Instapaper. The iPhone's new do not disturb features? Android. At WWDC, Apple even copied Top Gear's The Stig.
Does it matter that Apple often perfects rather than invents?
Small talk
The answer depends on what Apple's implementing, I think, and why it's doing it. Some changes - such as unified browser address and search bars - are so obviously good ideas that not including them is just being arsey for the sake of it. Adding them to Safari just brings it up to date with desktop browsers.Apple's relationship with Google has long resembled a married couple heading for a bitter divorce, so replacing Google Maps has been on the cards for ages. Cloud-based syncing is something users have demanded, and so on.
Apple's desire to control everything is fair enough when it's a fight between equals, such as the battle between it and Google. However, it doesn't look so good when the idea Apple's implementing belongs to someone much smaller.
There's an example of that in iOS 6, I think, with Safari's Instapaper-esque offline reading: seeing Safari effectively cut Instapaper off from new customers made me sad, because it looks like the latest case of Apple squashing an independent developer by putting a me-too version of their idea into the operating system. At least when Steve Jobs dismissed Dropbox as a feature, not a product, he offered a nine-figure buyout first.
I'm sure Instapaper will survive - it's a superb app, and now it's available on Android it deserves a whole new audience - but it does feel like Apple's wounded it for no good reason.
I think that's particularly sad because, for me at least, Instapaper is one of the things that made me wax lyrical to others about my iOS devices, and it was one of the first apps I'd show iPhone unbelievers. It'd be a shame if, in its desire to crush its rivals, Apple crushed some of its best supporters too.
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In Depth: Zombie apocalypse: top 5 tech you'll need to survive
Many an article has been written, many a TV series has been produced, and many a video game has been developed, all in an attempt to give you the tools and strategies you'll need to survive a zombie apocalypse.
Don't laugh: Zombies are serious business and you do not want to find yourself underprepared when a herd (A gaggle? A troop?) of undead start moaning and slow-walking their way toward you, your loved ones, and your stuff.
Of course, you're still a geek at heart. We understand. There's no need to throw out your love of alternative mobile operating systems, Linux, gadgets, and ridiculous memes just because the end times are upon you and the undead roam the Earth.
Assuming that you have access to an internet connection (and power) the following list of gadgets represent some of the must-have items you'll want to acquire (or loot from the corpses of the fallen) come zombie-time.
No.1 Panasonic Toughbook
Drop your laptop in normal times? No worries. One quick trip to the genius bar and – presto! – your computer's magically fixed.
Unfortunately, tech support won't be of much help when their brains are being eaten.
That's why it's going to be worth your while to get your hands on a laptop that's more equipped for stability than speed.
The great thing about Panasonic's line of Toughbook laptops isn't just that they're sturdy and can take a bit of a licking. Depending on the model, you may even be able to swing them as a makeshift weapon. Eat some operating system, zombie hordes.
No.2 Solar-powered alarm
If you aren't packing four of these at all times, you're doing something wrong.Sure, you can try barricading yourself in your house – or a neighbor's house – when the zombie outbreak comes, but all the beeping security systems in the world aren't going to stop zombies from pouring through your windows or walls and devouring your loved ones.
To out-survive the zombies, you must out-run the zombies. And when you start living off the wild - or fleeing to non-infested cities - you're going to want to set up a great perimeter when it's time to get some shut-eye.
A solar-powered alarm, 120-decibel alarm with a big, annoying light should do just the trick.
No.3 Iridium Extreme
Assuming that zombies hate cell phone towers, nothing quite says "call for help" like a souped-up satellite phone.The Iridium Extreme is as its name implies: A killer device that's dust-proof and both shock- and water-resistant, as well as one that bundles GPS capabilities right into the handset itself.
Instead of telling your friends and loved ones that you're, "stranded by that tree in the woods," you can just send your (presumed) rescue party the coordinates and let them come directly to you.
Don't forget to bundle your purchase (or provisioning) of an Iridium Extreme with a solar-charging accessory.
Assuming you're running for your life over the span of multiple days, you're going to want to have clear, unfettered access to a working phone.
That'll be tough to do when you're trying to kick zombies away from your wall-socket-based phone charger.
No. 4 Wicked Lasers' S3 Spyder III Arctic
Assuming, of course, that the zombies in our apocalypse scenario need their decaying eyes to see you in order to chase you, what better way to stop stray attackers in their tracks – without having to deal with angry zombies in biting or hitting range – than by burning out their peepers?The 1,000-milliwatt S3 Spyder III Arctic laser will ruin somebody's day if you point it at their eyeballs, making it a perfect weapon to use against undead attackers and fellow, surviving humans trying to take your stuff.
Additionally, this is a great little tool to use as a signal if you're trying to track down, alert, or otherwise notify other members of the human race.
The beam blasts out 0.25 lux of light for roughly four miles – a clarion call of hope if you're trying to round up your surviving friends at night.
No. 5 Zombies, Run!
Alright. We'll admit it. The odds of you having to actually square off against legions of Zombies are a bit low.But just in case you want to practice your survival plan (and imaginary zombie-fighting skills) in person, the iPhone (and soon-to-be Android) app Zombies, Run! is a great way to combine a workout with your inner desire to be the next Bear Grylls.
Your mission, which you better choose to accept if you want to live, will have you navigating around your local environment to "pick up" various survival supplies.
It's one-half game, one-half workout, and all-parts important survival preparation. Not only will you be getting yourself used to the survival mindset, but you'll also get your body in nice shape for the eventual apocalypse – Zombies do prefer the taste of athletic humans, after all.
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Apple finally launches rear-protecting Smart Cover for iPad
It has taken a while, but Apple has finally launched a version of its Smart Cover that protects the rear of the iPad.
The new sheath, which will fit iPad 2 and 3, appreared on the Apple Store when it re-launched after WWDC and features a polyurethane back plate to prevent scratches and minor dings.
The case comes in six different shades (light and dark gray, blue, green, pink, and red) and, naturally, features the same folding methods that allow a number of viewing and typing-friendly positions.
If you want a little extra protection, as well as the magnetic sleep-and-awake mechanism, you'll need to fork out £39.99 ($49.99). However, it does come with free laser engraving. Whoop.
WWDC overflow
Unsurprisingly the Smart Cover reveal wasn't deemed important enough for a mention during a bumper, fast-paced, yet almost excruciatingly long keynote address at this year's WWDC.Apple fans were greeted with new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models and a brand new hyrid next generation MacBook Pro category, which also brings a Retina Display into the mix.
On the software side of things, we saw the full Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion software revealed, as well as the first look at iOS 6, complete with Facebook integration and a brand new homebrewed Maps app.
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Apple quietly launches new Mac Pro
The new Apple product announcements didn't end with the WWDC keynote. The company has also rolled out a new Mac Pro desktop computer.
And you can see why Apple chose note to dedicate precious minutes during the lengthy, which included new MacBook Air models, MacBook Pro models and a Retina Display next generation MacBook Pro.
The new desktop titans remain mightily impressive, but it's only a minor spec bump. The basic model now features a 3.2GHz quad-core Xoen processor, 6GB RAM and a 1TB hard-drive.
Further up the scale, the processor is upped to a pair of 2.4GHz six-core processors, which comes with a whopping 12GB RAM and the same 1TB hard-drive.
If you want to go for the Mac Pro Server edition, you'll get s 3.2GHz quad-core Xeon chip with 8GB RAM and two 1TB hard-drives.
Slight spec bump
So what we really have is a speed increase and very little else.The new Mac Pro family will set you back £2,049, £3,099 and £2,449 respectively and they're available to buy now.
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ComScore reports US tablet market reached 'critical mass'
Tablets appear to be reaching their saturation point, according to data from the latest ComScore report.
ComScore found that one out of every four smartphone owners is also a regular tablet user, enough for the report to claim tablets have "reached a critical mass in the U.S."
While "critical mass" is a bit hyperbolic, tablet usage has seen a 13.9 percent jump among smartphone users in the last year with 23.6 percent of all smartphone users embracing tablets.
That's compared to an 8.1 percent increase in tablet adoption among feature phone users, suggesting that smartphone and tablet ownership are strong bedfellows.
Video content is king for tablets
Why are the smarphone owning masses turning to tablets? According to ComScore, video playback is the biggest draw.About 53 percent of tablet users spent some time on their device watching or streaming video of some kind. Meanwhile, only 20 percent of smartphone users did the same.
And while the statistic for everyday video usage drops down to 9.5 percent of tablet users, smartphones see a more significant drop to 2.9 percent who watch videos daily on their devices.
It's hardly surprising that a tablet's larger screen is favored for video instead of smartphones, but it never hurts to have data to back up your assumptions.
The release of this data couldn't have come at a better time, as Asus aims to cover all smartphone and tablet bases with its bizarre phonenetlet, the PadFone.
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Lenovo offers contract-free mobile broadband for ThinkPad laptops
Chinese tech company Lenovo launched a plan to cut out the middle man and offer mobile internet access directly to owners of their ThinkPad line of laptops.
Select ThinkPad laptops equipped with 3G will now be able to access the internet through packages from Lenovo instead of through standard carriers.
The mobile packages will come in several flavors, including 30MB for more than 30 minutes ($1.95), 200MB over a single day ($8.95), and all the way up to 2GB and 6GB monthly packages, for which pricing will vary by country.
Lenovo will collaborate with cloud service provider Macheen to offer mobile access to ThinkPad customers.
Why buy internet from Lenovo?
Increased mobile connectivity will make Lenovo's ThinkPad laptops all the more attractive to anyone who doesn't want to be tied to Wi-Fi, tethering or standard, contract-based wireless carriers.And the ability to purchase as little as 30MB of data for a measly $1.95 will no doubt prove beneficial to anyone stuck on their daily commute who needs to do more than check their email.
The mobile access packages will be available to "select models" of ThinkPad Classic and ThinkPad Edge laptops, likely meaning any that are equipped with 3G.
The service will be offered in 10 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
Specific pricing and other details are expected to be announced soon.
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Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 with Verizon LTE lands at FCC
The Federal Communications Commission got its hands on a new model of Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 that will play nice with Verizon's networks.
The tablet comes equipped with a new bundle of wireless radios that are compatible with Verizon's LTE service, the FCC confirms.
Other than Verizon support, this 7-inch tablet is exactly the same hardware that recently hit store shelves.
More of the same
While Samsung's low-cost tablet has cut some design corners, it's still an impressive device on a budget.The 7-inch display packs a 1024x600 resolution coupled with a 1GHz dual-core processor and Android's Ice Cream Sandwich OS.
The quality media playback makes it a viable competitor to the Kindle Fire and Apple iPad for those who put size and price as their chief concerns.
There was no official launch date announced, but sources point to the tablet arriving on Verizon shelves soon.
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In Depth: iOS 6: everything you need to know
iOS 6: what you need to know
iOS 6, the latest generation of Apple's mobile software for iPod touch, iPhone and iPad, has finally been unveiled - and from what we've seen so far, it's going to delight an awful lot of iOS users.From badly-kept secrets to things that have been on wishlists for what seems like forever, here are the highlights.
The iOS 6 release date is Autumn
iOS 6 was released as a beta today, but the final version will ship "this Fall".
iOS 6 introduces Passbook
Passbook is Apple's new e-tickets app, enabling you to carry electronic tickets for anything from sports events to plane travel, or to have a digital loyalty card. The tickets update too, so for example your airline ticket would send you a notification once your departure gate was announced or changed. Hopefully enough firms will support this one to make it work for all our everyday bits and bobs.
iOS 6 has an improved phone app
The revised phone app offers smart reminders, so for example you can reject a call with a message saying you're busy, on your way, lost in a forest... You can also be reminded to call someone back when you leave your current location. The new Do Not Disturb mode is particularly nifty: when new messages arrive, they do so silently and without the screen lighting up. If you wish, you can also tell your iPhone not to silence calls from a list of favourite callers, or to automatically silent repeat calls from the same person.iOS 6 has Facetime over 3G
To tell the truth, we're amazed it took so long. If this takes off, the mobile operators will be very sad. Unless we use it abroad, in which case they'll be dancing on great big piles of our money.
iOS 6 has a brand new Safari app
There are lots of useful improvements here: Instapaper-style offline reading, iCloud tab syncing and photo sharing website integration to make uploading less hassle. Less wonderfully, Smart App Banners enable websites to tell you about their sodding iOS apps more easily, which is just brilliant. Who among us hasn't thought, "man! I wish more websites told me about their iOS app on each visit!"?iOS 6 Mail has VIPs and pull to refresh
Pull to refresh is here! Yay! You can also create a list of VIPs whose messages will appear on your device's lock screen and in a dedicated, separate mailbox. Sharing photos or videos from within Mail is finally here too, as are per-account signatures.iOS 6 photo sharing is more selective
Instead of sharing everything with everyone, you can choose which photos should be shared with which people. We're not sure why you'd use this rather than, say, put a friends-only album on Facebook or Flickr. Anyone?iOS 6 makes Siri more serious, and puts it in cars
Siri is able to understand a wider range of questions than before - the demo showed it understanding questions about sports scores, statistics and trivia, booking restaurants and finding out what's worth seeing at the cinema - but as yet it's unclear which, if any, of these features will make it to the UK. Local search is being rolled out worldwide, however, and there's support for more languages.Siri is also going mobile: the new Eyes Free feature will put a Siri button on the steering wheel of Jaguars, Land Robers, BMWs, Mercs, Toyotas, Chryslers, Hondas, Audis and GM cars. The manufacturers have promised to support the feature in the next 12 months.
iOS 6 brings Siri to the iPad
...but only the new iPad.
iOS 6 has Facebook integration
Apple promises "the best Facebook integration ever in a mobile device", and to our eyes it looks pretty much the same as iOS 5's Twitter integration: you can post photos, locations, URLs and so on to annoy your friends. The API is public, so non-Apple apps can share to Facebook too, and you'll be able to see your Facebook friends' App Store recommendations.
iOS 6 has guided access for children
The new Guided Access feature enables you to disable certain parts of the screen so that children can't accidentally hit the wrong buttons. We're going to use it on the in-app purchase icons in every kid-targeted iOS game. Hahah!iOS 6 has a new Maps app
New York, London, Paris, Munich, everybody's talking about - iOS 6 maps! Well, maybe not, but Apple's much-rumoured mapping system finally breaks cover. It's pretty, will have traffic information, doubles as a sat-nav system with turn-by-turn navigation, can be controlled via Siri and will probably be rubbish outside major metropolitan areas in the UK. Still, the new Flyover 3D views of major cities are lovely.
iOS 6 should be adopted very quickly
Unlike other mobile operating systems, iOS isn't dependent on mobile operators approving updates: as a result 80% of Apple's 365 million iOS customers are using the latest iOS, compared to 7% of Android users. Once iOS ships, expect a similarly speedy take-up.iOS 6 doesn't work on everything
iOS 6 supports iPhones from the 3GS onwards, the fourth generation iPod touch and the second and third generation iPad. Check our story for more on iOS 6 compatibility.Previous iOS 6 rumours
Here are the rumours we reported on before the WWDC 2012 announcement.What hasn't been certain is what will be involved in the new platform – but we've sifted through the upcoming releases to see what's likely to appear, whether you'll be getting it and more importantly: the iOS 6 release date.
iOS 6 launch
If Apple doesn't release the new iOS 6 platform for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch this evening (spotted by T3), we'll be gobsmacked - and it will have wasted loads of money on all these signs.
So, we can probably expect to see the 'world's most advanced mobile operating system' unveiled at WWDC...
iOS 6 maps
If you were a gambling type of person and had a very tech-savvy bookie, we'd recommend you pop a few dollar on this: Apple bringing out its own mapping application.Not only has Apple acquired C3 3D mapping firm last year, but it also snapped up the likes of Placebase and Poly9, both companies involved in the same space – and moving into the mapping space would give Apple a fantastic leg up in the location-based services that are getting more and more popular every year.
The fact Google is launching its own 'next dimension' of Google Maps imminently is unlikely to be a coincidence, further backing up the rumour that Apple and Google are set to dissolve their partnership on the mobile side of things.
Facebook integration
There are strong, strong rumblings that Facebook is going to do what Twitter did with iOS 5 – namely, become more of an integral part of the iOS 6 experience.TechCrunch is stating that integration with Zuckerberg's creation is a 'go' for the new release, but details of how far that integration will permeate through the iExperience are still vague.
What's most likely is being able to quickly share photos to Facebook from the Photo app in the same way as Twitter – whether Apple takes the next step and allows features like autosharing, contact integration or offline access to Facebook albums remains to be seen.
Either way, it's a massive coup for Facebook as it looks to get more involved in the mobile space – perhaps this can stop the pesky rumours of a forthcoming Facebook phone.
Siri coming to the iPad
We were verging on the gobsmacked when the new iPad 3 didn't launch with Siri – instead we got the less-exciting Voice Dictation instead.
However, according to 9to5Mac the experience will be massively improved by adding in all the functionality of Siri on the iPhone 4S (minus the phone business), allowing instant search, music control and more by a simple long-press of the home button.
But how will it look? According to the same sources, the app won't run in full screen, instead popping up from the bottom of the display to show you the information you requested.
Which, let's face it, will quickly be setting alarms and timers and the odd voice search when you've heard certain questions evoke comedic responses from Siri.
Enhanced email and Do Not Disturb
OS X Mountain Lion seems to be something of an inspiration for the forthcoming release of iOS 6, with a couple of sensible features likely to be added, so says a 9to5Mac source.The first is VIP Mail, which allows you to tag the key people you talk to most (or your boss) and make sure their mail is front and centre when you pop open the Mail app.
This is the same system we've seen within HTC Sense and work very nicely, especially as you're able to group your contacts accordingly.
It's also an automatic feature in Google Mail these days, and as such we'd now expect it from Apple too.
The other is Do Not Disturb: allowing you to turn off notifications when you're looking to do things like run full screen apps or just not bother with getting bugged on the way home.
Whether it will be offered to become part of apps' design remains to be seen – or if users will have to toggle it manually.
iCloud Tabs
In the same way that Android has live synchronisation to the Chrome Browser, Apple apparently wants to repeat the trick with iOS 6 and Mountain Lion, which will be a simple synchronised list of opened tabs between the devices.The button will be kept in the Bookmarks toolbar to give access to the relevant tabs – but whether the feature will be available for users of Safari on other non-Apple devices is still uncertain.
Live icons?
This is a biggie, and would be the equivalent of the notifications bar coming to iOS 5 – basically bringing one of the best bits of Android to the Apple mobile OS.So it makes sense that Apple could look to Windows Phone's Live Tiles and think: 'we'll have a bit of that'.
We've spoken to a number of UI designers from the Android and Windows Phone camps who have criticised the way Apple's icons are pictures of information waiting to be opened, rather than the picture itself.
Of course, Apple has always been about simplicity, and app icons that change too frequently might confuse some users, but the option to make some apps more widget-like would appease the legions of iFans that have looked on with quiet envy at their friends' Android devices.
iOS 6 release date
The iOS 6 release date is still very much up in the air – but some sites are claiming it will be as late as autumn, which plays very much into a mooted iPhone 5 release date of October.However, it's unlikely Apple will wait that long to launch something it announces in June (especially when iPad and iPhone users will have ready-to-use devices), so expect the iOS 6 release date to be somewhere in July or August… and the chances of seeing an iPhone 5 then don't look too outlandish either.
Of course, if you're running the older Apple hardware (and by that we mean iPhone 3GS and older, plus probably the first iPad) you won't get access to the new iOS 6 if previous form is anything to go by.
Update: it seems you lucky 3GS owners are getting a reprieve - here's hoping Apple has at least optimised the new platform so you're not subject to terrible slowdown.
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iOS 6 turns back on original iPad, but lives on in iPhone 3GS
Apple is to offer its all new features from iOS 6, including a massive maps application, onto a load of existing devices.
The new iOS platform is fairly wide-ranging in its compatibility, as it only eschews the original iPad and surprisingly keeps going with the iPhone 3GS.
The full range of supported devices are: iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad 2, new iPad 3 and all iPod touch devices from the fourth generation onwards.
What do you get?
The new update is pretty wide-ranging, bringing a wealth of new features to encourage users to update to the next-gen platform.iOS 6 Maps is the big new release, which Apple has created from the ground up - bringing 3D modelling that apes Google Earth, and like Google's Maps app offers turn-by-turn navigation with Siri integration.
You're also getting an all-new mailbox set up, Facebook integration, more power to Siri (if you're on the new iPad 3 or the iPhone 4S) and the ability to share Photostreams.
The iOS 6 release date has been set for autumn, which we're expecting will be around September - can you say iPhone 5 launch, anyone?
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OS X Mountain Lion release date, price plus new features
Apple demonstrated a bunch of "new" features in OS X Mountain Lion today at WWDC 2012, but many weren't that much of a surprise given what Apple has previously shown of OS X 10.8.
We have learnt the OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion release date is July. It'll be available via the Mac App Store for $20.
The company's head of software engineering Craig Federighi was keen to point out that the new OS would have 200 new features but talked about several key ones we already knew about; this wasn't that big a reveal for the new version of OS X and so, from a Mac perspective, the OS was overshadowed by the new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.
There will be system-wide sharing to various services including Flickr and Vimeo, Facebook integration and Dictation plus Power Nap and Game Center.
Dictation enables you to dictate text anywhere you can type, while Power Nap, keeps the new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air (second and third generation) up-to-date while it sleeps. Power Nap automatically refreshes Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Reminders, Notes, Photo Stream, Find My Mac and Documents in the Cloud, and when plugged in, downloads software updates and backs up your Mac using Time Machine.
In essence, the new Mac OS focuses more on iOS-style design as we saw back in February. We know there will be the ability to mirror your Mac's screen via an Apple TV device - naturally this leads us to believe the Apple iTV isn't far around the corner.
Many aspects are clearly inspired by Apple's mobile OS and, as we knew before, the Mac now gets iOS-style extras such as Notes and Reminders. iChat will also be replaced - OS X will get the Messages app so you can send text messages to other iDevices. There will also be a Notification Center - you can, however, choose to temporarily suspend all notifications when you want to work or watch a movie. Facebook and Twitter are integrated with Notification Center.
You can include attachments, photos and HD video, and iMessages appear on all devices. iMessage also includes group messaging, delivery and read receipts, typing indicators and secure end-to-end encryption. There's also support for AIM, Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk and Jabber.
Now that iCloud has reached a certain level of maturity, developers will be able to include iCloud capabilities within their Mac App Store app. We were shown how you'll be able to browse through documents on iCloud and naturally new documents will appear on all your Apple devices. iWork on OS X will also work totally with iCloud.
Safari is also getting an overhaul - tab syncing between your devices via iCloud devices is finally with us, while there are also more multitouch gestures.
OS X Mountain Lion will also include Gatekeeper - this means you can choose to only install apps that have been approved by Apple (via a developer approval programme) or you can only install apps from the App Store. While this will undoubtedly cut down on security threats, it also narrows the availability of software outside the Mac App Store.
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iOS 6 Maps announced - shuns Google for its own creation
Apple has decided enough is enough when it comes to mobile maps and has announced its own map service for iOS 6.
With its own maps, Apple is taking Google head on and from the looks of the features it is trying to match the search giant with every map feature.
For a start, the maps has built its mapping system from the ground up, and it has revealed it is a worldwide effort so no country should be unmapped.
Google has announced that there's more than 100 million business listings for its apps, there's Yelp integration and there is also a traffic service built into the application.
Turn by turn navigation
Traffic data is said to come from anonymous real-time users of the maps service and red bars will show when traffic slows down on the route you are taking.Oh, and it also has turn by turn navigation built into the app so your sat nav may well begin to gather dust.
As it has done with the new iPad, Apple has added Siri into the Apple mix – with the AI voice telling your kids to calm down when they shout "are we nearly there yet".
There's also a 3D flyover feature, quick rotating and zooming, and a satellite view.
There's nothing here that's different to Google Maps, but Google is set to lose a massive chunk of its Maps users with the upgrade to iOS 6, and the loss of Google as the primary map system, and that's something that the search giant won't be happy about.
But, you could always download the Google Maps app if you want to keep supporting them.
iOS 6 is set to come to the iPad 2 and new iPad, iPhone 3GS and above and the iPod touch fourth gen.
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Siri arrives on new iPad via iOS 6
Apple's friendly assistant is now making the leap onto the big screen, as it's revealed that Siri will grace the new iPad.
A feature on the iPhone 4S, Siri has become a popular tool for many iPhone users, as well as a point of ridicule for those using other platforms.
Apple announced a host of new features for the assistant at WWDC, including sports, dining and app launching abilities, plus the bigger news of local search being available worldwide.
Hitting the big time
Owners of the new iPad 3 will be glad to hear that the assistant will now be available on their tablet, thanks to the upcoming iOS 6 update, which itself brings a even more new features.There's currently no word on whether Siri will make it to the iPad 2, which Apple has confirmed will also receive the iOS 6 update, but we'll update this article when we know for sure.
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E3 2012: Power A's Moga system turns your Android phone into a gaming handheld device
Gaming peripheral company Power A, announced the Moga System for Android devices at E3 2012.
The Moga System gaming accessory turns your Android smartphone into a mobile gaming device, with D-pad and buttons for a familiar handheld gaming experience.
The Moga System comes in two forms:
- The standard Moga System, which can house any Android smartphone, even the Samsung Galaxy Note.
- The Moga System Pro, which is shaped like a typical Xbox 360 controller and can be used to house tablets.
Just like a gaming handheld
The free Moga System app comes free when consumers get the controller.Your Android Device pairs with the controller via Bluetooth and it uses two AAA sized batteries, located on the under side of both handgrips.
In order to use the Controller however, your games must be Moga compatible.
"We want to bring console quality experience on a mobile device," says John Moore, DVP, Product Development/Marketing.
Current Moga compatible games that were announce are:- Atari's Greatest Hits
- Duke Nukem 3D
- Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation
- Pac-Man by Namco
- Painkiller: Purgatory HD
- Six Guns
- Virtua Tennis Challenge
- Sky Gamblers: Rise of Glory
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Asus PadFone and tablet bundle available in US for $859.50
The Asus PadFone is a bit of an odd duck, so it's no surprise it's taken this long for it to reach U.S. shores, even without being picked up by a carrier.
But reach them it has, and the unlocked Asus PadFone is being sold by "grey market" retailers in tandem with its tablet docking station at $859.50 for the 16GB model, $959.50 for 32GB, and $1,059.50 for 64GB.
Currently the only retailer selling the phone is Negri Electronics, "your trusted source for high end unlocked wireless," though the larger two options are only available for pre-order, and the 16GB model is on backorder as of this afternoon.
The PadFone is what TechRadar likes to affectionately refer to as a phonenetlet - that is, a phone, a netbook, and a tablet all in one.
But the version available in the U.S. only comes with the tablet station, and not the netbook-like keyboard dock or other accessories like the nifty Bluetooth stylus/handset or the desktop monitor docking station.
The PadFone stands out
The Asus PadFone is a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED smartphone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core 1.5GHz processor and an 8MP camera on the back.Those specs aren't bad, but where the phone really stands out is in its ability to transform instantly into a 10.1-inch Android tablet.
The tablet performed well in TechRadar's tests, but if that's not your thing, then you can always just plug that into the device's keyboard docking station, turning the entire thing into an Android-powered netbook.
The mentioned Bluetooth stylus/handset pulls double duty as an input device for the PadFone's tablet form and a way to answer calls without holding the 10.1-inch form up to your face.
Is there an official release in store?
Anyone picking up the Asus PadFone at this price will likely want the whole shebang, with all the accessories, but it appears that wait isn't yet over.An Asus representative confirmed to TechRadar via email that the company has not yet announced any specifics regarding the phonenetlet's official U.S. release.
In the meantime, you'll just have to hold that tablet up like a phone and hope that nothing important's going on in your peripheral vision.
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Asus PadFone and tablet hybrid bundle hitting US retailers for $859.50
The Asus PadFone is a bit of an odd duck, so it's no surprise it's taken this long for it to reach US shores, even without being picked up by a carrier.
But reach them it has, and the unlocked Asus PadFone is being sold by "grey market" retailers in tandem with its tablet docking station at $859.50 for the 16GB model, $959.50 for 32GB, and $1,059.50 for 64GB.
Currently the only retailer selling the phone is Negri Electronics, "your trusted source for high end unlocked wireless," though the larger two options are only available for pre-order, and the 16GB model is on backorder as of this afternoon.
The PadFone is what TechRadar likes to affectionately refer to as a phonenetlet - that is, a phone, a netbook, and a tablet all in one.
But the version currently available in the US only comes with the tablet station, and not the netbook-like keyboard dock or other accessories like the nifty Bluetooth stylus/handset or the desktop monitor docking station.
The PadFone stands out
The Asus PadFone is a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED smartphone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core 1.5GHz processor and an 8MP camera on the back.Those specs aren't bad, but where the phone really stands out is in its ability to transform instantly into a 10.1-inch Android tablet.
The tablet performed well in TechRadar's tests, but if that's not your thing, then you can always just plug that into the device's keyboard docking station, turning the entire thing into an Android-powered netbook.
The mentioned Bluetooth stylus/handset pulls double duty as an input device for the PadFone's tablet form and a way to answer calls without holding the 10.1-inch form up to your face.
Is there an official release in store?
Anyone picking up the Asus PadFone at this price will likely want the whole shebang, with all the accessories, but it appears that wait isn't yet over.An Asus representative has confirmed to TechRadar via email that the company has not yet announced any specifics regarding the phonenetlet's official US release.
In the meantime, you'll just have to hold that tablet up like a phone and hope that nothing important's going on in your peripheral vision.
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OS X Mountain Lion: Apple reveals more details
Apple demonstrated a bunch of "new" features in OS X Mountain Lion today at WWDC 2012, but many weren't that much of a surprise given what Apple has previously shown of OS X 10.8.
The company's head of software engineering Craig Federighi was keen to point out that the new OS would have 200 new features but talked about several key ones we already knew about; this wasn't that big a reveal for the new version of OS X.
We'd seen much of what was talked about before and so, from a Mac perspective, the OS was overshadowed by the new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.
In essence, the new Mac OS focuses more on iOS-style design as we saw back in February. We know there will be the ability to share your Mac's screen via an Apple TV device - naturally this leads us to believe the Apple iTV isn't far around the corner.
Many aspects are clearly inspired by Apple's mobile OS and, as we knew before, the Mac now gets iOS-style extras such as Notes and Reminders. iChat will also be replaced - OS X will get the Messages app so you can send text messages to other iDevices.
Now that iCloud has reached a certain level of maturity, developers will be able to include iCloud capabilities within their Mac App Store app. We were shown how you'll be able to browse through documents on iCloud and naturally new documents will appear on all your Apple devices.
Safari is also getting an overhaul - tab syncing between your devices via iCloud devices is finally with us, while there are also more multitouch gestures.
More to follow.
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iOS 6: Apple unveils 'World's most advanced mobile operating system'
Apple has taken the wraps off iOS 6 and offers some big updates that iFans the world over will lap up.
First up is improved Siri integration - you can now launch apps right from the voice recognition software, as well as get a wealth of information.
You can open games (which seemed to get a huge reception from the audience for a simple and slightly pointless function) as well as get sports scores (including the English Premier League) and resturant reservations.
Siri is also integrated into the car experience - Apple is working with a number of car manufacturers to have a voice-activated button on the steering wheel, known as Eyes Free.
Local search is also being extended around the world - so information on businesses around UK-dwellers should finally be available too.
New maps
For this app, Apple has built a new app from the ground up, and it 'looks beautiful' according to the Cupertino brand.The big new feature is turn by turn navigation, which is of course integrated into Siri to let you ask questions on the way - such as where to get petrol - as well as letting you navigate by voice.
Fly Over is another new feature, and Apple has been building a 3D photographic model of cities - 'gorgeous', says the iBrand - it's the equivalent of Google Earth in Apple's new maps app (in fact, a lot of the new features look very similar to Google's offering).
Apple's Maps app is all vector-based too so it's easy to zoom in and out, and if you get close enough in you'll see buildings start to appear in 3D, allowing you to get reviews, ratings and the 3D mode to see what things looks like in real time.
Apple has ingested already over 100 million businesses and integrated with Yelp to get information down to you - and like Google Maps, traffic information is placed on top to let you know what's going on.
In a move ahead though Apple is using anonymised crowd-sourced data to help you understand what's going on exactly with the standstill carpark you find yourself in on the motorway - which will be a godsend to those confused.
Facebook integration
You can now get access to Facebook from within the iOS 6 platform, in the same way as is possible with Twitter.The functionality is integrated within the Notifications Center, which allows you to post your Facebook updates from a single swipe (with Twitter again getting in on the act).
The functionality will be built into Siri, allowing you to post statuses with your voice - and Facebook will be integrated within the App Store so you can share the apps you're into.
Facebook Events are embedded into the calendar, as well as contact integration to present email addresses and phone numbers into the phone app.
Phoning up
In iOS 6 new controls from an incoming call will allow you to set a reminder to call a person back or reply with a message.If you choose to set a reminder, you can use the likes of geo-fencing to allow you to set a location to call a person - such as when you leave a meeting or head to your Mum's house.
Another new feature is Do Not Disturb, which allows you to stop your phone alerting you when you get notifications - so no sounds or screen lighting up to wake you up or irritate at key moments.
More importantly, you can create groups in your contact list to stop the people you don't want calling getting through. However, if they're persistent and call within three minutes again, the call will crack through DND - Apple says this is for emergencies but seems like more of a challenge to us.
FaceTime evolution
Finally for all of those people hamstrung by FaceTime and no Wi-Fi, the world is now a brighter place, as you can now access the service over 3G.Moreover, Apple has integrated it with your Apple ID, so you can choose to accept the call (or iMessage) on another device, such as the iPad if you want the big-screen experience.
Device syncing is included as well - meaning you can save pages to read later and see them cached on your devices for offline reading. Plus you can now upload photos directly from Safari... we're truly living in the future here, right?
Don't cross the Photostreams
Apple has announced shared Photostreams to get you chucking pics across to your buddies. This means a simple selection of the friends you care about to see your snaps, and then sends a push notification to them.The photos go across a web browser, on an Apple TV, Mac or other iDevice - and you can even comment on them too.
VIP Mail is also included, as we expected. This bumps your favourite people up to the status of messages, so you can see them on the lockscreen.
It's now much easier to insert photo and video and you've got a flagged inbox option if you're so inclined - and Apple has made a 'fun new animation' to let you get to new messages.
Passbook your life
Another new feature for iOS 6 is an all new app that lets you combine all your passes into one place, allowing you to keep movie tickets, airline boarding passes and store cards in one place.Even more impressively, the movie ticket will pop up when you enter the theatre. Store cards are also automatically updated with balances as well, and coupons and the like are also included, as well as cards for hotels to help you keep all of your life in your iPhone. Scary thought.
Push notifications are also supported - get a delay on your plane, see it on the lock screen and you're taken straight to the pass to check it.
Big changes?
Guided Access is also a new feature allowing teachers and parents to lock the level of use on an iDevice, allowing children to be kept on a single app or certain features to be disabled.New privacy controls are included as well, plus separate signatures for personal and work emails. If you lose the iOS device, a message can be sent to the phone and the number on screen will be dialled automatically when tapped.
The new iteration will come to: the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad 2, new iPad 3 and the iPod touch fourth gen devices.
The iOS 6 release date has been set for this autumn, which means the mooted launch for September seems well on track too.
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