Did Apple steal the iPhone design from Samsung?

Thursday, 21 April 2011. Posted in News, iPhone, Consumer Electronics, Smartphones, Business, Apple

Ive: Mwahaha! Check out this gadgey swag!

Apple have for a long time now been boasted as the pioneers of the superphone. Since 2007 we've watched as company after company have tried to recreate the big A's success with ever-so-slightly different variants of what's essentially just an iPhone. Along the way, Apple have taken various legal shots at the intellectual freeloaders, the most recent of which being Samsung for their "infringing [Galaxy] product line".

Well in an unexpected and quite frankly hilarious twist of events, it appears the two companies may have more plagiaristic history between them than we first expected. And no, Apple aren't going after Samsung's Series 9 for taking on the MacBook air, rather the following image surfaces online of a handset Samsung produced back in 2006 which challenges the iPhone's own originality all together.

Un-Cripple Apple's AirPrint with Printopia for Mac

Thursday, 25 November 2010. Posted in Features

Printopia

On Monday, Apple rolled out their latest software update for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. iOS 4.2 brings a handful of new and useful features to the big A's mobile line-up, including over-the-air printing. AirPrint makes it easy to print e-mails, photos, web pages and documents straight from iOS to your WiFi-enabled printer. Although the functionality has been a long time coming, many feel the final software is crippled by it's limited compatibility with existing wireless printers. In fact, to date there are only 11 products on the market which work with AirPrint, all of which are from HP

So if you, like us, are perfectly happy with your current print-out setup, you might want to check out Printopia for the Mac, a superbly simple $10 application that restores some function to Apple's crippled AirPrint update. Read on for our video demo, verdict and download links...

Two More Reasons to Jailbreak Your Apple TV

Thursday, 18 November 2010. Posted in News, Consumer Electronics, Video & Audio, Apple

Web browsing on the Apple TV

To us, the Apple TV has always come across a crippled product. Whether this is due the lack of content, features or in it's latest rendition, storage, Steveo's self-confessed hobby project has never really captured much attention as 'just another set-top box'. However, another iOS device means another iOS Jailbreak, and this time round Fire Core are bringing web surfing and Last.fm to the big A's second generation little black box.

Judging by their video demos, these big-screen mods look pretty slick, and we'd hope so too as this ain't free software folks! $49 is the asking price for first-gen aTVs, with second generation prices yet to be announced. Read on for the all important show-off vids.

Apple 'Back to the Mac' Event Coverage

Tuesday, 19 October 2010. Posted in News, Apple

Tomorrow, Apple are holding their 'Back to the Mac' event, turning the spotlight away from iOS and on to OS X.

With all the recent iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch hype, we can't wait to see what Apple has in store for their notebook and desktop lines. As the promo suggests, we can expect to get a glimpse at OS 10.7 (Lion?), a release which after Snow Leopard promises to pack a powerful punch. Also, updated hardware across the MacBook board is pretty much imminent, with the MacBook Air well overdue a revamp.

If your as curious as us, you'll join us back here tomorrow evening for our live commentary and round-ups, on our Twitter page and right here at Gigabyt3.com/Blog, at the following times:

06:00PM - London
01:00PM - Eastern
12:00PM - Central
10:00AM - Pacific
EDIT: As we expected Apple will be live streaming the event via a video feed on Apple.com

Google Goggles Bring Visual Search to the iPhone

Tuesday, 05 October 2010. Posted in News, iPhone, Consumer Electronics, Upcoming Technologies, Smartphones, Google, Apple

Google Goggles for the iPhone

In December, Google introduced Goggles on the Android, allowing users to search the web using the phone's built-in camera. Well today the big G rolled out the same functionality for their Google Mobile iPhone app. To search with Goggles, simply tap the camera icon and take a picture of the item you wish to look up. The app will then scan the photo using it's image recogniton software and return what it thinks are the most accurate results.

Google has rather modestly stated that since this technology is still in it's infancy, the service works best at recognizing books, DVDs, landmarks, artwork and wine only. Having put this to the test, we've managed to successfully return the latter, alongside everything from obscure musical equipment to Spongebob Squarepants! Read on for some in-app snapshots and the G-unit's promo vid.

Colorware Introduce Their $300 iPad Grip

Monday, 04 October 2010. Posted in News, iPad, Consumer Electronics, Apple

Colorware unveil their $300 iPad grip

When it comes to the iPad's deciding features, nothing is perhaps more frequently overlooked than grip. Sure, the tablet's gorgeous glass and aluminium design gives it the drool-factor, but running the risk of shattering the 9.7-inch wonder-slate is enough to keep most cautious owners constantly on their toes.

Well now, a rather unlikely bunch have risen to the challenge keeping of the Apple of your i safe. Introducing Colorware's Grip for iPad. The U.S. made accessory is constructed out of aircraft grade aluminium to provide maximum security and protection, it is of course fully customizable as far as colour goes. The moulded metal handle does come across a bit unsightly from some angles, but the practicality of having such a good grip on the device more than makes up for any aesthetic discrepancies.

Turning a very blind eye to the price, you've got to be impressed by Colorware's first real hardware efforts. We can imagine seeing this take off hugely in the service sector, where many businesses have already realised the iPad's potential in the workplace. No more precariously balancing a £429 peice of glass to take orders, bill customers or give lectures.

Today in Apple Hax: Apple TV on the iPod Touch and Chromium OS on the iPad

Wednesday, 29 September 2010. Posted in News, iPad, Consumer Electronics, Google, Apple

iOS Small Talk

Heads up iOS fans, there's a hot new UI in the house! Infact theres two, neither of which incidentally are likely to come our way anytime soon but hey, it's fun to gawk.

The crime in question: Blowing apart Apple's mobile software and installing another juicy interface.
The accused: One @DHowett and one @Hexxeh
The verdict: Guilty. Oh yes...

Nuu Mini Key Keyboard For The iPhone 4 Pops Up At IFA

Monday, 06 September 2010. Posted in News, iPhone, Smartphones, Apple

Mobile key for iPhone 4

I think most people are over the fact that the iPhone is never going to have a hardware keyboard. Although most users are more than happy with Apple's softkeys, there's always going to be those far-and-few crazycats who just can't get over tactile buttons! Well here's a solution courtesy of Nuu. Mini Key is an iPhone 4 case with a built-in slide-out pysical keyboard.

The Android-esque solution does add a mighty load of bulk, but let's face it, if you really want to fashion your brushed-metal and glossy-glassed iPhone in a plastic keyboard, your probably a bigger fan of function than form.

The Mini Key is expected to go on sale before the end of the year for around €60 / $60Read on for more pics...

Apple's Photoshop Bloopers

Monday, 06 September 2010. Posted in News, Apple

Apple iPhone Touch photoshop blooper

Apple really doesn't like using Adobe products. Something that has become very apparent over the last few months. Today Jobs released an open letter to the company detailing that "Photoshop is the number 2 reason why Macs crash" and that Apple would prefer to use Microsoft Paint to cut their promo images together, instead of risking it with Adobe's world renowned, premier and all around excellent editor. 

Not really, but come on, look at these sloppy Photoshop skills of the new iPod Touch? That's IPOD. Or more the thought that has gone behind them. Read on for more...

The first iPhone social network returns, iRovr for iOS

Written by Matt Fryy on Saturday, 04 September 2010. Posted in Mobile Apps, Reviews

Cast your mind back to 2007. Steve Jobs famously announces the iPhone, loaded with a full HTML web browser and Wifi connectivity. Well the interest in the platform quickly sparked a slew of browser-based utilities and with the addition of the 'web apps' section to Apple.com, the iPhone was firmly seeded as one of the hottest development platforms around.

Well one particular web application opened up the device to a new whole world of possibilities. iRovr launched as an iPhone-only social network, allowing users to create and browse profiles, write blog entries and the usual social shenanigans. We can only but assume that it was phased out as other web apps were, with the introduction of Apple's App Store.
 
But now, with a sense of nostalgia, we're pleased to announce the first iPhone exclusive social network is coming back, and this time you don't need to launch Safari to use it! Let's take a sneaky pre-release peak at iRovr for iOS...
 

New Apple TV Is Announced, Rental-Only HD Content Streamed From The Cloud

Wednesday, 01 September 2010. Posted in News, Apple

Steve Jobs has debuted the new cloud based Apple TV live on-stage at Apple's september music event. The terrifically tiny new design houses an A4 chip... and little else!

The service offers commercial-free HD movie and TV show (shows currently U.S only) rentals from just 99¢ an episode and $3.99 a flick. Also included is Netflix's app, which gives users access to even more titles, and a more flexible method of paying for content.

This, alongside a whole new UI and Apple's iOS screen-sharing software 'AirPlay' for just $99/£99

iTunes 10 Launches, Apple Suprises With Ping Social Network

Wednesday, 01 September 2010. Posted in News, Apple

Apple have launched announced launched the next major update of their iTunes software: iTunes 10.
Alongside some minor streamlining and UI tweaks, Apple have developed their own built-in social network called Ping.

Ping is 'a social network for music', a place where artists, listeners and friends come together to share their musical interests and tastes. The network resides within the iTunes store on your iPhone, iPod Touch or computer, and allows you to post statuses and other media to your feed, whilst 'following' your friends and favorite artistseses updates.

At a glance, the whole concept sounds completely un-original. Steve said himself "it's sorta like Facebook and Twitter meet iTunes" but the more you think about it, and the sheer number of people who download and rate music on iTunes every day, it's even more surprising that they haven't tried something like this before.

New iPod Touch Gets Retina Display, HD Video and Facetime Calling

Wednesday, 01 September 2010. Posted in News, Apple

Apple have just announced their next generation iPod touch. As predicted it's playing catch-up to the latest iPhone. The addition of the coveted 'Retina' display, blazing fast 1GHZ A4 processor, HD video recording and a front-facing camera for FaceTime video chat makes this one killer device. Notably, the Touch uses Apple ID to connect with other devices for FaceTime. This means that not only can it call other iPods, but also the iPhone 4.

Oh, and did I forget to mention it's thin? The iTouch (as it hates being called, has always made the iPhone look like a bit of a porker, and this one, surprisingly, is no exception!

Prices starts from £189/$229 depending on which side of the pond your on and shipping is about a week either way.

Apple special event coverage

Tuesday, 31 August 2010. Posted in News, Apple

It's September, Apple are out to play and their wielding a rather fruity looking guitar. That's right, it's music time!

As per usual the tech world is a-buzz with a smorgasbord of 'leaks', rumours, wish-lists and predictions. One thing not so usual is Apple's decision to live video stream the entire event, so catch yourself up on the latest and join us back here for our live Twitter commentary of the september music special, or head over to @Gigabyt3 for more of the same, starting:

06:00PM - London
01:00PM - Eastern
12:00PM - Central
10:00AM - Pacific

Three iOS 4 Tips Worth Sharing

Monday, 30 August 2010. Posted in Features, Consumer Electronics

Back before the launch of iPhone 4, Apple released it's accompanying software update 'iOS 4' as a free download for second and third generation iPhone and iPod Touch users. With it, a slurry of a new features were made available such as iBooks, folders and multi-tasking. But that's not all.

The new software brought with it over 100 new features, some of which (being disabled by default) you'd never even know were there unless you stumbled across them by accident.
Well we've been rummaging through the update since day one and have found three little gems we reckon are cool enough to share.