Apple files patent for iPod background display
Apple has developed a technology that would let iPhones and iPods display basic warnings to users without invoking the full screen, a new US patent filing shows. The system would use a second, always-on but power-efficient backlight to illuminate a custom-shaped notification when the main backlight isn't switched on, such as an indication that an iPod is stopped or an SMS text message has reached...
published on Thursday, the 20. November 2008, macintosh-news-network
LG Incite touch smartphone hits AT&T
AT&T today added a second full touchscreen phone in as many weeks through the LG Incite. Unlike the earlier Samsung Eternity, the Incite is a full Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone and comes with an LG-customized front end that both encourages more use of finger input over a stylus and takes advantage of an accelerometer to provide a landscape keyboard when tilting the phone on its side....
published on Tuesday, the 18. November 2008, macintosh-news-network
How to possibly fix an 'ALLOC-MEM too big!' error
Over the weekend, my 12" PowerBook G4 was involved in an incident that, I thought, spelled certain doom for my all-time-favorite Apple laptop. I was using the machine with it perched on my knees, and happened to be applying the Safari software update when disaster struck. The update was at that point where the OS has shut down and the progress bar is marching across the screen. Just then, our youngest child came sneaking up on me and applied a running hug-tackle (I was on the sofa at the time, but hug-tackles can happen anywhere). At impact, the PowerBook flew off my knee and landed on the back right corner on the (thankfully) carpeted floor. When the machine hit the floor, it instantly kernel panicked, and I thought "well, that couldn't have happened at a worse time."When I tried to boot it, I got a chime, but nothing else. Every trick I tried, including booting from a CD and setting it up in FireWire target disk mode, failed. Then I tried resetting PRAM, which also didn't ...
published on Monday, the 17. November 2008, macosxhints
Samsung Eternity full-touch phone hits AT&T
AT&T today grew both its full-touchscreen phone lineup and its small roster of mobile TV phones by adding the Samsung Eternity. A close cousin of the Instinct, the phone carries a 3.2-inch touchscreen with haptic (vibration) feedback and an accelerometer that both auto-rotates the display and lets it play iPhone-like motion-sensitive games. A MediaFLO tuner is built-in to play live digital TV th...
published on Friday, the 14. November 2008, macintosh-news-network
Samsung readies five 16:9 computer LCDs
In an uncharacteristic move, Samsung today used Japan as the venue for five new desktop LCDs with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The 21.5-inch 2233SW and 23-inch 2333SW both output full, 1920x1080 HD despite their relatively small sizes and are braced by the 20-inch 2033SW's 1600x900 to play 720p or sharper movies as well as provide more screen space. The panels are also brighter than some rivals with a d...
published on Thursday, the 13. November 2008, macintosh-news-network
iZATT releases Bumps Braille app for iPhone, Touch
iZATT has released the latest addition to its Signal Series of apps for the iPhone and iPod touch, Bumps. The program works as a teaching aide for learning the Braille system. Users can view all 26 dot patterns on the screen, with or without the corresponding English letters displayed. All of the patterns can be viewed on one screen, or each can be presented full-screen. Users can also enter words...
published on Wednesday, the 12. November 2008, macintosh-news-network
Sony iPhone rival to hit US for $800 unlocked
Sony Ericsson today finally detailed the US release of the Xperia X1, its first full touchscreen smartphone and also its first Windows Mobile phone. Rather than tie the phone to AT&T, the cellphone maker instead says the X1 will sell through its Sony Style website as an unlocked device for $800. The move lets users pick AT&T to gain full access to the phone's HSPA-based 3G or T-Mobile if they pr...
published on Wednesday, the 12. November 2008, macintosh-news-network
Google launches Gmail audio, video chat
Google today launched the surprise addition of Gmail video chat to its webmail interface. The feature lets contacts use Google Talk to start a two-way video or audio-only conversation with anyone currently online and can be started in the middle of a text chat. Like dedicated desktop apps, the web version carries a picture-in-picture view and can be stretched out or made full-screen....
published on Tuesday, the 11. November 2008, macintosh-news-network
YouTube to stream full commercial movies?
YouTube is on the verge of launching a streaming service for major full-length movies, unnamed entertainment executives are reportedly telling CNET. Similar to Hulu, the feature would let users watch ad-supported movies from "major" studios and is believed to use a widescreen player instead of the 4:3 ratio used for amateur videos. Both YouTube's parent Google and its movie partners are believed...
published on Thursday, the 6. November 2008, macintosh-news-network
Sea Flags for iPhone features Maritime Signal Flags
Izatt International has unveiled Sea Flags, an app for the iPhone or iPod touch that helps users learn the Maritime Signal Flags system. The program includes all 26 flags that are displayed on a reference screen and can be tapped to fill the screen. For use as a teaching aide, the flags can be presented as full screen flash cards in a random order, eventually showing the corresponding English lett...
published on Monday, the 3. November 2008, macintosh-news-network