Specifically, iOS 4.3 introduces a capability that Apple calls “multi-touch”. That’s a short way of saying that iPad users will be able to utilize all of their digits when interacting with the iPad’s touch-screen interface.

For instance, users will be able to go directly to the home screen by making a pinching gesture that employs all five fingers.

“This beta release contains a preview of new Multi-Touch gestures for iPad,” Apple said in a note on its developers Web site.

“You can use four or five fingers to pinch to the Home Screen; swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar; and swipe left or right between apps. We are providing this preview before releasing them to the general public to understand how these gestures work with your apps,” Apple said.

With the multi-touch capability in place, Apple plans to eliminate the physical Home button on the next-generation of the iPad, which is expected to be announced within weeks.

Apple released iOS 4.3 to beta testers on Thursday and will make it available for download by the general public once testing is complete. Beyond adding multi-touch to the iPad, it also brings new features that will work on iPhone 4 and the latest version of the iPod touch, as well as iPad.

They include AirPlay support for third-party apps, the introduction of a revamped Facetime icon, and a feature that allows users of GSM equipped devices to set up personal hotspots that act as a base station for other devices. The beta code also reportedly makes reference to a service called “Find My Friends,” raising speculation that Apple plans to add social networking capabilities to its mobile devices.

Source: Information Week

Popularity: 7% [?]

Here are the Top 5 Gifts to get Mom for the Holidays. Click the Title of the product for more details.

5.  Blackberry Torch

• Easy to use blackberry phone.
• Qwerty keyboard for fast Text messaging and Emailing

Price: @ AT&T $99.99 *With 2 year Agreement

4.  Authentic Louis Vuitton iPad Case

• Perfect for the Chic Mom looking to style out her iPad.

• A little on the expesive end , But what mom doesnt want a designer iPad Case

Price: £240.00 approx. $400  Almost as much as the iPad!

3. Dell Inspiron Mini 10

• Available in Many colors so you can get moms favorite.
• The Mini form factor makes it easy to take to work or soccer practice.

Price: $369.00

2. 4th Gen iPod Touch

• Perfect for moms classic hits.
• Good for checking weather and recent news.

Price:$ 269.99  32gb

1. Sony DCR-SX44 Camcorder

• Very Compact and easy to transport
• Perfect to record any event such as soccer practice or a birthday party.
• Playback all your special events on your TV

Price: $229.99

DONT FORGET DAD!

Popularity: 7% [?]

So I got to check out the Apple iPad , and here is my findings.

All the hype of the new iPad ; i think its over-rated.  Don’t get it wrong i liked the iPad , The user interface was excellent and the iPad specific apps were kinda cool.

The only problem with this which i think me and alot people are holding off on is that  they should have included is a front facing camera and multi-tasking , this would have made the iPad much more of a priority on my ” I gotta buy this!” List.

Over grown iPod touch ? No at all!  This has some abilities that the iPod touch doesn’t have. (which we wont get into now)  but its alot more than a overgrown iPod.

Note to Apple: I Will buy this iPad when you give me at-least multi-tasking. There is nothing like having to close out the game you are playing to check and important email . The technology is there why not use it!.

Let me know what you guys think in the comments below. Also Check out the poll.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Apple announced a new iPod nano with a built-in camera on Wednesday at the “Rock and Roll” event in San Francisco. Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the new model by citing the popularity of pocket flash memory-based video cameras like those from Flip and Kodak. “This market’s really exploding,” said Jobs, “and we want to get in on this.”

The new iPod nano comes in 8GB and 16GB models, each of which incorporates a video camera and microphone on the back of the unit, as well as a built-in speaker. The video camera shoots H.264 VGA video—640 by 480 pixels—at up to 30 frames per second with AAC audio in either portrait or landscape modes. It also features 15 special effects that can be applied in real time: Sepia, Black and White, X-Ray, Film Grain, Thermal, Security Cam, Cyborg, Bulge, Kaleido, Motion Blur, Mirror, Light Tunnel, Dent, Stretch, and Twirl. The nano can display video or sync it back to your computer, where you can easily upload the clip to YouTube, Facebook, MobileMe, or share it via e-mail. The microphone can also be used with the nano’s voice recording feature.

In addition, the nano now has VoiceOver support, which provides audible navigation cues in 20 languages, and the new Genius Mixes feature, which creates up to 12 endless playlists of music based on your existing library. There’s also a built-in pedometer which can measure your steps and sync the information with the Nike+ service and, in a first for an iPod, an FM radio tuner. The radio tuner includes support for live pause, which allows users to pause a live program and resume it later, and iTunes Tagging, which lets listeners tag radio songs they like and then preview and optionally purchase the song next time they sync with iTunes.

Other than the camera, the physical form factor of the nano remains mostly unchanged, although it now features a larger 2.2-inch, 240-by-376-pixel, display and comes in nine colors: silver, black, purple, blue, green, orange, yellow, (PRODUCT) RED and pink. The 8GB model runs for $149 and the 16GB for $179 (a discount from the previous nano, which cost $199). Both new models are shipping today.

The new nano requires Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later as well as iTunes 9. iPhoto 6.0.6 or later is recommended for Tiger users and iPhoto ’09 for Leopard or Snow Leopard users. Windows users need Windows Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later as well as iTunes 9.

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Source [MACWORLD]

Popularity: 3% [?]

The iPod nano will now feature a built-in camera, as Apple updated its iPod line as part of a music-focused press event in San Francisco on Wednesday

The new iPod comes in 8GB and 16GB models, priced at $149 and $179, respectively. The music players now feature a video camera and microphone on the back of the device along with a built-in speaker. The nano can display video or sync it back to your computer for uploading to YouTube.

According to Apple CEO Steve Jobs—making his first public appearance at an Apple event since returning from a six-month medical leave—the company added the camera to the nano line to capitalize on the popularity of pocket-sized flash-based video cameras.

Get more details on the new iPod nano

The nano was just one of the changes Apple introduced to its iPod line on Wednesday. The company also cut the price on its entry-level 8GB iPod touch to $199; previously, that model sold for $229. In addition, Apple boosted the capacity on the touch to 64GB. The 32GB and 64GB models are now 50-percent faster and feature support for the Open GL|ES 2.0 graphics API.

Despite speculation that Apple might discontinue the iPod classic—the last remaining hard drive-based device in its iPod line—that model remains with an expanded capacity. The iPod classic now features 160GB of storage at the same price as before, $249.

As for the iPod shuffle, it comes in new colors. The 2GB and 4GB models sell for $59 and $79, respectively; a special edition 4GB model made of stainless steel costs $99.

iPod talk dominated the second half of Apple’s Wednesday event, but the company also had software news. A new version of the iTunes is now available, featuring Genius Mixes for creating recommended playlists of music and movies.

Other features in iTunes 9 include Home Sharing, which brings iTunes synchronization to up to five authorized computers and a new interface for managing iPhone and iPod touch applications. iTunes 9 also introduces a number of improvements to Apple’s online iTunes Store, including new artist pages with more visual material added.

Finally, Apple released a minor update to its iPhone software. iPhone 3.1 rolls out some bug fixes in addition to extending the Genius media-recommendation algorithm to recommend iPhone apps to users. The update also beefs up the iPhone OS’s ringtone capabilities.

Source : [MACWORLD]

Popularity: 3% [?]

Technical difficulties could delay the camera-equipped iPods widely expected at the Apple event on Wednesday, according to sources cited by AppleInsider. The unnamed source says that Apple is facing problems with the production of new iPods, more exactly with the camera hardware.

apple ipod camera
Apple’s iPod family
Apple is expected to introduce camera-equipped iPods at the special event, although, as usual, Apple did not disclose any information about what will be unveiled. However, photos of third-party iPod touch and nano cases sporting a camera hole have been doing the rounds online for a few months now — which led us to believe that Apple is indeed putting cameras into iPods.

But according to a report from AppleInsider, not everything is rosy in Apple land, because the Cupertino company is having technical problems putting cameras into iPods. Hardmac carries a similar report, which suggests the problem lies with the iPod touch camera module. Both publications say that this could mean the new iPods won’t hit the market this September.

If all the speculation about photo-equipped iPods is true, then we will most likely see 3.2-megapixel-camera-fitted iPods — basically the same image sensors found in the current generation iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 3GS’s camera features autofocus and video recording capabilities, but no flash is present. The software on the 3GS can also trim movies captured with the phone’s camera and upload them on YouTube.

The iPod classic, Apple’s only remaining hard-drive based music player, is not expected to get a camera upgrade. On the contrary, rumors suggest that Apple will drop the hard-drive based iPods, in favor of an all-flash memory lineup, just like Microsoft is doing with its current line of Zune players.

Source [ PCWORLD]

Popularity: 3% [?]

So it’s Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference this week, and everyone is awaiting what the biiiig announcement will be, namely, new iPhones?
With the big 3.0 OS release being so comprehensive, it’s only natural that there are new iPhone models in the works. And the Palm Pre’s release date suspiciously moved to the weekend right before Apples WWDC? Come on. SOMETHING is up, right?

Well, here’s a roundup of what we would like and hope to hear at the conference concerning new iPhones and new iPhone models:

Most likely new iPhone features:
Faster processor.
More storage capacity.
Faster Internet speeds.
Video recording.
Better camera.
Digital compass.
More iPhone 3.0 software features, such as video editing, voice controls, laptop tethering, and potentially a new home screen that’s better designed for organizing and launching dozens of apps.

The phone will likely look very much like the current iPhone 3G. Some reports suggest a matte, rubbery back. But many “leaked” photos are fake. Then there’s a slew of other potential features, some of which Apple could unveil Monday, too, such as a front-facing camera for video chat, background app processing, or multi-colored iPhones. But those are relatively unlikely.

Just as important: What Apple announces regarding AT&T’s iPhone service plans. Specifically, if AT&T will offer some sort of entry-level iPhone plan that is less than $70/month, or if it will at least make its plans a better deal by including unlimited text messaging. (Sprint is doing this for the Palm Pre.) The iPhone itself is still too expensive for many buyers. And the service plan is, too.

And about pricing: It makes sense that Apple would keep its new, premium iPhones at the $199/$299 price levels. But it seems that a cheaper iPhone, perhaps will less storage or a few missing components, could show up for $99 or $149.

And other rumors swirling around the tubes include Video editing on the iPhone, a family of models so that you can find just the right size for you, FM transmittals so that you can transmit to other audio devices, Siruis, will ATT introduce tiered pricing?

And Steve Jobs is back on the scene. There must be good things to come, right?
Stay tuned, L$ will be peepin in on all the live blogging and will report back. fo’ sho’

from Businessinsider

Popularity: 1% [?]

 The official Skype app will be in the Apple App Store Tomorrow, March 31st, and Blackberry users can expect to see one around May of this year. 

The iPhone’s Skype feature set includes free Skype to Skype calls, SkypeOut support, a pretty interface that is keeping with the iPhone interface, and instant messaging. You can also take a picture from within the app, and accept conference calls.  The app will also work on 2G  iPod Touches that have the external mic. 

Caveats are:  only being able to use on a wi-fi connection, as there is a ban on any VoIP on a 3G network, no text messaging, file transfer, or access to your Skype voicemails. 

I’ve been using the Fring app for a while now, and it’s a great multi-protocol client that supports talk, chat, and Skype already….jus sayin.

image from Mashable

Popularity: 2% [?]

It may have been St. Patty’s day but in the tech world, it was iPhone OS 3.0 day. Coming on the last day of South By Southwest’s Interactive week, Apple announced what would be included in their next iPhone update. The hype machine was in full effect in the days preceding this announcement. We knew that there would be some good stuff coming – we talked about MMS and tethering in the latest Money Shot, my homie Chris Pirillo wanted a search function, and Kevin Rose of Diggnation predicted cut n paste.

When it was all said and done, Apple touted over 100 features to be included in the update.

Here’s the Deets:

• Cut Copy and Paste. W00t! Apple may have taken it’s time, but they definitely did it well – it works across all apps, and, in cute Apple fashion: you shake it to undo. Hee.
• MMS! W00t W00t! Finally, you can send peeps pics via SMS. I guess I owe a lot of peeps pictures now. No more teasing them about phone cam pics I’d send them if they could get them. Also you can send contacts, audio and locations.
• SMS services: now you can forward and delete your text messages.
• Push Technology – get alerted by text, a little badge or by voice.
• Spotlight: search. Just like on their computers, across all apps and even mail that’s still on the server.
• Typing in landscape – across apps. Very Nice.
• Bluetooth connectivity is beefed up. More functionality to connect to more hardware. Johnson and Johnson demoed LifeScan – a diabetes monitor and meal planner app. This is very interesting, and opens up the possibilities of the iPhone being utlized more in the medical field.
• iphones will also be able to communicate to each other via peer-to-peer Bluetooth technology.
• Maps and GPS – more support for turn-by-turn GPS when devs supply their own maps.
• CalDAV- subscribe and share your calendar. Let everyone know what you are up to.
• Stocks app – beefed up and can subscribe to news feeds.
• Stereo Bluetooth support.
• YouTube: login to your account. Subscribe to channels. Like…The Gadget411′s Money Shot.
• VPN on demand. Dope. Virtual Private Network.
• Voice Memo.
• Auto-fill for web forms. Awesome.
• Audio/Video tagging.
• Live video streaming from the web. ESPN did a dope demo streaming some March Madness games.
• Shake to shuffle your songs.
• Wi-Fi auto login.
• Proxy support.
• Parental Controls.
• LDAP support.

Whew. That’s a lot of stuff. In sum, it’s a lot of stuff that frankly, most phones already do. Only Apple can create such fervor of gratitude for stuff that their products should have had in the first place. My favorite tweet from the coverage: @engadget “Applause for a feature that every other device in the world has. Odd.” haha. I found that quite the amusing.

Some fun things were also demoed – LiveFire – a First Person shooter, and  Smule, creators of the Ocarina app brings on Dr. Ge Wang up from Stanford — he directed the Stanford laptop orchestra, to demo the new Trombone Leaf app. Will the iPhone be the next new musical instrument? Will it make being in the high school  band cool? Marching Bluetooth Band.

Now you want it. Yes you do. When can you get it? Summer. Yes, now you have to wait. It’s free for the iPhone, and $10 for the ipod Touch. But if you are a dev, SDK is out and available now. Go Play. Let us know what you think!!

For some live blogging action from the announcement, hit up gdgt.com

Popularity: 3% [?]

Press Release:

CUPERTINO, California—March 11, 2009—Apple® today introduced the all-new iPod® shuffle, the world’s smallest music player at nearly half of the size of the previous model, and the first music player that talks to you. The revolutionary new VoiceOver feature enables iPod shuffle to speak your song titles, artists and playlist names. The third generation iPod shuffle is significantly smaller than a AA battery, holds up to 1,000 songs and is easier to use with all of the controls conveniently located on the earphone cord. With the press of a button, you can play, pause, adjust volume, switch playlists and hear the name of the song and artist. iPod shuffle features a gorgeous new aluminum design with a built-in stainless steel clip that makes it ultra-wearable.

“Imagine your music player talking to you, telling you your song titles, artists and playlist names,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of iPod and iPhone™ Product Marketing. “The amazingly small new iPod shuffle takes a revolutionary approach to how you listen to your music by talking to you, also making it the first iPod shuffle with playlists.”

iPod shuffle is based on Apple’s incredibly popular shuffle feature, which randomly selects songs from your music library. And now, when you can’t remember the name of a song or an artist playing, with the press of a button iPod shuffle tells you the name of the song and artist. iPod shuffle can even tell you status information, such as battery life. With the ability to hold up to 1,000 songs and the VoiceOver feature, you can now easily switch between multiple playlists on your iPod shuffle. iPod shuffle can speak 14 languages including English, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish.

The new iPod shuffle comes in silver or black and features a sleek and ultra-wearable design with a built-in stainless steel clip. iPod shuffle is the smallest music player in the world and is incredibly easy to clip to almost anything and take with you everywhere you go. iPod shuffle features up to 10 hours of battery life.*

Pricing & Availability
The third generation 4GB iPod shuffle is now shipping and comes in silver or black for a suggested price of $79 (US) through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. iPod shuffle comes with the Apple Earphones with Remote and the iPod shuffle USB cable. iPod shuffle requires a Mac® with a USB 2.0 port, Mac OS® X v10.4.11 or later and iTunes® 8.1 or later; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows Vista, Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 3) or later and iTunes 8.1.

*Battery life and number of charge cycles vary by use and settings. See www.apple.com/batteries for more information. Song capacity is based on four minutes per song and 128-Kbps AAC encoding; in 256-Kbps AAC format, song capacity is up to 500 songs; actual capacity varies by encoding method and bit rate.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

Popularity: 1% [?]