Boxee To Bring iPad Support In May

Boxee, the company that produces a media center for a variety of platforms and devices, has announced with a blog post that the upcoming firmware update will bring support for the iPad, among other features. Boxee is aiming for a new firmware release every 3 months, and the new one should come out in May. iPad support aside, the update will bring improvements to the browser, playback controls and localization in French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Spanish, Swedish.

The Boxee iPad app was initially announced last year and previewed at the CES 2011 in January. Allowing users to consume video on the go and send content to other Boxee devices, the app will also enable users to stream videos from a Mac or PC by installing a server application on their computers that will handle conversions for video formats not natively supported by the iPad. Other details on the integration with the iPad software and Boxee devices are still unknown, but we’re sure the developers are up to something great as the app has been in the works for months and it appears it’s almost ready for submission to Apple now.

You can read more at Boxee’s official blog and check out a demo video of the iPad app from CES 2011 below. A Boxee remote app for iPhone and iPod touch is already available in the App Store.
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Apple Investigates Possibility Of Dual Camera System For 3D Photos

Patent applications from Apple made public this week show that they have considered adding an additional camera to a device such as the iPhone to enable users to shoot 3D photographs. AppleInsider discovered the patent, called “Systems and Methods for an Imaging System Using Multiple Image Sensors” which details how they would implement the dual-camera system for the capture of 3D images.

In particular it differentiates itself from current offerings, claiming that it is a “paradigm shift from the known software-based approaches” that “guess” at how to combine the two images into a single 3D photograph. Apple says that their approach would avoid creating images with artefacts by implementing a hardware-based approach for more accurate processing. Such a system would involve multiple sensors that determine the luma, chroma and depth of the two images to unify them into one.

Furthermore the patent describes how the system could also record video in 3D and only require a simple, one-time, calibration by the user. The Nintendo 3DS which has just recently been released resembles the aims of this patent with its feature of dual rear cameras to let users to take 3D photographs and play augmented reality games that render in 3D on the fly.

[Via AppleInsider]

iDroplets: Tiny Rubber Feet For Your iPad 2

After using the iPad 2 for a while, I’ve noticed two things: the thinner and flat design makes for an incredibly better grip in my hands; second, it’s harder to pick it up from another flat surface (like a desk) than the original iPad and it tends to “slide” and move a little bit. Designer Morgan Allan Knutson apparently thought the same thing and created the iDroplets, a set of tiny rubber feet that attach to the iPad 2 with ease and also protect the edges of the device while it’s being used in typing mode with a Smart Cover.

The iDroplets cost $5 with free global shipping (as long as normal postage can reach your country) and we think it’s a pretty damn good idea. Sure you can do this by yourself if you buy four little rubber feet, but we like to support indie projects here at MacStories. So head over the (elegantly designed) product webpage, and order your iDroplets now.

Global Marketing VP Allison Johnson Is Leaving Apple→

Global Marketing VP Allison Johnson Is Leaving Apple

John Paczkowski at All Things Digital reports this morning Apple’s Global Marketing VP Allison Johnson is leaving the company after 6 years for a new marketing firm she has co-founded with a former Facebook PR executive.

At Apple, Johnson has managed global advertising for some of the company’s most revolutionary products and the iconic ads for them. Those ads have been created by TBWA\Chiat\Day, which plays a powerful role at Apple.

Of course, this key part of Apple’s business is watched over closely by CEO Steve Jobs, to whom Johnson has reported directly.

Johnson, former senior vice president of marketing at HP, came to Apple in 2005 to “take a top marketing post” during the sales explosion of the iPod line. Johnson lead several of Apple’s marketing campaigns since then, and it’s surely a big loss for Apple. In January, Apple’s Design Director Sarah Brody left the company as well for Paypal.

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Taiwanese LCD Maker To Ship 30 Million iPad 2 Screens

Following speculation about Apple facing supply constraints and  iPad 2 production issues due to the Japan earthquake and tsunami, Reuters reports this morning a story from The Economic Daily News which, citing no sources, claims Taiwan-based AU Optronics Corp – the world’s #4 LCD maker – has closed a multi-million dollar deal with Apple to ship iPad 2 displays this year.

AU could ship 30 million of the screens in a year, it said. The order will take up over half the capacity of its plant in Taichung, central Taiwan.

Apple ramping up production of the iPad 2 doesn’t come as a total surprise. The device went on sale on March 11 in the United States generating long lines at Apple Stores and authorized retailers allegedly selling around 1 million units in the first days; a similar scenario followed two weeks later in the 25 countries that got the iPad 2 on March 25th. In the past weeks, iPad 2 shipping times from the Apple online store jumped from 2-3 weeks, then to 4-5 weeks and they’ve now settled with a 3-4 weeks wait on the US Store.

Woman Tragically Dies After Senseless iPhone Theft

A very sad story today comes from Chicago Breaking News in which the theft of an iPhone has led to the tragic death of an innocent bystander. Sally Katona-King, a 68 year old Church Receptionist, was pushed down a flight of stairs at Fullerton Station after a thief stole a nearby commuter’s iPhone and was hastily running off. Sally was hospitalised after her fall and unfortunately died on Tuesday from what is presumed to be a cerebral haemorrhage.

Her son told reporters on Tuesday that Sally was a known in the community as a generous and altruistic woman helping those that were disadvantaged. “To die over an iPhone? It’s senseless,” her son said. Detective Cmdr. Garyu Yamashiroya said on Tuesday that the increased incidence of smart phone theft is “something that police departments across the country are trying to find solutions to.” The thief is still at large but police are hoping to identify them through local surveillance video.

[Via TUAW]

 

Review: Take Five…For Mac!

 

Now I will admit, I never bought Iconfactory’s Take Five for iOS. Don’t get me wrong it’s a beautiful app but I didn’t see myself using it that much on my iPhone. I’m so use to just using the volume controls or multitasking tray. The point of the app makes a lot of sense though: it’s aimed at letting you restart music that you paused and forgot to turn back on. I received an email a few weeks ago with the subject “Take Five for the Mac Beta,” I knew right away that this would fit into my workflow on my iMac because I get more sidetracked at home with my wife, kids and the television. So now when I want to pause music, I use Take Five for the Mac. Read more

Apple Posts Mac OS X Lion Developer Preview 2

Following a brief fix in Software Update, here comes a new build of OS X Lion. It’s available now in the Mac Dev Center. Build number is 11A419. Once again, the new Developer Preview must be downloaded through the Mac App Store via a redeem code. It’s worth noting that OS X Lion Server has been posted as a separate build this time:

To install the Lion Developer Preview, you’ll need 10.6.7 or the previous developer preview which, again, needs to be updated in Software Update. For those who will need to pause their download from the Mac App Store and resume it, Apple says in the FAQ section:

If you need to interrupt your download for any reason, including changing the network you are connected to or traveling to a new location, ensure that you first Pause your download under the Purchases tab in Mac App Store. After you re-establish your connection, you may Resume your download under the Purchases tab.

While TechCrunch reported a few days ago that Apple would soon release a “GM” version of Lion to developers, it clearly appears that Lion still needs a few more updates before being ready for the golden master status. Several bloggers are speculating that a GM version will actually be released at the WWDC, which will kick off in San Francisco on June 6th.

Changes in the Lion Developer Preview 2 are still unknown. We’ll update this post as we gather more details.

TechCrunch now follows up to their previous report with details on today’s build:

More importantly, this is the build that Apple is considering to be a “GM1″ revision internally, we hear. And yes, it’s said to be much more stable and complete than the previous build.

Having said that, it’s unlikely that this will be the actual “Golden Master” copy. We’re still a solid two months away from Apple’s WWDC event where Lion will be a key area of focus. Apple may attempt to launch Lion there, but more likely is that the release candidates is handed out to developers there.